Panera Bread North Attleboro and Plainville invite their customers to join the fight against breast cancer by eating its signature Pink Ribbon Bagel for breakfast, lunch or dinner during national Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October. Twenty-five cents from each Pink Ribbon Bagel sold at the bakery-cafes will be donated to Sturdy Memorial Hospital in Attleboro. The bagels also will be offered at the hospital's Breast Cancer Awareness program in October.

Get preschool info

The MOMS Club of North Attleboro will hold its sixth annual Preschool Information Night on Oct. 15, from 6:30 to 8 p.m., in the North Attleboro Middle School cafeteria. More than 25 of the area's preschools have been invited to participate in the open house-style event. Preschools interested in participating can contact Pam Schuster or Tina Neighbors, at northattleboroughmoms@yahoo.com.

Art shows in North

The Village Artisans Collaborative of North Attleboro will hold an art show today from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., in Veterans Park, and Oct. 3, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Briggs Nursery. Another will be Dec. 12, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Village Artisans Shop. Contact Cindy O'Brien at naarts@co. A healthy plan

In recognition of National Women's Health and Fitness Day Sept. 30, Curves in Attleboro will hold a no-cost, 30-day diet plan program for Attleboro-area women. The program includes a series of free weight management classes. All classes are available at no fee and no membership is required. For more information contact Therese Bertrand at 508-761-8177 or 9ZYU2U9@curvesmail.com.

Crossroads meeting set

All administrative professionals are invited to learn how the International Association of Administrative Professionals can enhance a professional career and gain insight into the profession by attending and information meeting of the Crossroads IAAP chapter, on Oct. 21, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., at The Tavern from Tower Square, 119 Pleasant St. (Route 1), Plainville. Questions? Contact Karen Gunther at 508-628-2550 or via e-mail at gun429@comcast.net.

Help city energy fund

Fuel AID 2010, "Cool Tunes, Warm Hearts," will take place Oct. 3 at Morin's Hometown Bar & Grill at 16 South Main St. "Third Shift Jazz" will play from 8 to 10 p.m. and "New Son Rising" from 10 to midnight. Tickets can purchased at the door for $5 each, with money going to the "One Dollar at a Time," Attleboro Energy Fund's campaign to help keep the needy warm. The fund is seeking the support of businesses to raise funds by selling totes.

At United Chamber ...

The United Regional Chamber of Commerce is holding these events:

Company members of the chamber are eligible to participate in a fall flu clinic run through Community VNA offered to employees of companies that may not have enough people to hold their own flu clinics. Vaccines cost $25. The clinic will be at the Attleboro office, and if there is enough interest, in the Franklin and North Attleboro areas. E-mail jack@unitedregionalchamber.com.

"Business After Hours" Sept. 29, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Fusion 5, 105 Washington St., Foxboro. Cost is $5 for members; $10 for nonmembers. Register by calling 508-222-0801, 508-695-6011 or 508-528-2800. Extreme Networking Groups: One group meets the first and third Wednesday of every month at 8:30 a.m. at King St. Cafe, 390 King St., Franklin. Contact Rob Haser at 508-243-5498. Another group meets the second Wednesday of every month from 8 to 9 a.m. at Century 21, 24 North Main St., Bellingham. Contact Leo Fantini at 508-966-2424.

Round Table Referrals Oct. 1, from 8:30 to 10 a.m. at Canterbury Woods, 100 Garfield Ave., Attleboro.

The next Executive Express-O will be held Oct. 2, from 8 to 8:55 a.m. at the Attleboro office of the chamber's city office, 42 Union. St. Call 508-958-3681 or 508-222-0801 to sign up.

Nominations are open for the 2009 Person of the Year and Business of the Year awards which will be presented at the November dinner meeting. Submissions are due by Oct. 2.

Alpha Title Services, 320 Elm St., Suite 2, North Attleboro, will host the Oct. 8 "Business After Hour," from 5 to 7 p.m. Cost is $5 for members; $10 for non-members. Call 508-222-0801, 508-695-6011 or 508-528-2800.

The eighth annual Strictly Business Expo, a collaboration of the United Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Tri-Town and Neponset Valley chambers, will be held on Oct. 15 at Christina's in Foxboro. Call the United Chamber at 508-222-0801, the Tri-Town Chamber at 508-339-5655 or the Neponset Valley Chamber of Commerce at 781-769-1126 for more information.

Sturdy Memorial Hospital is hosting a free chamber breakfast for members on Oct. 21, from 8 to 9 a.m., in the hospital's auditorium. Register by calling 508-236-8020 by Oct. 19.

Taste of the Region will be Oct. 27, 6 to 9 p.m., at Tri-County Regional Vocational-Technical High School, 147 Pond St., Franklin. Tickets are $10 in advance; $15 at the door.

Shaw's offers flu shots

Customers who get a seasonal flu shot at a Shaw's OSCO Pharmacy can collect a $20 gift card that can be applied to future prescriptions or immunizations. Shaw's will offer seasonal flu shots at $24.99. Customers can schedule an appointment by calling 800-783-0458, or by visiting: www.shawsoscopharmacies.com.

Financial advice offered

There are many opportunities in the coming days for financial advice:

A college financial aid workshop by Matt Connor, a certified financial planner will be held at the Norfolk Public Library Sept. 30, from 7 to 8 p.m. RSVP with Suzanne at 781-344-1023, ext. 11.

The American Credit Counseling Service will hold a free financial education workshop Sept. 29, from 6:30 to 8 p.m., at its education center at 4 Taunton St., Suite 5, Plainville. Call 508-643-4445 to reserve a seat.

The Norfolk County Registry of Deeds Web site, www.norfolkdeeds.org, now includes information about foreclosure counseling, as well as the First Time Homebuyer Tax Credit, the first time homebuyer program and the down payment assistance program.

