Cranston Chatter

By MERI R. KENNEDY
Posted 10/31/18

By MERI R. KENNEDY Holiday Meal Program registration Are you a Cranston resident and 60 years or older? Will you be alone on Thanksgiving or Christmas? The Holiday Meal Program is sponsored by Mayor Allan Fung and the Cranston Department of Senior

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Holiday Meal Program registration

Are you a Cranston resident and 60 years or older? Will you be alone on Thanksgiving or Christmas?

The Holiday Meal Program is sponsored by Mayor Allan Fung and the Cranston Department of Senior Services. Would you like a Thanksgiving Meal delivered to your home on Wednesday, Nov. 21 and/or a Christmas Meal delivered on Dec. 21?

If your answer is yes leave your name, address/apt. number, zip code and telephone number at780-6000. Thanksgiving Meal registration deadline is Nov. 9 and for the Christmas Meal registration deadline is Dec. 7.

Winter heating assistance program offered by city

The Mayor’s office is once gain offering its fuel assistance program for any Cranston resident in immediate need of home heating oil. The program is open to all 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. For more information, call the Dept. of Community Development at 461-1000 ext. 7226.

PVMS Veterans 5K

The Park View Middle School Veterans Day 5K is an annual event designed to bring honor and recognition to Veterans Day. Proceeds from the event will benefit programs for the school throughout the year and as a means of giving back to a worthwhile cause, Operation Stand Down RI.

There will also be a One Mile Kids Run. This event will take place in the Park on a specially designed course! This race will begin at 8:30 am. The race is open to all elementary and middle school students. Cost for this race is $10. T-shirts to go to the first 50 entries for this race. Start and finish of the 5k race at the Park Avenue entrance to Roger Williams Park across from Park View Middle School.

T-shirts to the first 600 entries for the 5k race. Post-race food and beverages. Awards are given to the top male and female finisher. Awards to the top 2 men and women in each division: 8th grade and under, high school division, 19-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, 80.

Woodridge Hosts Winter Festival & Bazaar

On Saturday, Nov. 10, Woodridge United Church of Christ, located at 546 Budlong Rd. will host its annual Winter Festival & Bazaar. This event takes place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and includes a wide variety of homemade items, pastries, prizes and bargains galore. This year each visitor will be given a gift of a handmade prayer square (while supplies last), so come early to be sure you receive this very special keepsake.

A visit to their Country Store and Pastry Shop is a must. Offerings include delicious seasonal pies and cakes, and jams and jellies made by Woodridge church volunteers, and homemade cookies, such as Chocolate chip, Snickerdoodle, Oatmeal and Magic bars are for sale by the pound. Our selection also includes gluten free, toffee candy and homemade fudge.

Other shopping opportunities include Jewelry, a Seasonal table, and a Penny Social offing beautifully made themed baskets and hourly raffle drawings with prizes galore. Visitors will have the opportunity to win prizes through hourly raffle drawings and our Grand Raffle. There will also be a Silent Auction with many generously donated items that can be bid on if you so choose.

Children will delight in visiting the Childrens Elf Shop adjacent to our book gallery where they can fill their Christmas list with $1 items.

If you love a bargain, shopping will be a pleasure for the whole family in Timeless Treasures, offering household items, artwork, childrens toys, jewelry and many other accessories.

Lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.The menu includes homemade soup, eggplant parmesan, sandwiches, chicken salad, pizza, calzones and beverages.

For more information about this years bazaar, please visit their event website at woodridgechurchri.org/annual-winter-festival-and-bazaar.

Visitors are asked to bring canned goods and nonperishable items to support the Cranston Interfaith Food Pantry.

New childrens book Bucabella weaves adventurous tale of giving

In his new book, David A. Colasante, a resident of Cranston, describes how the mythical god Zeus created Bucabella as a magical island where peace, purity, and mystical beings thrive. And it is from this island that his heroine Miss B begins her adventure. Flying aboard her favorite seagull Winston, and with a host of colorful and interesting friends she meets along the way, Miss B and her companions navigate the globe to bring tokens of generosity to the children and families who need it most.

