Cranston Chatter

By Meri R. Kennedy
Posted 2/8/17

By MERI KENNEDY Requests for proposals from Lt. Jim Pagano Foundation The Lt. Jim Pagano Foundation will be awarding a total of $22,500 to organizations that support academic enrichment and to Cranston students entering college. The Foundation is

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in

Cranston Chatter

Posted

Requests for proposals from Lt. Jim Pagano Foundation

The Lt. Jim Pagano Foundation will be awarding a total of $22,500 to organizations that support academic enrichment and to Cranston students entering college. The Foundation is currently accepting applications from worthy programs, including after-school activities or summer camps and will continue the tradition of awarding scholarships to five high school seniors planning to attend college in the fall.

Over the past few years they have worked in partnership with the Cranston Public Schools in an after-school STEM robotics program for sixth-grade students, and it was widely received.

Grant guidelines and the official application can be found at the Lt. Jim Pagano website at www.jimpaganofoundation.com/ourwork, and the deadline for proposals is March 20. Final awards will be granted on April 20.

Again, this year, the Foundation will be awarding college scholarships to graduating seniors at CHSW, CHSE and the NEL/CPS schools. There will be five recipients each who will receive an amount of $1,500. High school seniors can access the scholarship guidelines and application through their guidance counselors.

The Lt. Jim Pagano Foundation makes charitable grants to individuals, groups and/or organizations that improve the quality of life for children, and foster character building and a strong foundation for their future. By funding these programs, the Foundation hopes to develop future heroes and leaders who will in turn do the same in their communities.

Bowling for East

On Feb. 10, the senior class at Cranston High School East has a fundraising event at AMF Bowling from 2:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. This is a community event. The cost to play is $5 per person. Once a "team" has been established, they can contact Andrea at adicicco@cpsed.net to select a time to play. All money collected will go towards granting a special wish of a child through "A Wish Come True.”

It's tax time at CCAP

CCAP's VITA Preparation Assistance Program is a free tax assistance service for low-income workers.

CCAP serves as a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site from Jan. 25 through April 17. They provide free tax preparation for individuals and families earning less than $54,000.

Last year, CCAP's VITA program filed over 1,000 federal tax returns, helping Rhode Island families receive $2 million in refunds without any cost. Our volunteers are trained and certified by the IRS and will help you file your federal and state income taxes. IRS e-file is the most accurate, safest and fastest way to file your tax return. You can get your refund in as little as 10 days.

CCAP's tax preparation services are offered at the Cranston location: 311 Doric Ave. in Cranston (lower level). Call them today for an appointment at 467-7013. They will provide you with a list of paperwork to bring.

Help the Homeless looking for help

Help the Homeless RI, a non-profit providing food and basic needs to the homeless and is located in Cranston, is teaming up with Pawtucket Backpackers to provide food to children in need. The Pawtucket Backpackers program responds directly to student hunger by providing students throughout the district with a bag of food for the weekend.

Help the Homeless RI would like to form a community group in Pawtucket and thinks teaming up with groups like the Pawtucket Backpackers is a great way to reach out to other groups in the community that are already helping others.

The President and Executive Director of Help the Homeless RI, Andrea Smith, said, “No one should have to go hungry. I love what the Pawtucket Backpackers are doing and I think we should help them as much as we can to provide food for these children.”

Help the Homeless RI is collecting the following items for the food bags: boxes or granola/snack bars, boxes of breakfast pastries, boxes of instant oatmeal, packages of fruit/applesauce, cups or pouches boxes of single serve packs of peanut butter/cheese crackers and boxes of single serve nut assortments/trail mix.

Items can be dropped off at 28 Stevens Road in Cranston on Feb 28 between noon and 2:30 p.m.

Help the Homeless RI is currently feeding people in need on Friday nights in West Warwick and on Sunday afternoons in Pawtucket.

Snow assistance for the elderly & disabled

Winter months bring snow, and many Rhode Island elderly and disabled are neither physically nor financially able to deal with it. It means missing medical appointments, running out of food or medication, slipping on snow or ice. Serve RI has a special program for elderly and disabled who qualify for this help. Call Serve RI for more information at 331-2298.

At the Senior Center

There will be Hearing Aid Services provided by Nancy Fox, a Hearing Instrument Specialist, who will be available to provide free hearing aid cleaning and will check to be sure that your hearing aid is working properly. The program is provided by: All You Need to Hear Hearing Aid Center. Come to the Center on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Call 780-6000 for an appointment space is limited.

