Southeastern Massachusetts businesses are hosting free games to qualify for a chance to win a seat at the 2009 World Series of Poker and its prize pool of more than $65 million, now through June 19. The businesses participate in the Eastern Poker Tour (EPT), a regional amateur competition that awards more than $400,000 annually.

Games will be held: 7 p.m., Mondays, Home Plate Bay Street Grill, Taunton; 7 p.m., Tuesdays, The Moose Cabin, Attleboro; 7 p.m., Wednesdays, Jockey Club, Raynham; 7 p.m., Thursdays, The Moose Cabin, Attleboro; 4 p.m., Saturdays, Luxury Box, Seekonk; 7 p.m., Sundays, North Bowl, North Attleboro.

Build your business;

go bowling, play golf

Building repeat business with e-mail marketing will be the topic of a presentation on June 18, 6 to 7 p.m., at Highland Country Club in Attleboro, sponsored by the United Regional Chamber of Commerce. the cost is $10 for members; $20 for nonmembers. You also can do some networking later in the month at North Bowl Lanes in North Attleboro, when the United Regional Chamber of Commerce holds "Business After Hours" on June 30, from 5 to 7 p.m. The cost is $5 for members; $10 for non-members. Register by calling 508-222-0801.

The chamber also will hold the 11th annual Charity Open to benefit the Community VNA Hospice Care and The Arc of Northern Bristol County July 13 at Norton Country Club. Cost: $175. Register at 508-222-0801.

At Tri-Town Chamber ...

Here are some events being held by the Tri-Town Chamber of Commerce. Events are free to chamber members and their guests, but guests who have attended more than two events will be charged $10. RSVP at 508-339-5655.

June 19, 7:45 to 9:15 a.m. - Mini Seminar: Learn how to used Advanced LinkedIn presented by Jen Vondenbrink.

Area businesses wanting to participate in Mansfield's Annual Family Fun Night on July 14, from 6 to 9 p.m. can call 508-339-0855 or go to: www.downtownmansfieldma.com.

Focus on reverse

mortgages at Rockland

Rockland Trust is hosting a free Reverse Mortgage Focus Day at its Seekonk branch, 1400 Fall River Ave. (Route 6) on June 24, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Peggy Whalen, senior reverse mortgage adviser, will speak about the process and be available for questions. Individual appointments are available. Register by calling 508-336-5991 by June 22, or stop in that day.

Credit and jobs to be meeting topic

American Credit Counseling Service, Inc. will continue its series of free monthly financial education workshops from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 30 at its education center at 4 Taunton St., Suite 5 in Plainville. This month's workshop is entitled "Has Your Credit Cost You a Job?" Topics of discussion will include the five steps to become credit-worthy again, which will improve your chances of finding new employment.

Attendees will have the opportunity to obtain a copy of their free annual credit reports. Individual counseling also will be available from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Call 508-643-4445 to reserve a seat. Refreshments will be served, courtesy of Dunkin' Donuts.

Check out open house

at garden center

Tranquil Lake Nursery of Rehoboth will hold its 18th annual Open House and Summer Festival on July 18, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This year's theme is "Celebrating the Bounty of the Summer Garden."

Businesses, people

in the news ...

Kidz Wurld, a parent-supervised indoor play space, is planned to open in the Triboro Plaza, North Attleboro in early July. The 6,000-square-foot facility is expected to feature activities for children from crawling age to 10.

Caregivers acclaimed for exceptional compassion gathered at The Village at Willow Crossings recently for a luncheon and celebration in recognition of their work. The resident care associates were among 200 nominated by Benchmark Assisted Living residents and families, including those at The Village at Willow Crossing in Mansfield.

The State Office of Minority and Women Business Assistance has renewed the certification of Katmandu Studio of North Attleboro as a woman-owned business enterprise in the graphic design category. It is owned by Louise Cote.

Sandra Medeiros and Shailyn Kelly, CNA, employees at Madonna Manor in North Attleboro and Amanda Borges, a senior dietary aide and Mary Balanos, employees at Marian Manor in Taunton, were recently recognized by the Diocesan Health Facilities system of skilled nursing and rehabilitative care facilities for their years of service.

