🌱 Shoutout To Paige Mahon + Local PD Gets Body Camera Funds

Happy Wednesday, people of Woonsocket! Sylvia here again with everything you need to know going on locally today.

Paige Mahon won the children’s holiday drawing contest. Also, the Woonsocket PD received a grant for buying body-worn cameras. Finally, a retired local PD detective plans to open a gun store.

First, today's weather:

Cloudy. High: 40 Low: 36.

Here are the top five stories in Woonsocket today:

1. Shoutout to Paige Mahon! The 10-year-old artist’s drawing was chosen Dec. 23 by the Valley Breeze as a winner of the children’s holiday drawing contest. She won a $25 gift card. Congratulations! (The Valley Breeze)
2. The Justice Department will give RI $1.5 million in assistance to equip police officers with body-worn cameras. Eleven PDs will benefit from the grant, including Woonsocket. As noted in Friday’s report, this move will get RI closer to having all of its 1,700 uniformed officers outfitted with the technology. (Providence Journal/paywall)
3. The president of Founding Fathers Tactical and Shooting Supplies LLC. is a retired Woonsocket police detective. We learned Tuesday that he’s also going to open a retail gun shop at 176 Worcester-Providence Turnpike. “Along with retail sales, the emphasis of his shop will be firearms training.” (The Millbury-Sutton Chronicle)
4. Someone broke into the Wickford Junction testing site on Monday. They stole “medical supplies, electronics, and clothing.” Thanks to the surveillance video, the PD has a great picture of the suspect. Do you know him? (ABC 6)
5. As we learned Friday, liquor stores can now open up on New Year’s Day. However, not everyone is on board with the new rules. The owner of Brickyard Wine & Spirits will remain closed. "I want to give my staff a break. We've had a very busy season- a busy year," she said. (WJAR)

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Today in Woonsocket:

• Jesse Liam Duo at the Warwick Mall (1 PM)
• Harry Potter And The Sorcerer's Stone Book Club Meeting at Lops Brewing (3:30 PM)
• Family Paint Night at the Providence Public Library (4:30 PM)
• One Up Games hosts an Arcade/Video Game Night at St. Aidan-St. Patrick (5 PM)

From my notebook:

• The Woonsocket Animal Control Shelter has two amazing pups that would love to find a forever home. (Facebook)
• The Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park hosts free screenings of two parts of the documentary SLATERSVILLE in January 2022. (Facebook)
• The Boots Along the Blackstone First Day Hike will take place at Blackstone River & Canal Heritage State Park on January 1, 2022. (Facebook)
• A Woonsocket/N Smithfield neighbor urges residents to call your local Community Action Agency for heating assistance or information regarding help with utilities. Staff are taking applications to help those in need that fit the guideline! (Nextdoor)

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Events:

• Paint some Pottery with Family and Friends! (December 29)
• Ring In the New Year With 15 Percent Off Beautiful Blooms From FTD! (December 31)
• Add your event

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Thanks for following along and staying informed! I'll see you back in your inbox tomorrow morning with a new 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.