Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: How fast can your Christmas tree turn deadly? An EP native explains.

And check out Cultural Survival Bazaar on the East Providence Patch calendar

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Friday December 19th Patch AM
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Hello East Providence! Stay connected with the latest updates from around town. Let's dive in! ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • How fast can your Christmas tree turn deadly? An EP native explains.
  • Could a cochlear implant transform hearing for East Providence seniors?
  • How you can visit and “spoil” East Providence nursing home veterans

Also on today's calendar: Cultural Survival Bazaar and 6 more events.

Find out what's happening in East Providencefor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Today's riddle: What did one astronaut stranded on the moon say to another? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

Find out what's happening in East Providencefor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Friday: Very windy; rain, with a high of 58 and low of 27 degrees.
  • Saturday: Much colder, temps: high: 38, low: 33.
  • Sunday: Windy; cloudy, then some sun, with a high of 50 and low of 21 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Don't let your holiday cheer turn to charcoal (eastbayri.com) — An East Providence native studying fire protection engineering at WPI is leading dramatic live burn demonstrations to show how fast Christmas trees can turn a living room into an inferno. Her message for local families is simple: keep trees watered, decorations away from heat sources, and anything ignitable well clear so your holiday doesn’t end in a house fire.
   

2. Cochlear implants can be a life-changing option for older adults with hearing loss (wpri.com) — An East Providence man is sharing how a recent cochlear implant dramatically improved his hearing after years of struggling, even with hearing aids. His story, alongside his doctor’s guidance, highlights how older adults may qualify for this surgery, how Medicare coverage has expanded, and what the adjustment period feels like for patients considering this option.
   

3. RI Veterans: Did you know? 18.12.25 (Benefits, VA News, healthcare, Jobs, Events) - John A. Cianci (rinewstoday.com) — Veterans and volunteers in East Providence can connect with local nursing home residents through the Leave No Veteran Alone visits at Eastgate Nursing and Rehab on Waterman Avenue. This wide-ranging roundup also covers new VA community care contracts, a Providence VA hiring fair, Desert Storm reunion details, burial and benefits updates, and extensive Rhode Island discounts and resources tailored for veterans and their families.
   

4. Caught on Camera: How Some RI Cities Turn Commuters into Revenue (upriseri.com) — East Providence is part of a growing group of Rhode Island cities using traffic and red-light cameras that generate substantial revenue while raising questions about whether safety or money is the real priority. While Pawtucket leads in profits, East Providence and Warwick are expanding similar systems, prompting concerns about arbitrary speed limits, broad school-zone hours, and the impact on everyday drivers and local businesses.
   

5. Solar Program Designed to Help Low-Income and Environmental Justice Zone Residents Instead Leaves them Stranded (ecori.org) — East Providence homeowners in designated environmental justice areas were eligible for a state-backed solar program that promised lower electric bills, but now face uncertainty after the vendor, PosiGen, filed for bankruptcy. The ASAP program is paused with most funding unspent, and state officials have yet to clarify whether contracts will be canceled, transferred, or supported through a new vendor.
   

📸 Around East Providence

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🗓 Upcoming Events in East Providence

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🗓 Events Nearby

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • McDonald's posted a job opening for Crew Team Members- 15$ up to 17$ per hour in East Providence. Apply here.
  • Snipes posted a job opening for Stock Personnel in East Providence. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near East Providence here.

Ok East Providence! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don’t think you know the gravity of this situation.
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