Back to School Celebration

The nonprofit Back to School Celebration of Rhode Island, or BTSCRI, will host its 20th annual celebration events across the state on Saturday, Aug. 17. The Cranston event will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Cranston YMCA, 1225 Park Ave. Free school supplies, food, entertainment, fun activities and educational information will be available. BTSCRI provided more than 16,000 backpacks to students around the state each year. For more information, visit btscri.org.

Mayor’s Pool Day

The Budlong Pool will be closing for the season on Aug. 16, but Mayor Allan Fung invites residents to attend the annual Mayor’s Pool Day on Aug. 17 from noon to 2 p.m.

Admission to the pool will be free, and complimentary lemonade will be provided by Del’s Lemonade for all to enjoy.

Edgewood Eagles reunion

The Edgewood Eagles alumni are planning a reunion on Friday, Aug. 16, at the Cranston Country Club, located at 69 Burlingame Road in Cranston. The event will begin at 6 p.m. and is open to all former players, cheerleaders and coaches. The price per ticket is $30, and there will only be 200 tickets available. The event will be hosted by former Eagles chairman Paul Griffin and Jimmy Mancuso, and tickets are available by contacting Griffin at 429-8262 or Mancuso at 573-1544.

Homeless Animals Vigil

Defenders of Animals Inc. will host its 23rd annual Homeless Animals Day/Candlelight Vigil and awards ceremony on Saturday, Aug. 17, at the Sprague Mansion in Cranston at 7 p.m.

The event will be held outdoors, or indoors in the event of rain. The vigil is held throughout the world on the third Saturday in August. All are invited to participate, and the event – held in cooperation with the International Society for Animal Rights – is free of charge.

For more information, visit defendersofanimals.org.

Garden City Summer Concert Series

Garden City Center will conclude its 30th anniversary Summer Concert Series with performances from World Premiere Band on Sunday, Aug. 18, and Steely Dan tribute Hey Nineteen on Sunday, Sept. 1. Both concerts are free and run from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Attendees are asked to bring a donation of peanut butter or canned tuna for the Comprehensive Community Action Program’s Food Pantry. For more information, visit gardencitycenter.com.

Backpack drive at Revival Brewing

Revival Brewing, located at 505 Atwood Ave. in Cranston, is holding a backpack drive until Sunday, Aug. 18. Donations of backpacks and school supplies will be accepted during normal business hours, and donors will receive 10 percent off their meal.

All donations will be handed over to the Cranston Police Department and will directly help the Cranston COZ, Crossroads Rhode Island, Children’s Friend, Project Night Vision, the Center for Southeast Asians, the Hispanic Ministers’ Association, Family Service of Rhode Island, the Multi-Service Center for All, the African Alliance, Mount Hope Neighborhood Association and the Chad Brown Alumni Association.

For more information, contact Susan Denice at 860-949-5930 or susan@revivalbrewing.com.

School backpacks mission

Edgewood Congregational Church, located at 1788 Broad St. in Cranston, is collecting backpacks and school supplies for the children at Project Outreach in July and August. This important local ministry serves more than 500 families each month.

Supplies are needed for all ages, from kindergarten through high school. Some suggestions include spiral notebooks, pens, mechanical pencils, crayons, glue sticks, folders, loose-leaf paper, scissors and backpacks of all sizes.

Please bring donations to church on Sunday, or drop them off at the office during the week. Summer office hours are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to noon. The collection runs through Aug. 18.

Mayor’s Senior Picnic

Mayor Allan Fung and the city of Cranston will host the annual Mayor’s Picnic for Seniors at Brayton Avenue Park on Friday, Aug. 23, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The menu will include lemonade, barbecue chicken, hot dogs, corn, salad, watermelon and water. There will be games, live music and dining tables under party tents. For reservations, call Iris at 780-6134.

Estate planning presentation

The Cranston Public Library’s Central Library, 140 Sockanosset Cross Road, will host a program on estate planning on Tuesday, Aug. 27, from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Attendees will learn the basics of estate planning with two experts in the field. Topics include what to consider when creating a will, the types and benefits of trusts, how to reduce taxes on estates, and how insurance can provide protection for families.

This program is free and open to the public and registration is not required. The presenters will be:

Jan Hilfer, a native Rhode Islander who holds a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Rhode Island and has worked as an adjunct professor of finance at Bryant University. He is a Series 7 and Series 66 licensed financial advisor at Edward Jones Investments. His primary areas of practice are retirement and estate planning.

Attorney Samantha McCarthy from McCarthy Law LLC, who is licensed to practice law in both Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Her practice focuses in the areas of estate planning and elder law. She earned her law degree from Roger Williams University School of Law, where she was recognized by the Feinstein Center for Pro Bono & Experiential Education for her extensive public interest legal work and commitment to public service.

For more information, visit cranstonlibrary.org.

Steak Fry at VFW

A Steak Fry will be held from 5:30-7:30 p.m. on Sept. 9 at the Kelley Gazzerro VFW Post 2812 - 1418 Plainfield St., Cranston, with food provided by Spirito’s. The menu will additionally include salad, baked potatoes, mushrooms, onions, sweet corn, bread and butter, draft beer, soda and coffee.

