College Financial Aid Workshop

On Monday, Oct. 7, U.S. Sen. Jack Reed will host his annual College Financial Aid Workshop for high school students and their families.

The event will be from 6-7:30 p.m. at Cranston High School West, located at 80 Metropolitan Ave. Speakers will focus on giving students and their parents a better sense of the financial aid options available at federal and state levels, the eligibility criteria for these different types of aid, and the application process. Panelists will include representatives from the Rhode Island Student Loan Authority, the College Planning Center of Rhode Island, and other financial aid and education experts.

The workshop is free and open to the public. For any questions regarding the workshop, contact Erin Arcand at 528-5200 or Erin_Arcand@reed.senate.gov.

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.

City to mark Hispanic Heritage Month

A celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month will be held Thursday, Oct. 3, at Cranston City Hall, located at 869 Park Ave. The City Council in August adopted a resolution joining the national observance of Sept. 15-Oct. 15 Hispanic Heritage Month, and the event at City Hall will include an exhibition of work from Latino artists, a Latino-inspired poetry slam and performances from local folkloric groups. For more information, visit the event’s page on Facebook, titled “Join Us: City of Cranston Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month.”

Cranston East class of 1974 reunion

Cranston High School East’s class of 1974 will hold its 45th reunion on Friday, Oct. 4, at the Alpine Country Club, 251 Pippin Orchard Road, Cranston, beginning at 6 p.m. The cost is $65 per person, which includes a dinner buffet. Checks should be payable to Denise Beauvais, 301 Oaklawn Ave., #205, Cranston, RI 02920. For more information, contact Sherry Caliri Ferdinandi at sherryferdinandicpa@gmail.com or 965-8700.

Blessing of the animals

Local residents and their pets are invited to a Blessing of the Animals to be held Sunday, Oct. 6, starting at 10 a.m. at Edgewood Congregational Church, located at 1788 Broad St. in Cranston.

All members of the community, including church members and neighbors, are invited to bring their pets for the annual blessing, which will be held outside in front of the church, weather permitting. In case of inclement weather, the event will be in the church basement. Refreshments for pets and their humans will be available.

Cookbook Club at the library

The Cranston Public Library is excited to announce its new book club. Cookbook Club is a new book club for adults with a tasty twist. In this club, participants will read a different cookbook each month and come together to share the tasty recipes that lie inside their pages.

For October, the club will be sampling recipes from “Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking” by Marcella Hazan. The October meeting will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 9, from 5:30-7 p.m. at the Central Library, located at 140 Sockanosset Cross Road.

For more information or to sign up, contact Corrie at 943-9080, ext. 129, or calves@cranstonlibrary.org.

Thunderbolt Marching Band Invitational

The Thunderbolt Marching Band Invitational, hosted by the Cranston East Alumni Music Association, will be held on Saturday, Oct. 12, at the Cranston Stadium from 4-8 p.m.

The event will feature seven of New England's best high school marching bands, including Cranston East, Portsmouth and Westerly from Rhode Island and Dartmouth, Dennis-Yarmouth, Somerset Berkley and Blackstone-Millville from Massachusetts. The Thunderbolts will be performing their 2019 field show, “Pathways.”

The event will also feature food and a 50-50 raffle. Tickets cost $10 for adults and $8 for students and seniors. Children under 5 will be admitted at no cost. Gates open at 4 p.m. and the show begins at 5 p.m.

Venue change for Pilgrim High School class of 2009 reunion

The class of 2009 from Pilgrim High School in Warwick will celebrate its 10-year reunion on Saturday, Oct. 12, from 7-11 p.m. The reunion will be held at O’Rourke’s Bar and Grill, 23 Peck Lane, Warwick.

Tickets cost $25 per person and must be purchased before Oct. 6 to guarantee entrance. Attendees are welcomed to bring a guest with the purchase of a separate ticket.

Tickets can be purchased at eventbrite.com. For more information, visit the class Facebook page or contact Jennifer Rawson (Kennedy) at jrkennedy819@gmail.com.

Pasta Fest

Defenders of Animals will hold a Pasta Fest on Friday, Oct. 18, from 6-8 p.m. at Edgewood Congregational Church, located at 1788 Broad St. in Cranston. Tickets cost $10 per person and there will be raffles. For tickets or more information, call Defenders of Animals at 461-1922.

Mt. Pleasant High School 60th reunion

The class of 1959 from Mt. Pleasant High School will hold its 60th reunion on Saturday, Oct. 19, from 1-5 p.m. at Cucina Rustica, located at 555 Atwood Ave. in Cranston. For more information, email MarjeCatanzaro@gmail.com.

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.

Chopstick Auction

The annual Chopstick Auction at Kelley Gazzerro VFW Post 2812, located at 1418 Plainfield Pike in Cranston, will be held on Sunday, Oct. 20, from 12-4 p.m. For a cost of $20, attendees will be able to participate in more than 100 raffles. Proceeds will benefit nonprofit community organizations.

