By MERI R. KENNEDY Bulky waste pickup in September During the month of September, the city's Department of Public Works offers residents an opportunity to have bulky waste items picked up free of charge, with certain restrictions. Residents must call
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During the month of September, the city’s Department of Public Works offers residents an opportunity to have bulky waste items picked up free of charge, with certain restrictions.
Residents must call Waste Management at 800-972-4545 to schedule a free bulky waste pickup. Pickups are limited to one scheduled trip with up to three items per residential unit. Bulky waste does not include mattresses, construction debris, TVs or electronic goods, white goods or any household trash/garbage bags that would fit into a city-provided 65-gallon trash cart or overflow bags.
For more information, visit the city’s website, www.cranstonri.com.
After over a year apart, the Cranston arts community is reconnecting for a unique curated show exhibiting some of the city’s greatest artists.
The Cranston Arts Commission’s first Cranston Community Art Exhibit will be on display at the Central Library, 140 Sockanosset Cross Road, from Sept. 1-30. Hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday through Saturday.
A community reception will be held Tuesday, Sept. 14, from 6 to 8 p.m. All are invited, and the event is free. Snacks and refreshments will be provided, and entertainment and a brief speaking program are scheduled. Please note that the commission is following any and all COVID-19 requirements in regard to mask wearing.
Featured artists are all Cranston residents, hand selected by the commission for their exceptional work across numerous artistic mediums.
“Following a tumultuous and at times very dark year and a half, we at the Cranston Arts Commission have a unique opportunity to reintroduce ourselves, our mission and our commitment to the artists and community members of Cranston,” said Danielle Izzi-St. Pierre, chair of the commission. “This gallery will bring folks together to facilitate networking amongst Cranston residents, and hopefully inspire younger artists to follow their passions. The artists we have selected to exhibit are diverse, both in backgrounds and artistic mediums, and this gallery will be an excellent first step in what will surely be an arts renaissance in our city.”
To learn more, visit www.cranstonartscommission.org.
Join Garden City Center and Avvio Ristorante for a summer sendoff you won't want to miss.
Outside at the Gazebo every weekend this September, there will be a rotating lineup of local breweries – including Grey Sail Brewing, Narragansett Beer, Newport Craft Brewing and Whalers Brewing Company – taking part in the Beer Garden.
The schedule is Sept. 3-5, Grey Sail Brewing; Sept 10-12, Narragansett Beer; Sept. 17-19, Newport Craft Brewing; and Sept. 24-26, Whalers Brewing Company.
Hours are Fridays from 4 to 9 p.m., Saturdays from 1 to 8 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 7 p.m.
This family (and dog) friendly beer garden will also feature fun and games, live music and bites from Avvio, all located in your favorite Rhode Island home-away-from-home.
The Beer Garden is open to the public and there is no cover charge. Seating is available on a first come, first served basis and operating hours will be weather permitting. Customers must show a valid ID in order to purchase an alcoholic beverage.
The Cranston High School East Thunderbolt Marching Ban Invitational is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 16, at 6 p.m. at Cranston Stadium. More details to follow.
Rhodes on the Pawtuxet is joining in with The Artists’ Exchange to present the first Harvest Festival on Sept. 19 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Rhodes, located at 60 Rhodes Place in Cranston.
The event will feature vendors, crafters, penny socials, dancing, children’s activities and more. Email jenn@rhodesonthepawtuxet.com to request an application for vendor space.
There will be a special performance by the Country Wild Band at 1 p.m. Per CDC guidelines, organizers request that guests who are not fully vaccinated or are immunocompromised continue to wear a mask and practice social distancing.
On Sept. 8, the Cranston Public Library’s Central Library will offer a program entitled “Workforce Wednesday” beginning at noon through 3 p.m.
Job seekers and employers will be able to engage and connect directly with individuals and resources to help navigate to a successful workforce development outcome.
