Johnston Weather: Friday: Sunny with highs in the upper 40s. Friday night: Mostly clear. Lows in the 20s. Weekend: Clouds develop Saturday night. Chance of snow Sunday through early next week. Fill the Rescue: The Johnston Fire Department continues its Fill the Rescue drive to benefit Toys for Tots tomorrow from 10 am to 2 om at Jacavone Garden Center on Atwood Avenue. Make your donation — and help bring a little joy to little ones. Get Artsy: Ms. Melyssa, resident artist at Marian J. Mohr Library in Johnston, hosts Art Smart for students in grades 3 to 6 this afternoon at 4. Register by …

  Johnston Weather: Wednesday: Sunny with highs in the 40s. Wednesday night: Partly cloudy and cold. Lows in the 20s. Thursday: Continued sunny with highs in the 40s. Hobbit: Celebrate the book The Hobbit — before Peter Jackson got his hands on it and turned it into a three-film epic — tonight at 6 pm at Mohr Library in Johnston [The first installment opens tomorrow night — check Moviefone.com for times and tickets.] Lights: For some people, there's just no limit to how they'll light up their homes for the holidays — still, National Grid offers a few energy savings tips to hold down the …

  Johnston Weather: Tuesday: Cloudy to start, clearing later. Highs in the upper 40s. Tuesday night: Mostly clear and cold. Lows in the 20s. Wednesday: Mostly sunny. Highs around 40. Connections: Looking for a unique way to make contacts with other businesspeople and grow your business? The North Central Chamber of Commerce is hosting a "speed networking" event this morning starting at 7:30 am. Get your coffee early and click here for more info. Cards: Marian J. Mohr Library hosts the second week of its Card Tournament today at 2:30 pm. For students in grades 6 to 12. Colors: Is your house …

  Johnston Weather: Friday: A partly sunny start gives way to clouds and a 50-percent chance of rain. Highs in the 40s. Friday night: Rain and patchy fog. Temps hovering around 40. Weekend: Near 100-percent chance of rain for Saturday. Gradually clearing, with a chance of rain lingering through Monday. Holiday Events: Johnston Memorial Park and the Johnston Senior Center are hosting events on Saturday — the park has the Holiday Festival scheduled for noon to 3 pm, and the Johnston Police Explorers are setting up their craft fair at the Senior Center from 9 am to 4 pm. And, even though it's …

  Johnston Weather: Thursday: Sunny and cooler with highs in the 40s. Thursday night: Mostly clear, then turning cloudy. Lows in the 20s. Friday/Weekend: Increasing clouds on Friday; chance of rain on Saturday and Sunday. Holiday Spirit: JohnstonPatch has two great ways to have some holiday fun: Show Off Your Ornaments: Upload photos and video of your favorite decorations here. Enter the 'Deck the House Contest: Winner gets $500 to help with the electric bill and $100,000 for local schools. Here's how to enter. TV Chef: You've seen him on "Food 911" and "How to Boil Water." On Friday, you can…

  Johnston Weather: Wednesday: Rain early, then clearing and sunny. Highs in the upper 50s. Wednesday night: Clear and cold with lows in the 20s. Thursday: Sunny with highs in the 40s. Support Group: The Autism Project in Johnston hosts a support group for caregivers of people with Autism Spectrum Disorders tonight from 6:30 to 7:30 pm. Register for this free group at www.theautismproject.org or call Sue Bayliss (401) 785-2666, ext. 1021. Deck the House: Patch is on the hunt for the best-decorated house in America — think your crib could be it? Click here to learn how to register for a chance…

  Johnston Weather: Tuesday: Partly sunny early, clouding up later. Highs in the upper 50s. Tuesday night: 70 percent chance of rain. Lows in the 40s. Wednesday: Continued chance of rain. Clearing late. Highs in the mid 50s. Book Chat: Marian J. Mohr Library in Johnston hosts Contemporary Club today at 3 pm. Today's discussion about a recent release covers "The Street Sweeper" by Elliot Perlman. Easy Shopping: The Children's Workshop on Cedar Swamp Road in Smithfield is hosting holiday shopping with products from Lia Sophia, Mary Kay, Avon, Wildtree, and others this afternoon at 5 pm. Free …

