Editor's note: Due to the COVID-19 situation, many organizations have canceled or postponed events scheduled for the coming weeks. We advise readers to check on the status of various events, and we will provide updates as they become available.

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. Come out and support these musicians in their 2020 show “Strength and Honor.”

Doors open at 4 p.m. Color guard performances begin at 5 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.

Bulky waste pickup in March

During the month of March, the city’s Department of Public Works offers residents an opportunity to have bulky waste items picked up free of charge, with certain restrictions.

Residents must call Waste Management at 800-972-4545 to schedule a free bulky waste pickup. Pickups are limited to one scheduled trip with up to three items per residential unit. Bulky waste does not include mattresses, construction debris, TVs or electronic goods, white goods or any household trash/garbage bags that would fit into a city-provided 65-gallon trash cart or overflow bags.

For more information, visit the city’s website, cranstonri.com.

Front entrance temporarily closed at Hall Library

The front entrance to the William Hall Library, located at 1825 Broad St. in Cranston, closed March 9 due to construction. The closure is anticipated to last two to three weeks as the work continues. Patrons may enter the building through the rear entrance by the parking lot. Visit cranstonlibrary.org for updates.

Easter Egg Hunt

The city of Cranston and Cranston Parks & Recreation Department will be hosting an Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 4, at the Cranston Stadium. It will be begin at 10 a.m. and conclude by 11:30 a.m. and is meant for Cranston children in grade two and younger.

Toddlers who need assistance will be allowed on the field first. The Easter Bunny plans to visit and photo opportunities will be available. There will also be several Easter baskets to be won.

A rain date has been set for the following day, April 5. For more information, visit the city’s website, cranstonri.com, or follow the Parks & Recreation Department on Facebook.

Cranston Rotary scholarships

Once again, the Cranston Rotary Club will award four scholarships to one graduating senior from each of the four Cranston high schools.

Students are invited to apply to their scholarship before April 10. Awards will be made at Rotary dinner meeting on June 10 at the Edgewood Yacht Club. The award amount varies each year based on the success of the club’s fundraising efforts. Each award will be at least $1,000.

All applications will be reviewed by a committee of Rotarians. Students can download an application for the scholarships at rotaryclubofcranston.org.

Citizens Police Academy

Cranston residents interested in law enforcement and public safety are encouraged to apply for the city’s Citizens Police Academy, a 10-week program that will begin in April. Registration will be open until March 31.

The free program will meet on Tuesday nights at 6 p.m., starting April 7. All applicants must be at least 18 years old.

The hands-on curriculum will include classroom presentations and demonstrations of “real-life” police scenarios. Through the program, the department hopes to offer a better understanding of the world of law enforcement to the general public.

Topics covered will include patrol functions, detectives, BCI, guns and weapons, K-9 officers and more.

Applications can be submitted on the Cranston Police Department’s website, cranstonpoliceri.com. For more information, contact Officer Glenn Cipalone at gcipalone@cranstonpoliceri.com or call 477-5153.

‘Chester Loves Mabel’ at Historical Society

The Cranston Historical Society, located at the Governor Sprague Mansion Museum on Cranston Street, will be hosting “Chester Loves Mabel” on Tuesday, March 24, at 7 p.m.

Nina Dillion will present “Chester Loves Mabel” from her current blog following the life and love of two Cranstonians based on their letters starting in 1907.

Both of these Cranstonians lived on Gladstone Street. Mabel, a music teacher, boarded at 116 Gladstone St., and Chester lived with his parents and brothers at 79 Gladstone St. A romance developed between them.

In the summer of 1907, Mabel went on a vacation with her parents to Alton, New Hampshire, leaving behind a heartsick Chester. He wrote her a series of impassioned letters that Nina later found. What makes the blog interesting is that Nina has added photos of the places and things that Chester mentions in his letters, providing added insight into life in 1907.

The meeting is open to the public, and light refreshments will be served. For more information, contact 944-9226 or visit cranstonhistoricalsociety.org.

Sprague Mansion spring cleaning

The Cranston Historical Society welcomes volunteers to join in for its annual Spring Clean Up & Grounds Beautification, to be held on both March 28 and April 4 on the grounds of Governor Sprague Mansion, 1351 Cranston St., Cranston. Clean ups will be held 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day.

Youth Art Contest at zoo

Roger William Park Zoo’s third annual Youth Art Contest on Endangered Species opened March 1.

In celebration of Endangered Species Day on May 15, the zoo is accepting art entries from local K-12 students and homeschoolers in the New England area depicting threatened/endangered species. Endangered Species Day is an opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of protecting endangered species and their habitats, and what can be done to help protect them.

All entries are to be submitted electronically. Students’ artwork must be original. Computer-generated and traced images will not be judged.

All artwork must depict threatened/endangered species. Each art entry must also include a short explanation as to why saving the chosen species/subject from extinction is important.

Entries must be received by April 19. Late entries will not be judged.

All artwork becomes the property of Roger Williams Park Zoo. Submission of the artwork grants the zoo a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to publish a student’s/child’s artwork in its editorial, educational, and promotional print and digital materials, and on social media. All published artwork will be credited “Artist’s Name.”

For additional information, visit rwpzoo.org.

Surveys for Health Equity Zone

The Cranston Health Equity Zone community surveys are now live. There is an adult survey (available in English, Spanish, and Khmer) and a teen survey. The survey will ultimately be used to inform initiatives to improve health in Cranston. Everyone who takes the survey will be entered in to win one of five raffle prizes. Results will be reported back to the community in the spring.

The adult survey can be found at surveymonkey.com/r/9SYXM3W, while the teen survey is available at surveymonkey.com/r/35SB2SX.

