01:00 AM EST on Thursday, November 13, 2003

COMMUNITY NOTES

GARDEN CLUB: The Somerset Garden Club will meet Tuesday, Nov. 19, at the American Legion Hall, Roosevelt Avenue.

Sue Redding of the Barrington and Hameko Garden Clubs will demonstrate and discuss five place settings and coordinates for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year. The public is invited for a $2 guest fee.

CHRISTMAS FAIR: The Somerset United Methodist Church will hold its Olde Fashioned Christmas Faire from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. tomorrow and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday in Almy Hall, 841 Read Rd.

The fair will feature a silent auction, baked goods, jams, handmade gift items, Christmas items and plants.

There will be a Friday evening dinner choice of clam chowder, clam cakes, chili and baked potatoes, and a meat pie luncheon will be served on Saturday. Saturday will also feature a visit from Santa Claus.

CHRISTMAS FAIR: St. Patrick's Women's Guild will hold its 15th annual bazaar and Christmas fair from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, in the parish center, 306 South St.

The event will feature crafts, games, a silent auction, a children's room with face painting, games, prizes and pictures with Santa Claus.

Breakfast and luncheon items including complete meat pie dinners will also be featured.

LONG TERM CARE: The Somerset Public Library is sponsoring a free workshop on long term care from 6:30 to 8 p.m. today at the library, County Street.

To register, call 508-646-2829.

WREATH SHOWCASE: The Somerset Garden Club and the Friends of the Somerset Public Library will sponsor a Holiday Wreath Showcase at the Somerset Public Library, 1464 County St.

Entries may be dropped off between Dec. 7 and Dec. 12. Awards will be presented at a reception at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14, in the meeting room of the library. Entertainment and refreshments will also be featured.

Wreaths may be constructed of any material -- artificial materials are encouraged, since fresh greens may dry out. Artisans may submit up to three wreaths but only one award will be presented per person. All wreaths should have a title and be ready for hanging.

There are three categories for prizes -- children up to age 10, youths 11 to 16 years old, and adult. Judging will be by representatives of the Somerset Garden Club and the Somerset Public Library.

For more information, call 508-646-2829.

CHRISTMAS BAZAAR: The Christmas Corners Bazaar will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, at the Congregational Christian Church of Somerset, 1411 County St.

The event will feature handcrafted items, new gifts, a silent auction, baked goods, candy, decorations, foods, a country store, books, dolls and stuffed animals.

BOOK GROUP: The Thursday Book Group will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20, in the lounge of the Congregational Christian Church, 1411 County St., to discuss Laura Hillenbrand's Seabiscuit.

For more information, call Paula Durrant at 508-679-6623.

TAI CHI: The Congregational Christian Church of Somerset will begin Tai Chi classes at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 19. The cost for five classes is $30.

Tai chi is a low-stress, low-impact series of positions and exercises that has been proven to have positive health benefits.

For more information, call Paula Durrant at 508-672-6623.

REUNION: The Somerset High School Alumni Association is sponsoring an all-class cocktail and hors d'oeuvres social from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 28, at the Marine Museum of Fall River, 70 Water St. The cost is $10 for the event.

To purchase tickets, call Brian Murphy at 508-679-5518

SPEAKING OF KIDS: Bradley Hospital and Hasbro Children's Hospital will present a Speaking of Kids conference from 8 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, at Somerset High School, 1141 Brayton Ave.

Keynote presenter Richard Solomon will discuss challenges that parents, guardians and educators face as they try to motivate children to succeed in school. Solomon is a licensed clinical psychologist, clinical director of Delta Consultants and author of Parental Deprivation and Child Maltreatment.

Admission is $10. Participants will have the opportunity to attend the keynote address and two workshops. Educators attending the conference are eligible to receive continuing education credits.

