NEWS

Cranston Chatter

Posted 5/26/21

By MERI R. KENNEDY Pride flag-raising ceremony Cranston's third annual Pride flag-raising ceremony will be held Thursday, June 3, at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 869 Park Ave. The event will also be streamed live at theprogresschannel.com. The event will feature

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NEWS

Cranston Chatter

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Pride flag-raising ceremony

Cranston’s third annual Pride flag-raising ceremony will be held Thursday, June 3, at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 869 Park Ave. The event will also be streamed live at theprogresschannel.com. The event will feature speakers from the LGBTQ community and spoken word artists. To learn more, follow the event’s page on Facebook, “Cranston’s 3rd Annual Pride Flag Raising Ceremony.”

Mental health education

Anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, obsessive compulsive disorder, borderline personality disorder, post traumatic stress, suicide – all are topics many people prefer not to discuss, so the heartbreak and stigma continue.

If you have a loved family member or a friend who is struggling with a mental health issue, then the Rhode Island chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness can help. NAMI-RI (www.namirhodeisland.org) provides free and virtual education, support and resources. It is currently accepting registrations for its upcoming Family-to-Family course.

For more information, call (401) 331-3060 or mail beth@namirhodeisland.org.

Tender Love & Healing Day

Have you been hurt by past trauma? Have you been in a domestic violence situation or relationship? You’re not alone!

The RI Dream Center and Delicately Loved Women proudly present Tender Love & Healing Day, free of charge, on Saturday, June 12, at Praise Tabernacle Church on Park Avenue in Cranston.

Attendees will have the opportunity to pamper themselves at one of the free beauty stations, enjoy a few minutes of relaxation in the stretching station, listen to music, and enjoy food and refreshments. Child care will be provided and lots of fun planned for children as well. Each woman and child will receive a gift to bring home and there are lots of giveaways planned.

For more information, visit www.ridreamcenter.com.

Spring Craft & Vendor Show

The St. Mary’s Feast Society Ladies’ Auxiliary will hold a Spring Craft & Vendor Show on Saturday, June 12, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the St. Mary's Feast Society building on Phenix Avenue.

Vendors are asked to contact the St. Mary’s Feast Ladies Auxiliary or Maria Manzi for more information. Find the organization on Facebook.

Purple Pump Up

Beginning May 28, 18 Rapid Refill Convenience and Garrett’s Family Market locations throughout Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island, including the Rapid Refill Convenience Store at 1036 Reservoir Ave. in Cranston, will hold a seven-week campaign to benefit the Alzheimer's Association. Family-owned Volta Oil’s “Purple Pump Up for Alzheimer’s,” now in its 10th year, is the largest convenience store cause marketing campaign for the Alzheimer’s Association nationwide.

During the campaign, customers have the option to give donations at all stores both inside and at the gas pumps. Throughout its nine-year history, Purple Pump Up has raised more than $760,000 for Alzheimer’s care, support, and research. In 2019, the campaign raised over $147,000 alone.

In recognition of the Alzheimer’s Association’s The Longest Day fundraising and awareness effort, all locations will also donate 5 cents from every gallon of gas and diesel sold between June 19-20.

Platinum sponsors of the 2021 Purple Pump Up campaign include Global Webster Bank, Altria, Core-Mark, New England Ice Cream, and Shell. Gold sponsors of the campaign are Coca Cola and Pepsi. Purple Pump Up will run through July 18.

For more information about the campaign, a full list of participating locations, or to donate, visit www.purplepumpup.org.

Update on city’s Playground Program

Registration is now open for the Cranston Parks and Recreation Playground Program. Capacity at each camp location will be limited to 20 campers per week. Children must be registered for the entire week in order to maintain stable groups. No day rates are available.

This year, the department will take registration electronically through a Google Form link to be provided at the start of registration. The link will be posted on the department’s Facebook page and the department website, www.cranstonri.gov/departments/parks-and-recreation.

