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.

Johnston Community Library Book Club

Kids ages 8 to 10 can meet online, by invitation, Thursdays at 3 p.m. to hear readings and discuss books with library trustee and volunteer Denese Carpenter.
Interested in other times or want to suggest a book for discussion? Let them know.
Parents can learn more about sign-up procedures by contacting Library Director Jon Anderson. Email info@mohrlibrary.org or call 401-231-4980, ext. 7.

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.
Mohr Library is currently accessible to the public during reduced hours but continue to offer curbside pickup and other services, including reference help by phone, email or in person; recommendation lists and one-on-one help to explore interests in reading, viewing, and listening; printing from home or your device; use of computers and copier; and free notary public, evenings and Saturdays by appointment.

NAMI-RI
Family-to-Family course

The local chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness is now accepting registration for its virtual Family-to-Family course, which begins Feb. 24.
This is a free, eight-session educational program for family members, significant others and friends of people with mental health conditions. It is a designated evidenced-based program, which means that research shows the program significantly improves the coping and problem-solving abilities of the people closest to a person with a mental health condition.
NAMI Rhode Island’s Family-to-Family course is taught by trained family members who have lived experience, and includes presentations, discussions and interactive exercises.
For more information on the Family-to-Family curriculum and registration requirements, visit namirhodeisland.org or call 331-3060.

Artist Applications
now open for the
Wickford Art Festival

There are new changes to the festival set to bring artists back to Wickford after last year’s cancellation due to COVID.
Artist applications are now open for the annual Wickford Art Festival, which is slated for July 10 and 11, 2021. Produced by the Wickford Art Association since 1962, this year’s festival will aim to feature top artists from the state, region and nationally but will have a new look and feel due to changes since COVID-19 rocked the art and event industry. This year, Wilson Park, located within Wickford Village, will be the base for the festival in order to safely spread-out artists, patrons and adapt to any necessary state guidelines in place come July.
For the first time artists will be able to apply to this year’s festival through a new online application. Accepted artists will also be featured on a new virtual festival platform that will be heavily promoted throughout the entire summer through the end of September.
The Wickford Art Festival is a juried fine art show. Work will be juried on originality, workmanship and professional presentation. Jurors also consider total show composition and for the first time will be accepting a limited number of talented artists that create fine functional art pieces – including ceramics, decorative fiber, furniture and jewelry – will be able to apply to the festival. Applications will be open through April 15.
For more information visit the Wickford Art Association website for details on the festival, application instructions and jury information or contact the festival director, Ainslie Daly, at wickfordartfestival@gmail.com.
For more information on individual exhibits or programs, please contact us, or visit wickfordart.org. All programming is subject to change; all juried and judged exhibits will be featured through online virtual galleries as well as in-gallery hours (Wednesday through Saturday, noon to 4 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 3 p.m.) at WAA’s beach-front North Kingstown home.

Medical education
scholarships

The Chartercare Foundation is now accepting applications for undergraduate and graduate medical education scholarships for the 2021 academic year.
The scholarships will support studies in nursing, pharmacy, dental hygienists, physician assistants, public health, occupational and physical therapy, dieticians, etc. The scholarship is open to Rhode Island residents only, and the application deadline is March 31, 2021.
Please visit chartercarefoundation.org and click on “scholarships.”

‘Meet the Artists’
at Warwick CFA

Join Warwick Center for the Arts for its “Meet the Artists” opening reception, to be held Monday, Feb. 15, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. via Zoom. See the multimedia exhibit of over 75 original works of art available for purchase or online. The entire exhibit in person runs through March 13. For more information, visit warwickcfa.org/exhibits-events/on-view or email exhibits@warwickcfa.org.

Craft and Arts kits now available for pick up

The Mohr Library now has winter craft and art kits available for children, which may be picked up. Email Ms. Meri at Meri@mohrlibrary.org to reserve one.

ARTS Scholarships
available

Applications are now available at ppacri.org/artsscholarships for the 2021 ARTS Scholarships Program. This year marks the program’s 25th anniversary! Since 1996, the program has awarded 700 arts scholarships.
The ARTS Scholarships 2021 program, sponsored by The Textron Charitable Trust and the PPAC Annual Fund Donors with support from WPRI 12, awards up to $500 in financial assistance to each of the 30 talented Rhode Island students selected as recipients. Qualified students must be age 11-14 by June 1, 2021, and reside in and attend school in Rhode Island.
These scholarships offer young artists an opportunity to participate in local summer arts education programs that will broaden each student’s experience in their chosen area of study.

Support the Johnston Historical Society

The Johnston Historical Society has T-shirts available for sale in sizes small through extra large in slate blue, sand and a few in light green.
The JHS is an all-volunteer organization. Its museum is not staffed, but they are happy to open up by appointment for a tour of the museum, the house, and to purchase T-shirts and copies of books.
Call 231-3380 and leave a message with the color and size you would like.

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.


Zoom-ba is here

MS Dream Center offers a 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.

Teen virtual
programming

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?
 
In 1895, George Hudson, an entomologist from New Zealand, came up with the modern concept of daylight-saving time. He proposed a two-hour time shift so he›d have more after-work hours of sunshine to go bug hunting in the summer. This year we will change our clocks ahead on March 14. (Source: Daylight Savings Fun Facts)

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