Workforce Wednesdays will be facilitated by Sean Holley, Cranston director of Workforce Solutions of Providence/Cranston, on the second Wednesday of each month from noon to 3 p.m.
This program is free and open to the public, and registration is not required. Visit www.cranstonlibrary.org/workforce-wednesdays to learn more.
On Oct. 3, the group Hey 19 from Rhode Island, The Midnight Callers from New York City, and Soul Box and The Deluxtones from Boston will join in for a Rock & Roll Music Fest to benefit children in treatment at the Shriners Hospital for Children in Boston. Tickets cost $20 per person. The event will be held at Rhodes on the Pawtuxet, located at 60 Rhodes Place in Cranston. For tickets and more information, follow the event’s Facebook page or visit www.eventbrite.com.
The RI chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness provides free family support groups and educational programs. These resources exist because friends and family members like you are passionate about sharing what they’ve learned and determined to pay it forward. The value of your voice, shared experience, and leadership is truly priceless to those who are struggling. Please consider reaching out and helping to create healthy, supportive communities across Rhode Island where good mental health for all can be our shared reality.
NAMI Family-to-Family is a free eight-session educational program for families, significant others, and friends of people living with mental illness. It is a designated evidenced-based program. NAMI-trained family members lead the course with presentations, discussions, and interactive exercises. If you would like to learn more about how to qualify to teach NAMI Family-to-Family, please visit the Rhode Island chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness at www.namirhodeisland.org, call (401) 331-3060 or email info@namirhodeisland.org.
A walk to call attention to food insecurity and raise funds for local pantries is being planned by a group of area churches, including Woodbury Union, Lakewood Baptist, St. Benedict, St. Kevin, and St. Mark’s. The walk will be held on Saturday, Oct. 16. An informational planning meeting will be held on Saturday, Aug. 28 at 10 a.m. at Woodbury Union Church at 58 Beach Ave. in Warwick. All interested community churches, organizations and individuals are invited to attend. Call (401) 737-8232 or email woodburychurchri@gmail.com for more information.
Mindfulness Meditation will be held at the Warwick Center for the Arts, 3259 Post Road in Warwick, on the first and third Mondays of each month, led by Paulette Miller. It is free and open to the public.
The sessions offer a westernized, secular version of Vipassana, also known as insight, open-hearted and analytic meditation. Sessions often include guided breathing meditation, movement meditation, loving-kindness meditation, and music meditation. The meditation exercises are guided and no experience is necessary.
For further information, visit www.warwickcfa.org or call (401) 737-0010.
The dates of the 35th annual Cranston Greek Festival have been announced as Sept. 10-12, 2021. More updates will follow.
Save the date – CCAP has announced plans to hold its 2021 Chip for Charity golf tournament on Wednesday, Sept. 15, at Harbor Light Golf Club in Warwick. Sponsorships and foursomes are available. For more details, contact CCAP’s Lee Beliveau at (401) 562-8353 or lbeliveau@comcap.org.
As a nonprofit community action program, CCAP needs to raise funds to assist families it serves. A large number of families CCAP serves have lost their jobs, suffered an illness, or experienced a different type of crisis, usually through no fault of their own. Last year, CCAP touched the lives of more than 40,000 people and provided over $1.2 million in uncompensated services.
Chip for Charity, presented by Neighborhood Health and Mutual of America, is CCAP’s largest fundraiser during the year to benefit its programs and services.
Have you ever wanted to get an inside look at the Rhode Island State Police?
Applications are now open for the 2021 Rhode Island State Police Citizens Academy. The six-week academy meets every Monday from 6 to 9 p.m., Sept. 27 through Nov. 1.
The curriculum includes briefings and hands-on experience in officer safety, patrol operations and procedures, response to resistance, domestic violence investigations, critical incident/victim assistance, and investigative techniques.
Seats are limited, and applications must be received by Sept. 17. Apply today. For additional information and to apply online, visit www.ow.ly/tdYB50FLZIF.
