Sun Rise Scoops

Breakfast with the Easter Bunny

Hosted by Johnston Parks and Recreation Department and sponsored by Citizen’s Bank, you and your family can enjoy Breakfast with the Easter Bunny on April 13 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Johnston Senior Center, 1291 Hartford Ave, Johnston.

This is a free event. Have your picture with Easter Bunny! Each child will receive a gift. Please bring a camera. Pastries and drinks will be available.

The Tomorrow Fund’s 17th Annual Stroll

The Tomorrow Fund Stroll will mark its 17th year on Sunday, April 7, at Garden City Center in Cranston. Check-in begins at 8:45 a.m. and the stroll takes place at 10 a.m. with festivities continuing until noon.

The goal is to raise $100,000 to support children with cancer and their families through The Tomorrow Fund. Individual participants and teams are welcome. Trophies will be awarded to the top fundraisers in the following categories: Individual (Non-Team), Team, School and College/University.

Registration fees are $20 per stroller on a team or as an individual. There is no charge for children under 10 years of age.

Registration forms are available at tomorrowfund.org. Walk-in registration is also available at the event.

For more information about the Stroll and The Tomorrow Fund, call 444-8811 or visit tomorrowfund.org.

Have your say on upcoming animal rights legislation

Defenders of Animals wanted to give people an opportunity to participate in the political process.

Unfortunately, not everyone who would like to see stronger protection laws for animals is able to attend the legislative hearings at the State House.

In addition, this is a crucial year regarding the introduction of important animal-related legislation so sufficient participation is crucial in order to let elected officials know that their constituents want better animal protection in our state. There are over 20 bills related to animals to date. There could be additional legislation introduced.

Defenders of Animals needed to find a way for more people to participate in the process, and having individuals sign petitions is one such method.

People can sign these petitions at the Cranston Public Library, located at 140 Sockanosset Cross Road, Cranston, on Saturday, April 6, in the Seminar Room from 10 a.m. to noon.

The legislation list can be found on the Defenders of Animals website, defendersofanimals.org/legislation.php.

School vacation week at the Mohr

With school vacation week soon upon us, the Marian J. Mohr Memorial Library in Johnston will be hosting daily events for students.

On April 15 from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., the library will offer Spring Crafts and Legos, several self-guided projects for children ages 5 and up with an adult. Craft programs are not appropriate for children under 3 as small parts might present a hazard.

Sing and Dance with Mr. Rowland is another event Mohr is offering during vacation. Mr. Rowland will play the guitar and sing family favorites. Kids are invited to join in and dance with shakers. This program will be held on Tuesday, April 16, at 10:30 a.m.

Also, on Tuesday, April 16, at 2 p.m., the library will host a Mola Art program. Attendees will make mola designs and panels inspired by the appliqued fabric panels created by Cuna women, an indigenous people from Panama.

On Wednesday, April 17, at 10:30 a.m., Casey Farm will present Project Chick. Join a Casey Farm educator to learn about bird life cycles, explore eggs from many different birds and even interact with live chicks. There is no need to register.

On Thursday, April 18, at 6:30 p.m., there will be a magic show. Malik Haddadi will entertain the whole family with an exciting audience participation magic show. Free tickets will be available starting on April 15. This program is sponsored by the Friends of Mohr Library.

Storytime, which features stories, songs and rhymes for kids and their caregivers, will start on April 23 and run through May 29.

For more information on these and other programs at the Mohr Library, call Michelle Surpenant at 231-4980, ext. 5, or visit mohrlibrary.org.

UPS honors local safe drivers

UPS today announced that three elite drivers from Rhode Island are among 1,436 newly inducted worldwide into the Circle of Honor, an honorary organization for UPS drivers who have achieved 25 or more years of accident-free driving.

Rhode Island boasts 36 Circle of Honor drivers with a combined 1,018 years of accident-free driving. Henry Curtin Jr. of Johnston is the state’s senior-most safe driver, with 35 years of accident-free driving under his belt.

There are 415 total full-time UPS drivers in Rhode Island. UPS’s 125,000 small package drivers worldwide are among the safest on the roads, logging close to 4 billion miles a year and delivering 5.2 billion packages annually.

Genealogy Group meetings

The Marian J. Mohr Memorial Library hosts a Genealogy Group on the second Wednesday of each month at 4:30 p.m. The Library has yearly subscriptions to Ancestry.com and New England Historical Genealogical Society databases on all library computers.

The library also publishes a monthly newsletter outlining upcoming program details and includes tips for searching. Former programs include field trips to the State Archive and Swan Point Cemetery, as well as speakers on cemeteries, medallions found on gravestones, how to search for a nationality, and much more.

The group’s meetings are open to all. For more information, call 231-4980, email info@mohrlibrary.org or visit mohrlibrary.org. 

Johnston Historical Society

The Johnston Historical Society’s museum barn is open Tuesdays from 9-11 a.m. and 6:30-8:30 p.m., Thursdays from 2-5 p.m., or by appointment for those who would like to visit the museum or examine the society’s collection of printed materials. Just in case, call ahead to confirm they are there.

Society dues cost $20 per year for an individual and $30 per year for a family (two adults and children under 18) membership. The purpose of the Johnston Historical Society is to identify, preserve and promote the history of the town. It is located at 101 Putnam Pike in Johnston and can be reached by calling 231-3380.

Book Sales

Members of the Friends of the Mohr Library plan and run book sales and carry out other fundraising activities to allow the Marian J. Mohr Memorial Library to increase services and programs. The Friends welcome new members who are willing to support either through donations, membership dues, or through volunteering their time. To find out more, contact them, or call the library director at 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 hard cover and paperback books, fiction and non-fiction, for adults, children, and young adults. Most prices range from $.25 to $2. The Friends are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit 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.

MS Dream Center to kick off Saturday program

The MS Dream Center has announced that it will be adding a Saturday program to its weekly schedule. Beginning on Saturday, April 6, and continuing on the first Saturday of the month thereafter, the program will run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The April 6 program will include Chair Zumba with Michelle Calise at 10:30 a.m. followed by socialization and light refreshments. This program is free and offered to those with multiple sclerosis and their loved ones.

The center’s normal business hours are Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The center is located at the Peter T. Pastore Youth Center, 155 Gansett Ave. in Cranston.

Transportation will be provided for those who are unable to get there on their own. Contact donna@msdreamcenter.org for assistance with transport arrangements.

Visit msdreamcenter.org for more information.

Did You Know?

Happy April! This month’s name came from the Latin word aperio, meaning “to open [bud],” because plants begin to grow now. The birthstone of April is diamond. The birth flowers are Daisy and Sweet Pea. (Source: April Fun Facts)

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