More than $500 was raised for the Lions Club of Norton during the second annual Jeep Run, hosted by Chris Baker of Baker's Landscaping along with Emma's Pub and Pizza.

Wayne A. Budd, a senior counsel with the Boston law firm of Goodwin Procter and a member of the Board of Directors of AAA Southern New England, has been elected vice chairman of AAA's national board of directors. He also currently serves as a trustee of Wheaton College.

Dream Dinners in Plainville is celebrating its third year in business this month.

Guardian Self-Storage has donated storage units to The American Cancer Society at its Foxboro, Franklin and Pocasset facilities.

Primary care physician Dr. Rania Husseini of Mansfield has joined the medical staff at Norwood Hospital.

Several local people were recently honored by Southcoast Hospitals Group for their years of service at Charlton Memorial Hospital. They are: Geraldine Laforge of Rehoboth, patient services, 40 years; Edward Darowski of Rehoboth, imaging services, 35 years; Elaine Clarke of North Dighton, patient services, 35 years; and Donna Berthelette of Taunton, peri-operative services, 35 years.

VinCo Properties, Inc., a Boston-based real estate development company, will hold a grand opening of The Shops at Chestnut Green in Foxboro on June 20 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Mobeen Syed of Attleboro, a senior manager in information services with Staples, was recently honored for his mentorship of future Staples leaders with the TeamCARE Silver Stapler Award.

Cheryle Cantin of Jack Conway, Realtor in Mansfield has successfully completed the Loss Mitigation Certification Course of the Massachusetts Association of Realtors.

The Preservation Framer in North Attleboro welcomes the incomparable Mari-Ann Suvari for the month of June. Mari-Ann grew up in the small village of Wickford, RI, and always seemed to have a natural affinity toward art.

By age 10, through observation and discovery, she could often be found sketching feathers or colorful sea shells in watercolor and pencil. As a teenager, Mari-Ann added sculpture and sewing to her repertoire, while taking several art classes and actually showing her work at the Wickford Art Festival at age 14. A reception for her will be Saturday, June 20 from 7 to 10 p.m.

Wendie Fillmore-Palermo and Steve Luca of the Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage office in Franklin achieved Sales Associate of the Month status for May.

Dianne M. Martin of Taunton has joined Mechanics Cooperative Bank as Bridgewater branch manager.

Morton Hospital and Medical Center recently converted its mammography equipment from analog to digital.

The Four Corners YMCA Early Learning Center in Cumberland, R.I., has earned accreditation by the National Association for the Education of Young Children.

Morton Hospital and Medical Center will host its 18th Annual Golf Tournament on Aug. 17, at Segregansett Country Club in Taunton. The tournament will kick off with a 9:30 a.m. shotgun start. Participants can register as a single player or as a foursome. Questions? go to mortonhospital.org, or call 508-828-7010.

On medical front ...

A free educational session about colorectal cancer led by physician specialists will be held at Norwood Hospital on June 17, from noon to 1 p.m. in the hospital's Abraham-Sieracki conference room. Reserve by calling the Caritas DoctorFinder toll-free at 1-800-488-5959.

Also, four neurosurgery specialists from Neurosurgical Consultants in Norwood, affiliated with Norwood Hospital and Good Samaritan Medical Center in Brockton, are presenting seminars free to the public on spinal stenosis June 25 at 5:30 p.m. in the Abraham-Sieracki conference room at the hospital, 800 Washington St., Norwood and at Good Samaritan Medical Center June 29 at 5:30 p.m. in the J. Joseph Moakley Conference Center at the hospital, 235 North Pearl St., Brockton. RSVP by calling the Caritas DoctorFinder toll-free at 1-800-488-5959.

Learn about farms

Summer workshops on Massachusetts farms and a three-credit summer graduate course are available to teachers through Massachusetts Agriculture in the Classroom, Inc.

Find out more by contacting Debi Hogan at 508-336-4426, write to Massachusetts Agriculture in the Classroom, P.O. Box 345 Seekonk, MA 02771, or go to: aginclassroom.org.

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