5 Things You Need To Know Today: August 16

Today is Tuesday August 16, 2011. Here are five things you need to know:

Keep the National Heritage Corridor in Woonsocket

There will be a meeting tonight in Whitinsville, MA regarding the in the Blackstone River Valley. The National Park Service (NPS) recently released a study that recommends establishing the park to tell the story of America's early industrial history.

Currently, the located at One Depot Square in Woonsocket works to protect the resources in this historically important area, but the site is only one of three options currently being considered by NPS. If NPS chooses one of the other two possible management options, the Heritage Corridor could be moved out of city.

Visit the NPS Public Comment web site to read the proposal and, if you would like to see the national park managed from One Depot Square in Woonsocket, voice your support for option one.

A pdf of the three possible management options is attached above. Share your opinion publicly tonight at 7 p.m.  at the theater at Alternatives, 50 Douglas Road, Whitinsville, MA. Congressional delegates are expected to be closely monitoring public response.

Freshman Orientation at WHS

Orientation has been scheduled for all incoming grade 9 Woonsocket public school students and their parents. Students with last names beginning with letters A-L will meet on August 24 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Woonsocket High School auditorium to receive a tentative class schedule, a tour of the building a locker assignment and more. Students with last names beginning with the letters M-Z will meet at the same time and place on August 25. 

FRCA Blood Drive

The Rhode Island Blood Center will be at Family Resources Community Action this Wednesday (August 17) in the 3^rd Floor Conference Room at 245 Main St. Woonsocket for their next blood drive. The blood drive will run from 12 p.m. - 4 p.m. and potential donors are reminded that each donation can help save three lives. The Rhode Island Blood Center needs to collect up to 280 pints of blood every single day to meet the needs of area hospitals and the blood is used to treat cancer patients, burn victims, accident victims, major surgery patients, and more.  Donors will receive refreshments.

You may schedule an appointment for the Family Resources Community Action Blood Drive by visiting www.ribc.org , Sponsor Code 7198, or simply walk in.

Michelle Bach-Coulibaly Dance & Music

If you're looking for something to do this afternoon, try something a little different and head over to Woonsocket Harris Public Library between 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. for a chance to learn dance and music of the Mande culture. The event is free and open to the public (kids ages 10 and up) as part of the summer reading club for teens.

Better unemployment

According to an AOL Daily Finance article, Rhode Island is one of the best states to receive unemployment benefits with recipients receiving an average of $380 a week, the fourth highest in the country.

Some in the state, however, say that's not enough, and point to transaction fees charged for unemployment card users by banks such as JP Morgan. They encourage unemployment and TDI beneficiaries to opt for direct deposit and call for a better deal for unemployed and disabled Rhode Islanders. A group supporting unemployment reform is scheduled to meet tonight at 7 p.m. in East Providence City Hall, 145 Taunton Avenue, East Providence, RI.