Tomorrow Fund Stroll

The Tomorrow Fund Stroll will mark its 17th year on Sunday, April 7, at Garden City Center in Cranston. Check-in begins at 8:45 a.m. and the stroll takes place at 10 a.m. with festivities continuing until noon.

The goal is to raise $100,000 to support children with cancer and their families through The Tomorrow Fund. Individual participants and teams are welcome. Trophies will be awarded to the top fundraisers in the following categories: Individual (Non-Team), Team, School and College/University.

Registration fees are $20 per stroller on a team or as an individual. There is no charge for children under 10 years of age.

Registration forms are available at tomorrowfund.org. Walk-in Registration is also available at the event.

For more information about the Stroll and The Tomorrow Fund, call 444-8811 or visit tomorrowfund.org.

Omelet-eating competition at Character’s Café

Character's Café, 82 Rolfe Square, Cranston, will host an omelet-eating competition on Saturday, March 30, from 10-11 a.m.

Entrants will compete against 15 other people to see who can eat a 16-egg omelet – filled with cheese and breakfast meats – the fastest. The cost to enter is $20. The winner will be awarded a $50 gift certificate and a T-shirt. To register, call 781-2200.

Character’s Cafe is a full-service, nonprofit restaurant owned and operated by Gateways To Change Inc.

Citizens Police Academy

The Cranston Police Department is now accepting applications for its Citizens Police Academy.

In order to be considered, applicants must be at least 18 years old and complete the electronic registration form on the Cranston Police Department website. After completing the form, applicants will be contacted by a member of the Cranston Police Training Division.

Applications are being accepted through March 30. The academy is scheduled to be held on Tuesdays, beginning April 16, from 6-8 p.m. The program lasts roughly two months.

Pagano Foundation scholarships available

The Lt. Jim Pagano Foundation will be continuing its years-long tradition of awarding scholarships, providing $1,500 each to six seniors graduating from Cranston West, Cranston East and the NEL/CPS high schools.

The scholarships will be awarded to students planning to attend a bachelor’s program in the fall and who best represent the values of academic achievement, extracurricular activities and community service as well-rounded individuals with a drive to succeed. Scholarships will be presented to the honorees at each of the schools’ honor awards nights.

For more information or to apply for the scholarship, visit jimpaganofoundation.com.

Money Smart Week at the library

The Cranston Public Library will be celebrating Money Smart Week by hosting a Personal Finance Workshop Series at the Central Library, 140 Sockanosset Cross Road, Cranston.

The three-week series will help participants better understand the tools available for improving day-to-day finances and prepare for long-term goals. Registration is required to receive free materials and may be done by calling the reference desk at 943-9080, ext. 3.

This series will be taught by Chartered Financial Analyst Mike Speidel. These programs are free and open to the public. All programs will take place from 6-7:30 p.m. in the Central Library’s James Giles Community Room.

On April 1, the series will cover everyday basics such as setting realistic goals, figuring out net worth, budgeting and tracking monthly spending, and creating emergency savings.

On April 8, the topic will be debt and credit, including “good” and “bad” debt, obtaining free credit reports and understanding how they work, managing credit scores and avoiding predatory lending.

On April 15, participants will learn about the essentials of estate planning, ways to save tax-efficiently for retirement and health care, investing wisely, and using best practices when buying big-ticket items such as cars and insurance.

Spaghetti & Meatball Dinner

On Sunday, March 24, from 6-9 p.m., the Rhode Island Dream Center will be holding a Spaghetti & Meatball Dinner at the Cranston Country Club, 68 Burlingame Road, Cranston. Tickets cost $12 for adults and $6 for children ages 6-12. There is no cost for children age 5 and under. Tickets may be purchased at ridreamcenter.com. For more information, call 781-1565.

All proceeds will go toward the purchase and installation of sinks for one of the Rhode Island Dream Center’s programs, “I Need U To Survive,” which brings in women to wash, cut, color and style their hair. Participants get their hair done, have lunch served, build relationships and receive encouragement.

Paid summer internships through CCAP

The Comprehensive Community Action Program, or CCAP, is offering the chance for young people between the ages of 14 and 24 to connect with paid summer internships through its Learn to Earn program.

CCAP's Youth Employment, Training and Education programs provide a full range of services to youth who are enrolled in school or out of school, including job acquisition skills, work-based learning projects, job searches and interviewing skills.

All enrollees are connected with a case manager to assist them in their education or employment goals throughout the program.

The application deadline is April 12. For more information, visit comcap.org/summerjobs.

Cranston Senior Guild

The Cranston Senior Guild’s next meeting will take place April 3 at 1 p.m. at Tamarisk Assisted Living, 3 Shalom Drive, Warwick. After a short meeting, Alison Bologna, an award-winning journalist and anchor for NBC10, will speak about Shri Yoga, a studio she opened in downtown Pawtucket with the mission of offering yoga and wellness classes to an urban community. Following Bologna’s presentation, there will be refreshments and a raffle. Men and women 55 or older are welcome to join the Cranston Senior Guild. Dues cost $12 a year. Cranston residency is not required.