For more information, call 1-800-927-1230

20TH REUNION: The Somerset High School Class of 1983 will hold its 20th reunion beginning with cocktails at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29, at the Fall River Country Club. The $37 cost includes hors d'oeuvres, a buffet dinner, dessert and disc jockey.

For more information, call Lori (Chodkowski) Curry at 978-462-2726 or Carla (Brisebois) Betar at 508-325-0964..

AUTISM SUPPORT: The Somerset-Swansea Autism Information Group meets at 7 p.m. the first Tuesday of the month at the Church of Our Saviour, 2112 County St., Somerset.

The group is open to adult family and friends of individuals with autism spectrum disorders.

The November meeting will feature Sasha Golden, a former special education lawyer, who will speak on estate planning and special needs trusts. She will also be available to answer any legal questions.

For more information, call Jen Mullen at 508-674-5446.

SOUTHCOAST PROGRAhe Southcoast Hospitals Group offers the following list of monthly programs in Somerset:

Cardiac Rehabilitation -- meets every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at the Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Center, 1136 GAR Highway.

Feeling Fit Program -- meets Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at the Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Center, 1136 GAR Highway.

For more information on the above programs, call 508-679-7076.

Therapeutic Massage Treatments are offered at Somerset Outpatient Rehabilitation. The cost is $50 per hour or $30 for 30 minutes. For more information, call 508-679-7503.

Pulmonary Rehabilitation is offered at all three hospital sites and in Somerset. A referral from a physician is necessary. For dates or to register for the programs, call 508-675-3202.

SENIOR CITIZENS

Somerset Council on Aging, Town Office, Wood Street, 508-646-2833:

The pitch league meets at 9:30 a.m. Wednesdays.

The weekly exercise class of low-impact aerobics, sponsored by the YMCA, is offered at 9:15 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. The cost is $1.50 per class.

The town nurse's office is in the Council on Aging Senior Center building and is open from 9 a.m. to noon Monday to Friday. The phone number is 508-646-2807.

Podiatry clinics are offered the first and fourth Wednesday of each month with Dr. Alan Lechan. To schedule an appointment, call the council.

Bingo is played at 12:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays. Cold drinks are served in the summer.

Craft classes are held at 10 a.m. on Mondays.

Blood pressure screenings are offered between 9 and noon each weekday at the town nurse's office in the senior center.

Photo identification cards are available between 10 and 11 a.m. Tuesdays. This is a change of day. Seniors should bring proof of age and residency with them. If that day is inconvenient, seniors should call Michelle at the council to set up a more convenient time.

Trips to the Foxwoods Resort Casino have been planned for Dec. 4 (this trip includes a visit to see the Christmas lights at LaSalette Shrine, Attleboro.) The bus will leave the senior center at 7 a.m. and return between 5 and 5:30 p.m. The $15 cost includes a $10 food voucher.

A trip to the Log Cabin in Holyoke has been planned for Wednesday, Nov. 19. The $60 cost includes lunch and the show Laughing at the Legends.

A $10 deposit is required for all trips with the exception of Foxwoods.

Sign-ups for day trips are from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesdays and Fridays.

A medical closet with equipment to loan is in the town nurse's office. For more information, call the town nurse weekday mornings.

Thanksgiving dinners are available to those in need. Residents should call the Council on Aging office by Friday, Nov. 21, to leave names.

The Council on Aging office will be closed Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, Nov. 27 and also on Friday, Nov. 28. The office will reopen Monday, Dec. 1

A special holiday luncheon will be served at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 10. Tickets are $6 for the full course roast beef dinner that will be followed by entertainer Susan Lainey. Tickets will be on sale through Dec. 3.

Somerset Chapter 1193 A A R P

The Somerset Chapter 1193 AARP will meet at 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21, at the Old Town Hall, County Street. Special guest Rep. Patricia Haddad will discuss the new law adopted July 1 that concerns abolishing protection of property through "life estate."

For more information, call Leslie Clift, president, at 508-678-7829 2/5.