THEATER PERFORMANCE: Arthur Miller’s Crucible will be held Nov. 21 and 22 at 8 p.m. on the Main Stage at the Bristol Community College’s Jackson Arts Center Theater, 777 Elsbree St. Tickets are $14 or $6 for students and senior citizens. For information, call (508) 678-2811 ext. 2440 or email rylan.brenner@bristolcc.edu.

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AUTHOR READING: Local author, Jeanne Prevost, will read from two of her most recently published books Nov. 22 at 10:30 a.m. in the Meeting Room of the Main Library, 104 North Main St. Prevost’s books are, Quequechan: Forgotten River (a tale about the powerful and nurturing Quequechan River that once played such a vital role in our city’s history) and It’s Raining Cats and Cats! (the first book for children which focuses on the cat population problem). After the story presentation, there will be time for questions and answers, as well as the opportunity for children to test their knowledge of cats with a game of Cat Jeopardy. The winner will win a book.

Prevost lives near the Quequechan River in Fall River and teaches at the elementary school in Somerset. Patrons will have the opportunity to purchase books and have their copies signed by the author at the end of the program. For information, contact Paula Costa Cullen, administrator, or David Mello, supervisor of Children’s Services, (508) 324-2700.

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SHIP MODEL EXHIBIT TO OPEN: Battleship Cove will unveil a new permanent ship model exhibit Nov. 22 at 11 a.m. The model will be located on the third deck of the USS Massachusetts and the exhibit will showcase the craftsmanship of Lou Durso, master model-builder and founder of BaD Ship Models, located in Westford, N. Y.

For over 24 years Durso has been creating museum-quality replicas of the ships that have served in defense of the United States since the World War II. Valued from $10,000 to $15,000, the donated collection includes a diverse selection of warships, including the USS Stark (the only US Navy warship to be struck by two air-to-surface Exocet missiles) and the USS Charles Francis Adams (a guided-missile destroyer named in honor of the husband of the woman who christened the battleship Massachusetts).

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INTERFAITH THANKGIVING SERVICE: An interfaith Thanksgiving service to prepare for the opening of the holiday season will be held Nov. 23 at 1 p.m. at Bethel AME Church, 146 Hanover St. The public is invited to participate.

Following the service, there will be a presentation of “Person to Person, A Mother Teresa Project,” a play that challenges its audience to see God in the faces of the most marginalized, the least fortunate members of our community. The play was composed by Fall River native Christin Jezak, with music composed by her brother Nate Jezak, and was chosen as one of the works of art to be performed last summer at World Youth Day in Australia.

The afternoon will also feature entertainment by young people who will perform in the church hall where refreshments will be served. Participants include “Grace,” a liturgical dance group, and “Voices of Hope,” the youth choir of Bethel AME Church. The afternoon is sponsored by the Interfaith Council of Greater Fall River Inc.

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NEIGHBORS TO MEET: The Niagara Neighborhood Association will hold a meeting Nov. 24 at 6:30 p.m. at the Wm. S. Greene School. After a brief business meeting the guest speakers will be Christian McCloskey, youth coordinator of Fall River and Jenny DiBiasi, executive director of United Neighbors. They will explain the upcoming “Peace Summit for Spring 2009.” Members and guests are asked to use the Jackson Street entrance leading to the community room. Refreshments will be available following the meeting. Any neighborhood residents wishing to attend are welcome.

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AUTHOR TO SPEAK: The Friends of the Fall River Public Library will host a talk by author Dolly Bentson about her book Hello Dolly: Growing Up in the Late 1930s in Fall River, Nov. 25 at 7 p.m. in the Meeting Room of the Main Library, 104 No. Main St. Anyone interested in this fascinating time in the City’s history will enjoy the wonderful compelling stories written by Bentson.

After her talk, she will hold a book signing, with her book available for purchase. There will also be time for those who have any questions about the book. Refreshments will be served. For information, contact Library Administrator Paula Costa Cullen.

