Sun Rise Scoops

PawSox Game and Tailgating Extravaganza

Come and see the PawSox play the Syracuse Chiefs on August 30 at McCoy Stadium along with the North Central Chamber of Commerce. They have great Box Seats and there will be Post-Game Fireworks to celebrate the holiday! Tailgating begins at 4:30 with food being provided and it is suggested that you bring your own chair or blanket and beverage of choice. The cost is $25 per person and $18 for those ages 10 and under. This is geared up to be a family event.

Event time is 4:30 through approximately 9 p.m. at McCoy Stadium at 1 Columbus Ave. in Pawtucket. For more information or to reserve your place, please contact Kelly Patz at 349-4674.

Plan ahead, Greek Festival around the corner

The 28th Annual Cranston Greek Festival will be held at the Church of the Annunciation on the church grounds at 175 Oaklawn Ave. in Cranston. As always, admission is free and the festival will take place under the big tents, rain or shine.

The festival will be open on Sept. 6 from 5 to 10 p.m.; Sept. 7 from noon to 10 p.m. and Sept. 8 from noon to 9 p.m.  Free parking is available on the neighborhood streets. Additional parking is available at Cranston West High School. There is a free shuttle bus service from the Cranston West parking lot to and from the festival.  Handicap parking is available on the church grounds.

Guests will sample a wide variety of Greek food including roast lamb, Greek style chicken, souvlaki, pastitsio, spanakopita (“spinach pie”) tiropita (“cheese pie”) and Rhode Island’s best Gyros. The pastry booth will feature hand-made Greek pastries, including everyone’s favorite Baklava.  Enjoy your Greek pastries with Greek coffee or a cold frappe.

The Orchestra Asteria band will provide live Greek music on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings.  The Odyssey Dance Troupe will perform traditional dances from mainland Greece and the Greek Islands.

A variety of vendors will be selling imported items from Greece including jewelry, CDs, and clothing.  A car raffle will feature a Toyota Corolla or $15,000 cash. There will be a Children's Area with games and crafts.  Tours of the church offer the opportunity to learn about the Eastern Orthodox Christian Church; the second largest Christian church in the world.

News from Mohr

Some may not know that there is an ongoing book sale in the lower level hall at the Mohr Library across from the meeting room. The Friends of the Library also hold larger sales two or three times a year. One was held last June and the next large book sale will be Sept. 21 and Sept. 22 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. both days.

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.

The Book Sale will include 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 $2.00. The Friends are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, with proceeds from fundraising supporting library programs and services.

Willy the Friends Bookshelf on the lower level of the library is open for browsing and sales every day during library hours as well.

Shop for a cause for CCAP

This Saturday, Aug. 24 CCAP (Comprehensive Community Action Program) is participating in Macy’s annual national “Shop for a Cause” charity shopping event. A $5 shopping pass allows 25% off merchandise all day in any Macy’s store. Purchase your shopping pass in advance from CCAP as $100% of the shopping pass will benefit the community organization. Call 467-9610 to learn how to get your shopping pass from them or in email.

Pickling Peppers

On Aug. 27, Pickling Pepper will be the center of topic at the Mohr Library at 6:30 p.m. Join Connie Jacavone from the Jacavone Garden Center in Johnston as she discusses pickling and canning. For more information, please contact the library at 231-4980.

Reed Triathlon at Camp Massasoit

The Cranston YMCA, a branch of the YMCA of Greater Providence, will host the Andrew J. Reed Jr. Triathlon on Saturday, August 24 at Camp Massasoit in Johnston beginning at 8:30 a.m.

This sprint triathlon held at Camp Massasoit on Oak Swamp Reservoir in Johnston is held annually in memory of Andrew Reed first executive director of the Cranston YMCA. All proceeds from the race go directly to the scholarship fund that makes summer day camp available to any child regardless of financial obstacles.

Over 200 children actively engage at Camp Massasoit each summer.  Over 50% of the children are on some kind of financial assistance all made possible by the annual triathlon.

Organizers of the Triathlon, to encourage first time triathletes and other individuals to join the fun, are keeping entrance fees low.  The fee to join the ½ mile swim, 12 mile bike race and three mile run is $45 for individuals, and $90 for relay teams.

For more information or to sign up please contact the Cranston YMCA a 943-0444.

Did You Know?

With thoughts on back to school, did you know that the oldest public school in the US was Boston’s Latin School, which was founded in 1635? Five of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence graduated from this school, Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock, Robert Treat Paine, Samuel Adams and William Hopper.

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.