Summer concerts at William Hall Library

The lineup has been announced for this year’s free summer concert series at the William Hall Library, 1825 Broad St., Cranston.

Concerts will be held on Thursday nights from 6:30-8 p.m. Nickel Jukebox begins the series June 27, followed by Acoustic Drive on July 11, The Neo Retro Band on July 18, Nightlife Orchestra on July 25, Cee Cee and the Riders on Aug. 1 and John Connor and the Irish Express on Aug. 8.

Additionally, William Hall Library will host free “Concerts for Kids and Kids at Heart” on Tuesdays from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Billy Harley will perform on July 9 and the Toe Jam Puppet Band will perform July 30.

Attendees are advised to bring a blanket or chairs for use on the library’s lawn. For additional information, visit cranstonlibrary.org or contact Adrienne Gallo Girard at 781-2450 or hall@cranstonlibrary.org.

Jazz at Garden City Center

Garden City Center has announced its lineup of free Friday nigh jazz performances in the courtyard near Bistro 22. The concerts will take place from 6-8 p.m.

Project Flynn will perform on June 21, followed by the Cranston Jazz Quartet on June 28.

Visitors are asked to bring their own lawn chair. There are no rain dates. For more information, visit gardencitycenter.com.

Women’s self-defense class

Premier Martial Arts, located at 1099 Park Ave. in Cranston, will offer a free women’s self-defense class on Friday, June 21, from 7-8:30 p.m. Participants in the workshop will learn about situational awareness, vital parts of the body that are vulnerable and easy to attack, basic strikes and kicks, defenses for the most common attacks on women and more. For more information, call 219-0166.

Community yard sale

Edgewood Congregational Church, 1788 Broad St., Cranston, will hold a community yard sale from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, June 22.

The cost of an 8-by-10-foot space for vendors is $25. Vendors must provide their own tables. Admission is free for members of the public.

For more information, contact Pat Kohler at 461-1344 or office@edgewoodchurchri.org.

Goodwill collection at Farmers Market

On Saturday, June 22 from 8 a.m. to noon, Goodwill of Southern New England will be present at the Pawtuxet Village Farmers Market, 60 Rhodes Place, Cranston, to accept donations of electronics and clothing/textiles. Electronics (except printers) will be accepted and need not be in working condition. The funds raised from all donations are reinvested in the training programs offered by Goodwill, furthering its mission to provide job training opportunities for youth and adults with disabilities and other challenges.

Pet adoption at Sonya’s

On June 22, Sonya’s Clothing at 766 Oaklawn Ave. in Cranston will host a Pet Adoption Event from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Among the organizations and special guests in attendance will be Anchor Paws Rescue, Friends of Homeless Animals, Abandoned Dogs RI, Gladio K9, Hope Rope Co. and the Cranston Animal Shelter. Ward 1 community meeting

Ward 1 City Councilwoman Lammis Vargas will host a community meeting from 5:30-7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 26, at the William Hall Library, 1825 Broad St., Cranston. A representative from the Cranston Police Department will be on hand to discuss speeding issues and break-ins in the area. All members of the community are welcome to attend and share any issues or concerns. Vargas can be reached at 865-0509 or lammis.vargas@gmail.com.

Tour with Tea

The Cranston Historical Society will host a “Tour with Tea” event at the Sprague Mansion, 1351 Cranston St., starting at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 27. Participants will enjoy a relaxing early evening tour with tea in the historic mansion’s ballroom and receive an introduction on the history of Sprague family. Tickets cost $15, and seating is limited. To make a reservation, call 944-9226. Additional information is available at cranstonhistoricalsociety.org.

Girls 3v3 Summer League basketball

Registrations are now being accepted for the Cranston Youth Girls Basketball Association’s 3v3 Outdoor Summer League. The program runs for eight weeks from July 8 to Aug. 29 and is open to girls ages 8-16.

Games will be played at the courts located at Doric Avenue and Hope Road on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights between 5:30-8:30 p.m. The playoffs will be held on the weekend of Aug. 31 and Sept. 1. Prior basketball experience is necessary and games will be played half-court with one referee.

Girls can register individually or as a team of five players. The cost is $50 per player if registered by June 16 (team $225) or $60 per player if registered between June 17-30 (team $275). There will be a waiting list for all players to register after July 1.

To register or for more information, visit cygba.org/registrations.php or contact league director PJ Thibodeau at cranstonyba@gmail.com or 617-548-0163.

14th One Act Play Festival at Artists’ Exchange

Artists’ Exchange’s One Act Play Festival returns next month for its 14th season.

The festival runs from July 11-27 at Theatre 82, 82 Rolfe Square, Cranston. It will feature 10 original one-act plays written by local, regional, and national playwrights and performed by an ensemble of 27 actors of all ages, abilities and acting experience.

Performances will be held Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 7 p.m. Tickets cost $15 in advance and $20 at the door. A beer and wine cash bar will be available before and during the show.

The festival’s directors are Jessica Chace, Tom Chace, Lauren Annicelli and Rhiannon Annin, with original music by Parker Chace and lighting design by Alexander Sprague.

