Sun Rise Scoops

Parks & Recreation Summer Day Camp deadline

Camp is open to Johnston residents only and admission to camp will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Camp is open to children ages 6 to 12. The registration deadline is Friday, June 26.

Due to capacity limitations, only 39 children will be accepted into camp. These 39 children will be separated into three groups (13 children ages 6-7, 13 children ages 8-9, and 13 children ages 10-12). Payments for camp are due at the time of registration in the form of check or money order made out to the town of Johnston. Pricing for the full six weeks of camp is as follows: Individual rate, $850; two immediate family (sibling) rate, $1,100.00; three-plus immediate family (sibling) rate, $1,300.

Please note that immediate family (siblings) must reside together in the same house in Johnston due to the requirement of stable groups. The increase in pricing is to account for the amount that will need to be spent on cleaning supplies and staffing.

There will be no option to sign up children for selected days or weeks.

Camp begins on Monday, July 6, and ends on Friday, Aug. 14 (no camp on Monday, August 10 in observance of Victory Day).

Camp runs Monday through Friday for eight hours a day. There will be a separate drop-off time and pick-up time for each of the three groups. The times will be 8:15 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.; 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; and 8:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Each group will have two weeks of camp at each of these three timeframes.

Camp will be held at the Johnston Indoor Center, Soccer Complex, and Johnston Senior High School. Campers are to be dropped off and picked up at the parking lot of the Johnston Indoor Recreation Center in the designated area for each group.

A parent or guardian must sign their child in upon arrival and sign them out upon dismissal. During morning check-in, all staff members and campers will be screened. Screening will include the self-attestation form and temperature checks. If a child or staff member has a fever or symptoms, they will not be permitted to enter the Indoor Center.

All staff will be required to wear a face covering. They ask that all children wear a face covering (unless wearing one causes difficulty breathing or the child is unable to remove the mask without assistance).

If your child takes any medication that needs to be taken during the camp day, please make a note of it on your child’s registration card. Also, please inform the camp director of any medical problems. Please also write your child’s name on all personal belongings taken to camp.

Lunch will be eaten at the Johnston Senior High School or in the meeting room at Soccer Complex and please send your child with a lunch (in a cooler) and enough drinks to last them throughout the day.

Lunch will be available from the school lunch program, Chartwells, daily. Lunch will be available for $3.50 per meal unless the USDA extends the waiver for the summer food program, in which case Chartwells will be providing free lunches to the children daily.

Please feel free to contact the Recreation Department at 272-3460 with any other questions or concerns.

Teen virtual programming during COVID-19

The Mohr Library is currently offering virtual versions of some of its programs as well as drop-in chats. They are all invite-only programs, so please contact the teen librarian at marissa@mohrlibrary.org to register or with any questions.

Art Club meets every Tuesday at 3 p.m. History Club meets monthly on the first Wednesday at 3 p.m. For drop-in chats, days differ weekly, so please ask when registering. Scholarships available

The Rhode Island Black Business Association is now accepting applications for scholarships. Applicants must reside in Rhode Island, be a high school senior and begin his/her freshman year at an accredited college or university in the fall of 2021. Award amounts vary from $500 to $1,000.

The scholarship application deadline is 4 p.m. on June 30. For more information, contact the Programs and Education Department at 401-383-1179 or email info@ri-bba.org. Curbside delivery at Mohr Library

Mohr Library and many other Rhode Island libraries are offering patrons the chance to get materials that are available at their individual locations. Eventually, patrons will be able to place holds and have items delivered between locations as well.

To take advantage of curbside delivery in Johnston, please call or email the library. Patrons will be connected with someone who can help explain the procedure, which conforms to recommendations from the greater library community. Staff will also help to identify things items patrons would like and will be familiar with alternatives in print or electronic form.

Please bear in mind that the library is operating with limited staff and might have to take down contact information so they can call patrons back shortly.

They will ask patrons to limit selections for curbside pickup to five items during this first phase of this effort.

When patrons drive up, or walk up, they are asked to have their mobile phone and library card number and call the library. Otherwise, knock. Staff will bring the package out and set it on a table outside, or just inside our door if the weather is bad. The library asks that patrons wait from a distance while things are brought out. Staff will be wearing masks and gloves for patrons’ protection.

This plan is based on recommendations from the Rhode Island Department of Health, which states that books are believed to present a low risk for transmission of viruses.

Email info@mohrlibrary.org or call 231-4980 to reserve up to five items that are currently available at the library. They will be available for contactless pickup 24 hours later.

Additionally, library patrons who like to place their own requests for books, videos, music or audio recordings can again do so starting June 1 through the Ocean State Libraries catalogs, available at catalog.oslri.net or encore.oslri.net. Note that the total number of requests is limited to five until June 15, when it will be increased to 10.

Sports canceled

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 health crisis, CDC recommendations, and Gov. Raimondo’s recent announcement, the Johnston Parks and Recreation has canceled all T-ball and track programs.

Just a reminder that the parking lot and walking track at Johnston Memorial Park is open. Please note that the bathrooms, playground, and office will remain close. Please make use of masks and social distancing.

Although the tracks at Johnston Memorial Park are open, the use of bikes, scooters, roller skates/blades, skateboards, etc. are prohibited. This is for everyone’s safety. ‘Blue Line’ patch now offered by Johnston Police

The Johnston Police Department is now selling “Blue Line” edition collectible patches. All of the proceeds from the sale of the patches will support Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.) and the work it does for the families of fallen police officers.

To purchase a patch, visit ibpo-local307-johnstonri.square.site.

Medicare eligibility

Coronavirus is presenting many challenges in the Rhode Island community for Medicare eligibles. Help with understanding Medicare health insurance is becoming an issue as companies transform their business processes. Luckily, local Medicare health plan agents are available and can operate remotely. Get no-cost help understanding Medicare health plan benefits from multiple insurance companies. Call today at 241-7985.

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.

Did you know?

Nearly 90 years before the Fourth of July would be recognized as a federal holiday, the Massachusetts legislature called for an official state celebration in 1781 to recognize “the anniversary of the independence of the United States of America.”

It was not until 1870 that the U.S. Congress voted to make the Fourth of July a federal holiday. And even then, it was not made a paid holiday for all federal employees until 1941. (Source: 4th of July Fun Facts) SunriseScoops@aol.com. Photos in jpg format are accepted and news can include community events, promotions, academic news and nonprofit 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.