Sun Rise Scoops

By MERI R. KENNEDY

Lucchino to

address Chamber

The North Central Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual dinner on Feb. 9 featuring keynote speaker Larry Lucchino, chairman of the Pawtucket Red Sox. The event will be held at Twin River Casino Event Center, 100 Twin River Road in Lincoln, West Entrance.

It is said that Lucchino is the only person to have a Final Four watch, a Super Bowl ring and four World Series rings (three with the Red Sox). He will talk about his experiences and what's next for the PawSox.

The Chamber will additionally be announcing the recipients of the distinguished Barbara Burlingame and Ben Mondor awards.

For tickets and more information, contact the Chamber at 401-334-1000. Single ticket price per member is $100, and single ticket price per non-member is $150.

DStrong comedy night

There will be a Funny 4 Funds comedy event for Dorian Murray and the "DStrong" cause starting at 5 p.m. on Feb. 28 at the Park Theatre in Cranston. The event will feature comedians Brad Pierce, Ace Aceto, Mike Hanley, Mike Murray, and Bill Simas. Doors open at 4 p.m., and there will be snacks and a cash bar available. The event will also feature a live auction and 50/50 raffle. Tickets are $40 per person. Everyone involved in the event has donated their time, energy and services. All proceeds will benefit Dorian's Miracle. For tickets or donations, please visit doriansmiracle.com.

Solemnity of St. Brigid's 100th anniversary

Parishioners of St. Brigid Parish, 1231 Plainfield St. in Johnston, are proud to be celebrating their Patronal Feast, the Solemnity of St. Brigid, on Saturday, Feb. 6 at 5 p.m., and Sunday, Feb.7 at the 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. Masses. Father Robert Rochon, church pastor, will bless and distribute butter after each mass to emulate Brigid's kindness to others by providing dairy products to the needy of her village. Confirmation candidates will also emulate their patroness saint by sponsoring a "Souper Bowl of Caring" and will be accepting donations for the food pantry of St. Vincent DePaul in Cranston. All are invited to join us in this joyous celebration. For more information please call 401-942-0576.

Volunteers sought for

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.

Networking at Night

The North Central Chamber of Commerce will hold a Networking at Night event from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Feb. 1 at Buffalo Wild Wings, located at 51 Dowling Village Boulevard in North Smithfield. Make it a priority to meet three business professionals you do not know. Participants will also enjoy a variety of appetizers, along with a cash bar.

Chamber members are always welcome to bring a guest at Chamber member pricing. The cost is $10 for members who pre-register, $15 for members who register at the door, and $30 for non-members. Please note that persons registered for an event will be charged unless cancellation notice is given to the Chamber 24 hours in advance. For more information, call 401-334-1000.

At the Mohr

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.

The Marian J. Mohr Memorial Library is located at 1 Memorial Ave. For more information, contact Michelle Surprenant, desk assistant/program specialist, at 401-231-4980, ext. 5.

Children's programs

at the Mohr

Storytime has resumed, 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 -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.

Gentian Garden Club

The Gentian Garden Club's next meeting will be held on Feb. 9 at 7 p.m. at the North Scituate Community house. This month's program will be a cooking demonstration presented by club member Ann Huntoon. "From Harvest to Haute Cuisine" will be the topic. Also that evening, horticultural chair Cindy Gianfrancesco will speak on "The AAA of Vegetables" - asparagus, avocado and artichoke.

February is a busy month for many members of the club. Gentian takes an active role in the Rhode Island Flower and Garden Show, held this year on Feb. 18 through the 21 at the Rhode Island Convention Center. This event showcases garden displays and has many garden marketplace vendors. There are also demonstrations and lectures throughout the four-day event. Club members will be working with committees, submitting entries and volunteering as hostesses at the show.

Leader Nancy Laurie and Chair Jackie Marro will lead juniors in making floral arrangements with a Valentine theme on Feb. 10 at the North Scituate Library.

For more info on the Gentian Garden Club and its activities, contact Linda Proulx at 401-647-3730 or bogcrawler@msn.com. Gentian welcomes visitors and potential new members.

Bingo

On Jan. 29, there will be a Winter Friends Family Bingo at the Kelley-Gazzerro VFW Post, located at 1418 Plainfield Pike in Cranston. Doors open at 6 p.m. Vendors including Younique, Party Lite, Ava Anderson, Tupperware, Magnolia and Vine, and more will be on hand. Bingo begins at 7:15 p.m. There will be a cash bar and hot appetizers, and participants can play 10 games for only $20. To get tickets or reserve a table, contact 401-639-4108.

Did You Know?

Snow is actually clear and colorless. The complex structure of snow crystals results in countless tiny surfaces from which visible light is efficiently reflected. What little sunlight is absorbed by snow is absorbed uniformly over the wavelengths of visible light, thus giving snow its white appearance. (Source: National Snow and Ice Data Center)

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 Sun Rise! Please include a daytime telephone number in case we require any further information.