NEWS

Workforce Wednesday

Posted 8/25/21

By MERI R. KENNEDY Workforce Wednesday On Sept. 8, the Cranston Public Library's Central Library will offer a program entitled "Workforce Wednesday" beginning at noon through 3 p.m. Job seekers and employers will be able to engage and connect directly

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NEWS

Workforce Wednesday

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On Sept. 8, the Cranston Public Library’s Central Library will offer a program entitled “Workforce Wednesday” beginning at noon through 3 p.m.

Job seekers and employers will be able to engage and connect directly with individuals and resources to help navigate to a successful workforce development outcome.

Visit www.cranstonlibrary.org/workforce-wednesdays to learn more.

Shakespeare Under the Stars

“Shakespeare Under the Stars” will come to Cranston on Friday and Saturday, Aug. 27-28, at the Governor Sprague Mansion, located on Cranston Street.

What Cheer, Shakespeare? Theatre Company, founded by Cranston resident Joseph Wallace and his partner Karen Valcourt, will be staging Shakespeare’s comedy “Two Gentlemen of Verona” at 7 p.m. both nights, weather permitting.

The company has been producing “Shakespeare Under the Stars” in various locations throughout southern New England. It is the longest continuously running Shakespeare company now performing in Rhode Island. With a style that can be best described as “irreverent,” the company strives to bring Shakespeare to everybody, regardless of their previous experience or knowledge. While remaining true to the text, the actors wear modern clothes, and there’s almost no scenery. The focus is on entertaining the audience with some of the greatest works ever produced.

Several members of Wallace’s and Valcourt’s Company are former students from the drama program at Cranston High School East, where Wallace has taught for 31 years. Rhode Island theater veterans also make up the cast and crew, including director Christopher Ferreira, who has worked for most of the amateur theater companies in the state.

Tickets for the event cost $20 online at eventbrite.com and $22 at the door. Children 14 and under will be admitted free of charge. For more information, call or text (508) 933-4233.

Community walk to fight hunger

A walk to call attention to food insecurity and raise funds for local pantries is being planned by a group of area churches, including Woodbury Union, Lakewood Baptist, St. Benedict, St. Kevin, and St. Mark’s. The walk will be held on Saturday, Oct. 16. An informational planning meeting will be held on Saturday, Aug. 28 at 10 a.m. at Woodbury Union Church at 58 Beach Ave. in Warwick. All interested community churches, organizations and individuals are invited to attend. Call (401) 737-8232 or email woodburychurchri@gmail.com for more information.

Mindfulness Meditation

Mindfulness Meditation will be held at the Warwick Center for the Arts, 3259 Post Road in Warwick, on the first and third Mondays of each month, led by Paulette Miller. It is free and open to the public.

The sessions offer a westernized, secular version of Vipassana, also known as insight, open-hearted and analytic meditation. Sessions often include guided breathing meditation, movement meditation, loving-kindness meditation, and music meditation. The meditation exercises are guided and no experience is necessary.

For further information, visit www.warwickcfa.org or call (401) 737-0010.

MS Dream Center seeks ‘Exceptional Individual’ nominees

The MS Dream Center is looking to reward outstanding individuals in the community by recognizing their efforts to “make a difference,” and we need your help! Nominate someone for the “Exceptional Individual Contest” and tell us why you think that person is deserving of being acknowledged.

Three people will be chosen and each will receive two tickets to the upcoming “An Evening to Remember” event on Saturday, Sept. 25, starting at 6 p.m. at the Crowne Plaza in Warwick. Each person will receive special recognition at the event.

Entries must be received by Wednesday, Sept. 1, via online submission at msdreamcenter.org; please include contact information of nominator and nominee as winners will be contacted directly. Winners will be determined by representatives of the MS Dream Center and Accessible RI.

Greek Festival dates announced

The dates of the 35th annual Cranston Greek Festival have been announced as Sept. 10-12, 2021. More updates will follow.

Cranston High School East celebrates 61st reunion

Cranston High School East’s class of 1960 will hold its 61st reunion on Sept. 12, 2021, at the Cranston Country Club. A social hour will begin at noon and dinner with entertainment follows at 1 p.m.

