The Norton Open Space Committee will hold a Valentine's Day scavenger hunt and outdoor bingo game from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Feb. 14 at Johnson Acres (corner of North Washington and Newcomb streets). The group will use wildlife tracking and sign clues to hold a scavenger hunt/bingo game. Participants should dress for winter weather, and bring snacks, water, binoculars and snowshoes (if appropriate). Field cards will be available. The event will not be canceled for flurries. Call the conservation office at 508-285-0275 with questions.

Student on choir tour

Matthew Jordan, the son of Robert A. Jordan of Norton, is among the 39 members of the St. Michael's College Liturgical Choir who will sing in six schools and churches in Jersey City, Bayonne, Tinton Falls, West Long Branch and Middletown, N.J., on tour this Friday through Sunday.

Jordan, a junior biology major, graduated from Norton High School before coming to St. Michael's. The choir includes 23 St. Michael's students, 16 St. Michael's alumni and community members.

Brownies to sell cookies Girl Scout cookie sales have started in Norton. Norton Brownie Troop 80379 will sell cookies at the following Norton locations:

Sunday, Feb. 1, 2 to 4 p.m., Barrowsville Station.

Saturday, Feb. 7, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., CVS.

Saturday, Feb. 14, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Walgreens.

A portion of profits will go Norton's Cupboard of Kindness and other community service projects, as well as troop activities.

Shaw's to boost library

The Friends of the Norton Public Library want your Shaw's and Star Market receipts. Drop them in the box at the library's front desk.

Shaw's will donate 1 percent of the total receipts to the Friends, who will be given a check for 1 percent of every $5,000 worth of admissible purchases.

At the library ...

A free, drop-in cats and kittens family story time will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 4 at the Norton Public Library. There will be songs, stories and crafts. Families with babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers are all welcome to attend. Free family game afternoon will be held from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10 at the Norton Public Library. Have fun playing board games and video games with other families. The Junior Friends and Young Adults of the Norton Public Library are sponsoring the event.

The Friends of the Norton Public Library are holding a Chateau-sponsored fundraiser soon. On Wednesday, Feb. 11 from 5 p.m. to closing, the Chateau Restaurant will contribute 20 percent of your total bill to the Friends of Norton Library. Pick up a free fundraiser ticket at the library front desk or request one by e-mail to ksonnenberg@comcast.net.

Go swimming, skating

Registration is being accepted for the following Norton Park and Recreation Department programs:

Indoor Swim Lessons, ages 3-6, Saturdays from 11 to 11:30 a.m. (Feb. 21-April 17)

Indoor Swim Lessons, ages 6 and up, Saturdays from 11:30 to noon (Feb. 21-April 17)

Ice-skating Lessons Learn to Skate, ages 4 and up, Wednesdays at 4 p.m. or Sundays at 2 p.m. (Feb. 15-April 26)

Ski/Snowboard trips: Sunday River, Wednesday, Feb. 18 and Killington, Saturday, March 28

Special registration nights will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Feb. 16 and Feb. 18. For questions or more information, call the Norton YMCA at 508-285-7574 or visit www.attleboroymca.org.

Check out Lincoln

Gary Hylander will present "Lincoln at Gettysburg" at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24, at the Norton Public Library. In celebration of Abraham Lincoln's 200th birthday, the Friends of the Norton Public Library sponsor this program for all history lovers.

Take chance on meat

Norton American Legion Auxiliary Unit 222 will host a meat raffle at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 6 at 85 East Main St. The raffle will consist of 10 individual raffles. Food will be available for purchase. This event is open to the public. For more information, call 508-285-3835.

Dance with Mom or Dad

The Norton Park and Recreation Department's annual "Dance with Mom or Dad" will be held on Friday, Feb. 6 in the Yelle Elementary School cafeteria for Norton children in grades 1-5, along with a special parent.

Music will be provided by DJ Steve Bishop's Men of Many Hats. All couples will receive a carnation, and a keepsake photo. Space is limited.

The Twilight Dance will be held from 5 to 6:30 p.m. and the Starlight Dance will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Admission is $20 for each parent/child couple and $10 for each additional child. For questions or more information, call the Norton YMCA at 508-285-7574 or visit attleboroymca.org.

Catch Bailey game

The seventh annual Kathy Bailey Memorial It Takes A Community Basketball game will be held on Friday, March 6 at Norton High School.

Tipoff is at 6:30 p.m. Organizers are in need of celebrity guests, raffle/auction items, concession items and program sponsors for $100 each. For more information, e-mail Michelle Petersen at petefam4@comcast.net.

Last year's event raised $9,000. Meeting this year's goal of $9,000 will help at least 10 Norton families. This year's game will feature Norton public safety officers taking on Norton teachers.

Church reaching out

to unemployed residents

Trinitarian Congregational Church has formed a new group to provide the community of Norton a place for persons recently unemployed or people seeking better employment a place to meet. The group is open to all including employers seeking employees. This is an open environment to share and exchange employment info, learn and practice interview techniques, resume reviews, networking and general support for people seeking employment in these difficult times.

The group meets each week from 7:30 to 9 a.m. on Tuesdays. For information, call Bill Lippincott at 508-285-5418.

Share your favorite

chili on Feb. 15

The Norton American Legion Auxiliary's sixth annual Chili Cookoff will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 15 at the American Legion, 85 East Main St. Interested chefs should have a crockpot of chili (6 quarts) at the American Legion no later than 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 15.

A $5 entry fee will enter your chili into the contest and let you taste all the entries. First prize will be $50, second prize $25. The public is invited to come in and try all the chili and vote for the People's Choice Award for a $5 donation at the door.

For more information, call 508-822-7946. Money raised through fund-raisers such as this is used to help veterans and their families, soldiers overseas, people in the community and scholarships for students.

Learn about vernal pools

Conservation Agent Jennifer Carlino is alerting residents to an upcoming free conference for people and groups concerned about vernal pools. The Conference for Improving Water Quality and Habitat Values in Vernal Pools will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 14 at Stonehill College in Easton.

The Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences is hosting this event, which is the culmination of a three-year project to evaluate and protect water quality in vernal pools.

The purpose of the conference is to provide summary information from the project and share strategies for improving water quality in vernal pools. Topics to be discussed include: presentations by project partners; Manomet's water quality protection in vernal pools project; the status of water quality in the Charles and Taunton Rivers; habitat value of vernal pools; low impact lawn care and landscaping; and, how conservation commissions can protect vernal pools.

Manomet's Water Quality Protection in Vernal Pool project assessed 120 vernal pools in eastern Massachusetts for a variety of physical parameters (e.g., size, temperature, pH), potential contaminants (e.g., road salt, nutrients, lawn use chemicals and heavy metals), and presence of amphibians and other specialized wetland fauna.

The geographic focus has been developing landscapes in the Taunton and Charles River watersheds, which provide an approach for evaluating water quality protection in suburban and built environments. The project has depended heavily on the participation of landowners whose property contains a vernal pool. Project participants allowed Manomet to access to a vernal pool on their property. They consist of private landowners, municipalities, state agencies, land trusts and non-government organizations.

Conference registration will be limited to 75 conference attendees. To register, contact Beth Brazil at 508-224-6521 or bbrazil@manomet.org.

MICHAEL GELBWASSER can be reached at 508-236-0439 or at mgelbwasser@thesunchronicle.com.