Sun Rise Scoops

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By MERI R. KENNEDY

Holiday Festival

Hosted by the Town of Johnston and Johnston Parks and Recreation Department, Santa Claus will arrive in Johnston Memorial Park on December 8 from 3 to 5 p.m. This is a free event. Have your picture taken with Santa Claus and enjoy food, music and refreshments and a bicycle raffle.

 

At the Mohr

On December 3 at 5:30 p.m. please join Mohr Library and Carolyn Leone to create snazzy seasonal and special occasion gift tags. Adorned with a unique self-crafted tag, your gift will be one of a kind in the eyes of the grateful recipient. This creative paper workshop is free but please arrive with your own personal scissors and glue.

On Tuesday, December 4 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. join in at the Mohr Library for a special craft night.

Autumn is fading into the biting New England winter, pine needles and cones on Earth’s floor. Come into the library for warmth and a hot cup or two. Make a pinecone craft that surely will warm you to the core! There is no cost, but you must contact Reference for registration and more.

Ms. Ginine will kindly provide all materials, bric-a-brac and other embellishments to decorate and personalize your ‘made-with-love’ craft/gift. To register for both events, call 231-4980 Press 6 at the menu.

St. Rocco’s Production

St. Rocco Church, 927 Atwood Avenue, Johnston RI 02919, will host A Journey Through the Nativity on Sunday, December 30 at 3 P.M. The music ministry, under the direction of Christopher A. Caramello, will present a concert of Advent and Christmas music in the languages of English, Italian, and Latin. The event will feature the parish choir and soloists accompanied by a brass and string ensemble. Admission is free and a reception will follow. For further information call 469-5270 or write to musicaasanrocco@gmail.com.   

 

Gingerbread House Decorating Contest coming soon

Artists’ Exchange in Cranston has announced that the 14th annual Gingerbread House Decorating Contest will be held Saturday, December 1 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Artists’ Exchange, located at 50 Rolfe Square in Cranston. There will be 20% off class registrations, tasty treats, grab bags, free face painting, raffles, holiday photo stations, artisan craft sales and free Christmas carol previews.

The cost is $15 at the door. How does it work? Participants start with a simple graham cracker construction and craft it into a work of art. There are heaping supplies of frosting, cereal, pretzels and an array of colorful candy to decorate your dream candy home. And with no age limit, everyone is invited to join in on the fun.

Participants can 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. This year there will be a special guest appearance from Santa Claus himself to help judge some of the entries. Houses entering the contest will be photographed and the winners will be announced online later that week.

Also included in the weekend’s festivities will be holiday grab bags, raffles, face painting, holiday photo booths and artwork from students and artist residents on display and for sale.

For more information, contact the Artists’ Exchange at 490-9475.

Johnston Historical Society

The museum barn is open Tuesdays from 9 to 11 a.m. and 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.; Thursdays, 2 to 5 p.m.; or by appointment for those who would like to visit the museum or examine the society’s collection of printed materials. Just in case, call ahead to confirm they are there.

Dues are $20 per year for an individual, $30 per year for a family (two adults and children under 18) membership. The purpose of the JHS is to identify, preserve and promote the history of our town. It is located at 101 Putnam Pike in Johnston and can be reached by calling 231-3380.

 

RI Women’s Expo this weekend

Rhode Island Women’s Expo will be at Crowne Plaza, Warwick on November 25 and it’s bigger and better than ever. Over 80 local artisans and businesses to shop with and pamper you along with a main stage fashion show and free seminars in a fun and festive atmosphere. Vendors will offer exclusive show specials that you won’t find anywhere else. Get your holiday shopping done in one location and, pick up some great gifts for yourself. Paid ticket holders receive free goodie bag upon arrival. $12 in advance which can be purchased at www.riwomensexpo.com.

 

Ms. or Jr. Miss Wheelchair applications now being

accepted

Do you have what it takes to be the next Ms. or Jr. Miss wheelchair Rhode Island? Must be 5-15 years of age for Jr. Miss and 21 years or older for Ms. and for both categories, applicants much use a wheelchair 100 percent of the time in public.

This is not a beauty pageant, instead a competition of advocacy, education and making a difference. Empowering the state to make positive change. Send an email to Tina Pederson at Mswheelchairri2018@yahoo.com for more information and applications. Competition will be February 2 or 3 in Providence.

