Sun Rise Scoops

Johnston Senior Center offers services

If you need any help with heating, housing, etc. during this cold winter or any other time, contact the Johnston Senior Center Social Services Department by calling 944-3343. Madeline or Amy will be happy to help you.

Support the Johnston Historical Society

The Johnston Historical Society has T-shirts available for sale in size S, M, L and XL in slate blue, sand and a few in light green.

The society is an all-volunteer organization. Its museum is not staffed but they are happy to open up by appointment for tours and the purchase of T-shirts and copies of books.

Call 231-3380 and leave a message with the color and size you would like. They will call you back to arrange pickup.

Need help with your mortgage?

RI Housing’s Hardest Hit Fund Rhode Island (HHFRI) program is offering zero-interest, forgivable loans to eligible Rhode Island homeowners who became unemployed or underemployed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and are struggling to make their mortgage payments. Loan proceeds may provide eligible homeowners with up to six months of mortgage payment assistance and a mortgage will be recorded on the homeowner’s property.

Learn more about the loan program and eligibility at rihousing.com/hhfri.

Johnston Parks and Recreation Department to open for basketball

The Johnston Parks & Recreation Department is currently accepting registrations for its youth basketball program. Please note this season will be different than years past with the COVID guidelines set by the state.

The department plans on holding the program from Jan. 25 to April 5. Space will be limited and will filled on a first come, first served basis for each division.

For registration and additional information, visit johnstonrec.com/youth-basketball.html.

Collectors patches

Looking to add to your patch collection and help some great causes at the same time? Purchase one of the Johnston Police Department’s special edition patches! With four patches available, 100 percent of the proceeds go to support organizations such as Operation Stand Down Rhode Island, the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation, Concerns of Police Survivors (C.O.P.S.), and The Autism Project.

Please visit the online store at ibpo-local307-johnstonri.square.site.

News from the Mohr Memorial Library

The fine free period for all Rhode Island public libraries has been extended to March 1, 2021. However, if you have overdue books, please bring them back, so other patrons can enjoy them.

Zoom-ba coming soon

MS Dream Center will offer virtual Chair ZOOM-ba Program sponsored by Maguire Disability Law with the class being instructed by Michelle Calise.

Classes will be offered nationally on Monday’s at 1 p.m. and Saturday’s at 11 a.m. for people with MS and their loved ones. There is no fee to participate and classes can accommodate up to 100 on a first come first serve basis.

Please contact Anne at anne@msdreamcenter.org to register for the classes and to complete a signed liability waiver, which is required of all participants.

The MS Dream Center provides a dedicated resource and support facility in which people living with Multiple Sclerosis, and their care partners, may engage in a wide variety of interactive social and educational activities, workshops and therapies. The MS Dream Center goal is to bring awareness to the disease and reach out to those living with it, empowering them and offering important respite opportunities for care partners.

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. Mohr Library is now open to the public more hours – Mondays through Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 to 8 p.m., and Fridays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The library is putting some of books and videos for kids upstairs in the teen room, and staff will retrieve whatever people want, offer readers advice, and order materials if they aren’t there.

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.

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.

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?

Martin Luther King’s birthday was finally approved as a federal holiday in 1983, and all 50 states made it a state government holiday by 2000. Officially, King was born on Jan. 15, 1929, in Atlanta. But the King holiday is marked every year on the third Monday in January. This year it is held on Monday, Jan. 18. (Source: Martin Luther King Facts)

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