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Community Corner

🌱Ergonomics, Ice Rinks Over Housing + Lafayette Mill Demolition

Welcome to the Woonsocket Daily! Here's your source for everything going on in the area.

Kathleen Stoddart, Neighbor
|
(Patch Media)

Up and at 'em, Woonsocket! Let's get this Tuesday started off right with Kathleen. These are the most important things going on today in Woonsocket.

First, today's weather:

Mostly sunny and windy. High: 49 Low: 28. That thermometer is going down.

Here are the top stories in Woonsocket today:

  1. Woonsocket City Council members believe they deserve ergonomic chairs out of the $36.4 million the city will receive in American Rescue Plan Act funding. A skating rink with synthetic ice and ornamental street lights are the other proposed projects. Yes, there is outrage here in Woonsocket. The city has one of the highest poverty rates in Rhode Island. When residents were surveyed, the biggest priority was affordable housing . COVID-19 increased the need for assistance in this regard. Other priorities include roadwork and mental health assistance not cool chairs, ice rinks and decorative lights. (The Providence Journal)
  2. Engineering Consultants are recommending the former Lafayette Mill administration building at 148 Hamlet Ave. be demolished calling the structure a threat to the nearby middle school. It would cost over $20 million to make it safe. The Victorian-style building is one of two remaining survivors of the former Lafayette spinning complex built in 1908. The City added it to the National Register of Historic Places but no rehabilitation was ever made. (Woonsocket Call)
  3. There is more on Governor Dan McKee's questionable multi-million dollar grant to his friend/consultant's (Mike McGee) team member's new consulting company (ILO). Even though a bid review team was used, it did not select a "winner." Instead, the review team gave the Governor's Office the green light to negotiate contracts with 2 companies under what is known as a "master price agreement." ILO bid $6.5 million, while WestEd bid $3.3 million. Note that WestEd has worked with Rhode Island a few times and ILO was just formed when Mike McGee (the consultant to the governor) wrote the Request for Proposal (RFP). The Governor's office selected ILO and instead of negotiating down the hourly rate, it opted to pay ILO the maximum hourly rate that the company had sought: $227.84 an hour. AND the ILO contract is being funded with federal coronavirus relief funds. (WPRI)

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Today in Woonsocket:

  • Landmark Hospital's ER wait time is 121 minutes (Landmark Medical Center)
  • November 14th winner for Autumnfest Calendar is Renee Chartier and the November 15th winner is Gloria Place of Woonsocket. Congrats! (autumnfest.org)
  • Woonsocket School Committee Meeting is Wednesday, Nov. 17 at 7pm at Hamlet Middle School Cafeteria, 60 Florence Drive. You can also attend virtually: Meeting ID= meet.google.com/wrm-ihnx-xpr and phone is (US)2451-666-+1 314 PIN: 846 754 064# (Woonsocket Radio)

Woonsocket Patch Notebook

  • The National Weather Service on Sunday confirmed 3 tornados touched down on Saturday in Connecticut and Rhode Island. (WJAR)
  • Woonsocket Cat Sanctuary, Inc. had more adoptions thanks to all. (Facebook)
  • Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park celebrates America Recycles Day and partners with Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor (BHC) to encourage residents of the Blackstone River Valley to "Trash Responsibly," eliminate litter, and to recycle. (Facebook)
  • Woonsocket Harris Public Library has felt board stories, sing-a-longs, and rhythm play with music shakers. Sign up for programs by calling 401-769-9044 and they will send you the email code. (Facebook)
  • Coventry High School was in lockdown yesterday following a threat made towards the school. The Police Department called in the SWAT team for safety reasons. (ABC6)
  • There are only two Woonsocket's in the United States! Woonsocket, RI was the first, established in 1888. The other, Woonsocket, SD, was named by its superintendent of railroads who had originally come from Woonsocket, RI. Pretty cool! ( City of Woonsocket)

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Now you're in the loop and ready to head out the door on this Tuesday. I'll see you back in your inbox tomorrow with a new update!

Kathleen Stoddart lives in Woonsocket. I love hardware stores and can be seen checking out all the cool stuff. Being a Realtor, I sort of have an excuse. It's heading into the Christmas season! Neighbors, please don't think we're crazy but my husband cooks his delicious deep-fried turkey and lowers it into the pot with his hockey stick! Any ideas or feedback, email me at KathC21Homes@gmail.com

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The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

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