5 Things You Need To Know Today: September 3

Today is Saturday, September 3, 2011. Here are five things you need to know:

Trash delayed

The Woonsocket Recycling Facility is closed today and Monday in observance of Labor Day.

Also closed on Monday September 5, 2011 are the Waste Haulers Transfer Station in North Smithfield and Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation (Central Landfill) in Johnston.

Residents are reminded that curbside pick-up of rubbish and recycling for the week of September 5, 2011 to September 9, 2011 will be delayed by one day.

Lights on!

According to Nation Grid, as of 11 a.m. this morning less than 5 homes remain without power in Woonsocket. Statewide 8,453 homes have still not been restored.

Politics & Pasta with Buddy Cianci

The will be hosting a Dinner Cabaret Event later this month with the longest-serving mayor in the history of Providence, Vincent Buddy Cianci, Jr. Enjoy a delicious pasta dinner catered by River Falls as Buddy speaks about is life and experiences both political and personal. Buddy will also be available to sign copies of his popular book "Politics and Pasta."

The event will be held on Thursday, September 15 at 6:30 p.m. Admission is $36 and includes dinner buffet from River Falls Restaurant.  Tickets are available at the Stadium Theatre Box Office or by calling 401-762-4545 and online at www.stadiumtheatre.com. Seating is limited.

UnitedHealthcare invites Rhode Island schools to submit videos

UnitedHealthcare has announced a contest with more than $5,000 in cash prizes for Rhode Island schools whose students produce winning 30-second videos that raise awareness about childhood obesity and diabetes.

In addition to the cash prizes, select finalist videos will be shown during a New England Revolution home game this fall.

Rhode Island school teachers or administrators can submit videos online at the UnitedHealthcare Grow Healthy Rhode Island Video Contest website at www.uhctogether.com/RIcontest between September 6 and midnight October 3.  The winners will be announced October 19 at the UnitedHealthcare Grow Healthy Rhode Island event at the Kent County YMCA.

Winners will be chosen among three categories – elementary school (grades K to 5), middle school (grades 6 to 8) and high school (grades 9 to 12). The winning school in each category will receive $1,000, each runner up will receive $500 and each honorable mention $250.

The video should be 30 seconds or less, with a theme of fighting childhood obesity and/or diabetes by living a healthy life. The video content or theme must be developed by the students with limited involvement from teachers. Teachers or school administrators are reminded to include the appropriate release forms that are available on www.uhctogether.com/RIcontest

Middle school and high school students must include in their video at least one Rhode Island health statistic from America's Health Rankings (www.americashealthrankings.com). Students of all ages can also research information about childhood obesity and diabetes at the following websites:

• www.letsmove.gov
• www.diabetes.org
• www.cdc.gov/obesity/childhood
• kidshealth.org/kid
• kidshealth.org/teen

Each school is allowed to submit one entry per grade level: elementary school, middle school and high school. For example, a K-8 school can submit one entry for the elementary school (K-5) category and another for the middle school category (6-8.) Videos will be judged based on:

• Use of the theme (40 percent) 
• Creativity (20 percent)
• Following the rules and guidelines (15 percent)
• Educational Value (15 percent)
• Entertainment Value (10 percent)

Students, teachers, parents, elected officials, local businesses, insurance professionals, researchers and community leaders will be invited to attend the Grow Healthy event to screen the finalist videos and participate in healthy activities. 

Complete contest rules, release forms, sample videos and more information about the UnitedHealthcare Grow Healthy Rhode Island Video Contest can be found at www.uhctogether.com/RIcontest 

And for your final thing to know, Reflections with Connie Lemonde

REFLECTIONS

From the Buddhist philosophy comes the following: "We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts."

Whatever we have become, therefore,  is not the result of our experiences, good or bad, but a consequence of how we have reacted to them. When life challenges us, we are free to think and make choices that will make us better or worse. We can nourish thoughts that turn us into discontented, anxious, and angry persons; or we can nurture those that make us loving and peaceful. 
                       
Simple as it may seem, in times of distress, it's not easy to change our depressing thoughts to more optimistic ones. However, we do not have to struggle alone. God has already given us all that we need to be happy and at peace; and his guidance is always available to help us turn our disturbing thoughts to those of love and contentment. All we have to do is ask for help, be patient...and listen.  Help will come--in God's time. 

My short inspirational, surprising and humorous stories about local people can be heard on radio station WOON 1240 AM every Friday at 9:05 a.m. and Saturday at 8 a.m. Also available online at www.onworldwide.com anytime. Just scroll down to to C'est La Vie.  Do you have an inspiring or interesting story to tell? Contact me a conlemonde@gmail.com. SUBJECT: radio