Regional

Women’s groups host joint dinner: The women’s club SWANS and the Women’s Network RI will host a joint dinner event Sept. 18 from 6 to 9 p.m. at McGovern’s restaurant, 310 Shove St., Fall River. News anchor, Allison Alexander, of ABC6 News, will be the guest speaker. Her talk is titled “Smart Women in Tough Times.”

Donations will be accepted of gently used purses to be given to Big Sisters of RI. Additionally, a raffle to benefit Big Sisters will be held during the evening. Donna Mac, of Big Sisters (previously of Vital Women Radio) will speak briefly about the benefits of “clearing your clutter.”

Each of the hosting networking groups provide women with regular opportunities to support one another professionally, to make new contacts and/or to just enjoy meeting other women in the area.

The deadline to register is Sept. 16 by visiting www.wcswans.com (694-1284) or www.womensnetworkri.com (480-2465).

Barrington

Exercise for senior citizens: The Bayside Family YMCA, 70 West St., will offer its Silver Sneakers exercise program Monday and Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. in the aerobics studio from Sept. 3 to Oct. 24. The program is free for members, $50 for nonmembers. Financial assistance is available. Registration for members is under way, and registration for nonmembers begins Aug. 25. For information and to register, call 245-2444.

Bristol

Benefit for Save Bristol Harbor: A summer’s end celebration to benefit Save Bristol Harbor will be held Sept. 7 from 2 to 6 p.m. at the home of Joe and Betty Brito, 161 Poppasquash Rd., rain or shine.

The afternoon will include a barbecue, music by Ed Massa, and an artists and authors silent auction. The auction will include autographed copies of books that come with lunch with well-known Rhode Island authors, such as former Sen. Lincoln Chafee, David Macaulay, Mark Patinkin, Ann Hood, and Nancy Verde Barr, executive chef to Julia Child.

Tickets are $40 for adults, $25 for children 12 and under, and are available at Paper, Packaging & Panache, 418 Hope St., by calling 253-6084 or by going to www.savebristolharbor.com. Contributions in excess of $40 are tax-deductible. Reservations should be made by Friday. A limited number of tickets will be available at the door. For information about Save Bristol Harbor and directions to the event, visit www.savebristolharbor.com.

Walking tours: The Bristol Historical & Preservation Society will hold its next walking tour Thursday at 3:30 p.m. Led by Ray Battcher, the tour is titled “Shaded High Street.” Tours, which are $5 for nonmembers and free to members, begin from the society’s headquarters, 48 Court St. For information, call 253-7223.

East Providence

Trip to horse show: The East Providence Planning Department is planning a trip to see the Friesian of Majesty horse show in Putney, Vt., Sept. 24. Reservations can be made starting on Friday by calling Deborah Rochford, City Hall, 435-7513.

Tables and spaces available: Spaces are available for the second annual pumpkin fair/yard sale to be held Oct. 18 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the lawn of the Church of the Epiphany, 1336 Pawtucket Ave. This fundraiser features thousands of pumpkins and gourds decorating the church’s lawn along with tables offering yard sale items and crafters showing their wares. Spaces are available for $15 each for crafters or those hosting their own mini yard sale. The church has some tables available for use on a first-come, first served basis. For information and to reserve a space, call Susan McDonald, 728-4382 or sewsoo@cox.net.

Little Compton

Library program: The Brownell Library, the Commons, will present Dave Crawley Thursday at 3 p.m. Crawley, who writes dog and cat poems, will share his children’s poetry for the audience. All are welcome.

Middletown

Summer concert: The public is invited to a free summer concert Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at Blenheim-Newport, 303 Valley Rd. The evening features the Larry Brown Swinglane Orchestra with big-band classics. The concert is free and open to the public. Those interested in attending are asked to call in advance, 849-0031.

Benefit for AIDS Project RI: The first “Bar AIDS” event will be held Thursday to benefit AIDS Project Rhode Island. Participating bars and clubs will donate 25 percent of their proceeds to APRI on Thursday. In the Newport County area, Scotty’s Big Dawg’s Pub, 823 West Main Rd., number 10, Middletown, will participate. For information, call 831-5522, ext. 3364, or e-mail Stephen@aidsprojectri.org.

Newport

Annual block hunt: The Newport Recreation Department has added children’s performer John Nelson, who sings and plays guitar, to follow the famous block hunt Thursday at Easton’s Beach, Memorial Boulevard. The block hunt will begin at 5:15 p.m. and is open to children ages 3-12. The 45 minute performance will begin at 6 or at the conclusion of the presentation of bicycles to block hunt winners.

