Cranston Chatter

By Meri R. Kennedy
Posted 6/6/18

RI Pre-Kindergarten applications If you have a child who is a Cranston resident and will be four years old by September 1, you may enter your child's name in a lottery to receive one year of free, high-quality preschool education through the Rhode Island

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Cranston Chatter

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RI Pre-Kindergarten applications

If you have a child who is a Cranston resident and will be four years old by September 1, you may enter your child’s name in a lottery to receive one year of free, high-quality preschool education through the Rhode Island Pre-Kindergarten Program. You must apply no later than June 30 to be part of this lottery.

Applications are available now at the Comprehensive Action Community Program or CCAP (848 Atwood Ave.), Cranston Public School District Arlington Elementary School (155 Princess Ave.) and The Children’s Workshop (546 Budlong Rd.). If you have any questions or need more information about the lottery or the Rhode Island Pre-K Program call 222-8184.

Flowers for Ward 5

Join Councilman Chris Paplauskas on June 16 for a neighborhood beautification event - Flowers for Ward 5.

According to Councilman Paplauskas, “this is the inaugural year and with your help we can make a huge impact on our neighborhood!” The meeting place is the Knightsville Gazebo at 9 a.m. All volunteers are welcome to join in.

Time to register for BASICS Summer Glee Club

BASICS Summer Glee Club is now accepting registrations for this Summer’s Glee Club which is open to any student entering first through eight grade and there is no experience needed.

The program runs on Tuesdays from 7 to 8 p.m. for a fee of $80 per child and there is a sibling discount – register one child and the second one is only $60.

They have planned a “Flash Mob” for Aug. 9, weather permitting and will join in for a summer sing-a-long on Aug. 25 during BASICS All Hand On Deck Guinness World Record Attempt.

For more information and to register, visit www.BASICS-RI.com.

Through the Lens featuring Cranston photographers

oin the Cranston Arts Commission and the Cranston Public Library for a photo exhibit, entitled "Through the Lens of Cranston Artists" which will feature the art of 9 Cranston photographers. Hours of exhibit are subject to when Cranston Central Public Library is open. Please join us for an Artists Reception on June 9 from 2 to 4 p.m. The exhibit runs June 1-29 at the Central Library. For more information, contact www.cranstonartscommission.org.

Cranston Public Library launches digital archive of historic newspapers

The Cranston Public Library has launched a new digital archive of local historic Cranston newspapers. This archive is free and available online. The archive has full .pdf scans of Cranston newspapers from 1885-1975. The list of available newspapers is Cranston Herald (1936-1975), Cranston City Times (1921-1925), Cranston Herald Today (1975), Cranston Leader (1889-1890), Cranston News (1922-1939), Cranston Today (1972-1975), Howard Times (1885-1905), Herald News (1939-1940), Cranston Herald News (1939) and Neighborhood News (1930).

The scans were produced with full Optical Character Recognition (OCR), which will allow for keyword searching for specific names, topics, etc. Other advanced searching options are also available. The archive is available with this direct link: cranston.advantage-preservation.com.

This digital archive was created in partnership with Advantage Preservation and was funded by a grant from the Champlin Foundation.

“Bowling for WISHES” Bowl-a-Thon

A Wish Come True is sponsoring their first “Bowling for WISHES” Bowl-A-Thon on Saturday, June 23 at Lang’s Bowlarama, located at 225 Niantic Ave., in Cranston.

The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and the cost of bowling, including shoes, is $15 for adults and $8 for kids 12 & under. There will be music, raffles and fun activities!

To register, call A Wish Come True office at 401- 781-9199 or go to www.awish.org/bowling-for-wishes. You may also show up at Lang’s the day of the event.

A Wish Come True, is a local non-profit organization whose mission is to grant wishes to children age 3 through 18 who suffer from life threatening illnesses and live in Rhode Island and parts of southeastern Massachusetts. The average cost of a WISH is between $3,500-$5,000. At this time, A Wish Come True is working with 27 different kids.

For more information about A Wish Come True visit their website, www.awish.org.

Summer Concerts at William Hall Library

Brought to you by the City of Cranston’s Department of Parks and Recreation, there will be a series of free concerts at the William Hall Library on Broad St. 

The New 40 kicks off the summer concert series on the library lawn with soulful covers that move and groove on June 28 from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

On July 5, The Rockin’ Soul Horns will perform from 6:30 to 8 p.m. and all are invited to enjoy the blues, soul and R&B of The Rockin’ Soul Horns on the front lawn.

Summer Performers for Kids and Families will be held on July 10 between 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. featuring the Toe Jam Puppet Band. On July 17, Johnny the K will perform for Kids and Families. Johnny K bring fun songs delivered with pizazz.