Tickets cost $30 per person and must be purchased by Sept. 4. Tickets are only available in advance at the Kelley Gazzerro Post. Proceeds will benefit the post’s building fund.

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.

Wine & Dine Extravaganza for MS Dream Center

The MS Dream Center of Rhode Island and Accessible Rhode Island will host a Wine & Dine Extravaganza on Saturday, Sept. 21, at the Crowne Plaza in Warwick. Proceeds from the event will benefit the MS Dream Center, which is dedicated to supporting individuals with multiple sclerosis and other disabilities.

The event, sponsored by Bob Gasbarro’s Oaklawn Liquors, will include a wine and beer tasting along with a variety of food from some of Rhode Island’s best known restaurants. The event will also include entertainment from the Ambrosiani Italian-American Band, raffles, a live auction, a 50/50 raffle and a mystery wine and dine pairing.

Tickets cost $60 each or 10 for $500 and can be purchased at msdreamcenter.org. To learn more, visit access-ri.org or msdreamcenter.org.

‘Engage for Change’ gala

Hope and Change for Haiti invites members of the community to take part in its second annual “Engage for Change” gala, to be held Thursday, Aug. 22, from 6-9 p.m. at the Imperial Room at One Rhodes Place. Tickets cost $50 per person. To learn more and purchase tickets, visit hncforhaiti.org.

Ward 3 community meeting

Ward 3 City Councilman John Donegan will host a community meeting on Saturday, Aug. 24, at 9:30 a.m. at the Hugh B. Bain Middle School track. Participants are asked to meet at the bleachers on the lower level baseball field, and parking is recommended either on Gansett Avenue or the parking lot off Oak Street. In the event of inclement weather, the meeting will be held at Eddie’s Diner, 877 Dyer Ave. Participants are also asked to bring a nonperishable food item for the St. Vincent DePaul Food Center on Princess Avenue.

Free lunches for seniors

The Cranston YMCA has partnered with Blackstone Health to bring senior citizens a Power Lunch sponsored by National Grid. With additional support provided by BankRI, Power Lunch will provide free catered meals for seniors in at the YMCA, located at 1225 Park Ave.

Power Lunches will be held Monday through Friday during the summer. Seating is limited and registration is required. Participants may sign up for just one day or the whole week. A $3 suggested donation is welcomed, but not required. There are two sessions, held at 12 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.

All diners must be 60 years of age or older. Each meal will include a sandwich, soup and fresh fruit. The YMCA will provide additional sides and water.

Power Lunch aims to help seniors beat the summer heat while enjoying a complete meal with friends old and new. There will also be opportunities to connect to resources available to increase energy efficiency and reduce costs as temperatures continue to rise.

To register or for more information, call the YMCA Welcome Center at 943-0444 or email Michelle Puhacz at mdejesus@gpymca.org.

North Providence High class of 1964 reunion

North Providence High School’s class of 1964 will hold its 55th reunion on Sunday, Sept. 8, from 5-10 p.m. at Meenhan Overlook, located at 2 Governor Notte Parkway (off Douglas Avenue) in North Providence. The reunion will feature stations with American and international appetizers, a fabulous dinner buffet, music, dancing and much more. Tickets cost $60 per person and can be purchased by calling Paula (Pellecione) Lipsey at 724-7222 or 742-4993 or Anthony Parente at 725-2019.

ranston High School class of 1959 reunion

The 60th reunion of Cranston High School’s class of 1959 will be held on Sunday, Sept. 15, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Eleven Forty Nine Restaurant, 1149 Division St., Warwick. Registration costs $50 per person. Send checks payable to “Class of Cranston High School 1959” to Dianne Apici, 573 Cedar Ave., East Greenwich, RI 02818, by Aug. 24. For more information, contact Dianne Apici at dapici@cox.net or 885-4595.

St. Xavier class of 1969 reunion

St. Xavier Academy’s class of 1969 will celebrate its 50th reunion on Sunday, Oct. 20. Classes who graduated in years ending in 9 and 4 will be honored as well. A Mass will be held at 11 a.m. at St. Timothy Church in Warwick followed by lunch at Quidnessett Country Club in North Kingstown. All graduates are invited to attend. For additional information, call Margaret Mathias at 232-9006.

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.

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.

Craft Bash at Artists’ Exchange

The Artists’ Exchange, 50 Rolfe Square, Cranston, invites families to take part in free Crash Bash events on the last Saturday of every month. The expressive arts can work as a tool for strengthening students’ skills in all disciplines by offering alternative ways to think about core subjects.

Craft Bash is free and open to all ages and abilities. For more information, call 490-9475 or visit artists-exchange.org.

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.

Did you know?

Victory Day is a state holiday in Rhode Island, observed on the second Monday in August. It commemorates the end of the World War II, when Japan’s surrender was announced on Aug. 14, 1945. It was observed this past Monday.

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