🌱 Shoutout To Ruth Plante + Heritage Canal District Pitch

Hello, neighbors; today is National Chocolate-Covered Cashews Day! It's me again, Sylvia, your host of the Woonsocket Daily.

A Woonsocket HS coach is making headlines. Also, how do you come up with $500 million? Finally, there are some tidbits from the City Council meeting.

First, today's weather:

Partial sunshine. High: 59 Low: 48.

Here are the top five stories in Woonsocket today:

1. Bank RI put the educator spotlight for the month on Ruth Plante, the Woonsocket HS boys’ volleyball coach. She retired in 2020 after spending 37 years as an educator, coach, and guidance counselor. (RI Interscholastic League)
2. How does the Heritage Canal District Subcommittee envision making its $500-million plan work? The answers are “stackable tax credits” that would attract investors. The Chairman began the presentation by saying, “I feel Woonsocket needs a good kick in the ass.” (The Call)
3. What else happened at Monday’s City Council meeting? Councilmembers tabled the application for a 1st Class Victualing license by Kimochi, LLC, 43 Railroad Street. Besides that, the Public Works Director talked about “sidewalk repairs city wide and sidewalk area repair from Saint Germain Manor to the Elks Lodge on Social Street.” Another point of interest is the authorization for the Mayor “to issue a request for proposal to make necessary improvements to the Animal Shelter at 105 Cumberland Hill Road.” (City of Woonsocket)
4. From the “where are they now” files, Lisa Odom-Villella, a Woonsocket native, has been named Deputy Commissioner of Instructional Programs for the Rhode Island Department of Education. Congratulations! (NRI)
5. Mark your calendars! Saturday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., Lops Brewing is the place to be. Arts in the Alley is making a return. “Join crafts vendors, kids face painting and sidewalk chalk area, delicious food from Nanu the Burmese Fusion and of course beer including the new Art Heist Double NEIPA and the return of the Lemonade Shandy.” (Lops Brewing)
   

Today in Woonsocket:

• Professor Gizmo Workshop at Bay Spring Community Center (10 AM)
• D’Angelo Grilled Sandwiches gives back to Post 85 American Legion Auxiliary (11 AM)
• Papa Gino’s Raising Some Dough for Post 85 American Legion Auxiliary (4 PM)
• Personnel Board Meeting at City Hall (4:30 PM)
• Get Lit Thursday at LIT Lounge Night Club (8 PM)

From my notebook:

• The Woonsocket Cat Sanctuary, Inc. is very happy to say that Miss Bailey was adopted Wednesday. They will miss this spunky girl and her awesome toes, but couldn’t be more excited for her and her new family. Congratulations to all and many happy meows! (Facebook)
• Also, please remember that the Woonsocket Cat Sanctuary, Inc. takes anything from clothing to furniture donations for the Indoor Yard Sale. (Facebook)
• Saturday, celebrate Trails Day on the Blackstone River Bikeway! Join staff and volunteers. (Facebook)
• The Woonsocket Harris Public Library wants to know what's your vision for the future of Woonsocket? Please share your thoughts by completing the quick surveys! (Facebook)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Thursday! I'll be 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.