To say that the Aime J. Forand Housing Complex Tenants Association has been re-started would be an understatement.

As one-time president Bev Williams – who now serves as treasurer/bingo chair – said last Thursday inside the Community Room the during the association’s annual cookout: “We’re back in business thanks to three other residents stepping up to help and [state Rep.] Deb Fellela getting us a jump-start grant.”

More than a year ago, Williams encountered some health issues and had to step down as the association’s president. When no one came forward to take on the position, the non-profit group began a hiatus.

But recently, ladies like president Mary Miello, who is a relative newcomer to the Forand complex, vice president Jan Grande, and secretary Natalie Cardinal, along with Williams, began re-writing the group’s history book by way of the always-popular weekly bingo.

During last Thursday’s fun-filled cookout – which was sponsored by the Johnston Housing Authority, and had to be held indoors because of the day’s poor air quality and humid temperatures – Williams conducted the multi-prize raffle and also issued a public thank you to Fellela “for getting our group started again.”

“She has always been very, very helpful,” Williams said of the veteran lawmaker. “Deb got us a $1,500 grant that enabled us to purchase some necessary items that we never had before and that got us re-started. We can’t thank you enough … We’d also like to thank [state Sen.] Frank Lombardo, who has always helped the association through the years.”

Lombardo, in fact, donated a number of Stop & Shop gift cards that the Forand complex residents won via raffle last Thursday.

Even Dr. John Miele, a well-known Johnston podiatrist and Lombardo’s longtime friend, had a hand in helping make last Thursday’s annual cookout a sparkling success.

Likewise, Housing Authority Director David aRusso – who will enter the Johnston High School Athletic Hall of Fame with his 1977-78 state champion hockey team Panthers in October – made the annual cookout a success. He served as host and chef alongside housing authority staffers Brandon Privitera, Steve Colwell, and Domingo Araujo, who cooked hot dogs and hamburgers outside the complex on a propane gas grill.

Moreover, aRusso – on behalf of the Tenants Association – purchased food for the cookout from 1302 Marketplace on Atwood Avenue. The menu included sausage, pepper and onions, rolls, potato salad, macaroni salad and garden salad, potato chips, bottled water, and Klondike bars for dessert.

“This is a great lunch,” Miele said. “I’m really happy that this group is back in business.”

So is Johnston Mayor Joseph Polisena, who after enjoying a sandwich and exchanging pleasantries with special servers Lynne Cianci, Jessica Lemieux, Mary Miello, and Ally Fellela, delivered the town’s greetings and well-wishes to the association.