Jazz at Garden City Center

Garden City Center has announced its lineup of free Friday nigh jazz performances in the courtyard near Bistro 22. The concerts will take place from 6-8 p.m.

The Cranston East Jazz Band will perform June 14, followed by Project Flynn on June 21 and the Cranston Jazz Quartet on June 28.

Visitors are asked to bring their own lawn chair. There are no rain dates. For more information, visit gardencitycenter.com.

‘A Universe of Stories’ kickoff

The Cranston Public Library has announced its 2019 summer reading program, “A Universe of Stories,” will kick off on Saturday, June 15, from 1-4 p.m. at the William Hall Library, 1825 Broad St.

Participants will attend an astronaut training academy to prepare for a summer of extraterrestrial reading while registering for the program. The academy will include mission logs, a robot obstacle course, a zero-gravity chamber (or bounce house), a photo booth, carnival games and a temporary tattoo station

This kick-off event is open to school-age children and their families. No registration is required to attend.

For more information, visit cranstonlibrary.org.

Kids Dance Party

A Kids Dance Party will be held at 6 p.m. on Monday, June 17, at the Warwick Mall, 400 Bald Hill Road, Warwick. The event is open to children of all ages and their families. For more information, visit warwickmall.com.

‘First Amendment and the Free Press’

The New England First Amendment Coalition will present its ongoing community conversation, “First Amendment and the Free Press,” on Monday, June 17, from 7-8:30 p.m. in the James Giles Community Room at the Cranston Public Library’s Central Library, 140 Sockanosset Cross Road.

Speakers will include Lynn Arditi of The Public’s Radio, constitutional law professor Jared A. Goldstein, former Providence Journal business editor John Kostrzewa and Boston Globe reporter Amanda Milkovits.

For more information, visit cranstonlibrary.org or nefac.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.

Tour with Tea

The Cranston Historical Society will host a “Tour with Tea” event at the Sprague Mansion, 1351 Cranston St., starting at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 27. Participants will enjoy a relaxing early evening tour with tea in the historic mansion’s ballroom and receive an introduction on the history of Sprague family. Tickets cost $15, and seating is limited. To make a reservation, call 944-9226. Additional information is available at cranstonhistoricalsociety.org.

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.

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.

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.

Smoking, vaping prohibitions

In 2017, the Cranston Substance Abuse Task Force teamed with the Cranston Police Department and Rhode Island Department of Health to prohibit smoking and the use of vaping devices in Cranston parks and sporting venues. Signs are posted, and violators face a fine of $100.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Did you know?

The Father’s Day movement grew for years but didn’t gain national-event status until 1924 under former President Calvin Coolidge. The holiday gained traction during World War II, and in 1966 President Lyndon B. Johnson proclaimed the third Sunday of June to be Father’s Day. President Richard Nixon made it a federal holiday six years later. (Source: Father’s Day Fun Facts)

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