Weekend

The Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation will hold an Eco-Depot collection tomorrow, May 17, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 2 Bear Swamp Rd., East Greenwich. Items that can be dropped off include compact fluorescent light bulbs, oil paint, motor oil and filters, propane gas tanks, pesticides, paint thinner, furniture stains, lawn fertilizer and weed killer. More items are listed online at www.rirrc.org. Appointments are required. Call (401) 942-1430, ext. 241, or go online at the above web site.

The West Bay Chorale and the Community College of Rhode Island Chorus and Chamber Singers will present a spring concert, “Americana,” tomorrow, May 17, at 7 p.m. in St. Benedict Church, 135 Beach Ave., Warwick. The concert will be directed by Joseph Amante y Zapata. Admission is $5. For more information, call (401) 463-6055.

Coming events

The Gaspee Days Arts and Crafts Festival will be held Saturday through Monday, May 24-26, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day along Narragansett Parkway, Warwick. There will be about 100 craft exhibitors, a food court, music, entertainment and rides. Dave Howard & the Highrollers will entertain Saturday, Black & White on Sunday and Blackjack on Monday, all from 1 to 4 p.m.

Also, a children’s costume contest will be held Sunday, June 8, at 12:45 p.m. at Aspray Boat House, Pawtuxet Park, Narragansett Parkway, Warwick. The costumes will be judged by the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Prevent Child Abuse Rhode Island and the Rhode Island Child Abuse Prevention Network will hold a free family play day Saturday, May 24, from 10 a.m. to noon at the imPossible Dream playground, Route 117, Warwick. To register, call (410) 728-7920.

Rhode Island Advocates for Gifted Education and the West Bay Collaborative will offer a professional development workshop, “Meeting of the Minds,” on Wednesday, May 28, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at the West Bay Collaborative, 144 Bignall St., Warwick. The program on challenging the advanced learner will be presented by Susan Griggs and Jeanne Dawson. To register, call (401) 474-9848, or by e-mail at secretary@riage.org by May 22.

The Grand Chapter of Rhode Island, Order of the Eastern Star, will hold its annual Grand Ball Saturday, June 14 from 6 to 11 p.m. at Rhodes on the Pawtuxet, 60 Rhodes Place, Cranston. Tickets are $35, and include dinner and dancing. Formal attire is recommended. Proceeds will benefit the American Cancer Society and the Special Signal Fire Association canteen truck. For more information, or reservations, call Debra at (401) 364-6550 by June 1.

Local author Ann Hood will be the keynote speaker at the annual meeting of the Rhode Island Center for the Book on Thursday, June 3, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the William Hall Library, 1825 Broad St., Cranston. Hood is the author of The Knitting Circle and the recently released memoir Comfort: A Journey Through Grief. The event is free to the public.

New England Institute of Technology, 2500 Post Rd., Warwick, will hold its annual Tech Camp from Tuesday to Thursday, June 24-26, for high school juniors and seniors. The registration fee is $25. Classes will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Lunch will be provided. Students may choose from one of the following camps: Game Development, Information Technology, Mechanical Engineering, Video and Audio Production, Architectural-Building Engineering, Automotive Collision Repair, or Multimedia Technology. For information, or registration, call Amanda Metzger at (401) 467-7744, ext. 3377. The deadline is June 6.

Camp Westwood YMCA, 2093 Harkney Hill Rd., Coventry, is accepting applications for Camp Surefire, a camp for children ages 6 to 12 with Type 1 diabetes, and their siblings or friends. The camp will be held Wednesday through Sunday, July 16-20. For more information, or to register, call the Diabetes Foundation at (401) 383-4500.

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