Sun Rise Scoops

By MERI R. KENNEDY

Meet the new

North Central Chamber

executive director

The North Central Chamber of Commerce will hold a Business Before Breakfast on July 9 for people to meet new Executive Director Jamie Dufresne and share ideas. Kountry Kitchen, located at 10 Smith Ave. in Greenville, is serving up breakfast for members from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. For more information, call 401-349-4674.

2015 Summer Reading

Program: ‘Every Hero

Has A Story’

Join the Mohr Library this summer for a live animals story time, Art Smart, games, music, an ice cream party and much more! All events are free. Some require registration or free tickets.

The statewide Rhode Island Summer Reading Program is supported by the RI Office of Library and Information Services with funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the Pawtucket Red Sox, Citizens Bank and Pepsi. Local support includes RI Children’s and Young Adult Librarians, the Friends of Mohr Library and generous gifts in Memory of Andrew Greene.

How the reading program works: Children from infants to 12 years old can sign up for summer reading. Registration starts on June 15 and will continue to Aug. 11. For each chapter book or five picture books/easy readers kids read or listen to, they will be awarded a raffle ticket (see prizes at the library). Children who complete at least five chapter books or 25 picture books/easy readers will receive a free book, an ice cream party invitation, a variety of incentive coupons (free or reduced admission to the Providence Children’s Museum, Roger Williams Zoo, and other attractions), and a Certificate of Completion. The deadline for submitting completed reading logs is Aug. 19. For more information, call 401-231-4980, ext. 5.

Chamber annual

golf tournament

Coming up on July 13, the North Central Chamber of Commerce will hold its 28th annual Golf Tournament at Kirkbrae Country Club, located at 197 Old River Road in Lincoln.

Registration begins at 11:30 a.m., so gather your team and have a light lunch from UNO’s Bar and Grill. The tournament will begin at 1 p.m. with a shotgun start-scramble format. Following the golf tournament, relax on the veranda with a cocktail and sample a gourmet dinner buffet. Join in the fun with networking and raffles as we announce the winner’s circle.

Registration is $150 per player or $600 for a team of four. If you’d like to showcase your business during this prestigious event, contact Jamie for sponsorship information at 401-349-4674.

$2,500 youth philanthropy scholarship offered

The Rhode Island Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals is offering a $2,500 college scholarship to a Rhode Island student graduating from a local high school in June 2016 who has demonstrated a history of philanthropy and volunteerism.

The Herbert E. Kaplan Youth in Philanthropy Scholarship will be presented to a Rhode Island high school student at the National Philanthropy Day Awards Ceremony on Friday, Nov. 20, 2015. It is the hope that the award winner’s chosen education area will nurture a continued interest in community service.

Applicants must be entering their senior year of high school and be preparing to graduate in 2016 to be eligible for the scholarship.

The award is named in memory of Herb Kaplan, a Rhode Islander well noted for his service to the community. Visit www.afpri.org or email info@afpri.org for a scholarship application. Applications are due by Aug. 1, 2015 to: Lisa Desbiens, CFRE, The Providence Center, 528 North Main St., Providence, RI  02904.

One Act Play Festival

Artists’ Exchange proudly announces the 16 great plays that will be featured in its 10th annual One Act Play Festival this summer, a field chosen from among more than 1,000 submissions. These original, new plays will be directed, produced and performed by local theatre professionals, community actors and Artists’ Exchange artists for the entertainment of the community from July 17 to Aug. 8 at Theatre 82 & Character’s Café in Cranston.

Play selections are: “A Rocky Relationship” (Chip Bolcik); “All The Way” (Steven Korbar); “Anniversary” (Sam Wallin); “Bottom of the 9th” (Rand Higbee); “Fixing Bob” (David MacGregor); “Goodnight, Irena” (Rhea MacCallum); “Helicopter Parents For Hire” (Stefan Lanfer); “If Everyone Acted Like John Boehner” (Ben Jolivet); “Immersion Therapy” (David MacGregor); “Polly” (Ron Burch); “Santa Doesn’t Live Here Anymore” (Patrick Gabridge); “The Big Picture” (Mark Harvey Levine); “The Front Porch” (Roger Lemelin); “The Piggy Pit” (Laura King); “Wedding Belles” (Brett Hursey); and “We’re Still Fun, Right?” (Kevin Broccoli).

Wave 1 performance dates are July 17, 18, 24 and 25, while Wave 2 performance dates are July 31 and Aug. 1, 7 and 8. Shows are Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m., with new Saturday matinees at 3 p.m. Theatre 82 & Characters Café is located at 82 Rolfe Square in Cranston. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. A beer and wine cash bar is available, and food and refreshments will be for sale at Characters Café before and during the show. For information and to buy tickets, call 401-490-9475 or visit the Festival’s webpage at www.artists-exchange.org.

Harmony Lodge

25th Golf Tournament

Join Harmony Lodge #9 of F. & A.M. at the 25th Annual Golf Tournament at Crystal Lake Golf Club. This year’s event benefits Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Ocean State (www.bbbsos.org). Registration begins at 7:30 a.m., with a shotgun start at 8 a.m. sharp in scramble format. The entry fee includes 18 holes of golf, a golf cart, and a steak luncheon at 1 p.m. There will also be prizes for longest drive and closest to the pin. All proceeds go directly to Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Ocean State.

Crystal Lake Golf Club is located at 100 Broncos Hwy. in Harrisville. For more information or to register, contact George Marley at 401-921-2434. Registration is $150 per golfer.

Academic News & Notes

Congratulations to Amanda Wilson of Johnston, who participated in Eastern Writer’s Guild at Eastern Connecticut State University during the spring 2015 semester. Wilson’s major is new media studies.

The following Johnston residents have been named to the dean’s list at Providence College for the spring 2015 semester: Brianna Branch, David Martineau, Bianca Saliba, Ryan Silva and Michael White.

Cruise nights

Johnston Street Machines will be hosting Cruise Nights every Thursday through September at Denny’s, located at 1448 Hartford Ave. in Johnston. The Cruise Nights will be held from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., with all proceeds to be donated to a local charity. There is a fee of $5 per vehicle. Raffles will be held weekly, and there will be a free bounce house for children. DJ Car-Guy Rich George will also be on hand to provide entertainment. For more information, contact George Arakelian, Jr. at 401-946-8818 or Gary Maddocks at 401-639-8841. There will be trophies for “Best in Show” on the last Thursday of every month.

Did You Know?

Although the anniversary of the Declaration of Independence has been celebrated since 1777, the Fourth of July was not declared a national holiday until 1941. It wasn’t referred to as Independence Day until 1791. (Source: Fourth of July Fun Facts)

To submit your news from the community, e-mail Meri R. Kennedy at SunriseScoops@aol.com. Photos in jpg format are accepted and news can range from community events, promotions, academic news and non-profit events. E-mail today and see your news in our column in the Johnston Sunrise! Please include a daytime telephone number in case we require any further information.