 

Fez-tival of Trees this weekend

The RI Shriners will host their Fez-tival of Trees on November 24 through 25 at The Imperial Room and Scottish Rite buildings at One Rhodes Place, Cranston. The Fez-tival will be held both days from 10 a.m. through 5 p.m. Take a photo with Santa (free and bring your camera), visit the beautiful tree and wreath area, and enter raffles to win the amazing displays. Get your holiday shopping done at their vendor and crafters’ marketplace, enjoy the sounds of the season with strolling musicians and carolers, bring the children for lots of activities, enjoy a seasonal beverage, and have a bite to eat in Mrs. Claus’s Café The theme this year is “Joy to the World,” featuring a “Christmas around the World” exhibit. A suggested donation of $2 for adults would be welcomed at the door and all proceeds to benefit The Rhode Island Shriners.

Historical Holidays in Cranston

All are invited to the Christmas Open Houses at the 1860’s Governor Sprague Mansion and the 1770’s Joy Homestead in Cranston on Sunday, Dec. 2 from 1 to 4 p.m. 

At the Sprague Mansion at 1331 Cranston Street, guests will enjoy holiday decorations and music from the Victorian era along with cookies and the famous Sprague Punch and traditional Wassail. Andrew Kaplan, Rhode Island pianist, will perform musical selections on the mansion’s rare 1800’s Concerta D Grand Steinway, and members of the Pawtuxet Rangers will make a special visit. The Western Cranston Garden Club decorates the Mansion in a spirited Victorian-theme each year.

At the Joy Homestead at 156 Scituate Ave., guests will be welcomed by colonial-dressed hosts.  Enjoy tea and cookies next to the homestead fireplace.

The annual open houses are hosted by the non-profit Cranston Historical Society which manages both museums.  There is no charge for admission, but donations for the ongoing preservation of these properties will be welcomed. For more information please call Mary Mierka at 944-9226.

Book Sales

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

Exciting programming for children at the Mohr Library

A Sing-Along with Mr. Rowland for all ages with a grown-up. Dance and sing along with family favorites and best loved holiday songs on and Dec. 11 at the Mohr Library.

On Dec. 5 at 6:30 p.m., children will be able to build a catapult. Try building the different models of catapults to find which works best!

Drop-In Family Crafts will be held every Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. from now   through the end of June. This will feature several self-directed projects for children and parents to do together. (Craft Programs are not appropriate for children under 3 as small parts might present a hazard.)

The Marian J. Mohr Memorial Library, 1 Memorial Ave, Johnston, 231-4980 x5, www.mohrlibrary.org, email info@mohrlibrary.org.

At the Mohr for Teens

Teen Arts & Crafts Club will meet every Thursday from 2 to 3 p.m. Love arts & crafts? Join in each week to make something new and express yourself. We will paint, collage, draw, sculpt, and use paper, textiles, natural objects and recyclables to create all different works to take home. Each week make something new! 20 spaces available. Registration required; contact Emilie the YA Librarian to register Mohr.teen.librarian@gmail.com.

Teen Dungeons & Dragons Club will be held every Friday from 3 to 6 p.m. Dungeons & Dragons for Teens is a cooperative role-playing game recently made famous in Stranger Things. Teens create their own characters & play out a story together. We will be beginning a new storyline called Storm King’s Thunder, where adventurers battle giants. Both new members and beginners welcome. 10 spaces available. Registration required; contact Emilie the YA Librarian to register Mohr.teen.librarian@gmail.com.

Teen Chess Club will meet every Wednesday from 2 to 3 p.m. at the Mohr.  Join them for the classic strategy game Chess. Battle your friends or test your wits against the librarian! Don’t know how to play? No problem they can teach you! The rules are simple, the opportunities endless. Practice all your strategies here while relaxing away from the heat. 20 spaces available. Registration: contact Emilie the YA Librarian to register at Mohr.teen.librarian@gmail.com.

The Marian J. Mohr Memorial Library is located at 1 Memorial Ave., in Johnston and may be reached at 231-4980 x5 or www.mohrlibrary.org.

 

Free Yoga for breast cancer survivors

The Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Foundation and Yoga at Studio Exhale offers yoga for breast cancer survivors every Sunday from 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Yoga at Studio Exhale, 1263 Oaklawn Ave, Cranston is the place to be to explore slow flow, gentle movement to create space in the body and eliminate stress. This class is designed to restore the nervous system and help release deeply held tensions from the body and mind. Visit GloriaGemma.org for more details.

  

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