"When Divorce Happens - Common Financial Mistakes to Avoid," a seminar by lawyer Kerri Quintal and Christopher Sweet, an insurance agent, will be held on Oct. 21 at 6:30 p.m. at Fisher College in North Attleboro. Call 508-942-1246.

An estate-planning seminar will be held on Oct. 23 at 11 a.m. by the Pond Home and The Community at Pond Meadow at the home's community center at 279 East St., Wrentham. Maxine Johnson, of Foresight Personal Financial Planning, and a former bank trust officer with experience in estate and trust administration will give the presentation. The seminar is free and open to the public. Call 508-384-3531 ext. 221 or email cathy@pondhome.org to register.

Social media workshops

Two free workshops, where local companies to learn how to use social media to improve their businesses will be held by the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center Network, in conjunction with the SouthCoast Entrepreneurial Network, Quest Center and the Advanced Technology and Manufacturing Center's Technology Venture Center will be held Oct. 13, from 8 to 10 a.m. at the ATMC, Martine St., Fall River and on Oct. 28, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Quest Center, 1213 Purchase St., New Bedford. To register, call 508-673-9783 or go to www.msbdc.org/semass.

Safe trick-or-treating

Bring the costumed kids to Man-Mar Drive in Plainville for a safe time of trick or treating. Businesses will be handing out goodies from 4 to 6 p.m. on Oct. 30. Stop by The Learning Link, Dream Dinners, The Emory Board, Kenpo Karate, Annie's Book Stop, Durcan Cuddy Insurance, Wallflower, Total Image, Curves and others. Look for the orange pumpkins in the windows.

Need help finding a job?

The following are some area workshops to assist people looking for work:

Working for Work, a peer support group for unemployed will start weekly sessions, meeting Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to noon at Grace Episcopal Church, 104 North Washington St., North Attleboro. There will be two components to the meetings - time to network, rehearse interviews and critique resumes and time devoted to the need for self-care and mutual support so that the natural stresses from unemployment will not become obstacles. For more information, call 617-331-5541.

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

Neponset Chamber event

Register William P. O'Donnell will participate in a panel discussion sponsored by the Neponset Valley Chamber of Commerce at the Four Points Sheraton, Route 1, Norwood on Sept. 30, from 7:30 to 9 a.m.

Get fall gardening tips

Tranquil Lake Nursery in Rehoboth will hold its "Fall Gardening Festival" on Oct. 3, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with speakers who will talk about anything from how to put your garden to bed for the winter for a wake up in the spring, to harvesting and drying herbs. The event is free and open to the public.

Catch Tri-Town Oktoberfest

The Tri-Town Chamber of Commerce's Community Oktoberfest '09, will be held Oct. 6, 5 to 7 p.m., to raise money for community food pantries. Tickets are $12 in advance; $15 at the door. Call the chamber at 508-339-5655.

Businesses aiding charities

These area businesses are encouraging donations to help area charitable causes:

Starting Oct. 1, all dressbarn stores will offer Biscuit, a stuffed plush dog for $5 with $2 going to the American Cancer Society. The offer will continue to Oct. 31.

Support Old Colony Hospice by going shopping at Lord & Taylor's on Oct. 6 from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Call Linda Werman at 781-341-4147 ext. 204 or send an e-mail to lwerman@oldcolonyhospice.com to purchase a $5 ticket to the "Benefit Bash." All ticket sale proceeds go to the hospice. In return, ticket purchasers will receive a 20 percent off coupon for a special item and a 15 percent all-day savings pass. For more information www.loseforgood.com.

Now until Oct. 12, Olympia Sports shoppers are invited to give $1 to the Jimmy Fund through the "A Chance for Kids" program for pediatric cancer research and care at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. In return for their contributions, customers will receive a promotion card guaranteed to win a prize worth at least $1.

Now through Oct. 17, Weight Watchers, through its Lose For Good campaign, created to raise awareness about obesity and hunger, will donate up to $1 million to hunger organizations. Members in Attleboro will also be lending a hand by collecting donations to local pantries.

Wrentham residents Alexis Dean and Jill Fallon will host the Fifth Annual Wrentham Village Breast Cancer Fundraiser on Oct. 8, at 7 p.m. at the 3 Restaurant in Franklin, with 100 percent of the proceeds from the night's silent auction and raffles to be donated to the American Cancer Society 2009 Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, supporting the fundraising efforts of the Wrentham Village Neighbors and Friends Team.

The night will feature a silent auction, as well as Pink Ribbon Mystery and Hope Ribbon Raffles. Light dinner fare and dessert will be served, accompanied by a cash bar. Tickets to this "ladies-only" event are $60 and will be sold in advance by sending a check, made payable to Alexis Dean, HMH/Alexis Dean, PO Box 2463, Pawtucket, R.I. 02863.

There will be a walk to benefit the March of Dimes on Oct. 10, at Patriot Place in Foxboro. Registration will begin at 9 a.m. on the plaza at Patriot Place. The walk starts at 10 a.m. on a 1.5 mile course that winds around Gillette Stadium and through Patriot Place, finishing back on the plaza with a post event program that will include live music and family activities. For more information or to register, go to marchforbabies.org, or call 800-525-9255.

Find out about energy

The third Annual Mass Energy Summit will be held Oct. 15, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the DCU Center, 50 Foster St., Worcester. The summit is aimed at educating business owners, executives, municipal leaders and others about the wide variety of energy supply choices, conservation methods, and the evolving array of alternatives to fossil fuels. Cost is $55 and includes a networking breakfast and lunch. Register online at http://www.wbjournal.com or for more information call 508-755-8004 ext. 286, or e-mail kprosser@wbjournal.com.

BCC plans awards ceremony