Woonsocket Radio News Room

Town of North Smithfield

April 5th, 2019 Edition

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN NORTH SMITHFIELD

Message from Town Administrator

Gary Ezovski

Our newsletter is packed with information today so I will keep this note short by going back to the “Did you know?” segment that I did a few times early in my tenure. For this one, I was asked by a few residents to make note about what the state’s 1% meals tax provides the town. 

So, here it is, did you know that in addition to the property and tangible taxes that they pay, the assembly of restaurants in North Smithfield generate over $300,000 each year for the town from the 1% tax on the meal they serve? That means every time we choose to eat at one of our many great, and some famous, restaurants we help the town pay for our schools, roads and other services. Please think about that when dining out! Can we help them help us to increase that number? Eat local!

SPRING CLEANING CAR WASH FUNDRAISER AT NORTH SMITHFIELD HIGH SCHOOL

Support North Smithfield's Winning

WE THE PEOPLE CLASS

Car Wash: Sunday, April 7th (Rain Date: Sunday, April 14th)

Time: 12:00-3:00 PM

Location: North Smithfield High School

DONATION $5.00

Town of North Smithfield

Department of Public Works

DPW will begin its annual street sweeping program on Monday, April 1, 2019. Street sweeping will commence in the areas of Victory Highway, Harkness West Area, and Slatersville Area for the next two weeks weather permitting. Please check our website for an updated schedule.

 For additional information contact 767-2200 x 348

North Smithfield gets ready for spring! Curbside yard waste collection begins Monday April 15, 2019. 

Yard waste is collected on the same day as your trash and recycling.  Residents can have reasonable amount of leaf bags or cans, clearly marked, of yard waste out at the curb for weekly collection. The spring collection season runs from Monday, April 15^th - Friday, June 7th, 2019.

Saturday hours at our Highway Garage, 281 Quaker Highway will be from 9 am – 3 pm starting April 6, 2019. Residents are welcome to bring yard waste or accepted recyclables. The town offers free drop off for rigid plastic and scrap metal items as well as used motor oil. Drop off hours during the week are available on Wednesdays from 3 PM- 6:00 PM starting April 10, 2019 Please do not leave items outside the gate after business hours, we will take notice.

For additional information contact 767-2200 x 348

April is Autism Awareness month. So, beginning April 1st, 2019, the North Smithfield Police Department will be selling Autism Awarenes Police Patches. The patches will cost $10.00 each and the proceeds will be donated to The Autism Project located in Johnston, Rhode Island. Please show your support by purchasing an Autism patch. Patches can be purchased at the North Smithfield Police Department. We're always open, so stop by and get your Autism Patch and help us support this great organization. Check or money order only.

North Smithfield Students Participate in National History Day!!

North Smithfield, for the second straight year, has participated in National History Day. This nationally recognized program asks students to complete meaningful research, ask critical questions, and act as historians. The theme changes annually and this year the students were asked to pick a topic that depicted Triumph and Tragedy. In preparation for this project, students conducted months of research and visited Bryant University. Students were allowed to demonstrate their research in a variety of ways; the possible final projects were website, exhibit, paper, documentary and performance. 

This year North Smithfield sent four projects to the state competition at Rhode Island College. Students who finished 1st or 2nd in their category and received a superior rating are eligible to travel to Washington, D.C. to compete at the national level in June. 

The students involved in the four projects that qualified were required to defend their projects before a panel of judges. At the awards ceremony, two of the projects received first place. Liz Jalette and Emma Grant completed a group exhibit on the Equal Rights Amendment and its’ near realization. A group of five NSHS students created an original group performance about the impact of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's assassination.  The project was entitled "Dr. King's Tragic Sacrifice for the Greater African American Triumph." The two first place winning teams now have the opportunity to travel to the University of Maryland to represent our school and state. The other students who competed at Rhode Island College were Morgan Kruzan, Colby Girard, Rita Marcotte, Kaitlyn Walsh, and Katelyn Williams.  

Sign up today for your Free smoke alarm installations and fire safety education.

