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Community Corner

🌱 Deadly Fake Pills+Illegal Guns+Staffing Critical+$3K PP+More $

The quickest way to get caught up on the most important things happening today in Woonsocket.

Kathleen Stoddart, Neighbor
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(Patch Media)

Up and at 'em, Woonsocket! Let's get you started this Saturday with everything you need to know going on around Woonsocket. I'm Kathleen Stoddart and happy to join you today!

First, today's weather:

Mostly sunny. High: 48 Low: 34 AND without Friday's wind! Alas, I think our warm spell is gone so get your long underwear out.

Here are the top stories in Woonsocket today:

  1. Fake pills have become increasingly common in Rhode Island, which are referred to as counterfeit prescription pills, and contain fentanyl or methamphetamine leading to overdose deaths. Approximately 100,000 people in the U.S. suffer overdose deaths annually. More than 380 people fatally overdosed last year in little Rhode Island. Law enforcement says so many fake pills are laced with fentanyl, an addictive and often lethal synthetic opioid. Some of the most common counterfeit pills are Adderall, Xanax, oxycodone, and hydrocodone. The counterfeit pills look identical to pharmaceutical-grade pills, and even the most senior law enforcement agents can't tell the difference. Two out of 5 pills, tested in the lab, have a deadly dose of fentanyl inside. Nationwide fake pills have jumped nearly 430% since 2019. This is one of the most frightening statistics, I can imagine. The pills are often found on social media, through drug dealers, and the dark web. (WPRI.com)
  2. Willie Love, 30, who lives on Park Ave. in Woonsocket, was charged with purchasing illegal firearms. He was arrested after police found a pistol and a fully-loaded 15-round magazine in his home. I guess he shouldn't have taken pictures with guns and posted them on social media. He had a prior felony conviction. (Valley Breeze)
  3. There's a staffing crisis in Rhode Island Nursing Homes and it's only going to get worse. Eighty nursing homes were surveyed on November 1st, after the vaccination mandate took effect, and found 1,920 open positions. What are the options?: Don't accept new patients? Then, the hospitals will be backlogged and the nursing homes already have financial issues. Or shut down rooms or entire nursing homes? What a calamity. And there have been no solutions offered by our legislative leaders. (WJAR)
  4. Are you a state worker in RI? The stste's largest union, the AFSCME Council 94, has reached a tentative agreement the gives each union employee $3,000 for being vaccinated. Can I join? But not everyone is supportive. If only half of the union members are active and receive the bonus, this would cost Rhode Island over $15 million. (WPRI)
  5. Gov. Dan McKee's administration has earmarked more than $11 million so far to help fund the new municipal education offices that the ILO Group is working to help set up around the state. The AG started an investigation of ILO's controversial $5.2 million state contract. These offices would be modeled partly on what McKee and his longtime close adviser, Michael Magee Jr., created together in Cumberland while McKee was the town's mayor in the 2000s. (WPRI)

Today in Woonsocket:

  • The Annual Waters Church Community Thanksgiving Drive-Thru will take place today at Waters Church, 1500 Diamond Hill Road, Woonsocket. The event begins at 10 am and will continue while supplies last. Simply drive into the main lot and one of the serve team members will place the Thanksgiving Dinner Box in your vehicle. Each box will be filled with a variety of pantry items and a gift card for a turkey. (Facebook)
  • Landmark medical center's emergency room wait time is 152 minutes. (Landmark)
  • If you haven't seen "Annie" yet, it's on through the weekend at the Stadium Theatre. (Stadium Theatre)
  • Tonight is the JW Jones Band at Chan's (Chan's Chinese Restaurant)

Woonsocket Patch Notebook

  • The Winter Wonderland is back! It opens on Saturday, December 4th from 3 pm -8 pm at River Island Art Park located on Bernon St. in Woonsocket. This family-friendly event is free and open to the public. (Facebook)
  • Woonsocket Parks & Recreation are reminding residents to register for the Indoor Basketball program that will start after the new year. The cost is $25 for the program. (Facebook)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Saturday! I'll be back for Monday's Newsletter.

This is Kathleen Stoddart, a Woonsocket resident and a lover of dogs and people. We have a great community! Have you done you're Thanksgiving grocery planning yet? I was surprised at how easy it was to book a time for grocery delivery. I'm saving my husband at least one grocery run! You can reach me at KathC21Homes@gmail.com

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