Cranston Chatter

By MERI R. KENNEDY
Posted 1/9/19

MERI R. KENNEDY Senior Services Membership Drive Cranston Department of Senior Services Membership Drive 2019 begins Jan. 8 from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. for those aged 55+. Both Renewal & New Memberships are welcome. Cranston Residents: Only $10 and $12 per

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Senior Services Membership Drive

Cranston Department of Senior Services Membership Drive 2019 begins Jan. 8 from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. for those aged 55. Both Renewal & New Memberships are welcome. Cranston Residents: Only $10 and $12 per each per non-Cranston resident. For more information call 780-6000.

Cranston YMCA Open House

Join in for an exciting morning of Y activities during their annual Open House event on Saturday, Jan. 12 from 10 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Cranston YMCA located at 1225 Park Ave. Take advantage of our NO JOINERS FEE offer and enjoy complimentary snacks, coffee, and water in the lounge.

While you’re at the Y, be sure to participate in the fun activities happening in the building. Activities include Zumba, Body Pump, Arts & Crafts, free body composition, facility tours, and so much more. This event is free for everyone and financial aid is available to those who qualify. (See our Welcome Center staff for more details.) Any new member who joins during the Open House will receive one free one-hour personal training session.

More info can be found at www.ymcagreaterprovidence.org or visit facebook.com/CranstonYMCA.

Dining for Dogs

Rhode Home Rescue presents their annual Dining for Dogs Annual Banquet on Jan. 19 at 6 p.m. the Santa Maria Di Prata Society, 29 Walnut Grove Ave. Tickets are $30 per adult and $10 per child ages 12 and under and free for children under 5 years of age. Tickets include dinner and a raffle ticket. There will be a cash bar. All proceeds to benefit Rhode Home Rescue. For tickets and more information visit www.rhodehomerescue.org.

At the Senior Center

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

URI SNAP Outreach Clinic will be held on Jan. 10 at. 10 a.m. to 12 noon. SNAP is a federal program that provides nutritional assistance to low-income households. Have questions or concerns regarding your SNAP benefits? Want to find out if you are eligible for benefits or eligible for more benefits? This “first come first served clinic” is for you. A representative from URI SNAP will be at the Center to answer your questions.

Growing in popularity, the Reminisce Group will meet on Jan.11 at 9:30 a.m. It’s a new year…lots of memories. Join in for a trip back to “memory lane.”

Direct to Consumer Advertising – “Eye Catching Drug Ads: What You Need to Know” – will be discussed on Jan. 16 at 10 a.m. The URI Pharmacy Outreach Program will cover topics such as how drug companies promote prescription drug products to the public through radio, television and magazines, etc. We will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of direct consumer advertising, the different types of advertisements companies produce, and how to handle the information in a prescription drug advertisement.

Lunch With a Sax & Trumpet Duo will be held on Jan. 16 at 11:30 a.m. with a suggested donation of $3 per person. Reservations are required and call 780-6134 to reserve your seat. Enjoy a great meal while listening to this fabulous sax & trumpet duo.

Arthritis Exercise Classes – A six-week Program for Better Living will be held on Tuesdays & Thursdays at 1:15 p.m., beginning Jan. 22 to Feb. 28. Arthritis Exercise Classes with our certified instructors are back twice a week. You may think that exercise and arthritis don’t go hand-in-hand, however, research has shown that exercise is essential in managing arthritis. Exercising reduces joint pain and stiffness, increases flexibility and endurance, help you sleep better, increases your energy and simply helps you feel better. Register now for these free classes call 780-6000.

Volunteers are needed to assist eligible and qualified applicants complete the RI Property Tax Relief Claim Form (RI 1040-H) for this coming tax season. Training will be provided. If you are interested, please contact the RSVP office at 780-6159.

Transvan – Cranston’s Senior Transportation System is available for $25 per month. As the weather changes and the snow piles get higher, think TRANSVAN for your errands.  You can depend on the TRANSVAN to get you safely to your destination and back home. For more information call us at 780-6218 or 943-3341.

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.

Baby Book Boogie

Hosted by Oak Lawn Branch, Cranston Public Library, Baby Book Boogie will be held every Friday morning beginning Jan. 11.