It's time to Sound the Alarm to save lives in Rhode Island! “Sound the Alarm. Save a Life” is a nationwide American Red Cross initiative to install 100,000 FREE smoke alarms in at-risk neighborhoods from April 27 - May 12 in an effort to reduce the number of injuries and deaths due to home fires. As part of this effort, the American Red Cross- Rhode Island Chapter along with partners are aiming to install 1,000 smoke alarms in Providence and surrounding communities on Saturday, May 11 from 8 am-2 pm. 

https://www.redcross.org/local/rhode-island/about-us/our-work/home-fire-safety.html

There is no income requirement. Anyone can sign up. Please spread the word. Last year over 1,000 smoke alarms were installed in RI in one day! Best part, all FREE!

North Smithfield Fire & Rescue Service, Inc.

                1470 Providence Pike • North Smithfield, RI 02896

Important Reminder from NSFR!

Spring Season = Change your clocks.

Change your clocks = Change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

While we may not be out of the woods yet with winter, spring into the warm weather by changing the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and test them for reliability. In addition, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms have expiration dates. The rule of thumb is, 10 years for smoke alarms and 7 years for carbon monoxide detectors. As always, follow manufactures specifications for replacement and maintenance of smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

We would also like to recognize everyone in the town's business community. In 2018, businesses throughout North Smithfield did an excellent job when it came to fire safety. Business owners in town take great pride in keeping their establishments safe from all hazards and it certainly does not go unnoticed by our Fire Prevention division. Again, thank you for another safe year and keep up the great work!

As always, feel free to contact the North Smithfield Fire Prevention office at (401) 762-1135 Monday through Thursday between the hours of 07:00 a.m. and 05:00 p.m. for any fire safety questions you may have.   

SAVE THE DATE

North Smithfield Announces 2nd Annual Fireworks Display

Come join us for our 2nd Annual Fireworks Display

If you missed it last year, you sure do not want to miss it this year!

When: Saturday, July 13th

Where: North Smithfield High School

Time: Sunset

Bring your own lawn chairs and blankets.

If you have any questions, please call Town Hall at 767-2200 ext. 301. More information to come!

VOLUNTEERS WHO PRE-REGISTER FOR CLEAN & GREEN DAY BEFORE APRIL 5TH ARE GUARANTEED TO RECEIVE A T-SHIRT!

TAX PREPARATION TIME IS APRIL 15^TH. BUT WHAT ABOUT YOUR FINANCIAL FUTURE? NORTH SMITHFIELD EMA SAYS CHECK NOW BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE!

Financial Preparedness

This April, the Ready Campaign will host social media events on financial preparedness as part of National Financial Capability Month. Topics include planning and budgeting, saving for disasters and emergencies, and the importance of insurance. 

Join us:

• 1 p.m. ET, April 10, TwitterChat, Plan for the Unexpected. (#FinancialChat)
• 4 p.m. ET, April 17, Webinar: Money Matters: Resources for Youth in Financial Preparedness. Register for the webinar here. 
• 1 p.m. ET, April 24, TwitterChat: Insure your Financial Future. (#FinancialChat)

Join the financial preparedness conversation by following us at #FinancialFuture2019.

Financial Preparedness

Americans at all income levels have experienced the challenges of rebuilding their lives after a disaster or other emergency. In these stressful circumstances, having access to personal financial, insurance, medical, and other records is crucial for starting the process of recovery quickly and efficiently. Taking the time now to collect and secure these critical records will give you peace of mind and, in the event of an emergency, will ensure that you have the documentation needed to start the recovery process without delay.

1. Gather financial and critical personal, household, and medical information.
2. Consider saving money in an emergency savings account that could be used in any crisis. Keep a small amount of cash at home in a safe place. It is important to have small bills on hand because ATM’s and credit cards may not work during a disaster when you need to purchase necessary supplies, fuel or food.
3. Obtain property (homeowners or renters), health, and life insurance if you do not have them. Review existing policies for the amount and extent of coverage to ensure that what you have in place is what is required for you and your family for all possible hazards. Homeowners insurance does not typically cover flooding, so you may need to purchase flood insurance from the National Flood Insurance Program.
4. Scroll down for more helpful financial preparedness tips and download the Emergency Financial First Aid Kit (EFFAK) to get started planning today.

