Montione's Biscotti, 215 South Worcester St., Norton will hold a biscotti tasting from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7 to benefit the American Diabetes Association. Admission is free. Haley Wall, a 10-year-old junior youth advocate for ADA and resident of Mansfield, will join Montione's for the day along with some of her friends to answer questions and create awareness of diabetes. She was diagnosed with diabetes in 2007. Harpist Diane Patenaude, will perform and give demonstrations from 1 to 2 p.m.

A storytime will follow, featuring the new children's book "Duffy's Dilemma," a true story about a young Labrador retriever dog diagnosed with diabetes written by bakery owner Mary Montione. A portion of store sales that day will be donated to ADA.

Also helping charities

The following businesses are aiding area causes with charitable efforts:

On Nov. 9, Ponderosa Steakhouse in South Attleboro will be offering a free buffet meal and beverage to all veterans and active military personnel to thank them for all the sacrifices that they have made. For information, contact the restaurant at 508-399-7250. Shoppers at Shaw's can help out HESSCO Elder Services through its Community Rewards Program. Shaw's will donate 1 percent of eligible purchases to HESSCO when you shop in any Shaw's or Star Market in Massachusetts on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday. Go to www.shaws.com to learn more.

The O'Keefe-Wade Funeral Home in Taunton has started its annual holiday food drive to benefit the Coyle and Cassidy Food Pantry. Items, including non-perishable foods and supermarket gift certificates, will be collected through Christmas with drop-off times, Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays, 9 a.m. to noon. Questions? Contact owners Stephen or Kevin Wade at 508-823-3371, or Brie Cunniff at 508-345-1926.

The American Cancer Society's "Freshstart" smoking-cessation program will be offered every Tuesday in November, from 5 to 6 p.m., at Shields Radiation Oncology Center in Mansfield. The free program consists of four, one-hour sessions. To register, call Maureen Kwash at 508-897-4339 by Monday.

Need help finding a job?

Here are some events to assist people looking for work:

Trinitarian Congregational Church has a group to provide the community of Norton a place for those recently unemployed or seeking better employment a place to meet. The group is open to all, including employers seeking employees. It meets each week from 7:30 to 9 a.m. on Tuesdays. For information, call Bill Lippincott at 508-285-5418.

The United Regional Chamber of Commerce, in conjunction with Living Waters Church, will hold a job fair and employment workshops on Nov. 5 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Workshops on interviewing skills, job search marketing plans, and more will be offered in two sessions: 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. A networking coffee hour is scheduled from 9 to 10 a.m. and an afternoon roundtable is scheduled from 1 to 2 p.m. The event will take place at the church in North Attleboro. Booth spaces for businesses are available to display current openings and take employment applications. Questions? Call Jen at 508-695-6011.

Financial advice offered

Opportunities for financial advice include:

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. Goldmark Federal Credit Union will host a Self Help Information Night on Nov. 12, from 3 to 5 p.m. Kathleen Park, the Community Outreach Coordinator for the Attleboro Self Help will answer questions. For more information, contact Keo Conner at 508-222-3009.

Up next at chamber ...

The United Regional Chamber of Commerce is holding these events:

Extreme Networking Groups: One group meets the first and third Wednesdays of every month at 8:30 a.m. at King St. Cafe, 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, Bellingham. Contact Leo Fantini at 508-966-2424.

A regional Business After Hours with several other local chambers will be held Nov. 4, at the Mansfield Holiday Inn, from 5 to 7 p.m. No charge. Register by calling 508-222-0801, 508-695-6011 or 508-528-2800.

Round Table Referrals on Nov. 5 8:30-10 a.m. at Canterbury Woods in Attleboro.

Executive Express-O will be held Nov. 6, from 8 to 8:55 a.m. at the Attleboro office of the Chamber where the topic will be "Pricing: Huge Impact - Volume, Margin, Profits." Admission is free, but registration is required. Call 508-958-3681 or 508-222-0801.

