Sun Rise Scoops

St. Brigid’s Christmas Cookie Sale

Parishioners of St. Brigid's Church, 1231 Plainfield St. in Johnston, will be having their annual homemade Italian and traditional cookies on sale Dec. 17, after the 5 p.m. Mass and Dec. 18, after their 8 and 10 a.m. Masses. Trays of one 1/2 lbs. are $20, trays of one lb. are $17. Smaller trays of specialty cookies will also be offered.

Each tray is beautifully gift wrapped and can be purchased either in the foyer of the church or in the church hall. Trays may also be reserved by calling Elaine at 942-8228. TriBeCa Annual Christmas Party

Everyone is invited to Ciara's Restaurant & Lounge, 678 Killingly St. in Johnston on Dec. 23 from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. This is a free event. Seating will be limited so please make your reservations early by calling 354-8800. A Christmas to Remember

Praise Tabernacle Church located at 330 Park Ave. in Cranston is putting on their Annual Christmas Production the weekend of Dec. 16,17 and 18 called "The Christmas to Remember". This is a free show open to the public. Each year, they end up adding an additional show due to the amount of people that come out to see it. Showtimes are at 7 p.m. with an additional 11 a.m. show on Dec. 18. Beginning last year, Praise Tabernacle started a special "Sensory - Friendly" production for children and adults with special needs. There is a cry room available if needed.

Anyone who works in group homes, nursing homes, or special behavioral environments, are encouraged to bring your residents, patients, and their families to this special show. This Sensory-Friendly Christmas Show will be at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 17. Updated info on Computer Classes

The Mohr Library is offering Tech Night – drop in Fridays from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Stop into the library for computer and technology help. Learn how to use email, Microsoft Word, Facebook, resume formatting, download free eBooks and more!

No appointments are necessary. Do you possess basic computer skills and want to add a computer certification to your resume? The Mohr Library is a certified NorthStar Computer Assessment site. Take and pass an online test and earn a printed certificate. Appointments are required for NorthStar.

For more information, please call the Reference Department at 231-4980. Eco Depot on Dec. 17

Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation (RIRRC) invites Rhode Island residents to safely dispose of their household hazardous waste on Saturday, December 17 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Resource Recovery located at 65 Shun Pike in Johnston. This Eco-Depot is available to Rhode Island residents only, and to help reduce time spent in line, appointments should be made in advance. To make an appointment for the collection, visit www.ecodepotri.org or call 942-1430 x241. Sneaker Drive

State Representative Robert B. Lancia (R-District 16 Cranston), along with his wife Maryann, will host the 2nd annual “Hope for the Holidays,” a benefit to support the ‘Gotta Have Sole’ Foundation.

Gotta Have Soul Foundation Inc.’s mission is to provide children living in shelters across the United States with brand-new footwear to call their own.

“This is truly a worthy cause and I hope everyone in Cranston and throughout our great state shows up to donate to needy children in our area,” said Rep. Lancia. “This is an important event for my wife and I every holiday season. It means a lot to us as a couple to do everything we can to provide for others who may be less fortunate than ourselves.”

Representative Lancia asks that anyone wishing to contribute, please purchase a pair of brand new sneakers, in your own shoe size, and on Saturday, Dec. 17 from 9 a.m. to noon, bring the sneakers to Panera Bread, located at 400 Chapel View Boulevard in Cranston to donate to homeless children in Rhode Island.

In attendance, meet Representative Robert B. Lancia, Hope Man, Miss Black Talented Teen Rhode Island, Miss Rhode Island and others. For more information on the ‘Gotta Have Sole’ Foundation, please visit www.gottahavesole.org. Friends of the Mohr Public Library

Members of the Friends plan and run book sales and carry out other fundraising activities to allow Mohr Library to increase services and programs. The Friends welcome new members who are willing to support either through donations, membership dues, or through volunteering their time. To find out more, contact them, or call the library director at 231-4980 (press 7).

There is an ongoing book sale in the lower level hall across from the meeting room. The Friends also hold larger sales two or three times a year. Great selections at great prices include hard cover and paperback books, fiction and non-fiction, for adults, children, and young adults. Most prices range from $.25 to $2. The Friends are a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization, with proceeds from fundraising supporting library programs and services.

Donations of gently used books are appreciated, and can be left at the library's main desk during library hours. Receipts for tax purposes are available. Did You Know?

The custom of sending Christmas cards was started in the UK in 1843 by Sir Henry Cole. He was a civil servant (Government worker) who had helped set-up the new Public Record Office (now called the post office), where he was an assistant keeper, and wondered how it could be used more by ordinary people.

Sir Henry had the idea of Christmas cards with his friend John Horsley, who was an artist. They designed the first card and sold them for 1 shilling each. (That is only 5 pounds or 8 cents today. The card had three panels. The outer two panels showed people caring for the poor and in the center panel was a family having a large Christmas dinner.

Some people didn't like the card because it showed a child being given a glass of wine. About 1000 were printed and sold. They are now very rare and cost thousands of pounds or dollars to buy now. (Source: Wikipedia) To submit your news from the community, e-mail Meri R. Kennedy at SunriseScoops@aol.com. Photos in .jpg format are accepted and news can range from community events, promotions, academic news and non-profit events. E-mail today and see your news in our column in the Johnston Sunrise! Please include a daytime telephone number in case we require any further information.