March 26, Lunch & Learn Join the OneCranston Health Equity Zone for a Lunch & Learn session from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. at 311 Doric Avenue. Lunch will be provided, and you can bring a friend to receive a gift card. A virtual option is also available. For more information, contact Celia at cmhernandez@comcap.org or call 401-649-0878.

March 27: TogetHER Women's History Month Event In celebration of Women’s History Month, Garden City Center will spotlight women-owned businesses with its 3rd annual TogetHER event at Legal Seafoods from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $25, with proceeds benefiting the Sojourner House. Purchase tickets on Eventbrite under “TogetHER Women's Networking and Panel Event.”

March 27, Grandparents Focus Group Join the OneCranston Health Equity Zone for a Grandparents Focus Group on from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Arlington Elementary School, 155 Princess Ave. Dinner will be provided. For more information, contact Celia at cmhernandez@comcap.org or call 401-649-0878.

March 28: Emergency Preparedness 101 Workshop Join the Rhode Island Department of Health for a workshop to help plan ahead in case of an emergency. The workshop will be held at 10 a.m. at the Cranston Senior Center. Participants will receive a free copy of the My Emergency Plan Workbook to guide their preparedness efforts. Space is limited. To register, call 401-780-6000.

April 2: Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) The URI Pharmacy Outreach Program will host an informative session on DVT symptoms, prevention, and diagnosis at the Cranston Senior Center on Wednesday at 10 a.m.

April 3, VFW Post #183 BINGO Join in on exciting night of BINGO at VFW Post #183 on April 3. Doors open to all at 6 p.m. and the fun begins at 6:30 p.m. Enjoy cash prizes and a great time. The $30 entry fee gets you in the game. For more information, email vfwpost183bingo@gmail.com.

April 4, Elder Protection Rhode Island Legal Services will host a presentation on Friday at 10 a.m. at the Cranston Senior Center, focusing on the types and signs of abuse affecting adults aged 60 and older. The session will also provide valuable information on how to help prevent and address such abuse. To register for theclass, call 401-780-6000.

April 12, Historic Hope Village Join The Hope Historical Society on Saturday at 2 p.m. for a presentation on Historic Hope Village. The meeting will be held at the Howland Barn, located at 35 Ryefield Rd. Excerpts from the Rhode Island PBS special Our Town: Scituate will be featured.

April 16, VFW Post #183 BINGO, Open to all. Doors open at 6 p.m. and bingo starts at 6:30 p.m. There is a $30 entry fee and cash prizes. Please email vfwpost183bingo@gmail.com with any questions.

Applications open for Cranston Hall of Fame Do you know a Cranston alum who deserves to be honored? Submit your nomination for the Cranston Hall of Fame. To apply, please fill out the online application at cpsed.net. For more information, contact csoccio@cox.net.

Meals on Wheels of Rhode Island Call for Volunteers, to apply please visit rimeals.org/volunteer.

Cranston Tree Program is now accepting applications for its spring planting. Seven- to eight-foot-tall trees, planted by a nursery, are available to homeowners for free. ​Residents living near highways are urged to apply. Applications may be downloaded at westbaylandtrust.org/cranstontree, by emailing cranstontree@gmail.com or calling 941-1264.

Every Monday through Friday, Virtual Dementia Caregiver Support Groups If you're caring for someone with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, join a Virtual Dementia Caregiver Support Groups for guidance and connection. Groups are held every Monday through Friday at various times to accommodate different schedules: Monday from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.; Tuesday from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Wednesday from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.; and Thursday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. To register or for more information, please call 401-415-4664 or email info@HopeDementia.org. Stay connected and informed by following on Facebook @HopeHealth.

Every Monday - The Gaspee Celtic Jam The Gaspee Celtic Jam meets at the Pawtuxet Village Baptist Church, 2157 Broad St., from 7 to 9 p.m. every Monday. All skill levels welcome. Visit www.gaspeecelticjam.org for more info (including the current tune list/tune book) or to send us any questions. No specific Celtic music experience is required.

Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday – Cranston Senior Enrichment Center will provide chair exercise classes from 9:45 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. This FREE exercise class can strengthen everything from the core muscles and the glutes to the lower and upper back, the legs, and the arms.  Come by and try it!

Every Monday through Thursday – Cranston Senior Enrichment Center will offer Tech-Help at 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m., whether you have computer questions or experience issues with your phone, iPad etc.  Need help with your Portals or need to order free Covid test kits?  They can assist with that as well. 

Every Monday and Thursday – Cranston Senior Enrichment Center will offer sessions to manage concerns about falls. Beginning March 24 and ending April 17, the sessions run from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and will meet twice a week for four weeks. Upon successfully completion of the program each participant will receive a gift certificate.  Space is limited, call 401-780-6000.

