01:00 AM EST on Friday, March 10, 2006

REGIONAL

VOICE OF THE FAITHFUL: The South Coast Affiliate of the Voice of the Faithful will meet from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, March 16, at the Friends' Meeting House, 103 Marion Rd., Route 6.

WINE CLASSES: The Dartmouth Building Supply's kitchen design facility, Route 6, North Dartmouth, continues to offer cooking events and classes in cooperation with the South Coast Learning Network.

Wine classes with Ron Fortier and Mike Daigle -- "The Wine Guys" will be offered from 6:30 to 8 p.m., Wednesdays, April 5, 12 and 19. The cost is $25 for South Coast Learning Network members and $29 for others.

POSTHUMOUS BIOGRAPHY: Baker Books, 69 State Rd., Dartmouth, will host an evening celebrating the life of Gerald Ribeiro and his posthumous autobiography, This Path I Took. Mr. Ribeiro died in 2002. His wife, Shelly Perry, and his editor, Robert French, will be on hand to discuss his life.

Born in 1951 and raised in New Bedford, he emerged from poverty, discrimination, and drug addiction to become a highly-respected advocate for drug treatment, an AIDS activist, and community leader for social change.

SUMMER ART PROGRAegistrations are now being accepted for the 2006 SMARTS Summer Institute. Since 1986 this arts program has provided students with the opportunity to study creative writing, dance, drama, film/video, instrumental, strings, vocal and visual arts at three levels.

The Elementary Program is for students in grades 1 to 3, and runs from July 3 to 21, the Junior Program is for students in grades 4 to 7 and runs from July 3 to 28, and the Senior Program is for students in grades 7 to 12 and runs July 10 to Aug. 4. All programs are held Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., at the Brennan Middle School.

This summer's theme is "Action/Reaction," and all programs are taught by master artists/educators. The SMARTS Summer Institute emphasizes the importance of process rather than product, and all program levels provide discipline-based skill and technique development, critical thinking and problem solving, aesthetics and performance experiences. The SMARTS Summer Institute embraces all ability levels and offers challenges that empower students to make connections and build self-awareness and self-esteem.

Scholarships for the summer programs are available through the SMARTS office by calling (508) 222-8484.

ATTLEBORO

BIRTHDAY PROGRAM: The Greater Attleboro Area Council of Children has a Happy Birthday Backpack Program that offers children a celebration package for their special days.

Happy Birthday Backpacks are placed at food pantries and social service agencies for parents in need. Parents must be referred by an agency to be able to receive a birthday backpack.

The Greater Attleboro Area Council of Children raises its own funds to purchase the backpack contents, and is seeking help from groups, businesses and individuals who live in Attleboro, North Attleboro, Mansfield, Norton, Rehoboth and Seekonk to replenish its contents.

Donations of new backpacks, cake mixes, frosting, candles, party decorations, streamers, balloons, paper plates, cups, napkins, plastic ware, party invitations and party favors, enough for at least eight children. Also needed are small gifts for the birthday child that might include movie passes, food certificates or small gift certificates to a bookstore. The program assists children ages 3 to 18.

For more information on how to donate, call Nikki Ross, chairperson, at (508) 761-6076.

Kids' Party: Sturdy Memorial Hospital will hold a Kids' Party tomorrow in the hospital's Rice-Webb Auditorium, 211 Park St.

Families with young children are welcome to attend this party, which is in celebration of all the babies born each year at Sturdy Memorial Hospital. Various activities have been planned for the event including a magic show, a coloring table, kids crafts, books, music and more. Tours of the hospital's maternity unit will also be offered.

BASIC TRAINING: Navy Seaman Nareth Phath, son of Noeurn Chea and Vann Phath of Attleboro, recently completed basic training at the Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill.

He is a 2000 graduate of Attleboro High School.

ESSAY CONTEST: In honor of National Volunteer Week, April 23-29, Sturdy Memorial Hospital, Rockland Trust and the Greater Attleboro Women of Today are sponsoring an essay contest open to students in grades 6 through 12.

