Cranston Chatter

Meri R. Kennedy
Posted 8/13/15

Food drive at BankNewport

The community is invited to join BankNewport and OceanPoint Insurance Agency (OPIA) this summer to help local pantries provide food to families and individuals in need.

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Cranston Chatter

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Food drive at BankNewport

The community is invited to join BankNewport and OceanPoint Insurance Agency (OPIA) this summer to help local pantries provide food to families and individuals in need.

Beginning Aug. 1 through Aug. 15, all BankNewport and OPIA locations will be accepting community donations of non-perishable food items, including hot and cold cereals, canned and dry fruits, rice, beans, canned vegetables and granola bars. Gluten-free options will also be accepted.

BankNewport’s Cranston branch is located at 875 Pontiac Ave., and donations it collects will benefit the Saint Vincent de Paul Emergency Food Center. The bank’s Johnston location will collect food for Tri-Town Community Action.

During the summer, when children are out of school, an additional strain is created on the budgets of low-income families who are already struggling to make ends meet. It is also a challenging time for local pantries, many of which experience a drop-off in food donations.

Return to Rocky Point

On Aug. 26 at 6:30 p.m., the Cranston Public Library, located at 140 Sockanosset Cross Road, will host and explore the history of Rocky Point Park with David Bettencourt, author of “Rocky Point Park,” an “Images of Modern America” book from Arcadia Publishing. Learn about how the 1938 hurricane almost shut down the park for good, how a Providence businessman restored it, and how it became the destination we all remember so well. Share your personal memories and stoke a little nostalgia at this free event. In addition to being an author, Bettencourt was also the director of the documentary “You Must Be This Tall: The Story of Rocky Point Park.”

Chapel Grille will no longer accept Faial’s gift certificates

Chapel Grille has decided to end its program of accepting gift certificates from the closed Faial’s Restaurant due to an increasing number of apparently fraudulent gift certificates that have been presented for exchange, effective immediately.

As a good will gesture, Chapel Grille, which has no business relationship to the closed restaurant, began the Faial’s gift certificate exchange program on July 21 upon seeing news reports that the attorney general’s office had received an unprecedented 750 complaints for unredeemed certificates. Chapel Grille had seen reports that up to $45,000 in gift cards were in circulation and wanted to do its part in reaching out to all Rhode Islanders affected by this situation.

In the two weeks since starting the exchange program, Chapel Grille had exchanged $49,260 in Faial’s gift certificates, but had begun noticing a pattern in recent days of suspicious attempts to exchange what looked to be fresh prints of certificates or blatant forgeries of certificates, the oversight of which is well outside the scope of Chapel Grille’s normal operations. Things became problematic for Chapel Grille’s staff and the restaurant did not want it to take away from providing guests with the best food, service, value and atmosphere in the state.

Those consumers who have questions or concerns about a Faial’s gift certificate should contact the Consumer Protection Unit of the attorney general’s office at 401-274-4400.

For athletes and their families

On Aug. 16 at 3 p.m., the Cranston Public Schools Athletic Department will have an assembly for all fall sports athletes, parents and coaches at Cranston Stadium. They have secured Chuck Wilson and his team from Even Field to do a special interactive presentation, which will involve some of the captains from high school fall teams. A preview of some of the work is available at www.evenfield.org. This presentation should take approximately 45 minutes. It is open to all high school and middle school students and parents interested in participating in sports. Following the presentation, Cranston Athletic Director Vincent Varrecchione will be present to answer questions regarding the middle school sports program.

Samplepalooza

The Edgewood Cheese Shop & Eatery, located at 1828 Broad St., will feature Samplepalooza on Sept. 13 from 2 p.m. through 4 p.m. Enjoy samples of cheese, meats and accompaniments from around the world and close to home, including Rhode Island favorites such as Daniele meats, Narragansett Creamery cheeses, Yacht Club Soda, Fox Point Pickles, The Backyard Food Company relish, and Le Favorite Bakery breads. Win prizes such as a gift certificate to Edgewood Cheese Shop or local gift baskets.

Jazz Breakfast

Interested in enjoying tasty victuals and tantalizing jazz tunes? Then come on down to Characters’ Cafe every Sunday between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. to hear the Trio Forte as they explore the sonic possibilities of jazz past, present and future. Theatre 82 & Café is located at 82 Rolfe Square in Cranston. For more information, visit www.artists-exchange.org or call 401-781-2200.

Look Good, Feel Better Program

The American Cancer Society’s “Look Good Feel Better” program is currently scheduling patients at local medical and health facilities in the area. This free program helps female cancer patients going through cancer treatment deal with the appearance-related side effects of a cancer diagnosis by teaching them beauty techniques.

The program relies on volunteer beauty professionals and hairstylists to teach cancer patients techniques ranging from using makeup to simulate eyebrows and eyelashes, to using wigs, hats or scarves to hide hair loss. In each of these two-hour group sessions, participants receive a free kit of cosmetics, valued at $200, for use during or after the workshop.

The program is currently scheduling patients for the Aug.17 session. This session will be held at the American Cancer Society office, 931 Jefferson Boulevard in Warwick, from 1 to 3 p.m. To register for this program or for more information, please contact the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345.

Chamber Connections

The Greater Cranston Chamber of Commerce will present its next Chamber Connections program, “Making a Contribution and Connections,” at the Bonefish Grill, 2000 Chapel View Boulevard, on Aug. 17 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. For more information, contact the Chamber at 401-785-3780.

Homeless Animals Day

The Homeless Animals Day/Candlelight Vigil sponsored by Defenders of Animals in conjunction with the International Society for Animal Rights will be held at the Sprague Mansion in Cranston on Aug. 15 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. There will be speakers, awards and musical entertainment by Scarlett. This event is free and will be held outdoors, weather permitting, or indoors in case of rain.

Artists’ Exchange free Craft Bash

Families are welcome to join in free crafts at Artists’ Exchange on the last Saturday of every month. Craft Bash is made possible by the generosity of The Krista Weller Burns Foundation and Financial Independence. The next event will be held on Aug. 29 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Join in making fused plastic pencil cases with custom pencils. Artists’ Exchange is located at 50 Rolfe Square in Cranston. For more information, call 401-490-9475 or visit www.artists-exchange.org.

Academic News & Notes

Worcester Academy proudly announces that Augustus Culpo of Cranston has been named to the honor roll.

Alexander Arnold, of Cranston, was named to the 2015 dean’s list at Union College. Arnold is a member of the class of 2016, majoring in economics and classics.

Bowl-a-thon to benefit animals

On Aug. 23, Defenders of Animals will host a Bowl-a-thon at Town Hall Lanes, located at 1463 Atwood Ave. in Johnston, from 2 to 4 p.m. The donation of $20 per person will include two hours of bowling, a pizza and pitcher of soda for each lane. For more information, contact Defenders of Animals at 401-461-1922 for reservations.

Did You Know?

The Dog Days of Summer refers to the weeks between July 3 and Aug. 11. They are named after the Dog Star (Sirius) in the constellation of Canis Major. (Source: Summer Fun Facts)

To submit your news from the community, email 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. Email 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.

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