01:00 AM EDT on Wednesday, June 9, 2004

POWWOW: The Dighton Intertribal Indian Council will hold a Native American Powwow called Honor Our Elders from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, July 10 and 11, at the North Elementary School, Whetstone Hill Road, off Route 138. The grand entry will be at 1 p.m.

The event will feature Native American drumming, singing, dancing and flute playing, crafts and storytelling.

LaLECHE LEAGUE: The LaLeche League of Somerset/Bristol County meets the second Monday of every month. The next meeting at 6 p.m. Monday, at the Somerset Public Library, 1464 County St. will focus on adjusting to and welcoming the new baby.

For more information, call Sharon at (508)-674-3156

COMMUNITY FAIRE: The Church of Our Saviour, 2112 County St., Route 138, will hold its fourth annual Community Faire from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 19.

The fair will feature a flea market, silent auction, country store and raffles, games, entertainment and food, including chowder clam cakes, stuffed quahogs, chourico and peppers, Caesar wraps and strawberry shortcake.

STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL: The Somerset Baptist Church, 363 High St., Somerset Village will hold its annual Strawberry Festival at 6 p.m. Saturday, June 26.

The event will feature chicken salad on a bed of lettuce, green beans, potato chips, cranberry sauce, dinner rolls and strawberry shortcake for dessert.

Tickets are $7.50 for adults, $4 for children and $7 for two children.

For tickets, call Bel Somers at (508) 674-9419 or Dee Nascimento at (508) 676-3975.

TENNIS TOURNAMENT: The sixth annual Donald J. McNamara Scholarship Tennis Tournament will be held June 18, 19 and 20, at Somerset High School, Grandview Avenue.

The divisions of play will be Men's Singles A, B, and C; Women's Singles, Open Division, and Youth Singles, ages 12 and younger. All draws are limited.

The entry fee is $20 for adults and $12 for students and youth. The entry deadline is Friday. The rain dates for the tournament is June 25, 26 and 27. To register, send name, address, telephone number, and division of play and entry fee to: McNamara Tennis Tournament, 122 Centre St., Somerset 02726.BOOK GROUP: The June meeting of the Thursday Book Group will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 24, in the lounge of the Congregational Christian Church, 1411 County St. The discussion book is The Number One Ladies Detective Agency, by Alexander McCall Smith. For more information, call the church office at (508) 672-6623.

RECREATION DEPARTMENT: The Somerset Recreation Department has planned many programs and events during the summer months.

The nine-week All Day Summer Program begins Monday, June 28, offering sports, games, arts and crafts, videos and field trip activities. The program is open to Somerset residents entering grades one to six. The program is held at Somerset Middle School and runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The fee is $15 for a day or $65 for a week; early drop-offs and late pickups will be available for an additional fee.

The Recreation Department will offer gymnastics, tennis and cheerleading programs to students in kindergarten through grade eight. The five-week gymnastics program will be held Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays beginning June 28 at the North Elementary School. There will be two sessions to choose from -- 9 to 10:15 a.m. or 10:30 to 11:45 a.m. The fee for the program is $35.

The five-week cheerleading program will be held Tuesdays and Thursdays at the same time and location as gymnastics. The fee is $30.

The six-week tennis program will begin Monday, June 28, and will be held Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at the Somerset High School tennis courts. There will be three sessions for the program to choose from -- 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. or 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. The fee is $45.

The Somerset Recreation Department will also offer several week-long clinics throughout the summer. Each participant receives a Somerset Recreation Department T-shirt.

The softball program, open to residents ages 6 to 14, will be held from 8:30 a.m. to noon, June 28 to July 2, at the Ashton Field Softball Complex. The cost is $35.

The baseball program, open to residents ages 6 to 14, will be held from 8:30 a.m. to noon, July 19 to 23 at the South Little League Complex. The cost is $60.

The basketball program, open to residents ages 5 to 15, will be held from 8:30 a.m to noon July 12 to 16 at the Somerset High School gymnasium. The cost is $50.

The field hockey program, open to residents entering grades six to nine, will be held from 9 a.m. to noon, July 19 to 23, for beginners and from July 26 to 30 for experienced players at the Somerset Middle School. The cost is $60.

A football clinic will be held Aug. 16 to 20, for students in grades six through eight from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Somerset High School. The cost is $60.

A four-week children's Sport Chambara Self Defense course will be open to children ages 6 to 13 and run Mondays, July 12 to Aug. 2, at the Montella Academy of Self-Defense. The cost is $40. The combative sport of Chambara is derived from anicient Japanese sword fighting. With advances in sword making technology, the sword is now easy to practice and control without pain or injury. The program helps youth burn off extra energy and taches honor, respect and good sportsmanship.

BASKETBALL LEAGUE: The Somerset Recreation Department will hold its seven-week Sunday Night Recreational Outdoor Basketball League from 5 to 9 p.m. beginning Sunday, July 11. On that date, an open evaluation to determine teams will be held at the Pottersville School basketball courts. The fee is $45 for one child and $40 for each additional family member.

Registration for the program is in the Recreation Department office at Town Hall, 140 Wood St. For more information, call (508) 646-2808.

RIVER RUN: The Somerset Recreation Department will hold its annual July 4 five-mile River Run Road Race at 9 a.m. beginning at Somerset High School, Luther Avenue entrance.

Participants can begin checking in at 8 a.m. The registration fee for all applications received before June 18 is $10 and $12 after that date. All participants will receive a July 4 River Run T-Shirt.

For an application, call the recreation office at (508) 646-2808.

ART EXHIBIT: The Somerset Library, 1464 County St., will host an exhibit of children's book illustration to June 26.

The Freelance Artists Network, based in Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island, is a consortium of artists and illustrators who have launched a traveling exhibit to showcase their art and share their published work at libraries throughout the region.

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. The group is open to adult family and friends of individuals with autism spectrum disorders. For information, call Jen Mullen at (508) 674-5446.

SENIOR CITIZENS

Somerset Council on Aging, Town Office, Wood Street, (508) 646-2833, is planning the following:

Thepitch 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 exercise class will suspend for the summer on Thursday, June 24 and will resume on Tuesday, Sept. 7.

The town nurse's office, in the Council on Aging Senior Center building, 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 Wednesdays 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.Seniors should bring proof of age and residency. If that day is inconvenient, seniors should call Michelle at the council to set up a more convenient time.

A trip to the Foxwoods Resort Casino has have been planned for tomorrow. 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 and more.

A Horizon Casino Cruise trip will be held Thursday, Aug. 26. The $40 includes a full buffet, transportation, gambling and entertainment.

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

Signups 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.

A coney island hot dog luncheon will be held Thursday, July 1, at the senior center. Tickets will be on sale beginning Friday.

The senior center will be closed Monday, July 5 in observance of the Independence Day.