The Emergency Financial First Aid Kit (EFFAK), a joint publication from Operation Hope and FEMA to help you prepare financially and provide tips to reduce the impact disasters can leave you with financially.

For Organizations 

Encourage people throughout your organization to be financially prepared. Here are some ideas to promote financial preparedness in your organization:

• Hold a brown bag meeting or
• Make a presentation at an existing staff meeting using the Emergency Preparedness Financial First Aid Kit PowerPoint and use the Safeguarding Your Valuables Facilitator Guide to support your discussion.
• Include financial preparedness information in the staff monthly newsletter.

At Home

Using the EFFAK as a guide, or by downloading a secure mobile app on your phone, store important documents either in a safety deposit box, an external drive, or on the cloud to make it easy to access during a disaster. 

Having your financial and medical records and important contact information will be crucial to help you start the recovery process quickly. Take time now to safeguard these critical documents.

Household Identification

• Photo ID to prove identity of household members
• Birth certificate to maintain or re-establish contact with family members
• Social security card to apply for FEMA disaster assistance
• Military service
• Pet ID tags

Financial and Legal Documentation

• Housing Payments to identify financial records and obligations
• Insurance policies to re-establish financial accounts
• Sources of income to maintain payments and credit
• Tax statements to provide contact information for financial and legal providers & apply for FEMA disaster assistance

Medical Information

• Physician information to provide doctors with health information if medical care is needed
• Copies of health insurance information to ensure existing care continues uninterrupted
• Immunization records  
•  

Insurance Information

Having insurance for your home or business property is the best way to ensure you will have the necessary financial resources to help you repair, rebuild, or replace whatever is damaged. Document and insure your property now.

Household Contact information

• Banking Institutions
• Insurance agent
• Health professionals     
• Service providers          
• Place of worship

Get your benefits electronically

A disaster can disrupt mail service for days or weeks. If you depend on Social Security or other regular benefits, switching to electronic payments is a simple, significant way to protect yourself financially before disaster strikes. It also eliminates the risk of stolen checks. The U.S. Department of the Treasury recommends two safer ways to get federal benefits:

• Direct deposit to a checking or savings account. Federal benefit recipients can sign up by calling (800) 333-1795 or sign up online
• The Direct Express® prepaid debit card is designed as a safe and easy alternative to paper

North Smithfield Residents Food Pantry

Slatersville Congregational Church

25 Green Street

North Smithfield, RI 02896

The flavor of the month for APRIL is 

CANNED PASTA

Any donations or monetary gifts for the food pantry can be dropped off at the Slatersville Congregational Church between 9:00 am and noon. An additional drop box is available at the Town Hall during regular business hours.

Senior Services, Inc. has provided services to seniors and adults with disabilities residing in Northern Rhode Island since 1975, in accordance with the Congregate Meal Program financed through a grant with R.I. Department of Elderly Affairs. Senior Services, Inc. provides nutritionally balanced lunches five days a week at our meal sites throughout Northern R.I.

Senior Services, Inc. offers activities, entertainment, computer classes, Alzheimer's Disease Support Groups, and Wellness programs, which include a weekly blood pressure clinic and exercise classes.

Senior Services, Inc. also offers an Adult Day Care Program ("A Home for the Day"), and a Community Information Specialist who can provide information on eligibility for all state and local programs, including RIPAE.

APRIL 2019 Senior Services Newsletter

APRIL 2019 Activity Calendar of Events

APRIL 2019 Menu

Senior exercise classes at Scouter's Hall, 13 Main Street, North Smithfield include:

• Zumba Gold Mondays at 10:00 AM--No Class on April 8th
• Chair Exercises, Mondays at 11:00 AM--No Class on April 8th
• Zumba Gold Thursdays at 10:00 AM

UPCOMING MEETINGS

Agendas can be found on the Secretary of State Website by

CLICKING HERE