Regional

Transportation for senior citizens: Community Connections offers wheelchair-accessible vans with caring and experienced drivers to transport elderly residents to their medical appointments. The service is available on Tuesdays and Thursdays by appointment between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. for elders who live in Fall River, Swansea, Somerset, Westport and Freetown.

To schedule a ride, call Community Connections, 675-0306, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. at least 24 hours ahead of an appointment and ask for JoAnn Beland.

This service is made possible by a grant from Bristol Elder Services Inc. through the Massachusetts Executive Office of Elder Affairs, with additional support from Community Connections. To help defray costs, a voluntary and confidential donation of $10 per round trip is requested, but not required. No one will be denied a ride because of inability to donate.

Anyone who would like to contribute to this program can send donations to Community Connections Inc., Transportation Department, 1706 President Ave., Fall River, MA 02720. To learn more about Community Connections programs and services, call (800) 308-1321 or visit www.communityconnectionsinc.org.

Fall River

St. Vincent’s art show: More than 50 Saint Vincent’s students displayed their art collection for staff, visitors, and families June 10.

Under the guidance of art teacher Jamie McMillan, the work was produced with a mix of medias such as oil pastel, sand, tempera paint on paper, crayons, acrylic paint on wood, and fabric.

The theme of the program was “Arts Outside of American Art” and the students created sand art of Tibet, West African bass drums, and Australian didgeridoos. They created Mexican Ojo de Dios or God’s Eye, African mats used to decorate tables during Kwanzaa, and self-portraits from oil pastels.

Saint Vincent’s is the largest residential treatment and special education center in Southeastern Massachusetts for troubled children and youth.

New life for an old van: Through a partnership between the Southeastern Regional Transit Authority and the City of Fall River, Mayor Robert Correia has accepted a refurbished 18-passenger handicapped accessible van to be used to help citizens meet their transportation for medical appointments and grocery shopping.

The 1997 Ford El Dorado van equipped with a handicapped lift transports 16 seated passengers and up to two passengers on wheelchairs. As part of its program to recycle vans that will be taken off the road, Southeastern Regional Transit Authority completely overhauled the van. The work done included a full tune up, new paint job, reconditioned handicapped lift, and additional seats. During the course of the year, the bus will provide an average of 5,000 shopping and social trips to Fall River’s seniors, and will be used for special events, such as providing transportation for Senior Sweetheart contestants every October.

Rehoboth

New playground: Community Covenant Church, at 615 Tremont St., invites the public to bring children to the church’s new playground.

The playground is available for anyone to use, anytime. The church does ask that parents or guardians be aware of safety and see that there is adult supervision.

Seekonk

At the Y: Newman YMCA held its annual Hawaiian luau family night June 20. More than 400 people wearing grass skirts, Hawaiian shirts and flowered leis participated. Parents and children splashed and played in the swimming pool with dozens of inflatable dolphins. Members of all ages participated in an introduction to basic hula dancing.

Contact the Newman YMCA at 336-7103 for a list of family events that include Swimming with the Dolphins, Backyard Movie Nights, Eat Cheap Y Family Night and Parent’s Night Out.

Newman YMCA, 472 Taunton Ave., has summer memberships available that include use of the pool, wellness center, open gym, and all aerobic, yoga, Pilates, Zumba, and group cycling classes. Newman YMCA offers military discounts to families who have a family member deployed for service.

Westport

Medicare recipient help: SHINE announced that those who have Medicare and have limited income and resources, may qualify for extra help paying for prescription drugs.

People with annual income below $15,600 for a single person, or $21,000 if married and living with your spouse, may qualify for extra help. Your resources, including your savings and stocks, but not counting your home or car, must be under $11,900 for a single person or under $23,970 for a married couple, to qualify for extra help paying for Medicare prescription drug costs. The amount of extra help depends on income and resources.

Individuals still need to join a Medicare prescription drug plan for Medicare to pay for drug costs. Those who qualify for extra help, will have continuous drug coverage and will pay only a small amount for your prescriptions.