Children ages 0-2 and their caregivers are invited to help a book come to life through music and movement. We will also sing and dance along to favorite childhood songs. Registration is not required, but they will give out free tickets half an hour before the program upon opening at 10 am. Limited to 25 children and their caregivers.

The Oak Lawn Library is located at 230 Wilbur Ave. For more information, call 942-1787.

New Year – New Network

Are you ready to build your business and connect with more professionals and decision makers?

“If you're planning on starting your 2019 on the right path and need to establish new business relationships, you first need to establish yourself as a professional that others also 'want' to have in their network,” said Pat Paolino Cruz of Pat Cruz Events. “Showing up is 80 percent of the job. As the saying goes, ‘Out of sight, out of mind.’”

Statewide Networking Kickoff will be held at Chapel Grille in Chapel View in Cranston on Jan. 30 from 5:30 to 8 p.m.

“Our events serve as a perfect catalyst for you to meet new people, make new connections and build relationships, that lead to future business. Our monthly 'happy hour' formatted events welcome between 100 and 200 people consistently. Complimentary appetizers are provided by the venue. Cash Bar and Valet Parking available,” said Cruz.

Tickets are $12 in advance (Eventbrite.com) and $20 at the door.

Looking to further showcase your products or services to the Network? A very limited amount of vendor tables are available at $125 and can be secured on first come first served basis.

Ms. Wheelchair RI 2019

On Feb. 8 there will be a competition for Ms. Wheelchair RI. All contestants must be at least 21 years of age, use a wheelchair 100 percent of the time in public, have a great personality. Be willing to be an advocate and educate for RI and beyond.

This is not a beauty contest but rather a competition of advocacy and education.

The event will be held at the Imperial Room at 1 Rhodes Place in Cranston on Feb. 8. Vendor tables are $25 each with a limited amount of tables and no duplication of items. Tables will be given on a first come, first serve basis.

If you want to be a sponsor, the fees are $25 for your name in the program; $50 for an ad in the program; $100 for a half-page in program and $150 for ad in program and on all promotional material and mention in all press releases.

For more information, contact Tina Guenette Pedersen at her work charity at Mswheelchairri2018@yahoo.com.

Cranston library offers free home delivery of books

The Cranston Public Library will deliver anything that has a three-week loan period. Patrons never pay a late fee or fine, because they pick up all the materials within that three-week time frame.

The volunteers deliver books (in regular or large print), audiobooks, magazines, music CDs and documentary DVDs to any homebound Cranston resident living in their own home.

Due to concerns about ‘chain of custody’ they are unable to deliver to nursing homes or assisted living facilities.

Call Karen McGrath at 781-6116 or email her at karenmcgrath@cranstonlibrary.org, to register for the service or become a volunteer driver.

Residential Rehabilitation Grant Program

This program provides low-interest loans to income eligible Cranston homeowners to assist them in making needed repairs and improvements to their homes and to correct code violations.

For more information call the Department of Community Development at 461-1000 EXT. 7205.

Free Yoga for breast cancer survivors

The Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Foundation and Yoga at Studio Exhale offers yoga for breast cancer survivors every Sunday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Yoga at Studio Exhale, 1263 Oaklawn Ave, is the place to be to explore slow flow, gentle movement to create space in the body and eliminate stress. This class is designed to restore the nervous system and help release deeply held tensions from the body and mind. Visit GloriaGemma.org for more details.

Did You Know?

The first month of the year brings us New Year’s Day, MLK day and the excitement of new beginnings. In the Georgian calendar, the calendar that most of the world uses, January is the very first month of the year. The name January came from a Roman god Janus. According to the Roman legend, in 700 B.C., the ruler Numa Pompilius added January to the end of the 10-month Roman calendar. When it was added, Pompilius gave 30 days to January. However, Romans later made January the first month of the year. Moreover, in 46 B.C. Julius Caesar added a one more day to January and that's why there are 31 in January today. January was known as the wolf month to the Anglo-Saxons because in winter, wolves came into the villages to search for food. It is the coldest month in the northern half of the world, nature is quiet and the birds travel less. Also, the bears and woodchucks go into hibernation. However, in southern half of the world, January is the warmest month. During this time, unlike the northern half of the world, animals are active and plants are growing.

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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