Essays should address the theme "Volunteers Make a Difference Every Day."

Essays will be judged on originality, clarity of thought and writing skills. Essays should be typed, double spaced and be no more than 500 words. All entries must be received by April 4.

Winners will receive savings bonds donated by Rockland Trust, and the first-place winners will be asked to read their winning essays during the annual Volunteer Day ceremonies at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 26, at City Hall.

FALL RIVER

LIVE PERFORMANCES: The Narrows Center for the Arts, 16 Anawan St., will host the following performances:

Friday, March 17, at 8 p.m., Kathleen Edwards. Admission is $15 in advance and $17 at the door.

Saturday, March 18, 8 p.m., Walter Wolfman Washington. Admission is $18 in advance and $20 at the door.

ADOPTION INFORMATION: Adoption by Choice, an adoption and pregnancy counseling program of Catholic Social Services of the Diocese of Fall River, will hold an information session for individuals and families interested in domestic newborn or international adoption. The session will be held from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, March 26, at Catholic Social Services, 1600 Bay St. The snow date is Sunday, April 2.

To register, call (508) 674-4681.

CORNED BEEF DINNER: The Fall River Council on Aging will hold a corned beef and cabbage luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, at the Niagara-Maplewood Senior Center, 690 Stafford Rd.

Tickets are $8.50 and are available to the first 100 seniors.

To reserve, call Patti Linhares at the Niagara-Maplewood Senior Center at (508) 324-2727.

NORTH ATTLEBORO

GARDEN CLUB: The Angle Tree Garden Club will hold a Stepping Stone Workshop at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, March 16, at the Florence Hayward Sweet House, 44 Peck St.

Club member Joyce Chase will help other members make their stepping stones that will be poured from cement and decorated with mosaics, shells and other materials.

SEEKONK

IMMUNIZATIONS: Pneumonia (Pneumococcal) and Tetanus (Td) immunizations will be available by appointment on Wednesday, March 22, at Seekonk Town Hall, in the selectmen's room.

Immunizations are available for 65 and older or for those with a medical condition that weakens the immune system.

Pneumonia immunizations may only be needed once in a lifetime. Adults should receive tetanus immunizations every 10 years.

To set up an appointment, call Maureen Cardarelli at (508) 222-0118, ext. 1367.

DEVELOPMENTAL SCREENINGS: The Seekonk Public Schools will offer free developmental screenings for three to four year-old children living in Seekonk.

Screenings will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. Wednesdays, April 5, 12 and 26.

To schedule an appointment, call Mrs. Halpin or Mrs. Delude at (508) 761-7565.

SOMERSET

PASTEL PAINTING: The Somerset Public Library, 1464 County St., will host award-winning artist Gregory John Maichack in a Pastel Painting Workshop from 6 to 8 p.m., Monday, March 20.

To register for the free class, open to ages 15 and older, call (508) 646-2829.

The project is supported in part by the Friends of the Somerset Public Library and from a grant from the Somerset Cultural Council.

BARGAIN BASEMENT SALE: The Congregational Christian Church of Somerset, 1411 County St.., will hold its annual Spring Bargain Basement Sale from 2 to 7 p.m., Friday, April 7, and from 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, April 8.

The sale will feature reasonably priced men's, women's and children's clothing, as well as used book, games, glassware, linens, small appliances and other miscellaneous items.

Donations of clean usable items are welcome but not Reader's Digests books, textbooks, magazines or encyclopedias, televisions or computer equipment.

SWANSEA

BASEBALL MEETING: The Swansea Independent Baseball League will hold its next membership meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, at the Nike Site Playing Complex, located off Sharps Lot Road. For more information, call (508) 675-3213.

You can send community news items to Helen Arruda by e-mail (massbureauATprojo.com), by fax at (508) 676-6140, or by regular mail to The Providence Journal, Massachusetts News Bureau, 1700 GAR Highway, Somerset 02726.