🌱 Autumnfest Gives Back To New Beginnings + 2 Fires On Saturday

Up and at 'em, Woonsocket, and happy National Peanut Butter Day! Here's everything you need to know to get this Monday started off right.

The Autumnfest Steering Committee handed out donations. There were a couple of fires Saturday. Who’ll be the next director of the Department of Health?

First, today's weather:

Mostly sunny. High: 32 Low: 25.

Here are the top five stories in Woonsocket today:

1. On January 14, the Autumnfest Steering Committee presented the New Beginnings soup kitchen with a $1,000 donation. This donation is part of the Committee’s Autumnfest Gives Back program. This program also reached out with donations to the “Milk Fund, Sojourner House, Woonsocket Adopt-A-Family and Beacon Charter Schools.” 2021 Grand Marshal Jennifer Jolicoeur made the selection. (The Valley Breeze)
2. There was a house fire Saturday afternoon on Swan Street in North Providence. One individual went to the hospital. The cause was excess smoke inhalation. Another fire ignited Saturday night in Johnston near the landfill. A mulch pile went up in flames at a facility that makes mulch from wood pallets. This fire is now under investigation. (WJAR, 2)
3. Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott, director of the Rhode Island Department of Health, turned in her two-week notice that expires on January 27. Governor Dan McKee is looking for a replacement. On Thursday, the department’s deputy director also resigned. (Shelton Herald)
4. Appletown Road neighbors in Smithfield had to deal with a water main break on Saturday. The line gave way at 2:30 p.m. The Greenville Water District confirmed that the water was icing up. Crews repaired the break. (WJAR)
5. If you’re looking for a place to dance and have fun, look no further than the Elks Lodge Hall on Social Street. It is planning a Valentine’s dinner dance on February 12. There will be a cash bar, hors d’oeuvres, soup and a chicken dinner, and entertainment by K&M. (The Valley Breeze)

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Today in Woonsocket:

• Lifelong Learners: Birding In The Collections at the Museum of Natural History and Planetarium (10 AM)
• Cape Verdean American Community Development hosts the "Nha Storia" Theater Class (4 PM)
• T(w)een Book Chat (online) (4:15 PM)
• MSCA Girls Varsity Basketball at Wheeler (6:45 PM)
• Star Wars Trivia Night at Arooga's (7 PM)

From my notebook:

• The Community Care Alliance needs your vote! The $5,000 Public Choice Award depends on your input.
• New Beginnings is accepting donations Monday through Thursday.
• The Milagros Project’s basic needs space opens on February 1!
• WOON 1240 AM Radio will play “Radio Squares” beginning May 3. Game cards will be in the Valley Breeze Newspaper or online.

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• Youth and High School Rugby Camp! (February 22)
• Add your event

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Thanks for following along and staying informed! I'll catch up with you bright and early tomorrow morning with your next update.

— Sylvia Cochran

About me: Sylvia Cochran works out of sunny Southern California and has been freelance writing full-time since 2005. She loves dogs, cats, books, plays Best Fiends (don't judge), embraces social justice, and tries to live out Micah 6:8.