Passport Day at library

The Cranston Public Library will hold its annual Passport Day on Monday, Oct. 21. U.S. citizens planning international travel may apply for their passports at the Central Library, located at 140 Sockanosset Cross Road, between 4-8 p.m. Passport agents will be at the library during those hours to process applications for individuals and families and answer any questions about the passport application process. They will also be able to take passport photos for a fee of $10.

Applicants need to bring proof of U.S. citizenship, a valid photo ID (for adults), and personal checks or money orders. Detailed information on the documents required can be found at cranstonlibrary.org or at the Central Library. The Department of State also offers complete information about the passport application process at travel.state.gov.

Cranston Hall of Fame

The 29th induction ceremony for the Cranston Hall of Fame will be held Friday, Oct. 25 at the Alpine Country Club, located at 251 Pippin Orchard Road, Cranston.

This year's inductees are Michael Chalek, David Schiappa, Meri Kennedy, Steven Maurano and the late Leonard D’Errico.

Tickets cost $40 and must be purchased in advance. For tickets or more information, contact Deborah Greifer at dgreifer@aol.com.

Soil testing at farmers market

Fall is the best time to plant grass seed for next year. The soil is still warm from months of summer sun. This combination of warm soil, moderate day temperatures and cool evenings encourages fast germination and establishment of newly sown grass seed. To make sure your newly planted lawn gets the most nutrients from your soil, a soil pH test should be performed as well.

On Friday, Oct. 25, bring soil samples to the Goddard State Park Farmers Market, located at 345 Ives Road in Warwick. University of Rhode Island Master Gardeners will be at the market from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and can provide pH results and soil texture analysis as well as provide recommendations for the gradual improvement of your soil’s pH and health.

For instructions on taking a soil sample or information on other testing locations, visit uri.edu/mastergardener/soil-testing-service.

Cranston High School class of 1960 reunion

Cranston High School’s class of 1960 plans to hold its 60th reunion on Sept. 12, 2020, at the Cranston Country Club. The cost will be $50 per person. For more information, contact Joan Farmanian Fratterelli at 349-3922.

Pickleball this fall

The Cranston Parks and Recreation Department will be offering Pickleball at the Pastore Youth Center, located at 155 Gansett Ave., starting this fall. Games will be played Mondays and Wednesdays, noon to 2 p.m., through March 23, and Saturdays, 8 -11 a.m., from Oct. 5 to Nov. 16. If there is demand, additional time on Sunday afternoon/evening can be added once this session ends.

The fee is $3 per person per day. The program is open to Cranston residents and nonresidents. Three courts will be available to accommodate people of all skill levels.

For more information, visit the Parks and Recreation page on the city’s website, cranstonri.com.

Youth basketball program

Registration is open for the Saturday Morning Basketball Program, which runs Saturday mornings from Nov. 23 through March 14.

This is an instructional program designed to teach the fundamentals of basketball. It is not a league and no teams will be formed.

The program will be held at the following times and locations:

Pastore Youth Center: grades one and two, 9-10 a.m.; kindergarten through grade one, 10:30-11:45 a.m.

Western Hills Middle School: grades three through five, 9-10:30 a.m.; grades six through eight, 10:30 a.m. to noon.

Park View Middle School: grades three through five, 8-9:30 a.m.; grade six, 9:30-11 a.m.

The registration fee is $25 per child. Registration forms are available for download on the Parks and Recreation Department’s page on the city’s website, cranstonri.com. Forms may be returned to the department’s office at the Pastore Youth Center.

New theater program

The Cranston Parks and Recreation Department, in partnership with Living Arts Theater, will be offering an eight-week acting class for students in grades two through 10 at all experience levels. Through these process-based classes, students will learn acting techniques and build scene study and improv skills, as well as building ensemble-based collaboration skills.

The classes will be taught by the Living Art Summer Theater teaching artists and will culminate with an acting showcase for friends and families in Pastore Youth Center’s acting classroom.

The fall session will run on Saturdays at the Pastore Youth Center from Oct. 19 through Dec. 14. There will be no class on Nov. 30. Sessions run from 9 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. for grades two through five and from 10:30 a.m. to noon for grades six through 10.

The cost of the class is $110. There is a strict limit of 10 participants for each class. Once a class is filled, we will accept people on a wait list.

To register, please return the form on Parks and Recreation Department’s page on the city’s website, cranstonri.com, along with a check made payable to “City of Cranston” to the Parks and Recreation Department.

Caregiver volunteers needed

Volunteers are being sought to provide respite services for homebound seniors. Services include providing companionship, running errands and providing transportation to medical appointments.

If you are interested in becoming an RSVP caregiver volunteer, contact Karen at 780-6159 for an interview. Volunteers must be 55 years of age or older and a BCI check is required. A mileage reimbursement is provided to cover the cost to travel.

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.

Did you know?

Columbus Day is a federal U.S. holiday that commemorates the voyage and landing of Italian explorer Christopher Columbus in the New World on Oct. 12, 1492. This year, Columbus Day falls on Monday, Oct. 14. The anniversary of his landing in the New World was first formally celebrated in 1792 by the Columbian Order (Society of St. Tammany) in New York City.

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