Garden City Summer Concert Series announced

Garden City Center has announced its Summer Concert Series, which will be held every Wednesday (with rain date of Thursday) for this season. Opening up the series on July 8 will be Front & Center. On July 15 will be Dan Moretti & the Hammond boys with Christine Fawson, and July 22 will feature Tat Holler. The July 29 concert will feature Nancy Paolino & the Black Tie Band, while Aug. 5 will feature The Barons and Aug. 12 will feature the Red Hot Horns. 

The series will conclude on Aug. 19 with the Timmy Maia Band. Please bring a lawn chair or blanket and a donation of peanut butter or tuna fish for the Rhode Island Food Bank.

Cranston, Providence Chambers to hold networking event

There will be a combined networking event of both the Cranston and Providence Chambers of Commerce on June 23 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Alex and Ani Chapel View, located at 2000 Chapel View Boulevard in Cranston.

Admission is $5 per person, and the evening will consist of networking, appetizers, shopping and more. Register early as they expect a sellout. For more information, contact Stephen C. Boyle at the Greater Cranston Chamber of Commerce at 401-785-3780.

Theatre 82 & Café Father’s Day Breakfast Buffet

Theater 83 and Café will present a Father’s Day Buffet on Sunday, June 21, complete with full breakfast, live jazz music, and more.

Enjoy comfort food, a create-your-own omelet station, and live jazz music by Artists’ Exchange’s own Antonio Forte and band. The morning will feature all the classic breakfast food items, including bacon, ham and scrambled eggs, paired up with crowd favorites such as stuffed French toast with a strawberry compote and fresh Vermont maple syrup, a spinach and goat cheese quiche, mimosas and sangria.

The event runs from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The cost of the buffet is $12.95 for adults and $8.95 for kids, and children under two are free. Theatre 82 & Café is located at 82 Rolfe Square in Cranston. For more information, please visit www.artists-exchange.org or call 401-781-2200.

‘Longest Day’ in Pawtuxet Village

On June 21, the public is invited to participate in “The Longest Day,” a sunrise-to-sunset day of events to honor those facing Alzheimer’s disease. Come out on Sunday, June 21, for a wish lantern sendoff at sundown in Pawtuxet Village Park. All proceeds benefit the Alzheimer’s Association and will be used to advance Alzheimer’s care, support and research.

To purchase your lanterns for the send-off, visit http://act.alz.org/goto/wishlantern. When you make a donation to the Lantern Lalapalooza team, please note “Wish Lantern.” Lanterns may also be purchased at Twice Told Tales, located at 2145 Broad St. in Cranston. The cost is $12 for one lantern, $20 for two, and $40 for five.

Come early to enjoy a picnic in the park. Bring colorful markers or crayons to write or draw on your paper wish lanterns. Only certified environmentally friendly lanterns are allowed.

Inside yard sale at St. David’s on the Hill

There will be a yard sale (held indoors) at St. David’s on the Hill Church, located at 200 Meschanticut Valley Parkway, on June 20 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Artists’ Exchange Craft Bash

Families are welcome to join in for free crafts at Artists’ Exchange on the last Saturday of every month. Craft Bash is made possible by the generosity of The Krista Weller Burns Foundation and Financial Independence. The next craft bash will be held on June 27 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Join in making painted T-shirts. Artists’ Exchange is located at 50 Rolfe Square in Cranston. For more information, call 401-490-9475 or visit www.artists-exchange.org.

Charity Car Show

A Charity Car Show will be held June 28 at the Sprague Mansion in Cranston to benefit B’s Mobility Ride. The event is being hosted by Gina M. Sabitoni-Arakelian. The car show will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the mansion, located at 1351 Cranston St. Cars, trucks and motorcycles are invited, with a $20 donation per vehicle. There will also be raffles and trophies. Food will be provided by Ralph’s Catering and Kitchen. For more information, contact Shaun McDermott at 401-572-6647 or Joey DiTraglia at 401-641-4964.

Horse’n Around at Confreda Greenhouses & Farms

On June 27 from noon to 4 p.m., Confreda Greenhouses & Farms, located at 2150 Scituate Ave. in Cranston, will present Horse’n Around, a free day of fun at the farm that includes learning about harness racing, feeding and petting a real racehorse, sitting behind a harness horse in a jog cart, and much more. The event will also include educational sessions on horses.

