Apple Tree Arts wins music honor.

Apple Tree Arts was recently awarded the Musikgarten Exemplary Program certificate from Musikgarten, the preeminent early childhood music education company. The certificate is given annually each spring to celebrate Musikgarten teachers who are benefiting children and families in their communities through a breadth of Musikgarten curricula. "We are thrilled to achieve this major milestone for the work of our early childhood music department," said Education Director Jan Barlow.

Apple Tree Arts officially announced its annual appeal campaign in early February. The school broadened the scope of the campaign to reach a variety of businesses and individuals. Within a few months, the school has achieved 60 percent of its goal.

"The support of the community has been outstanding for the campaign and our new programs. We are grateful for everyone's contributions and interest," said Donna Blanchard, executive director of Apple Tree Arts, in a prepared statement.

Apple Tree Arts is a nonprofit organization that aims to foster a lifelong appreciation of the arts by providing high-quality music and dramatic arts programs for individuals of all ages.

The John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Commission, friends and partners recently celebrated the accomplishments of the Corridor's 21st year at its annual dinner at Wright's Farm Restaurant in Nasonville, R.I.

Several Blackstone Valley residents were named recipients of the Chafee Heritage Award, established by the Corridor Commission to honor the late U.S. Sen. Chafee's legacy. The corridor commission annually seeks nominations for those who exemplify active involvement in projects, programs and institutions promoting the cultural heritage, natural preservation, and/or the quality of life in the Blackstone River Valley.

Among the Chafee Heritage Awardees were volunteers Jim and Maggie Plasse of Blackstone. The husband-and-wife team guided the recent renaissance of the 30-year-old Blackstone River Watershed Association. As association board members and community leaders, Mr. and Mrs. Plasse worked to strengthen the organization's capacity through fund-raising and strong participation in the Blackstone River Coalition, according to material provided by the commission.

The student award was given to Matthew Chamberlin of Blackstone-Millville Regional High School. Over the past few years, Matthew has grown to become a widely respected, civically engaged student leader at both his school and in his community of Blackstone and beyond, according to material provided by the commission.

Matthew appeared before the Blackstone Board of Selectmen to promote the corridor's reauthorization efforts, requested petition signatures, e-mailed registrations and letters to the governor, and requested a formal resolution to be signed by the town selectmen.

Dave Scichilone, athletic director for the Whitin Community Center, is pleased to announce that two teams from the Whitin Community Center travel youth basketball program were recently crowned champions of their age groups.

The teams participate in the South Central Massachusetts youth basketball league. The eighth-grade girls' team, coached by John Doldoorian, dominated their division throughout the season, ending the season undefeated.

They went on to beat Auburn and Westboro on their way to victory in the championship game against Southboro. The team included Chelsey Clark, Rachel Clasby, Ashley Dawson, Keri Doldoorian, Giana Fournier, Amanda Harrington, Sarah Phelan, Katelyn Pryor, Courtney Rusenlund, Jordan Thompson and Haley Young.

The sixth-grade boys' team, coached by Glenn O'Donnell, has been waiting for this championship for two years. As fourth- and fifth-graders, this team made it to the championship game each year but were runners-up both times. In the regular season this year, they only lost twice, but to the same teams they would face in the playoffs.

In the semifinals, they beat Hopedale in a hard-fought game that was won with only seconds left in the game. In the championship game, they beat Southboro to finally become the champions. The third time was the charm.

The team included Tanner Ropiak, Erick Foglio, Daiton LaChapelle, Matthew Phelan, Grant Brown, Dan Mantoni, Nick Clark, Dan Clasby, Nick Meadows, Ben O'Donnell and Jake Ryan.

UniBank is pleased to announce that $1,000 has been donated to the Daniels Farmstead Foundation Inc. to assist in the historical preservation efforts at Daniels Farmstead in Blackstone.

The Daniels Farmstead Foundation was established by an all-volunteer staff in 2003 to safeguard the future of the 18th-century farm. The Daniels Farmstead Foundation is participating in the Massachusetts Historical Commission's state-funded grant program that matches funds raised to aid in the historical preservation process.

The foundation has raised more than $30,000 toward its fund-raising goal. The project architects, Chenot Associates Inc. of Princeton, have estimated the total cost of the project will be more than $149,000. The restoration project will bring the farm back to its original condition for the purpose of operating as a living museum where local historians, schools, and the general public can learn about farm life in 18th- and 19th-century New England.

Domestic Bank has opened its latest branch inside the new Wal-Mart Super Center in Northbridge. This branch is the final of three new locations that the bank has opened this year.

Domestic Bank now provides banking services to Wal-Mart customers in Coventry, North Kingstown, Providence and Warwick, R.I., and Northbridge and Raynham. All of Domestic Bank's in-store branches are open seven days a week.

For more information about Domestic Bank, visit www.domestic.com or call 1-800-556-6600.

Charles Thompson, Whitin Community Center director, has announced that the Uxbridge Hannaford supermarket is partnering with the Whitin Community Center Rockdale Youth Center to support its survival cooking program.

A grant of $1,000 will supply food for the activities at the Rockdale Youth Center. Uxbridge store manager Mike Richardson and his staff will also visit the youth center to teach children about nutrition and food safety.

There are also plans to provide a field trip to the Uxbridge Hannaford supermarket to teach the children about how food ends up on supermarket shelves.

The survival cooking program is designed to teach safety precautions and simple, nutritious meal-planning.

The center is an after-school activity and homework help center for children ages 8 to 13 in the Rockdale section of Northbridge. The center is open from 2:30 to 6 p.m. on school days, and noon to 6 p.m. on days when school is closed or open only half-days.

ART: PHOTOS

CUTLINE: (1) The National Heritage Corridor's acting executive director, Thomas E. Ross, and commission chairman Louise Redding present Matthew Chamberlain, right, with the Chafee Heritage Award. (2, 3) Two teams from the Whitin Community Center travel youth basketball program were crowned champions of their age groups. The eighth-grade girls' team, above, coached by John Doldoorian, dominated their division throughout the season, ending the season undefeated. The sixth-grade boys' team, below, coached by Glenn O'Donnell, earned a title.

PHOTOG: COURTESY PHOTOS