Sun Rise Scoops

Ocean State Toastmasters to Meet

Ocean State Toastmasters will hold its next meeting on Jan. 16 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Warwick City Hall, 3275 Post Road. Regular meetings are held on the first and third Tuesdays of each month.

The club is one of some 13,500 in Toastmasters International, a nonprofit, educational organization devoted to the development of public speaking and leadership skills. The organization has approximately 280,000 members in 116 countries. Founded in 1963, Ocean State Toastmasters is one of the oldest clubs in Rhode Island. For more information, contact Merrill Winoker, Vice President of Membership, at 688-4741 or merrillwinoker@icloud.com.

Children’s Programs at the Mohr

Stories, songs, rhymes, puppets and coloring for children of all ages and their grown-ups will be held Jan. 16 to Feb. 14 on Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. for ages 0-3 years old and Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. for ages 3 to 5 years old. There is no registration.

Saturday Drop-in Crafts will be held daily from 11:30 a.m. through 3:30 p.m. These several self-directed projects are for children and parents to do together. Craft programs are not appropriate for children under 3 as small parts might present a hazard.

LEGO Club will be held on the second Thursday of each month from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Come play with their LEGO bricks donated by LEGO Systems. Ages 5 and up, no registration is needed.

I SPY continues anytime when the library is open. Play I Spy Pokémon, I Spy Pete the Cat or three other I Spy games that a talented volunteer has made for you and get a sticker for each one. All ages are welcome.

Help make a house a home

The Furniture Bank of RI, a 501(C)3 non-profit corporation, needs bureaus, complete twin or double beds, kitchen sets, mattresses and other household furniture that you no longer need. To help a less fortunate family through your charitable donation of good used furniture, call 831-5511 to arrange for pick up. All donated articles must be in good condition.

Beginning Reader Book Club

The Mohr Library is holding a series of Beginning Reading Book Club that will be held on Jan. 22, Jan. 29, Feb. 5, Feb. 12 with all sessions being held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Join your child on their journey to independent reading. They will read out loud at the same time and do activities to expand our understanding of the stories. Nobody must read alone. Multiple copies of the books will be provided. This event is ideal for children in grades K-2, with an adult. Registration is required. Call 943-9080 to sign up.

West Bay Chorale seeking singers

The West Bay Chorale will begin rehearsals on Jan. 15 in preparation of their upcoming Spring Concert entitled “Love Changes Everything” which will be held on May 20. Selections for this concert will include Brahms Liebeslieder Waltzes and Broadway Love Songs. They are especially looking for additional Tenors and Baritones to join their group but welcome all voices. If you are interested, please contact our director, Eric van Devort at Eric@westbaychorale.org.

Monday Night Coloring for Grownups at the Mohr

Every Monday from 6 to 8 p.m., the Mohr Library offers coloring for grownups. Enjoy a therapeutic, relaxing, and enjoyable evening of coloring. There are many choices of designs, including stylized drawings, florals, and mandalas, along with markers and colored pencils. Come early or late. The program is free.

At the Mohr for Teens

Teen Task Force seeking members. Do you want to show the community how teens can make a positive impact? Join our Teen Task Force to help build a better world. Become part of this teen-driven group advocating for the library and for the teens in their community. Plan monthly teen programs, organize weekly activities & crafts, give suggestions for new material purchases, initiate teen participation, and earn volunteer hours. Participate in bi-weekly meetings & teen-lead activity benefiting the teens, the community & causes of your choice.

Library Cards for Teens! Teens are encouraged to sign up for library cards all year round! Young Adults ages 14-17 may apply for a library card on their own. According to Ocean State Libraries, “students ages 14 to 17 may provide proof of their enrollment in a public or private school in Rhode Island (class schedule, transcript, report card, etc.) in lieu of a photo ID if they do not otherwise have one. Proof of home address must still be provided if not stated on school enrollment documents.” For computer privileges, all students under the age of 17 must have a parent or guardian sign the permission form. Gentian Garden Club

The club’s first meeting of the New Year will be Tuesday, January 16 at 7 p.m. at the North Scituate Community House. The name of the program is Winter Woods – A Design Demonstration and it is open to the public for an entrance fee of $5. Gentian member Ann Huntoon will be doing the design at the meeting. Ann is a Master Judge for the Rhode Island Federation of Garden Clubs (RIFGC). She was the chairperson of the Gentian Flower Show in 2015. Ann has also been chairperson of the RIFGC Flower Show, which was held at the Convention Center in Providence. Ann’s designs are bold and she uses plant material that you do not regularly see. Contact membership chairperson, Nancy Laurie at her email gentryway@cox.net or by phone 647-5966.

Did You Know?

Born on January 15, 1929, Martin Luther King Jr. grew to become one of the greatest Social Activists the world has ever known. At 35, he became the youngest person to win the Nobel Peace prize. He was assassinated on April 4, 1968 while making a speech from the balcony of his hotel room in Memphis, Tennessee. His birthday became a National Holiday by an act of Congress in 1983. Many consider it a day to serve your community. (Source: January Fun Facts)

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