Seekonk Human Services has an emergency food pantry that helps families and elders when they experience job loss or sudden financial crisis. This immediate access assistance will fill the gap while clients apply for food stamps and membership in the Doorways Food Pantry, which is open on Saturdays from 8 to 10 a.m.

At the moment the cupboards at 320 Pleasant St. are virtually bare. Needed are non-perishable canned and dry foods such as soup, meat, fish, pasta sauce, pasta, fruit, pancake mix and cereal. Toiletries are also welcome. Please drop off your donations during our regular hours: Monday to Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Friday, 8:30 a.m. to noon.

Abigail Adams Scholars

Seekonk High School has named these winners of the Abigail Adams Scholarships, which are given to students who have scored in the Advanced/Advanced or Advanced/Proficient categories on the MCAS and score in the top 25 percent for the school district:

Casey Blackbird, Madison Burke, Megan Carter, Krista Chauvin, Elena Corrao, Ryan Dasilva, Crista Disano, Kimberly Ferriera, Lynelle Ferriera, Stephen Gadbois, John Gregorek, Kathryn Halpin, Esther Henebeng, Tara Heroux, Paul Hindle, Alyssa Karbowski, Kathryn Lavall, Stephanie Lesage, Laura Luiz, Jordyn Magill, Dylan Marshall, Michael McCormack, Michael Mullen, Kristen Nolan, Amy Nunes, Emily Nunes, Daniel Olarte, Kate Pardini, Meghan Parella, Kyle Pariseau, Daphne Polselli, Melissa Scott, Richard Silva, Tasha Sousa, Franklin Starr, Emily Stoukides, Ryan Turner, Hanna Yando, Sarah Yu, and Zachary Zimmerman. Celebrate Halloween

The Newman YMCA will hold its annual Halloween party from 7 to 8:30 tonight to offer residents a safe Halloween through an imaginative experience, with an evening for little goblins, ages 3-11, and their families to enjoy in an environment that's fun and exciting. Activities will include costume parades, games, a haunted room, a giant obstacle course, ghost stories and horse drawn hay-rides. Older children, or those who are very brave, will be thrilled by the Haunted Camp Grounds. The event is free to Y member children and $5 per child for non-member children, with no fee for parent. Tickets must be picked up in advance.

On Friday, Oct. 30, The Newman YMCA will offer Swim with the Pumpkins from 7:30-8:45 p.m. for all ages. Share your family swim with real pumpkins (they float), take one home to decorate or paint it at the Y after swim. For more information about Halloween at the YMCA festivities at the Newman YMCA, call 508-336-7103 or visit www.YMCAgreaterprovidence.org.

The Aitken School's annual Flames of Fall, featuring about 100 illuminated pumpkins, will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30. Refreshments will be served.

Students honored

Seekonk students honored at Warren, R.I.,'s Our Lady of Fatima High School are:

Senior Mary-Kate Sanders was named as one of the school's September Class Students of the Month.

Dominic Pirri was named Fatima High School's Athlete of the month for September. Pirri is the boy's cross-country team captain.

At the library ...

Library activities include: Keith Johnson, founder of the paranormal research organization, NEAR (New England Anomalies Research), will be giving a presentation highlighting the experiences that he, his wife and brother have had as paranormal investigators at the Seekonk Public Library at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 28.

A holiday gift sale will be held in the Seekonk Public Library's meeting room from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 28. On display will be samples of products, along with catalogs from which customers may place orders.

The Friends of the Seekonk Public Library need books for its perpetual book sale, which takes place in the library's lobby during regular hours. All donations can be dropped off at the customer services desk.

The latest donations include cookbooks, children's books, videos fiction and non-fiction. Residents can shop any time the library is open. Prices are $1 for hardcover books and most videos, 50 cents for paperbacks, 25 cents for magazines and 10 cents for older magazines. Jeanne Dunne, Friends volunteer coordinator, reports a good selection of books about cooking, crafts for the holidays at a cost of $1 for hardcovers and 50 cents for paperbacks.

