Sun Rise Scoops

Easter Bunny to
visit Johnston

The Easter Bunny will visit Johnston on Saturday, April 13, at Johnston Senior Services for breakfast, treats and more! Sponsored by Citizens Bank, the Bunny will be ready for children from 9 to 11 a.m.
Please bring your camera with you. For more information, call the Johnston Parks and Recreation office at (401) 272-3460 or visit johnstonrec.com.

Summer jobs with DEM

DEM is recruiting qualified lifeguards at beaches, parks, and campgrounds. Full-time lifeguard positions are available at all state swimming areas, including saltwater beaches such as Roger Wheeler and Scarborough, non-surf beaches such as Goddard, and freshwater beaches such as Burlingame Campground and Lincoln Woods State Park. Flexible, 20-hour workweeks are available for lifeguard positions at our busiest swimming areas. Hourly rates for lifeguards range from $13.25 to $16.25 an hour, based on location and position level.
All lifeguard candidates must have successfully completed courses and hold valid cards in lifeguard training, first aid, and CPR including infant, child, and adult.
DEM also is seeking park rangers and facilities attendants to work at recreational sites across the state. Park rangers are instrumental to a safe and fun experience at DEM properties. They give directions to beachgoers and park users, help with crowd control, provide security checks for facilities, and are the first responders in the event of emergency.
Hourly rates for park rangers range from $10.50 to $11.60. Applicants for facilities attendant and park ranger I must be 16 years of age or older, and applicants to park ranger positions at levels II and III must be 18 years of age or older.
For a complete list of seasonal employment opportunities and to apply, visit riparks.com/employment. Most positions are full-time and include weekend and holiday hours. Applications must be completed online. Paper applications will not be accepted. The state of Rhode Island is an equal opportunity/diversity employer.
With 50 percent fewer teens seeking jobs than 20 years ago, DEM is looking to recruit active older Rhode Islanders and retired military personnel who might want to work part-time work to make up for the lack of younger applicants.
Rhode Island PBS Scholarship

The Rhode Island PBS Foundation Scholarship offers awards to residents of Rhode Island and Bristol County, Massachusetts, who demonstrate promise of a successful career in the fields of broadcasting, communications and/or journalism. Applicants must be a graduating high school senior planning to attend or a student currently enrolled in an accredited four-year post-secondary institution.
Applicants will be asked to provide a recommendation letter from a teacher or professional in the field who can attest to their merit towards a successful career in the noted fields. Awards of up to $15,000 will be awarded annually and are renewable for an additional three years.
The application deadline is 5 p.m. on April 5. Visit rifoundation.org for further details.

Calling all golfers
age 65+

Since 1959, The Over 65 Golf League, a nonprofit organization, has worked with the public golf courses in Rhode Island to offer league play for all seniors. The group’s bylaws state, “The purpose of the League is to encourage and promote the Game of Golf and kindred activities through friendly competition among its Members.”
If you are interested in golfing on Mondays or being a spare in a mixed senior league, please register to come to the group’s annual Open Membership Meeting on Wednesday, April 21, at Harbor Lights, 150 Gray St., Warwick, starting at 9:30 a.m.
Preregistration is required due to COVID-19 restrictions on meeting size. The membership dues for season play, playoffs, TBA tournaments, and a banquet with distribution of prizes are $55 ($30 for spares not attending the banquet). To preregister for the meeting, join, or just get more information, contact Carol Desforges at Desac63@gmail.com or call (401) 738-0319.

Focus on mental health

NAMI Rhode Island is the state organization affiliate of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). They offer an array of education and training programs and services for individuals living with mental illness, family members, schools, providers, and the general public. These programs draw on the experience of individuals with mental illness and family members who have learned to live well with their illnesses and are eager to help others, as well as the expertise of mental health professionals and educators.
Their programs are free and virtual. For more information on all programs or if you are an interested volunteer, visit namirhodeisland.org, call (401) 331-3060 or email info@namirhodeisland.org.

Be Kind RI

Be Kind RI is a new program that connects volunteers to their neighbors across RI through text alerts to coordinate food deliveries from grocery stores and food pantries. To sign up, go to BeKindRI.org. Volunteers must be 18 or older and undergo our background check. Be Kind RI is open to those in Rhode Island experiencing COVID-19 risk factors, including seniors 65 and older, anyone with underlying health conditions, those in quarantine or isolation, anyone experiencing a lack of child care, and those who would otherwise experience difficulty in obtaining food. For assistance signing up, call 877-958-8785.

RI Housing offers loans

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

Marian J. Mohr
Memorial Library

Free “Bunnies Galore” craft and activity kits for children are available at the library. Stop by the library to pick up one, or email Ms. Meri meri@mohrlibrary.org or call 231-4980 to make a reservation.

Looking for ’78  Blizzard photos

The Johnston Historical Society is looking for photos from the Blizzard of 1978 that include recognizable backgrounds in Johnston, such as businesses, landscapes and street signs. Please email them to JohnstonHistorical1825@gmail.com.

News from the Mohr Memorial Library

Mohr Library is currently accessible to the public during reduced hours but continues to offer curbside pickup and other services during its regular schedule. Services include curbside delivery; 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 a free notary public, evenings and Saturdays by appointment.

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.

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.


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.

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