Cranston Chatter

By Meri R. Kennedy
Posted 12/27/17

Mayor's Emergency Fuel Assistance Program The Mayor's Emergency Fuel Assistance Program is available to Cranston residents who need immediate delivery of home heating oil. The program is open to HUD income qualified individuals and families who have less

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Cranston Chatter

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Mayor's Emergency Fuel Assistance Program

The Mayor's Emergency Fuel Assistance Program is available to Cranston residents who need immediate delivery of home heating oil. The program is open to HUD income qualified individuals and families who have less than a quarter tank of oil in the winter months. 

The program offers a one-time delivery of 100 gallons of oil and is limited to Cranston residents only. Last year, an allocation of $16,000 helped 31 families. For help, call the Department of Community Development at 461-1000 ext. 7226.

Ocean State Toastmasters to meet

Ocean State Toastmasters will hold its next meeting on Jan. 2 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Warwick City Hall, 3275 Post Rd. 

Regular meetings are held on the first and third Tuesdays of each month. The club is one of some 13,500 in Toastmasters International, a nonprofit, educational organization devoted to the development of public speaking and leadership skills. The organization has approximately 280,000 members in 116 countries. Founded in 1963, Ocean State Toastmasters is one of the oldest clubs in Rhode Island. For more information, contact Merrill Winoker, Vice President of Membership, at 688-4741 or merrillwinoker@icloud.com.

Diaper collection at Woodridge Church

Woodridge Congregational Church is holding their Annual Christmas Diaper Collection for foster children of all sizes (especially 3-5). Wipes are also needed. Collection boxes at the church office at 30 Jackson Road weekdays 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. or Sunday mornings through Jan 7.

Cranston Public Library Closed New Year's Day

All Cranston Public Library locations will be closed Monday, Jan. 1 in observance of the New Year's Day holiday. Regularly scheduled hours will resume Tuesday, Jan 2.

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: Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and on Wednesdays 4 to 6 p.m. For more information call 467-7013.

At the Senior Center

The Michael A. Traficante Enrichment Center, located at 1070 Cranston St. will offer the following programs and activities: 

Membership Drive 2018 for renewal and new memberships for the Center will begin Jan. 9 from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Anyone 55 years or older may join.

The membership fee for Cranston Residents is $10 and $12 for non-Cranston residents. You may stop by the Center and sign up or for more information call 780-6000.

Diabetes Support Group will hold “Management of Hypoglycemia, Hyperglycemia, and Sick Days” on Jan. 3 at 10 a.m. with facilitators: CVS Pharmacist Mario Casinelli and URI Pharm D Students. An overview of signs and symptoms of low and high blood sugar levels and how to properly manage them.  There will be a review of the common medications that may cause hypoglycemia. There will also be a discussion on how anyone with diabetes should properly care for themselves during sick days.

Movie Time at the Center will be held on Jan. 8 at 9:30 a.m. in the Theater Room; free of charge. They will present Love Actually starring Hugh Grant and Laura Linney. Nine enter twined stories examine the complexities of the one emotion that connects us all – love.

Attention Veterans! Now offered on the first Monday of each month is “Help is Here” with upcoming dates of Jan. 8 and Feb. 5 from 1 to 3 p.m. There will be staff from Operation Stand Down & the R.I. Department of Veteran Affairs at the Center to provide services in the following areas:  Benefit Counseling; Benefit Assistance; Employment & Training; Housing Services and State Benefit Assistance.

Bone Builders of RI will meet on Mondays and Fridays from 1 to 2 p.m. with a suggested donation of $2. Bone Builders of RI is an innovative community-based program designed to promote health and over all well-being for both men and women. Studies have shown that moderate free-weight training performed at least twice a week for six months can improve strength and balance, and increase energy levels, while significantly increasing bone density. The classes are donation based. Stop by any Monday or Friday and check it out. For further information on the Bone Builders program call 497-3358.

Do Not Resist to be presented at library

Cranston Public Library will pre-screen POV Films’ Do Not Resist: A Documentary Taking a Challenging Look at Militarization of Police in America. Do Not Resist has its national broadcast premiere on the PBS documentary series POV (Point of View) on Jan. 10 at 6 p.m.

The son of a SWAT team member in Detroit, Craig Atkinson thought he knew what he was getting into when he started a new documentary project on American policing. But after three years of filming, what he discovered was an unprecedented lurch toward militarization for local police forces since 9/11.

With his award-winning debut documentary Do Not Resist, Craig Atkinson gives viewers a boots-on-the-ground look at American policing, bringing in perspectives from criminal justice reformers, policymakers and law enforcement leaders in this comprehensive look at a chilling new trend. 

Since 9/11 the federal government has given police departments more than $40 billion in military-grade equipment. Most grants include no stipulations on how that equipment should be deployed or any reporting requirements. Throughout 2014 and 2015, Atkinson and his crew watched as departments throughout the county adapted the technologies under the pretense of fighting domestic terrorism. However, as Do Not Resist reveals, this military surplus equipment and surveillance technology is often used on a day-to-day basis to serve search warrants – almost always in searches for drugs.

This event is a collaboration with POV, the award-winning independent nonfiction film series on PBS (www.pbs.org/pov). POV is American television's longest-running independent documentary series, now in its 30th season.

Rhode Coders Club to meet

Don't miss your chance to sign up for the next session of the popular Rhode Coders Club, a free HTML/CSS coding class series for adults ages 18 and over. Rhode Coders Club is perfect for absolute beginners who are interested in learning about programming and coding, improving their analytical skills, or looking to advance their careers.

The next session will take place weekly on Saturdays (Jan. 20-March 24) from 1 to 2:30 p.m. in the Central Library's C-Lab.

Register today at prov.pub/CranstonRCC. Questions? Email Don Gregory at dgregory@provlib.org.

The Rhode Coders Club is working with State and Federal organizations to help facilitate exploration of computer programming/coding for all Rhode Islanders.

West Bay Chorale seeking singers

The West Bay Chorale will begin rehearsals on Jan. 15 in preparation of their upcoming Spring Concert entitled “Love Changes Everything” which will be held on May 20.  Selections for this concert will include Brahms Liebeslieder Waltzes and Broadway Love Songs.  They are especially looking for additional Tenors and Baritones to join their group but welcome all voices. If you are interested, please contact our director, Eric van Devort at Eric@westbaychorale.org.

Happy Holidays from the Lt. Jim Pagano Foundation

This year the Lt. Jim Pagano Foundation is featuring their mascot, Sport the Dog on Tees and Hoodies in adult and children sizes. All proceeds will benefit the Lt. Jim Pagano Foundation which grants funds to character-building initiatives that benefit community children K-12. With your support, they are proud to have granted over $150,000 over the years to programs in arts, academics, sports and health. Visit www.jimpaganofoundation.com/shop and order your dog today.

Through the Decades NYE Party

The St. Mary’s Ladies Auxiliary, located at 15 Phenix Ave., will be hosting a New Year’s Eve party “Through the Decades” on Dec. 31 beginning at 7:30 p.m. The $25 per person charge includes a buffet and entertainment by DJ Vito Georgio.

For ticket information, contact Maria Manzi at 499-0796.

Did You Know?

"Auld Lang Syne" is traditionally sung at midnight on New Year's Eve. It was written by Scottish poet Robert Burns in 1788 and it was the only song he ever wrote. He may have based it on a folk song. The words auld lang syne mean "times gone by.” (Source: New Year'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.

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