Sun Rise Scoops

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By MERI R. KENNEDY

At the Mohr

The Marian J. Mohr Memorial Library, located at 1 Memorial Ave., will be holding new book discussion groups on Jan. 25 from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and/or Jan. 27 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Participants will read and discuss “In the Garden of Beasts: Love, Terror, and an American Family in Hitler’s Berlin” by Erik Larson. This is a remarkable story set during Hitler’s rise to power.

On Feb. 29 from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. and/or March 2 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., participants will read and discuss “The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That

Changed America” by Erik Larson. This is a true tale of the 1893 World’s Fair and the cunning serial killer who used the fair to lure his victims to their death.

For more information, contact Michelle Surprenant, desk assistant/program specialist, at 401-231-4980, ext. 5.

Children’s programs

at the Mohr

Storytime will resume on Jan. 12, with stories, songs, puppets, finger play, and a simple craft for babies, toddlers, preschoolers, and their caregivers. All storytimes are free and

open to the public. No registration is needed. Times are: infants to three-year-olds, Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m.; two- to and three-year-olds, Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m.; and three- to five-year-olds, Thursdays at 10:30 a.m.

The Lego Club will meet every second Thursday of the month – Jan. 14, Feb. 11, and March 10 – from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Play with 10,000 brand new LEGO bricks donated by LEGO systems! Geared for ages five and up. No registration needed.

Pajama Storytime will be held on Jan. 12 and Feb. 9 at 6:30 p.m. Families with children ages four and older are invited to join Ms. Dolores and enjoy some books, songs, rhymes, and literacy activities. No registration needed.

Saturday drop-in crafts also will continue, with several projects for kids and parents to do together. It is held every Saturday between 11 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Not appropriate for children under three, as small parts might present a hazard.

Volunteers sought for Tri-Town tax preparation program

Tri-Town Community Action Agency is looking for volunteers to help with the agency’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program beginning Jan. 15.

“Last year, our VITA volunteers prepared more than 640 federal and 700 state tax returns for clients, providing help to local families through refunds totaling more than $1 million, an average of almost $2,000 per family,” Tri-Town CEO Joseph DeSantis explained. “And because our program is free, clients also saved an estimated $145,000 for the costs of private tax preparation.”

Volunteers are certified by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to provide free basic income tax return preparation with electronic filing to income-qualified individuals, who generally make less than $54,000 in annual income. As a result, many applicants are eligible for the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), potentially increasing their tax refund, DeSantis said.

For more information about volunteering in Tri-Town’s VITA program, contact Dave Banno at 401-519-1901.

Resolutions vendor event

Need help completing your New Year’s resolutions? Rondeau’s Kickboxing Gym, located at 12 Sunnyside Ave. in Johnston, is hosting a resolutions vendor event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Jan. 16. Come shop and get information for local vendors, artists, and crafters who will give you ideas on getting your resolutions off to the right start. Free demos of introduction to kickboxing will be held at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Proceeds will be going to benefit Knock Out Wishes.

TFW West Side hosting

Push-Ups For Paws

 

Providence fitness expert and owner of TFW West Side, Mike Cronin, is proud to announce that they will be hosting a charity hurricane workout to raise funds for Providence Animal Rescue League and to feed, care, and provide medical attention to animals. The hurricane will be held on Saturday, Jan. 23.

“We are proud to partner with one of our current students to raise funds for this great cause,” Rooney said. A minimum donation of $10 is sought to participate in the charity hurricane workout, with 100 percent of that money going to help stray animals get care when entering the shelter, medical funds for animals to be adopted, and food and supplies.

Providence Animal Rescue League provides medical care, including emergency care, as part of its Betsy’s Fund. PARL also spays and neuters, and provides food and housing to surrendered animals, routine care and checkups, and enrichment items such as beds and toys.

The charity workout will be held at 10 a.m. at TFW West Side, part of Next Level Fitness, located in Johnston at 12 Industrial Lane. For those that are unable to attend the workout but would still like to donate, please visit: https://www.crowdrise.com/pushupsforpaws1/fundraiser/mikecronin. The workout is open to everyone in the community and is suitable for all fitness levels.

If you would like to learn more about TFW West Side, contact

Mike Cronin by email at info@tfwwestside.com or by phone at 401-383-2300.

Academic News & Notes

Gabryella Procaccini from Johnston has been named to the dean’s list for the fall 2015 semester at the University of Vermont. Procaccini is a member of the class of 2016 and a public communication major in the College of Agriculture & Life Sciences.

Lasell College has released the dean’s list for outstanding academic achievement during the fall semester of the 2015-16 academic year. From Johnston, congratulations to

Lindsey Haskins, who is studying hospitality and event management and is a member of the class of 2016, and Kayla Hammersley, who is studying environmental studies and is a member of the class of 2018.

LLS Student of the Year

opportunity

To parents, teachers, and students – the last call is being made for high school students in any grade (9-12) who would like to be a Student of the Year candidate for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Rhode Island. The campaign kicks off on Jan. 11, but there is still plenty of time to nominate a candidate to be involved. Winners receive scholarships to the college or university of their choice. Apply today or contact Carla Buonaccorsi Mulhern at 401-854-4416.

Planning to plant

This month’s Gentian Garden Club program is titled “Planning to Plant.” Club members Cindy Gianfrancesco and Jackie Marro will discuss native plants for both shady and sunny sites. The meeting starts at 7 p.m. on Jan. 19, and will be held at the North Scituate Community House, located at 546 West Greenville Road in North Scituate.

There will be refreshments following the program. Guests are welcome. For further information, contact Linda Proulx at 401-647-3730 or email bogcrawler@msn.com.

Informational open house

|on foster parenting

There will be an informational open house for anyone interested in learning about foster parenting on Jan. 20 from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Family Service of RI, located at 134 Thurbers Ave. in Providence.

Foster parents receive tax-free dollars to support placement, free medical coverage for the child, and a clothing allowance, along with 24/7 support. Anyone interested in foster parenting may attend the open house or contact Family Service at their convenience. For more information, call 401-331-1350, ext. 3305, or email wrightgr@familyserviceri.org.

Free pet food

Bonniedale Farm in North Scituate offers dog and cat food at no cost to struggling pet owners, hoping to provide for the animals while easing the burden on community members facing tough times. Those wishing to donate or in need of pet food can contact Dan MacKenzie at 401-574-6056. The mailing address for the farm is 1097 Chopmist Hill Road, North Scituate, RI 02857, while the physical address is 1056 Danielson Pike in North Scituate. Please call before visiting. Find more information at www.bonniedalefarmanimalssnctuary.com.

Cheese 101

Edgewood Cheese Shop and Eatery presents Cheese 101 on Jan. 22 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at its 1828 Broad St. location in Cranston. Participants will learn a bit about how cheese is made, and different styles of cheese. The event is BYOB. Tickets are $40 and can be purchased at Edgewood Cheese Shop. For more information, contact Adrienne D’Arconte at 401-261-9756 or adrienneam@cox.net.

Did You Know?

His name was originally Michael, not Martin. His father was also Michael King, hence why Martin Luther King Jr. was originally named Michael King Jr. However, after a trip to Germany in 1931, Michael King Sr. changed his own name in homage to historic German theologian Martin Luther. Michael King Jr. was two years old at the time, and King Sr. made the decision to change his son’s name to Martin Luther as well. (Martin Luther King Facts)

 

To submit your news from the community, email 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. Email 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.

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