Also on Feb. 14, come join in for the Valentine’s Day Luncheon at 11:30 a.m. There is a suggested donation of $3 and entertainment will be provided by Mike DiNardo. Patrons are welcome to lunch and special treats with entertainment, as well as a sing-a-long with your favorite tunes. Call for your reservation at 780-6134.

Heart Sweet Temptations will be held on Feb. 15 at 10 a.m. with double surprise guests. Heart healthy sweets - do they really exist? The dynamic duo will surprise you with some interesting recipes and treats!

Cyber-Seniors – Connecting Generations are held on Tuesdays from 9 to 11:30 a.m. and Wednesdays from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. This is a URI Engaging Generations Program. Do you have questions about how to use or best utilize your smart phone? Laptop? Tablet? Computers?  Email? Storing photos? Facebook? URI students are available to meet with you on a one-to-one basis to go over your concerns and answer your technology questions. You may drop by or call for an appointment at 780-6000.

Brown Bag Program “A Medication Review” presented by the URI Pharmacy Outreach Program will be held on Feb. 22 from 9 to 11:30 a.m. This is your chance to sit with professional pharmacy staff to review and discuss your medications and the conditions they are being used to treat. This serves as an excellent opportunity to evaluate your current medication regimen and ensure that you are taking them properly for maximum benefit. Bring with you your prescription meds and your over-the-counter meds or a list of them. Call for your appointment at 780-6000.

5th Annual Mardi Gras Ball

Lagniappe Productions, producers of the annual Labor Day weekend Rhythm & Roots Festival in Charlestown, bring back their authentic Louisiana Mardi Gras celebration held annually in southern New England.

The Cajun & Zydeco Mardi Gras Ball returns for its 25th year at Rhodes on the Pawtuxet on Feb. 25 from 6:30 p.m. to midnight.  Featured bands include Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys, Roddie Romero and the Hub City All Stars, and Corey Ledet and His Zydeco Band.

The ball features a costume contest with cash prizes in a variety of categories including best group, best couple, best individual and a grand prize of $250 for best overall costume.  Enjoy a cash bar and Cajun and Creole cuisine by Rhode Island’s renowned Chili Brothers Food Company – arguably the most popular food vendor at the Rhythm & Roots Festival every year, serving up their world-famous, Louisiana-inspired cuisine.

Tickets are $30 in advance or $40 at the door; table of 10 are $325 for table of 10 (advance only). For tickets please call 783-3926.

Tim White to speak at Hall Library

Join author and investigative reporter Tim White at the William Hall Library, located at 1825 Broad St., on Feb. 22 where he will discuss his new book, "The Last Good Heist," at 7 p.m.

The book focuses on the robbery (the “biggest single payday in the criminal history of the Northeast”) committed by eight daring thieves in Providence in 1975.

The book discussion will begin at 7 p.m. and will be followed by a book signing. (Books will not be available for purchase, so bring your previously purchased copies for signing.) This program is free and open to the public.

Decathlon seeking volunteers

Rhode Island Academic Decathlon is actively recruiting volunteers for their Sunday, March 12 state competition. Volunteers evaluate the speech and interview skills of high school students or assist with exams and event management. The competition is hosted by CCRI in Warwick, and most volunteers serve from 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. Training is provided on the day of the event. Twenty-five teams from high schools in Cranston, Cumberland, East Greenwich, Johnston, Providence, North Kingstown, North Providence, South Kingstown, Warwick and Westerly are competing. For more information on the RI Academic Decathlon, visit www.acdec.net, or email Mary at mary.johnson@acdec.net. To register as a volunteer, visit riadregistration.org/decathlon/volunteers.pl

Did You Know?

California produces 60 percent of American roses, but the vast number sold on Valentine's Day in the United States are imported, mostly from South America. Approximately 110 million roses, the majority red, will be sold and delivered within a three-day time period. (Valentine’s Fun Facts)

To submit your news from the community, e-mail Meri R. Kennedy at CranstonChatter@aol.com. Photos in .jpg format are accepted and news can range from community events, promotions, academic news and non-profit events. E-mail today and see your news in our column in the Cranston Herald. Please include a daytime telephone number in case we require any further information. Be sure to check out our website at www.cranstononline.com.

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here