Sun Rise Scoops

By MERI R. KENNEDY

Job Ready at Tri-Town

Tri-Town Community Action Agency will accept applications on an ongoing basis to its “Job Ready” career exploration program for upcoming sessions. The program kicked off in October, and is expected to be held quarterly during the year as needed. Jobseekers from 18 to 24 years of age who are not attending school can apply to the five-week, free program that helps candidates find a career path that matches their skills and interests.

A 20-hour orientation program is presented during the first week, including lessons on improving “soft skills,” like work ethic and problem solving; enhancing work readiness; understanding financial literacy; preparing for job interviews; and completing CPR, First Aid, and AED training.

Other program highlights include a 100-hour paid job shadow opportunity, with the potential to participate in the On the Job Training [OJT] or Work Immersions program offered by the Rhode Island Department of Employment and Training.

A work-eligible Social Security number and eligibility to work in the U.S. are required. Participants must also be available for the entire length of the program, 25 hours per week for five weeks. Paid work experience can take place at nights and weekends.

Residents of Rhode Island except Cranston and Providence – who can participate in programs in those cities – are eligible to take part in the Tri-Town hosted program.

Contact Jamie Sisto at Tri-Town Community Center, 33 Maple Ave., North Providence, at 401-519-1929 or jsisto@tri-town.org for more information.

Christmas services

Trinity Episcopal Church, located at 251 Danielson Pike in North Scituate, has announced its schedule of Christmas services.

On Christmas Eve, a service for children and families with Holy Eucharist will be held at noon. Christmas carols will be sung at 10:30 p.m., with a festive celebration of the incarnation of the Lord with Holy Eucharist at 11 p.m.

On Christmas Day, a celebration of the incarnation of Christ with Holy Communion will be held at 9 a.m.

On Dec. 27, a service of Christmas lessons and carols with Holy Eucharist will be held at 9 a.m.

For more information, call 401-647-2322.

Ocean State Toastmasters

The Ocean State Toastmasters will hold a public meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 5, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Warwick City Hall, 3275 Post Road. Regular meetings are held on the first and third Tuesdays of each month. The club is one of some 13,500 in Toastmasters International, a non-profit, educational organization devoted to the development of public speaking and leadership skills. The organization has approximately 280,000 members in 116 countries. For more information, contact Gail Clarke, vice president of membership, at 401-884-2065 or ghclarke@verizon.net.

Cheese 101

Edgewood Cheese Shop and Eatery presents Cheese 101 on Jan. 22 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at its 1828 Broad St. location in Cranston. Participants will learn a bit about how cheese is made, and different styles of cheese. The event is BYOB. Tickets are $40 and can be purchased at Edgewood Cheese Shop. For more information, contact Adrienne D’Arconte at 401-261-9756 or adrienneam@cox.net.

New Family Performance Series

Families are invited to the new Family Performance Series, perfect for all ages, from the young to the young at heart. The series is hosted Saturdays from 11 a.m. to noon, September through May, at Theatre 82 & Cafe at 82 Rolfe Square in Cranston. Entertainment will include puppetry, magic, storytelling, improv, music, and more. There is something new each Saturday, with performers and acts changing each week. Some upcoming performers include Jason Andrews Magic, BIG NAZO, and Sparky’s Puppets. Attendees pay what they can for admission, with a suggested donation of $5 for most performances. Visit www.artists-exchange.org for dates and the complete list of upcoming performers. For more information, contact 401-480-9477.

Friends of the Mohr

Public Library

Members of the Friends plan and run book sales and carry out other fundraising activities to allow the Mohr Library to increase services and programs. The Friends welcome new members who are willing to provide support through donations, membership dues, or volunteering their time. To find out more, contact them, or call the library director at 401-231-4980 (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 hardcover and paperback books, fiction and non-fiction, for adults, children, and young adults. Most prices range from 25 cents to $2. 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.

40th Penguin Plunge

Join in on Friday, Jan. 1, and help celebrate the 40th annual Penguin Plunge for Special Olympics Rhode Island at Roger Wheeler State Beach in Narragansett. Join thousands of individuals who will be “Freezin’ for a Reason” when they take the plunge at exactly noon to raise money for Special Olympics Rhode Island. It’s going to be the “coolest event” in Rhode Island with plenty of chills, thrills, and fun for the whole family.

The Penguin Plunge for Special Olympics is one of the original New Year’s Day plunges in Rhode Island and has been a tradition for generation after generation of plungers. The Penguin Committee has been working hard to plan an event like no other, so visit www.specialolympicsri.org to get an official pledge form or use our online fundraising site at www.firstgiving.com/sori to create your own fundraising page. All proceeds from this event will benefit more than 3,000 athletes that compete year-round in over 1,600 training opportunities and athletic competitions.

Over the past 40 years the event has transformed into one of the largest and most successful fundraising events for Special Olympics Rhode Island, raising more than $2.5 million. All plungers are encouraged to raise a minimum donation of $50 for this event.

For more information, contact Tracy Garabedian, director of development, at 401-349-4900, ext. 321 or tracy@specialolympicsri.org.

Mentor recruitment continues

The Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Ocean State continues mentor recruitment for more than 200 children on the current waiting list. Boys and girls ages seven through 15 throughout the state of Rhode Island are waiting to be paired with a volunteer for six to eight hours a month for a minimum of a one-year commitment. For information on how you can be a mentor, contact a BBBSOS match support specialist at 401-921-2434 or visit Mentoring@BBBSOS.org.

Ocean State Job Lot kicks off ‘Three Square Meals’ drive

Ocean State Job Lot is beginning its annual “Three Square Meals” food and fund drive. Customers at all Ocean State Job Lot stores are invited to make a donation at the registers, a portion of which will be matched by Job Lot to help combat food insecurity in their community. The chain wide in-store fundraising effort supports Ocean State Job Lot Charitable Foundation’s Three Square Meals family assistance program, which benefits food banks throughout the Northeast, and local food distribution programs. All 120 Job Lot stores in eight states are participating. Donations taken at all stores through Dec. 31.

Volunteers needed at Tri-Town

Tri-Town Community Center needs volunteers to help with our food distribution program. Hours are the first three Wednesdays of each month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tri-Town is seeking people to help relocate the food program to Emanuel Avenue at a date and time to be determined. Background checks are required. Tri-Town will cover the costs for the background checks, and its Health Center is available to conduct physical exams to ensure the fitness of volunteers. Please call 401-519-1917 if you are interested in helping with this important service to the community.

Did You Know?

The NORAD Santa Tracker program began on Dec. 24, 1955, when a Sears department store placed an advertisement in a Colorado Springs newspaper which told children that they could telephone Santa Claus and included a number for them to call. However, the telephone number was misprinted, and calls instead came through to Colorado Springs’ Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD) Center. Col. Harry Shoup, who was on duty that night, told his staff to give all children who called in a “current location” for Santa Claus. A tradition began which continued when the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) replaced CONAD in 1958. (Source: NORAD Santa Tracker)

To submit your news from the community, email 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. Email 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.