The 2019 plays and their authors are “Game Changer” by Kay Ellen Bullard of Lincoln; “Top Shelf Tolstoy” by Maximillian Gill of Sunnyside, New York; “Up in the Air” by Ben Jolivet of Providence; “FOMO” by Rhea MacCallum of Downey, California; “/ärt/” by Steven G. Martin of Lafayette, Indiana; “When I Grow Up, I Want to Be a Christmas Tree” by Rich Orloff of New York City; “Family by Numbers” by Arianna Rose of Miami Beach, Florida; “Putt-Putt” by George Sapio of Spencer, New York; “The Stand” by Caity-Shea Violette of Boston; and “The Monster Under the Bed” by Joseph Vitale of Denville, New Jersey.

For more information, call 490-9475 or visit artists-exchange.org.

Community Builders Grant Program

OneCranston, an initiative of the Comprehensive Community Action Program, has announced the launch the second annual Community Builders Grant Program.

Through the program, OneCranston seeks to identify and partner with residents interested in bringing neighbors together to complete projects that improve their communities. Grants can fund a variety of neighborhood-based activities, including neighborhood cleanups, beautification projects, cultural events or celebrations, enhancement or creation of public spaces, and school improvements.

Grants of up to $1,000 are available. Applications must be submitted no later than July 12. To apply, visit comcap.org.

Trip to Foxwoods

The Cranston Senior Guild is planning a July 24 trip to Foxwoods. The cost is $27 per person, which included roundtrip transportation on a deluxe motor coach bus, a free buffet or $10 food coupon to any of the casino’s restaurants, and $10 in bonus slot play (subject to change).

The bus to Foxwoods will depart from the Rhode Island Mall near the Burlington location at 9:15 a.m. and return at 3:15 p.m. Payment must be received by July 6, and those interested in joining the trip are advised to reserve a spot early. For more information, call Sunny at 785-0748.

CCAP Chip for Charity tournament

The Comprehensive Community Action Program will host its fifth annual Chip for Charity Golf Tournament & Million Dollar Hole-in-One Contest on Thursday, Sept. 12, at Habor Lights in Warwick.

The event is CCAP’s largest fundraiser to support its programs and services. To register or for more information on sponsorship opportunities, contact Lee Beliveau at 562-8353 or lbeliveau@comcap.org.

Smoking, vaping prohibitions

In 2017, the Cranston Substance Abuse Task Force teamed with the Cranston Police Department and Rhode Island Department of Health to prohibit smoking and the use of vaping devices in Cranston parks and sporting venues. Signs are posted, and violators face a fine of $100.

Delivery of library books

The Cranston Public Library will deliver any item that has a three-week loan period. Patrons never pay a late fee or fine, because the library picks up all the materials within that three-week time frame. Volunteers deliver books in regular or large print, as well as audiobooks, magazines, music CDs and documentary DVDs, to any homebound Cranston resident living in their own home. Due to concerns about chain of custody, the library is unable to deliver to nursing homes or assisted living facilities. To register or to become a volunteer driver, contact Karen McGrath at 781-6116 or karenmcgrath@cranstonlibrary.org.

St. David’s hall rentals

St. David’s on-the-Hill Episcopal Church, located at 200 Meshanticut Valley Parkway in Cranston, offers affordable rates to rent its upper and lower halls for events of all kinds. For more information, visit stdavidsonthehill.net/hall-rental or contact the church office Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at 942-4368.

Reusable bag program to boost CCAP Food Bank

CCAP’s Food Bank has been selected to be a part of the Shaw’s supermarket “Give Back Where It Counts” reusable bag program, which is designed to make it easy for customers to contribute to their local community while supporting the environment. For the month of May, each time a reusable “Give Back Where It Counts” bag is purchased at the Shaw’s located at 8 Chapel View Blvd. in Cranston, $1 will be donated to CCAP's Food Bank, unless otherwise directed by the customer through the giving tag.

Philharmonic Youth Wind Ensemble auditions

The Rhode Island Philharmonic Youth Wind Ensemble is currently hosting auditions for students in grades seven through 12 for two groups – the Wind Ensemble, directed by John Knasas, and the Symphonic Winds, directed by Dr. David Neves.

Both directors are nationally recognized music educators and conductors, and provide a joyful, uplifting, All-State quality musical experience every week.

The Philharmonic Youth Wind Ensemble, part of the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra and Music School program, performs three concerts during the school year. Its members are recognized as being among the best players in Rhode Island.

For more information, contact manager Chelsea Anderson at canderson@riphil.org or Neves at dneves@ri-philharmonic.org.

Family health services at CCAP

Tired of ineffective yet expensive medical care? Check out Family Health Services at the Comprehensive Community Action Program. CCAP offers affordable, 24/7, professional family health and dentistry services. The experienced staff includes physicians, nurse practitioners and other health care professionals who are caring, compassionate and highly skilled. New patients are welcome. For more information, call 384-6007.

Did you know?

The summer solstice always occurs between June 20 and June 22, but because the calendar doesn’t exactly reflect the Earth’s rotation, the precise time shifts slightly each year. This year, summer will begin June 21 when the sun will reach its greatest height in the sky for the Northern Hemisphere at 11:54 a.m. Eastern Time. (Source: Summer Fun Facts)

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