Impeachment Scuttlebutt + Backyard Chicken Salmonella + $15/Hour

Get on up, Woonsocket! Let's get this Tuesday started off right. Here's what's happening today in Woonsocket.

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The Mayor’s troubles aren’t over. Also, four people might have snuggled chickens and gotten sick. Finally, Walgreens is going where CVS led the way.

First, today's weather:

Clear throughout the day. High: 79 Low: 59.

Here are the top stories in Woonsocket today:

1. Just when Mayor Lisa Baldelli-Hunt put the ACLU suit over her Facebook practices to bed, she's dealing with another challenge. City Council Member Denise Sierra is introducing the term “impeachment” into the conversation. Already, City Solicitor John DeSimone has weighed in that the City Council has the right and power to remove the mayor; moreover, the decision whether sufficient grounds for removal exist, is also “within the sole discretion of the City Council.” At issue is Sierra’s perception that Baldelli-Hunt “violated a resolution, and ordinance and two sets of bidding instructions.” Sierra plans to raise the issue at the next City Council meeting on Monday. (PressReader: The Call)
2. Four people have gotten sick in the state due to salmonella outbreaks linked to backyard poultry. The CDC advise that exposure to chicken-carried salmonella continues to be a problem. Symptoms may start six hours to six days after introducing the salmonella into your system. Experts suggest that you “don’t kiss or snuggle backyard poultry, and don’t eat or drink around them. This can spread salmonella germs to your mouth and can make you sick.” (CDC)
3. Walgreens is throwing down the gauntlet and raising its starting wage for hourly workers to $15 per hour. The pay hike will begin in October and be effective fully by November 2022. This announcement follows on the heels of CVS Health’s announcement that it, too, would raise its minimum wage to $15 per hour. Unlike Walgreens, the Woonsocket-based CVS plans to have its pay hike in place by July 2022. (Supermarket News)
4. Representative Robert Phillips (Democrat, District 51, Woonsocket, Cumberland) will be part of the redistricting commission that meets on Thursday at the State House. As part of an 18-member commission, it will be his job to use the recent Census results as a jumping-off point for redrawing district lines that are supposed to reflect population shifts. Residents are welcome to weigh in, but will have limited time to do so. (Uprise RI)
5. Did you attend the exhibits at the Museum of Work and Culture this Labor Day weekend? If you didn’t, you missed out on a four-day celebration that included “Picturing Women Inventors,” including “Helen Adelia Rowe Metcalf, co-founder of the Rhode Island School of Design; Christiana Carteaux Bannister, a hairdresser and abolitionist known as the “hair doctress;" Matilda Sissieretta Jones, the Providence opera singer who was the first Black woman to headline at Carnegie Hall; Martha Jenks Chase, who manufactured baby dolls; and Betsey Metcalf Baker, known for her straw hat creations.” (The Valley Breeze)

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Today in Woonsocket:

• Fall courses at the Stadium Theatre Performing Arts Centre & Conservatory start today, 28 Monument Square.
• Woonsocket Farmers’ Market on Thundermist’s patio on the corner of John A. Cummings Way and Clinton Street. (3 p.m. to 6 p.m.)

Woonsocket Patch Notebook

• Woonsocket Cat Sanctuary, Inc.: "ADOPTED! It was a great day at the sanctuary with our blind kitty Oreo going to his forever home. He has been so scared at the sanctuary, but warms up when you spend some time with him. We are very grateful to his adoptive family and can..." (Facebook)
• Woonsocket Historical Society: "With the bad news last week that the Ballou Home is closing, we thought we would post a picture from our collection of the original Ballou Home at the corner of High and Arnold St. This opened in 1900. Today it is a boarding house." (Facebook)
• RI Hospitality Association: "Members-only price is $9 per employee per month for unlimited virtual visits (includes entire household at no additional cost) with $0 copays and no other costs. • Unlimited mental health, general medical, dermatology, neck and back pain..." (Facebook)
• RI Hospitality Association: "Those of us in the restaurant industry know the importance of cleaning and sanitizing. Over the past year and a half, customers have gotten on board and are seeking out restaurants that are dedicated to providing a safe and clean dining ..." (Facebook)

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Alrighty, you're all good for today. See you all tomorrow for another update! If you're liking these newsletters, consider bringing some friends and neighbors on board. 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.

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