Veteran California comic book illustrator Brandon Palas magically brings Bucabellas characters to life in vivid color, helping kids imagine this imaginary, mythical world of talking seagulls and enchanted adventures.

The author started Bucabella as a tale he told to his young granddaughters, explaining how Miss B traveled the world doing good deeds. During these tales, he would provide the girls special gifts to entice them to do good things for their moms, dads, and family. With each adventure, he would write a riddle on parchment to let them know where to find the prizes. The parchment had a coat of arms and to a child looked very official. It was always signed Miss B. These tales he told his granddaughters inspired Bucabella, and now with this book, other children can learn.

Bucabella is available to purchase through select bookstores and gift shops, major online retailers, and through the publisher at www.StillwaterPress.com.

At the Senior Center

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

Diabetes Support Group will be held on Nov. 7 at 10 a.m. with the theme Diabetes & Dementia. Facilitators will be Pharmacist Mario and URI Pharm D Students. Dementia affects the brain with memory loss being its most common, recognizable symptom. Join in for a discussion on this topic and how it is linked to diabetes.

NEW! Chair Yoga Class will begin on Nov. 6 at 9 a.m. for a fee of $2. Yoga is an excellent way for older adults to stretch and loosen painful muscles, reduce stress, and improve circulation. We are now offering chair yoga for those unable to stand for traditional yoga. Bring a friend and come and try the class.

Veterans Day Celebration Luncheon will be held on Nov. 9 at 11:30 a.m. with a suggested donation of $3. For reservations call 780-6134. A salute to our veterans! Our Veterans have a special place in our hearts. Please wear your red, white and blue as we honor all branches of the military active, retired and deceased.

Medicare Part D Open Enrollment Assistance/Medicare Open Enrollment is now being held until Dec. 7. Its time to review your 2019 Medicare health and drug plans. Plans make changes each year. It is important that you be informed. In October they had Blue Cross & Blue Shield explain their changes. Now in November you will have the opportunity to learn about the United Health Care and Aetna changes. United Health Care will be presented on Nov. 2 at 10 a.m. and Aetna Insurance will be held Nov. 14 at 10 a.m.

Coloring is NOT Just For Kids Anymore. Join in for the Coloring Book Club which meets on Mondays at 9:30 a.m. and all materials are provided. Coloring can be beneficial for adultsnamely for its de-stressing power. Coloring can relax the brain, reduce anxiety and stress, and help focus on the present while enhancing motor skills that begin to fade as we age.

55 No Limits TV is the Senior Centers Cable TV Show which features segments on better living and services and activities available at the Center. Hosted by our Executive Director, Jeffrey Barone and Assistant Director, David Quiroa it can be viewed on Cox Cable (Channel 18) or Verizon (Channel 30). Mondays 4:00 p.m.; Tuesdays at 12 noon; Fridays at 8 p.m. and Saturdays at 12 noon. November will feature segments on the Nutrition Division and Transvan, and the in-city transportation system.

CEAB meeting Monday

The Cranston Education Advisory Board will have its first meeting of the 2018-2019 school year on Monday, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m. at the Cranston West Career and Tech Center. All are welcome to attend the meeting. Topics will include the recent safety upgrades to schools, the yearly ALICE training conducted with staff and students, the use of school crisis response teams, and emergency action and safety drills conducted regularly at the schools.

Registration for Saturday Basketball, Winter Tennis

The City of Cranston Parks and Recreation Department is now taking registration for Saturday Morning Basketball and Winter Indoor Tennis. Both programs begin on Saturday, November 24 and run Saturday mornings through March 16.

Saturday Morning Basketball is an instructional program to teach the fundamentals for Grades Kindergarten through middle school. Program runs at Western Hills and Park View for Grades 3 8 and Pastore Youth Center for Grades K 2. Registration fee is $25 per child.

