🌱 Protestors At Msgr. Gadoury School + Villa Nova Caring Closet

Welcome back, Woonsocket! Sylvia here. Let's get you all caught up to start this Friday, December 31 off on an informed note. Here are the most important things happening around Woonsocket today.

Protestors were present at the Catholic school in anticipation of the Governor’s speech. The Governor noted that there will be a mass vaccination site on January 10 in Providence. Finally, Villa Nova Middle School now has a Caring Closet.

First, today's weather:

Patchy fog in the morning. High: 48 Low: 43.

Here are the top stories in Woonsocket today:

1. Governor Dan McKee spent time Thursday at Woonsocket’s Monsignor Gadoury Catholic Regional School to discuss the current status of COVID-19 in RI. Anti-vaccine protestors were ejected from the building and protested outside. Signs read, “my body, my choice.” (@CoreyWelch, @oliviadarocha)
2. During his speech, the governor announced that RI “is ramping up the state’s testing capacity.” On January 10, there will be a mass vaccination and testing site at the Providence Convention Center. Also, an additional lab will be handling the overflow of COVID-19 tests that have been falling behind. Dr. Alexander-Scott, Rhode Island’s Department of Health Director, said that the state “could sustain case numbers through the middle or end of January that will well exceed the peak we have ever experienced throughout the pandemic.” (WJAR)
3. Villa Nova middle schoolers are doing something about helping classmates. We learned last week that they prepared a “new food pantry and Caring Closet.” The pantry is the brainchild of School Counselor Michelle Marandola. The goal is to keep it stocked year-round and exclusively serve members of the Villa Nova school community. (Valley Breeze)
4. Pawtucket is opening All Safe Stations. Starting Monday, anyone can go to any Pawtucket Fire Station, where “individuals will be offered a harm reduction kit which includes Narcan, a fentanyl testing kit, masks, information on recovery clinics in RI” and more. The stations will be open around the clock. (ABC)
5. Woonsocket will be will the recipient of $40,000 in grants from the Citizens’ Charitable Foundation. The last day to apply is today. Eligible initiatives include those that offer “support for job creation and sustainability, workforce development activities, small business development, neighborhood revitalization, and overall efforts towards livability.” (LISC National)
   

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Today in Woonsocket:

• Cosmic New Year's Eve at Walnut Hill Bowl (5 PM to 8 PM, 9 PM to 1 AM)
• NYE Celebrations at Tiny Bar (5 PM)
• The Stadium Theatre presents Sal Valentinetti Featuring His Band “The Black Tie Brass” (8 PM)
• Street45 rocks The Joint for NYE (9 PM)
• Watchnight Service at Vida Church (10 PM)

From my notebook:

• Our Blackstone neighbor is still searching for their kitty missing from Glenn Road/Spring Street since 12/19/21. - Please check your garage or tool shed to make sure he is not trapped there. (Nextdoor)

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Events:

• Paint Pottery! Open Friday New Year's Eve Day and New Year's Day Saturday (December 31)
• Ring In the New Year With 15 Percent Off Beautiful Blooms From FTD! (December 31)
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Alrighty, you're all caught up for today! I'll see you around.

— 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.