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Health & Wellness Fair

A Health & Wellness Fair will be held on Friday, June 17 at the North Providence Union Free Library, located at 1810 Mineral Spring Ave. The event is free and open to the public, and runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. It is being sponsored by Golden Crest Nursing Centre and the North Providence Union Free Library.

Businesses from the community will be providing services such as diabetes assessments, physical therapy assessments, BF screenings (body composition), and BP screenings. Other highlights will include chair massages, yoga demo classes, meditation classes, hand massages, nutritional food samples, and safe sun protection samples. There will be live music, door prizes, giveaways, face painting, and retail vendors. For additional information, visit GCNCare.com or contact Linda Giorgio at lgiorgio@gcncare.com.

Summer food program feeds kids for free

With summer right around the corner, it’s time to think about keeping your children healthy while school is out. ARAMARK, in conjunction with Johnston Public Schools, will be providing free meals to children in the Johnston community this summer.

During the summer months, from July 6 to Aug. 17, free meals will be served at Johnston Memorial Park’s Parrillo Building from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday through Friday. There are no income requirements or registration; any child under age 18 may come to eat. The site is open to the community at large and may only limit the site’s total enrollment for reasons of security, safety, or control.

Lunches will be provided on a first come, first served basis for the above specified dates and time frames. Please note that all meals must be consumed on site for food safety reasons.

Each year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture partners with local organizations like ARAMARK at Johnston Public Schools to provide free meals to children when school is out for the summer. For more information about the national Summer Food Service Program, visit fns.usda.gov/cnd/summer.

Life Line Screening

Men’s health is a family matter. This is why Cherry Hill Manor is hosting Life Line Screening, the nation’s leading provider of preventive health screenings on Wednesday, June 29. The screenings provided focus on vascular disease, a leading cause of illness, death, and disability among men.

Screenings are fast, painless, and affordable. Three key tests check for blocked carotid arteries, an irregular heart rhythm called atrial fibrillation, and high blood pressure, which are the three leading risk factors for stroke. Nearly 800,000 strokes will occur this year, taking a life approximately every four minutes.

Other tests check for abdominal aortic aneurysms and hardening of the arteries in the legs. A bone density screening to assess osteoporosis risk is also offered and is appropriate for both men and women. Many events also offer blood tests, including cholesterol, glucose, and c-reactive protein screenings, as well as take-home colon cancer early detection tests.

Screening packages start at $139. Single tests cost around $70.

For more information regarding the screenings or to schedule an appointment, call 1-888-653-6441. Pre-registration is required.

Spread The Love Tour Raffle

St. Brigid’s Church, 1231 Plainfield St. in Johnston, is happy to announce that on June 26, they will be raffling off two tickets for Kenny Chesney’s “Spread The Love Tour” with Miranda Lambert, Sam Hunt, and Old Dominion. The show will take place at 5 p.m. Aug. 26 at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass. Raffle tickets are reasonably priced for all to afford and can be purchased by calling Fran at 401-474-6128, or at St. Bridge’s Church at the 5 p.m. Saturday Mass or the 9 a.m. Sunday Mass.

Beer & Wine Tasting

The Northern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual Beer & Wine Tasting on Thursday, June 23, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Kirkbrae Country Club, 197 Old River Road in Lincoln. Call the Chamber at 401-334-1000 for more information. Tickets are $40 per person, and sponsorships are available for $500.

Student volunteer sought

Cherry Hill Manor is looking for a student with Photoshop experience who is building a portfolio and needs community service or work experience hours. This is a volunteer position with flexible hours. If interested, please call Loraine at 401-231-3102, ext. 6385.

Summer Concert Series announced

Garden City Center in Cranston has announced its Summer Concert Series, which will be held each Wednesday night at the Gazebo in July and August. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets, and donations of peanut butter and tuna fish are being collected for the food bank each week. All concerts are free of charge and are held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The lineup is as follows:

July 6, Scarab (Journey tribute band); July 13, Front & Center (variety of pop, oldies, jazz); July 20, Neil and The Vipers (blues, rockabilly); July 27, World Premiere Band (pop, funk, dance); Aug. 3, Steve Smith and The Nakeds (rhythm and blues); Aug. 10, Down City Band (pop, soul, disco); Aug. 17, Timmy Maia Band (NYC high-energy contemporary)

Vacation Bible School

The North Scituate Baptist Church, 619 West Greenville Road in Scituate, is excited to announce there will be a Vacation Bible School this year, running July 18-22 from 9 a.m. to noon for children ages three to 12. Using the theme “Deep Sea Discovery: God Is With Me Wherever I Go,” the children will hear stories about Noah, Jonah, the disciples, and Paul. This year’s VBS will be five fun-filled mornings of crafts, recreation time, yummy snacks, Bible study, skits, and music. All area children are welcome to attend. The cost is $20 per child or $50 for a family. Pre-register with the VBS coordinator, Kristen (Dame) Castrataro, at 401-935-7308 or online at vacationbibleschool.com/NSBC2016. Registration will also be available on July 18.

Computer classes at the Mohr

The Mohr Library in Johnston is a sponsoring site of the Northstar Basic Computer Skills Certificate program. Make an appointment to take a Northstar assessment. Pass with an 85 percent or better and earn a certificate in one or all test areas. Ask a librarian about earning this valuable credential today. Librarians will also try to get help for any basic problems you have using computers. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 401-231-4980. The library is located at 1 Memorial Ave. in Johnston.

