Sun Rise Scoops

 Special Halloween at Showcase Cinemas

Showcase Cinemas will be hosting a Halloween-themed partnership with PJ Masks, the superhero shows for preschoolers.

“PJ Masks: Halloween Tricksters” will feature full-length episodes, music videos, and lots of Halloween fun!

In the Halloween special, heroes Catboy, Owlette, and Gekko must protect the city from Luna Girl, Night Ninja, and the Wolfy Kids, who are trying to steal all the goody bags. Once again, it will be up to the PJ Masks to go into the night to save the day!

Programming will run at Showcase Cinemas Warwick Quaker Lane at 1 p.m. on Oct. 24 and 25.

Showcase Cinemas Popcorn Club members are also eligible to receive a special PJ Masks character “amulet” bracelet (while supplies last). Tickets are $5 at all locations and are now for sale online.

Customers may pre-order their movie snacks – including freshly popped popcorn, candy and soda – via the Showcase Cinemas app and website and collect them at Xpress Pick-up; concessions are now available in all Showcase Cinemas locations. Children are encouraged to wear their Halloween costumes to the theater, along with a face covering/mask, per theater safety guidelines.

Pizza with the Police

The Johnston Police Department invites the community to their first Pizza with the Police event, to be held on Thursday, Oct. 29, from 6 to 7 p.m. at Pizzeria Romana, located at 1571 Atwood Ave. in Johnston. Join your neighbors and police officers for your favorite slice and casual conversation. There are no agendas or speeches, just a chance to ask questions, voice concerns, and get to know the officers that serve your neighborhood. The event will follow coronavirus guidelines. Contact Capt. Joseph Salvadore at jsalvadore@johnstonpd.com with any questions.

Police Trunk or Treat

Kids of all ages are invited to the Johnston Police Department headquarters, located at 1651 Atwood Ave., on Friday, Oct. 30, from noon to 4 p.m. for their 2020 Trunk or Treat. Stop by the front parking lot for a candy treat. The event will follow coronavirus guidelines. Follow the Johnston, RI Police Department Facebook page for updates.

RI Dream Center needs your help

The RI Dream Center helps meet the needs of people dealing with poverty throughout Rhode Island, including through food assistance, clothing, education and other services.

Since the pandemic began, homelessness numbers have dramatically risen in our state. The need is so great and we need to continue to help as many people as possible.

The Dream Center will be purchasing 400 high-quality, waterproof backpacks and accepting donations to fill them. These filled backpacks will be passed out on the State House lawn on the morning of Saturday, Nov. 21. The winter daily essentials that will fill the backpacks include toothbrushes, hand sanitizer, hand and feet warmers, winter hats, gloves and scarfs, facemasks, new socks, liquid soap, shampoo, razors, deodorant, powder, lotion, combs and brushes, feminine hygiene products, and wipes.

Any monetary donations can be made at ridreamcenter.com/give-online. To donate any of the listed items above, please drop them off by Nov. 7 at Praise Tabernacle Church, located at 330 Park Ave. in Cranston.

Children’s Wishes Rainbow Run

Please join in for the sixth annual Children’s Wishes Rainbow Run on Saturday, Oct. 24, at Goddard Memorial State Park in Warwick. This year, as part of their Family Fitness Series – which includes the Amazing Wish Race the very next day – organizers are doing a 5K run/walk and will have a kids’ track, too. Check-in starts in front of the carousel building by the beach at 8 a.m. and the run will begin at 9:15 a.m. The kids’ track will start at 9:25 a.m.

This is a free event and there is a suggested donation that can be made on Facebook or on the day of the run. To donate, visit facebook.com/donate/1150651848696689.

The Rainbow Run has a Halloween theme this year. Try out your Halloween costume early and decorate your mask for a chance to win a prize for best mask and best costume. Masks must be worn, so you might as well get creative and have some fun. Prizes will be awarded before the 9:15 a.m. start.

Note that there are COVID plans in place for each of the outdoor events. For a copy of the plans or more information, contact the Children’s Wishes office at 921-1300.