For additional information, contact karrington@comcap.org or 714-7004.

Diversity Commission survey

The city’s Diversity Commission has been meeting for several months to ensure that the city is effectively reaching out to its citizens regarding employment opportunities for all. It is currently asking for input from residents and participation in a three-minute community assessment survey regarding the city’s employment strategies. The survey is available in multiple languages and can be found at bit.ly/2RiYOZc.

Osteoporosis prevention program

An osteoporosis prevention exercise program based on the guidance of Dr. Miriam E. Nelson and Strong Living Program of Tufts University will be held every Monday and Thursday from 10-11 a.m. at Edgewood Congregational Church, located at 1788 Broad St.

To attend the classroom in the church, participants must be in good health to climb the stairs. Participants should bring hand and/or ankle weights specifically appropriate for their own ability, as well as water and comfortable clothes.

A donation of $5 is requested. These one-hour classes include a combination of weight bearing, balance and stretching exercises. They also include standing and sitting exercises, using hand weights and ankle weights for resistance training.

Most exercises will be seated (think “chair yoga”) with some gentle aerobic exercises.

For more information, contact the instructor, Alisson Walsh, at 451-2172 or alissonbw@gmail.com.

50th reunion for Cranston East

Cranston High School East class of 1970 will hold its 50th reunion on Aug. 8 at the Cranston Country Club. Cocktail hour starts at 6 p.m. followed by a buffet dinner and music by Tommy Tunes. The Reunion Committee is seeking help in locating classmates. Please send information to Jim Brailsford at jimbo521@cox.net or Barbara Russo at twinn52@yahoo.com.

Call for poetry

Cranston-based nonprofit Notable Works has announced a call for poetry submissions for consideration in its next publication. The theme is “Voices of the Earth: People Helping People/Resilience.”

Poetry submissions may be emailed to noreeninglesi@cox.net or mailed to Notable Works Publication and Distribution Co. Inc., PO Box 8122, Cranston, RI 02920. Those whose work is selected for publication will receive a complimentary copy of the book upon its release.

The deadline for submissions is May 1. For more information, visit notableworks.org.

Tax assistance at library

The Cranston Public Library will host an AARP tax aide at the Central Library every Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. through April 9. Each taxpayer must bring a Social Security card, photo ID and last year’s tax return, with no exceptions. There are no appointments and assistance is provided on a first come, first served basis. For more information, call AARP at 1-888-687-2277.

Winter story times at Hall Library

The William Hall Library will offer winter story times each week. The library will be offering Discovery Storytime on Monday mornings at 10:30 a.m. for ages 3-5, and Babies in the Hall on Thursday mornings at 10:30 a.m. for ages 0-2. No registration or tickets will be required. For more information, visit cranstonlibrary.org.

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.

Pickleball schedule

The Cranston Parks and Recreation Department is offering Pickleball at the Pastore Youth Center, located at 155 Gansett Ave. It will be held on Sundays from 4:30-7:30 p.m. through March 21. Monday and Wednesday times of noon to 2:15 p.m. will remain unchanged through the winter.

The fee is $3 per person per day. The program is open to Cranston residents and nonresidents. For more information, visit the Parks and Recreation page on the city’s website, cranstonri.com.

Cranston High School class of 1960 reunion

Cranston High School’s class of 1960 plans to hold its 60th reunion on Sept. 12, 2020, at the Cranston Country Club. The cost will be $50 per person. For more information, contact Joan Farmanian Fratterelli at 349-3922.

Toys and Tunes

Drop by Oak Lawn Branch Library, 230 Wilbur Ave., on Friday mornings from 10-11:30 a.m. this fall for Toys and Tunes, a play time program with music and stories. The program is open to ages 0-5 with a parent/caregiver. Registration is not required. For more information, visit cranstonlibrary.org.

Cookbook Club at the library

The Cranston Public Library’s Cookbook Club is a new book club for adults with a tasty twist. In this club, participants will read a different cookbook each month and come together to share the tasty recipes that lie inside their pages.

For more information or to sign up, contact Corrie at 943-9080, ext. 129, or calves@cranstonlibrary.org.

Delivery of library books

The Cranston Public Library will deliver any item that has a three-week loan period. Patrons never pay a late fee or fine because the library picks up all the materials within that three-week time frame.

Volunteers deliver books in regular or large print, as well as audiobooks, magazines, music CDs and documentary DVDs, to any homebound Cranston resident living in their own home. Due to concerns about chain of custody, the library is unable to deliver to nursing homes or assisted living facilities. To register or to become a volunteer driver, contact Karen McGrath at 781-6116 or karenmcgrath@cranstonlibrary.org.

Caregiver volunteers needed

Volunteers are being sought to provide respite services for home bound seniors. Services include providing companionship, running errands and providing transportation to medical appointments.

If you are interested in becoming an RSVP caregiver volunteer, contact Karen at 780-6159 for an interview. Volunteers must be 55 years of age or older and a BCI check is required. A mileage reimbursement is provided to cover the cost to travel.

St. David’s hall rentals

St. David’s on-the-Hill Episcopal Church, located at 200 Meshanticut Valley Parkway in Cranston, offers affordable rates to rent its upper and lower halls for events of all kinds. For more information, visit stdavidsonthehill.net/hall-rental or contact the church office Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 942-4368.

Did you know?

What started St. Patrick’s Day? It began as a religious celebration in the 17th century to commemorate the life of Saint Patrick and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland. This “Feast Day” always took place on the anniversary of Patrick’s death, which was believed to be March 17 in 461 A.D. (Source: St. Patrick’s Day Fun Facts)

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