Regional

Night fishing permits: The Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge will extend its hours to 9 p.m. Monday and again July 11 and 19 for visitors to purchase night fishing permits for the 2008 season. This is the seventh year for the permit system, which was established to help curb vandalism and other inappropriate nighttime activities that were occurring illegally on the refuge.

Under the authority of the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, 80 percent of the permit fees collected go directly to the Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge to help fund fishing-related maintenance projects, resource law enforcement and educational programs such as “Take a Kid Fishing” Day. Since 2002, the program has generated over $10,600 in revenue for projects that could not have been funded through the refuge budget alone.

All persons 16 years of age or older are required to have a permit to fish the refuge between sunset and sunrise. Sachuest Point Refuge is closed to all other public uses during this period. The fee for an annual permit is $20. A $5 one-night pass is also available. The Visitor Center is open six days a week, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed Wednesday. For information, contact Kasia Piasecka, 847-5511, or Janis Nepshinsky, 364-9124, ext. 28.

Barrington

Civic beautification donations welcome: Barrington residents and visitors who have enjoyed the various gardens in town maintained by the Barrington Garden Club can help to support this civic beautification project. On the occasion of the club’s 75th birthday two years ago, a fund was started specifically to finance plantings and maintenance needs for these garden projects. Sprinkler systems have been installed in almost all of the gardens. In addition, pavers at some of the gardens and new plantings have been purchased.

Tax-deductible gifts for this ongoing project, which may be made in honor or in memory of someone, are welcome in any amount, and donors will receive a letter of acknowledgement from the club. Checks can be made payable to: Barrington Garden Club, specifying the 75th Anniversary Fund in the memo section of the check. Checks may be sent to: Barrington Garden Club 75th Anniversary Fund, P.O. Box 276, Barrington, RI 02806.

Bristol

Annual Feast: The opening Mass for the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church will be held Sunday at 10:30 a.m. with the Rev. Henry P. Zinno Jr., pastor, as the main celebrant and the Rev. Michael Sisco as the homilist. The chief marshal’s reception will immediately follow in the parish hall from 1:30 to 3 p.m.

The Triduum, with guest speakers, begins July 7. The homilists are all newly ordained priests who studied together at the Pontifical North American College in Rome. The schedule begins with the Rev. Samuel Kachuba, Diocese of Bridgeport; the Rev. Jeremy Rodrigues, Bristol native, Diocese of Providence, July 8; and the Rev. Jonathan Reardon, Diocese of Springfield, Mass., July 9. Masses will begin at 7 each night.

The feast grounds, “Under the Big Top,” will open nightly on the Town Common July 11 through 13. Nightly entertainment will be by Ken Marshall on Friday, Gemini on Saturday and Doug Botelho on Sunday.

Anniversary cruise: As part of its 25th anniversary, the Bristol Theatre Company will celebrate with an evening on Narragansett Bay aboard the Vista Jubilee Aug. 15. All members (anyone who is or has been in, or worked on, a BTC production in the past 25 years) and their families are invited.

Tickets for the cruise, which includes dinner and entertainment, are $48 each. Reservations are due by July 11. Boarding will be at 6:45 p.m. with the cruise from 7:30 to 11:30. For information and to reserve tickets, e-mail uki72@aol.com or karam125@cox.net.

East Providence

Successful phone-athon: The Citizens Scholarship Foundation of East Providence recently raised $84,380 through its Dollars for Scholars Phone-athon. The first $40,000 received was matched by the Carter Family Charitable Trust.

New scholarships were established through the phone-athon, including the following: Joseph Cammarano and Linda Hartley, East Providence Substance Abuse Task Force, Marilyn MacDonald Memorial and Anne Roe Memorial Scholarship. New book awards include: Gilbert Barao Family, Marilyn Chartier, Tara Costa, Mary Elizabeth Durfee, Judith Gates, John DeGoes Family, Len Hickey Memorial, Stan Holtzman Family, King Family, Edmund Moniz Family, Kerri Santos, Victor Silva Family, Joyce Simeone, Solomon Solomon and Jennifer Turner.

Contributions are still being accepted, although the deadline has passed for matching funds. Local residents who have not yet sent in their pledge or who did not receive a phone call can send their check payable to CSF of East Providence to P.O. Box 154438, East Providence, 02915. All contributions to CSF of East Providence are tax deductible to the full extent of the law.

Tennis programs: The East Providence Department of Parks & Recreation will sponsor youth and adult tennis programs at the outdoor courts at Pierce Field, 201 Mercer St.

Youth tennis lessons will be offered on Tuesday and Thursday from July 8 to 31. Lessons will be held by age groups as follows: Grades 1 to 3, 9 to 10 a.m.; grades 4 to 6, 10 to 11 a.m.; teen clinic, 11 a.m. to noon. Advance registration is required by calling 433-6360 or 433-6359. No walk-ins will be accepted.