Mohr Library extended hours

The Mohr Library has extended its in-library hours to Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., as well as Tuesday and Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m.

Curbside service is still available during normal hours: Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Mask wearing is required and people are asked to maintain physical distance. Members of the public will be admitted as capacity allows.

Troop 22 looking for Scouts

Boy Scout Troop 22 Cranston is looking for new Scouts. Following all the BSA and state of Rhode Island safety protocols, the troop is meeting, hiking and camping. It has a full schedule of activities planned for the 2020-21 program year. Troop 22 is affiliated with girls’ Troop 13-G, which is also looking for new members. Both units meet at the Edgewood Congregational Church, 1788 Broad St., at 7 p.m. on most Thursdays.

The program is for youth ages 11 to 18. For younger children, Troop 22 also has a relationship with Cub Scout Pack 2 Cranston. Anyone interested is invited to call Paul Kelley at 401-595-6726 for more information.

Confreda’s Corn MAiZE, hayrides, pumpkin patch

Due to state mandates on capacity and operations, 2020 at Confreda Farms will be quite different from previous years. But the fall fun will continue.

There will be two options for admission to activities this year. For $10, visitors can purchase a ticket to access the hayride and Corn MAiZE, which has a “Thank You Essential Workers” design this year. Each ticket will be sold as a two-hour time block. This will provide visitors with plenty of time to navigate the five-acre maze and take as many photos as they would like. Confreda’s classic pick-your-own pumpkin patch is still located next to the Corn MAiZE. Pumpkins are an additional fee and are sold by the pound or the each.

The second option is Confreda’s new pumpkin patch. This year, due to capacity limitations, the farm can only offer hayrides for the Corn MAiZE. For those visitors who still want to be able to pick their own pumpkin, Confreda has created a new pumpkin patch that is conveniently located within walking distance. There will be no admission fee to enter the new pumpkin patch and pumpkins are sold by the pound or by the each.

Due to capacity limitations and safety standards, in 2020 Confreda Farms will not be offering any of the Fun Park Amusement Rides, games or the annual Animal Barnyard.

Due to capacity restraints for the hayride, Corn MAiZE and pumpkin patch, Confreda Farms will be limiting the number of tickets sold to ensure everyone has enough space to have a fun and safe experience.

The best time for a visit is earlier or later in the season. The vast majority of people want to the first and second week of October, but unfortunately, these time slots will sell very quickly.

Tickets this year can be purchased online and at the door. There will be a very limited amount of tickets available at the door, so visitors are asked to please purchase tickets in advance. Online tickets will be available later in the season.

The MAiZE is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., beginning this weekend until Oct. 31. Pick-your-own pumpkin hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

To learn more, follow Confreda Greenhouses & Farms on Facebook or visit confredafarms.com.

Study seeking seniors

The Alzheimer’s Disease & Memory Disorders Center at Rhode Island Hospital is involved in The Ahead Study which is testing an investigational treatment aimed at delaying memory decline in people before the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease are apparent.

The study is for men and women aged 55-80 who are not experiencing any memory or thinking problems but who may be at an increased risk of memory loss associated with Alzheimer’s disease. This is the first Alzheimer’s disease prevention trial to enroll people as young as 55 years old.  If you or someone you know is interested in learning more, please call 401-606-4664.

Teen virtual programming during COVID-19

The Mohr Library is currently offering virtual versions of some of its teen 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 if you have any questions.

Art Club meets every Tuesday at 3 p.m. History Club meets monthly on the first Wednesday at 3 p.m. Drop-in chat days differ weekly, so please ask when registering.

‘Blue Line’ patch 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?

In a traditional Celtic story, a man named Jack tricked the Devil, so after Jack died the Devil made him roam the night with only a burning coal to light his way. Jack put the piece of coal in a carved-out turnip, a common vegetable there, and became known as Jack of the Lantern. Irish and Scottish people would carve their own versions of Jack’s lantern with scary faces and place them near windows or doors to frighten away Jack or other evil spirits. When immigrants brought the tradition to America, the native pumpkin was more available than turnips, and today’s jack-o-lanterns were born. (Source: Halloween 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.