• Tap-In looking for volunteers with specific talents: Tap-In (Touch a Person in Need) is seeking individuals who can help the non-profit in certain areas: communications, planning (preparing reports, writing annual plans), grant writing and management, and human resources management. Anyone who possesses these skills and has time to volunteer should contact Tap-In’s volunteer director at voldirector@tapinri.org. Tap-In, which is located in the Peck Center building, is dedicated to improving the quality of life for residents of Rhode Island's East Bay by providing resources to address food insecurity and economic hardship and presently serves an average of 350 families per month. Tap-In is an all-volunteer agency 100 percent supported by donations and grants.

• Local business honored with community service award: Rumford Pet Express, a pet food and supplies retail chain servicing Southern New England and with a location in Barrington, was recently awarded the Community Service and Outreach Award at the 10th Annual Retailer Excellence Awards presentation hosted by Pet Business Magazine in Orlando, Fla., this past week during Global Pet Expo, an annual trade show in the United States presented by the American Pet Products Association and the Pet Industry Distributors Association. The Community Service and Outreach Award recognizes a pet specialty retailer that has made a significant connection with its community through involvement in various events and causes that reach beyond their business and show a clear demonstration that they are committed to giving back to their community. “We believe and are passionate about our role in the community this goes above and beyond our daily retail platform. We support a grassroots methodology to our community development initiatives,” said Michael Squatrito, Vice President of Rumford Pet Express. “This includes our staff, customers, non-profit organizations, community groups, and our vendor partners to ensure a sustainable long-term approach to meaningful community development work.” 

• Barrington Art Festival is right around the corner: The annual Barrington Art Festival will take place on Sunday, June 12, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Barrington Town Hall campus. The festival will feature all sorts of artwork and crafts — oil and acrylic painting, watercolor, drawing, pastel, mixed media, photography, glass, print-making, sculpture, wood, ceramics, jewelry, metal and textiles. Any artists interested in getting a booth for the festival — the cost is $60 for residents and $65 for non-residents — should email thayek@barrington.ri.gov or call the recreation department office at 401-247-1926.