The Seekonk Planning Board has launched an initiative to attract users to its Web site with a Twitter account. The department will send "tweets" regarding upcoming meetings and upcoming events. Town Planner John Hansen will head the new initiative after receiving approval from the planning board.

The link is www.twitter.com/com/seekonkplanning.

The town is looking to reach out to the community and keep everyone informed of important happenings in the town related to planning.

Proposed zoning bylaw amendments, master plan updates and the status of applications are the topics that will be discussed. Hansen noted: "This is a way to reach out to the public in a way like we've never done before."

Time to talk baseball Richard A. Johnson, will appear at the Seekonk Public Library with a presentation of "Talking Baseball and the Sox" at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 24. Johnson is a best-selling author, authority on Boston sports, and curator of the Sports Museum of New England.

Co-author of "Red Sox Century, Ted Williams: A Portrait in Words and Pictures," and many more Boston sports books, he is currently writing an illustrated history of Fenway Park. The presentation will include the groundbreaking research that went into his book "Red Sox Century," and the process by which several longstanding myths regarding the team were debunked by the work done by him and co-author Glenn Stout.

This program is free. For more information, call the adult services department at 508-336-8230, ext. 130.

'Here Comes the Sun'

The Sustainable Seekonk Energy Committee will show the documentary film "Here Comes the Sun," by Dutch Director Rob van Hattum at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 18 at the Seekonk Public Library's large meeting room. After the film, there will be an opportunity to learn about the energy committee. The event is free and open to the public. For more information about the event, call 508-336-3594.

Auction to benefit pet society

The 23rd Annual Save A Pet Society Auction will be held from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. Feb. 23-25. The public is welcome to participate with the live audience at the Johnson & Wales Inn or call in bids as they watch the auction on Seekonk Cable TV Channel 9. The phone number this year will be 508-336-0098, and organizers suggest you write it down somewhere for easy access when auction time comes.

The auction is the largest fundraiser of the year for the local Save A Pet Society. Save A Pet's Web site, www.seekonksaveapet.org, is updated regularly and the public can check on what is being donated for the auction and read more about the organization. All the proceeds from the auction are used to support the Seekonk Animal Shelter, buying food for the animals, paying medical bills, and funding programs.

Meet your 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. The next meeting will be March 1.

Second Monday of the month - Rehoboth's Blanding Library 124 Bay State Road, 6:30-7:30 p.m. The next meeting will be Feb. 8.

Community calendar ...

Upcoming community events include:

The Seekonk Music Parents Association is sponsoring a spring fundraiser through the end of April. Log on to: FlowerPowerFundraising.com, click on: Find an organization and type in: Seekonk Music Parents Association.

The MOMS Club of Seekonk/Rehoboth will be holding a membership drive during the preschool fair at the Seekonk Library from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 6, with a snow date of March 20. There will be a craft for the kids and information about the club for interested moms.

At the Newman YMCA ...

The Newman YMCA has announced these events for February:

There will be a Family Movie Night at the YMCA at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12. Members are free and nonmembers are $8 per family. There will be a big-screen projector movie in the gym.

Parents' Night Out will be held Friday, Feb. 19 from 5:45 to 8:45 p.m. Cost is $10 for Y members. Children ages 3-11 do an art project, play gym games and eat dinner.

Free cancer survivorship program, Livestrong - Participants will improve functional capacity, increase quality of life, build muscle mass and strength and reduce the severity of therapy side effects. The 12-week program is offered twice per week. Register with Judy jcerrito@gpymca.org.

February Vacation Camps will be held weekdays, staring Feb. 15 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Contact Deb 508-336-7103 or ddavies@gpymca.org for details.

At the library ...

Upcoming library activities include:

The library is preparing to display trophies won by local youth sports teams, along with local sports memorabilia and newspaper clippings, banners, etc. to highlight the success of our community's youth sports teams. The trophies and any other sports memorabilia affiliated with the Town of Seekonk will be displayed in March and exhibited until May 1. Trophies and other sports items can be dropped off at the library starting late February. Each item will be carefully marked with the owner's name and contact information and will be available for return pickup at the library on May 3. The library is especially interested in sports trophies won by individuals and teams in baseball, softball, tennis, golf, swim, soccer, football, basketball, and hockey. Call Youth Services Librarian Mary Ellen Siniak, at 508-336-8230, ext. 140 for more details and drop-off information.

The library will offer computer classes to SAILS library cardholders in February. Registration is required. The classes are open to either Massachusetts residents with a SAILS library card or Rhode Island residents with a Seekonk Public Library card. Call the adult services department at 508-336-8230, ext. 130 to register.

Want to volunteer? The Friends of the Seekonk Public Library need help with printing/copying its newsletter. In late January, two or three people are needed to spend two hours weekdays from 5:45 to 7:45 p.m. or on Saturdays making copies. Training on the copier will be provided. In addition, a small group of five or six volunteers will be needed one morning to insert and tab membership envelopes into the newsletter. Help also will be needed with the group's annual membership drive. Plans are in the works for volunteers to be hosts in the library lobby. To help, fill out an application form at the library.

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. 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.

The Fabric Book Marks sold by the Friends of The Seekonk Public Library at the circulation desk are a popular item. The Friends have a volunteer who has made these for several years, but she'd like to share this project with someone else who "just likes to do crafts." Stop by the circulation desk and fill out a volunteer application.

Salon collects gowns

Supreme Hairstyle, at 17 Central Ave. in Seekonk, is opening a Cinderella's Closet in its salon. The Cinderella Project is a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to promoting the confidence and self-esteem of financially challenged young women in high school. By collecting formal dresses, gowns and accessories that they may use, it provides the means for them to attend proms and formal occasions without worrying about the financial burden associated with attending such events.

They will be accepting donations of quality new and "gently used" formal dresses and gowns as well as accessories that would be appropriate for high school students to wear to their prom or another dance during the year. It would be greatly appreciated if the items were dry-cleaned and on hangers at the time of the donation. The program also accepts formal shoes, purses, jewelry, and unopened hosiery.

All gowns, dresses and accessories are free to students. Every girl who shops at Supreme's Cinderella Closet will be entered into a raffle for a chance to win a free Up Do for their prom. If you have any questions, call 508-761-7099.

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:

Applications for fuel assistance are available for those who have never applied. For anyone who received fuel assistance last year, your application should be in the mail. If you did not receive it, call Seekonk Human Services at 508-336-8772.

Shopping trips are being offered by GATRA for any senior citizen who lives 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. 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. 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.

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