Scary Acres seeking actors, actresses

Scary Acres at Confreda Farms, located at 2150 Scituate Ave., is hiring actors and actresses to scare guests during its upcoming 17th season.

Pay begins at $10.50 per hour and applicants must be 18 years of age or older. Applicants must also have a valid government-issued ID and either a birth certificate or Social Security card.

All actors and actresses must be available on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights in September, through Oct. 6, from 6 p.m. until the closing time of 10 p.m. or longer. There will be paid training and rehearsals for all those who are hired.

Applicants may apply at Confreda Farms between the hours of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., seven days a week. Positions are also available working at the kiosk at the front door.

The number of available positions is limited. For more information, email brianscaryacres@gmail.com.

‘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.

Cleanup at Presidential Place

Ward 3 City Councilman John Donegan and Citywide Councilman Steve Stycos, along with members of the Cranston High School East football team, will lead a cleanup in the back of Presidential Place off Lincoln Avenue on Saturday, Aug. 24. The cleanup is scheduled to begin around noon.

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.

Hey Nineteen closing out Summer Concert Series

Steely Dan tribute band Hey Nineteen will provide the final performance of Garden City Center’s 30th anniversary Summer Concert Series on Sunday, Sept. 1, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. The concert is free, and visitors are asked to bring a donation of peanut butter or canned tuna for the CCAP Food Pantry. For more information, visit gardencitycenter.com.

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.

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.

History of the Scituate Reservoir

The Cranston Public Library will welcome filmmaker, professor and Cranston resident Evan Villari on Wednesday, Sept. 11, from 6-8 p.m. at the Central library, 140 Sockanosset Cross Road.

Villari will be sharing research for “Blood and Watershed” (bloodandwatershed.com), an upcoming documentary film on the true history of the Scituate Reservoir, while drawing contemporary parallels to issues related to water usage. Through a combination of image-based storytelling and personal narratives, this engagement promises to provide concerned citizens with transparent information about where our water comes from and where it is going.

The program is free and open to the public. It is being made possible in part through a grant from the Rhode Island Council for the Humanities (rihumanities.org) and with fiscal sponsorship from the Center for Independent Documentary (documentaries.org).

For more information, visit cranstonlibrary.org.

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.

Cranston 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.

Celebrating Sprague’s 189th birthday

On Tuesday, Sept. 17, the Cranston Historical Society will host its 189th Birthday Benefit in honor of the late Governor William Sprague IV. The event begins at 6 p.m. and will be held at the Governor Sprague Mansion, located at 1353 Cranston St. in Cranston.

Guests will enjoy the company of history enthusiasts and marvel at the fascinating objects that will be on display from the Sprague family collection. Visitors can also view the Cranston History Network signage dedicated last spring by the city of Cranston, describing the history of the neighborhood.

Seating is limited, and tickets cost $18 per person. To reserve a place, call 944-9226. Checks must be sent by Sept. 13 and be payable to Cranston Historical Society, 1351 Cranston St. Cranston, RI 02920. After Sept. 13, anyone interested in attended is asked to call 944-9226 to inquire whether seats are still available.

For more information, visit cranstonhistoricalsociety.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.

‘The Civil Rights Kid’ with Ray Rickman

Cranston Public Library will host “The Civil Rights Kid” with Ray Rickman on Tuesday, Sept. 24, from 6:30-7:30 p.m. The program will be held in the James T. Giles Community Room at the Central library, located at 140 Sockanosset Cross Road.

In “The Civil Rights Kid,” Rickman recounts his early activism in the civil rights movement. As a young student, Rickman fought to integrate the Detroit public schools, leading citywide walk-outs and bringing a federal lawsuit. As a teen, against his mother's better instincts, he participated in the March Against Fear in Mississippi with civil rights giant James Meredith and was jailed and beaten nearly to death for “trespassing.” This exciting one-man presentation, filled with surprising humor and insight, provides a look at an America that may not be so far in the past as we think.

This event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit cranstonlibrary.org.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Did you know?

Do you have a birthday in August? Did you know its birth flower is the gladiolus or poppy, meaning beauty, strength of character, love, marriage and family? The Western zodiac signs for the month of August are Leo (until Aug. 22) and Virgo (from Aug. 23 onward). (Source: August Fun Facts)

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