Regional

Services for domestic violence victims: The Women’s Resource Center of Newport & Bristol Counties is a nonprofit agency dedicated to ending domestic violence. The center provides a comprehensive range of services designed to help victims of domestic violence and educate the community to prevent future abuse.

Services include a 24-hour confidential helpline (equipped with TDD for those who have hearing or speech impairments) and emergency safe home. Legal advocacy and assistance in obtaining restraining orders is provided at both the Florence Murray Judicial Courthouse in Newport and the J. Joseph Garrahy courthouse in Providence. Support services, including individual counseling, support groups and programs for children are available. Drop-in services are provided at both 114 Touro St., Newport and 642 Main St., Warren.

The Women’s Resource Center also provides outreach into the community through innovative programs including the Rural Outreach Project and the Elder Abuse Program.

For information, or for help, call the Women’s Resource Center of Newport & Bristol Counties, 847-2533 or 247-2070.

Coyote Info Line: The Potter League for Animals, in collaboration with The Conservation Agency’s Narragansett Bay Coyote Study, has opened the Coyote Info Line, 924-HOWL (4695) so that area residents can report sitings of coyotes in their neighborhood and offer information about the coyotes. A knowledgeable, wildlife expert will answer the phone. Individuals concerned about immediate safety issues will be directed to call their local police department.

The Coyote Info Line is supported by a grant from the Prince Charitable Trust made to the Potter League for Animals. To inquire about education programs on coyotes, contact Lynne Mallonee at lynnem@potterleague.org. To learn more about the Narragansett Bay Coyote Study, visit www.theconservationagency.org.

Barrington

Pickups delayed: The Department of Public Works and the Recycling Center will be closed Monday in observance of Labor Day. Monday’s refuse and recycling will be collected Tuesday along with the regular Tuesday route. Refuse and recycling must always be curbside by 7:30 a.m.

Bristol

Wine/Beer Festival and Pizza Challenge: The Bristol County Lions Club will celebrate its 12th annual Wine/Beer Festival and East Bay Pizza Challenge Sept. 12 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Linden Place, 500 Hope St. Proceeds will fund Lions’ Charities, including Ronald McDonald House, Hasbro Children’s Hospital, Good Neighbors Soup Kitchen and the Linden Place Restoration Fund. Last year’s event raised over $8,000 for these causes.

Local wines from the Coastal Wine Trail as well as selections from the West Coast, South America and Europe will be available for tasting. Rhode Island and national brewers will also be sampling their latest beers. A silent auction features packages from hotels, restaurants and wineries.

At the end of the evening, trophies will be awarded to local pizza restaurants in the following categories: Best Traditional Cheese Pizza, Best Crust, Best Gourmet Pizza, Best Calzone and Best Overall.

Advance tickets are $35 with a limited number sold at the door for $40. The ticket price includes all wine, beer, pizza, calzones and a pasta station. Tickets are available by credit card at www.localwineevents.com and from any Bristol County Lions Club member. For information contact Steve Krohn at 225-0540 or Debra Krohn at 487-9678.

East Providence

Bicycle safety class: On June 15, Frank DiPrete of the East Bay Community Bike Path Association and Diane Dias of the AAA were invited by Colleen Holland, a teacher, to give a bicycle safety class to the students at the Emma G. Whiteknact Elementary School. There were a total of 24 students in the class.

Dias presented the children with the Rules of the Road for Bicycle Safety and showed the children a bicycle safety presentation. The children each received an AAA Reflector Patrol Belt and an AAA Safety Badge. The students brought their helmets to the class and for those who either didn’t have one or didn’t have one that fit properly, DiPrete provided them with a new helmet. In addition, he demonstrated to the students how to use their bikes and helmets in a correct manner and reminded them that “On a bike, safety comes first.” DiPrete and Dias are available to do bicycle safety classes at other schools.

Little Compton

Hearing loss screenings: The Little Compton Community Center, the Commons, will offer a free clinic for hearing loss Friday from 10 a.m. to noon. Appointments will be available at 15-minute intervals to avoid a waiting line. Walk-ins will be accepted on a time-available basis. Duncan Hearing Health Care will conduct the screening and can answer questions participants may have regarding hearing loss. This will coincide with a Dining Center Brunch beginning at 11 a.m. To schedule an appointment and/or to sign up for the brunch, call 635-2400.

Middletown

Lecture: “Rethinking Health and Human Rights” a talk by Dr. Paul Farmer, cofounder of Partners in Health, and the subject of Tracy Kidder’s book, Mountains Beyond Mountains: The Quest of Dr. Paul Farmer, A Man Who Would Cure the World, will be held Sept. 12 at 7 p.m. at the William H. Drury and Richard Grosvenor Center for the Arts at St. George’s School, 372 Purgatory Rd.

Tickets are required for this event. No admission will be charged, but donations to Partners in Health are welcomed. Reserve tickets by calling 842-6636 or sending an e-mail to SGFarmerEvent@stgeorges.edu.

