Cranston Chatter

By Meri R. Kennedy
Posted 2/1/17

By MERI R. KENNEDY It's Tax Time at CCAP CCAP's VITA Preparation Assistance Program is a free Tax Assistance service for low-income workers. CCAP serves as a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site from Jan. 25 through April 17. They provide free

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Cranston Chatter

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It's Tax Time at CCAP

CCAP's VITA Preparation Assistance Program is a free Tax Assistance service for low-income workers.

CCAP serves as a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site from Jan. 25 through April 17. They provide free tax preparation for individuals and families earning less than $54,000.

Last year, CCAP's VITA program filed over 1,000 federal tax returns, helping Rhode Island families receive $2 million in refunds without any cost. Their volunteers are trained and certified by the IRS and will help you file your federal and state income taxes. IRS e-file is the most accurate, safest and fastest way to file your tax return. You can get your refund in as little as 10 days.

CCAP's tax preparation services are offered at the Cranston location on 311 Doric Ave. (lower level). Call them today for an appointment at 467-7013. They will provide you with a list of paperwork to bring.

Requests for proposals from Lt. Jim Pagano Foundation

The Lt. Jim Pagano Foundation will be awarding a total of $22,500 to organizations that support academic enrichment and to Cranston students entering college. The Foundation is currently accepting applications from worthy programs, including after-school activities or summer camps, and will continue the tradition of awarding scholarships to five high school seniors planning to attend college in the Fall.

Over the past few years, they have worked in partnership with the Cranston Public Schools in an after-school STEM robotics program for sixth-grade students, and it was widely received.

Grant guidelines and the official application can be found at the Lt. Jim Pagano website at www.jimpaganofoundation.com/ourwork, and the deadline for proposals is March 20. Final awards will be granted on April 20.

Again, this year, the Foundation will be awarding college scholarships to graduating seniors at CHSW, CHSE and the NEL/CPS schools. There will be five recipients each who will receive an amount of $1,500. High school seniors can access the scholarship guidelines and application through their guidance counselors.

The Lt. Jim Pagano Foundation makes charitable grants to individuals, groups and/or organizations that improve the quality of life for children and foster character building and a strong foundation for their future. By funding these programs, the Foundation hopes to develop future heroes and leaders who will in turn do the same in their communities.

Abbey Theatre History at Irish Ceilide Club

The 1916 Commemorative Committee will present “The History of the Abbey Theatre and Its Role in the Rise of Irish Nationalism.”

The Rhode Island Irish Ceilide Club 50 America Street Cranston will be the site of this multimedia presentation on Feb. 10 beginning at 7:30 p.m. The presenters will be Mavis McGetrick and Ann McCarthy.

This lecture is one of a series sponsored by the group, which is composed of representatives of Irish organizations throughout the state. Its goal is to engage and educate not only the approximately 193,000 Rhode Island residents of Irish ancestry but people of all ethnic backgrounds thus leading to a better understanding of the evolution of this small but significant country.

Music will be provided by Sean Connell in the downstairs pub immediately following the lecture. There is no admission charge and the public is welcome.

Academic News & Notes

Congratulations to Ainsley Campbell of Cranston, who made the grade at Roger Williams University for Dean's List. She is the recipient of the Community Ambassador Scholarship at Roger Williams on a full tuition scholarship for her high school achievements as well as for involvement in the Cranston community.

Library announces new circulating collection of tools

The Cranston Public Library is excited to announce the release of its latest circulating collection: Cool Tools. The Cool Tools collection is comprised of a variety of tools, including a stud finder, thermal leak detector and more, available for one-week check-out by cardholders. The purchasing of the tools was made possible by a grant from the Taco/White Family Foundation.

Beginning Jan. 27, the following Cool Tools are available for borrowing at Cranston Public Library’s Central Library:

Zircon Stud Sensor e50 - Into home improvement? Use this stud finder to detect the edges of wood and metal studs and joists behind walls, floors, and ceilings. Why stop there? This sensor also utilizes patented technology to detect live AC voltage.

Black & Decker Thermal Leak Detector - Determine energy leaks in your home with this infrared thermometer. With an easy-to-use interface, you can set a reference temperature, then watch the LED display change color as the thermometer detects hot or cold spots.

Kill A Watt EZ Power Meter P4460 – Ever wonder how much energy your appliances are using? This meter calculates the energy costs of your electrical devices and can help you make decisions about which appliances you should leave plugged in.

Fluke 62 Max IR Thermometer - Small and durable, this infrared thermometer is everything you'd expect from a professional tool that quickly and accurately detects temperature readings.

Roku 2 Streaming Player – This streaming device allows you to stream nearly 200 popular movies to your television over Wi-Fi. Just plug in the Roku to your TV's HDMI port, connect it to Wi-Fi, and gain access to the library's VUDU account, which is stocked with the latest movies.

