Weekend Calendar: Books, Bats at Van Vleck, Music and Food Drive

Polling, Politics and the Presidency on Debate

On Friday, at Bnai Keshet, 99 South Fullerton Ave., Jay Leve, founder/CEO of SurveyUSA, one of the nation's largest election pollsters, and Stephen Engelberg, managing editor of ProPublica, a Puliter Prize-winning independent, non-profit newsroom dedicated to investigative journalism in the public interest, will speak about the 2012 election.

Nancy Solomon, NJ Public Radio Managing Editor, award-winning NPR producer and WNYC reporter, will moderate. This is the first event in Bnai Keshet's Shabbat Havurah series.

Local Resident, Screen Writer Spotlights Novel

Robert Blake Whitehill will be at Palazzo Restaurant, 11 South Fullerton Ave., on Saturday from noon to 3 p.m. to highlight his new book, "Deadrise: A Ben Blackshaw Novel." 

Bats at Van Vleck House and Gardens

On Friday from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., Joseph D’Angeli of The Wildlife Conservation and Education Center will give a slide show presentation about bats in the Garden State and throughout the world at the Van Vleck Gardens, at 21 Van Vleck St. 

For more information, call (973) 744-4752. 

Montclair State Homecoming

On Saturday, Montclair State University, at Normal Avenue and Valley Road, will hold its annual homecoming starting at 10 a.m. 

The University welcomes families, alumni, friends, students, and the entire community for a day of fun, food, music, and more. The event will include the annual parade of student performances, a carnival, the traditional homecoming football game, and more. Area residents are encouraged to bring their families and participate in the day’s activities. Parking on campus will be free.

Go to montclair.edu/homecoming for more info about the event.

Luna Stage Presents: 'Vita and Virginia'

Luna Stage, at 555 Valley Road in West Orange, will continue performing "Vita and Virginia." Performances will run on Thursdays through Sundays until Oct. 28, 2012, and there will be a talkback following the performance on Oct. 18.

Show times will be: Thursdays at 7:30 p.m.; Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m.; and Sundays at 3 p.m. 

Admission on Thursdays is $25, and $35 for Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. 

For more information, call (973) 395-5551 or visit www.lunastage.org. 

"Vita and Virginia," by Eileen Atkins, is adapted from correspondence between Virginia Woolf and Vita Sackville-West. Performances are directed by Jane Mandel.

Synonpsis: Vita Sackville-West was a wealthy socialite and aspiring poet. Virginia Woolf was of more modest means, and widely considered to be a brilliant writer. Yet, these two women shared a long and complex relationship. Told mostly through letters that sparkle with wit and insight, Vita and Virginia sheds an intimate and provocative light on these two visionaries as they negotiate what it means to be a sexual woman in their respective worlds.

Sight & Sound: A Night of Music, Poetry and Art!

On Saturday, 73 See Gallery & Design Studio, at 73 Pine St., will have its monthly Sight & Sound event. 

Featured poet for the evening will be Montclair resident Niraj Shah, a longtime writer since his youth, but a bona fide newcomer to professional recitation. Niraj is inspired by a deep inner need to create, and mostly writes about emptiness and heartache. He sometimes writes about religion and current political/economic issues. 

For more info, call (973) 746-8737, or go to www.73seegallery.com. 

Montclair Pre-K Shred-it Day

Do you have unwanted documents, files, bills, and other assorted papers that you have been meaning to shred. Then you are in luck, because this Saturday, from 10 a.m. to noon,Montclair Community Pre-K, at 49 Orange Road, will have its Shred-it Day. 

There is no charge, but donations are welcome. All proceeds will benefit the Sunshine Kids and Montclair Community Pre-K. 

Central Neighborhood Food Drive

On Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon, the Central Presbyterian Church, at 46 Park St., will hold a communitywide food drive to benefit the Human Needs Food Pantry. For more information, call (973) 744-5340.