The Cranston Senior Enrichment Center has announced that the Cranston Senior Golf Tournament is back. The event will be held at the Cranston Country Club on Oct. 4 and Oct. 5 with an 8 a.m. shotgun start. Registration costs $85 per person and includes 18 holes of golf with cart, continental breakfast, grilled hot dog and chips, a banquet immediately following play, and a great day of fun for all. For more information, call Jane at the center at (401) 780-6220.
Our Lady of Grace Church, located at 4 Lafayette St. in Johnston, would like invite vendors to participate in its Holiday Bazaar on Oct. 17. There will be crafters, vendors, a penny social, food and more. For information, contact Pat Leon at (401) 529-7592.
Ricky Gagnon, director of the New Hope Art Gallery located in the Cranston Senior Enrichment Center at 1070 Cranston St., has announced the gallery is once again open with a new show coming this fall. The grand opening of the fall show will be held on Tuesday Oct. 26, from 4 to 7:30 p.m. Come visit and enjoy the art. Regular gallery hours are Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except holidays.
The 50th class reunion for Mt. Pleasant High School will be held on Oct. 29 at the Santa Maria DiPrata Society, located at 29 Walnut Grove Ave. in Cranston. The evening will begin at 6:30 and run through 11:30 p.m.
Tickets cost $50 per person. Please contact Vin DeTora at (401) 232-0856 or Joan LaVallee Gelfuso at (401) 578-2220 and RSVP by Oct. 5.
The Rhode Island Dahlia Society will have its annual Dahlia Show at the Cold Spring Community Center, located at 36 Beach St. in North Kingstown, on Sept. 11 from 4 to 7 p.m. and Sept. 12 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be a large variety of dahlias on display, along with special arrangements, and vases of dahlias with other flowers for sale. Members of the RI Dahlia Society will be on hand to answer any questions. Please visit the society’s website for membership and other information at www.rhodeislanddahliasociety.org.
This September, the Rhode Island Historic Preservation and Heritage Commission will present four weekly 60-minute virtual celebrations on their new YouTube channel each Saturday at 7 p.m. The weekly programs will feature “Heritage Highlights” from different cultural performance groups, heritage organizations, and hands-on activities like cooking and dance demonstrations.
You can sneak a peek of the celebrations by visiting their YouTube channel, RI Historical Preservation & Heritage Commission.
This is a free family-friendly event. ‘
Black Lives Matter RI PAC, Cranston Forward and the Rhode Island Working Families Party have rescheduled their “How to Run for Office” training event to Saturday, Sept. 11. The event will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Cranston Public Library’s Central Library at 140 Sockanosset Cross Road.
This training is geared toward people with little or no experience with campaigns and will cover everything from how to determine which office to run for, what you need to know in terms of deadlines and requirements, and what you need to do to have an effective campaign. The organizers encourage people to attend who want to help elect good people to public office, as well as anyone who may want to run for office or manage a campaign themselves.
A subsequent more in-depth training series will be offered by RI WFP in September 2021. People who are not Cranston residents may also attend, but in the event of limited capacity, preference will be given to Cranston residents and members of the co-hosting organizations.
To register, visit www.cranstonfwd.us/howtorun.
The Cranston Senior Enrichment Center’s RSVP program needs volunteers to help in many ways in the community. One is to transport homebound seniors to medical appointments or run errands for them.
The program is also seeking RSVP school readiness volunteers to assist Glen Hills Elementary School’s staff and students with an array of school activities and events.
Also needed are RSVP recycling volunteers who educate the community with assistance and guidance from Rhode Island Resource Recovery professionals on a variety of topics such as waste reduction and reuse, recycling and composting. Learn more about Resource Recovery – who they are, what they do, how they work, and much more, including a tour of the facility.
