Meeting on Meshanticut Lake

Why is Meshanticut Lake full of weeds in the summer? Is it badly polluted? What can be done to fix it?

Citywide Councilman Steve Stycos and Wenley Ferguson, director of habitat restoration at Save The Bay, will host a public meeting to discuss the lake’s health on Wednesday, May 22, starting at 7 p.m. in the Cranston High School West library. Attendees are asked to bring ideas and observations.

‘Chief’s Challenge’ hoops benefit

On Thursday, May 23, the fourth annual “Chief’s Challenge” basketball game between members of the Cranston Police and Fire departments to benefit Special Olympics Rhode Island will be held from 6-9 p.m. in the Cranston High School East gymnasium. The game begins at 6:30 p.m. The cost of admission is $5. For more information, visit the event’s page on Facebook.

OSKC to offer CPR training

Ocean State Kidz Club, located at 350 Park Ave., Cranston, will offer CPR training on Tuesday, May 28, from 6-8 p.m. The cost is $60 per person. The class will result in a two-year certification. To register, call 223-0303 or email oceanstatekidzri@gmail.com.

Touch A Truck rescheduled

The Rotary Club of Cranston will sponsor a Touch A Truck event at the Gazebo in Garden City Center from 9 a.m. to noon on Sunday, May 19. The event is re-scheduled from May 5. Children will have the chance to see, touch, climb on and explore their favorite big trucks and vehicles, including police, fire and construction vehicles. There will also be face painting, crafts, ice cream from Newport Creamery and chowder from Legal Sea Bar. The suggested donation for the event is $10 per family. Donations will be accepted to support the work of the Cranston Rotary. This event is made possible by Tasca, Lisa Pagano at Albert Realtors and Garden City Center.

Animal art

Artists with animal-themed artwork are asked to donate their pieces for a special art show coming to Sprague Mansion on May 25. All of the proceeds from the show will benefit Defenders of Animals Inc. Work of all mediums and sizes is being accepted. Submissions must be dropped off at 960 Reservoir Ave., Suite 27, Cranston, by May 10. Please submit your artwork with your name, the medium used, title and price. All proceeds are donated. For more information, email the show’s curator, Margy, at margy@interviewconnections.com.

‘Flowers for Ward 5’

Ward 5 Councilman Chris Paplauskas will host a “Flowers for Ward 5” neighborhood beautification event on Sunday, May 26. It is the second year for the event, which rallies volunteers to make a visual impact in the community. Participants will gather at 11 a.m. at the Knightsville Gazebo.

Katie Lavey Memorial Blood Drive

The 14th annual Katie Lavey Memorial Blood Drive will be held on Friday, May 17, from 12:30-5:30 p.m. in the gym at Park View Middle School, 25 Park View Blvd., Cranston.

Coordinated by John Macera, a health and physical education teacher at Park View, the Katie Lavey Memorial Blood Drive has been instrumental in memorializing Katie, a former student at Park View who passed away at age 16 in 2005.

For more information and to schedule an appointment, contact the Rhode Island Blood Center at 453-8307. Use sponsor code 1236 when scheduling an appointment.

Author of ‘Abundance’ at library

The Cranston Public Library will host author Dr. Michael Fine on Tuesday, May 28, from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the Central Library, located at 140 Sockanosset Cross Road. Fine will read from and sign copies of his debut novel, “Abundance.” Copies of this “epic novel stretching from the civil wars of Liberia to the streets of Rhode Island” will be for sale. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit cranstonlibrary.org.

May Breakfast for Defenders of Animals

Defenders of Animals will host its annual May Breakfast on Sunday, May 19, beginning at 10 a.m. at the Sprague Mansion, 1351 Cranston St., Cranston. The donation for the event is $25 per person. For more information, call Defenders of Animals at 461-1922.

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.

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.

Auctioneers featured at upcoming LEADS Luncheon

Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers, 63 Fourth St., Cranston, will host the Central Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce LEADS Luncheon on Friday, May 31, from noon to 1:30 p.m. In addition to the business networking event, Bruneau & Co. will offer free verbal appraisals for every person bringing in an item such as an antique, art or collectible.