Once you complete the form, the department will be in touch to confirm your registration and send an invoice for the amount owed. If a site is full, you will be placed on a waiting list. Open slots will be filled from the wait list based on the time stamp of the registration form.

No payment will be due at the time of registration. You will receive an invoice via email. Payment must be made by June 25 by cash, check or money order. The office will be open to make payments only. Questions about camp should be made by email or phone to avoid crowds. Failure to pay could affect your child’s ability to attend camp.

Camp counselor jobs

The city’s Parks and Recreation Department will be accepting summer job applications for camp counselors through May 31. Applicants must be at least 16 by July 6, 2021, and a Cranston resident. Returning applicants will be given first consideration; open positions could be limited depending on the number of previous employees returning. Applications are available online at cranstonri.com and the Cranston Parks and Recreation Department Facebook page.

Completed applications can be sent to the Parks and Recreation Department or emailed to recreation program coordinator Scott Sevegny at ssevegny@cranstonri.org.

Snack Bar opening at Senior Center

The Snack Bar at the Cranston Senior Enrichment Center is open with Grab & Go items from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Available items will include coffee, tea, orange and cranberry juice, hot chocolate, bottled water, muffins, bagels, toast, eggs and milk. Additional items will be available daily. Please remember brown bag lunches are available for pickup between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. For more information, follow the Cranston Senior Enrichment Center on Facebook or visit www.cranstonseniorcenter.com.

Need a dress for prom?

Do you know someone attending prom and in need of a dress? Alexandra’s Boutique has donated over a hundred brand new, never worn prom dresses. The sizes are indicated on the dress. If there is one you like, please call one of the youth centers to come and pick it up, free of charge. Call the Cranston Youth Center at 562-8325.

Cranston RSVP seeking volunteers

The RSVP Program at Cranston’s Department of Senior Services is seeking volunteers to help to deliver brown bag lunches to seniors in the community, run errands for seniors and transport local homebound seniors to medical appointments.

You must be 55 years of age or older to volunteer and a BCI is required. Mileage reimbursement is given to cover travel costs. AmeriCorps Seniors will also provide insurance protection with three types of coverage – excess accident medical coverage, excess volunteer liability insurance and excess automobile liability insurance.

If you are interested in becoming an RSVP volunteer, contact Karen Porto at 780-6159 for an interview.

Summer jobs for young people

If you are 14 to 24 years old, CCAP’s Lean to Earn Program can prepare you for a great summer paid internship. CCAP’s youth employment, training and education programs provide a full range of services to young people enrolled in school and out of school. All enrollees are connected with a case manager to assist them in their education or employment goals throughout the program.

Programs offered include IT and manufacturing, interactive digital media and computer science, graphic communications, employer partner internships, intro to automotive, welding, it networking and marine trades and life skills.

For more information and to apply, visit www.cognitoforms.com/CCAPL2E/summer2021realskillsforyouth or call the Cranston Skills & Youth Center at (401) 525-0869.

Books @ Home

Through the Books @ Home program, the Cranston Public Library provides free home delivery of books and other materials to qualifying, homebound residents of Cranston.

It doesn’t matter if you are permanently or temporarily homebound. Books, music and videos are delivered every three weeks at no charge.

For more information about Books @ Home, call the library’s Auburn Branch at 781-6116 or visit www.cranstonlibrary.org/homebound-services.

Wonderful Weekend kits

The Cranston Public Library will be offering teens in grades six through 12 the chance to sign up for Wonderful Weekend kits. New kits will be announced every other Monday. To register, visit www.ow.ly/8Pfg50EgBG0.

CCAP Chip for Charity golf tournament

Save the date – CCAP has announced plans to hold its 2021 Chip for Charity golf tournament on Wednesday, Sept. 15, at Harbor Light Golf Club in Warwick. Sponsorships and foursomes are available. For more details, contact CCAP’s Lee Beliveau at (401) 562-8353 or lbeliveau@comcap.org.

