Police Community Survey

The Cranston Police Department is conducting a community survey regarding police services and crime. This survey is designed to provide the police department administration with insight related to the current state of customer service, crime related perceptions, community concerns, and desired police services. Responses to this survey will be anonymous, unless contact information is provided by the individual completing the survey.

The community survey is open to everyone, regardless of residency, however all residents, business owners, and visitors to Cranston are strongly encouraged to complete this brief survey. This is a valuable opportunity for the department to analyze the perceptions and realities of both the police and community to develop a focused and targeted strategic plan of our city. By completing this survey, you will provide the Cranston Police Department with important information that will help to guide the future programs and activities of the agency. The results of this survey will be used as a catalyst for continued improvement along with the efficient deployment of agency and community resources.

The survey should take no more than approximately 10 minutes to complete and will be available on the Cranston Police Department website at www.cranstonpoliceri.com as a link or can be accessed directly at https://surveyplanet.com/590b3fa986db245a633a5bb0 and it is also on the Cranston Police Department’s Facebook Page.

Pawtuxet Village Farmer’s Market Events

Upcoming events at the Pawtuxet Village Farmer’s Market will include Saturday, May 27, with the Pawtuxet River Plant Walk. Wild plant enthusiast Sandy Jacobi will lead a plant walk along the Pawtuxet River trail. Meet at the market table at the Farmers Market at 10 a.m. 

On Saturday, June 3, Electronic Waste Collection: Goodwill Industries will be visiting the market to collect your electronic waste. They will also accept other items for resale or recycling, such as clothing. A full list of items will be published before the date.

Reminder that on June 10, the Farmer’s Market moves to William Hall Library parking lot, 1825 Broad St., Cranston, due to the Gaspee Day Parade.

Friday, June 16, the Market will hold their Firefly Walk at 8:45 p.m.; meet at the lower Rhodes on the Pawtuxet parking lot. A half-hour walk to see the firefly mating ritual. Bug repellent, long sleeves and long pants recommended. Please do not bring jars, nets, dogs or noisy electronics.

A patriotic Eagle Scout project

Nicholas Bombardier, of Troop 66 Garden City, will be holding a citywide collection of old and tattered American Flag’s for his Eagle Scout Merit Badge project. He is a 17-year-old and a junior at Cranston High School West.

In conjunction with Benny’s, he will be collecting flags on June 10 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Benny’s store located at 148 Atwood Avenue.

The flags will then be honorably retired in a Ceremony, open to the public, to be held on June 17 at 10 a.m., located at Boy Scout Camp Champlin, 223 Scituate Ave. Starting June 4 there will be a drop-off box located inside the Atwood Ave. store for those unable to make the June 10 date.

Register for Cranston Kids Summer Program

Registration for Cranston Parks & Rec Kids Summer Programs - The Cranston Parks and Recreation Summer Programs registration for this summer is now being held at the Parks and Rec Department, located at 1090 Cranston St.

Support the Cranston East Music Department

Cranston East Music Department will hold a Spaghetti Dinner on May 26 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in the Cranston East Cafeteria. Dinner includes: spaghetti, meatballs, salad and bread, dessert and coffee will be served after the concert.

Join us for dinner before the Spring Music Department Concert and then find your seat for the Spring Showcase featuring all the CHSE musical groups.

Admission is $10/adults and $8/students; 6 and under free of charge. For further info, please contact Candace Shuman at 401-378-4392 or Jean Ruggieri at 401-829-8206.

Calling all Veterans and Family

On June 6, veterans, spouses and family, can attend a presentation by the R.I. Vet Corps of benefits that you, as a Veteran, are qualified for and have earned and how to apply at the Cranston Senior Center at 10 a.m. Also, to be discussed are the explanation of new benefits, such as Delta Dental. For reservation, please call Patty at (401) 780-6255.

Spring Cavalcade of Bands

The Providence Federation of Musicians invites you to their Spring Edition of the Cavalcade of Bands on May 30 at Rhodes on the Pawtuxet in Cranston. The program will feature a host of jazz and big band musicians and vocalists from 5 to 10:30 p.m., with a special appearance by Mike Dutra and the Strictly Sinatra Orchestra! For a whole list of performers please visit www.ProMusicRI.org.

The apple does not fall far from this tree! In the Jazz Foyer from 7:45 to 8:45 p.m. the Cavalcade will feature three generations of celebrated vocalists! Angela Bacari spent years performing both on the NYC and Las Vegas circuits. Her many credits include appearances on the "Dinah Shore Show", "Jay Leno", and many others. Angela worked with Rodney Dangerfield for many years and has continued over the years to perform to packed audiences around the country, as well as coaching and vocally training such names as Liza Minnelli and Marisa Berenson and Billy Gilman! Her daughter, Lisa Baccari Ferraro, has been the lead vocalist for the Mac Chrupcala Wedding Orchestra, is a staple to the Newport music circuit and performs regularly at Ocean House in Westerly. Grandson Nicolas King is a star in his own rite. At 4 years old, Nicolas performed in Beauty in the Beast on Broadway, in later years opened for Liza Minnelli in Las Vegas, sung at the Lincoln Center and is celebrated in the NYC Cabaret world with regular appearances at the Metropolitan Room and at Birdland! Accompanying this trio is a fabulous jazz quartet led by the renowned Emmy and Grammy winner Mike Renzi on piano.

