Oct. 9, The Evolution of Music Series at William Hall presented by Cranston Public Library begins with “The Evolution of Blues Music” on Wednesday, Oct. 9 at 6:30 p.m., followed by “The Evolution of Jazz Music” on Nov. 7 and “The Evolution of Pop Music” on Nov. 14. All programs are free and open to the public.

Oct. 9, Creating a Family Emergency Plan Free Workshop will be presented by Steve Branch on Wed., Oct. 9, from 6 to 8 p.m., at Red, White and Brew, 1800 Post Rd., #26, Warwick (Airport Plaza Lower Level).  Learn how to protect your loved ones. Pre-registration is required.  Cost is free. Register or for more information: FamilySafety.eventbrite.com or 401-230-7017.

Oct. 12, Hope’s Connection to the Ann & Hope Department Store will be presented by The Hope Historical Society on Sat., Oct. 12, at 2 p.m., at the Howland Barn, 35 Ryefield Road, Hope. Through a documentary, David Lawlor will visually connect Hope to the Brown Brothers, the massive Ann & Hope Mill in Lonsdale, RI, and the retail leader, Ann & Hope department stores.

Oct. 19 Saint David's on-the-Hill Episcopal Church Petapalooza will be held on Sat., Oct. 19, from 12 – 4 p.m., at 200 Meshanticut Valley Pkwy, Cranston. Pet blessings through the day with a 4 p.m. service. Pet vendor fair, raffles and refreshments. Rain date: Sat., Oct. 20, from 12 to 4 p.m.

Oct. 19, Southern RI Out of the Darkness Community Walk, will be held on Sat., Oct. 19, at 10:30 a.m. Registration and activities will begin at 9:30 a.m. at Salve Regina University, 100 Ochre Point Ave., Newport. Organized by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Rhode Island Chapter. For more details and to register, go to: afsp.org/northernri . Walk-up registration is also welcomed.

Oct. 20, Greenwood Fire Company and Museum Bingo will be on Sun., Oct. 20, at the Greenwood Fire Hall, 45 Kernick Street in Warwick.  Everyone is welcome.  Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and bingo starts at 6 p.m.  Registration is recommended; space is limited to 50 guests.  Reserve by leaving a message or text to Diane at 401-241-7203 or email greenwoodvfc1@gmail.com.  You must be 18 to play.  Snacks and drinks and bingo markers for sale.  No alcohol on premises.  Cash prizes and 50/50 special.  Price of admission is $15. 

Oct. 25, Cranston Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony for the Class of 2024, Fri. Oct. 25, 5 p.m., cocktails and appetizers at the Alpine Country Club, 251 Pippin Orchard Rd., Cranston. Tickets are $55 per person. Deadline to purchase is October 18, 2024.  Any questions, please contact Hall of Fame President, csoccio@cox.net.  Go to eventbrite.com  and search Cranston Hall of Fame.

Oct. 25, Charlie the Butler Ghost Party with Jared the Magician & Mentalist will be held on Fri., Oct. 25, at 7 p.m., at the Gov. Sprague Manson, 1351 Cranston St., Cranston. Tickets: $20 non-members CHS, $17 members.  Limited seating.  Costumes optional — no masks.  Light refreshments.  Age appropriate: 14 yrs. RSVP: 401-944-9226. Send checks by Sun., Oct. 20 to Cranston Historical Society, 1351 Cranston St., Cranston, RI 02920. After Oct. 20, please call to be sure there is availability.  Accessible entrance and parking in back of mansion.

Oct. 26, Moosup Valley Music Series will be held on Sat., Oct. 26, from 6 to 8 p.m., at Moosup Valley Church, 81 Moosup Valley Rd., featuring singers/songwriters Lara Herscovitch and Allysen Callery.  Light refreshments provided.  Pass-the-hat donations are welcome.  Proceeds benefit guest artists.  Support live, local music.  For more information, contact: Laurie 401-623-0320.

Oct. 26, Trunk or Treat hosted by the Cranston YMCA with many other Halloween activities on Sat., Oct. 26, at the Cranston YMCA, 1225 Park Ave., Cranston, from 3 to 7 p.m.  Candy donations are welcome. Registration is required, please call: 401-943-0444 or contact gfiguerreo@gpymca.org. This event is free and open to the public.

