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Networking at Night

Join the Northern RI Chamber of Commerce for a night of networking at the Johnston Historical Society on May 9 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The Johnston Historical Society is located at 101 Putnam Pike. The cost is $10 for members pre-registered, $15 for members who register at the door, and $30 for non-members. Please contact the Chamber for further information or to place a reservation at 401-334-1000.

Cruise Nights

May 5 begins the Johnston Street Machines’ Cruizin’ For A Cause, and the month of May is dedicated to the MAE Foundation to provide assistance to the Homeless of Rhode Island. Bring a canned good for the RI Community Food Bank and receive an extra raffle ticket upon entry. The monthly event is held at Denny’s, located at 1448 Hartford Ave. in Johnston, every Thursday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. from May through September. All monthly proceeds are donated directly to charities. For information, visit johnstonstreetmachines.com.

May Breakfast for

Defenders of Animals

There will be a May Breakfast held on May 1 at 10 a.m. at the Governor Sprague Mansion in Cranston to benefit Defenders of Animals. Reservations are $25 per person and musical entertainment will be provided. Seating is limited, and tickets are available now by calling Defenders of Animals at 401-461-1922.

Fiesta for FARA!

Fiesta for FARA! will be held on Friday, May 6, starting at 7 p.m. at Bar 101, located at 1478 Atwood Ave. in Johnston. The event will feature the musical talents of Envy (formerly known as Take 3), Marissa Beatini, and DJ Mattsimus. Tickets are $25 per person, can be purchased online at curefa.org/Fiesta2016. Admission includes multiple food stations, live entertainment, and one complimentary raffle ticket for the door prize. There will also be Corona and margarita specials all night.

Class of ’67 sets

50th reunion dates

The Johnston High School class of 1967 has scheduled its 50th reunion for Friday and Saturday, June 16-17. A social gathering is planned on the Friday, with the reunion itself the following evening. Further details are to be announced. The event’s organizers are seeking help in locating friends and classmates Anyone in touch with, or with information about, and class members is asked to contact Donald Iafrate at iafdon@cox.net or 13 Ivanhoe St., Johnston, RI 02919.

May is National

Foster Care Month

Family Service of RI is celebrating May as National Foster Care Month by holding an informational open house for anyone interested in learning about foster parenting on May 18 from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Family Service of RI, 134 Thurbers Ave. in Providence. Foster parents receive tax-free dollars to support the placement, free medical coverage for the child, and a clothing allowance, along with 24/7 support. For more information, call 401-331-1350, ext. 3305, email wrightgr@familyserviceri.org, or visit familyserviceri.org.

St. Mary School Cranston

searching for alumni

The bells of St. Mary School are calling all alumni for a celebration of 65 years of excellence in Catholic education on Sept. 17, 2016. To achieve this, the school is seeking input to compile an up-to-date database in order to contact as many as possible, beginning with the very first graduating class of 1960. Those responding should furnish the following: full name (maiden if applicable), current complete address, phone number indicating land and cell, email address, and graduation year. Submit via one of these methods: email to llepore@stmaryschoolri.org, Facebook (visit St Mary’s School Cranston Alumni), place a form in the collection basket at St. Mary Church in an envelope marked “Alumni,” or mail information to ALUMNI, St. Mary School, 85 Chester Ave., Cranston, RI 02920. It is gratefully appreciated that everyone reading this pass it on and share with other alumni.

Friends of the Mohr

Members of the Friends of the Mohr Public Library plan and run book sales and carry out other fundraising activities to allow the library to increase services and programs. The Friends welcome new members who are willing to support through donations, membership dues, or volunteering their time. To find out more, contact the group 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 centers 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.

Summer jobs

The Johnston Parks and Recreation Department is currently accepting applications for summer help. Applications are available at the recreation office or by visiting johnstonrec.com.

Gloria Gemma fundraiser

at Town Hall Lanes

On Saturday, April 30 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., there will be a fun night of Cosmic Bowling at Town Hall Lanes, 1462 Atwood Ave. in Johnston. All proceeds will go directly to the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation.

