🌱 A Regional Animal Shelter? + Weigh In On The City’s ARPA Plans

Good day, neighbors; and happy National Sloppy Joe Day! It's me again, Sylvia, your host of the Woonsocket Daily.

Should Woonsocket join with other communities to create a regional animal shelter? Also, make your voice heard over the public safety complex. Finally, Mount Saint Charles had its Winter Ball!

First, today's weather:

Partly sunny. High: 73 Low: 46.

Here are the top five stories today in Woonsocket:

1. We learned Thursday that Mayor Lisa Baldelli-Hunt wants a “regional animal shelter serving residents of Woonsocket.” “Johnston, Smithfield, and North Providence have agreed to share a regional facility in North Providence, at a shared cost of approximately $1.1 million.” The Mayor’s possible candidates for her proposal are Lincoln and Cumberland, which already have a shared facility. While leaving this discussion for future meetings, the City Council did agree to make some repairs to the existing shelter. (The Valley Breeze)
2. The Action Network is looking for residents to oppose the “Woonsocket's city government wasting $13 million of the city's ARPA funds to build a new ‘public safety complex’.” Interested parties should head to the Harris Hall on Monday at 6:45 PM. (Action Network)
3. After a pandemic-forced hiatus, the Mount Saint Charles middle school held its Winter Ball on Friday. The nicely dressed young people were able to get “back on the dance floor with D.J. Rowe.” (@MtStCharles)
4. Our Saviour's Parish is hosting Free Lunch Saturday this week. It will run from 11 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. or until supplies run out. “Our community is invited to drive thru and grab some lunch free of charge!” (Our Saviour Parish PNCC)
5. The Rhode Island Association of Realtors reported Thursday that there were 789 single-family homes for sale in February. The median sales price of these properties was $368,000. Inventories for condos also decreased; here, the median sales price was $305,000. "More people will face housing affordability issues as inventory continues to deplete and interest rates rise. We desperately need more housing in Rhode Island, particularly for low- and middle-income earners, so that our businesses can attract and retain workers," the organization warned. (RI Realtors)

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Today in Woonsocket:

• St. Patrick’s Day Drink and Menu Specials at River Falls (3-17 to 3-20)
• The Little Mermaid Jr at the Mount Saint Charles Academy (7 PM)
• High School Musical on Stage at the Stadium Theatre (7:30 PM)
• The Blue FO’S at Chan's Fine Oriental Dining (8 PM)

From my notebook:

• Our, Woonsocket/NSmithfield neighbor is donating baby girl clothes! Inbox if interested! (Nextdoor)

More from our sponsors — thanks for supporting local news!

Events:

• American Diabetes Association Diabetes Alert Day: Understand Your Risk (March 22)
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That's it for today! See you tomorrow for 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.