Community Builders Grant Program

OneCranston, an initiative of the Comprehensive Community Action Program, has announced the launch the second annual Community Builders Grant Program.

Through the program, OneCranston seeks to identify and partner with residents interested in bringing neighbors together to complete projects that improve their communities. Grants can fund a variety of neighborhood-based activities, including neighborhood cleanups, beautification projects, cultural events or celebrations, enhancement or creation of public spaces, and school improvements.

Grants of up to $1,000 are available. Applications must be submitted no later than July 12. To apply, visit comcap.org.

Plant walk for children

On Saturday, June 1, environmental educator Kate Aubin and Councilman Steve Stycos will hold a plant walk for children of all ages. Attendees will search for specific wild plants with the help of pictures. The West Bay Land Trust event starts at 10 a.m. from the lower Rhodes on the Pawtuxet parking lot, Rhodes Place, Cranston. Stay as long as you like. The event is free and all are welcome. For more information, call 461-2618.

YMCA Community Yard Sale

A Community Yard Sale will be held June 1 from 8 a.m. to noon at the Cranston YMCA, 1225 Park Ave. The cost to rent a table is $20 and all the proceeds for table rentals are donated to the Cranston YMCA Annual Campaign. Any items not sold can be left behind and will be donated to Big Brothers Big Sisters. See one of the YMCA Welcome Center representatives to reserve a table. For more information, call 943-0444, email Michelle Puhacz at mdejesus@gpymca.org or visit the YMCA’s Facebook page, facebook.com/CranstonYMCA

Free concert in Warwick

The Greenwood Concert Choir will perform a program titled “Creation” on Sunday, June 2, at 5 p.m. at Greenwood Community Church, located at 805 Main Ave. in Warwick. John Black will conduct the chorus and professional brass ensemble in performing selections from Haydn’s “Creation” oratorio and favorite hymns of faith. Special performances will include youth and handbell choirs and soloists, in addition to the world premiere of a work for an organ and brass ensemble.

Admission is free, and a freewill offering will be collected. For more information, call 737-1230 or visit greenwoodconcertchoir.org.

Senior Guild installation luncheon

The Cranston Senior Guild will hold its installation luncheon on Wednesday, June 5, at noon at Mesa Café & Grill, 100 Rolfe Street, Cranston.

The luncheon will include guests’ choice of chicken marsala or baked fish, rolls, chicken escarole soup, salad, pasta, green beans and carrots. Dessert is a choice of tiramisu or a fresh fruit cup and coffee or tea. A raffle will follow the luncheon.

The cost is $25, with tax and tip included. Checks can be made payable to Cranston Senior Guild, and entrée and dessert options can be included in the memo line. For more information, call Sylvia at 944-6812.

Graphic Novel Book Club

The Cranston Public Library’s new Graphic Novel Book Club will begin June 5. The club will meet from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the Central Library, 140 Sockanosset Cross Road, Cranston. Registration is required.

The club will celebrate comics of all kinds, from the action-packed superhero variety and graphic memoirs to Japanese manga and more.

For more information or to register, visit the reference desk, go to cranstonlibrary.org or call 943-9080, ext. 3

Carnival and Vendor Fair

The Cranston YMCA, 1225 Park Ave, Cranston, will be hosting its first Out of School Time (OST) Carnival & Vendor Fair on June 6 from 6:30-8 p.m. The event will include a range of family-fun activities, including

face painting, temporary tattoos, a bounce house and more. Vendors will include Mobile Quest, Mastery Martial Arts, Snapology, Roger Williams Zoo and Palagi Brothers Ice Cream.

Tickets will be available at the event at a cost of $5 for 10 tickets or $10 for 25 tickets. For more information, contact Jess Tate, OST director, at jtate@gpymca.org.

Vendors needed

Vendors are being sought for a yard sale at Kelley Gazzerro VFW Post 2812, 1418 Plainfield St., Cranston, on June 8 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The vendor fee is $20 pet table. To secure a spot or for more information, call Lillian at 829-6080.

Grannie’s Attic Indoor Yard Sale

St. David’s on-the-Hill Episcopal Church, located at 200 Meshanticut Valley Parkway, will host its Grannie’s Attic Indoor Yard Sale on Saturday, June 8, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, visit stdavidsonthehill.net.

9th MS Dream Center Golf Tournament

The ninth annual MS Dream Center Golf Tournament will take place June 10 at Valley Country Club in Warwick. The tournament benefits the MS Dream Center in Cranston, which is dedicated to supporting individuals with multiple sclerosis and their loved ones.

Tournament registration and lunch starts at 11:30 a.m., with a shotgun start for golfers at 1 p.m. Dinner and the awarding of prizes begins at approximately 6 p.m. The event will feature raffles, dinner and a sports memorabilia auction from Sports And More.