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CHRISTMAS PARTY: The Woman’s Club of Newport County will hold its annual Christmas Party Celebration Dec. 3 at McGovern’s Restaurant on Shove Street, Fall River. Members are asked to use the gazebo (lower level) entrance.

The social hour will begin at 11:30 a.m. followed by a luncheon at noon. Claudia Waddicor and Doris Drapeau are in charge of reservations. For transportation, call any officer or board member in advance.

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THEATER PERFORMANCES: The Little Theatre of Fall River will present The Best Christmas Pageant Ever Dec. 4, 5 and 6 at 8 p.m. and Dec. 7 at 2 p.m. in The Firebarn, Prospect Street at Highland Avenue. Tickets are $16 each. Performances will also be held Dec. 11 and 12 at 8 p.m., Dec. 13 at 2 and 8 p.m. and Dec. 14 at 7 p.m. For information, call (508) 675-1852.

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HOLIDAY EXTRAVAGANZA DINNER: The Bristol Community College Culinary Arts program will offer a Holiday Extravaganza Dinner Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. at the college’s Commonwealth Center, G-Building, 777 Elsbree St. The event will include the music of Malloi, a regional New England six piece band of Berklee educated musicians and vocalists that has been together for 20 years.

The annual event is put on by the students in the Culinary Arts degree programs. The students studying culinary and baking and pastry arts use the opportunity to showcase their skills. Handmade gingerbread houses, succulent desserts, and ice carvings will set the stage.

The menu begins with a hot and cold appetizer reception, with an open wine and beer bar. A multi-item hot buffet line will feature hand-carved prime rib of beef au jus. The meal ends with a dessert buffet, featuring cakes and pastries prepared by the baking and pastry arts students.

The event is open to the public. Tickets are $45 per person and seating is limited. Tickets must be purchased in advance, no tickets will be available at the door. For information, contact the Culinary Arts program at Bristol Community College, (508) 678-2811, ext. 2111.

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BE A SANTA TO A SENIOR CITIZEN PROGRAM: Local senior citizens who might otherwise be forgotten this holiday season will receive gifts and companionship through the “Be a Santa to a Senior” program sponsored by Home Instead Senior Care of North Dartmouth and offered through the Council on Aging, Adult Day Health and area WalMart stores.

Now through Dec. 10, shoppers can select ornaments from “Be a Santa to a Senior” trees at WalMart locations in Fall River, North Dartmouth and Fairhaven. Each ornament lists the first name of a senior in need, along with gift requests. Holiday shoppers can purchase gifts and return them unwrapped, along with the ornament, to the tree location. Gifts range from $5 to $25.

Home Instead Senior Care then enlists the volunteer help of the community and its staff to collect, wrap and distribute the gifts. A wrapping party is scheduled for the week of Dec. 8 and deliveries will take place the week of Dec. 15.

Anyone interested in donating or volunteering can contact Home Instead Senior Care at (508) 984-7900. Businesses are encouraged to adopt groups of seniors. For more information about the program, event partners, and tree locations, log on to www.beasantatoasenior.com.

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HOLIDAY GIFTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS NEEDED: St. Vincent’s, a residential treatment and special education center, is asking for donations of Christmas presents and contributions for its Children’s Holiday Festivities. This Christmas, over 120 children and youth, ages 4 to 21, separated from their families for various reasons, will wake up on Christmas morning at Saint Vincent’s. The center hopes that they wake up to brightly wrapped packages, boxes and bags, but, it cannot happen without the generosity of the community - local businesses, community organizations and caring individuals.

Each child at St. Vincent’s is asked to compose a “Wish List” and it’s St. Vincent’s job to make every effort to fulfill as many of the wishes as possible. Many children at the home have not experienced having a wish come true in their young lives.

Call (508) 235-3310 or (508) 235-3413 to inquire how to donate holiday gifts or make contributions to support St. Vincent’s youth-related activities and programs.

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HOLIDAY BREAKFAST: The Parents Advisory Council at Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School, 251 Stone Haven Rd., will hold its annual holiday breakfast in the school’s Tea Room, Dec. 7 from 8 to 11 a.m. The menu will include pancakes, eggs and sausage. Tickets, which will be sold at the door, will be $6 for adults, free for children under age 10. Also, donations of canned goods and a new toy for the baskets for the holidays will be collected.