Every Tuesday and Thursday – Cranston Senior Enrichment Center will provide medication reviews from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Mary McKenna, a CVS Pharmacist, is available to review and discuss medications. Don’t miss out on this free service.  Stop by or call for an appointment at 401- 780-6210.

Every First and Third Monday Rhode Island Active Toastmasters meets, serving both Rhode Island and Southern MA. Rhode Island Active Toastmasters holds its meetings at the New England Institute of Technology in East Greenwich, in room N214 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. For more information, please contact us Rhode Island Active Toastmasters.  All are welcome.

Every Tuesday, ASL Interpreted RI AA Meeting will be held at Phillips Memorial Baptist Church, 565 Pontiac Ave., from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Every Tuesday – Cranston Senior Enrichment Center will offer computer assistance at 9:45 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Every Tuesday – Cranston Senior Enrichment Center will offer a balance, strength and flexibility class at 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Learn how to move the body in a healthy way to reduce pain and improve body awareness for a fee of $3.00. Classes are with or without the use of a chair.

Every Tuesday – Cranston Senior Enrichment Center will offer an evidence-based workshop on “Tools for Healthy Living,” starting Mar. 4 at 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and ending April 8. Classes meet once a week for six weeks.  Space is limited.  To register call 401-780-6000. Facilitators: Marylou Pearson, RN and Jackie Rizzi.

Every Second and Fourth Tuesday the Fall River Toastmasters Meeting, serving both Rhode Island and Southern Mass., holds its meetings. Doors open at 6 p.m. and meetings run from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Join in at The Chamber, 200 Pocasset St, Fall River, Mass., 2nd floor. For more information, call Sean DaCosta at (508)-840-6621. All are welcome.

First Wednesday of every month, The Caregiver’s Support Group will hold its meetings at 2 p.m. at the Cranston Senior Center. It will encourage caregivers to care for themselves and provide productive strategies. The next meeting is on Wednesday April 2.  For more information call Jennifer at 401-780-6254.

Every Wednesday and Friday – Cranston Senior Enrichment Center will offer a balancing and strengthening exercise class called Tai Ji Quan Moving for Better Balance (TJQMBB). This free class begins at 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. and ends August 29. Prescreening is required. For more information call Amy at 401-780-6200.  

Every Thursday, Get-a-Job-Thursdays - We Make RI, an organization that provides free manufacturing training, hosts a series of job fairs from 11 a.m. to noon, 200 First Ave., For more information about this event or other training opportunities, visit www.wemakeri.com/get-a-job-thursday or contact Mike at (401) 232-0077 ext. 109.

Every Thursday, BINGO, the Cranston Senior Center hosts bingo every Thursday from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Snacks provided, and cash prizes will be available.

Exercise Classes at the Cranston Senior Center, you choose what works for you. Some include but are not limited to: Aerobics, Balance, Strength & Flexibility Class Tai Chi, Zumba, Ballroom Dancing & Line Dancing Lessons. For more information call 780-6000.

NAMI-RI Family-to-Family Course is a free 8-session educational program for family, significant others, and friends of people living with mental illness. To register for the next Family-to-Family course, or for more information, call 401-331-3060 or email Beth at beth@namirhodeisland.org

PSA Free Gun Locks at Cranston & Warwick Public Libraries Secure storage of weapons is now the law in Rhode Island. Free Gun Lock and Securing Weapons Safely information is now available at two locations: Cranston Central Library Reference Desk, 140 Sockanosset Cross Rd. Cranston, and Warwick Central Library Reference desk, 600 Sandy Ln., Warwick. Stop by for a free gun lock and literature on how to securely store weapons. Residents from all RI communities are welcome. This event is not endorsed by or affiliated with the Cranston Public Library.

Oaklawn Grange Used Clothing Donation Shed is in need of used clothing items at the Oaklawn Grange Donation Shed, 24 Searle Ave., Cranston. Accepted items include: used clothing, shoes, sneakers, belts, purses, linens, pillowcases, blankets, curtains, and stuffed animals. All items must be in useable condition. Donations will be distributed as whole garments locally and worldwide. Contact oaklawngrangeinfo@gmail.com for more information.

NAMI-RI Offers Family Support Groups; the RI chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness offers free support groups for families and friends of loved ones struggling with mental health. Groups are led by trained facilitators with experience with family members. Meetings last 1.5 hours, and everyone gets a chance to share. Group members offer help and resources, when appropriate, based on their experiences. More information and full schedule can be found at namirhodeisland.org. or call 401-331-3060. No pre-registration for these monthly groups is necessary.

Editor’s Note: To submit your news to The Chatter, send information and photos to Rosegalie at rosegaliec@beaconmediari.com by Friday at 3 p.m. to appear in the following week’s edition. Items can include community and school event announcements and calls for volunteers. Submissions may be edited for space and are not guaranteed to run. To guarantee space, please call 401-732-3100 and ask to place an advertisement.