‘Lettuce Begin’ gardening

Kids First RI and the Children’s Garden network are jointly launching “Lettuce Begin” — a food-growing campaign that encourages schools and youth organizations to plant a spring crop of lettuce and other greens to learn how food is grown and to enjoy the nutritional benefits. Schools and youth organizations can compete for cash awards by registering their school garden program along with a picture and story on the Children’s Garden Network Web site at www.childrensgardennetwork,org. All registered programs will be entered into a drawing for cash prizes. Photos and stories must be posted by June 15 to qualify.

‘Ride your bike to work day’

If you’re driving to or from work through Warwick or East Greenwich on May 15, expect to see a few extra bicyclists on the road. The two communities have jointly decided to invite their employees to participate in “Ride Your Bike to Work Day,” which is being promoted by the League of American Bicyclists. The towns have also scheduled a group ride for workers that day, beginning at 9 a.m. They will go from the Harbor Hill Complex at 5 Division St. in East Greenwich to the Potowomut Country Club in Warwick, where they will get a free continental breakfast.

Profitting from interns

The Tech Collective will be partnering with the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce and AICU Rhode Island to present a workshop — The College Connection: Attracting Affordable Talent Via Internships in a Challenging Economy — Wednesday from 8 a.m. to noon at the Rhode Island Convention Center, for $25, including a continental breakfast. Richard Bottner, founder and president of Intern Bridge, will provide the keynote address followed by a panel of educators, students and industry professionals. Register at www.tech-collective.

Free job-hunting help

Starting a job search? Office-supply chain Staples is offering free instant business cards and 20 free resumes through June 13. The offer is available in stores only, although Staples is also posting job-hunting skills on its Web site. The following Staples stores in the Providence area will offer the “Career Stimulus Program:” Barrington Shopping Center, 186 County Road (Route 114), Barrington; 551 North Main St., Providence; Smithfield Crossing, 371 Putnam Pike, (Route 44) Smithfield; Airport Plaza, at Post Road and Airport Road, Warwick; 175 West Highland Ave., Seekonk, Mass.; South Attleboro Square, 275 Washington St., Attleboro, Mass.

Extra points for meds

CVS Caremark Corp. has started a special promotion that offers customers extra reward points for using their CVS loyalty cards when buying prescriptions between May 1 and June 15. Through the “Double My Bucks!” promotion, shoppers simply present a certificate along with their CVS ExtraCare card to receive $2 in “Extra Bucks” for every two prescriptions filled. The certificates are available at the pharmacy counter at any CVS, online at CVS.com. and in weekly store circulars during May.

Economy tarnishes gift cards

Gift cards remain popular, but economic concerns are prompting some consumers to think twice before buying them, according to a report released this month by Hartman Group Inc. Forty-three percent of consumers said they were wary of buying retailer-issued gift cards, mainly out of concern that the merchants could go bankrupt and will not be around to honor them. The report also said people are loading less money on to gift products, largely because of the ongoing economic slump, though the researchers did not say how much money consumers are putting on them.

Massachusetts vacation deal

The Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism has launched its new Spring/Summer Mass Value Pass, which offers discounts of at least 25 percent on more than 300 Massachusetts attractions, lodging and restaurants statewide. This season’s pass can be used at many retail establishments as well. The program runs to June 30. Riding the success of the winter program, in which more than 22,000 people downloaded the pass in a three-month period, the state and the travel industry have again collaborated to bring consumers a Spring/Summer program. Go to massvacation.com and choose from a variety of money-saving adventures and download the pass. Betsy Wall, executive director of the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism, says, “There are great deals out there for a Massachusetts vacation. This promotion aims to provide travel discounts in ways that are easy to find and use.”