Sun Rise Scoops

By MERI R. KENNEDY

KDMF Writing Contest

The 2015 Katie DeCubellis Memorial Foundation, or KDMF, has announced the 12th annual statewide contest involving creative writing with this year’s topic, “Positive Change.”

Katie’s legacy lives on because her parents made the choice to use her tragic accident as an opportunity to bring about positive change. Those entering the contest are asked to take a negative situation and find a way to take the story in a positive direction. The negative situation can involve an accident or emotions such as fear or hate.

Bruce DeSilva, a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist who has also won the Polk Award, the Livingston Award and the Edgar and Macavity Awards, is this year’s celebrity judge.

The KDMF is also proud to announce that for the third year, AAA Southern New England will serve as the corporate sponsor for the contest.

Entries should be mailed to: KDMF Creative Writing Contest, c/o Joel S. Chase 300 Metro Center Boulevard, Suite 150A, Warwick, RI 02886

Entries must be postmarked by March 27, 2015. Complete contest details are available at www.kdmf.org. For more information, contact Joel Chase at 401-739-9900.

Winners will be notified two weeks prior to the awards ceremony, which will be held at the Warwick Mall on May 18, 2015 at 7 p.m.

Zumba by

Parks & Recreation

Beginning on Jan. 5, Johnston Parks & Recreation will present Zumba Fitness, which will be an eight-week session at Rainone Gym located at 45 Mill St. in Johnston. Led by licensed Roberta Preziosi, the classes are $80 per person or $10 per class for a drop-in rate. Classes will meet Mondays and Wednesdays from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. All checks should be made payable to Johnston Adult Sports. Please wear exercise clothing and sneakers and also bring a water bottle and a towel.

At the Mohr Library

The Ocean State Libraries eZone offers an eReading room for children featuring children’s e-books and audiobooks. Access it through the library’s web page, www.mohrlibrary.org/forchildren.php.

On Jan 2, La Befana, the good Italian witch, will visit the library to share a story and leave goodies in children’s shoes at 2 p.m. All ages are welcome. Please register by calling 401-231-4980, ext. 5.

Science Club for grades three and up will be held on the first Monday of the month through May. Join Ms. Michelle on Jan. 5 at 6:30 p.m. for games and hands-on experiments about the circulatory system. New members welcome. Please register by calling 401-231-4980, ext. 5.

Art Smart with Ms. Melyssa for grades three through six meets on the first Thursday at 4 p.m. The next meeting is on Jan. 8. New members are welcome. Please register by calling 401-231-4980, ext. 5.

LEGO Junior Makers will be held on Jan. 8 at 5:30 p.m. Children can play with the library’s 10 000 brand new LEGO bricks donated by LEGO systems. This program is geared for ages five and up, with no registration needed.

Friends of the Mohr

Members of the Friends of the Mohr 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 provide 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 and 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 hard cover and paperback books, fiction and non-fiction, for adults, children and young adults. Most prices range from 25 cents to $2. The Friends are a 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.

Academic News & Notes

The University of Rhode Island chapter of the engineering honor society Tau Beta Pi inducted new members at a ceremony on Dec. 9. Fifty-two junior and senior students, representing all eight engineering programs at the university, were inducted.

Founded in 1885, Tau Beta Pi is the nation’s largest engineering society and represents the highest honor to be obtained by an engineering student. Membership is awarded on the basis of high scholarship and exemplary character. Congratulations to Julie Cuddigan and Gioia Tuozzolo, both from Johnston, who were inducted.

Self-Defense Seminar

The North Central Chamber of Commerce will present a Women’s Self-Defense Seminar Series at the RI Self-Defense Center, located at 515 Greenville Ave. This is a four-class workshop series that will give participants the skills needed to assess potentially dangerous situations and effectively escape them. This workshop will be hands on and will cover body cues, offensive strikes and defenses against chokes, grabs, strikes and various holds. It will run on Saturday mornings from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. for four Saturdays beginning Jan. 3.

The cost is $35 if paid before the first date and $45 after.  Please call Michael Orsini at the RI Self-Defense Center at 401-301-3825 if interested.

Did You Know?

Each year, millions of eyes from all over the world are focused on the sparkling Waterford Crystal Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball. At 11:59 p.m., the Ball begins its descent as millions of voices unite to count down the final seconds of the year, and celebrate the beginning of a new year full of hopes, challenges, changes and dreams. The Ball is a geodesic sphere, 12 feet in diameter, and weighs 11,875 pounds. The Ball is covered with a total of 2,688 Waterford Crystal triangles that vary in size, and range in length from 4 ¾ inches to 5 ¾ inches per side. Revelers began celebrating New Year’s Eve in Times Square as early as 1904, but it was in 1907 that the New Year’s Eve Ball made its maiden descent from the flagpole atop One Times Square. Seven versions of the Ball have been designed to signal the New Year. (New Year’s Eve Fun Facts)

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.