By MERI R. KENNEDY Library celebrates RI Library Day with fine amnesty On Saturday, April 14, Cranston Public Library will join libraries across the state in celebrating the fourth annual Rhode Island Library Day. This event, organized and promoted by
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On Saturday, April 14, Cranston Public Library will join libraries across the state in celebrating the fourth annual Rhode Island Library Day. This event, organized and promoted by the Rhode Island Library Association, is part of the week-long nationwide celebration of National Library Week (April 8-14).
All open Cranston Public Library locations will celebrate by participating in Amnesty Day, and will be waiving fines on overdue items returned on the day. (Charges accrued due to damaged or lost materials, however, cannot be waived.)
Woodridge Congregational Church will host its 35th Annual “All You Can Eat” Gourmet, Almost May Breakfast on April 28 between the hours of 8 to 11 a.m. The menu will consist of eggs, frittatas, johnny cakes, waffles, ham, sausage, corned beef hash, home fries, Holly’s baked beans, strudel, muffins, assorted pastries, juice, milk, coffee, decaf and tea. Admission is $9 for adults and $5 for children 3 to 10.
Tickets can be purchased at the door or in advance by calling Dan Blackford at 942-0662 Monday through Thursday 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 9 a.m. to noon on Fridays.
The Artists’ Exchange will be hosting a free storytelling program for Cranston Senior Citizens at their location at 50 Rolfe. Sq. Lynne Collinson, who is an actor, director, acting coach and retired arts administer will facilitate the program to be held on April 18, April 25, May 2, May 9, May 16 and May 23 from 10:30 a.m. to noon.
Registration for all summer programs will be held on April 23 and 26 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Pastore Youth Center.
Starting April 30, the Recreation Department will be taking summer program registration in the office during normal business hours. Programs include playground program, arts & crafts, tennis, living arts theater, Challengers British soccer, and budlong pool swim lessons. Pool passes will not be on sale. Those will be sold at the pool starting June 18.
The Michael A. Traficante Enrichment Center, located at 1070 Cranston St., will offer the following programs and activities:
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, a URI Outreach Clinic, will be presented the second Thursday of each month from 10 a.m. to noon. If you have any questions about your SNAP application, wish to apply for food assistance, or would like more information this clinic is for you. No appointment necessary. Register at the front desk when you arrive.
Reminisce Group, which meets the second Friday of each month, will be held April 13 at 9:30 a.m. Meet new friends as you journey together down memory lane.
What Are Probiotics? Why Are They Necessary? The URI Outreach Program will provide a presentation on Probiotics on April 18 at 10 a.m. Learn about these live bacteria and yeasts and their importance in keeping our bodies healthy. Also, there will be a review of what foods and products supply probiotics and when it is necessary to supplement with them.
The Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) is holding a 15 Week Club fundraiser with $25 weekly prizes beginning April 19. Grand prize drawings on July 26 offering a first prize of $250; second prize of $175 and third prize of $100. Tickets are only $15, only one ticket needed to play for the entire duration of the 15 weeks. You do not need to be present to win. Tickets available at the Center or call 780-6178.
A Matter of Balance, “Managing Concerns About Falling” will be presented on both Mondays and Fridays from 9 to 11:30 a.m. beginning April 16 and ending May 11. Many people think falls are a normal part of aging. The truth is, They’re not! Most falls can be prevented – and YOU have the power to reduce your risk of falling. How? Sign up now for our evidence-based program A Matter of Balance. This four week fall prevention program is designed to reduce the fear of falling and increase your activity levels. Upon completing the class, you will be eligible for a two-month pass to the YMCA and a $25.00 gift certificate. Space is limited. Call to register at 780-6000.
Arthritis Foundation’s “Walk With Ease” Program will begin with orientation on April 17 at 10:30 a.m. The program will be held on Mondays, Wednesdays & Fridays from 9 to 10 a.m. The program begins Monday, April 23 ends June 1. Need relief from arthritis pain or just want to be more active? Come join this fun group. Three mornings a week for six weeks you will walk the Cranston High School West Walking Track. Check in at 9 a.m. Transportation provided from the Center if needed. Call now to register at 780-6000.
Bone Builders of RI, sponsored by The Village at Waterman Lake, will be held on Mondays and Fridays from 1 to 2 p.m. at the Senior Center with a suggested donation of $2. This innovative community-based program is designed to promote bone health and overall well-being for both men and women. Research has 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. You are welcomed to stop by, bring a friend and sit in on a class to see if it is for you. Call the Senior Center at 780-6000 for more details.