Nov. 2, Rhode Island Italian American Hall of Fame Inductions & A Salute to Sinatra, presented by Providence Auto Body on Sat., Nov. 2, at The Veterans Memorial Auditorium, 1 Ave. of the Arts, Providence. The Hall of Fame will induct physician and author Dr. Edward Iannuccilli and former New England Patriot and three-time Super Bowl champion Joe Andruzzi. Brian Duprey will perform a Salute to Sinatra concert accompanied by a 12-piece orchestra. Proceeds to benefit the organization’s scholarship fund. This event will be cohosted by NBC 10’s Gene Valicenti and former NBC 10 sportscaster and RIIAHF President, Joe Rocco. For time and ticket information: thevetsri.com or 401-421-2787.

Nov. 2, Harvest Festival Searching for Crafters and Vendors sponsored by The Church of the Transfiguration, will be held on Nov. 2, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., 1664 Broad Street, Cranston. If

interested in renting a 6 ft. table space for $30, please contact: transfigevents@outlook.com.

November 8, Cranston Cares Comedy Fundraiser is Fri., Nov. 8, at 6 p.m., Cranston Country Club, 69 Burlingame Rd., Cranston. Proceeds enable turkey donations for our veterans and active military families. Tickets are $22 pp.  For tickets: cranstoncares@gmail.com, or use the QR code on website:  cranstoncares.org.

Nov. 22, The Sojourner House Annual Masquerade Ball will be held on Fri., Nov. 22, at 7 p.m., at the Graduate Hotel, Grand Ballroom, 11 Dorrance St., Providence. Guests are invited to dance through the Enchanted Forest, a place where seeds of hope are planted and beauty blooms out of darkness. Proceeds support Sojourner House's life-saving victim advocacy and violence prevention work. For more information and to purchase tickets visit https://sojournerri.org/masquerade-ball/.

Nov. 23, St. Mary's Feast Society Ladies Auxiliary Craft and Vendor Show is scheduled for Sat., Nov. 23, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at St. Mary's Civita Hall, 15 Phenix Ave., Cranston. Tons of crafts, vendors, food, and so much more. This event is rain or shine!!  For more information or for a vendor table, please contact Maria at 401-499-0796.

Dec. 15, AARP Chapter 2210 Portland Symphony’s "The Magic of Christmas" Trip on Dec. 15. The trip includes lunch at Boon's Restaurant, orchestra seat at Portland Symphony's "The Magic of Christmas" & motorcoach transportation. Cost is $185/person. Call Maureen, 401-828-5188 or Anne, 401-263-4274 for reservations or for more information.

Jan. 5 thru 7, 2025, AARP Chapter 2210 Atlantic City Trip. The local AARP Chapter has planned a trip to Resorts Casino Hotel in Atlantic City from Jan. 5 thru 7. The Tour includes 2 nights’ accommodations, 2 meal credits (up to $20 value each) & $20 slot play. Bus pickup from the Exit 19 Park & Ride on Hopkins Hill Road at 7 a.m., return time is approximately 6 p.m. Cost is $299/person (double occupancy), $279/person (triple occupancy) or $399/person (single occupancy). For more information call Maureen at 401-828-5188 or Anne at 401-263-4272.

Every Monday through Friday, Virtual Dementia Caregiver Support Groups are specifically designed for people caring for loved ones with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Mon., 3:30 to 5 p. m.; Tues., 3 to 4:30 p. m.; Wed., 5 to 6:30 p. m.; Thurs. and Fri., 10 to 11:30 a. m. Information and registration, call 401-415-4664; or email to: info@HopeDementia.org. Follow us on Facebook @HopeHealth.

Every Monday, Gaspee Celtic Jam - The Gaspee Celtic Jam meets at the Pawtuxet Village Baptist Church, 2157 Broad St., Cranston, every Mon. from 7 to 9 p.m. Do you play fiddle, guitar, Irish flute, pennywhistle, bodhran, mandolin, banjo, concertina, accordion, folk harp, hammered dulcimer, Appalachian dulcimer, banjo, acoustic bass, ukulele, keyboard, recorder, or sing? All skill levels welcome. Visit www.gaspeecelticjam.org for more info (including the current tune list/tune book) or to send us any questions. No specific Celtic music experience is required.

 Every First and Third Monday Rhode Island Active Toastmasters meets, serving both Rhode Island and Southern MA. Rhode Island Active Toastmasters holds its meetings at New England Institute of Technology in East Greenwich, in Rm N214 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. For more information, please contact us Rhode Island Active Toastmasters.  All are welcome!

