Community Briefs

Volunteers needed: Pawtucket Arts Festival needs volunteers for some events, including the Festival Gala, which will be held Sept. 5 from 4 to 10 p.m. at the Slater Mill Historic Site. Volunteers are also needed for the Dragon Boat Races, Sept. 6 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the School Street Pier, the Stone Folk Fest, Sept. 13 and 14 at Slater Memorial Park; and the Rhode Island Philharmonic Pops in the Park on Sept. 13 at Slater Memorial Park. For more information, call Diane Agostini, (401) 724-5200 or visit www.pawtucketartsfestival.org.

Battle of the Bands: The Battle of the Bands, a musical competition featuring prizes of cash and musical instruments, will be held Sept. 13. The competition takes place at the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket’s Elson Clubhouse on School Street from 1 to 4 p.m. The competition is open to performers from two age groups: 12 to 14 years old (or grades 6 to 8) and 15 to 18 years old (or grades 9 to 12). Bands from Rhode Island and surrounding communities are invited to enter.

Three collective musical categories will be judged: rock and blues; rap, hip-hop and rhythm & blues; and Latino and world beat. Each competing band will have 12 to 15 minutes to impress the audience and judges. Cash prizes will be awarded to the winner in each category, and musical instruments donated by local merchants will also be awarded. In addition, all participants will be eligible for raffle prizes. Every band will receive a certificate of participation.

Applications can be picked up at the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket or downloaded at www.bgcpawt.org or www.pawtucketartsfesitval.org. The deadline for submitting applications is Sept. 5. For more information, call Allan Young, (401) 722-8840.

Events

Concerts: Arts in the Park concerts are held Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. at Slater Park. The schedule is: tomorrow, Live Coverage; July 17, Brass Attack; July 24, The Driftwoods; July 31, John Connors & The Irish Express; Aug. 7, Atwater & Donnelly; Aug. 14, Bandstand Revue; and Aug. 21, Nightlife Orchestra. Performances will be held at Daggett Farm in front of the Daggett Delights Food Concession. In case of rain or wet grounds, the concert will be rescheduled.

Children’s performances: Arts in the Park children’s performances are held Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. in Slater Park. The schedule is Tuesday, Johnny the K, children’s singer; July 22, Toe Jam Band, music and comedy; July 29, Les Julian, children’s singer; Aug. 5, T-Bone, singing and comedy; Aug. 12, Lon Cerel, magic and balloons; and Aug. 19, Keith Johnson, comedy, juggling and magic. The performance area is between the park office and the Daggett House across from the tennis courts. In case of inclement weather, performances will be rescheduled.

Riverfront concerts: Pawtucket Riverfront Commission will host Riverfront concerts every Sunday, now through Aug. 24, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Veterans’ Memorial Amphitheater next to Pawtucket City Hall, Roosevelt Avenue. Admission is free. The schedule is: Sunday, Pendragon; July 20, Arthur Medeiros Big Band; July 27 and Aug. 3, Mixed Magic Theatre presents The Tempest performance; Aug. 10, Soul Ambition; Aug. 17, Charlene Marie and Nashville Bound; and Aug. 24, Vini Ames & Sh-Bop. In case of inclement weather, call the Blackstone Valley Visitor Center, (401) 724-2200, for up-to-date information.

Swing-band music: Arthur Medeiros Swing Band will perform Tuesdays, July 29 to Sept. 2, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Veterans’ Memorial Amphitheater next to Pawtucket City Hall, Roosevelt Avenue. Admission is free.

Beach Bus: RIPTA will run its Beach Bus from Pawtucket to Scarborough, Salty Brine and Wheeler beaches through Aug. 11. A one-way trip to the beach is $1.75, payable on board. The bus leaves Pawtucket City Hall, Roosevelt Avenue, at 9:32 a.m. and arrives at Salty Brine beach (Galilee) at 10:35 a.m. The bus leaves Galilee at 3:05 p.m. and returns to Pawtucket at 4:08 p.m. For more information, call (401) 781-9400 or visit www.ripta.com.

Library Programs

Pawtucket Public Library, 13 Summer St., will host stories and songs at the library for preschoolers and children in grades K-2. The program will be held Tuesdays at 3 p.m., now to Aug. 5.

The library will host Teen Tuesdays, now through Aug. 13 from 3 to 4:15 p.m., open to students entering grades 6 through 12. A different craft project will be held each week. The program is free, and no signup is needed.

Family movies will be shown Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m., today, July 23 and Aug. 6. Children, ages 10 and older, may attend without a parent.

The nonfiction book club will meet tomorrow at 7 p.m. to discuss The Zookeeper’s Wife, by Diane Ackerman. New members can join at any time.

AnneMarie Forer (Ant Annie) and Cindy Killavey (Ms. Bee) are the “Take Two” Tag Team Tellers. The Take Two Storytellers will be at the library Friday at 2 p.m. The program includes stories, songs and audience participation.

Animal Experiences with Dave Marchetti will be held at the library, Monday at 6:30 p.m. Participants can learn about, and see, a variety of animals.

Teens entering grade 6 through college are invited to an arcade afternoon featuring Dance, Dance Revolution and other interactive games. The program will be held July 18, Aug. 1 and 15 from 2:30 to 4 p.m.

David Gracer, an entomophagist (guy who eats bugs), will be at the library July 21 at 6:30 p.m. Participants can learn about cultures where eating insects is part of ordinary meals.

The library will host Club Anime for students entering grades 6 through 12 every other Monday from 3 to 4:15 p.m. in the library auditorium. The group will meet July 21, Aug. 4 and 18. Students will watch anime and have a chance to share their passion for manga. The program is free, and no registration is needed.

For more information, call (401) 725-3714.

People

Paul V. Palange was inducted as the new president of the Rotary Club of Pawtucket in a special ceremony by the president of Rotary International, a worldwide service organization. Palange was installed by Rotary International President D.K. Lee of Seoul, South Korea.