  Johnston Weather: Friday: Sunny start gives way to clouds. Highs in the mid 30s. Friday night: Cold with a chance of snow. Lows in the upper 20s. Weekend: Chance of snow through Sunday afternoon, then chance of rain Sunday night. Can't Spell Cabaret without 'ET': Tonight at Johnston High School, the Johnston Drama and Performing Arts (J-DAPA) troupe performs "An Extraterrestrial Christmas" at 6:30 pm. They'll also take the stage tomorrow at 1:30 pm and 6:30 pm. Tix are just $5. Toys for Tots Spots: Johnston's got three designated drop-off sites for Toys for Tots this year. Click here for …

  Johnston Weather: Thursday: Mostly sunny with highs in the 40s. Thursday Night: Partly cloudy. Lows in the 20s. Friday: Sunny and cold with highs in the 30s. Controversy — or 'Non-troversy'?: Remember the hubbub last year after Gov. Lincoln Chafee named the State House evergreen a "holiday tree" — like former Gov. Don Carcieri had done, incidentally? Chafee announced that he's planning a tree lighting this year, too — do you think what the tree is called is still an issue? Let us know. Bowling to Benefit: Town Hall Lanes in Johnston hosts a bowling tournament on Friday night to help the …

  Johnston Weather:  Wednesday: Chance of snow. Clearing later. Highs in the 40s. Wednesday night: Mostly clear and colder. Lows in the 20s. Thursday: Sunny. Highs in the 40s. Contest: It's time for the Patch "Deck the House" Contest, where the winner could snag a cool $100,000 for their local school district, plus $500 to help with the electrical bill. Click here for more info. Greetings: Yesterday we posted a holiday greetings video from Lt. Col. Bill Courtemanche of the USAF. If you've got a friend or family member serving overseas, be sure they send videos to joseph.hutnak@patch.com — and…

  Johnston Weather:  Tuesday: Cloudy with a 50 percent chance of snow. Highs in the upper 30s. Tuesday night: Continued chance of snow. Lows in the 20s Wednesday: Partyly sunny. Highs in the low 40s. Giving: A nationwide group of nonprofit organizations is collaborating to raise awareness for their causes as part of "Giving Tuesday." Click here to learn more and find Rhode Island area nonprofits who are participating. Reading, Pt. 1: Planning buy books as part of your holiday shopping? We've got a list of great reads for all ages.  Reading, Pt. 2: Marian J. Mohr Library hosts story time for …

  Johnston Weather:  Cyber Monday: Mostly sunny. Highs in the 40s. Monday night: Mostly cloudy. Lows in the lower 30s.  Cyber Monday: The relative newcomer to the first weekend of the annual holiday shopping season, today is Cyber Monday. Click here to find the best online deals near Johnston. Film Club: Marian J, Mohr Library hosts the first meeting of its new Animation and Film Club tonight at 6. This free program is for teens. Game Day: It's also Game Day for grades 6 to 12 at Mohr Library, scheduled to start at 2:30 pm. Bring your favorite game (rated T for teen or under), or have an old-…

  Johnston Weather: Friday: Mostly sunny. Highs in mid/upper 50s. Saturday: Cloudy with a 50 percent chance of rain. Highs in the upper 40s. Sunday: Partly cloudy. Highs in the 40s. What It's About: The term “Black Friday” was coined in the 1960s to mark the kickoff to the Christmas shopping season. “Black” refers to stores moving from the “red” to the “black,” back when accounting records were kept by hand, and red ink indicated a loss, and black a profit. Ever since the start of the modern Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1924, the Friday after Thanksgiving has been known as the unofficial…

