You can meet all the Republican candidates and all the Democratic candidates separately during the coming week, or you can meet them all together. The major difference is that at the separate events you get wine and cheese and at the joint event you might hear some really hardball questions.

Candidates for the state House of Representatives District 36 seat will be roaming the island this weekend, and candidates for the state Senate District 37 seat will be here on Columbus Day — all are from the mainland, of course. And the Republican candidate for governor, Don Carcieri, will be making a cameo appearance next Friday.

But if you need to vote an absentee ballot, you must act quickly. You have to have your application in by 4 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 15, at the town clerk's office.

The scheduled events of the week start with a reception at the home of Lulu Kiley, sponsored by the Democratic Town Committee. All the Democratic candidates for local office are expected to be present, as well as Sen. Sue Sosnowski and Matt McHugh, who are running for the House. Both live in South Kingstown.

The Kiley home — of former First Warden Richard Kiley, who died in August 2001 — is on Sunset Terrace off High Street. The hours of the reception are 2 to 4 p.m.

And the Republican Town Committee has scheduled a reception, with wine and cheese, at the Spring House from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 18. Carcieri is expected for that event, as well as Matt Hopkins of Westerly, candidate for the House, and Anna Prager of South Kingstown, candidate for the Senate.

All the candidates — Republicans, Democrats and independents — will be at Candidates Night at the Block Island School Monday from 7 to 10 p.m. to present their views and answer questions. Sosnowsk, McHugh, Hopkins and Prager all expect to be there. Refreshments there will be provided by mothers of pre-school children and Head Teacher Tracy Heinz.

Hopkins, a political novice working hard to become known, will be on the island throughout the weekend to meet constituents, he says. He will be staying at Annie Rice's Fairview Cottage and can be reached at 447-6925.