Jane Frances

Thanksgiving with all the trimmings is less than a week away. Smart shoppers have already filled the requests on their Christmas wish lists. But the rest of us will be shopping right up until the last minute, searching for that perfect gift.If you are looking for something unique, visit one of the granddaddies of local craft fairs tomorrow as the Northeast High School Athletic Boosters sponsors its 14th annual craft fair from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the school cafeteria.The handiwork of more than 55 crafts artists will be featured, including a wide selection of home-decorating items, Christmas decorations, stocking stuffers for all ages, monogrammed gifts and photographs.

Because they were rained out Sunday, Hancock's Resolution, 2795 Bayside Beach Road, has rescheduled its old-fashioned outdoor camp meeting and hymn singing for 6 p.m. Sunday. The Rev. Reg Barss, the new pastor at Magothy United Methodist Church, will conduct the service. John Morrison, spokesman for the Friends of Hancock's Resolution volunteer group, said the outdoor service and hymn singing will be accompanied by a 19th-century pump organ. The service commemorates the association of the extended Hancock family with the local church, going back more than 200 years.

Marie E. Watts, 78, steel plant worker, domesticMarie E. Watts, who worked as a domestic and at Bethlehem Steel Corp.'s Sparrows Point plant during World War II, died Friday of complications of cancer at Maryland General Hospital. She was 78 and lived in Baltimore.In 1941, the Baltimore native was one of many women hired at the steel plant while men were drafted into military service during World War II. She left Sparrows Point in 1944 and did domestic work.She married the late James Lee in 1934, and they divorced in 1942.

SHAMROCKS, leprechauns and all things green are being celebrated today at St. Jane Frances School's annual St. Patrick's bazaar at the school hall, 8413 St. Jane Drive in Riviera Beach. The day hours, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., focus on the younger set with games, crafts, face painting, a duck pond, sand art, a basketball throw and a country cupboard stocked with beautiful hand-crafted items for sale. Evening hours, from 5 to 10, will feature games, food and drink, including Irish coffee, for the older set. While you are there, pick up a few tickets for the Winning of the Green raffle that features two $1,000 cash prizes or try your luck at winning the oversized "basket of cheer" to be carted home by the lucky winner.

The students in last lunch period at St. Jane Frances School in Riviera Beach had a surprise guest yesterday. Sister Mary Monaghan, who will step down as school principal this summer, ate her last lunch with the children she has come to love."

A QUICK, MOSTLY PAINLESS way of helping the community will be offered tomorrow at St. Jane Frances Roman Catholic Church in Riviera Beach - a blood drive. The Knights of Columbus at St. Jane's is sponsoring the Operation Share Bear holiday-season blood drive from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the parish/school hall on St. Jane Drive. Joe Turchetta, head "blood sucker" for the group, said Operation Share Bear is a regional blood-collection effort by the American Red Cross conducted Dec. 15 through Jan. 15. "Everyone who donates a pint of blood will get to fill out a gift tag that will be attached to teddy bears that will be distributed to sick kids in local hospitals Jan. 15 through 26," Turchetta said.

Roman Catholics can't attend Mass or be absolved of their sins on-line, but in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, they will soon be able to conduct a lot of other parish and spiritual business via computer.At St. Jane Frances de Chantal parish in Riviera Beach, parishioners can have the parish bulletin delivered by computer days before it's handed out in church and check the calendar for future events. Parents with children in parish schools can keep tabs on their youngsters' homework assignments and send messages to teachers, who have computers on their desks.

WITHOUT ANY fanfare, individuals and groups all over the county and state participate in a monthly program that helps others as well as themselves -- the Self Help and Resource Exchange, better known as the SHARE program. SHARE offers monthly food packages, loaded with grocery items, fresh fruit and vegetables, in exchange for two hours of work and $15. Volunteer hours can be accumulated through church programs, helping out at a school, or donating time to a community group such as Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Campfire, 4-H, senior centers or a community improvement association.

Get out of fall yard cleaning chores and take the family to any one of several events in the Pasadena area this weekend.The parish of St. Jane Frances in Riviera Beach will kick off its annual fall festival at 5 p.m. today. Festival hours are 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. today, noon to 11 p.m. tomorrow, and 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.There will be carnival rides for all ages and midway games for adults and kids. For budget-minded families, Sunday has been designated unlimited-ride day. Pay one price and you can let the kids ride all afternoon.

THE OUTDOOR FALL bazaar/fair/festival season is in full swing in Pasadena.Visit one, or make the rounds. The choice is up to you.The parish of St. Jane Frances de Chantal is sponsoring its annual three-day fall festival starting this evening on the church grounds, 8499 Virginia Ave. in Riviera Beach.Festival hours are 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. today, noon to 11 p.m. tomorrow and 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.Carnival rides and games will be set up outside. More games, bingo and a used book sale will be held inside the school hall.