Winter Indoor Tennis is aimed at beginners, aged 6-12, looking to skill building. This is instructional program; there is no match play. Program runs at Hugh B. Bain Middle School gymnasium. The fee is $85 per person.

Register at the Recreation Office, Pastore Youth Center, 155 Gansett Avenue. Registration is accepted Mondays thru Fridays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For more information or to print registration forms, visit the Parks and Recreation page at www.cranstonri.com.Follow them on Facebook for program updates.

RSVP Gift Shoppe

Located at the Cranston Senior Enrichment Center, from M-F from 9:30 a.m. is the RSVP Gift Shoppe is open. Purchase greeting cards, jewelry, handmade items, gift items, candy and other great gift ideas. Affordable prices. Remember the holidays are just around the corner. Net proceeds from the gift shop help fund the RSVP Program.

New Hope Art Gallery Holiday/Winter show

New Hope Art Gallery Holiday/winter show opening is scheduled for Nov. 13 from 4 to 7:30 p.m.

This wonderful show will feature over 400 pieces of art in every style and media including ceramic, drawing, fabric, glass, mixed media, painting, photography and sculpture. They will showcase over 100 local, national, senior, special needs and student artists in our very large 2 floor gallery at the Michael Traficante Enrichment Center located at 1070 Cranston Street in Cranston.

They will also feature 15 tables of small original art items from our artists. All art is very affordable and perfect for holiday gifts for friends and family. Come for a visit on opening night and get a free portrait drawing created for you by their talented senior artist Jack Lai while enjoying some great music by Mark Greenwood, Jim Chapin, Bob Ruzzo and friends.

A fun night of beautiful art, good music, great food and free parking right at the center. New Hope Art Gallery is a nonprofit with a mission to bring art to all people and all people to art. If you're unable to make our opening night, then come for a visit during regular gallery hours from Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. except holidays. For more information please contact Director Ricky Gagnon at 280-6282.

Fighting The Addiction Crisis

St. Davids on the Hill located at 200 Meshanticut Pkwy. will host Fighting the Addiction Crisis: Initiating Recovery, presented by Lifespan and Faith Infused Recovery Efforts, on Nov. 4 at 4 to 5:30 p.m. The causes and myths of the opioid crisis, the intersection of social justice and recovery, the pathways to recovery and interfaith and free naloxone training will be discussed by Michelle Mckenzie, MPH, Lifespan/PONI and Diego Arene-Morley, PRS, RICARES.

All are welcome to attend.

Cranston library offers free home delivery of books

The Cranston Public Library will deliver anything that has a three-week loan period. Patrons never pay a late fee or fine, because they pick up all the materials within that 3-week time frame. The volunteers deliver books (in regular or large print), audiobooks, magazines, music CDs and documentary DVDs to any homebound Cranston resident living in their own home.

Due to concerns about chain of custody they are unable to deliver to nursing homes or assisted living facilities.

Call Karen McGrath at 781-6116 or email her at karenmcgrath@cranstonlibrary.org, to register for the service or become a volunteer driver.

Pancake Breakfast

The West Bay Chorale will hold a Pancake Breakfast on Nov. 3 at 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Edgewood Congregational Church in Cranston. There will be pancakes, sausage, fruit, tea, coffee, juice and more with all proceeds supporting West Bay Chorale. Tickets are $7 per person/4 for $25. There are no tickets for the events and funds raised are through the sale of chopsticks at the door.

Hall Rental

St. David's on the Hill Episcopal Church located at 200 Meshanticut Valley Parkway in Cranston is now offering affordable rates for your next special occasion. Upper and lower halls for events of all kinds. For more information; Please see their website at www.stdavidsonthehill.net/hall-rental or contact the church office Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. or call 942-4368 to schedule a personal visit.

Did You Know?

Halloween is one of the oldest celebrations in the world, dating back over 2,000 years to the time of the Celts, who lived in Britain. (Source: Halloween 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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