Tournament sponsors include, but are not limited to, Commonwealth Soap, Aram Garabedian and Warwick Mall, Dan’s Place, Delta Mechanical, Wave Federal Credit Union, United Healthcare, Brown Neurology, Greenwood Credit Union, Maguire Disability Law, Mutual Cornell and Value Source International.

Sponsorship opportunities available for businesses and individuals. For more information, visit msdreamcenter.org or contact Anne Delsignore at anne@msdreamcenter.org.

Rochambeau Strawberry Biscuit Tea

Joy Homestead, located at 156 Scituate Ave. in Cranston, will present its 15th annual Rochambeau Strawberry Biscuit Tea on June 18 at 6 p.m. Join in the celebration of General Rochambeau’s four-day march through Rhode Island en route to a victory over British forces at Yorktown, Virginia, in 1781. For more information, visit cranstonhistoricalsociety.org.

Goodwill collection at Farmers Market

On Saturday, June 22 from 8 a.m. to noon, Goodwill of Southern New England will be present at the Pawtuxet Village Farmers Market, 60 Rhodes Place, Cranston, to accept donations of electronics and clothing/textiles. Electronics (except printers) will be accepted and need not be in working condition. The funds raised from all donations are reinvested in the training programs offered by Goodwill, furthering its mission to provide job training opportunities for youth and adults with disabilities and other challenges.

Reusable bag program to boost CCAP Food Bank

CCAP’s Food Bank has been selected to be a part of the Shaw’s supermarket “Give Back Where It Counts” reusable bag program, which is designed to make it easy for customers to contribute to their local community while supporting the environment. For the month of May, each time a reusable “Give Back Where It Counts” bag is purchased at the Shaw’s located at 8 Chapel View Blvd. in Cranston, $1 will be donated to CCAP's Food Bank, unless otherwise directed by the customer through the giving tag.

Philharmonic Youth Wind Ensemble auditions

The Rhode Island Philharmonic Youth Wind Ensemble is currently hosting auditions for students in grades seven through 12 for two groups – the Wind Ensemble, directed by John Knasas, and the Symphonic Winds, directed by Dr. David Neves.

Both directors are nationally recognized music educators and conductors, and provide a joyful, uplifting, All-State quality musical experience every week.

The Philharmonic Youth Wind Ensemble, part of the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra and Music School program, performs three concerts during the school year. Its members are recognized as being among the best players in Rhode Island.

For more information, contact manager Chelsea Anderson at canderson@riphil.org or Neves at dneves@ri-philharmonic.org.

Dog park opens

Cranston’s first dog park is now open, although a little soggy. Located at Beachmont Field in Edgewood, at the corner of Netherlands Avenue and Ashmont Street, the park has separate areas for large and small dogs. The park is small, but a major improvement over the two derelict tennis courts it replaced. Signs with rules have yet to be installed. Anyone using the park is asked to pick up after their dog and to not leave any litter.

Girls 3v3 Summer League basketball

Registrations are now being accepted for the Cranston Youth Girls Basketball Association’s 3v3 Outdoor Summer League. The program runs for eight weeks from July 8 to Aug. 29 and is open to girls ages 8-16.

Games will be played at the courts located at Doric Avenue and Hope Road on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday nights between 5:30-8:30 p.m. The playoffs will be held on the weekend of Aug. 31 and Sept. 1. Prior basketball experience is necessary and games will be played half-court with one referee.

Girls can register individually or as a team of five players. The cost is $50 per player if registered by June 16 (team $225) or $60 per player if registered between June 17-30 (team $275). There will be a waiting list for all players to register after July 1.

To register or for more information, visit cygba.org/registrations.php or contact league director PJ Thibodeau at cranstonyba@gmail.com or 617-548-0163. Family health services at CCAP

Tired of ineffective yet expensive medical care? Check out Family Health Services at the Comprehensive Community Action Program. CCAP offers affordable, 24/7, professional family health and dentistry services. The experienced staff includes physicians, nurse practitioners and other health care professionals who are caring, compassionate and highly skilled. New patients are welcome. For more information, call 384-6007.

United Way 2-1-1 at Central Library

 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.

Knit and Crochet Circle at Auburn Branch

Do you like to knit or crochet? Do you need some help with a knitting or crocheting project that has you stumped? Knitters and crocheters of all levels of experience are invited to join the Knit and Crochet Circle, led by experienced knitter Barbara Baedeker, on Mondays from 2-4 p.m. at the Cranston Public Library’s Auburn Branch, located at 396 Pontiac Ave. For more information, visit cranstonlibrary.org.

Did you know?

June is the first month of the summer season. It is also the month with the longest daylight hours of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. June’s birthstones are pearl, moonstone and alexandrite and its birth flowers are the rose and honeysuckle.

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