The Walldogs are a group of highly skilled sign painters and mural artists from all over the globe that descend upon one town a year to visually transform it via exterior, large scale wall murals. Picture a “pack” of talented artists descending upon Cranston to paint the most beautiful murals you can imagine. Every wall that a Walldog touches springs to life with images of local places, people, and products that have historic significance to each town.
Westerly was the first town on the Northeast to hold this very successful Walldog event named “Bricks and Murals” and demonstrated the power of a town coming together to build community, boost economy, tourism and improve the town’s esthetic.
Cranston can be the second town in the Northeast to hold this lively event. Westerly’s team has graciously agreed to visit Cranston and share their amazing experience with us, as well as advise us how to create our own event.
They will meet at the Artists’ Exchange, 50 Rolfe Square on May 30 from 6 to 8 p.m. At 6 p.m. there will be a reception, gallery opening and refreshments. Hors d’oeuvres and wine will be served. Mingle with presenters and guests while viewing Westerly’s Murals on display in the art gallery.
At 7 p.m. there will be a presentation by Westerly’s Bricks and Murals team, featuring Walldog, Cam Bortz. RSVP to elaine.yeaw@artists-exchange.org.
Ocean State Toastmasters will hold its next meeting on April 17 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.
On April 14 at 9 a.m. at Oakland Cemetery join in to Celebrate RI House Resolution #7203 designating April 14 across the state as Historic Cemetery Restoration and Awareness Day which will be celebrated across the state. The City Historic Cemetery Commissions are sponsoring a visit to the historic Oakland Cemetery, located at 1569 Broad St. They will share with you what they do to help preserve and document all historic cemeteries in Cranston.
Mayor Allan Fung will give the greetings from the City of Cranston along with other special guests at 9 a.m. and cleanup will begin right after.
Please bring work gloves, rakes, clippers or other tools to help with the clean-up and if you represent a group, please wear your organization/company identifiable shirt or hat.
For more details, contact Janet Ragno, Vice Chair - Cranston Historic Cemetery Commission at janglo55@yahoo.com or 573-6221.
Got books? They need your help with the Cranston Public Library Association's May 5 book sale. Help them to continue this tradition by donating your gently-used (and mildew-free) items to the sale. They are currently accepting donations of books (especially nonfiction books), CDs and LPs, and DVDs during regular business hours at the Central Library and William Hall Library. Theyare unable to accept magazines, VHS tapes, textbooks or encyclopedias.
The April meeting of the Gentian Garden Club will feature noted author and gardener Neal Sanders on April 17 at 7 p.m. at the North Scituate Community House. Neal will be sharing his humorous observations about gardening and gardeners. Sanders retired from the corporate world in 2005. His “second act” is as a writer of mysteries with a gardening theme. His twelfth book was published in March 2018.
Neal and his wife maintain a two-acre garden in Medfield southwest of Boston that has been part of the Garden Conservancy’s Open Days program as well as featured in the Wall Street Journal. Sanders readily acknowledges that he is not the ‘head gardener’ at home; but rather he is the Principle Undergardener! His humorous talk is entitled ‘Gardening is Murder’. This lecture is open to the public, a small fee of $5 will be charged. Neal Sanders will also be bringing books for sale.
The April meeting will also have Birds and Conservation Chair, Jane Dempsey speaking about the Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers found in the Scituate area.
On April 14 members will be planting pansies in the barrels at various locations in Scituate and Foster, we will be reviving the Community House Garden in North Scituate and celebrating Earth Day which is April 22nd by picking up litter in our local areas. Finally, in April as a club, we will be Stepping Out to visit the Wicked Tulip Flower Farm in Johnston.
If you have any questions on any of the events above, please contact our membership chairperson Nancy Laurie at her email gentryway@cox.net or by phone at 647-5966.
Ever wondered how Earth Day started? This observance arose from an interest in gathering national support for environmental issues.
In 1970, San Francisco activist John McConnell and Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson separately asked Americans to join in a grassroots demonstration. McConnell chose the spring equinox (March 21, 1970) and Nelson chose April 22.
Millions of people participated, and today, Earth Day continues to be widely celebrated. (Source: Earth Day 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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