🌱 Henri’s Heroes + Arrest Update + 02895 Housing Market Sizzling

Morning, people of Woonsocket! Sylvia here once more with today's edition of the Woonsocket Daily. Your new local host will take over on Monday!

The annual Veteran Car Raffle is on! Also, there’s more information on the Woonsocket man arrested by the Blackstone PD. Finally, if you’re thinking of selling your home, now’s the time.

First, today's weather:

Variable cloudiness. High: 61 Low: 38.

Here are the top stories in Woonsocket today:

1. Shout-out to Henri’s Auto! The business is once again partnering with New Englanders Helping Out Veterans (NEHOV) for an annual Veteran Car Raffle. Called “Henri’s Heroes,” eligible contestants can enter by calling Henri’s Auto 401-762-2325. (NEHOV)
2. Update on the Woonsocket Man Arrested by the Blackstone PD: The 20-year-old Woonsocket man was arrested on charges of “Trafficking of Class A narcotics (fentanyl)” and “Distribution of Class B narcotics (cocaine).” The suspect allegedly agreed to “sell 500 fentanyl pills” to an undercover officer posing as a buyer. After all was said and done, "over 1,000 suspected fentanyl pills were seized, along with over 30 grams of suspected cocaine and a vehicle.” An arrest warrant netted another “80 grams of cocaine, approximately $9,500 in cash, multiple cell phones and distribution packaging.” (Blackstone PD)
3. Housing Market Update: If you’ve been thinking of selling your home, the time is now! “About 50 percent of single-family homes listed for sale in the 02895 ZIP code were under contract within two weeks!” Historically, sales flatten as the winter holiday season picks up. However, so far, Woonsocket’s house sales are going strong. “The median sale price for single-family homes in the 02895 ZIP code was $290,000 from June through August.” This is a 13% increase from last year. Best of all, the majority sold over asking price. (Patch)
4. Benedict F. Lessing, Jr. MSW, CEO, Community Care Alliance and a member of Horizon Healthcare Partners minces no words when he warns that “Rhode Island is now facing a massive workforce crisis in the human services and healthcare sector.” Who is affected? He identifies “homeless individuals and families, people with mental illness, individuals struggling with substance use and addiction, children and families that fall into the child welfare system due to poverty, domestic violence, mental health concerns etc. as well as children struggling with depression and suicidal ideation, newborns with developmental delays and/or other disabilities.” He predicts rationing of services, more institutional care, and more reliance on police and emergency rooms. (Constant Contact)
5. RI is now set up to serve residents who want booster COVID-19 shots. You can get a second Johnson & Johnson vaccine if at least two months have passed since your first shot. For Moderna and Pfizer, the eligibility is slightly different. Best of all, folks don’t need to get a booster of the same “vaccine dose they received initially, and can choose which type they would prefer.” Mind you, this refers to boosters, not the second shot of a two-round vaccine course. (Patch)

Today in Woonsocket:

• Family Fall Fest | Trunk or Treat (11:00 AM)

Woonsocket Patch Notebook

• St. Agatha Seniors: Sixty members celebrated the club’s 47th anniversary. You can buy tickets for November 17 turkey dinner. (Valley Breeze)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Saturday. I'll see you around! If you're enjoying these newsletters, consider inviting some of your friends and neighbors to follow along. You can send them this link to subscribe.

— Sylvia Cochran

About me: Sylvia Cochran works out of sunny Southern California and has been freelance writing full-time since 2005. Her SEO-optimized internet copy includes social media marketing projects and German to English business translations. She loves dogs, cats, books, plays Fishdom (don't judge), embraces social justice, and tries to live out Micah 6:8.

Have a news tip or suggestion for an upcoming Woonsocket Daily? Contact me at Woonsocket@Patch.com.