Johnston Sun Rise - RhodyBeat

PROUD PAIR: Elise Carlson and Steve Merolla are among the many Johnston Historical Society members who have taken an active role over the years to clean up the town’s historical cemeteries.

Citizens and Historical Society volunteers clean cemeteries

By PETE FONTAINE Although the previous day's rain and high winds resulted in a smaller crew, five Citizens Bank staffers and two members of the Johnston Historical Society (JHS) met Tuesday to clean up Cemetery No. 21, the Gov. Samuel Ward King Cemetery more

By Pete Fontaine | 12/12/16

That disability line looks awfully tempting

Needing to get a picture ID, Marie and I went into the black hole named the Department of Motor Vehicles. Despite many years of problems and revamping, it can still take 4 hours to navigate the system. The waiting line filled the queue and spilled over more

By Linda Petersen | 12/12/16

Female bonding in Wilbury’s ‘Di and Viv and Rose’

By Theatre Review By DON FOWLER British writer Amelia Bullmore’s “Di and Viv and Rose,” running in repertory with “Straight White Men” at Wilbury Theatre, has some similar themes … more

By Don Fowler | 12/3/16

CLASSIC CREATIONS: Card$mart Proprietor Lori Boffi is all smiles as she’s joind by her long-time friend Kimberly Ferrazzano at last week’s Thanksgiving Bake Sale.

Cardsmart bake sale a success

Lori Boffi's Thanksgiving bake sale was such a success, the Card$mart proprietor had to extend it for another day. Known for her creative baking skills that raise big bucks for cancer research and Relay for Life, Boffi held the pre-turkey day event last more

By Pete Fontaine | 12/3/16

VERSATILE: Pat Reilly, Pilgrim's leading scorer at forward last season, will move to defense.

Pats ready to compete for title in new division

The Pilgrim boys' hockey team hopes to contend for a championship this season, and it should have a legitimate shot. The Pats are in a new division with a new head coach, but the expectations couldn't be higher. We're" more

By Matt Metcalf | 12/3/16

New pump station installed on Central Ave.

The Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation (RIRRC) announced progress on the new pump station and waterline installation on Central Avenue. All that remains is the decommissioning of the old … more

12/2/16

GENEROUS GIVERS: Among those people that took part in last week’s Johnston Fire Fighters Thanksgiving Food Basket drive were: Lt. Bob Marshall, Doreen Hudson, Breanna Levesque, Karen Pezzullo, Debbie Gannon and JFD Rescue Captain and Chairperson Cherra Wheeler.

Fire Fighters Local 1950 donates holiday baskets

Although it wasn’t a record, the Johnston Association of Fire Fighters Local 1950 turned in another heart-warming effort, helping 32 families enjoy a complete Thanksgiving Dinner. “This is what … more

By Pete Fontaine | 12/2/16

Police Log

SHOPLIFTING Patrolman Adam Parkinson responded to the CVS on Hartford Avenue on October 19 in reference to a report of shoplifting that had occurred at the store on October 15 around 8:17 p.m. According to his report, the officer met with a member of more

12/2/16

Lining up before the hike are Pawtucket Red Sox Mascot, ‘Paws’; Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza; Michael F. Sabitoni, Pres., RI Building & Construction Trades Council; George Nee, President, RI AFL-CIO; Gina Fattore, New England Laborers’ Media Dept.

Building & Construction Trades hike for Big Brothers Big Sisters

Raising nearly $15,000 to benefit the Big Brothers, Big Sisters of the Ocean State (BBBOS) was a walk in the park, for the Rhode Island Building & Construction Trades Council (RIB&CTC). For the … more

12/2/16

GIFT GIVERS: These are just a few of the many toys Johnston Firefighters Joe Puerini, Lt. Will Fish, Lt. Paul Livoli, Don Roberts, Pat Brockway and others will be giving to children in needy families this year to highlight Local 1950’s annual Toys for Tots Toy Drive.

JFD, JPD organize Toys for Tots Drive

By PETE FONTAINE For the seventh time in as many years, the Johnston Firefighters Local 1950 joins the Johnston Police Department's Local 307 to make sure that needy children have a Merry Christmas. On December 3, beginning at 7 p.m. to closing, Bar 101 more

By Pete Fontaine | 12/1/16

MIGHTY MOMENT: Barbara Castellone joins her daughter Laura during her recent crowning as Cranston West’s 2016 homecoming queen.

