Pool To Reopen + Rat Talks Continue

Welcome to the Pawtucket Patch Daily — your quickest way to get caught up on the city's top news stories. I'm your host, Mary Serreze. I can be reached at mary.serreze@patch.com. Feel free to send me your news tips, thoughts, and ideas.

First, today's weather: Partly cloudy throughout the day. High: 80, low: 60.

Patch Pick: The Rhode Island Foundation is offering $25,000 grants to local writers. As many as three emerging or mid-career writers will gain support through the Robert and Margaret MacColl Johnson Fellowship Fund. (Rhode Island Monthly)

Here are the top stories today in and around Pawtucket:

1. A lifeguard shortage has been resolved, and the Fairlawn Veterans Memorial Park Pool is reopening on Saturday at 11 a.m. Mayor Donald Grebien says Plouffe’s Diner and Palagi’s will be serving up free hamburgers, hotdogs, and lemonade from 3-6 p.m. (Facebook)
2. Rhode Island's former top doctor is urging everyone to wear a mask indoors regardless of vaccination status. The Ocean State is reporting a rise in COVID-19 cases not seen since May 20. (WJAR)
3. Disney filmmakers are eyeing Chase Farm Park in Lincoln. The Valley Breeze got the scoop at a recent Town Council meeting.
4. A longtime Pawtucket resident says the city must do more about the ‘disgusting’ rat problem. Wednesday's City Council meeting featured yet another discussion about rodent control. (WPRI.com).
5. East Providence council OKs Metacomet development. "East Providence has given the green light to turn a long-time playground for golfers into a new shopping center with apartments, offices and restaurants." (The Providence Journal)

Today's Pawtucket Daily is brought to you by our friends at Verizon. They're building the fastest 5G network in the country. To learn how 5G is going to change life for you and your community — and to get access to this amazing technology — click here. And thank you Verizon for sponsoring this community resource in Pawtucket!

Friday, July 23 Events:

• Levitt AMP Woonsocket features Carsie Blanton with The Beardogz. 6-9 p.m., River Island Art Park• The Pawtucket Redevelopment Agency meets at noon. The agency will hold a public comment period before it enters executive session. (Agenda)

Pawtucket Patch Notebook

• Pawtucket Housing Authority: "Stepping Outdoors: Chair Yoga by Blue Cross Blue Shield was a blast..." (Facebook)

That's it. You're all caught up. If you like this newsletter, sign up and tell your friends. It's simple, but it keeps us rolling. Let me know about your community events. Have a good day out there. -Mary

About me: Maine native, UMass Amherst Regional Planning alum. Stick-shift driver, explorer. I believe in good government and the public's right to know. Interested in just about everything. I still like paper maps. I can be reached at mary.serreze@patch.com.