Five Things: MLK, EGHPS & No SB

Happy MLK Jr. Day, happy Inauguration Day: No school today and lots of people have the day off, in honor of modern day hero Martin Luther King Jr. And our president will be sworn in at noon today. Look for my daughter, who worked for the Obama campaign in New York City. She’ll be in that crowd somewhere. I’m proud of her.

No trash pickup today: Because of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday today, trash is delayed one day this week. So, if your trash is usually picked up on Monday, it will be picked up on Tuesday this week.

EG Historic Preservation Society meeting: Sex, lust, abortion and class differences played a part in two sensational Rhode Island murder trials in March 1833. The cases will be described at tonight’s meeting of the East Greenwich Historic Preservation Society. Guest speaker Raymond Lavertue will tell us about the murder of pregnant, working class Sally Burdick by wealthy David Gibbs, whose crime was largely forgotten.  At the same time Epheraim Avery, a married minister, was indicted for killing Sarah Cornell, a pregnant mill worker. His fate was quite different. Raymond Lavertue is completing his doctorate in History at Oxford University on the first modern biography of Thomas Wilson Dorr of Dorr War fame. The program begins at 6:30 with a potluck supper at the Old Jail, 110 King Street. Professor Lavertue's talk "The Instigation of the Devil" begins at 7:30. The event is free and open to the public. Please call Sue Currado at 884-4643 for reservations.   

New England Patriots: Dang!

Looking ahead … there will be a School Committee meeting tomorrow night and the Town Council meets with the Planning Board Wednesday night to discuss the Comprehensive Plan.