A bonus tool, the Ghost EMF Meter Kit (which comes with an electric and magnetic frequency meter and ghost hunting book), is also available at both the Central Library and the Oak Lawn Branch.

All items are available to cardholders 18 years of age for one-week loan periods. Tools must be returned to the location from which they were borrowed during open library hours.

Ocean State Toastmasters to meet

The Ocean State Toastmasters will hold its next meeting on Feb. 7 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Warwick City Hall, 3275 Post Road, Warwick. Regular meetings are held on the first and third Tuesdays of each month.

The club is one of 13,500 in Toastmasters International, a nonprofit, educational organization devoted to the development of public speaking and leadership skills. The organization has approximately 280,000 members in 116 countries.

Founded in 1963, Ocean State Toastmasters is one of the oldest clubs in Rhode Island. For more information, contact Robert Rogers, vice president of membership, at 782-7637 or Robert_Rogers@acm.org.

Snow assistance for the elderly & disabled

Winter months bring snow and many Rhode Island elderly and disabled are neither physically nor financially able to deal with it. It means missing medical appointments, running out of food or medication and slipping on snow or ice. Serve RI has a special program for elderly and disabled who qualify for this help. Call Serve RI for more information at 331-2298.

At the Senior Center

Join in for Cyber-Seniors – Connecting Generations on Tuesdays at 9 to 11:30 a.m. and Wednesdays from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. by the URI Engaging Generations Program. Do you have questions about how to use or best utilize your smart phone? Laptop? Tablet? Computers? Email? Storing photos? Facebook? URI students are available to meet with you on a one-to-one basis to go over your concerns and answer your technology questions. You may drop by or call for an appointment at 401-780-6000. The Cranston Senior Enrichment Center is located at 1070 Cranston St.

Come to the Movies at the Cranston Senior Engagement Center on Feb. 7 beginning at 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. “Me Before You”, starring Emilia Clarke & Sam Claflin, will be shown and it is a 2016 American-British romantic comedy film about a girl in a small town who forms an unlikely bond with a recently-paralyzed man of whom she’s taking care.

Improve Your Heart Health: “Show Your Heart Some Love Today” on Feb. 8 at 10 a.m. at the Center. Presented by the URI Pharmacy Outreach Program, your heart works hard nonstop for you your whole life. Show some TLC. Making small changes in your everyday life can make a difference to your heart. The best practices currently recommended by doctors to keep the “ticker” healthy will be reviewed at this presentation.

Brown Bag Program: “A Medication Review” will be held on Feb. 22 from 9 to 11:30 a.m. and presented by the URI Pharmacy Outreach Program. This is your chance to sit with professional pharmacy staff to review and discuss your medications and the conditions they are being used to treat.  This serves as an excellent opportunity to evaluate your current medication regimen and ensure that you are taking them properly for maximum benefit. Bring with you your prescription meds and your over-the-counter meds or a list of them. Call for your appointment now at 780-6000.

Hearing Screening & Hearing Aid Services provided by Nancy Fox, All You Need to Hear Hearing Aid Center, will be held on Feb. 7 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. This free screening is an effective way to determine if a hearing evaluation is needed. By appointment only so please call 780-6000.

Hearing Aid Services will be available on Feb. 14 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Free hearing aid cleaning and a check to be sure your hearing aid is working properly will be provided. It’s by appointment only, so call 780-6000.

Edgewood Yacht Club’s Winter Fundraiser

Join in with the Edgewood Yacht Club for a night of Paint and Vino on Feb. 11 from 6 to 9:30 p.m. at the Shriner’s Imperial Room at 1 Rhodes Place in Cranston.

There will be cocktails and a silent auction at 6 to 7 p.m. Each reservation, which is $60 per person, will include a complimentary glass of beer or wine and light appetizers.

Contact either Bill or Nancy Plumb at 527-2009.

Tamarisk Assisted Living Residence Open House

The Phyllis Siperstein Tamarisk Assisted Living Residence invites you to an Open House at their location, 3 Shalom Drive in Warwick on Feb. 12, from 1 to 4 p.m.

Executive Chef Deb Blazer will also be offering a healthy hot soup-cooking demonstration from 1 to 2 p.m. They will be providing samples so please RSVP to Susan at 732-0037 by Feb. 5 if you would like to attend the cooking demonstration.

Nestled in tranquil gardens, Tamarisk offers a close-knit community and a home-like ambiance that greets you with smiles and friendly faces. Tour their beautiful grounds, view one of their apartments and see for yourself why residents are fulfilled and love living at Tamarisk, their premier assisted living residence where they connect to tradition as well as learn new things and make new friends.

Please call Susan Adler, Marketing and Outreach Director at 732-0037 or email at SusanA@tamariskri.org if you have any questions or would like to arrange a personal tour.

Did You Know?

Richard Cadbury produced the first box of chocolates for Valentine's Day in the late 1800s and, today, more than 35 million heart-shaped boxes of chocolate will be sold for Valentine's Day. (Holiday 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.

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