  Johnston Weather: Thanksgiving Day: Mostly sunny. Highs in the 50s. Thursday night: Mostly clear. Highs in the upper 30s. Black Friday: Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 50s. What It's About: Today is Thanksgiving Day in the United States, the 149th year that it's been celebrated as a national holiday. President Abraham Lincoln started the official holiday in 1863, though the tradition of the Thanksgiving feast is traced to 1621 in Plymouth, MA. What's Closed: Johnston schools and town offices (except for police and fire services) are closed today and tomorrow. Trash and recycling pickup will …

  Johnston Weather:  Tuesday: Partly sunny. Highs around 50. Tuesday night: Mostly cloudy. Lows in the upper 30s.  Thanksgiving Nears: Did you know that AAA is forecasting that 43.6 million people will travel 50 miles or more for Thanksgiving? If you're traveling in or through Little Rhody, check out this alert from the RI State Police. Computer Class: The Johnston Senior Center is scheduled to hold an Introduction to Computers class today at 10 a.m. This class is scheduled to be held every Thursday. Dates and times for events are subject to change.  Call ahead to confirm. Post to Patch …

  1. Reminisce: Hurricane/Superstorm/Whatever Sandy forced the postponement of the North Central Chamber of Commerce 30th Anniversary Wine Tasting to last night — here's the video shown at the event as part of the celebration. 2. Rembrandt: Or maybe it'll be Van Gogh this time — sign the kids up for Art Smart with Ms. Melyssa at 4 pm today at Mohr Library in Johnston, she see whose style she'll be teaching today. For kids in grades 3 to 6.   3. Rock: For a bit louder of an artistic expression, the JamStage in Pawtucket is hosting a girls and ladies Rock Lab starting at 6:30 pm. For the gals, …

  1. Milestone: Greenville Public Library recently celebrated its 130th anniversary — check out the announcement. [And if you'd like to share news from your school or organization, just visit the JohnstonPatch Announcement page.] 2. Reading: Mohr Library in Johnston hosts a Readers' Lair meeting tonight starting at 6:30 pm. Registration requested; book discussion, activity, and a snack. Free. 3. Visit: The Bridge at Cherry Hill senior facility hosts an open house and tour starting at 3 pm. Refreshments and snacks; call ahead to reserve your spot. 4. Discuss: There are other things going on …

  1. Results: Looking for how the election went in Johnston yesterday? Check out the results wrap-up here. 2. Celebration: After Hurricane Sandy forced a postponement, the North Central Chamber of Commerce has rescheduled its 30th Anniversary celebration wine tasting at Kirkbrae Country Club for Thursday night beginning at 5:30 pm. Visit the Chamber's website here for information and online registration. 3. Speak Your Mind: The political season may be over — but lots of people still have opinions on all sorts of topics. Do you? Start a blog on Patch and share yours. 4. Panther Playoffs: I'll …

1. A Few Days Left: After all the debates, advertisements, and polls, it's nearly here — Election Day 2012. Check out the JohnstonPatch Election Guide to find out who's running and what's on the ballot this year. 2. Inform Voters: If you're a candidate for office in Johnston, be sure you complete our online Candidate Survey — it takes just a few minutes, and includes an option to upload photos and video. 3. Library Activity: Ms. Melyssa hosts art at Marian J. Mohr Library for kids in grades 7 and up starting at 3:30 pm. 4. Updates: Let JohnstonPatch keep you updated with email alerts whenever…

  1. Enter Our Contests: Today is the final day to upload your decorated pumpkin photos — but hurry! We'll announce the winner later today. Tomorrow is the last day for the Patch Best Costume Contest — all entries must be received by 11:59 pm tomorrow night. Send in your kid in a cute costume, and you could win $5,000.  2. Read About the Holiday: Most people just know it as a day to send the kids out for candy (or hand it out, if you're the generous sort). But did you know that Halloween has its origins in ancient Celtic ceremonies to ward off evil spirits? The History Channel website has all…