On July 30 from 6:30 to 8 p.m., The Barley Hoppers will bring classic country mixed with oldies to heat up a July night.

19th Nervous Breakdown, which is a tribute band for the Rolling Stones will perform on July 19 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. and will feature songs of the Rolling Stones and a mix of music from the 60’s through today.

On July 26, The Jesse Liam Band will perform from 6:30 to 8 p.m. The Jesse Liam Band, playing classics through contemporary hits.

Closing out the Summer Concert Series will be Sh-Bop on Aug. 2 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. They will feature music from the birth of Rock and Roll.

At the Senior Center

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

Arthritis Exercise Classes, “A Program for Better Living” will be held every Tuesday from 1:15 to 2:15 p.m. through Aug. 21. Research has shown that exercise is an essential tool in managing your arthritis. Exercise reduces joint pain and stiffness, increases flexibility and endurance and so much more. Take advantage of this free low-impact physical activity led by certified instructors.

Reminisce Group, a casual time to get together to look back in time and share history, will meet on June 8 at 9:30 a.m.

A special Father’s Day Luncheon will be held on June 15 at 11:30 a.m. with a suggested Donation of $3 per person. Music will be provided by Bud Pistacchio at this special luncheon and a free raffle to celebrate the men in our lives.  Call for a reservation 401-780-6134.

Preventing Sarcopenia & the Importance of Physical Activity, presented by the URI Snap-Ed Program, will be held June 13 at 10 a.m. What is sarcopenia and what are its symptoms and causes?  How does eating and exercising help prevent this age-related condition?  Don’t miss this very informative presentation where these questions will be answered.

Something New at the Center! Bracelet Making which will be held on June 20 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Cost of supplies is $10. This is your opportunity to design and make your very own bracelet. Barbara, a New Hope Gallery artist, will instruct you on designing, assembling and finishing a beautiful wire bracelet. Each participant will take home a completed bracelet of their own design. Register and prepay by June 11. Space is limited. Register in the Program’s Office.

SHIP Program - Rhode Island Senior Health Insurance Program will meet by appointment on Fridays from 9 to noon at the Center. The SHIP program is part of a national partnership to help consumers make informed health care choices. The SHIP volunteer counselor provides one-on-one, unbiased counseling to seniors and adults with disabilities and helps them understand health care cost and coverage. The SHIP counselor can discuss Medicare, Medicare Part D, supplemental insurance, Medicare Advantage plans, and other health insurance options.  Call 780-6000 to schedule an appointment.

Hi Lo Jack League - “A 15 Week Session” will begin on June 29 at 1 p.m. Fee is $2 weekly. Come and enjoy the camaraderie. The session ends with a free banquet. For more information call Ray at 497-8097.

Vendors being sought

Vendors wanted for a Yard Sale at the Kelly Gazzerro VFW Post 2812, 1418 Plainfield St., Cranston, on June 24 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is $20 for each table. To secure a spot or if you need more information please call Lillian at 829-6080.

Help the Homeless Bowling Fundraiser

On June 16, from 8 to 10 p.m. there will be a bowling fundraiser at Town Hall Lanes, 1463 Atwood Ave., in Johnston, for Help The Homeless RI. Andrea Smith, of Cranston, serves as President and Executive Director.

Help the Homeless is an all-volunteer organization. They are currently feeding people in two communities and work with outreach workers and case managers to get items for their clients. They became a 501(c)3 in 2016.

In 2017, they purchased over $2,200 worth of hats, gloves, and hoodies to distribute, provided over $10,000 for rental assistance and security deposits, spent over $800 on tents and sleeping bags, and provided over $5,000 for hotel stays.

Live Jazz in Garden City

There will be live jazz performances every Friday night in June from 6 to 8 p.m. in the courtyard near Bistro 22 (weather permitting). Stay tuned for this year’s Garden City Concert Series as the Gazebo.

Did You Know?

June is the sixth month of the year, according to the Julian and Gregorian calendars. The name of the month comes from the Roman goddess Juno, who was the wife of Jupiter. She was the goddess of marriage. This month is special because it has the longest day hours in the Northern Hemisphere and the longest night hours in the Southern Hemisphere.

June's birthstones are the Alexandrite, the Moonstone, and the Pearl. Alexandrite represents health and longevity. Moonstones represents change, new beginnings and the shifting tides of emotion and can help a wearer to alleviate stress, especially due to sudden changes in life. Moonstone is also believed to increase intuition and aid in lucid dreaming. Pearls symbolize purity of heart and faith, as well as growth and transformation through difficult circumstances. (Source: June 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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