Sun Rise Scoops

By MERI R. KENNEDY

Tips from Resource Recovery

The Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corp. (RIRRC) has launched the second phase of its anti-contamination campaign to raise awareness and teach Rhode Islanders how to recycle smarter. The campaign’s second phase has launched as of June 29 and takes aim at the summer vacation and cookout season, as it is a time of year where RIRRC experiences higher contamination levels in recycling loads.

Discarded food scraps, yard waste, remodeling waste, hazardous waste like propane tanks, and dangerous materials such as garden hoses, used hypodermic needles, and dirty diapers are common contaminants RIRRC sees, but are escalated in the summertime. These pose dangers to both RIRRC’s line workers and its sorting equipment at the Materials Recycling Facility.

Most recently, a fire broke out in the facility due to a small propane tank. After the fire, workers pulled an additional 23 small, camping-size tanks off the recycling line in one day. Another worker was recently injured while cutting away improperly recycled items from the facility’s spinning screens –items like plastic bags, wires, cables, and rope. These do not belong in recycling bins or carts.

Highly contaminated recycling loads cost cities and towns money. With budgets growing tighter, money earned from recycling versus spent on landfilling can make the difference for an individual’s or family’s tax bill. While a good quality recycling load costs a city or town $0 to deliver to RIRRC, a highly contaminated load costs the city or town $250 plus $32 per ton to landfill it. Since municipalities receive a share of any profits earned from the sale of its recyclables, contamination jeopardizes these profits.

There are some new items RIRRC does want in recycling bins and carts. They will now take plastic containers up to five gallons in size (up from the previous two-gallon limit), as well as pizza boxes with a little grease. A new drop-off program for foam has also been added at RIRRC. Residents can place clean, dry foam in clear bags, and drop it off for recycling as long as food service foam containers are bagged separately from other rigid packaging foam. Foam packing “peanuts” and spongy foam, like a “#1 Fan” finger, are not accepted, and no foam should ever go in recycling bins or carts at home.

For more information, contact either Sarah Kite, director of recycling services, at 401-942-1430, ext. 112 (sarahk@rirrc.org) or Krystal Noiseux, recycling program manager, at 401-942-1430, ext. 109 (knoiseux@rirrc.org).

Cruise nights

Johnston Street Machines will be hosting Cruise Nights every Thursday through September at Denny’s, located at 1448 Hartford Ave. in Johnston. The Cruise Nights will be held from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., with all proceeds to be donated to a local charity. There is a fee of $5 per vehicle. Raffles will be held weekly, and there will be a free bounce house for children. DJ Car-Guy Rich George will also be on hand to provide entertainment. For more information, contact George Arakelian, Jr. at 401-946-8818 or Gary Maddocks at 401-639-8841. There will be trophies for “Best in Show” on the last Thursday of every month.

Parent Information Network on IEPs

The Rhode Island Parent Information Network (RIPIN) will hold a workshop on July 22 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at their office located at 1210 Pontiac Ave. This workshop provides an overview of the major components of the IEP as well as a step-by-step walk-through of Rhode Island’s IEP (Individualized Education Program) form. The workshop also covers the Secondary Transition IEP for students 14 years or older and includes post-school goals in areas of employment, education and training and where appropriate, independent living skills. For more information, contact RIPIN at 401-270-0101.

2015 Summer Reading Program: ‘Every Hero Has A Story’

Join the Mohr Library this summer for a live animals story time, Art Smart, games, music, an ice cream party and much more! All events are free. Some require registration or free tickets.

The statewide Rhode Island Summer Reading Program is supported by the RI Office of Library and Information Services with funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the Pawtucket Red Sox, Citizens Bank and Pepsi. Local support includes RI Children’s and Young Adult Librarians, the Friends of Mohr Library and generous gifts in Memory of Andrew Greene.

How the reading program works: Children from infants to 12 years old can sign up for summer reading. Registration starts on June 15 and will continue to Aug. 11. For each chapter book or five picture books/easy readers kids read or listen to, they will be awarded a raffle ticket (see prizes at the library). Children who complete at least five chapter books or 25 picture books/easy readers will receive a free book, an ice cream party invitation, a variety of incentive coupons (free or reduced admission to the Providence Children’s Museum, Roger Williams Zoo, and other attractions), and a Certificate of Completion. The deadline for submitting completed reading logs is Aug. 19. For more information, call 401-231-4980, ext. 5.

Adult programs at the library

A free Coloring For Adults program will be held Tuesday afternoons, July 14, 21 and 28, from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Marian J. Mohr Memorial Library. Use our incredible copyright free designs in books, the paper, and 100 distinctively beautiful markers (or bring your own) to make wonderful designs. Limited to 15 participants. Sponsored by the Friends of the Mohr Public Library.

A Paper Artistry program will be held on Monday, July 27 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the library. Create Christmas in July with Carolyn Leone! Get your decorating done super early. This is a very fun project that will take some time to create – a paper cone Christmas Wreath! First 12 to sign up enjoy the class.

The library is located at 1 Memorial Ave. For more information, call 401-231-4980, ext. 6, or visit www.mohrlibrary.org.

Academic News & Notes

Congratulations to Alexander Barnes of Johnston, a neuroscience major who is a member of the Colgate University class of 2015.

Ballet auditions

The next audition for Rhode Island’s ballet theatre will be held at 7 p.m. on Aug. 13 for serious students ages nine to 17. Audition fee is $20. Send a note to reserve spot or call 401-847-5301. Audition is in the form of a class, with no special preparation required. Looking for strong dancers with a drive to perform to their limits. Rehearsals and classes for the company are held on Thursday evenings throughout the year. Dues to participate are $40 per month. Training location is at RI Ballet Arts Academy, 7728 Post Road in North Kingstown.

Did You Know?

Fun Fact: Gilligan of Gilligan’s Island had a first name that was only used once, on the never-aired pilot show. His first name was Willy. (Source: Fun Facts, Strange Facts, and Fun Trivia)

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