SNA

Carolers in the neighborhood last year.

WHO: Anyone interested, no singing ability required (there will be leaders.)

WHEN: Sunday, Dec. 22, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

WHERE: Area roughly bounded by Summit to Hope, Sixth to Lauriston

HOW: Meet in Miriam Hospital cafeteria at 5 p.m. for refreshments and a few songs. At 5:30, follow leaders out into neighborhood, caroling on the way. Finish about 6:30 to 7 on Hope Street. Stay to patronize the local restaurants or shops.

WHAT TO BRING: Enthusiasm, plus flashlights to read the provided songbooks.

COMFORT DETAILS: Dress warmly enough for about an hour or so outside. Bathroom availability in Miriam, which will never be far away.

In keeping with the holiday spirit, The Miriam Hospital is inviting its Summit neighbors to a musical celebration of Hanukkah. Later in the month it will host the start of Christmas caroling in the surrounding area.

Local resident Fishel Bresler will play in the hospital lobby, where a large menorah stands, at 12:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 2, followed by refreshments. Rabbi Avraham Rosenthal of Miriam’s Spiritual Care Office will officiate.

The event celebrates the Jewish eight-day festival of lights that began at sundown Wednesday and marks the triumph of light over darkness. It commemorates the regaining of the temple in Jerusalem more than 21 centuries ago and each day a light of the menorah is lit.

Then on Sunday, Dec. 22, Miriam will be the beginning point of Christmas caroling organized by the Summit Neighborhood Association.

Participants will gather in the hospital cafeteria beginning at 5 p.m. for light refreshments and some warm-up singing before setting out through the neighborhood. The carolers will finish about 7 p.m. near the restaurants on Hope Street so participants can linger for dinner. More details will be published as they develop.

On the Saturday morning before Easter, more than 100 neighborhood youngsters fanned out in Lippitt Park to hunt for eggs.

In a first-time venture for the Summit Neighborhood Association, a total of about 2,000 plastic Easter eggs were scattered in three zones – marked off by yellow tape – for children to search and crack open eggs with prizes ranging from jellybeans and candy to gift certificates for local merchants.

There was a section for toddlers up to two years old (where the eggs didn’t contain anything so there would be no choking hazards), one for kids two to four years old and one for those older than four. Special eggs had tickets inside that were redeemed at the registration table near the park’s fountain for larger gifts and the certificates from Three Sisters, Frog & Toad, Kreatelier and Creatoyvity.

A total of 134 children were registered, beginning at 8:30 for the hunt that began at 10. Each child got a green admission wrist bracelet, some of which were presented by Cara Jayne Lustig, Miss Rhode Island United States 2013, wearing her badge of office, a jeweled tiara.

Unfortunately, there was some confusion about which children should be where when the searching started. Eggs in the older kids’ section were quickly gathered up and the eager hunters spilled over into the toddler area, resulting in empty eggs in some baskets. Within about 10 minutes, all the eggs “hidden” in all the zones had been discovered.

As the finders of the special eggs were turning in the tickets for their prizes, Mayor Angel Taveras arrived to congratulate the participants and mingle with his constituents. The mayor and Miss Rhode Island posed for pictures with several of the green-shirted SNA volunteers plus other people enjoying the beautiful spring day. Food trucks parked along the adjacent streets offered the opportunity for lunch in the park.

Event organizers acknowledged some difficulties with the process and encourage neighborhood residents to make suggestions on the SNA listserv about how to do it better next year.

Event organizer Anthony Arrigo, left, is joined by Miss Rhode Island United States Cara Jayne Lustig and Providence Mayor Angel Taveras.

Participants at the bake-off prepare and sample pumpkin creations at Seven Stars bakery.

In what seems to be a tradition at the Summit Neighborhood Association’s Fall Bake-Off, pouring rain did not dampen the enthusiasm of the participants.

Despite the onslaught of Hurricane Sandy, about 60 people gathered at Seven Stars bakery on Hope Street the night before Halloween to sample 17 dishes whose primary ingredient this year was pumpkin. Last year’s apple-themed event was punctuated by rain that turned to snow.

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The SNA’s annual yard sale, held Sept. 29 at the Church of the Redeemer on Hope Street, drew enough sellers to fill about 30 tables and enough buyers to walk away with lots of treasures.
Again gathered in a central location this year as in times past, participants paid a fee for spots for their own tables or a little extra for provided tables on which to display their no-longer-needed wares. Then they kept all the profits from the 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. sale. Business was brisk despite the gloomy skies that withheld any rain.
Some members of the church, led by Father Patrick Campbell, mingled with their neighbors and even offered freshly baked cookies. Musical entertainment was provided by House Concerts Rhode Island.
Not only was buying and selling accomplished, but an expanded feeling of community, a sense of neighborliness was perhaps the greatest treasure exchanged.
See you next year.

Participants at the yard sale set up at the Church of the Redeemer on Hope Street.

Always a great time on Hope Street!  See you there!