Regional

Torch for Darfur meeting: The next planning meeting for Rhode Island’s “Carry the Torch for Darfur” event will be held Monday at 6:30 p.m. at 45 Harvest Drive, Portsmouth. This event is part of an international effort to make a difference in Darfur’s nearly five-year-old genocide. As Beijing prepares to host the 2008 Olympics, “Dream for Darfur” is spearheading Olympic-like torch relays through many countries that have had genocides.

Volunteers are needed. For information, call Sandra Hammel, 847-4954.

Nominations sought: Each year, Preserve Rhode Island honors outstanding historic preservation projects, programs and achievements by individuals and groups who exemplify sound historic preservation practices and support Preserve Rhode Island’s mission to protect the state’s historic structures and unique places. The Preservation Merit Awards will be announced at Preserve Rhode Island’s 2007 annual meeting Oct. 23.

Preservation Merit Awards are given in four categories — Preservation Education and Advocacy, Landscape Preservation, Residential Restoration and Rehabilitation and Commercial Restoration and Rehabilitation. For a nomination form and guidelines, call Susanna Prull, 272-5101. The deadline for nominations Aug. 31.

Walk Rhode Island: The seventh annual Walk Rhode Island will be held Sept. 15 at Colt State Park, Bristol. Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island sponsors this family-friendly, noncompetitive walking event to help people of all ages and backgrounds get active and stay healthy. After the walk, there will be a health and wellness fair, with lunch, entertainment, personal health screenings and fun activities for the whole family. Visit BCBSRI.com to register and for information.

Film presentation: Independent filmmaker Jay Craven will introduce his film, Disappearances, tomorrow at 7 p.m. at the Jamestown Philomenian Library, North Road. Based on the award-winning novel by Howard Frank Mosher, Disappearances is a tale of high-stakes whiskey-smuggling, a family’s mysterious past, and a young boy’s rite of passage. The film stars Kris Kristofferson, Genevieve Bujold and 15-year-old Charlie McDermott in a performance that has garnered much praise. This free program is for teens and adults and is sponsored by the Friends of Jamestown Philomenian Library.

Screenwriting workshop for teens: Filmmaker, director and Marlboro College Prof. Jay Craven will conduct a screenwriting workshop for teens Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Jamestown Philomenian Library, North Road. Craven, the artistic director of Kingdom County Productions, has made award-winning feature films, including Disappearances, Where the Rivers Flow North, with Rip Torn, Tantoo Cardinal and Michael J. Fox; A Stranger in the Kingdom, with David Lansbury, Ernie Hudson and Martin Sheen; and The Year that Trembled, with Marin Hinkle, Jonathan Brandis, Fred Willard, Martin Mull and Henry Gibson.

This free program is funded by the Friends of Jamestown Philomenian Library. Stop by the library or call 423-7280 to register.

Barrington

Award presented: The GFWC Bristol County Women’s Club recently received the National Empowering Women One by One Award at the 116th annual International Convention in Philadelphia. The award was based on the work the club did on behalf of the American Heart Association’s (AHA) Red Dress campaign.

One of the club’s concerns is women’s health issues; specifically, preventative medicine. Club members have embraced February as Women’s Heart Health Awareness Month since the event’s inception in 2002. This year’s activities marking the month have included a heart healthy dinner in January, where members made red dress pins to help raise awareness; the distribution of the pins and the collection of donations for the AHA, Feb. 10 at Shaw’s Market in Barrington; the distribution of a one-page fact sheet on women and heart disease; the distribution of the “10 Commandments for a Healthy Heart”; a red dress on display with the symptoms of a heart attack attached; a raffle for a Keep the Beat cookbook from the American Heart Association; the distribution of red dress pins and fact sheets at members’ places of work; the addition of Hearth Health Awareness articles in the club’s monthly newsletter; and a request to the Barrington Town Council to declare February as Women’s Hearth Health Awareness Month.

The GFWC Bristol County Women’s Club is based in Barrington and has been performing community service for 53 years.

Bristol

Walking tour: The Bristol Historical & Preservation Society will hold its next walking tour tomorrow with a look at Russell Warren houses in Bristol. The tour will be led by Ray Battcher and will start at the Historical Society, 48 Court St. at 3 p.m. The tour is free for society members and $5 for all others. For information call 253-7223.

East Providence

Community dinner: U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse will host a community dinner tonight at 6 at Rose Larisa Memorial Park, 800 Bullocks Point Ave. Whitehouse will talk about his work in the Senate at this free event. In case of rain, the event will be moved to the American Legion hall, 830 Willett Ave.

School news: All elementary and middle schools in East Providence will open for the 2007-08 school year Sept. 5 with a regular school day. At the high school, only freshmen will report for orientation Sept. 5 at 7:25 a.m. All high school students will report to school Sept. 6 at 7:25 a.m. All staff will report for orientation Sept. 4 at 8:30 a.m. at the high school auditorium.

All students entering elementary and secondary schools for the first time in East Providence must register at the Central Registration Center at the School Department administration building, 80 Burnside Ave. Children entering kindergarten must be age 5 by Sept. 1 and children entering first grade must be age 6 by Sept. 1.

Opening day for all kindergarten students will also be Sept. 5. Morning kindergarten hours are 8:25 to 11 a.m. and afternoon hours are 11:55 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Full-day kindergarten hours are 8:25 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Students are asked to note new start times for all the schools: high school, 7:25 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.; middle schools, 7:55 a.m. to 2 p.m. and elementary schools, 8:25 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Bus schedules will be published next week in local papers. New lunch prices are $2 for secondary students, $1.75 for elementary students.

For more information, call the School Department, 433-6200.