A ticket includes two hours of bowling, a shoe rental, pizza, chips, soda, contests, and music. Raffle tickets will be available for purchase upon arrival.

To reserve a lane and purchase tickets, contact Kristin (kmcateer2@verizon.net) or Jennifer (jrcastiglioni@gmail.com) with the names of everyone who you would like to bowl with. There is a maximum of five bowlers per lane.

Checks are to be made out to Kristin McAteer, and please include “Gloria Gemma Foundation” in the memo.

Tri-Town Head Start

recruiting new students

Tri-Town Community Action Agency CEO Joseph DeSantis has announced that the agency’s Head Start program is recruiting new students for spots at its four local sites.

“We’re continuing our efforts to identify more children who can benefit from this high-quality early education program,” DeSantis explained. “Since we recruit on a rolling basis, parents should take this opportunity to start the application process.”

Head Start is a free program for children from families who meet federal income guidelines – a family of three with annual income of $20,160 would qualify, for example – or other qualifications.

“Aside from wages, we screen families for homelessness, recent loss of residence, Supplemental Security Income, and other factors that may still qualify their children for Head Start,” explained Family and Community Outreach Specialist Barbara Chadwick. “Even if someone thinks they may not qualify under the income guidelines, I always encourage them to call us so that we can do a full review of their circumstances.”

Tri-Town runs Head Start centers at its main office, 1126 Hartford Ave., Johnston; 79 Waterman Ave. and 2204 Mineral Spring Ave. in North Providence; and 185 Main St. in Burrillville. All centers are accredited by the National Association for the Education of Young Children and rated by the Bright Stars Quality Rating and Improvement System, Chadwick noted.

In addition to the host communities, the local program also serves North Smithfield, Foster, Glocester, and Scituate.

Currently, Tri-Town has an enrollment target of 134 preschool students in Head Start and 58 children from birth to 5 and expectant mothers in the Early Head Start program, Chadwick explained.

To start the application process, contact Tri-Town Community Action Head Start at 401-519-1979 or Barbara Chadwick at bchadwick@tri-town.org. More information, including the Parents Handbook and annual report, is available on the Tri-Town website, tri-town.org.

Johnston High class of 1971

The Johnston High class of 1971 has scheduled its 45th class reunion on Sunday, July 17. The event will be held at the outdoor pavilion at Twelve Acres in Smithfield. Class members are encouraged to join the Facebook group “Johnston Senior High School Class of 1971” for reunion updates, classmates’ news, and photos. Invitations were recently distributed. Classmates who haven’t received one can contact reunion planner Harold J. Hemberger at harold@thesleepster.com.

Coloring for Grownups

Every Monday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Mohr Library, you may enjoy a therapeutic, relaxing, and enjoyable evening through adult coloring. Many choices of designs including stylized drawings, florals, and mandalas, with 100 beautiful markers and 100 colored pencils to choose from. Come early or late. The program is free. The Marian J. Mohr Memorial Library is located at 1 Memorial Ave., Johnston.

Bringing the world to RI

Cranston resident Everett McCurdy is bringing the world to Rhode Island, one international teenager at a time. McCurdy is an area representative of the ASSE International Student Exchange Program, whose primary goal is to contribute to international understanding by enabling foreign students to learn through active participation in family, school, and community life.

McCurdy will be interviewing families in the area to host exceptional high school students from Europe, Asia, the Americas, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, the Middle East, and Scandinavia. Again this year, the ASSE Program is proud to also include students from the republics of the former Soviet Union on its roster. These students stay with volunteer host families for one academic school year and arrive with insurance and their own spending money.

For more information, contact Everett McCurdy at 401-481-2533 or visit host.asse.com.

Did You Know?

Memorial Day or Decoration Day is observed, in most states of the United States, on the last Monday in May. It is a legal holiday and is observed in memory of those who died while serving the United States in war. The graves of the war heroes are decorated with flowers. It was first observed in 1866. (Source: May Fun Facts)

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 Sun Rise! Please include a daytime telephone number in case we require any further information.

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