Let the band play on

The Johnston High School band and chorus will hold a breakfast fundraiser at Applebee's on Putnam Pike in Smithfield on Saturday, Feb. 6, from 8 to 10 a.m. Seating is limited, and the $5 tickets are available from band and chorus students, or by calling the school. Students are raising money for their upcoming trip to Hershey, Penn., for a competition.

Join a Winter Walk on Neutaconkanut Hill

The Neutaconkanut Hill Association (NHA) will hold a winter walk on the hill this Saturday, Feb. 6 at 9:30 a.m. Neutaconkanut Hill Conservancy, Inc. members will serve as guides. Anyone interested should meet at the Neutaconkanut Hill Recreation Center Parking lot at 675 Plainfield St. in Providence, just over the Johnston town line. The walk will proceed to the Summit of the Hill. Be sure to dress for walking in wooded areas. The Hill is the highest point in Providence and the northwest boundary in the agreement between Roger Williams and Narragansett Indian Chiefs, Canonicus and Miantonomi. In case of inclement weather, the walk will be held the following day at 9:30 a.m.

Blood drive

The Bridge at Cherry Hill, located at 1 Cherry Hill Road, will hold a blood drive on Monday, Feb. 15, from 4 to 7 p.m. For more information, visit www.ribc.org.

News from the Mohr Library

Teens can share their poetry at the Johnston library on Feb. 12 at 3 p.m. Student poets can publish their work on a large tablecloth that will be used in future teen programs. Also at Mohr Memorial Library, teens can learn more about the blizzards and storms that have hit Rhode Island in the past, such as the Blizzard of ’78 and Hurricane Carol. That program will be held on Feb. 25 at 3 p.m. Call 231-4980 ext. 15 for further details on these programs and more information on getting involved at the library. The Friends of Mohr Public Library are also sponsoring a raffle, which will be drawn on Feb. 13. Prizes include a football, pop-up grill, thermos with mugs, pizza pan kit, cheese board with cheese and crackers, coffee, plates, napkins and utensils. Tickets are available at the circulation desk at the library.

Academic News & Notes

Congratulations to Hannah Lipsky, Class of 2010 at Skidmore College, who earned highest honors for the fall semester. She is the daughter of Naomi Lipsky and Ed Haskell of Johnston.

St. Mary’s stacks awards at Lego competition

At the ninth annual Rhode Island First Lego League (RIFLL) competition, the all-girl squad from Saint Mary Academy Bay View competed against 49 teams of elementary and middle school children. St. Mary Academy Robotics Team was once again the only all-girls team. In just their second year of competing in a field where boys generally dominate, the girls impressed the judges in all four categories and won two awards. As part of the FLL program, students are immersed in science and technology challenges. Teams design and build Lego-based robots and develop research projects. The students from St. Mary’s focused their attention on information transportation, specifically the transporting of emergency alert messages. Additionally, the girls finished in third place for Robot Performance this year. Both Jane Benum-Paolantonio and Mae Lynn Harrington, of Johnston, were on the championship team.

Military Wives makeover

Military wives will be treated to a day of beauty on Feb. 8 at Wil.O Design Studio, located at 935 Park Ave. in Cranston from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event is for all wives of those being deployed as well as those that are left behind while their loved ones are serving in the military. The day will consist of getting their nails, make-up and hair done. Whole Foods will provide food and drinks, while Glenn Badessa of Immortal Cosmetics, and Abby Backland and staff from Facing Thayer will do make-up and nails. Hair will be done with Jonathan Williams, owner and partner of Wil.O Design. There is no fee for the services as all businesses involved are donating their time to give military wives a day of beauty to feel good in spite of all they have to endure. For more information or to make an appointment for Feb. 8, contact Wil.O Design at 865-6011.

Did you know?

Did you know that Groundhog Day was originally called Candlemas? The animal that used to predict the timing of spring was not a groundhog, but a badger. There were no badgers in the New World, so German immigrants had to substitute a badger for another different ground-dwelling mammal – the groundhog.

If you would like to submit any items of interest, please e-mail Meri R. Kennedy directly at SunRiseScoops@aol.com. You may also address your items to Sun Rise Scoops, c/o Beacon Communications, 1944 Warwick Ave., Warwick, RI 02889. Photos are welcome.