Office equipment disposal: The East Providence Area Chamber of Commerce is hosting another “Trash Your Office Day” next Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the city’s DPW site, 60 Commercial Way. The free event provides an opportunity for East Providence businesses to dispose of their old, broken or obsolete office equipment at no cost.

Businesses can drop-off up to 20 items such as computer towers, monitors, keyboards, speakers, fax machines, telephones and desktop copiers. Larger quantities may also be disposed of with prior approval and notice. At the end of the day, the discarded items will be hauled away from the DPW site and “de-manufactured.” The parts will be sorted and recycled as much as possible.

A reservation for a drop-off time is strongly suggested and can made by contacting Steve Mutter, recycling refuse coordinator for the city, 435-7710. For more information about this event, contact the East Providence Area Chamber at 438-1212.

Little Compton

Family movie and pizza party: The Little Compton Community Center will host a family movie and pizza party Monday. The featured film will be The Bridge to Terabithia, rated PG. The pizza party will begin at 6:30 p.m. followed by the movie at 7. Attendees can bring blankets and pillows, wear a costume or their pajamas, or come as they are. The cost is $5 for members, $6 for nonmembers, which includes two slices of cheese pizza, soda or juice, popcorn and the movie. For just the movie, the cost is $2 for members, $3 for nonmembers. Optional child-care for ages 5 to 11 is an additional $2. Families get a group rate. Children under 12 must be accompanied by parent or guardian or reserve childcare. Reservations for movie, pizza or childcare are required by 5 p.m. on the day of the show by calling 635-2400.

Newport

Performing arts classes: Newport’s Parks and Recreation Department is offering performing arts instruction through Performing Arts Programs Inc. Instructors have high skills in the arts as well as sensitivity to the individual needs of the participants. A safe, affirming environment is created to ensure that each participant can grow and thrive. The program is progressive, challenging and fun

Fall classes are designed for the young performing arts enthusiast, ages 6 to 14. From the beginner to the advanced, students with the guidance of staff will learn to thrive creatively through the performing arts. The seven week session will culminate in a showcase performance for family and friends.

Visit www.performingartsprograms.biz for dates and locations and to learn more about program offerings. Registration has already begun and slots are limited. Register online or by calling (860) 432-9890. Those who register online will receive a discount if they enter the coupon code “PAPCLASS” at checkout.

Rain barrels offered: The Newport Water Division is 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 $89. The use of a rain barrel can help residents conserve water and lessen the amount of rain water discharged to the city’s storm drains.

The average homeowner uses approximately 40 percent of water for outdoor use. A one-inch rainfall on a 1,200- square-foot roof will yield over 700 gallons of water. Using a rain barrel is an excellent way to conserve some of this water. Rain barrel use reduces the stress on municipal water systems during the summer months and improves storm water management.

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 allow a hose connection for watering and one for overflow. A hose can be connected to the overflow spigot to redirect the water away from one’s home. The barrel also comes with a five-foot hose with a shutoff valve and multiple barrels can be joined for additional capacity.

Orders must be placed by noon Sept. 5. A general delivery has been scheduled for Sept. 8 from 9 a.m. to noon at the DPW facility, 70 Halsey St. For information and to place an order, call The New England Rain Barrel Co. toll free at (877) 977-3135 or order online at www.nerainbarrel.com.

Children’s event: Tommy James Magic Show, part of the Easton’s Beach Children’s Night Series that had been postponed from July 19 due to weather, will be held tomorrow to finish up the regular series. This 45-minute show begins at 6 p.m. and will feature magic tricks designed to entertain children.

Parking is free after 5 and the carousel and snack bar will be open during the show. Easton’s Beach is at 175 Memorial Blvd. Call 845-5810 after 4 p.m. for information on rain cancellations.

Annual picnic: The Off Broadway Neighborhood Association will hold its annual picnic Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Equality Park, Broadway between Gould and Pond streets. All those planning to attend are asked to bring a dish. RSVP to Ellen Nichols no later than Friday by e-mailing theel@cox.net or calling 841-9134. When leaving reservation information, include the number of people in the group and what type of dish will be brought. The association will provide hamburgers and paper supplies.

Portsmouth

Vendors needed: The Portsmouth Antiques & Artisans Fair, an event to restore the historic Brown House at The Glen Farm complex, will be held Oct. 13 and 14 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at The Glen, East Main Road. The event will include antiques, arts, crafts, jewelry, an antique car show, rides and food vendors.

The vendor fee is $75 and for each vendor referral that signs up, the referring vendor gets a $10 reduction in fee. Call 866-585-6280 or e-mail manager@portsmouthfair.org for additional information.

Tiverton

Garden Club to meet: The Tiverton Garden Club will meet Monday at noon at the hilltop garden of club member Sharon Culberson for a picnic among her flowers and herbs. Those planning to attend are reminded to wear sunscreen and a hat and bring a folding chair or blanket. Immediately after lunch, member Joyce Westcott will teach the group how to make the red bows she makes for the club’s wreaths each year. Following the bow demonstration, Janice Dey, owner of The Westporter restaurant in Westport, Mass. will demonstrate her picnic ideas using flowers to “dress up” the food.

Warren

Brunch cruise: The First United Methodist Church of Warren/Bristol will host a brunch cruise Sept. 3 aboard the Vista Jubilee. Participants will board at 10:15 a.m. at the Bay Queen Line dock on Water Street for an 11 a.m. departure. There will be a two-hour stopover in Newport, which will give guests a chance to walk the city or relax on the boat. There will also be entertainment and participants will receive free admission to the Irish festival. Tickets, available at the Barrington Senior Center, County Road, are $25 for adults, $18 for children ages 4 to 12, and free for children age 3 and under. For information, contact Emily Hartley, 247-4952 or Nancy Watson, 253-4931.