Cranston Chatter

By MERI R. KENNEDY
Posted 2/20/19

By MERI R. KENNEDY Tax time at CCAP Comprehensive Community Action Program, or CCAP, is now offering its VITA Preparation Assistance Program, which provides free tax assistance services for individuals and families earning less than $54,000 a year. The

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Tax time at CCAP

Comprehensive Community Action Program, or CCAP, is now offering its VITA Preparation Assistance Program, which provides free tax assistance services for individuals and families earning less than $54,000 a year. The program runs through May 1.

Last year, CCAP’s VITA program filed more than 1,000 federal tax returns, helping Rhode Island families receive $2 million in refunds without any cost. The program’s volunteers are trained and certified by the IRS and will help taxpayers file federal and state income tax returns.

CCAP’s tax preparation services are offered on the lower level of the agency’s Cranston headquarters, 311 Doric Ave. Call 467-7013 to schedule an appointment.

Tree Planting Program

The city of Cranston has announced its 2019 Neighborhood Tree Planting Program, which is free to all eligible property owners. The program is being offered through the Rhode Island Tree Council. An information packet, application and waiver forms can be found on the city’s website, cranstonri.com. For more information, contact the Rhode Island Tree Council at 764-5885 or the city’s Officer of Constituent Affairs at 780-3123.

Ward 3 community meeting

Ward 3 Councilman John Donegan will host a community meeting Feb. 24 from 2-3:30 p.m. at Ted’s Stadium Pub, 1145 Park Ave. The meeting will focus on docketed items from the February City Council meeting and what Donegan will be introducing for March. The event is not a fundraiser. Soft drinks and light appetizers will be provided.

Bowling for Animals

On Feb. 24, the group Defenders of Animals will host a bowling fundraiser at Town Hall Lanes, 1463 Atwood Ave., Johnston, from 2-4 p.m. For a $20 donation, attendees will receive two hours of bowling, a pizza and pitcher of soda for each lane. For reservations, call Defenders of Animals at 461-1922 or email Dennis Tabella at dennis@defendersofanimals.org.

Ash Wednesday services

Oak Lawn Community Baptist Church, 229 Wilbur Ave., Cranston, will host its Ash Wednesday services on March 6 at noon and 7 p.m. For more information, visit olcbaptistchurch.com or call 944-0864.

Academic Decathlon seeking volunteers

Rhode Island Academic Decathlon is actively recruiting volunteers for its state competition, to be held Sunday, March 10, at the Community College of Rhode Island in Warwick. Volunteers will evaluate the speech and interview skills of high school students or assist with exams and event management. Most volunteers serve from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Training is provided on the day of the event. Sixteen teams from high schools across the state will be competing. For more information, visit acdec.net or email frank.lenox@acdec.net or jen.randall@acdec.net.

CHSE Indoor Percussion and Color Guard Competition

Enjoy the sights and sounds of more than 20 indoor percussion and color guard groups as Cranston High School East hosts a New England Scholastic Band Association competition for the fourth consecutive year. The event will be held in the Cranston East gymnasium on Saturday, March 16. Doors open at 3 p.m. Color guard performances begin at 4 p.m. and percussion performances start at 6:30 p.m. There will be an intermission between the performances, and raffles and a full concession stand will be available. Admission costs $10 for adult and $8 for seniors and students. Children age 5 and under will be admitted free of cost. For more information, visit the “CHSE Indoor Percussion & Color Guard Competition” event page on Facebook.

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.

Academic News & Notes

The following Cranston students were named to the dean’s list for the fall 2018 semester at Lasell College in Auburndale, Massachusetts: David Anthony, Rebecca Glick, Matthew Long and Zachary Ramsey.

Jacob St. Jean, an English major, was named to the dean’s list for the fall 2018 semester at Eastern Connecticut State University in Willimantic, Connecticut.

Summer jobs at Parks & Rec

Summer job applications will be available to download from the Cranston Department of Parks & Recreation’s page on the city’s website, cranstonri.com, between April 1 and May 3. Applicants must be 16 years old by the time of employment and reside in Cranston. Applications from 15-year-olds will be accepted provided the applicant will turn 16 by June 24, when all programs and facilities open. Applications will be accepted for lifeguards, pool attendants, pool maintenance workers and playground counselors. Lifeguard candidates must provide certification or proof of class/re-certification if not yet certified.

Call for artists

New Hope Art Gallery, 1070 Cranston St., has issued an open call for submissions for its upcoming Spring Show. Submissions will be accepted Monday, March 11 through Wednesday, March 13, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. There is a registration fee of $10 for up to five pieces of ready-to-hang art. All artists are welcome. Submissions may not contain nudity or political or violent themes because the gallery is housed in a public building, the Cranston Enrichment Center. The Spring Show opens April 2 from 4-7:30 p.m. For more information, visit the New Hope Art Gallery’s Facebook page.

