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.

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.

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.

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.

Carnival and Vendor Fair

The Cranston YMCA, 1225 Park Ave, Cranston, will be hosting its first Out of School Time (OST) Carnival & Vendor Fair on June 6 from 6:30-8 p.m. The event will include a range of family-fun activities, including

face painting, temporary tattoos, a bounce house and more. Vendors will include Mobile Quest, Mastery Martial Arts, Snapology, Roger Williams Zoo and Palagi Brothers Ice Cream.

Tickets will be available at the event at a cost of $5 for 10 tickets or $10 for 25 tickets. For more information, contact Jess Tate, OST director, at jtate@gpymca.org.

Abstract art show

An exhibition of abstract work by Cranston artist Michelle Parenteau will be held Friday, June 7, from 6-9 p.m. at Frame It RI, 991 Oaklawn Ave., Cranston. The event is free and open to the public and light fare will be served. For more information, Frame It RI’s Facebook page.

Vendors needed

Vendors are being sought for a yard sale at Kelley Gazzerro VFW Post 2812, 1418 Plainfield St., Cranston, on June 8 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The vendor fee is $20 pet table. To secure a spot or for more information, call Lillian at 829-6080.

Grannie’s Attic Indoor Yard Sale

St. David’s on-the-Hill Episcopal Church, located at 200 Meshanticut Valley Parkway, will host its Grannie’s Attic Indoor Yard Sale on Saturday, June 8, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, visit stdavidsonthehill.net.

Cranston Rotary Pancake Breakfast

The Cranston Rotary Club will hold its 12 annual Pancake Breakfast on Sunday, June 9, from 8-11 a.m. The breakfast will be held at the Cranston Area Career & Technical Center, located at 100 Metropolitan Drive. Tickets for the all-you-can-eat breakfast cost $8 in advance and can be purchased at cranstonrotarypancakebreakfast.eventbrite.com. Tickets can also be purchased at the door for $10. The breakfast is free for children ages 5 and younger. All proceeds will benefit the Cranston Rotary Club’s community programs.

9th MS Dream Center Golf Tournament

The ninth annual MS Dream Center Golf Tournament will take place Monday, June 10, at Valley Country Club in Warwick. The tournament benefits the MS Dream Center in Cranston, which is dedicated to supporting individuals with multiple sclerosis and their loved ones.

Tournament registration and lunch starts at 11:30 a.m., with a shotgun start for golfers at 1 p.m. Dinner and the awarding of prizes begins at approximately 6 p.m. The event will feature raffles, dinner and a sports memorabilia auction from Sports And More.

Tournament sponsors include, but are not limited to, Commonwealth Soap, Aram Garabedian and Warwick Mall, Dan’s Place, Delta Mechanical, Wave Federal Credit Union, United Healthcare, Brown Neurology, Greenwood Credit Union, Maguire Disability Law, Mutual Cornell and Value Source International.

Sponsorship opportunities available for businesses and individuals. For more information, visit msdreamcenter.org or contact Anne Delsignore at anne@msdreamcenter.org.

Rochambeau Strawberry Biscuit Tea

Joy Homestead, located at 156 Scituate Ave. in Cranston, will present its 15th annual Rochambeau Strawberry Biscuit Tea on June 18 at 6 p.m. Join in the celebration of General Rochambeau’s four-day march through Rhode Island en route to a victory over British forces at Yorktown, Virginia, in 1781. A $5 donation is requested. For more information, visit cranstonhistoricalsociety.org.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Did you know?

Father’s Day was created in Spokane, Washington, at the YMCA in 1910 by Sonora Smart Dodd, who was born in Arkansas. Its first celebration was at the Spokane YMCA on June 19, 1910. Dodd’s father, the Civil War veteran William Jackson Smart, was a single parent who raised his six children in Spokane. (Source: Father’s Day Fun Facts)

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