National Night Out coming to Garden City

Join the Cranston Police Department at their first National Night Out! This event is based on the community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live.

It will be held on Aug. 7 at 6 p.m. at the Gazebo in Garden City Shopping Center and will include activities and an interactive display with the police officers.

National Night Out enhances the relationship between neighbors and law enforcement while bringing back a true sense of community. Furthermore, it provides a great opportunity to bring police and neighbors together under positive circumstances. Millions of neighbors take part in National Night Out across thousands of communities from all 50 states, U.S. territories and military bases worldwide on the first Tuesday in August.

For more information, contact Captain Vincent McAteer in the Office of Community Outreach 477-5127.

Join the Little Sisters of the Poor at McCoy Stadium

The Little Sisters of the Poor are hosting their annual PawSox Family Fun Day at McCoy Stadium on Sunday, Aug. 19.  The 13th annual outing begins at 11:30 a.m. with a delicious pre-game summertime barbecue, after which fans can cheer for a Little Sister who will throw a ceremonial pitch just before the PawSox take the field for a contest with the Durham Bulls.  Tickets are $29 for adults and $15 for children under the age of 12 and include the all-you can-eat BBQ and general admission tickets to the game.  Tickets must be purchased in advance by Aug. 10 at www.littlesistersofthepoorpawtucket.org or by calling Jeanne Jugan Residence at 305-4001.

Hope Bus coming to Cranston

To help bring important information about programs and services available to women battling breast cancer, survivors of the disease, and their families, Bank Rhode Island (BankRI) will welcome the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation’s “Hope Bus” to its Atwood Avenue branch in Cranston on Aug.1. The 38-foot long, bright pink Wellness and Resource Center on wheels will be on-site from 10am to 2pm at 383 Atwood Ave.

The “Hope Bus” visit is open to all members of the community and provides visitors an opportunity to learn about the wide-range of programs, services and resources offered by the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation.

In recent years, the Foundation has expanded its offerings by establishing the Gloria’s Angels Program, which provides patients and survivors with extra supports during their journey with cancer. The program has four primary components; a Healthy Meals Delivery Service, Comfort Care Bags for newly-diagnosed patients, Light Housekeeping, and Oncology Massage for post-treatment survivors suffering from the lasting and often permanent side effects of cancer treatment. In support of the Healthy Meals Delivery Service, BankRI recently awarded the program a $2,500 charitable grant.

Guests on August 1 will also have an opportunity to create a special “Hope is…” bookmark in honor of a loved one whose life has been touched by cancer by capturing what hope means to them. Additionally, breast cancer survivors will be on-hand to share their personal journeys with cancer and the support they received from the Foundation.

By stepping aboard the “Hope Bus,” visitors receive immediate access to free resources that include one-on-one consultations, information on patient and survivor support groups, and walk-in breast health classes. In Rhode Island, one out of seven women will be diagnosed with breast cancer during her lifetime.

New Hope Art Gallery Summer Show

The New Hope Art Gallery Summer Show opening is scheduled for July 31 from 4 to 7:30 p.m. The show will feature 400 pieces of art in every style and media from 100 local, national, senior, special needs and student artists.

They will feature vender tables of small original art items all at affordable prices from many of our artists. Entertainment will be provided by the music from Jim Chapin, Mark Greenwood, Robert Rizzo and friends. Artist Jack Lai will be creating free portraits for guests.

Come join in for a great night of beautiful art, great music and good food. The gallery is located at the Michael A. Traficante Enrichment Center at 1070 Cranston St. in Cranston. This show will run for three months until late October. Regular gallery hours are Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. except holidays. Please feel free to contact Director Ricky Gagnon for more information at 280-6282.

Garden City Free Concert Series continues

The free summer concerts at the Gazebo in the Garden City Center have already begun and all concerts will be held each week from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., weather permitting. This year’s sponsors are BankNewport and Tasca Chevrolet. Everyone is asked to bring a food donation of peanut butter or tuna fish to each concert for the CCAP food pantry. The schedule is as follows: Aug. 1: LoVeSeXY (Prince tribute band), Aug. 8t XS Band, Aug. 15: Timmy Maia Band and Aug. 22: The Pop Rocks. All concerts are held at the gazebo and all are encouraged to bring chairs.

At the Senior Center

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

Diabetes Support Group will present “Healthy Eating” on Aug. 1 at 10 a.m. The program will be provided by Blue Cross Blue Shield of RI. “Clearing Up Carb Confusion”…if you have diabetes or just confused about carbohydrates, you will learn how to enjoy them in the amounts that help support your health.

Book Club will meet July 31 at 10:30 a.m. and  “Driftwood Cottage” By Sherryl Woods will be the topic. “Sherryl Woods is a uniquely gifted writer whose deep understanding of human nature is woven into every page”…New York Times  This romantic novel is about a single mon’s dreams of home and family that are tantalizingly within reach when she settles in Chesapeake Shores.

Aerobics - “For the More Active Senior” will be presented on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 to 11 a.m. For a fee of $3 per person, the program will be taught by a certified instructor, the format includes stretching, cardiovascular workout, and strengthening exercises with free weights.  For more information call 780-6216.

Cranston Senior Golf Tournament will be held Oct. 2 and Oct. 3 at the Cranston Country Club and everyone 55 years or older is invited to participate. Fee is $75 and includes 18 holes of golf, golf cart, continental breakfast, lunch & a banquet immediately following. Call 780-6218 for a registration form.

“Tools for Healthy Living” - Chronic Disease Self-Management Program will be held on Tuesdays from 9:15 to 11:30 a.m. beginning Aug. 7 and ending Sept. 11. The “Living Well Rhode Island” FREE program is for people with one or more chronic conditions, such as, asthma, heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, cancer etc. Topics will include: dealing with frustration, pain, fatigue; exercise; medications & nutrition; isolation; evaluating new treatments and effectively communicating with family, friends and especially health professionals.  Upon completing the workshop, you will receive a relaxation tape and a gift certificate. If you are interested in participating register now since space is limited, call 780-6000.

Coffee with Constituents

State Rep. Robert Lancia (District 16) and his wife, Maryann, invite members of the community to attend end-of-the-month “Constituent Coffees” on July 28. The gatherings are held from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Panera Bread in Cranston on the last Saturday each month and are meant as a forum to discuss local issues over coffee. For more information call 944-3315.

12 original plays at Artists’ Exchange

Artists' Exchange invites the public to attend their line-up of comedies, dramas, and slices of life that explore family bonds, test friendships, ignite neighborhood tension, and rely on a bit of magic. Join them for 12 original plays written by local and national playwrights. Tradition and twists combined with live music will keep you on the edge of your seat. The plays will be held Thurs., Fri., and Saturdays at 7 p.m. beginning July 26 through Aug. 11. Tickets $15 advance and $20 at door and the events will be held at Theatre 82 & Café at 82 Rolfe Square in Cranston.

Did You Know?

July was renamed for Julius Caesar and is the seventh month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and is 31 days long. In prior years, it was called Quintilis. If you know your Latin, that "Quint" thing is screaming "#5.” That makes perfect sense since it was the fifth month in the Roman calendar, which started in March. (Source: July Fun Facts)

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