Sun Rise Scoops

Winter survival backpacks

This November, Rhode Island Dream Center will be celebrating 11 years of distributing fully equipped “winter survival” backpacks to homeless and low-income members of the Rhode Island community. The backpacks will be distributed on Sunday, Nov. 24, at the center’s annual Thanksgiving Dinner held at Praise Tabernacle Church, 330 Park Ave., Cranston.

Many members of the state’s homeless population must carry all of their belongings with them throughout the day until they are allowed to re-enter local shelters for the evening. The Dream Center’s goal is to purchase 350-400 quality, waterproof backpacks and fill them with essential such as winter hats, scarves, gloves, socks, hand warmers, shampoo, razors, combs, lotion, powder, deodorant, rain ponchos and other hygiene hygiene products.

The Dream Center is asking for help from the community in the form of donated items or monetary donations. For more information or to participate, email ridcinfo@ridreamcenter.com or visit ridreamcenter.com.

Halloween at the Odeum

The ReJubilation Foundation serves the community by providing specialized interactive musical programs for Alzheimer’s programs, nursing homes, veterans’ and children's hospitals, those with disabilities and other underserved populations. Ticket sales for The Bourbon Street Jubilee will benefit the ReJubilation Foundation. This special Halloween event will be held at the Greenwich Odeum on Thursday, Oct. 31, at 8 p.m. It features New Orleans-style jazz, singers, aerial artists, accordion players and tap dancers, games, free kazoos and prizes for best costumes. Great entertainment for a great cause! For more info, visit rejubilationfoundation.org.

Annual Bazaar at St. Joseph’s

St. Joseph’s Church, located at 144 Danielson Pike, North Scituate, will host its annual Bazaar from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 2, and 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 3, in the church hall.

The event will feature baked goods, jams and jellies, a books corner, crafts, a basket raffle table and a huge Penny Social.  There will be vendors with American Girl Doll clothes, honey, jewelry, scented oils, embroidered towels, aprons and bibs and Pampered Chef products.

The kitchen will be open for breakfast and lunch. The grand raffle will be drawn on Sunday, Nov. 3, at 12:30 p.m. For more information, call 647-2255.

Johnston/Scituate Girls Basketball registration

The Johnston and Scituate Girls Basketball League will be starting soon and registration is now open. All players must be 5 years old by Dec. 31, 2019. The league structure is KDG Clinic/grades 1-2, 3-4, 5-6 and 7-8.

Practices will be held in Johnston and games will be played in both towns. Early-bird registration, which is now open and ends on Oct. 26, costs $90 per individual and $70 for each sibling. After the early-bird deadline, fees will increase $10 per child.

Player evaluations will be held and you may visit johnstonrec.com for more details and registration.

You may register at Johnston Recreation Department between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 8:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. on Saturday. The league is also seeking sponsors and coaches. Additional information is available at johnstonrec.com.

JHS 50th reunion

The Johnston High School class of 1971 is planning a 50th reunion celebration for Sept. 17, 2021. Classmates are asked to send current contact information to Harold J. Hemberger at harold@thesleepster.com.

At the Johnston Historical Society

On Oct. 30, the Johnston Historical Society will hold its general meeting at 7 p.m. It will feature Slater Mill docent Carl Johnson, who will give a talk titled “Lovecraft: Rhode Island’s (In?) Famous Son,” focusing on the horror writer’s relationship with his home state.

The Johnston Historical Society’s museum barn is open Tuesdays, 9-11 a.m. and 6:30-8:30 p.m.; Thursdays, 2-5 p.m.; and the first and third Saturdays of each month, 9-11 a.m., for those who would like to visit the museum or examine the society’s collection of printed materials. Both the museum and Elijah Angell House continue to be open by appointment, and visits from interested individuals and groups are always welcome. For more information, email history@jhs.necoxmail.com or leave a message at 231-3380.

Fundraising Holiday Bazaar

A fundraising Holiday Bazaar featuring food, games, crafts, raffles, a silent auction, and vendor tables will be held at St. Robert Bellarmine Church Hall (1804 Atwood Ave., Johnston) on Saturday, Nov. 9, from noon to 4:30 p.m. and from 6:15 to 8 p.m. Proceeds benefit St. Robert’s Food Shelf, which provides food to all neighbors in need, regardless of religious affiliation. For general information, contact Sandy at 946-3262. To inquire about a vendor table, contact Carol at 233-2330.

Statewide After Hours Networking Event

After Hours Networking Events are the most popular in Rhode Island, consistently welcoming new people every month from a multitude of industries. Pat Cruz Events will be hosting the next Statewide After Hours Networking event on Thursday, Oct. 24, at Chapel Grille in Cranston from 5:30 to 8 p.m.

Bring your business cards, make new friends, meet your next big client or simply mingle with accomplished individuals. There are no speakers or sales pitches – just a great night connecting with real people in a relaxed atmosphere.

A ticket includes complimentary appetizers, free parking and a cash bar. For information on other events produced by Pat Cruz Events, visit patcruzevents.com.

Boys basketball registration

Johnston Parks and Recreation Department will be hosting Boys Basketball 2019, with early-bird registration now available through Oct. 26.

The cost of early-bird registration for boys in grades 1-2 or in high school is $75 per individual and $55 for each additional sibling. The cost for boys in grades 3-8 is $90 per individual and $70 for each additional sibling. After early-bird registration ends, fees will increase by $10 per individual.

You may register at Johnston Recreation Department between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 8:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. on Saturday. The league is also seeking sponsors and coaches. Additional information is available at johnstonrec.com.

At the Mohr Library for children

On Oct. 29 and Oct. 30 at 10:30 a.m. there will be Halloween Storytimes for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. Children are encouraged to come in costume and caregivers may bring snacks or drinks if they wish.

All programs are free and open to the public and there is no need to register.

Learning about leaves

Learn about the science behind leaves changing color and make your own leaf rubbing using various media at the Art & Science Club meeting at the Mohr Library on Wednesday, Nov. 6, at 6:30 p.m.

Registration is required, so call 231-4980 and press 5 for the Children’s Department.

Mohr Library Genealogy Group Meetings

Marian J. Mohr Memorial Library hosts a Genealogy Group on the second Wednesday of each month at 4:30 p.m. The library has yearly subscriptions to Ancestry.com and New England Historical Genealogical Society databases (NEHGS) 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 nationality, and much more.

Meetings are open to all. Join avid ancestral sleuths, learn tips from others. All nationalities discussed. For more information, call 231-4980, email info@mohrlibrary.org or visit mohrlibrary.org.

Cranston High School class of 1960 reunion

Cranston High School’s class of 1960 plans to hold its 60th reunion on Sept. 12, 2020, at the Cranston Country Club. The cost will be $50 per person. For more information, contact Joan Farmanian Fratterelli at 349-3922.

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.

Help make a house a home

The Furniture Bank of RI, a nonprofit corporation, needs bureaus, complete twin or double beds, kitchen sets, mattresses and other household furniture that you no longer need. To help a less fortunate family through your charitable donation of good used furniture, call 831-5511 to arrange for pick up. All donated articles must be in good condition. 

Book sales

Members of the Friends group 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 nonprofit 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.

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