To benefit local shelters

The community is invited to join BankNewport and OceanPoint Insurance this winter in supporting local shelters by donating adult and children’s socks during the “Kind Heart, Warm Soles” collection drive, which continues through March 2 at all BankNewport and OceanPoint locations.

Socks are among the most needed items at homeless shelters, yet among the least often donated. Socks gathered during the two-week collection period will benefit the following six local shelters: East Bay Coalition for the Homeless (Riverside), Harrington Hall (Cranston), Lucy’s Hearth (Middletown), Providence Rescue Mission, Welcome House of South County (Wakefield) and Woonsocket Homeless Shelter.

‘Warm Thy Neighbor’ campaign

The Rhode Island Good Neighbor Energy Fund’s 33rd annual “Warm Thy Neighbor” campaign, which helps Rhode Island households facing financial difficulty to pay for energy expenses, is underway.

The United Way of Rhode Island, the administrator of the fund, has received seed money from the fund’s sponsoring energy companies – including National Grid, Ocean State Power, Pascoag Utility District, Petro Home Services and RISEC LP – so that eligible households can receive assistance immediately. The Good Neighbor Energy Fund’s 2018-19 campaign goal is to raise $350,000 and help more than 750 households.

The Good Neighbor Energy Fund campaign relies on the generosity of individuals, families, local corporations and community organizations for support. Yellow donation envelopes are enclosed with energy bills through February.

Those interested in donating to the fund can text “WARM” to 91999 on their mobile phone, send a check payable to “Good Neighbor Energy Fund” to United Way of Rhode Island, 50 Valley St., Providence, RI 02909, or visit rhodeislandgoodneighbor.org.

Members of households in need of energy assistance are advised to contact their local community action program to determine their eligibility for assistance through the fund. Participating households may have an income not exceeding 300 percent of the federal poverty level. For example, a household of four is eligible for the fund if its annual income does not exceed $75,300, while the income for a household of six cannot exceed $101,220.

Grants to individual households are determined by fuel type and need and will not exceed $650 per heating season.

Since its establishment in 1986, the Rhode Island Good Neighbor Energy Fund has raised more than $14.2 million and helped over 45,500 families in need of temporary energy assistance. For more information about the Good Neighbor Energy Fund or how to receive assistance, contact either the United Way 2-1-1 in Rhode Island help line or a local community action program agency.

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.

St. Patrick’s/St. Joseph’s celebration

On March 16 at 7 p.m., the Kelley-Gazzerro VFW Post, 1418 Plainfield St., Cranston, will host its St. Patrick’s/St. Joseph’s Day celebration. The day’s menu will include Italian favorites as well as a boiled dinner. Entertainment will be provided by Vini Ames. Tickets cost $25 per person and reservations must be made by March 12. Tickets will not be sold at the door. Checks may be made payable to Kelley-Gazzerro VFW, attn: St. Pat Celebration, and mailed to the above address.

Tuesday Tech Tutor at William Hall

Cranston Public Library’s William Hall Library has added a new technology assistance program service for patrons. Tuesday Tech Tutor tackles terrible technology troubles that patrons may encounter. Library patrons may drop in anytime between 4-6 p.m. every Tuesday to have a librarian help navigate new technology skills or solve computer problems. No appointment or registration is necessary.

“We have many people who need assistance with things like attaching documents to emails, downloading ebooks, printing and more,” branch librarian Adrienne Girard said. “I am so happy we’re able to provide this new service to our patrons.”

For questions or more information, call William Hall Library at 781-2450.

Hall rentals at St. David’s

St. David’s on the Hill Episcopal Church, 200 Meshanticut Valley Parkway, Cranston, is offering affordable rates to rent its upper and lower halls for special occasions and events. For more information, visit stdavidsonthehill.net/hall-rental or call the church office at 942-4368 during regular hours, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Baby Book Boogie

Hosted by the Cranston Public Library’s Oak Lawn Branch, Baby Book Boogie will be held every Friday morning.

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 opening at 10 am. The program is limited to 25 children and their caregivers.

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

Did You Know?

Get ready to “spring ahead” – daylight savings time begins Sunday, March 10 at 2 a.m.

To submit your news from the community, email Meri R. Kennedy at CranstonChatter@aol.com. Photos in jpg format are accepted and news can range from community events, promotions, academic news and nonprofit events. Email 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 cranstononline.com.

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