Sun Rise Scoops

By MERI R. KENNEDY

Easter Bunny coming

to Johnston Senior Center

The Easter Bunny will be at the Johnston Senior Center on March 31 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Gifts will be handed out to each child, as well as refreshments served. Please bring a camera to take pictures. This is a free event. Breakfast with the Easter Bunny, hosted by Johnston Parks and Recreation Department will be held during this time. The Johnston Senior Center is located at 1291 Hartford Ave., Johnston.

RI State Business After Hours

On March 27, the Rhode Island Statewide Business After Hours will be held at Rhodes-On-the Pawtuxet, 60 Rhodes Place, Cranston, from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Expand your business network at this annual statewide event which includes participants from more than 12 area Chambers of Commerce. Upwards of 800 business professionals are expected to attend. The event will feature 125 table-top displays, cash bar, delectable hors d’oeuvres provided by Russell Morin Catering & Events and all that Rhodes-on-the-Pawtuxet has to offer. Admission is $15 per person. For more information, contact your local Chamber of Commerce.

Special raffle at St. Brigid’s Church

St. Brigid’s Church, 1231 Plainfield S. in Johnston, 20 Week Committee is sponsoring a Special Raffle that will be drawn at their luncheon on April 22 at the Alpine Country Club in Cranston. 1st Prize: $500 gift certificate to Target; 2nd prize: Framed Patriots Picture (value $200); 3rd Prize: $150 Gift Card to Spirito’s Restaurant in Providence; 4th Prize: $100 Gift Card to Stop and Shop and 5th Prize: $100 Gift Card to Stop & Shop. Prizes total over $1,000. Ticket prices are: 1 for $5, 3 for $10, 7 for $15 and are on sale in the foyer of the church. For information or to purchase tickets please call Rich at 641-3048 or Louisa at 942-0576.

Easter Bunny Pet & Family Photos

On March 11, Pet Supplies “Plus” in Garden City in Cranston will hold their annual Easter Bunny Pet & Family Photos from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. All photography services are donated by Gene Hutnak Photography. Proceeds will benefit Animal Depend On People, Too (A.D.O.P.T.). Pets, children and adults may have their photo taken with the Easter Bunny and a $20 donation to A.D.O.P.T. will provide you with two different photos that can be reproduced.

Volunteer opportunity at the zoo

Roger Williams Park Zoo has a volunteer opportunity. The Play Partner program is for ages 16 and up. Play Partners volunteer with children and families to facilitate play, exploration, and learning in the Big Backyard exhibit of Roger Williams Park Zoo.

The Big Backyard is an outdoor exploration and play exhibit that is inclusive and accessible space for all children and families. It even has a wheelchair friendly treehouse. It is a great volunteer opportunity for anyone who loves the outdoors, working with kids, and Roger Williams Park Zoo. Volunteers can help children in the space build obstacle courses and forts, play with blocks, go on scavenger hunts, splash in the water area, or even put together a play on the Big Backyard stage. We see outdoor play and exploration as a way for children to encourage their curiosity and to educate them on the environment, science, and the natural world- and Play Partners help make that possible.

At the Mohr

A program called Storytime, held at the Mohr Library, which includes stories, songs and rhymes for babies, toddlers and preschoolers and their caregivers will run again on March 13 on Tuesdays for ages up to age 3 and on Wednesday for 3-5-year olds. Storytime begins at 10:30 a.m. on both days. There is no need to register.

Lego Club meets every second Thursday of the month through June - from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and children are welcome to play with more than 10, 000 LEGO bricks donated by LEGO Systems. This is geared for ages 5 and up with a caregiver. No need to register.

Celebrate Chinese New Year with traditional Chinese dance and music presented by Phoenix Performing Arts from CT. on Feb. 17 at 11:30 a.m. There is no need to register and this program is being sponsored by the Friends of Mohr Library.

Saturday Drop-in Family Crafts: this program is held every Saturday through June and features several self-directed projects for kids and parents to do together. Drop-in anytime from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. There is no need to register.

Stations of the Cross

St. Brigid’s Church, 1231 Plainfield Street, Johnston, will be having their Stations of the Cross every Friday during Lent at 3 p.m. Their annual Living Stations of the Cross will be presented by the Junior High School students and Confirmation Candidates on Good Friday, March 30, at 3 p.m. All are invited.

State Summer Jobs

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) is recruiting for a variety of seasonal employment positions at recreational facilities across the state. Rhode Island residents, ages 16 and older, are encouraged to apply.

Full-time lifeguard positions are available at all State swimming areas, including Lincoln Woods, Fort Adams and Goddard Memorial State Parks, as well as at Misquamicut, Scarborough, and East Matunuck State Beaches. Hourly rates range from $10.75 to $13.75, based on location and position level. For more information on becoming a lifeguard or to apply, visit www.riparks.com.

Other seasonal positions available include park rangers; beach managers; laborers; recreational area assistants; and clerical support.  Visit www.riparks.com for a complete list of employment opportunities. Most positions are full-time and include weekend and holiday hours. Hourly rates range from $10.10 to $14.75. Applicants to park ranger positions at levels II and III must be 18 years of age or older.

Applications must be completed online at applyri.gov. Paper applications will not be accepted. The State of Rhode Island is an equal opportunity/diversity employer.

For more information about DEM divisions and programs, visit www.dem.ri.gov. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.

com/RhodeIslandDEM or on Twitter (@RhodeIslandDEM) for timely updates.

Ongoing Book Sale at the Mohr

Looking for a book to relax with?? You’ll find more than a few at the Friends of Mohr Library’s ongoing book sale. The friendly bookshelves in the hallway on the lower level of the library have been filled with lots of gently used books for sale, thanks to recent donations from local book lovers. Open daily during regular library hours, you can find something for everyone - children, young adults, and lovers of mystery, romance, science fiction, sports, biography, cookbooks, etc. The Friends, a non-profit volunteer group dedicated to the library, helps to support special services and library programs through memberships, donations, and fundraising efforts. Email address is friends@mohrlibrary.com.

Did You Know?

March’s birth flower is the daffodil or jonquil. The daffodil signifies regard or unrequited love. The jonquil means “I desire a return of affection.”

March’s birthstone is the aquamarine. This gem is a type of beryl; its color can be pale to dark blue, greenish-blue, or blue-green; deep, intense blue versions are more valuable.

March’s Zodiac signs are Pisces (February 20 to March 20) and Aries (March 21 to April 20). (Source: March Fun Facts)

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