The chamber will hold its 93rd Annual Dinner & Award Banquet, Nov. 19 at 6 p.m., at the Lake View Pavilion in Foxboro. Cost is $45; pre-paid registration is required. Reserve by calling any of the chamber offices by Nov. 6. Award recipients will be Max and Marion Volterra as Persons of the Year and Fastsigns of North Attleboro as Business of the Year.

Also in the area ...

Business-related events in the area also include:

NOV. 4 - New England Sinai Hospital is presenting a workshop for registered and licensed practical nurses interested in refreshing their knowledge of chronic wound care assessment and treatment. It will be held Nov. 4, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Massasoit Community College in Brockton. For more information, contact Diane Lydiksen at 781-297-1300.

NOV. 5 - The Academic Center for Entrepreneurship at Bristol Community College will hold its 2009 Entrepreneurship Awards ceremony on Nov. 5, from 5 to 8 p.m. in the Commonwealth Center of the Fall River campus. Reservations are required, but there's no fee to attend. Reserve online at http://www.bristol.mass.edu/Community_Education/ace/eventcalendar.cfm or call 508.678.2811 ext. 2695, or e-mail jeanne.girard@bristolcc.edu.

NOV. 5 - Dean Leadership Institute will feature Dr. Ralph de la Torre, president and CEO of Caritas Christi Health Care, at its annual executive lecture Nov. 5 at the Dean College in Franklin. The event is free. Call 508-541-1612.

NOV. 14 - Norwood Hospital's annual gala fundraiser to benefit the hospital's Pain Management Center will be held Nov. 14, at the Quincy Marriott. For more information, contact susan.dowling@caritaschristi.org.

NOV. 17 - The Rehoboth Business Association will hold a dinner meeting at 6 p.m. on Nov. 17, at the Johnson & Wales Inn in Seekonk. Brad Dinerman, president of Fieldbrook Solutions and the National Information Security Group, will talk about the state's data privacy law and how it affects businesses. The cost is $25. Reserve by Nov. 9 by e-mailing salcyn506@aol.com or call Dale McCaughey at 508-252-3312.

NOV. 19 - The South Shore Chapter of the Association for Operations Management will hold a dinner meeting on Nov. 19, at 5:30 p.m. at Benjamin's in Taunton. The presentation is free. Dinner and networking is $25; $20 if registered by Nov. 13. For more information go to www.apics-southshore.org.

NOV. 19 - The South Eastern Economic Development Corporation will hold its annual meeting on Nov. 19 at White's of Westport. Questions? Go to www.seedcorp.com.

NOV. 21 - The Metro South Chamber of Commerce and the Rotary Club of Brockton will host the Plymouth County/Cape Cod Railroad Dinner Train Excursion on Nov. 21, from 2:15 to 5:15 p.m. Cost is $75 per person. To reserve a seat, contact Kimberly Prosper at 508-586-0500, ext. 231, e-mail kprosper@metrosouthchamber.com, or register on-line at www.metrosouthchamber.com/register.html.

DEC. 12 - The Village Artisans Collaborative of North Attleboro will hold an art show Dec. 12, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Village Artisans Shop. Contact Cindy O'Brien at naarts@co.

North Rotary Club plans reunion night

The North Attleboro-Plainville Rotary Club will be hosting a reunion and recognition evening in January. All past and present members of the club are encouraged to attend. For more information, call Michael Taylor at 508-695-8300.

Norwood Hospital offers

help for those with MS

The second annual Multiple Sclerosis School addressing issues facing those living with the disease is being offered free at Norwood Hospital. It will be led by Dr. Salvatore Napoli, neurologist and medical director of the hospital's Multiple Sclerosis Center. The six lectures run through February with registration at 6:30 p.m., running 7 to 8:30 p.m., in the Abraham-Sieracki Conference Room at the hospital. Each lecture will conclude with a question and answer session. To pre-register, call Caritas DoctorFinder at 800-488-5959.

Wanted: Rotary exchange

program applicants

The Rotary Club of Attleboro, District 7950, is currently seeking applications for team members for a Group Study Exchange to Uruguay, Rotary District 4980. The program provides an educational and cultural opportunity for young professionals between the ages of 25 and 40 to travel in the host country in a four-week program from April 15 to May 15. Contact the club at www.attlebororotary.org.

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