Sun Rise Scoops

Saint Rocco Church

Annual Feast

and Festival

It must be August, as the St. Rocco Church Annual Feast and Festival is coming up, from Aug. 15 through Aug. 18 on the church grounds behind the more than 100-year-old church at 927-929 Atwood Ave. in Johnston.

The feast will be open to the public from 6 to 10:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, and 1:30 to 10 p.m. on Sunday.

On hand will be a delicious variety of foods, home-style cooking, doughboys, pasta, meatballs, homebaked pastries, beer garden, rides, games and musical entertainment. Fireworks will be held Saturday evening and raffles will be held throughout the event.

Gear for Grades

at Citizens

There is still time to donate new school supplies to Citizens Bank Gear for Grades program that will send 16,000 local children back to school with important items to help them learn. Now through Aug. 9, all pencils, pens, notebooks, folders and other school supplies can be donated at any Citizens Bank branch across Rhode Island.

The Gear for Grades program is a part of Citizens Helping Citizens Strengthen Communities, the bank’s program for contributing to the economic vitality of communities. Since 2003, the program has helped more than 215,000 children across the bank’s footprint, where it operates as Citizens Bank in New England and the Mid-Atlantic and Charter One in the Midwest.

“Through the Gear for Grades program, thousands of children in Rhode Island will return to school with essential school supplies like notebooks, pencils and pocket folders that will help them succeed in the classroom,” said Ned Handy, president, Citizens Bank and RBS Citizens, Rhode Island. “We thank everyone who has already donated school supplies to this year’s program and want to remind the public that there is still time to make a donation that will contribute to the academic success of so many children in our community.”

Academic News & Notes

Congratulations to Douglas C. Jeffrey of Johnston who earned Dean’s List honors at St. Joseph’s University in Pennsylvania.

Congratulations also to Joseph Iacono and Robert Parks of Johnston, who were both named to the spring 2013 Dean’s List at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, located in New York.

Jet Pull registration

now open

Registration is open for the MS Jet Pull, which will be held Oct. 5 at T.F. Green Airport. Don’t miss the opportunity to be part of this unique event, as teams of 25 people pull an enormous FedEx 757 across the tarmac with only their hands.

They can only accommodate 30 teams and captains are already signing up, so don’t delay and register your team today at www.msjetpull.com. The registration fee is only $50 per person with a minimum fundraising contribution of $50.

Volunteers are needed and spectators are encouraged to cheer on the teams and enjoy fun activities for the family and a delicious BBQ! The entrance fee for adults is $10; children under 12 are $5; and children under 3 are free. No animals are permitted for their own safety, in keeping with airport rules.

The first pull is scheduled to start at 10 a.m., and the action will continue throughout the day. When a team registers, they choose a window of time so they are only required to commit to three hours on event day. In the past, teams have gotten very creative with their outfits; from super heroes to angels. Prizes will be awarded in many categories, including fastest pull and most team spirit.

Final free

summer field trip

The final stop in the North Central Chamber of Commerce’s free Summer Field Trip Series will be held on Aug. 15 from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at the Rhode Island State Police Headquarters, located at 311 Danielson Pike in North Scituate.

Take a tour of the Rhode Island State Police Headquarters and see the barracks, State Police Museum and much more. This will be a great opportunity for all ages to see what goes on at the State Police Headquarters. Register for any or all of these tours by calling the North Central Chamber at 349-4674.

Oakland Beach Carousel Foundation Carnival

Head on over to Warwick for the annual Oakland Beach Carnival to help raise funds for a volunteer effort to build a beach carousel on Aug. 8 through Aug. 11; evenings from 6 to 10 p.m.

Admission is free, and on Thursday of the carnival there is a pay one price bracelet special for rides, while on Sunday, the final day, all rides are one ticket. The hours are Thursday, 6 to 10 p.m.; Friday, 6 to 11 p.m.; Saturday, 5 to 11 p.m.; and Sunday, 5 to 9 p.m.

Did You Know?

August has two birthstones, the Peridot and Sardonyx. Peridot is among the oldest known gemstones. It ranges from olive to lime green, sometimes with a brownish tinge. Sardonyx is a gem with white and brown bands and it is believed to have mystical powers and it is said that it eliminates negative thinking.

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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.