Flute ensemble’s inaugural concert

The Southern New England Flute Ensemble, directed by John Curran, will host its inaugural concert on Thursday, July 2, at Woodridge Congregational Church, 546 Budlong Road, Cranston. The concert will feature music by Bach, Bizet, Burnette, Dvorak and Ward. Admission is free, and refreshments will follow. For more information, call 401-943-8295.

Cranston Public Library to host ‘Armenian Genocide: 100 Years Later’

In recognition of the Armenian Genocide centennial, the Cranston Public Library will host “The Armenian Genocide: 100 Years Later” at the Central Library on Tuesday, June 23 at 7 p.m. Join Pauline Getzoyan, co-chair of the Genocide Education Project’s Rhode Island branch, for a candid discussion about the history of this event.

The presentation will explore the various stages of the Armenian Genocide of 1915, the continued denial surrounding the events, and the effects of the experience on survivors. The discussion will include a number of personal testimonies, readings from first-hand accounts, and a closing question-and-answer session.

The Genocide Education Project is a non-profit organization that assists educators with the instruction of human rights and genocide issues. By developing materials, providing access to resources, and organizing educational workshops, the Genocide Education Project seeks to broaden the understanding of the history of the Armenian Genocide. More information about the Genocide Education Project can be found at genocideeducation.org. More information on the Armenian Genocide centennial can be found at armeniangenocidecentennial.org.

The Central Library is located at 140 Sockanosset Cross Road. For more information, visit cranstonlibrary.org.

Academic News & Notes

The spring semester president’s list at Bryant University includes the following Cranston residents: Michael J. Beck, a senior in human resource management, and Brandon M. Salk, a junior in accounting.

In honor of their outstanding academic achievement, Emmanuel College has named more than 500 students to the dean’s list for the spring 2015 semester. The following Cranston students were recognized: Aria Maggiacomo, Brianna Maggiacomo, Rachel Piccirillo and Michael Vannini.

Edward Caputo of Cranston, a junior majoring in biomedical engineering at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), recently completed an intense, hands-on research project in Worcester. The project was titled “Blackstone Canal Opportunities.”

Congratulations to Deniece Lobban of Cranston, who is at Mount Ida College in Newton, Mass., and was named to the dean’s list for achieving a GPA of 3.33 or higher in the spring 2015 semester.

On May 9, Brianna Maggiacomo of Cranston received her bachelor of science degree in biology, with a concentration on health sciences, from Emmanuel College.

The largest graduating class in WPI’s (Worcester Polytechnic Institute) history, 1,680 students, recently received their degrees. Congratulations to Joshua Nottage of Cranston, who was awarded a bachelor of science degree in actuarial mathematics with high distinction, and Andrew Haveles of Cranston, who was awarded a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering with distinction.

Congratulations to Marissa Johnson of Cranston, who has been named to the dean’s list at Dean College for the spring 2015 semester.

Angel Torres of Cranston earned post-baccalaureate degree from the University of Scranton. Torres earned a master of science degree with a major in human resources.

Miranda Dean of Cranston has been named to the 2015 spring semester dean’s list at Ohio Wesleyan University.

No Name Dog events

No Name Dog Foundation is holding an adoption event on June 20 from 11 a.m. through 3 p.m., and every other weekend going forward throughout the summer, at Pet Supplies Plus, located at 171 Sockanosset Cross Road. This is a great non-profit organization that usually has both puppies and adult dogs available. Anyone who wants a preview of what they have available or additional information can visit nndf.org or the group’s Facebook under No Name Dog Foundation (NNDF).

Did You Know?

Though he may be the mascot of Big Blue Bug Solutions, the oversize insect commonly called “The Big Blue Bug” has a real name: Nibbles Woodaway! Nibbles is technically a bright blue eastern subterranean termite. He’s been sitting atop the building off I-95 since 1980 and is 58 feet long, 9 feet tall and weighs 4,000 pounds.

To submit your news from the community, e-mail Meri R. Kennedy at CranstonChatter@aol.com. Photos in jpg format are accepted and news can range from community events, promotions, academic news and non-profit events. E-mail today and see your news in our column in the Cranston Herald. Please include a daytime telephone number in case we require any further information. Be sure to check out our website at www.cranstononline.com.