Come to hear author Jeff Somers speak Saturday Evening in Bergen County

........................THE STARSHIP LOCAL

A NEWSLETTER OF THE SCIENCE FICTION ASSOCIATION OF BERGEN COUNTY
............136 MANHATTAN AVENUE * WALDWICK, NJ 07463
.....................PHONE: (201) 447 - 3652

...............DECEMBER MEETING PREVIEW:

...6:15 PM: Classic Cartoons: (Animation Associates) ..............6:30 PM: Currently Cool (Ice Nine)

.............8:00 PM: AUTHOR JEFF SOMERS

..........The new year users in numerous opportunities for fun and self improvement. You can take some classes, spend more time with your families, and do volunteer work in your local community. But none of these can possibly be as fulfilling as attending the meeting of the Science Fiction Association of Bergen County on Saturday, January 12, 2008. The event will be held at the Saddle River Valley Cultural Center, 307 West Saddle River Road, Upper Saddle River, Bergen County, New Jersey 07458. Directions to the Center appear on page two.

PRE MEETING ACTIVITIES:

..........Our Animation Associates will screen a number of classic public domain cartoons in the Cultural Center's basement beginning at
6:15 PM. You are welcome to join a viewing of classics you may have watched on television when you were a tyke.

..........Our Ice Nine group will discuss current books, movies, television and other incarnations of science fiction commencing at 6:30 PM.

AUTHOR JEFF SOMERS:

..........Jeffrey Somers is the author of the cyberpunk thriller, THE ELECTRIC CHURCH, the forthcoming THE DIGITAL PLAGUE, both from Orbit Books, and numerous short stories. He has written non genre books, edits the 'zine, THE INNER SWINE, blogs, and generally keeps busy.

..........The author's official website ishttp://www/jeffreysom....

ABOUT THE ASSOCIATION:

The S F A B C meets on the second Saturday of the month and features talks, slide shows and other presentations by people in the science fiction, fantasy, horror and related fields. The Association sponsors a number of special interest groups, focusing on different aspects of science fiction and related matters, including activities devoted to books, movies, televison, animation, horror and other events. We also produce a monthly newsletter listing talks, conventions, discussion groups and other activities of interest to poeple who enjoy science fiction and related areas. We invite you to contact us through our
website:

......................http://www.sfabc.org...

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THE STARSHIP LOCAL........Volume 6, Number 1.......Copyright 2008 ..............................................Philip J De Parto

THE STARSHIP LOCAL is the monthly meeting notice of the Science Fiction Association of Bergen County. It is designed to communicate basic information about the activities of the organization to devotees of fantasy, horror and science fiction. All material by Philip J De Parto unless otherwise acknowledged.

We also publish a more extensive monthly newsletter, THE STARSHIP EXPRESS, for members of the organization. If you are not a member and would like to receive the EXPRESS, mail a check for $ 8.00 for the electronic version or $ 12.00 for the print version. Checks should be made payable to Philip J De Parto, 136 Manhattan Avenue, Waldwick, New Jersey 07463.

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Directions to meeting site:

...............Saddle River Valley Cultural Center
......................305 West Saddle River
.......................Upper Saddle River
....................Bergen County, New Jersey

The Cultural Center looks like a classic little white church, steeple and all. The parking lot is not too large, but it's okay to use the much bigger lot of the Methodist Church diagonally across the street.

Important Note: The Cultural Center is on WEST Saddle River Road.
One block further over is EAST Saddle River Road. Unlike streets in New York, East does not turn into West. The roads are on opposite banks of the Saddle River which is nothing more than a stream at this point.

FROM ROUTE 17 NORTHBOUND:

..........Exit ROUTE 17 NORTH at the sign which reads SADDLE RIVER / WOODCLIFF LAKE. (This is the exit after Sheridan Avenue, Ho Ho Kus.) This exit puts you onto EAST ALLENDALE AVENUE heading East. Stay on road for about 1/2 mile and turn left at the first traffic light onto WEST SADDLE RIVER ROAD. Drive north for 1-3/4 miles. Shortly after passing a brick Catholic Church, the Church of the Presentation, on your left hand side you cross into Upper Saddle River. The Cultural Center is on your left hand side. If you come to a traffic light you have slightly overshot and hit LAKE STREET.

Note: You will see a sign marked WEST SADDLE RIVER ROAD on Route 17 northbound well to the south of where you have been told to leave 17.
If you take this exit, you will eventually get where you want to be, but it will take you a lot longer to get there.

FROM ROUTE 17 SOUTHBOUND:

..........Exit ROUTE 17 SOUTH at SADDLE RIVER / WOODCLIFF LAKE exit.
This puts you onto EAST ALLENDALE ROAD heading East. You drive under the highway. Then follow the directions from Route 17 Northbound.

Note: This way takes you a little bit longer than the exit for UPPER SADDLE RIVER, but it spares you making hairpin turns on steep hills at night in bad weather on an unfamiliar road.

FROM THE GARDEN STATE PARKWAY NORTHBOUND:

..........Take Exit 172, GRAND AVENUE, MONTVALE. (This is the last exit in New Jersey and is just past the Montvale Service Area). Turn left at the exit ramp and head west on GRAND AVENUE. There are a lot of small towns in this area, and the road that you're on will keep changing its name. At different points it is called GRAND AVENUE, MONTVALE ROAD, RAMSEY ROAD and LAKE STREET. At the second traffic light you will be at the intersection of LAKE STREET and EAST SADDLE RIVER ROAD. It has two landmarks that anyone in the area will know
about: a 7-11 type store called Elmers and a Texaco station. Keep driving west. Do not turn. Turn left at the next traffic light onto WEST SADDLE RIVER ROAD. The Cultural Center is 1/10 of a mile down the road on your right.

FROM ROCKLAND COUNTY VIA ROUTE 59:

..........Follow ROUTE 59 until you come to Norris Pontiac in Monsey and turn south at the traffic light unto ROUTE 306. This road is also called EAST SADDLE RIVER ROAD. Head south towards New Jersey.
(Note: Although the maps show this road as Route 306, and that's what everyone calls it, after you make the turn, the sign reads ROUTE 73.
Don't ask me to explain it.) Stay on ROUTE 306 for 2.3 miles Note that there is a long stretch between the first and second traffic lights.

..........Turn right at the second traffic light which is the intersection of EAST SADDLE RIVER ROAD and LAKE STREET. A Texaco station and Elmers are at this corner. Proceed west and turn left at the next traffic light onto WEST SADDLE RIVER ROAD. The Cultural Center is 1/10 of a mile down the road on your right.

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