Menorah Lighting

The City of Cranston will host Rabbi Laufer from Chabad for the lighting of the Menorah on Dec. 5 at 5 p.m. There will be singing, dancing, food and arts and crafts for children.

Bolts Bazaar

The Bolts Bazaar – Holiday Edition will be held on Dec. 8 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Cranston High School East. Produced by Jessica Moquin, this year’s bazaar has doubled in size. With more than 75 vendors, this event helps to raise funds for students at the high school who are unable to afford prom and other social events at the school. There will also be plenty of raffles, children’s activities and more. Admission is free of charge.

“The Christmas to Remember”

Praise Tabernacle Church, located at 330 Park Ave. in Cranston, will be featuring their free “The Christmas to Remember” on Dec. 14 at 7 p.m.; Dec. 15 at 7 p.m.; Dec. 16 at 11 a.m.; Dec. 16 at 7 p.m. and a Sensory Friendly show on Dec. 15 at 2 p.m. 

The show will feature live music, animals, dance, drama and much more. Seating is on a first come first serve basis, come early.

Holiday Gala at Artists’ Exchange

Come support Artists' Exchange at their annual Holiday Gala & Silent Auction Fundraiser on Dec. 15 from 5 to 8 p.m. Feed your holiday spirit dancing to live music, enjoying delicious appetizers, drinking craft beer & wine from the open bar, and out bidding your family and friends in the Silent Auction for that perfect last-minute holiday gift. 

Dance your way into Christmas to the swinging songs of Ethan Bates Orchestra. This year’s menu will be catered by Character's Cafe and feature soups and sauces from Blount Fine Foods.

Tickets:  Only $50 for all the beer, wine and bidding you can handle or $75 will get you a ticket to "A Christmas Carol" at Theatre 82 (Performances at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.) in addition to everything above with reserved seating at both events.  

Tickets can be purchased over the phone at 490-9475 or by visiting their website.

Cookie Sale

Join in with the Regina Coeli Society of St. Mary’s Church, located at 1525 Cranston St., after each mass next weekend: Dec. 8 and Dec. 9. Up for sale will be delicious homemade cookies.

Living Literature

On Dec. 16, the Cranston Public Library and Living Literature will host a free performance of “A Holiday Sampler,” at Central Library (140 Sockanosset Crossing Road). This performance is a 45-minute reader’s theater-style presentation of stories, poems, and essays celebrating the spirit and practice of Christmas by Living Literature, a group of Rhode Island-based actors who take literature from the page to the stage. Light holiday refreshments will be served at 1:30 p.m.; the performance will begin at 2 p.m. This offbeat, lighthearted look at the most indelible of holidays is best appreciated by an adult audience, but children are welcome.  

Husband-and-wife team Anne Scurria and Living Literature artistic director Barry Press will perform adaptations of holiday works by such authors as Louisa May Alcott, Robert Frost, Ogden Nash, Grace Paley, Loudon Wainwright, Leo Tolstoy, Shel Silverstein, Mary Oliver, Richard Wilbur, Pearl S. Buck, Shel Silverstein, and more. Free and open to the public.

Pet Photos with Santa & Microchipping

On Dec. 9, there will be a day of pet photos with Santa for $10 donation and Microchipping for a $25 donation – at Warwick Animal Hospital, 1950 Elmwood Ave., to benefit Defenders of Animals. A combination of photos and microchipping will also be available for $35 per pet. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Hope Bus Program

On Dec. 13, the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation will host their Hope Bus Program at White Lights Bookstore, located at 1464 Park Ave., in Cranston. The program will be held indoors from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Join in for resources, ask questions, and speak with other cancer survivors. Make a thank you holiday decoration for your caregiver.

Adopt-a-Family Program

Once again, the annual "CCAP Adopt-a-Family Program" is being organized. Although reports say that the economy has improved, CCAP is still seeing very fragile communities, and families who continue to struggle. 

The "Adopt-a-Family Program" helps hundreds of local families during the holiday and your commitment to this project would be greatly appreciated.

CCAP makes it easy for you to extend your kindness and generosity to the families in need in our community by helping in two ways: you can adopt a family and we can provide you with their wish list; or, you can make a monetary donation.  A donation of $300 will adopt an entire family. Your gift, large or small, can make a difference for a joyous holiday for a family in need.

All donations are due by Dec. 14 at CCAP Offices located at 311 Doric Ave. For more information, contact Joanne Gregory at 562-8333 or jgregory@comcap.org.

