Johnston FOP Lodge 16 scholarships awarded
Congratulations to Christopher DeTora, who is a 2008 graduate of Johnston Senior High School and recipient of the Johnston FOP Lodge 16 scholarship. DeTora is attending Rhode Island College.
Also receiving a Johnston FOP Lodge 16 scholarship is Vincent DelFino who is a 2008 graduate of Cranston High School West. Vincent is attending Empire Beauty School.
The mission of the Johnston FOP Lodge 16 is to encourage and carry out fraternal, educational, charitable and social activities among law enforcement officers, both active and retired.

SportsKid of the Month at Button Hole
Congratulations to Button Hole Kid and Rhode Island junior golfer Juliet Vongphoumy, who will be featured in the January/February edition of Sports Illustrated for Kids. The issue names Vongphoumy as a “SportsKid of the Month,” highlighting her golf success this past season.
Vongphoumy, whose family moved to Providence from their native Laos, learned golf at Button Hole in Johnston along with her three sisters. All four have shown an inclination for the game. Vongphoumy became the first girl ever to win the state’s interscholastic golf championship this year.
The nine-hole, par-three course is a 26-acre green oasis in the middle of urban Rhode Island that has been introducing golf to inner city kids since 2001. Button Hole Short Course and Teaching Center eliminates the financial barriers to the game for thousands of underprivileged minors, and cultivates the spirit of golf in young people, teaching lessons of honesty, perseverance, courtesy and respect for others.

Historical essay contest
In celebration of the 250th birthday of the town of Johnston, the Johnston Historical Society will hold “The 250th Anniversary Essay Contest" for students in Johnston in grades 6 through 12. Fifty dollars in prizes will be awarded in two age groups, grades 6 to 8, and grades 9 to 12. The subject is "The Most Important Thing to Ever Happen in Johnston."
Students are asked to visit the historical society's Web site at www.johnstonhistorical.org, click on the timeline and choose an item to write about. The essay should be between 500-600 words long, submitted electronically or typewritten with one-inch margins, with a title, student's name, school, grade and phone number/contact information at the top of the page. Essays will be judged by members of the historical society, based on topic choice, historical accuracy, spelling, grammar and enthusiasm. Essays must be submitted by Feb. 28 and winners will be notified by phone. Prizes will be awarded at the 250th anniversary kick-off celebration, to be held on March 15 at the Johnston Senior Center. Submit essays to info@johnstonhistorical.org or to 101 Putnam Pike, Johnston, RI 02919.

Academic News & Notes
Congratulations to the following Johnston residents who have made the dean’s list at Bryant College: Brittanie Amaral (senior in management), Matthew Fortin (junior in accounting), Stephanie Martone (senior in actuarial mathematics), Thomas Perruna (junior in accounting), Thomas Rotondo (senior in applied psychology) and Robert Twardowski (sophomore in management.)
Johnston resident Kerrin Conceicao is among 14 students at New England Christian Academy enrolled in credit classes at several local colleges this semester as part of NECA’s ongoing dual-enrollment program. Conceicao, a senior at the school, is enrolled as a part-time student at the Community College of Rhode Island.

Did You Know?
Happy Valentines! As you kiss your valentine, here are some fun facts about kissing!
You burn 26 calories in a one-minute kiss and the average person spends two weeks of his or her life kissing.
The scientific name for kissing is philematology and the longest kiss was 29 hours by contestants in the "Breath Savers Longest Kiss Challenge" in New York on March 24, 1998. The longest underwater kiss was two minutes and 18 seconds in Tokyo, Japan, on April 2, 1980.

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 also welcome.