November 28, 2012 THE VILLADOM TIMES IV • Page 15 Mahwah Minutes Donald Cooper Railroad announces holiday hours The Donald Cooper Railroad, located at the Mahwah Museum at 201 Franklin Turnpike, announces special holiday hours. The HO-scale model railroad will be open on Fridays from 6 to 9 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m. until Christmas. The railroad, which operates eight trains, including Thomas the Tank Engine, contains street fairs, a skateboard park, construction sites, and a replica of the Great Falls of Paterson. The Donald Cooper Railroad was the gift to the Museum by Renee Darboe, a Mahwah resident whose late husband, Donald Cooper, collected over 700 cars and 70 locomotives during his lifetime. The layout is the devoted work of a group of railroad volunteers who work many hours each week to maintain the cars and tracks, and keep the railroad in good condition. The meticulously detailed scenery is primarily the work of Starlene Van Dunk. The Donald Cooper Railroad is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 1 to 5 p.m. From now until Christmas, hours will also be held on Fridays from 7 to 9 p.m. For more information, visit www.mahwahmuseum.org or call (201) 512-0099. The Mahwah Museum receives operating support from the New Jersey Historical Commission in the Department of State. Family Movie Matinee set The Mahwah Public Library will present a special screening of “Arthur’s Christmas” on Sunday, Dec. 2 at 2 p.m. “Arthur’s Christmas” reveals the incredible, neverbefore seen answer to every child’s question: “How does Santa deliver all those presents in one night?” The answer: Santa’s exhilarating, ultra-high tech operation hidden beneath the North Pole. But at the center of the film is a story about a family in a state of comic dysfunction and an unlikely hero, Arthur, with an urgent mission that must be completed before Christmas morning dawns. Movie snacks and drinks will be provided. This program is free and no tickets are necessary. Seats will be available on a “first come” basis. The library is located at 100 Ridge Road in Mahwah. Library hosts Movie Series The Mahwah Pubic Library, located at 100 Ridge Road in Mahwah, presents free weekly movies on Thursdays afternoons at 1:30 p.m. Popcorn and beverages are provided. No tickets are necessary. Seats will be available on a “first come” basis. This month’s theme is light romantic movies. “Lucky One” will be the feature presentation on Dec. 6. A Marine (Zac Efron) travels to Louisiana after serving three tours in Iraq and searches for the unknown woman (Taylor Schilling) he believes was his good luck charm during the war. This film is directed by Scott Hicks, is rated PG-13, and runs for 101 minutes. On Dec. 13, there will be a screening of “Birdsong.” As an English soldier fights in the trenches of northern France, he is haunted by the memories of his forbidden love affair with a French woman. This movie is rated PG and runs for 165 minutes. “The Lightkeepers” will be presented on Dec. 20. Set in the 1912 Cape Cod, a lighthouse keeper who has disavowed any association with females must deal with the appearance of two attractive women who move into a nearby cottage for the summer. This PG-rated movie was directed by Daniel Adams, and stars Mamie Gummer, Richard Dreyfuss, and Blythe Danner. The film runs for 97 minutes. On Dec. 27, “The Vow” will be featured. A car accident leaves Paige (Rachel McAdams) in a coma. When she wakes up with severe memory loss, her husband Leo (Channing Tatum) works to win her heart again. This film is rated PG-13 and runs for 104 minutes. Call the library at (201) 529-READ for details. Holiday Tree Lighting announced The Township of Mahwah will hold its Annual Holiday Tree Lighting on Sunday, Dec. 2. The group will gather at 4:15 p.m. at the municipal building at 475 Corporate Drive. Students from the Joyce Kilmer School will entertain with seasonal favorites at 4:30 p.m., and refreshments will be served. The tree lighting will be held at 5 p.m. Those who attend can expect to visit with Santa Claus, who will arrive via fire truck courtesy of the Mahwah Fire Department. Santa will hear requests for holiday gifts from children of all ages. Library hosts varied programs The Mahwah Public Library provides free programs for adults. Tickets are not necessary; seating is available on a “first come” basis. Programs begin at 7 p.m. Remember the “day that will live in infamy” when Dr. James Kane presents “The Attack on Pearl Harbor and Oahu: Dec. 7, 1941” on Wednesday, Dec. 5. Dr. Kane will present a lecture, slide show, and music of the era. The attack on Pearl Harbor and Oahu plunged America into World War II and left 1,100 sailors and Marines entombed in the U.S.S. Arizona. The program includes slides of the island campaign in the Pacific leading to the Japanese surrender in 1945 aboard the U.S.S. Missouri in Tokyo Bay. The U.S.S. Missouri is now permanently docked in Pearl Harbor. On Dec. 10, Glenn LeBoeuf will offer “Christmas Traditions: A Lighthearted History of Christmas.” Where did the idea for lighted, indoor Christmas trees come from? Where did eggnog, the North Pole workshop, garland, gift-giving, Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer, elves, and even Santa Claus get their start? Who were Kris Kringle and “Jolly Old Saint Nick?” What traditions were borrowed from the Celts and Vikings? Who knew that many beloved and popular Christmas songs were written by Jewish songwriters, such as Irving Berlin and Mel Torme? Come to laugh and learn the many facts and fallacies concerning one of the most magical times of the year: Christmas. LeBoeuf received his degree in history from Monmouth College in 1976 and taught social studies in New Providence. An avid student of military history, he joined the 3rd N.J.V.I. (civil war re-enactors) in 1989 and participated in such films as “Glory” and “Gettysburg.” The library is located at 100 Ridge Road. For details, call (201) 529-READ.