The evening promises to be uplifting and SWINGtastic!  Tickets can be purchased on-line or for $20 at the door. Bring your dancing shoes and a picnic basket of goodies. Cash bar will be available in the Foyer.

Need help accessing or getting food?

Everyone needs a little help from time to time. If you, or someone you know, needs nutritional assistance, CCAP’s Food Bank can help.

According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), 12 percent of Rhode Islanders, 51,000 households, are food insecure, meaning they are often unsure where their next meal will come from due to lack of resources. The most severe conditions associated with hunger are reported by 4.7 percent of our state’s residents, 20,000 households.

Call CCAP today to learn more about CCAP’s Food Bank which is located at 311 Doric Ave. (lower level). Food Bank Hours: Mon - Fri, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and on Wednesdays 4 to 6 p.m. For more information, please call 401-467-7013.

Free self-defense classes at Bochner’s Self Defense

Free self-defense workshop for moms will be held at Bochner's Self-Defense, 855 Dyer Ave. on May 21 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

They will be celebrating moms and all they do by bringing a free workshop on how you can keep yourself, and your children safe, at home, in the parking lot, and anywhere life takes you. Family (adults and children 10) are welcome!

You will learn and present yourself strong and confident, so that any adversary will see you, and know you are not someone to be messed with. You will also learn simple, easy, and practical defenses that will help you get out of threatening scenarios safely.

Call 401-943-4100 for more information.

At the Senior Center

There will be free art classes by The New Hope Gallery on May 22 and May 23 at 9 to 11 a.m. The Cranston Department of Senior Services’ RSVP Advisory Board is sponsoring these free art classes at the center. Artists with The New Hope Art Gallery will offer these classes. Space is limited!  Register now by calling (401) 780-6000.

Respiratory Health: “Steps to Better Breathing” will be presented at the Senior Center on May 24 at 10 a.m. and will be presented by the URI Pharmacy Outreach Pharm D.

The Memorial Day Program will be held on May 26 with guest speaker Ann Boulet at 10 a.m. Join in for an inspirational presentation on dealing with grief and at the same time honoring the memories of our deceased family and friends.  Also, throughout the month there are Remembrance cards available at the reception desk for the names of those individuals you wish to honor during this special month.

Eating Right for a Healthier & Fit Life will be held on May 31 at 10 a.m. with guest speaker, Dr. Mary Flynn, Research Dietitian at 10 a.m. Science is clear…eating the right foods can lead to a longer, healthier life. Dr. Flynn will discuss the effect of plant-based, olive oil diets on health improvement and weight management. She is an advocate of the Mediterranean Diet and will explain why. Dr. Mary Flynn is a nationally recognized research dietitian at The Miriam Hospital and an assistant professor of medicine in research at Brown University.

“National Senior Health & Fitness Day” will be held at the Senior Center on May 31. This is a time for all seniors to explore the many senior-friendly activities available to them. At the Cranston Senior Enrichment Center, they make health & fitness a priority every day. One of their goals is to promote healthy life-styles through health education, nutrition classes, physical fitness programs, and preventative care. Besides weekly health presentations the following exercise classes are also available weekly: Chair Exercises, Arthritis Exercise, Aerobics, Tai Chi, Yoga, Making Fitness Easy, Zumba. Ballroom and Line Dancing. For more information on their health & fitness programs call them at (401) 780-6000.

Snow White production at William Hall Library

Snow White by Kathryn Schultz, directed by Gladys Cole and hosted by GCOLE Productions, will be presented on May 19 at 7 p.m. and May 20 at 1:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the William Hall Library, 1825 Broad St, Cranston.

Please join in for this delightful production of Snow White, featuring children actors from ages five-year-old and up from all over Rhode Island. With a couple of original music written by Megan Gilbert.

Admission is $10 per person. For more information please email Gladys Cole at gladyspawt@aol.com.

Free Yoga for breast cancer survivors

The Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Foundation and Yoga at Studio Exhale offers yoga for breast cancer survivors every Sunday from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Yoga at Studio Exhale, 1263 Oaklawn Ave., Cranston is the place to be to explore slow flow, gentle movement to create space in the body and eliminate stress. This class is designed to restore the nervous system and help release deeply held tensions from the body and mind.

Visit GloriaGemma.org for more details.

Did You Know?

Batman is a 15-chapter serial, released in 1943 by Columbia Pictures. It is based on the DC Comics character Batman, introduced May 1939 in Detective Comics issue 27. The serial starred Lewis Wilson as Batman and Douglas Croft as Robin. J. Carrol Naish played the villain, an original character named Dr. Daka. Rounding out the cast were Shirley Patterson as Linda Page (Bruce Wayne's love interest) and William Austin as Alfred the butler. The plot involved Batman—as a U.S. government agent—attempting to defeat the Japanese agent Dr. Daka at the height of World War II. (Source: Random 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.