Newport

Children’s Night Series: The City of Newport’s Children’s Night Series concludes Sunday with the Farewell to Summer Labor Day Beach Party at Easton’s Beach.

The day will kick off at 10 a.m. with the Sand Sculpture Competition. “Building permits” are issued to all competitors who participate in professional, family or youth divisions. Ribbons and prizes are awarded in several categories. A free noncompetitive sand sculpture area is provided as well. All funds are donated to provide youth recreation scholarships. Competitors can sign up the day of the event. Awards will be announced around 3 p.m.

A special performance by “Johnny the K,” featuring his popular songs and stories will be held at 11 a.m. on the boardwalk by the rotunda.

For the youngsters “of all ages”, an inflatable water slide, which includes dual slides for competitions, will be set up from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. All slides are free. There will also be an inflatable Obstacle Course set up from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. for anyone to try out for free.

Save the Bay’s “Newport Exploration Center” will host a Beach Discovery Walk from 2 to 3 p.m. to the first 15 people who sign up with an admission in the center. At 1 p.m. is “feeding time,” which lets visitors see the animals get their daily allowance of nutrients. Feeding takes place inside the Exploration Center and is free with paid admission.

A free family boogie board competition will be held at 1 p.m. with ribbons awarded in various age divisions including the popular “adult division.” Beginners are welcome but swimming ability is required. Some boards will be available to rent the day of the event. Sign-ups begin at 11 a.m. in the beach office

The Salve Regina University Community Band will perform on the boardwalk at 1 p.m. with a one hour outdoor concert of show tunes, marches and patriotic songs.

A free whipped-cream eating contest for children will be held at 2:30 p.m. in the beach picnic area. Winners in each age group will receive food prizes. Register by noon at the snack bar.

Budding artists can also put their “chalk designs” on the boardwalk of the beach. Colored sidewalk chalk will be provided and families are encouraged to depict their favorite summer scene. This is a free noncompetitive event and will run from 3 to 5 p.m.

The Ravers, a popular Newport band, will perform at 5:30 p.m. with reggae music. The evening concludes at dusk with the traditional large bonfire lighting on the beach. Performances will be canceled if weather conditions are poor.

The Easton’s Beach carousel will be in operation from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Rides will be two for the price of one during the farewell party. The carousel also stops for the season on Labor Day. All beach equipment rentals including boogie boards, surfboards, beach chairs and umbrellas will also be two for one during the party. They will be available at the beach office on the boardwalk. The snack bar will be open, featuring two for one cotton candy all day. A children’s playground in the shape of a ship is next to the rotunda. There is no charge to use it or the Skateboard Park, which is in the East parking lot.

Easton’s Beach parking fees will be in effect from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Easton’s Beach season’s passes will be honored. The recording at Easton’s Beach, 845-5810, will have any cancellations or postponements on the day of the event. Heavy rains will postpone the event to Sept. 1.

Book release party: All Newport teens who love, like or are simply interested in learning more about Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series of books are invited to the Newport Public Library program room Sept. 3 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. for a Breaking Dawn release party. The final book in her bestselling series, the book was published Aug. 1 and continues the story of vampires in love feuding with werewolves.

Teens are invited to come to the party in costume, appropriate to a library setting, and also to present skits from favorite scenes in any of the books (not required to attend). “Vampirish” refreshments will be served. Registration is required.

A planning session for teens who are willing to present skits is scheduled for today from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Teens can form their own group, or join a group at the planning session, so all interested teens are invited to attend.

Register and sign a photo release by stopping at the young adult desk at Newport Public Library. Contact Becky Farwick or Kathy Fitzgerald, 847-8720, ext. 206, or e-mail nptya@newportlibraryri.org for more information.

Portsmouth

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, a friend to all, and always willing to provide assistance to novice photographers. He was an outstanding landscape and seascape photographer, and several examples of his work will be on display at the exhibit.

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

A Country Day at Pardon Gray: The Tiverton Land Trust will present a day of fun activities at Pardon Gray Preserve, Main Road, Sept. 13 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (rain date Sept. 14). The event will include live music, a pie contest, food and vendors, hay rides, guided trail and cemetery walks, children’s crafts and games, a 50/50 raffle, demonstrations, craft vendors and a produce market including the Sakonnet Grower’s Market. Admission is free, with a $5 fee for all children’s activities.

Benefit costume bazaar: The Ocean State Chapter of the Adoption Community of New England will host a children’s costume bazaar Sept. 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at St. Theresa Church, Stafford Road. Over 200 gently used costumes will be available for $5 each. This unique fundraiser will benefit the education programs for local families formed by adoption or foster care. In addition to the costume sale, the bazaar will include a bake sale, face painting, raffle baskets and information on adoption. Children will be able to choose from an array of super heroes, princesses and witch costumes. There’s even a pizza slice costume and a bottle of ketchup. Admission is free.

Proceeds from this event will benefit the Adoption Community of New England, Inc. (formerly called the Open Door Society), which is a nonprofit organization that provides resources to all those touched by adoption. For information visit www.adoption.communityofne.org.