Sun Rise Scoops

Johnston toy drive

Johnston Fire Fighters Local 1950 and Johnston Police Officers present the 4th Annual Bar 101 Toys for Tots drive on Dec. 13 at 7 p.m. The event will be held at Bar 101, locat4ed at 1478 Atwood Ave. in Johnston. Please4 bring a new, unwrapped toy and enjoy a complimentary buffet and dance the night away with DJ Primitive. The event is sponsored by Bar 101.

Christmas Music to be featured at Our Lady

of Grace

There will be an afternoon of Traditional Christmas Music as people celebrate the Christmas Season on Dec. 29 at 3 p.m. at Our Lady of Grace Church, located at 4 Lafayette St. in Johnston. This concert features Triton Brass, whose members have played with groups such as the Boston Pops, Boston Symphony Orchestra, and on many of the leading Broadway shows. The choir includes some of the most talented vocalists from the Southern New England region, who have come together with Triton Brass to perform the most loved Christmas Music of all time.

Tickets for the concert are $10, and the first 250 tickets sold will include an Italian Pasta and Polenta dinner following the concert in the church hall. The brass group is Triton Brass with the choir of The Our Lady of Grace Choir and will feature traditional Christmas songs. Please contact the parish at 231-2220 for tickets.

Home for the Holidays - Lipstick Luncheon at night

Ladies, start your holiday season off right and create a decorated wreath to deck your halls while enjoy a holiday cocktail and take home the recipe to help make your holiday parties even more jolly. The North Central Chamber of Commerce’s Lipstick Luncheon, to be held on Dec. 10 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at North Bay Manor will feature a great opportunity to network with a group of wonderful women in a friendly festive environment. Stocking stuffer items will be available for purchase. You may bring a friend, your colleague, sister, or any other lady who helps make your season bright. Cost includes fresh decorated wreath, light fare & drinks; $30 for Chamber members & $40 for non-members. North Bay Manor is located at 171 Pleasant View Ave. in Smithfield. For more information, contact Kelly Patz at 349-4674.

Annual

North Scituate Stroll

Please mark your calendars for the 13th Annual N. Scituate Village Candlelight Stroll to be held Dec. 6 and Dec. 7. Step back in time and embrace the spirit of the season, as well as a wealth of holiday offerings and festivities, at your local shops. Enjoy Victorian carolers, trolley rides, a live nativity, and children’s activities Friday evening, while Saturday features breakfast with Santa, the village tree lighting, and of course, more shopping. In addition to the many holiday treasures to be found in the village shops, there will also be unique crafters’ wares at the N. Scituate Community House, as well as local church bazaars to shop at. Don’t miss this wonderful & nostalgic family event, a joyful way to kick off the holiday season.

Holiday decorating has never been so sweet

Artists’ Exchange announces its 9th Annual Gingerbread House Decorating Contest to be held on Dec. 7 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at their location, 50 Rolfe Sq. in Cranston. How does it work? Participants start with a simple graham cracker pre-constructed house and craft it into a work of art. Armed with heaping supplies of frosting and a variety of colorful candy, the possibilities are endless. And with no age limit, everyone is invited to join in on the fun (and the nibbling). While participants may take their houses home that day, they are invited to submit their creations for judging in their corresponding age category. Families can also opt to work on a house together and be judged in a separate family category. Participating houses will be photographed and the winners will be announced online on Dec. 9 on Artists’ Exchange’s website. Prizes include free classes at Artists’ Exchange, valued at up to $215.

Nine years averaging 500 houses each year means close to 5,000 gingerbread houses have been made at the art center. That means a lot of work, a lot of hot glue and a lot of patience; yet the staff and volunteers still look forward to the event every year. Returning favorites including grab bags, face painting and a raffle; this year’s includes a family four pack for a visit to the Roger Williams Park Zoo. All class registrations processed on the day of the event will qualify for 25% off tuition on Artists’ Exchange’s winter session offering classes in art, ceramics, music and theater for all ages.

The cost for participating in the 9th annual Gingerbread House Decorating Contest is $12 per house. Reservations are strongly recommended. For reservations, call 490-9475. For more information, visit www.

artists-exchange.org.

Mass of Anointing

at St. Brigid

St. Brigid’s Church, 1231 Plainfield Street, Johnston, will be holding their quarterly Mass of Anointing on Saturday, December 7 at 11:00 a.m. The mass is being sponsored by the nurses of St. Brigid’s Church. Handmade Prayer Shawls, made by their Prayer Shawl Ministry and blessed by Father Robert Rochon, will be available upon request. Those preparing for surgery, suffering from a chronic illness or experiencing spiritual or emotional pain are welcome to come and join us in our healing prayers. Volunteers are available to help with the stairs. Blessing of sponsors for the Confirmation Candidates will take place at the 5 p.m. Mass.

Did You Know?

Time for one more Turkey Fun Fact! Don’t be disappointed if the turkey at the petting zoo refuses to gobble; it’s probably a female, which is called a hen. Male turkeys are called gobblers, because they are the only ones that can make that adorable gobbling sound. Each male turkey has his own unique gobbling “technique,” which he combines with strutting to attract potential mates. Female turkeys communicate through clucks and small, chirp-like noises.

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.