Cardio Tennis, co-sponsored by East Bay Community Tennis Association, will be offered Wednesdays from 6 to 7 p.m. from June 11 to Aug. 6. The fee is $2 per class.

Adult round-robin doubles tennis will be offered Wednesdays from 7 to 9 p.m. June 11 to Aug. 6. The program is coed and there is no fee to participate. Advance registration is required.

For information, contact the East Providence Recreation Center, 433-6360.

Little Compton

Summer Reading Program: The Brownell Library, the Commons, has begun its summer reading program, “Catch the Reading Bug.” Children ages 3 and up are invited to join. The teen program, “Metamorphosis at your library” will be for children in grades 6 and up. The library will feature Wednesday evening storytellers beginning tonight along with special programs such as, game day, bug day, haiku poetry and a lady bug picnic. For information on the summer reading program and a schedule of events, visit the library, call 635-8562 or visit brownell-libraryri.org.

Annual meeting: All those interested in land protection are invited to the annual meeting of the Sakonnet Preservation Association Tuesday, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Sakonnet Golf Club Playhouse, 79 Sakonnet Point Rd., Little Compton.

The event is free to the public. A cash bar will open at 6 p.m., and hors d’oeuvres and sandwiches will be served. The meeting will begin at 6:45 and will include the launch of the Carter Stewardship Campaign. Following the meeting, wildlife biologist Carol Trocki will show her photographs of the Little Compton landscape. For more information, call 635-8800.

Newport

Historic sites open: The Newport Historical Society’s historic properties will be open for the summer season now through Aug. 30, every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Among sites to see are the Colony House, built in 1739 to house Rhode Island government meetings. The main floor is open for free viewing. Tours of the upstairs legislative chambers cost $5.

Tours of the Wanton Lyman Hazard House (ca. 1697), one of Newport’s oldest residences and the Friends Meeting House (1699), Newport’s oldest house of worship, depart from the Colony House every half hour and cost $5 per site tour.

For information, call 841-8770 or visit www.newporthistorytours.org to see the Newport Historical Society full summer walking tour and historic site tour schedule.

Rain barrel’s available: Due to continued interest, the Newport Water Division is again working with the New England Rain Barrel Co. to offer area residents the opportunity to purchase a rain barrel at the discounted price of $68 versus the regular retail price of $99. The rain barrels are made from 55 gallon blue plastic recycled containers. The top does not come off, so no children or pets can get in the barrel. It has a six-inch diameter inlet opening covered with a screened louver to keep insects and debris out. The barrels have two brass spigots; one to connect a hose for watering, and one for overflow. You can connect a hose to the overflow spigot and redirect the water away from your home. It even comes with a five-foot hose with a shutoff valve. You can join multiple barrels for additional capacity.

Orders must be placed by noon on July 18. Delivery has been scheduled for July 26 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Department of Utilities office, 70 Halsey St. All who order rain barrels may pick them up at that time. To order a rain barrel, call The New England Rain Barrel Company toll free, (877) 977-3135 or order online at www.nerainbarrel.com.

New service offered: Recognizing that many people work and travel weekends during the summer, St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Broadway at One Mile Corner, has begun a new service Sundays at 6:30 p.m. This is a brief, informal communion service in addition to the Sunday morning services at 8:15 and 10:15 a.m.

Also, on the first Wednesday of each month, a Service of Healing is celebrated at noon. This brief liturgy of Scripture, prayer, and Communion also offers the opportunity to receive the laying on of hands and anointing with oil. The next Service of Healing is today.

The Rev. Dr. William E. Bogholtz, pastor of St. Peter’s, will preside at all services. The community is invited to participate in any or all of them. For information, call 846-9567, e-mail to stpetersri@verizon.net, or visit Web site at www.stpetersri.org.

Volunteers sought: The International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum is calling for volunteers to assist with all aspects of the Campbell’s Hall of Fame Tennis Championships to be held July 7 to 13. The Campbell’s Hall of Fame Tennis Championships also includes Family Weekend, Saturday and Sunday and the annual Hall of Fame Induction Weekend activities, July 11 to13. Volunteers are also needed throughout the summer for additional tennis tournaments, museum activities and other special events. For information, call 849-6053. To submit an application, visit tennisfame.com.

Tiverton

Vacation Bible school: Bliss Four Corners Congregational Church, 1264 Stafford Rd., will offer its Vacation Bible school July 21 to 25 from 9 a.m. to noon. This year’s school on the theme of hot-air balloons, “Lifting Off and Soaring to New Heights With God,” will offer children the chance to become Sky Scouts and learn about hot-air ballooning as well as reaching new heights with God. To register, call the church office and leave a message, 624-4113, or call June Parks, 846-3839.