Energy program guidelines change

The income guidelines for the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) have been changed to allow homeowners and renters whose income is at or below 60 percent of the state's estimated median income to qualify for fuel assistance. This will expand the number of households now eligible for assistance heating bills and other utilities. The maximum income for number of persons living in a household is as follows: one person, $29,126; two people, $38,087; three, $47,049; four, $56,011; and five, $64,973. Income for all household members is considered. Reportable income includes wages, unemployment, interest, dividends, pension, and Social Security.

Citizens for Citizens, a community action program based in Taunton and Fall River, administers the fuel assistance program for Seekonk residents. The program covers payments for oil, propane, wood or coal, as well as natural gas and electric utilities. The application period for fuel assistance grants begins Nov. 1, and extends to April 30. Applications are handled by Seekonk Human Services. Call 508-336-8772 to make an appointment and to obtain a list of documentation that must accompany your application. Alternately, residents can apply on a walk-in basis at Citizens for Citizens, 21 Spring St. Taunton, 508-676-7397.

Weigh in on open space plan

Seekonk is in the process of updating its Open Space and Recreation Plan to guide its decision making when it comes to preserving open space and enhancing its recreation facilities. The plan is the successor to ones written in 1978, 1988 and then again in 1999 that addresses various issues relative to recreational facilities and open space. The plans are necessary to qualify for state funding for acquisition and protection of important open space and recreation resources.

The survey - which can be completed online at www.seekonk.info/town/planning - is part of the public process to understand the needs and concerns of residents of Seekonk. Complete the survey by Oct. 30. Questions? Call the planning office at 508-336-2962 or jhansen@seekonk-ma.gov.

Meet state rep

State Rep. Steve D'Amico, D-Seekonk, will hold these office hours:

First Monday of the month - Seekonk Library 410 Newman Ave., 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Second Monday of the month - Rehoboth's Blanding Library 124 Bay State Road, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Help Friends of Friends assist residents

Friends of Friends is a group in town that, since its founding in 1992, helps needy seniors and young families in Seekonk with fuel, medicine and food. The group gets referrals from the Seekonk Human Services Council and local churches and provides assistance through donations. For more information to attend a monthly meeting, call Edith Krekorian at 508-336-8130 or krektv@yahoo.com or call human services at 508-336-6272.

Selectman meets residents

Selectmen Chairman Francis Cavaco will meet residents on Monday afternoons from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. in the selectmen's meeting room at town hall. Residents may discuss any concerns or issues. You also may call him at him at 508-761-7650.

At Seekonk Human Services ...

Here's what's happening at Seekonk Human Services:

Shopping trips are being offered by GATRA for any senior citizen who resides in Seekonk. The GATRA van will be picking you up at your home, but you must call 1-800-483-2500 to schedule your pickup time.

Do you have the creative ideas, skills, and interest needed to help shape the future of Seekonk's Department of Human Services and council on aging? The Baby Boomers are coming and, with the worsening economy, families increasingly require services. If you would consider serving on the Human Services Board, call Bernadette Huck at 508-336-8772.

Seekonk Human Services hosts a monthly health clinic with two nurses from South Coast Hospital available to check your blood pressure, glucose and cholesterol. Within five minutes of your test you will receive a breakdown of all of your numbers.

SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) counselors are available at Seekonk Human Services every day to help with health insurance questions or concerns. Health insurance is now mandatory in Massachusetts. Call 508-336-8772 for assistance.

Food pantry - The food pantry is available on Saturday mornings from 8 to 10 a.m. Applications are available at Seekonk Human Services; call 508-336-8772 to make an appointment.

Cooking classes - These will begin at the end of September. Call Karen at 508-336-8772 to sign up. Student chefs from Johnson & Wales will teach the courses.

Joseph S. Siegel covers Seekonk for The Sun Chronicle. He can be reached at joesiegel@cox.net.