Meet Cranston West's homecoming queen

Laura Castellone may be the most unlikely of the Homecoming queens crowned in Rhode Island this fall. First, Castellone lives in Johnston but was crowned Cranston High School West's 2016 Homecoming Queen. Nearly two years ago, the more

By Pete Fontaine | 12/1/16

FM Global elects 2 to board of directors

Michel Giannuzzi and Israel Ruiz have been elected to the board of directors of FM Global, one of the world's largest commercial property insurers. Giannuzzi is CEO of Paris-based Tarkett, a global maker of sustainable solutions for flooring and sports more

12/1/16

Experience up front will be key for JNP

Since moving from Division II to Division III two seasons ago, the Johnston/North Providence Co-op hockey team has encountered nothing but success. Two seasons ago, it earned the No. 3 seed for the playoffs before sweeping more

By Matt Metcalf | 12/1/16

13 JHS music students head to All-State Festival

Bang the drums and sound the trumpets, Johnston High School's music students now rank among the best in Rhode Island. On Nov. 19, more than 2,000 high school music students ascended upon Moses Brown School in Providence and auditioned more

By Pete Fontaine | 12/1/16

JOHNSTON’S GIANT CANDY CANE: Homeowner Bob Casey of Borden Avenue spent two weeks decorating his 120-year old maple tree. Ten rolls of duct tape and 1,500 lights later, he’d created one of the larges candy canes Johnston has seen.

Giving tree that gave its all celebrates in style during its last Christmas.

For more than 120 years, a majestic maple has stood tall and proud near the corner of Borden Avenue and Marne Street, but time has taken its toll. “This tree, with several others along Borden … more

By Tim Forsberg | 12/1/16

Volunteers wrap up gifts for Rhode Island troops

Lt. Governor Daniel J. McKee and Brigadier General Christopher P. Callahan joined more than 100 volunteers at the Rhode Island National Guard Armory in Warwick on Sunday to wrap up Operation Holiday Cheer, a weekend-long event that sends care packages to more

11/29/16

HELPING HANDS: CCD Class members Melanie Vessella and Felicia Narvaez volunteered their time last weekend to help make the St. Brigid’s Bazaar and Bake Sale a special success.

St. Brigid's bazaar is a holiday shopping success

By PETE FONTAINE St. Brigid's Church, 1231 Plainfield Street in Johnston, is relatively small compared to other Roman Catholic parishes in the area, yet last weekend's holiday bazaar and bake sale was a huge success. Chairperson Fran Wilke and more

By Pete Fontaine | 11/28/16

A mob by any other name is still a mob

To the Editor: Who among us has not been seduced by the allure of the mob? I know I have. Everyone wants to join a mob; you just have to find the right one. As a young hippy I rode the waves of mobs that protested the war in Vietnam and Cambodia. We had more

11/28/16

In beginning Hitler also spoke of peace

To the Editor:President Obama called Donald Trump’s victory “the usual zig and zag of politics,” as if nothing unusual is taking place. He is either whistling past the … more

11/28/16

Celebrate books at Rhode Island Author Expo on Dec. 3

By MERI R. KENNEDY The Association of Rhode Island Authors (ARIA) has announced that the 4th Annual Rhode Island Author Expo will be held on Saturday, Dec. 3 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Rhodes on the Pawtuxet in Cranston. This year, the Expo will feature a more

By Meri R. Kennedy | 11/28/16

GIFT CARD: Lois Marandola (seated left), Johnston’s part-time Human Services Director, hands a Price-Rite gift card to Evangeline Fisher (standing left).

Polisena's gift card program a success

Janet Whiteley, the administrative assistant to Johnston Mayor Joseph M. Polisena, and Lois Marandola, the town's part-time Human Services Director, sat smiling inside the Johnston Senior Center's game room for three hours last Thursday morning. Their more

By Pete Fontaine | 11/27/16

After tough season, Panthers rewarded with Thanksgiving Eve game

By JACOB MARROCCO Assistant Sports Editor Family is a common theme around Thanksgiving, and the Johnston football team could tell you all about it. The season has been filled with peaks and valleys for the Panthers, who finished the league calendar 2-5, more

By Jacob Marrocco | 11/27/16

THE EDGE OF SEVENTEEN

At last, an intelligent teenage “coming of age” movie that teens and their parents can relate to! Hailee Steinfeld plays Nadine, a high school loner with only one friend, Krista (Hayley Lu … more

By Joyce and Don Fowler | 11/27/16

TINY TANDEM: The brothers Brophy -- Brennan (left) and Brody -- added to last Saturday’s food collection during Fire Bowl III.

North Providence shuts out Johnston in Fire Bowl III

Fire Bowl III, the unique flag football game between the Johnston and North Providence Fire Fighters, had all the earmarks of a big-time gridiron contest. There were fans of all ages at Mayor … more

By Pete Fontaine | 11/27/16

Sun Rise Scoops

By MERI R. KENNEDYSanta's Arrival in Garden City this Saturday Santa Claus will arrive in the Garden City Center, Cranston, on Nov. 26 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Gazebo. Santa arrives via a horse drawn hayride at 11 a.m. Professional photos available more

By Meri R. Kennedy | 11/26/16