Parking will be free after 4:30. The carousel will be open and snack bar refreshments will be available during the event. The event is held outdoors on the boardwalk, and will be canceled if weather conditions are poor. The recording at Easton’s Beach, 845-5810, will have any cancellations after 4 p.m. Thursday. Beach is on Memorial Boulevard in Newport.

Moonlight carousel: Easton’s Beach will host a special evening of “moonlight carousel” rides Saturday. Normally closed at 6 p.m., the carousel will be open until 8:30 p.m. Rides are $1 each and discount ticket books can be purchased, which offer 20 rides for $10 and do not expire.

From 6 to 8:30 p.m. all riders will be eligible to register for a free raffle with the lucky winner getting to choose between a new boogie board or skimboard from Rosie’s Beach Store.

The concession stand will remain open until 8 p.m. and parking will be free after 5 p.m. (the beach lot closes at 9 p.m.)

Community dinner: Third Ward Newport City Councilor Kate Leonard has scheduled another community dinner, Sept. 18 at 6 p.m. at the Hibernian Hall on Wellington Avenue. All Third Ward residents are invited to attend. There is no charge. Dinner will be followed by discussion/updates on city issues. All those planning to attend need to call Kate Leonard before Sept. 10 at 841-KATE for a reservation.

Fall exhibition line-up: The Newport Art Museum’s fall exhibition line-up features recent work by photographer Dan McManus, winner of the Best in Show award at the 2007 Newport Annual NetWorks 2008. In addition, the Cushing Memorial Gallery will feature the reinstalled Howard Gardiner Cushing paintings and other selections from the permanent collection.

For information, 848-8200 or visit www.newportartmuseum.org. Museum admission is $8 for adults, $6 for senior citizens, $5 for students and members of the military, and free for children age 5 and under.

Portsmouth

Corn maze opens for season: Escobar’s Highland Farm, 251 Middle Rd., has opened its ninth annual corn maze. This year’s labyrinth focuses on the “Go Green,Go Local” movement. Designed by Brett Herbst, visitors will find themselves lost in a windmill, oil barrels, the recycling symbol and a gas pump.

Hours are Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to dusk and Sunday 11 a.m. to dusk. After Labor Day, hours are Fridays, 3 p.m. to dusk, Saturdays, 10 a.m. to dusk and Sundays, 11 a.m. to dusk. Field trip hours during weekdays are available by reservation.

Admission is $7 for ages 12 and up, $5 for ages 5 to 11 and free for children age 4 and under. Discounts are offered for civic organizations and school field trips. For information and reservations, call 683-1444 or 864-1064 or visit www.escobarshighlandfarm.com.

Photo exhibit: The Island Photography Group is presenting its second exhibit at the Portsmouth Free Public Library from Sept. 4 through 29 during library hours. This year’s exhibit is a tribute to Will Dutra who passed away earlier this year. Dutra was a founding member of the group. The Island Photography Group is an informal association and is open to photographers of all skill levels. The group meets Thursdays for breakfast. For information, call Don Heywood, 683-1046.

Tiverton

Woman’s Club to meet: The Woman’s Club of Newport County will host a luncheon Sept. 3 at 12:30 p.m. at St. Theresa Church Hall, Stafford Road. The guest speaker will be Richard Joslin, an expert on rare books. He will be available for informal appraisals following his talk. New members and guests are welcome.

Singing Out Against Hunger: Evelyn’s Drive-In will host the sixth annual Singing Out Against Hunger weekend Sept. 5, 6 and 7. The event includes free live music and fundraising in order to fill the local East Bay food banks. Canned goods will be collected, raffles will be held and donations will be accepted all in order to raise the most money possible. Musicians will be held at three locations — Evelyn’s Drive-In and Coastal Roasters, Main Road, and the Little Compton Community Center, the Commons, Little Compton.

Warren

Farm Fun Days: Frerichs Farm, 65 Kinnicut Ave., will kick off its Farm Fun Days for Autism Sept. 6 and 7 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Featured will be a magical pumpkin coach that will take families all around the farm property, a Western town where kids can pan for “farmer’s gold,” a teepee for exploring, a corn maze for exploring, a chance to “pick your own pumpkin,” and a scarecrow factory where families can get creative and make their own scarecrows. Everything is provided, but participants are welcome to bring clothes for their scarecrows.

The event kicks off the farm’s Pumpkin Palooza, which runs every weekend through Oct. 31. All proceeds will benefit the Autism Project of Rhode Island. For information, visit www.frerichsfarm.com/fall.html or call 245-8245. For more information on the Autism Project of Rhode Island, visit www.theautismproject.org or call 785-2666.