If you are interested in becoming a Cranston RSVP volunteer, contact Karen at (401) 780-6159 for an interview. You must be 55 years of age or older to volunteer and a BCI is required. A mileage reimbursement is given to cover your travel cost. RSVP also provides insurance protection in the event that your or someone else is injured while performing your volunteer duties.
What if you do not drive or do not have a vehicle? No worries. RSVP will provide you with transportation to your volunteer station.
Attention all golfers 65 and older – if you are interested in golfing in a mixed league, the Over 65 Golf League, on Mondays at Harbor Lights, 150 Gray St., Warwick, please contact Carol Desforges at Desac63@gmail. Please indicate your name, phone number and email in your message.
To be a member or a spare (sub) in the league, you pay dues which include season play (May- Sept. 13, 2021), playoffs (Sept. 20- Oct. 4), scramble tournament (Oct. 13) and a banquet with distribution of prizes (Oct. 13). The membership dues are $55, or $30 for spares not attending the banquet.
The Cranston Public Library offers homebound services for Cranston residents who still live in their own home or apartment. Patrons may be permanently homebound or temporarily unable to drive because of illness or injury.
The service is completely free. There are no charges or overdue fees.
A volunteer driver will deliver to patrons once every three weeks. Materials available include books (in regular or large print), audiobooks, magazines, music CDs, and documentary DVDs.
To learn more, visit cranstonlibrary.org/homebound services. Contact Karen McGrath by phone at (401) 781-6116 or email at karenmcgrath@cranstonlibrary.org to register for the service or become a volunteer driver.
Be Kind RI is a new program that connects volunteers to their neighbors across Rhode Island through text alerts to coordinate food deliveries from grocery stores and food pantries. To sign up, go to BeKindRI.org. Volunteers must be 18 or older and undergo our background check. Be Kind RI is open to those in Rhode Island experiencing COVID-19 risk factors, including seniors 65 and older, anyone with underlying health conditions, those in quarantine or isolation, anyone experiencing a lack of childcare, and those who would otherwise experience difficulty in obtaining food. For assistance signing up, call 877-958-8785.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Rhode Island will host its fifth annual Bowl for Kids’ Sake (BFKS) event on Saturday, Sept. 25, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Lang’s Bowlarama in Cranston.
Participants can sign up in teams of five to participate in a private bowling party, and raise donations from family, friends and colleagues leading up to the event – with a fundraising goal of $100 for each participant.
You’ll also have the chance to win raffle prizes … and really great karma for giving back to local kids!
No experience is required – just a desire to have fun and support youth mentoring. All of the proceeds from this event stay in Rhode Island and help Big Brothers Big Sisters fulfill its mission. Donate today or register your team at www.secure.qgiv.com/event/bbbsri2021.
This year marks the 25th year for the Providence Brigade Band. The original band was founded in 1846 and performed until around 1890. The band reemerged 150 years after its original founding to perform again.
The band portrays a brass band from 1850 to 1875 and performs music from before, during and after the American Civil War. They play authentic musical arrangements from the period and use original instruments from the era that the band provides. Also, they wear authentically reproduced uniforms typically worn by militia or military bands at that time.
The Providence Brigade Band, which is a registered nonprofit organization, will hold open rehearsals on Tuesdays from 7 to 9 p.m. during the month of August. Brass players, especially trumpet players, are encouraged to attend and check us out. The rehearsal location is in Cranston. For more information about the band, visit pbband.org or call (401) 374-4718. There is no fee to join, and all ages are encouraged to apply.
Welcome, September! September has three birth flowers – the forget-me-not, the morning glory, and the aster. Forget-me-nots represent love and memories, asters represent love as well, and the morning glory represents unrequited love. The birthstone for the month is the sapphire. (Source: September Fun Facts)
To submit your news from the community, email Meri R. Kennedy at CranstonChatter@aol.com. This includes virtual events which should be submitted two to three weeks ahead of the event. Photos in jpg format are accepted and news can include community events, promotions, academic news and nonprofit events. Email today and see your news in our column in the Cranston Herald.
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