Explorers celebrated at annual fundraising dinner

Early Sunday afternoon, Mayor Joseph Polisena and his wife Lucy walked into the Kelley-Gazzerro VFW Post 2812 at 1418 Plainfield St. on the Johnston-Cranston line and purchased tickets for what the mayor called “an extremely important event” – Johnston Police Explorer Post 405’s 21st annual Macaroni and Meatball Dinner fundraiser.

“I never miss this dinner,” Polisena told those on hand as he went from table to table greeting parents of Post 405 cadets. “This is a great organization of great young men and women who do a great, great job – and service – to our community. I feel the Explorers program is so important, we put funds in the budget to assist this program. It’s such a small investment and the taxpayers get such a huge return.”

The post is coordinated by the Johnston Police Department, and includes young people between the ages of 14 and 20 who have expressed interest in pursuing law enforcement as a career.

“The food’s always great here,” Polisena said of the dinner. “Ralph [DeFusco of Ralph’s Kitchen at the Kelley-Gazzerro Post] always puts out a great meal, and my wife loves the fact she doesn’t have to cook Sunday dinner.”

The mayor also heaped words of praise upon Police Capt. Thomas H. Dolan, a recent inductee into the Rhode Island Criminal Justice Hall of Fame, who coordinates Explorer Post 405.

“Capt. Dolan continues to do a great job in heading this important operation,” Polisena noted. “He’s a great teacher, and the lessons our Explorers are learning are very, very valuable.”

The annual dinner provides financial support so Post 405 can purchase uniforms and other necessary equipment. While this year’s event was competing against the New England Patriots game, the room was filled with community spirit.

“[Explorer] Sofia [Rengigas] has almost 40 family members here,” Dolan said. “They filled more than three tables … we thank her mother and father [Ekaterina and Jim Rengigas] for helping increase today’s attendance.”

Explorers Bailey and Zach Morin also had an overflow table of family members, as did former Post 405 member George Arakelian, who was joined by his mother, father, and sister Giovanna, as well as some friends.

“Like the mayor said, this is an important organization that deserves unlimited support, especially of what these young people do throughout the year,” Arakelian said.

Sunday’s 21st annual dinner also included a raffle with prizes donated from local businesses.

To make a donation to Post 405 or for more information about the program, call Dolan at 401-757-3100, ext. 3138. 1

PATRICK’S PICKS:

Explorers like Patrick Young put tickets purchased by family members in containers for the many raffle prizes that were part of Sunday’s event. (Sun Rise photos by Pete Fontaine)

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FAMILY FUN:

The Morin and Fontaine families were among the many people who enjoyed Sunday’s dinner. The group includes, sitting from left, Carl Morin, Anna Morin, Kyle Fontaine, Laura Fontaine, and Jerry Fontaine; and standing from left, Bailey Morin, Capt. Thomas H. Dolan, and Zach Morin. 3

SPECIAL SQUAD:

Johnston Mayor Joseph Polisena is joined by members of Post 405 during Sunday’s dinner. The group includes, from left, Capt. Thomas H. Dolan, Bailey Morin, Katherine Rocha, Zach Morin, Patrick Young, Heather Vest, Sofia Rengigas, and Allegra Graziano. 4

SUPER SUPPORTERS:

These are just some members of the Rengigas family who attended Sunday’s dinner.