Regional

At the Lloyd Center: The Lloyd Center’s Young Naturalist program will host its Creepy Crawly Critters workshop, for ages 5 through 7, tomorrow and Thursday, from 9:30 a.m. to noon, at Lloyd Center Headquarters, 430 Potomska Rd., in Dartmouth.

Children will discover the world of insects, spiders and worms with a close-up look . Venture out into the woods to turn over logs and rocks in search of hidden creatures. Make their own terrarium.

Fees are members, $45; nonmembers: $54. Registration is required

Other events through the Lloyd Center include Clambake XXIII “Simply, the Best!,” Friday, in Demarest Lloyd State Park, Barney’s Joy Road, in Dartmouth. Personal “patron” and corporate “sponsorship” levels vary.

The event includes an open bar, dinner, dancing, and a silent auction. For reservations, call the Clambake Hot Line at 558-2916 or visit www.lloydcenter.org/events-clambake.htm.

Discovering New England Ferns will be held Sunday from 1 to 3:30 p.m., at Lloyd Center Headquarters, 430 Potomska Rd., in Dartmouth.

Instructor Garry Plunkett, NEWFS Certificate Program graduate and Co-chair Tiverton, R.I., Open Space Commission, with teach participants to appreciate and identify some of the ferns of New England. As participants begin to learn the forms, growing habits, and garden uses of native ferns, they will become acquainted with the fern life cycle and identification characteristics. The group will focus on the 12 to 15 most common species and habitats of local ferns.

Fees are members, $25; nonmembers, $30. Registration is required.

For more information or to register, call the center’s event registration line at 558-2918 or visit our Web site www.lloydcenter.org and register online.

Cape Verdean Music at UMD: The Center for Portuguese Studies and Culture at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth announced the start of its Summer Program in Portuguese Cultural Series with a concert by Lena Timas tomorrow at 8 p.m. The concert will be held in the College of Visual and Performing Arts, Recital Hall, 285 Old Westport Rd., in North Dartmouth.

Timas is accompanied by the group VOZ E CORDA (Ze Timas, Amadeus, Roy, Tchico Evora, Antero, Marcelo), along with special guest singer and piano player Benvindo Cruz.

For more information, contact the Center for Portuguese Studies and Culture at 999-8255 or e-mail j1fernandes@umassd.edu. or visit www.portstudies.umassd.edu.

Fall River

Open auditions: Open auditions for Fall River Catches A Star talent contest will be held tomorrow evening at 5 p.m., at Swede’s Café, at Bank and Purchase sreets.

The talent contest, open for vocalists only, is part of Fall River Celebrates America. This year’s festival, themed “Our Community’s Family Festival,” will be held Aug. 8 through 10, at Heritage State Park and Battleship Cove.

Auditions are on a first come, first served basis and each contestant must bring a CD with the song of their choice, preferably without vocals.

Candidates do not need to pre-register. Participants will be divided into three age categories: 12 and under; 13 through 18; and 18 and over. Candidates under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Thirty semi-finalists will perform Aug. 9, at Fall River Celebrates America. Only half will advance to the finals the following day. Winners will receive $500 cash each. Corporate sponsorships are still available.

For more information, call the Fall River Chamber at 676-8226.

Grilling class: Abbey Grill, 100 Rock St., will host a grilling class with Chef Theodore Karousos, Thursday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The cost is $30 per person.

Call (774) 526-3095 or the International Institute of Culinary Arts office at 675-9305 to reserve a space.

Rehoboth

The Best meeting: The next The Best is Yet to Come meeting will be held Thursday at 1 p.m., in Gladys L. Hurrell Senior Center, 55 Bay State Rd. Members are reminded to bring their choice of items to be donated to the Rehoboth Food Pantry.

Upcoming Activities include: July 17, members bowling. The group will meet at the Senior Center at 12:45 p.m.; and Aug. 14, members will take the ferry out of Providence to Newport. Meet at the Senior Center at 10:15 a.m.

New members are always welcome. Call Pat Higson at 252-4602 for details.

Contra dance: A New England contra dance will be held Friday, at 8 p.m. in Goff Memorial Hall, 124 Bay State Rd. All dances will be taught by caller Sue Rosen. Music will be performed by Rumblestrip, with Nat Hewitt, Liza Constable, and Glen Loper. Beginners are welcome. Dance partners not necessary. Admission is $7. For information, call 252-6375 or visit www.contradancelinks.com/rehoboth.html.

Seekonk

Classes at the Library: Seekonk Public Library, 410 Newman Ave., will offer computer classes to SAILS library cardholders. The library also offers classes in Microsoft Office programs such as Word and Excel.

Classes offered are: tomorrow Excel I: the Basics, from 1:30 to 3 p.m.; July 17, Internet I: the Basics, from 6 to 7:30 p.m.; July 22, Introduction to Computers I, from 6 to 7:30 p.m.; and July 23, Word II: Editing and Columns, from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Registration is required. Call the adult services department at 336-8230, ext. 130, for more information and to register.

Somerset

Armchair travel: The Friends of the Somerset Public Library will hold its free annual travel program Thursday evenings at 7 p.m. in Somerset Public Library’s Meeting Room, 1464 County St., beginning this Thursday.

Travel guides and destinations include: Thursday, Betty Marsden, Baltic Sea Cruise; July 17, Judy Barrowclough, Grand Canyon and the southwest; July 24, Steven Brauch, Krakow, Poland; and July 31, Donald Setters, historic Somerset.

Tickets are required for each event. Tickets are free and can be picked up at the library. For tickets, stop by or call the library at 646-2829 or e-mail the staff at somersetpl@sailsinc.org.

Swansea

At the library: Swansea Public Library, 69 Main St., offers an easy way to clear fines in addition to helping the Ernest W. Bell Animal Shelter, in Swansea.

The library will waive library fees for a donation of a canned cat and dog food. The amount of the fine doesn’t matter. Drop off items and overdue materials during posted library hours at the circulation desk at Swansea Public Library. Charges for lost or damaged items cannot be waived.

The food items will be collected for overdue fees this month. All collected animal food will be donated to the Ernest W. Bell Animal Shelter. Those who don’t have fines are welcome to donate anyway and help the shelter.