Attendees will network with one another, provide a 60-second commercial about their business and connect with potential new customers. The event is part of an ongoing series of networking events hosted by Bruneau & Co. Auctioneers for the local business community. To register, contact the Central Rhode Island Chamber at 732-1100.

Gentian Garden Club

The Gentian Garden Club’s May Plant Sale will be held on Saturday, May 11, at the North Scituate Community House, 546 West Greenville Road (Route 116), North Scituate. All proceeds will support the club’s civic beautification projects and scholarships to local high school students.

On May 21, the club will hold its Annual Meeting at the Crystal Lake Golf Course in Burrillville. The new slate of officers will be announced and the 2019 True Blue Award will be presented.

For more information, follow the club’s Facebook page.

‘Lighting the Way’ workshop

On May 16 from 5:30-8 p.m., join Sean Roy for a free workshop for families called “Lighting The Way: Helping Families See Possibilities In Building Futures.” The workshop will be held at the Radisson Airport Hotel in Warwick, located at 2081 Post Road.

As a parent of a disabled child, it may be difficult to see a future for your child that includes employment. However, many people with all types of disabilities are working. The workshop is designed to help participants learn more about opportunities and address concerns.

To register, contact Nikki Honauer at nhonauer@westbaycollaborative.oprg or 941-8353, ext. 117.

Knit and Crochet Circle at Auburn Branch

Do you like to knit or crochet? Do you need some help with a knitting or crocheting project that has you stumped? Knitters and crocheters of all levels of experience are invited to join the Knit and Crochet Circle, led by experienced knitter Barbara Baedeker, on Mondays from 2-4 p.m. at the Cranston Public Library’s Auburn Branch, located at 396 Pontiac Ave. For more information, visit cranstonlibrary.org.

BankNewport and OceanPoint Insurance make donation

BankNewport and OceanPoint Insurance employees recently presented donations totaling $5,600 to the Edgewood Pawtuxet Ecumenical Food Closet as a result of a special “Bowl-A-Thon” fundraiser. Employee bowling teams were sponsored by fellow employees, family and friends in order to raise the funds. The donations will help the Food Closet stock its shelves to provide food to help the local community.

Located at 1665 Broad St., the Edgewood Pawtuxet Food Closet is a client-choice food pantry run by volunteers, open three days and one night a week to provide food to local neighbors in need. The Food Closet, established 37 years ago, has grown out of a small closet into a multi-room operation inside the Church of The Transfiguration in Cranston. In 2018, 1,770 visits to the food closet were recorded to feed 3,223 individuals.

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.

 United Way 2-1-1 at Central Library

 The United Way of Rhode Island’s 2-1-1 Outreach RV will be at the Cranston Public Library’s Central Library. 140 Sockanosset Cross Road, on the first Monday of each month from 9 a.m. to noon. The Outreach RV provides a free, confidential resource for assistance with housing, food, child care and other needs. For more information, visit uwri.org.

Children’s sale at St. David’s

St. David’s on-the-Hill Episcopal Church, 200 Meshanticut Valley Parkway, Cranston, will host a children’s clothing, shoes and toy sale on Saturday, May 11, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Most clothing items and shows will be priced at $1. For more information, visit stdavidsonthehill.net.

Voter registration drive

The Cranston Board of Canvassers will host a voter registration drive in the cafeteria at Cranston High School East, 899 Park Ave., on Friday, May 17, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Voter information and registration forms will be provided by staff from the Cranston Board of Canvassers and state elections officials. Anyone who is at least 16 years old may register, although citizens must be at least 18 years of age to vote.

Did you know?

The modern holiday of Mother’s Day was first celebrated in 1908, when Anna Jarvis held a memorial for her mother at St Andrew’s Methodist Church in Grafton, West Virginia. The church now holds the International Mother's Day Shrine. (Source: Mother’s Day Fun Facts)

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