Monday Essentials: Holiday Festivities Commence

On Monday …

AIDS Awareness day: In honor of World AIDS Day (yesterday, Dec. 1), the Rhode Island Coalition for HIV Prevention is holding Rhode Island’s 2nd Annual World AIDS Day Event at the Rhode Island Statehouse today at noon.  

Historic District Commission meeting: The panel will review proposals for two properties. You can read the agenda here. The conference room at Town Hall. 7 p.m.

Holiday Tasting Event: Ocean State Job Lot, 1441 Elmwood Ave., Cranston, (401) 785-1527, is holding a Holiday Tasting Event today from 4 to 6 p.m.  University of Rhode Island SNAP-Ed nutrition educator Heidi Hetzler will prepare healthy, nutritious and delicious holiday side dishes using inexpensive food items available at Job Lot. Recipes include mushroom brown rice pilaf, heart-healthy stuffing, and double cornbread. The demonstration and sampling event is free and open to the public.

On Tuesday …

School Committee Policy meeting: The policy subcommittee meets at 8 a.m. at the administration building, 100 Fairway Drive. You can find the agenda here.

Latkes and Fun: You are invited to Latkes & Fun, a Hanukkah event at Temple Torat Yisrael Tuesday at 6 p.m. There will be latkes, snacks, a craft table, dreidel games, a dreidel cookie walk and of course, the menorah lighting. You may bring your own menorah to light too. Please bring a donation for Crossroads in North Kingstown – any of the following items: socks, underwear, pajamas (young children sizes and young adult sizes), cleaning supplies, and toiletries. 1251 Middle Road. RSVP appreciated: 401-885-6600.

School Committee meeting: On the work session agenda is discussion of both the current (2013-14) budget and presentation of the 2014-15 budget to the Town Council. You’ll find the full agenda here. NK High School at 7 p.m.

Planning Commission meeting: The panel will discuss the Carriage House Inn, Fox Hollow and sea level rise. The agenda is here. At Town Hall. 7:30 p.m.

East Greenwich Art Club meeting: The EG Art Club’s monthly meeting will be a “round robin” of artist members. You can also bring ONE painting to be critiqued by other members in a relaxed setting. There will also be food, music and a few surprises. At the First Baptist Church, 30 Peirce St., East Greenwich. 7 p.m.

On Wednesday …

Bird of Prey at Biomes: The Audubon Society of R.I. is bringing a live bird-of-prey to visit at Biomes. You’ll learn about birds of prey and discover their amazing hunting skills. With the cold weather here, you’ll learn how to make a quick and easy bird feeder you can take home. And, as always, you can explore the aquarium while you're here! $10 per person, children under 3 free. Register here. 6640 Post Road, North Kingstown. 5:30 p.m.

Pajama Party: Beauty & the Bath in Wickford is hosting its annual pajama party from 6 to 10 p.m. Store specials and holiday cheer.

Ordinary People: Turbulent Times: Alice Dreifuss Goldstein was a child living in southwestern Germany at the beginning of World War II. She will share the experiences of her family as they dealt with the abrupt change in their circumstances as the Nazis took power, their struggle to leave Germany and their new lives in America. In 2008 Mrs. Goldstein wrote a book about these experiences, Ordinary People: Turbulent Times. She is on the Speakers’ Bureau of the Holocaust Education & Resource Center of R.I. North Kingstown Free Library at 6:30 p.m. Please register.

Author reading: The Willet Free Library hosts Dominick Jones, who will read from his newly released book: All At Sea: Twenty Years at the Helm of Tall Ships. "The true story of how a family brought a wooden cargo ship back into the age of sail." A book signing will take place after the reading. This event is free and open to the public, as well as handicapped accessible. Call to reserve your seats: 401-294-2081. 45 Ferry Road, Saunderstown. 7 p.m.

Conservation Commission meeting: Discussion of a management plan for the Benson property on Snuff Mill Road, if it is purchased, in part, by the town. The full agenda is here. 55 Brown Street. 7 p.m.

On Thursday …

Town tree lighting and Santa: Updike Park’s the place, the start of a weekend of holiday festivities. The North Kingstown Community Youth Chorus and The Lafayette Band perform. 6 p.m.

Asset Management Commission meeting: Here’s the agenda. At the David R. Burnham Public Works Facility, 2050 Davisville Road. 5:30 p.m.

Groundwater Committee meeting: The agenda (here) includes rainbarrels, clover seed and recycling. At the conference room at Town Hall. 7 p.m.

On Friday …

Santa by sea: Santa returns by boat to the Town Dock at 5:30 p.m. There will be hayrides with Santa from 6 to 8 p.m. starting in the parking lot ($3 donation).

Wickford Festival of Lights Concert: The concert features the Lafayette Band, for audience members of all ages is made possible by a grant from the North Kingstown Arts Council and Centreville Bank. Admission is free. 7:15 p.m. in the First Baptist Church, 34 Main St., Wickford.

Living Nativity: Ongoing live Nativity at St. Paul’s Church on Main Street performed by the church youth group. From 6 to 7:30 p.m.

And …