Every Tuesday, ASL Interpreted RI AA Meeting will be held at Phillips Memorial Baptist Church, 565 Pontiac Ave., Cranston from 7 to 8 p.m.

Every Second and Fourth Tuesday the Fall River Toastmasters Meeting, serving both Rhode Island and Southern Mass the Fall River Toastmasters holds its meetings. Doors open at 6 p.m. and meeting is from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Join us at The Chamber, 200 Pocasset St, Fall River, MA, 2nd floor. For more information, call Sean DaCosta at (508)-840-6621. All are welcome!

Every Thursday Cranston Farmers Market (weather permitting) 5 to 6:30 p.m., at the Bain Track, 135 Gansett Ave., Cranston. Free and open to Cranston residents only, while supplies last. Residents are encouraged to bring their own bag. Please contact Ivy at iswinski@comcap.org for more information. The Farmers Market will be held through Thurs., Aug. 15.

Every Thursday, Pick-Up Hockey 55 and older, coed: $5pp. Thayer Ice Rink, 975 Sandy Ln., Warwick, from 8:45 to 10:00 a.m. Full Equipment required. For more information contact:  Lon Krueger 302-229-3457 or bethlon@verizon.net.

Every Thursday,  Get-a-Job-Thursdays - We Make RI, an organization that provides free manufacturing training, hosts a series of job fairs every Thurs. from 11 a.m. to noon, 200 First Ave., Cranston. We Make RI offer job seekers a chance to meet with employers, get career counseling, resume help and more. Some employers include Swissline Precision, Admiral Packaging, KB Surfaces, Warwick Hanger and Hitachi Cable. For more information about this event or other training opportunities, visit www.wemakeri.com/get-a-job-thursday or contact Mike at (401) 232-0077 x109.

Every Saturday, Pawtuxet Village Farmer’s Market, thru Sat., Oct. 26, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Rhodes on the Pawtuxet, 60 Rhodes Place, Cranston.

PSA Free Gun Locks at Cranston Public Library Secure storage of weapons is now the law in Rhode Island.  A Free Gun Lock and Securing Weapons Safely information is available at the Reference Desk at the Central Library, 140 Sockanosset Cross Rd., Cranston.  Stop by for a free gun lock and literature on how to securely store weapons.  Doing so will save lives and make our communities safer.  Residents from all RI communities are welcome. This event is not endorsed by or affiliated with the Cranston Public Library.

 Oaklawn Grange Used Clothing Donation Shed in need of used clothing items at the Oaklawn Grange Donation Shed, 24 Searle Ave., Cranston. Accepted items only: Used Clothing, Shoes, Sneakers, Belts, Purses, Linens, Pillowcases, Blankets, Curtains, and Stuffed Animals. All items must be in useable condition. Your donations will be distributed as whole garments locally and worldwide. Contact oaklawngrangeinfo@gmail.com for more information.

NAMI-RI Offers Family Support Groups; the RI chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness offers free support groups for families and friends of loved ones struggling with mental health. Groups are led by trained facilitators with experience with family members. Meetings last 1.5 hours, and everyone gets a chance to share. Group members offer help and resources, when appropriate, based on their experiences. More information and full schedule can be found at namirhodeisland.org. or call 401-331-3060. No pre-registration for these monthly groups is necessary.

Volunteer with NAMI-RI The RI chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness is seeking volunteers to facilitate family programs in 2024. Free training is required and available for interested persons with loved ones struggling with mental health. Our grassroots volunteers, work every day to provide help and hope to millions of Americans. For more information about our family programs and volunteer training, email beth@namirhodeisland.org, call the NAMI-RI office 401-331-3060 or visit our website at www.namirhodeisland.org

Hearts for Hospice - Visiting Nurse Home and Hospice (VNH&H) is asking for individuals to support their hospice programs by giving $20 or more to their Hearts for Hospice campaign. People can dedicate their gift to a loved one who is always in their heart; all dedications are listed on the organization’s website. You can make your donation at www.visitinghursehh.org/giving/ or by calling 401-682-2100 extension number 1631.

Editor’s Note: To submit your news to The Chatter, send text and photos to Ida at idaz@rhodybeat.com. Items can include community events, promotions, academic news and nonprofit events. Email today and see your event in our column in the Cranston Herald.