As a nonprofit community action program, CCAP needs to raise funds to assist families it serves. A large number of families CCAP serves have lost their jobs, suffered an illness, or experienced a different type of crisis, usually through no fault of their own. Last year, CCAP touched the lives of more than 40,000 people and provided over $1.2 million in uncompensated services.

Chip for Charity, presented by Neighborhood Health and Mutual of America, is CCAP’s largest fundraiser during the year to benefit its programs and services.

Cranston Y to offer Summer Enrichment Camp

The Cranston YMCA will be hosting Summer Enrichment Camp and is looking forward to bringing all of its amazing enrichment opportunities back into the Y. Students will have the opportunity to swim, play outdoors, take part in STEM activities, do arts and crafts, and so much more.

The camp will run for 10 weeks, beginning June 28 to July 2. The final week will run from Aug. 30 to Sept. 3, pending the return date for Cranston Public Schools.

The cost for YMCA members is $245 per week, while the cost for non-members is $300 per week. Financial assistance is available.

For more information, contact Jess Tate, camp director, at jtate@gpymca.org.

CCAP Emergency Housing Assistance

The Comprehensive Community Action Program’s Emergency Housing Assistance program assists individuals and families living in Cranston, Coventry, Scituate and Foster with back rent, security deposits, mortgage assistance, late fees associated with back rent or mortgage, moving costs and utilities. Funding is limited. For more information, call CCAP at (401) 467-7013 or visit www.comcap.org.

RI Housing offers loans

RI Housing’s Hardest Hit Fund Rhode Island (HHFRI) program is offering zero-interest, forgivable loans to eligible Rhode Island homeowners who became unemployed or underemployed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and are struggling to make their mortgage payments.

Loan proceeds may provide eligible homeowners with up to six months of mortgage payment assistance and a mortgage will be recorded on the homeowner’s property. Learn more about the loan program and eligibility at www.rihousing.com/hhfri.

Be Kind RI

Be Kind RI is a new program that connects volunteers to their neighbors across Rhode Island through text alerts to coordinate food deliveries from grocery stores and food pantries. To sign up, go to www.BeKindRI.org. Volunteers must be 18 or older and undergo our background check. Be Kind RI is open to those in Rhode Island experiencing COVID-19 risk factors, including seniors 65 and older, anyone with underlying health conditions, those in quarantine or isolation, anyone experiencing a lack of childcare, and those who would otherwise experience difficulty in obtaining food. For assistance signing up, call 877-958-8785.

Zero Isolation Program

Are you bored? Lonely? Looking for new experiences? The Zero Isolation Program may be for you.

Cranston RSVP is assisting Dr. Nicholson of Quinnipiac University School of Nursing in offering an online program to enhance social integration.

You will be able to meet new people and learn about psychosocial conditions while taking part in interactive small-group activities. Seniors 60 years of age and older participate for about 90 minutes per week for six weeks.

To express interest in participating or for additional details, contact Dr. Nicholson at (203) 582-6542 or nicholas.nicholsonjr@gmail.com.

CCAP Portal now available

Need a hand with your rent or utilities? CCAP’s new Online Application Portal can help.

As part of its continuous effort to provide the best possible service, CCAP is pleased to announce the launch of the new application platform at www.apply.comcap.org.

With a goal of expanding access to CCAP’s social services programs, the application portal will improve clients’ access to up-to-date housing and utility assistance program information and allow clients to upload documents and electronically sign applications.

For questions about the new portal, email info@comcap.org or call 467-7013.

Did you know?

Originally known as Decoration Day, Memorial Day originated in the years following the Civil War and became an official federal holiday in 1971. Many Americans observe Memorial Day by visiting cemeteries or memorials, holding family gatherings and participating in parades. Unofficially, it marks the beginning of the summer season.

(Source: Memorial Day Fun Facts)

To submit your news from the community, email Meri R. Kennedy at CranstonChatter@aol.com. This includes virtual events which should be submitted two to three weeks ahead of the event. Photos in jpg format are accepted and news can include community events, promotions, academic news and nonprofit events. Email today and see your news in our column in the Cranston Herald.

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