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You have questions. JohnstonPatch has answers.Getting your weekend plans together? The weekend forecast is for mostly sunny skies and highs in the 70s. If that weren't enough, places around Johnston are hosting healthy slates of activities featuring medieval battles, classic cruisers, and baby chicks. Click each blue link for more information — and be sure to call ahead to confirm. Friday, May 17: All day: Baby Chicks Hatching at Marian J. Mohr Library. It's the last day to see the baby chicks from the eggs delivered by Casey Farm last month — and to offer your ideas for names. 12 pm: Public Skating at Smithfield Municipal Ice Rink. $3 …
Getting your weekend plans together? The weekend forecast is for partly sunny skies with a chance of rain and highs in the 70s. If that weren't enough, places around Johnston are hosting healthy slates of activities featuring local artists, shopping destinations, and the waterfront, so get out and enjoy! Click each blue link for more information — and be sure to call ahead to confirm. Friday, May 10: 10:30 am: Breakfast Bunch at Marian J. Mohr Library. Two school psychology doctoral students lead the interactive structured play activity. Registration required. 12 pm: Public Skating at …
You arrive home in Johnston at night and there are dozens of them flying around your lights at the front door. They seem to be attacking the Christmas lights you recently hung, too — so what's with all the moths? These winter moths are in the midst of their annual mating season, albeit a bit late this year. Typically, it's November but the unusual warm temperatures this spring have them abundant in December. An invasive species in New England, these winter moths. The adult winter moths emerge from the ground from now until January.The female moths climb trees and homes and wait for males to…
Are you one of the many holiday revelers with families and friends spread all across the country and the world? If so, even before you dive into that gift list, it's important to know how early must you buy, wrap and post holiday gifts so they get to their destination in time for the holidays. Johnston's Post Office is located at 1530 Atwood Ave. Click here for hours and more information. Here are some suggestions and mailing deadline dates from the Postal Service to ensure your gifts are delivered on time and in one piece: Packing tips from the USPS: Double-check addresses & write legibly …
Drivers heading west on Atwood Avenue at Central Avenue [in front of 1302 Marketplace] have been dealing with lane restrictions for the past couple of days. Wondering why? It's the latest phase of the $4 million sewer installation project by Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation, the management company for the Central Landfill. According to a notice released by Parkside Utility Construction, the contractor for the installation, crews are installing the tie-in from the new sewer line to the Narragansett Bay Commission system. The installation is expected to take another couple of days, …
Here's what you need to know if you're going out to vote in today's primary in Johnston: Poll Times: Local polls open at 7 am and close at 8 pm. Watch JohnstonPatch for updates after polls close tonight. Schools: Johnston Public Schools are closed today. Voter ID: Rhode Island's new Voter ID law is in effect for today's vote. Be sure to bring photo ID to your polling place. Find more information on the Secretary of State's Voter ID web page. Candidates: U.S. Congress, 2nd District: Incumbent Rep. James Langevin faces primary challenger John Matson on the Democratic ticket, while four …
Today is Good Friday in the Catholic tradition, with churches holding Stations of the Cross servuices today, vigil Masses Saturday night and Easter services on Sunday. Here's our list of houses of worship in Johnston — follow the links below for contact information, and be sure to call ahead to check schedules for services. Graniteville Baptist Church: 82 Serrel Sweet Rd. Greater RI Baptist Temple: 671 Greenville Ave. Iglesia Evangelica Emanuel: 770 Hartford Ave. Kingdom Hall of Jehovas Witnesses: 1742 Atwood Ave. Our Lady of Grace Church: 4 Lafayette St. (Rectory). St. Brigid …
With the mayor's proposed budget scheduled for a town council hearing tonight, one question that is sure to be on the minds of Johnston homeowners is: What will the increase do to my taxes? The answer to this question is pretty straightforward — take the town's assessment of your property and multiply it by the anticipated increase of 94 cents per $1,000. So, for example, if your house is assessed at $200,000, take 200 and multiply by 0.94 to get $188. That's the expected increase for your taxes in the next fiscal year, which runs from July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2012. Based on the mayor's …
We are all aware of typical volunteer opportunities for teens like helping out at local soup kitchens or homeless shelters and even volunteering with small children. However, some of you may be interested in more unusual or novel volunteer opportunities for your teen, and there are a few to choose from in Johnston.Has your kid always been interested in what goes on in the life of a member of the police force? If so, consider joining the Johnston Police Explorers. This program is for adolescents between the ages of 14-20 and seeks individuals who are considering a career in law-enforcement. …
With autism on the rise, many families struggle to accommodate the needs of an autistic child while maintaining a normal homelife for their other children. Growing up with an autistic sibling can be a bittersweet combination of reward and enrichment — as well as one of difficulty and challenge.Laura Morrow, a 22-year-old Johnston resident, recently spoke of her experience growing up with her 19-year-old autistic brother, Kyle."I used to be embarrassed by him, " she admits, "and then I'd be embarrassed of being embarrassed."Kyle has significant speech and language delays that keep him from …
There is only one public library in Johnston, the Marian J. Mohr Memorial Library on 1 Memorial Ave. The library provides a variety of programs for children, adolescents and adults in Johnston, with particularly extensive programming for kids from birth through sixth grade. According to the library website, kids can attend age-specific storytimes on Tuesdays (infants to 3-year-olds), Wednesdays (3- to 5-year-olds), and Thursdays (2- and 3-year-olds), starting January 18. Linda Sorrento, mother of twin 3-year-old sons, says: "These storytimes have been great for socializing my boys, who are …
The day after the snowstorm that overtook Rhode Island, and two days after Christmas, Michael Bailey sips on his daily extra-extra hot coffee at Dunkin' Donuts in Johnston. He sighs deeply. "I spent this Christmas by myself. It was the best decision I ever made," Bailey recalls. "Just me and the dogs, nice long walk and Christmas specials on TV."Kim Barlow sits at the table adjacent to him with her two elementary school-aged sons, surrounded by the remnants of donuts. "I hate to say it, but I've been begging my husband for a new computer, and the fact that he actually heard me and got us one …
Since you're reading this column, you've found JohnstonPatch. And since most people are new to JohnstonPatch, I figured I'd answer some of the typical questions that folks have the first time they log on. So, what is this Patch thing all about, anyway? Patch is more than an online newspaper. Patch is specific and Patch is personal. Patch takes your neighborhood and transforms it onto the page as a place of rich history, current news and daily events. Patch exposes you to aspects of your town you never would have noticed because it delves into the smaller events that occur, while at the same …