The cost is $50 per person and the deadline to respond is Sept. 1. For details and reservations, contact Dolores DiMeo Carroll at (401) 942-0949 or dolores1120@verizon.net.

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.

RI State Police Citizens Academy now accepting applications

Have you ever wanted to get an inside look at the Rhode Island State Police?

Applications are now open for the 2021 Rhode Island State Police Citizens Academy. The six-week academy meets every Monday from 6 to 9 p.m., Sept. 27 through Nov. 1.

The curriculum includes briefings and hands-on experience in officer safety, patrol operations and procedures, response to resistance, domestic violence investigations, critical incident/victim assistance, and investigative techniques.

Seats are limited, and applications must be received by Sept. 17. Apply today. For additional information and to apply online, visit www.ow.ly/tdYB50FLZIF.

Senior Golf Tournament returns

The Cranston Senior Enrichment Center has announced that the Cranston Senior Golf Tournament is back. The event will be held at the Cranston Country Club on Oct. 4 and Oct. 5 with an 8 a.m. shotgun start. Registration costs $85 per person and includes 18 holes of golf with cart, continental breakfast, grilled hot dog and chips, a banquet immediately following play, and a great day of fun for all. For more information, call Jane at the center at (401) 780-6220.

Church seeking vendors for Holiday Bazaar

Our Lady of Grace Church, located at 4 Lafayette St. in Johnston, would like invite vendors to participate in its Holiday Bazaar on Oct. 17. There will be crafters, vendors, a penny social, food and more. For information, contact Pat Leon at (401) 529-7592.

New Hope Art Gallery open

Ricky Gagnon, director of the New Hope Art Gallery located in the Cranston Senior Enrichment Center at 1070 Cranston St., has announced the gallery is once again open with a new show coming this fall. The grand opening of the fall show will be held on Tuesday Oct. 26, from 4 to 7:30 p.m. Come visit and enjoy the art. Regular gallery hours are Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except holidays.

Reunion for Mt. Pleasant High School class of 1970

The 50th class reunion for Mt. Pleasant High School will be held on Oct. 29 at the Santa Maria DiPrata Society, located at 29 Walnut Grove Ave. in Cranston. The evening will begin at 6:30 and run through 11:30 p.m.

Tickets cost $50 per person. Please contact Vin DeTora at (401) 232-0856 or Joan LaVallee Gelfuso at (401) 578-2220 and RSVP by Oct. 5.

Dahlia show in NK

The Rhode Island Dahlia Society will have its annual Dahlia Show at the Cold Spring Community Center, located at 36 Beach St. in North Kingstown, on Sept. 11 from 4 to 7 p.m. and Sept. 12 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. There will be a large variety of dahlias on display, along with special arrangements, and vases of dahlias with other flowers for sale. Members of the RI Dahlia Society will be on hand to answer any questions. Please visit the society’s website for membership and other information at www.rhodeislanddahliasociety.org.

Volunteer at NAMI-RI

The RI chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness provides free family support groups and educational programs. These resources exist because friends and family members like you are passionate about sharing what they’ve learned and determined to pay it forward. The value of your voice, shared experience, and leadership is truly priceless to those who are struggling. Please consider reaching out and helping to create healthy, supportive communities across Rhode Island where good mental health for all can be our shared reality.

NAMI Family-to-Family is a free eight-session educational program for families, significant others, and friends of people living with mental illness. It is a designated evidenced-based program. NAMI-trained family members lead the course with presentations, discussions, and interactive exercises. If you would like to learn more about how to qualify to teach NAMI Family-to-Family, please visit the Rhode Island chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness at namirhodeisland.org, call (401) 331-3060 or email info@namirhodeisland.org.

RSVP transportation volunteers

The Cranston Senior Enrichment Center’s RSVP program needs volunteers to help in many ways in the community. One is to transport homebound seniors to medical appointments or run errands for them.

The program is also seeking RSVP school readiness volunteers to assist Glen Hills Elementary School’s staff and students with an array of school activities and events.

