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Free Tax and FAFSA Prep: Need help filing your taxes? Completing financial aid forms? The Jonnycake Center will be offering FREE income tax preparation through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program and help with the Free Application for Federal Student Assistance (FAFSA) forms this winter and spring. Services are provided at the Jonnycake Center at 22 Kersey Road in Peace Dale. Free tax preparation is for households earning less than $60,000 a year. Call 401789-1559 to make your appointment today

North Kingstown Community Chorus Announces Spring 2024 Season: Rehearsals for the winter season of the North Kingstown adult chorus will begin on Tuesday, Jan. 23, with registration at 6:30 p.m. and rehearsal at 7 p.m. Youth chorus begins rehearsal on Tuesday, Feb. 6 at 5:30 p.m.

The adult chorus welcomes everyone from high school students to senior citizens. The registration and music fees are $60 for adults, $117.50 for two family members, and $40 for high school students. Students in grades 2 to 8 are invited to join the youth chorus with a $35 fee for registration and music (2 siblings pay $65). No prior experience or audition is needed.

The North Kingstown Community Chorus meets weekly on Tuesdays from 7 to 9 p.m. Our rehearsals for the Spring 2024 season will be held at: Quidnessett Elementary School, 166 Mark Drive, North Kingstown, RI 02852. Auditions and North Kingstown residency are not required. The youth chorus rehearses weekly on Tuesdays from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the same location.

Online registration is available for both choruses at www. nkchorus.org. For more information, call Heather Skidds, Director, at 401-573-7564 or by email at nkcommunitychorus@ gmail.com. The Spring Concerts are planned for Saturday, May 4 and Sunday May.

TOPS Meeting: TOPS Chapter #38 (Take Off Pounds Sensibly) East Greenwich meets every Thursday morning at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church (lower level), 99 Pierce Street, East Greenwich. The weigh-in begins at 9:30 a.m. The meeting is from 10 to 11 a.m. Enter from the side parking lot, go down the stairs to the kitchen area. All are welcome as well as any canned food donations. For more information, call Angela Henderson at 401-225-6174.

Rhode Island Bar Association Scholarship Opportunities: Are you a Rhode Island resident planning on attending law school? The Rhode Island Bar Foundation, the charitable arm of the non-profit Rhode Island Bar Association, is seeking applications for its scholarship programs.

For its Thomas F. Black, Jr. Memorial Scholarship program, the Bar Foundation intends to award two scholarships of $25,000 each to Rhode Island residents who enroll as first-year students in an American Bar Association accredited law school for the academic year beginning September 2024. The scholarship is for the first year of law school only and non-renewable. Each scholarship award is made on the basis of demonstrated financial need, superior academic performance, community and public service, and demonstrated contacts with and commitment to the State of Rhode Island. The Scholarship Committee seeks applications from candidates without regard to race, color, religion, country of ancestral origin, handicap, age, sex, or sexual orientation. Since 1984, this fund has awarded 72 scholarships to promising law students from Rhode Island. The Scholarship is named in honor of the late Thomas F. Black, Jr., a person known for his impressive ability as a lawyer and banker, his deeply rooted legal scholarship and his notable participation in civic and charitable causes.

In addition to the Thomas F. Black, Jr. Memorial Scholarships, the Foundation will award two new $25,000 scholarships, the Patrice A. Tarantino Memorial Scholarship and the Nicole J. Benjamin Scholarship. The Patrice A. Tarantino Memorial Scholarship Fund was established in 2022 by former Bar Foundation President John A. Tarantino, Esq. in memory of his late wife, Pat. The Scholarship is a lasting tribute to Pat’s memory. The Nicole J. Benjamin Scholarship was founded in 2023, also by former Bar Foundation President John A. Tarantino, Esq., and recognizes attorney Benjamin’s exemplary contributions to the legal community. It aims to support aspiring legal professionals who exhibit leadership potential and a commitment to service to the community.

Two additional law school scholarships from the Papitto Opportunity Connection Foundation in the amount of $25,000 each will be awarded to candidates who are committed to actively promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in society. Papitto candidates must provide specific examples of strategies that have been undertaken, or will be undertaken, within both the legal profession and the broader community to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion. Founded in December 2020, the Papitto Opportunity Connection was formed by Barbara Papitto as a continuation of the long-time commitment she and her late husband Ralph have made to creating educational opportunities and supporting diversity, equity, and inclusion in Rhode Island.

The Rhode Island Bar Foundation Scholarship application deadline is March 31, 2024. For application forms, telephone: 401-421-6541 or email: tgallo@ribar.com. Information and application forms are also available on the Rhode Island Bar Association website: ribar. com in the Rhode Island Bar Foundation section.

RI Good Neighbor Energy Fund Offers Heating Assistance to Local Households in Need: Any Rhode Island household in need of energy assistance due to financial struggles are encouraged to contact their local Community Action Program (CAP) agency to determine eligibility for the Fund. Rhode Islanders may also call United Way’s 211 helpline for assistance finding their nearest CAP agency and with general questions about the Fund. Eligibility for the GNEF is based on total household income not exceeding 300 percent of the federal poverty level. For example, a household of four is eligible for the Fund if its annual income does not exceed $90,000 while a household of six cannot exceed $120,840. Assistance grants to individual households are determined by fuel type and need and can provide up to $825 per heating season.

Tri-county Community Action Agency LIHEAP Program: Tri-county CAA seeks applications from individuals and families in need of help with their fuel bills. Homeowners and renters alike may apply for heating assistance and Weatherization services. The Program location at 11 Emanuel Street North Providence (401-5191913) serves the towns of Johnston, No. Providence, Smithfield, Glocester and Burrillville. In our South County location the Program serves the towns of Charlestown, Exeter, Hopkington, Narragansett, New Shoreham, North Kingston, Richmond, South Kingston, W Greenwich and Westerly. Please call to book an appointment for the Southern part of the state at 401-515-2432. Income guidelines change yearly.

New First Time Homebuyers Program: Westerly Community Credit Union is pleased to announce they have recently launched a New Fixed Rate Mortgage Program for First Time Homebuyers called “Welcome Home”. The program only requires 1% down and there is no private mortgage insurance (PMI) or points added to the mortgage. In this current market with rising interest rates and increased home prices, this new program will help first time homebuyers afford their first home. The Welcome Home First-time Homebuyer Program is available in Rhode Island, New London County and Windham County, CT. Westerly Community Credit Unions mortgage team can help you with every step of the process. To find out more please visit www.westerlyccu.com.

South Kingstown Public Library Presents Brown Bag Book Group: The Brown Bag Book Group meets the first Thursday of every month at 12:15 p.m. We’re currently meeting in person in Potter Hall at the Kingston Free Library. New members are always welcome! If you’re interested in joining, please contact Britta at 401-783-8254 ext. 4303 or at bobertello@ southkingstownri.gov.