Prominent peace activist to speak

Pax Christi RI, a section of the international Catholic peace movement, Massachusetts Peace Action and Raytheon Anti-War Campaign, invite the members of the community to have a conversation with Kathy Kelly, peace activist and founder of Voices for Creative Nonviolence.

The conversation will be focused on the topic “Yemen, Iraq and Afghanistan: What’s Happening and What Can We Do?” The program will be held at St. Augustine’s Church in O”Brien Hall, 20 Old Road, Providence, from 2-4 p.m. on Saturday, March 23, 2019. Light refreshments will be served and good will offerings will be appreciated.

Kelly co-coordinates Voices for Creative Nonviolence, a campaign to end military and economic violence. She has visited Afghanistan 15 times since 2010. Voices activists believe that where you stand determines what you see. In previous visits to Iraq, members of the group remained in Baghdad throughout the shock and awe bombing after having organized 70 delegations to violate the economic sanctions by delivering medicines to children and families in Iraq.

Famous Wheeler Clothing & More Sale

On April 12-13, The Wheeler School's Madden Gymnasium at 407 Brook St., between Angell and Meeting streets on the East Side of Providence, will once again transform into an amazing "pop up" department store - 9,912 square feet filled with bargains for the entire family, including new and gently worn women's, men's and children's clothing, accessories, books, sports gear, household items, antiques and the Designer Women's Boutique with designer labels at modest prices. The sale runs from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, April 12, and from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 13. For more information, visit facebook.com/wheelerclothingsale or follow the sale's Instagram (@famouswheelersale) or Twitter (@Wheelersale) accounts.

Summer internships through CCAP

The Comprehensive Community Action Program, or CCAP, is offering the chance for young people between the ages of 14 and 24 to connect with paid summer internships through its Learn to Earn program.

CCAP's Youth Employment, Training and Education programs provide a full range of services to youth who are enrolled in school or out of school, including job acquisition skills, work-based learning projects, job searches and interviewing skills.

All enrollees are connected with a case manager to assist them in their education or employment goals throughout the program.

The application deadline is April 12. For more information, visit comcap.org/summerjobs.

90 Celebration

Mayor Allan Fung and Cranston's Department of Senior Services are planning this year's 90 Celebration.

The annual event pays special tribute to Cranstonians who are 90 years of age or older. Call Kathi Dunphy at 780-6216 with the names and addresses of anyone who is celebrating this special milestone.

Family Health Services at CCAP

Tired of ineffective yet expensive medical care? Check out Family Health Services at the Comprehensive Community Action Program. CCAP offers affordable, 24/7 professional family health and dentistry services. The experienced staff includes physicians, nurse practitioners and other healthcare professionals who are caring, compassionate and highly skilled. New patients are welcome. For more information, call 384-6007.

‘Facts, Fun and Food’ with Women’s Club

The Cranston Community Women’s Club will host “Facts, Fun and Food” on April 10 from 6-8 p.m. at Cucinia Rustica, 555 Atwood Ave., Cranston. Members of the club are provided with the skills required to serve others and celebrate unity through diversity. Club members will be on hand to answer questions, and snacks with beverages will be served. Pre-registration is preferred. For more information or to pre-register, contact Pat at 374-3658 or Donna at 647-0259 or djgibb@cox.net.

Statewide Business After Hours

A Statewide Business After Hours event will be held March 26 from 4:30-7:30 p.m. at Rhodes on the Pawtuxet, 60 Rhodes Place, Cranston. Chamber of Commerce members and non-members from across Rhode Island are invited to attend. The event will feature more than 120 display tables and attendees can enjoy food provided by Russell Morin Fine Catering while making business connections that will last. Display tables are available for chamber members only. For more information, contact your local Chamber of Commerce.

Troop 22 Macaroni Dinner

Boy Scout Troop 22 Cranston will host a Macaroni Dinner fundraiser on Saturday, April 6, from 4:30-8 p.m. in the Sawyer Hall of the Edgewood Congregational Church, 1788 Broad St. Tickets cost $12 for ages 11 and up and $10 for children under 11. Proceeds will support the troop’s programming. For more information or to order tickets, contact Scoutmaster Paul Kelley at 595-6726 or paulkelley14@msn.com.

‘Hello Spring’ art exhibit

On March 22 from 6 to 9 p.m., Frame It RI, 991 Oaklawn Ave., Cranston, will host an opening reception for an art exhibit titled “Hello Spring.” The exhibit will feature the work of three local artists -photography Jerri Moon Cantone (jerrimoon.com), painter Larisa Martino (larisa-designs.com) and mixed-media artist Sharon D. Eisman (starr-designs.com). Light fare will be provided. The exhibit runs from March 19 to April 30. For more information, visit frameitri.com.

United Way 2-1-1

The United Way of Rhode Island's 2-1-1 Outreach RV will be at the Cranston Public Library's Central Library, 140 Sockanosset Cross Road, on the first Monday of each month from 9 a.m. to noon. The Outreach RV provides a free, confidential resource for assistance with housing, food, child care and other needs. For more information, visit uwri.org.

Did You Know?

The spring equinox, also called the March equinox or vernal equinox, falls on Wednesday, March 20, 2019, at 5:58 p.m. EDT. This event marks the astronomical first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. Welcome, springtime! (Source: Farmer’s Almanac)

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