🌱 Emergency Dispatcher Shortage + Library Halloween Party

Happy Saturday, neighbors! Let's get you all caught up on what's happening locally to start today off on an informed note.

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First, today's weather:

Variable cloudiness. High: 62 Low: 42.

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Here are the top stories today in Pawtucket:

1. Rhode Island is suffering from a serious emergency dispatcher shortage. While the national average turnover rate for dispatcher positions is 15 to 20 percent, the regional dispatch center for Pawtucket and North Providence has had to replace about six of its 10 dispatchers in the past two years alone. Factors like a stressful work environment, low pay, and long hours have contributed to this labor shortage, and some employees only work as dispatchers until they can become police officers or firefighters. The regional center is prepared to invest over $44,000 this year to add another full-time dispatcher. (WJAR 10)
2. The Pawtucket Public Library is hosting a free Children's Halloween Party today, Oct. 23, from 2:30 to 4:00 p.m. Children and their guardians are invited to attend in costume to enjoy activities like a magic show, crafts, snacks, a parade and music. No registration is necessary and masks are required. (Pawtucket Patch)
3. Mother Earth Wellness, a proposed dispensary on Esten Avenue in Pawtucket, will be left behind in Rhode Island's upcoming state lottery for new medical marijuana dispensaries because another Zone 6 applicant, Atlas Enterprises, Inc., is appealing its disqualification. The Department of Business Regulation will be holding a random lottery next Friday to award five out of six new medical marijuana dispensary licenses, one for each Zone except 6, pending the ongoing appeal. (WPRI)

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Today in Pawtucket:

• Friends of the Library Book Sale - Pawtucket Public Library (9:00 AM)
• Bilingual Story Class - Pawtucket Public Library (10:30 AM)
• Children's Halloween Party! - Pawtucket Public Library (2:30 PM)

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You're officially in the loop for today. See you all tomorrow morning for another update! If you're enjoying these newsletters, consider inviting some of your friends and neighbors to follow along. You can send them this link to subscribe.

— Nicole Fallon-Peek

About me: Nicole Fallon-Peek is a journalist and copywriter with a degree in Media, Culture and Communication from New York University. She has served as a freelance reporter, managing editor, copy editor, and editorial director for a variety of B2B news outlets. She currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.