Also needed are RSVP recycling volunteers who educate the community with assistance and guidance from Rhode Island Resource Recovery professionals on a variety of topics such as waste reduction and reuse, recycling and composting. Learn more about Resource Recovery – who they are, what they do, how they work, and much more, including a tour of the facility.

If you are interested in becoming a Cranston RSVP volunteer, contact Karen at (401) 780-6159 for an interview. You must be 55 years of age or older to volunteer and a BCI is required. A mileage reimbursement is given to cover your travel cost. RSVP also provides insurance protection in the event that your or someone else is injured while performing your volunteer duties.

What if you do not drive or do not have a vehicle? No worries. RSVP will provide you with transportation to your volunteer station.

Over 65 Golf League

Attention all golfers 65 and older – if you are interested in golfing in a mixed league, the Over 65 Golf League, on Mondays at Harbor Lights, 150 Gray St., Warwick, please contact Carol Desforges at Desac63@gmail. Please indicate your name, phone number and email in your message.

To be a member or a spare (sub) in the league, you pay dues which include season play (May- Sept. 13, 2021), playoffs (Sept. 20- Oct. 4), scramble tournament (Oct. 13) and a banquet with distribution of prizes (Oct. 13). The membership dues are $55, or $30 for spares not attending the banquet.

Books at home

The Cranston Public Library offers homebound services for Cranston residents who still live in their own home or apartment. Patrons may be permanently homebound or temporarily unable to drive because of illness or injury.

The service is completely free. There are no charges or overdue fees.

A volunteer driver will deliver to patrons once every three weeks. Materials available include books (in regular or large print), audiobooks, magazines, music CDs, and documentary DVDs.

To learn more, visit cranstonlibrary.org/homebound services. Contact Karen McGrath by phone at (401) 781-6116 or email at karenmcgrath@cranstonlibrary.org to register for the service or become a volunteer driver.

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 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.

Bowl for Kids’ Sake

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Rhode Island will host its fifth annual Bowl for Kids’ Sake (BFKS) event on Saturday, Sept. 25, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Lang’s Bowlarama in Cranston.

Participants can sign up in teams of five to participate in a private bowling party, and raise donations from family, friends and colleagues leading up to the event – with a fundraising goal of $100 for each participant.

You’ll also have the chance to win raffle prizes … and really great karma for giving back to local kids!

No experience is required – just a desire to have fun and support youth mentoring. All of the proceeds from this event stay in Rhode Island and help Big Brothers Big Sisters fulfill its mission. Donate today or register your team at www.secure.qgiv.com/event/bbbsri2021.

Providence Brigade Band

This year marks the 25th year for the Providence Brigade Band. The original band was founded in 1846 and performed until around 1890. The band reemerged 150 years after its original founding to perform again.

The band portrays a brass band from 1850 to 1875 and performs music from before, during and after the American Civil War. They play authentic musical arrangements from the period and use original instruments from the era that the band provides. Also, they wear authentically reproduced uniforms typically worn by militia or military bands at that time.

The Providence Brigade Band, which is a registered nonprofit organization, will hold open rehearsals on Tuesdays from 7 to 9 p.m. during the month of August. Brass players, especially trumpet players, are encouraged to attend and check us out. The rehearsal location is in Cranston. For more information about the band, visit pbband.org or call (401) 374-4718. There is no fee to join, and all ages are encouraged to apply.

Did you know?

Did you know that an early version of the typewriter was invented by a Newport resident?

This early typewriter, also referred to as a “literary piano,” was patented by Dr. Samuel Ward Francis in 1857. It was based on his principal improvement on earlier models, including arranging the letter hammers in a circle so that each would strike in the same place on the paper. The paper would move in conjunction with the keys. The keys moved in function with wires and bell-cranks, similar to the function of a piano, hence the “literary piano” designation.

Francis was born in New York City on Dec. 26, 1835, and relocated to Newport in the 1860s, where he resided until his death in March 1886. An avid inventor, he obtained 17 patents during his life. In addition to his inventions, he was a practicing medical doctor and published several books. Following his move to Newport, he was a consulting surgeon at Newport Hospital and founder of the Newport Natural History Society.

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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