At the Senior Center

The Michael A. Traficante Enrichment Center, located at 1070 Cranston St., will offer the following programs and activities: 

Dental Health & Nutrition will be spotlighted on Dec. 12 at 10 a.m. with URI SNAP ED Students. Did you know that your diet can directly affect the health of your gums and teeth?  Your diet is important for your oral health as well as your general health.

The Center’s Christmas Luncheon will be held on Dec. 14 at 11:30 a.m. with a suggested donation of $3 per person. Come celebrate with good food, raffles, fun music and friends. Joe Vono will “ring in the season” with Holiday music and sing-a-longs. The Holiday menu will include Pasta Fagioli, Stuffed Chicken w/gravy, Red Bliss Mashed Potatoes, Green Beans Almandine and Coffee Cake.  Make your reservations now call 780 6134.

A Musical Entertainment Luncheon will be held on Dec. 18 at 11:30 a.m. with a suggested donation of $3 per person. Be a part of a day to bring a friend and enjoy a delicious meal along with holiday music. Bud Pistachio will be here to entertain with his holiday songs and music. Make your reservations now by calling 780-6134.

The RSVP Gift Shoppe is open Monday through Friday, each week, from 9 to 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. The Gift Shoppe is a perfect way to get a special gift for the senior in your life. Items include Greeting Cards, Jewelry, Handmade items, Gift Items, Candy and more High-quality merchandise at affordable prices. Net proceeds from the gift shop help fund the RSVP Program.

Library closure

The Cranston Public Library has announced that the opening times of all locations will be delayed on Thursday, Dec. 13 because of a general staff meeting. The Central Library and William Hall Library will open at 12 noon and the Auburn branch will open at 2 p.m. All other locations will resume normal hours on Friday, Dec. 14.

More holiday spirit in Garden City Center

On Dec. 9, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. will be Supper with Santa at Anthony’s Cold Fire Pizza. Please be sure to bring your own camera. The Garden City Center Holiday Strolls will be held on Dec. 7 and Dec. 8 from 6 to 8 p.m. when you can enjoy festive shopping along with ice carving, strolling carolers and Santa Claus.

Santa’s Workshop - Shopping for Teens

This year, Michelle Lee Photography will be adopting teenagers for Christmas through CCAP; Rhode Island's Helping Hand at Lang’s Bowlarama, located at 225 Niantic Ave. in Cranston, on Dec. 8 from 9 a.m. to noon. This year they will be adopting teenagers for Christmas through CCAP.

With more than 40 vendors, there will be plenty of shopping opportunities for the special people on your holiday shopping list. Please bring a toiletry and get your picture taken with Santa and his favorite elf Pee-wee.

Intergenerational Art Exhibit at the Central Library

The Cranston Public Library will host an intergenerational art exhibit by students of School One and their adult collaborators in the James T. Giles Community Room exhibit space at Central Library. Dozens of students from different generations will participate in School One’s Intergenerational Art Exhibition at Cranston Public Library, which opens on Dec. 9 at 2 p.m.

This art show is a collaboration between School One’s high school students and older adults in Rhode Island. Two classes, “Drawing Our Stories” and “En Plein Air: Landscape Painting,” will exhibit work made over the previous 10 weeks. The exhibit is open to the public through Dec. 29 with a special opening reception from 2 to 4 p.m. the first day, Dec. 9. The exhibition is a result of the creativity, experimentation and hard work of the students enrolled.

Client Choice Food Bank now available at CCAP

CCAP’s (Comprehensive Community Action, Inc.) food bank is now a client choice food bank! What is a Client Choice Food Bank? A client choice food bank allows clients to select their food instead of receiving a pre-packed or standard bag of groceries. They are not given items they have already, do not like, or cannot eat for health or personal reasons.

Why give clients a choice? Imagine your family needs food. Your kitchen has some items but not enough to make meals for the next few days. You need to visit a food pantry. When you go to the food pantry, you are handed a pre-packed or standard bag with food you already have at home. There are also some items your family does not like. You're not sure what to do with the food. If you had been able to choose the foods you need and like, your family could have enjoyed a well-rounded, nutritious meal.

Every month, the CCAP Food Bank serves over 800 families.

 They need your help. They would like for you to join in lending a helping hand by hosting a CCAP food drive in your church, work place, service group, school or community.

For more information about CCAP and how you can “lend a helping hand” go to our website, www.ComCap.org or contact Joanne Gregory, Vice President of Social Services at 562-8333.

Did You Know?

President Coolidge started the National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on the White House lawn in 1923. (Source: Christmas Fun Facts)

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