Santa arrives this Saturday

Santa Claus will arrive in the Garden City Center, Cranston, on Nov. 26 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Gazebo. Santa arrives via a horse drawn hayride at 11 a.m.Professional photos available will be inside Santa’s cabin. Enjoy free face painting, crafts, hayrides, music, strolling mime and treats. Santa’s arrival is on no matter if it is rain or snow! Santa will be in his cabin every day through Dec. 24. Visits are free and professional photos are available for purchase. Save time and book your appointment online at gardencitycenter.fullslate.com.

Yard Waste reminder

The City of Cranston would like to remind all Cranston residents that the last week for yard waste pick up will begin on Dec. 12 and end on Dec. 16. It will be picked up on your normal trash day. Please leave any yard waste bags with other trash and recyclables on your normal trash pick-up day that week. If you have any further questions, please contact the Department of Public Works at 780-3174.

Trinity Episcopal Church Bazaar

This year Trinity Episcopal Church will hold their Annual Christmas Bazaar on Friday, Dec. 2, 3 to 9 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 3  from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. It will feature a large penny social, super raffle, silent  auction, crafts, and bake table which will include specialty homemade desserts, "maids of honor", and cookie trays.  Also available for purchase are boxwood trees, and a selection of winter greens.  The youth of the church will offer a variety of treats.  The updated  Children's Room will include a store where children are able to purchase gifts for their family. The Church is located at 139 Ocean Avenue, Cranston. Historical Holidays

The Cranston Historical Society invites the public to visit two of the historical homes in Cranston on Dec. 4. The Annual Open Houses will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. at both the 1869’s Governor Sprague Mansion at 1351 Cranston St. and at the 1770’s Colonial Joy Homestead located at 156 Scituate Ave. Enjoy an afternoon of holiday music, cookies, wassail and our famous Sprague Punch. For decades, the Cranston Historical Society has graciously opened both museums at no charge for visitors to enjoy, with a mission to share some kindred warmth and welcome visitors. Sharon Albert and Friends will provide 18th and 19th Century musical selections at the Sprague Mansion. Albert, a long-time resident of Cranston, has been providing music for the Mansion’s events for more than 20 years. The Western Cranston & Edgewood Garden Clubs decorated the Mansion in a spirited Victorian-theme. Colonial-dressed hosts will greet visitors at the Joy Homestead – spreading colonial cheer and the warmth. Both museums are located on the historic W3R Washington-Rochambeau Route, the official National Park Service trail our French Allies marched from Newport to Yorktown during the Revolutionary War. Langevin’s offices accepting applications

Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI) is accepting applications for interns in his Rhode Island and Washington, DC, offices for the spring 2017 semester. This unpaid program is open to civic-minded college students who are available for at least 10 hours per week. A qualified candidate will be well-organized, responsible and dependable, and have strong oral and written communication skills. Responsibilities include answering phone calls, drafting constituent correspondence and supporting staff members on various projects. College credit is available, if approved by the institution. For more information, visit Langevin.House.Gov and click on the Internships prompt under “Serving You,” on the homepage. Senior Holiday Party 2016

Mayor Allan W. Fung and the Cranston Senior Enrichment Center’s staff invite you to their Annual Holiday Party on Dec. 9 at noon at the Crown Plaza in Warwick. Besides a full course meal there will be music, dancing and raffles. Tickets are available now at the center. Cost is $20 per person. Additionally, Senior Center Gift Certificates are available in $5, $10 and $25 denominations for purchase as holiday gifts. These certificates can be applied toward membership fees, program fees, Snack Bar items, Transvan passes and at the RSVP Gift Shoppe. Christmas Shopping Boutique

Join in at the 11th Annual St. Mary School Christmas Shopping Boutique on Dec. 4 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. With more than 40 vendors, you are sure to find something for everyone. There will be vendors, crafters, raffles, a food court, bake sale and activities for the children. The school is located at 46 Vallone Rd. in Cranston. End of life decisions