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ALUMNAE ASSOCIATION LUNCHEON: St. Anne’s Alumnae Association will celebrate the holiday season Dec. 7 at 12:30 p.m. at McGovern’s Restaurant, Shove Street. Reservations must be made by Dec. 7 by contacting Claire Sullivan, P. O. Box N659, Westport, Mass. 02790. The menu will include a choice of turkey or baked scrod. There will be a Yankee swap among attendees or a donation to a favorite charity will be accepted. Guests and new members are welcome. For information, call (508) 674-2154.

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AN AFTERNOON WITH CLARA: Spindle City Ballet will present “An Afternoon with Clara,” Dec. 7 from 3 to 4 p.m. at its studios, 288 Plymouth Ave., second floor. The event is for youngsters between 3- and 8-years-old who are invited to join Clara for an afternoon of dance, fun and special treats from The Land of Sweets. Prince and princess attire is encouraged. Tickets are $25 each and must be purchased in advance by calling (508) 536-6073. Information can also be found at www.Spindlecityballet.org.

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BENEFIT RAFFLE: Michael’s Fund is holding a benefit raffle for a “1 in 100” chance to win a vacation in an antique, private, stone house in the Umbertide, Citta di Castello area of Umbria, Italy ( www.casadoliva.com). A fundraiser and the drawing will be held Dec. 9 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Mesa 21 Restaurant, 21 Lindsey St. Tickets are $100 each and the ticket winner need not be present to win.

To purchase a ticket, send checks payable to “Michael’s Fund” to Michael’s Fund, 966 Walnut St., Fall River, Mass. 02720.

Michael’s Fund is a non-profit 501(c) 3 organization which functions solely through the efforts of dedicated volunteers. All monies raised are applied directly toward the funding of marrow donor recruitment drives.

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ART CLASSES OFFERED: The Greater Fall River Art Association will offer a variety of art classes this fall. Watercolor painting, acrylic painting and digital photography will be taught by Jackie William (508) 676-7642; oil painting taught by Carol Lynn Hall, (401) 816-0943; and children’s art classes (401) 625-5574. Classes will meet for six weeks at the GFRAA, 80 Belmont St. For more information, visit fallriverart.org.

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STAMP CLUB: The Fall River Stamp Club will meet Dec. 9 at 7 p.m. in the conference room at Stop & Shop, Marianno Bishop Boulevard. The club meets the second Tuesday of every month at this location. All adult stamp collectors from the surrounding communities are welcome. Meetings include discussions on stamps, slide shows and swap sessions. For information, contact Bob Kitchen, 508 674-0230 or bobkitchen2@msn.com.

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AWARD RECEIVED: Fall River Deaconess Home has received an award of $6,500 in recognition of its “outstanding contribution…to the well-being of young women” from The Pediatric Physicians’ Organization at Childrens’ (PPOC). PPOC is affiliated with Childrens’ Hospital, Boston.

Deaconess was nominated for this honor by Dr. Joyce Monac, founder of Swansea Pediatrics, and a member of the faculty of the Warren Alpert School of Medicine at Brown University.

Fall River Deaconess Home provides multiple levels of service to adolescent females and their families, including family and community support and stabilization, as well as a variety of residential and educational programs.

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SATELLITE LOCATION ANNOUNCED: Southcoast Hospitals Group has announced plans to open a satellite oncology location at its Charlton Memorial Hospital site in Fall River. The satellite location at Charlton, which will include both radiation therapy and medical oncology, will address the region’s high cancer rate and need for comprehensive cancer services. It will operate as an extension of Southcoast’s new cancer center in Fairhaven that was announced earlier this year.

The oncology satellite will be located in the Mitchell Therapy Building on Charlton’s main campus. The entrance will be accessible off Prospect Street in the back of the hospital and will have designated parking with valet parking available. Rehabilitation Services currently provided out of this location will move to another location.