Smart Driving

Cherry Hill Manor is sponsoring the AARP Smart Driving Program  on July 20 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Complimentary lunch will be served and the event is free; however due to the limited seating, a $15 reservation fee is required which will be refunded only upon the completion of this session. Advanced registration is required as space is limited to the first 23 participants. Class size is limited to 35 people, so call early to reserve a seat. Please call Loraine at 401-231-3102, ext. 6385.

Adopt A Cat

June is Adopt A Cat Month, and Defenders of Animals will be at the Pet Supplies Plus Store in Garden City Center with cats that are up for adoption on June 18 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Academic News & Notes

Saint Raphael Academy recognized students at its annual Underclassmen Awards Night on May 19. Students were given awards for academic excellence during the 2015-16 year. Congratulations to Nick Allienello and Sydney Charette, Excellence in Physical Education; Eric Martineau, Excellence in Spanish II (Honors); and Nathaniel Vigeant, Rhode Island Honor Society.

The following Johnston residents have been named to the spring 2016 dean’s list at Stonehill College in Easton, Mass.: Joanna L. Carlino and Alexandria N. Taylor.

Andrew Breting of Johnston graduated with a bachelor of arts in social science from Castleton University following the successful completion of the spring semester in May 2016.

Anthony Macari of Johnston has been named to dean’s list for the spring 2016 semester at Lyndon State College.

Tiana D’acchioli of Johnston has earned a spot on the spring 2016 dean’s list at Valdosta State University in Georgia.

Friends of the Mohr Public Library

Members of the Friends of the Mohr Public Library plan and run book sales and carry out other fundraising activities to allow the library to increase services and programs. The Friends welcome new members who are willing to provide support through donations, membership dues, or volunteering their time. To find out more, contact them, or call the library director at 401-231-4980 (press 7).

There is an ongoing book sale in the lower level hall across from the meeting room. The Friends also hold larger sales two or three times a year. Great selections at great prices include hard cover and paperback books, fiction and non-fiction, for adults, children, and young adults. Most prices range from 25 cents to $2. The Friends are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, with proceeds from fundraising supporting library programs and services.

Donations of gently used books are appreciated, and can be left at the library’s main desk during library hours. Receipts for tax purposes are available.

Coloring for Grownups

Every Monday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Mohr Library, you may enjoy a therapeutic, relaxing, and enjoyable evening through adult coloring. Many choices of designs including stylized drawings, florals, and mandalas, with 100 beautiful markers and 100 colored pencils to choose from. Come early or late. The program is free. The Marian J. Mohr Memorial Library is located at 1 Memorial Ave., Johnston.

Class of ’67 sets 50th reunion dates

The Johnston High School class of 1967 has scheduled its 50th reunion for Friday and Saturday, June 16-17. A social gathering is planned on the Friday, with the reunion itself the following evening. Further details are to be announced. The event’s organizers are seeking help in locating friends and classmates Anyone in touch with, or with information about, and class members is asked to contact Donald Iafrate at iafdon@cox.net or 13 Ivanhoe St., Johnston, RI 02919.

Johnston High class of 1971

The Johnston High class of 1971 has scheduled its 45th class reunion on Sunday, July 17. The event will be held at the outdoor pavilion at Twelve Acres in Smithfield. Class members are encouraged to join the Facebook group “Johnston Senior High School Class of 1971” for reunion updates, classmates’ news, and photos. Invitations were recently distributed. Classmates who haven’t received one can contact reunion planner Harold J. Hemberger at harold@thesleepster.com.

Combined class reunion

On Saturday, Aug. 13, beginning at noon, there will be a joint class reunion for the Cranston High School East classes of 1966 and 1981 at the Masonic Youth Center, 116 Long St., Warwick. There is no fee. Bring your own food and beverages. They will be celebrating their 50th and 35th year reunion, respectively. The events are for classmates and invited guests only. Richard Carlson is serving as the class administrator for 1966 and Glenn Carlson for 1981. Richard may be reached at 401-744-8635, or you may contact Greg Oden at 401-965-0983. Glenn may be reached at 401-641-8251. For further details, visit classreport.org.

Bringing the world to RI

Cranston resident Everett Mccurdy is bringing the world to Rhode Island, one international teenager at a time. McCurdy is an area representative of the ASSE International Student Exchange Program, whose primary goal is to contribute to international understanding by enabling foreign students to learn through active participation in family, school, and community life.

Mccurdy will be interviewing families in the area to host exceptional high school students from Europe, Asia, the Americas, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, the Middle East, and Scandinavia. Again this year, the ASSE Program is proud to also include students from the republics of the former Soviet Union on its roster. These students stay with volunteer host families for one academic school year and arrive with insurance and their own spending money.

For more information, contact Everett Mccurdy at 401-481-2533 or visit host.asse.com.

Genealogy Group

The Mohr Library Genealogy Group meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 4:30 p.m. The library has yearly subscriptions to Ancestry and also New England Historical Genealogical Society (NEHGS) databases on all library computers. The library also publishes a monthly newsletter outlining upcoming program details and includes tips for searching. Former programs include field trips to the State Archive and Swan Point Cemetery, as well as speakers on cemeteries, medallions found on gravestones, how to search for a particular nationality, and much more.

Meetings are open to all. For more information about the group and to receive the monthly newsletter, contact Grayce at gmoorehead@mohrlibrary.org or call 401-231-4980.

Did You Know?

Father’s Day cards go farther back than Hallmark. One of the earliest dates back roughly 4,000 years. Elmesu, a Babylonian youngster, carved a card out of clay to “wish his father good health and long life.” (Source: Father’s Day Fun 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 Sun Rise! Please include a daytime telephone number in case we require any further information.

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