The Cranston Senior Enrichment Center will hold “Voice Your Choices and Decisions” on Nov. 30 at 10 a.m. The guest speaker will be Rhonda Taddei, RN. Decisions about end-of-life care are deeply personal, and are based on an individual’s values and beliefs.  Because it is impossible to foresee every type of circumstances or illness, conversations that focus on your wishes and beliefs and why you are making them will relieve loved ones and health care providers of the need to guess what you would want. This presentation will help you voice your decisions and plan for your care at the end of life. Cranston Senior Enrichment Center is located at 1070 Cranston St., Cranston. For more information, please call 401-780-6000. Winter Concert Series

The Cranston Public Library is pleased to announce the return of the Winter Concert Series to the William Hall Library. Supported by the generosity of Dave and the late Judy Pelkey, this free concert series will feature the popular local music duo Atwater-Donnelly, as well as the Renaissance V Brass Quintet, and Jon Wiening. Performances will take place on the following dates at the listed times: Renaissance V Brass Quintet on Dec. 3. The quintet consists of two trumpets, trombone, tuba and French horn and performs music that spans hundreds of years. Members Al Testa, Bob Izzo, Colin Kane, James Suchodolski, Gerry Heroux, Nicole Denton and Tyler Barboza are professional music educators who live in Rhode Island. Concert will begin at 2 p.m.

Atwater-Donnelly will perform on Dec. 14. This award winning, internationally acclaimed duo, Aubrey Atwater and Elwood Donnelly present delightful programs of traditional American and Celtic folk songs and percussive dance. Concert will begin at 7 p.m.

Jon Wiening will perform on Dec. 17. He is a Rhode Island classical guitarist and will be performing Bloom Suite by New Jersey composer Elliot Cole, in addition to pieces by Barrios, Bach, Scarlatti, and Tárrega. Concert will begin at 2 p.m. The William Hall Library is located at 1825 Broad St., Cranston. Comedy for Cops

On Dec. 9 at 8 p.m. there will be a RI Comedy Hall of Fame's Comedy for Cops Show, at the Knights of Columbus Hall, 475 Sandy Lane, Warwick, RI at 8 p.m. with doors opening at 7 p.m. This event is free although donations will be accepted toward a police charity. The event will feature several Southern New England comedians who are in the RI Comedy Hall of Fame, such as host Doreen Collins of Women Behind Bars, John Perrotta of the Comedy Factory, Mike Murray of Funny 4 Funds, and Ace Aceto of Ace Aceto's Royal Flush Comdedy. Also featured are Anthony Brooks and Rockin’ Joe Hebert. Whether you're a police officer, a police supporter, or former convicted felon, you're invited to this one of a kind comedy show. You will be able to donate to a police charity that evening. There are no tickets, but space must reserved in advance, email Dana this is an event for adults age 21 and up. A cash bar will be available. For more information, visit richof.org/free-comedy-show-for-cops-in-december. Art is Smart Holiday Market 2016

Bring your entire family to enjoy Art is Smart’s Holiday Market on Dec. 10 at the Church of the Annunciation from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The festival will include over 45 Contemporary American Art and Craft artisans along with free gift wrapping, a Children’s Creation Station provided by One Studio Smooch, festive specialty foods and merriment, and special performances by local talent.

Sponsored by One Studio Smooch, with presenting sponsor and Whole Foods Market, the event will take place at Church of the Annunciation, 175 Oaklawn Ave., Cranston.

There is a $3 per person suggested donation to Art is Smart. Children under 12 are free of charge. For more information, please visit artissmart.com or jennifer@iamtra.com Did You Know?

Turkey is the traditional dish for the Thanksgiving feast. In the US, about 280 million turkeys are sold for the Thanksgiving celebrations. There is no official reason or declaration for the use of turkey. They just happened to be the most plentiful meat available at the time of the first Thanksgiving in 1621, starting the tradition. (Thanksgiving Fun Facts) 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.