Five Things You Need To Know Today: May 27

Memorial Day Trash Pick-up/Summer Tips

In observance of Memorial Day the Woonsocket Recycle Drop Off Facility will be closed on Saturday May 28 and Monday May 30.

Residents are reminded that curbside pick-up of trash, recycling and yard waste from May 30 to June 3 will be delayed by one day.

The Solid Waste Department reminds residents that recycling saves energy, natural resources and decreases pollution.  The department has sent out the following list of summertime tips:

Don’t Trash It! — When out at picnics and BBQ’s this summer, be sure to bring an extra bag with you to collect recyclables! Place the bag next to your trash can and mark it so that people know you are recycling all those cans & bottles. Throw the bag in the back of your car and put it in your curbside recycling cart for collection.

Spread The Word! — Talk to your family about recycling at home. Make a fun game for kids in the house to collect recyclables and save them to put in the carts.

Keep it Clean! — Rinse bottles, cans, and other materials before you put them in the cart. This will also prevent any unwanted odors during summertime heat.

Reduce Waste! — Buy a smaller trash can to collect the trash from within your house. You will soon see how quickly your recycle cart fills up! A lot of times we are throwing out things that are actually recyclable and this is a quick way to make sure you are paying attention!

When in Doubt, Call! — If you have any recycling questions call the Solid Waste Division at 767-8880.

Vote for Woonsocket's Athletes in the COX Sports Awards

The Cox RI Sports Awards has announced the 2011 Spring Scholar-Athlete Nominees. The winners will be revealed at the fifth annual Cox RI Sports Awards presented by the RI National Guard, Wednesday, June 15 at the RI Convention Center.

Cox Sports and the RI National Guard will honor the state’s best scholar-athletes from Woonsocket to Westerly and the top college athletes at the Cox RI Sports Awards. The Ocean State’s best high school scholar-athletes from each sport for every season, as well as the Team of the Year and Coach of the Year, will be announced. State Championship teams from each season will also be honored. A highlight show of the awards dinner will be broadcast on Cox Sports.

Providence College basketball coach Ed Cooley, a graduate of Central High School, will be the featured speaker.

Students, fans, coaches, parents, teammates, teachers and others are encouraged to vote for their favorite scholar-athlete from the 2011 spring season by visiting: http://www.risportsawards.com.

Woonsocket's Kory Lawrence has been nominated for baseball along with Michael Magerman and Tim Doyle from Mount St. Charles. Also from Mount St. Charles, Alyssa Lanzi has been nominated for softball.

Tickets for the 2011 Cox RI Sports Awards dinner can be purchased by calling 401-228-0178.

WHA Receives High Performer Status from HUD

The Woonsocket Housing Authority has been notified that it has achieved High Performer status in HUD’s Section Eight Management Assessment Program (EMAP) as well as in HUD’s Public Housing Assessment System (PHAS) scoring.

SEMAP measures public housing authority performance in key areas of Housing Choice Voucher program administration.  HUD’s examination of Section 8 voucher programs provides a framework for housing authorities to conduct self-assessments to determine whether program functions in Section 8 need improvement.  The Woonsocket Housing Authority’s overall SEMAP score for fiscal year 2010 is 100%.

PHAS measures the total operational aspects of a public housing authority such as physical, financial, management and tenant satisfaction categories.  Each area is scored separately by development based on a total of 100 points.  Deficiencies are deducted from this number.  Out of a possible 100 points, the Woonsocket Housing Authority received 100 and was ranked a “High Performer.”

Treasury of Life Expo

The Museum of Work and Culture along with sponsor Navigant Credit Union will be hosting a Treasury of Life Expo on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. 

For the first time, participating Treasury of Life families will share their heirlooms and memorabilia with the public, providing a unique glimpse into the lives of Rhode Islanders and immigrant families, particularly those that came to the United States in the late 19th and early 20th Century to work in the Blackstone Valley’s textile mills.

Navigant Credit Union launched the Treasury of Life exhibit in 2008 with a $25,000 start-up donation and a $25,000 five-year commitment. The exhibit provides 250 safe deposit-style boxes to families that want a secure place to store generations of family keepsakes, such as immigration documents, photographs, birth certificates, letters and military medals.

Visitors to the exp this weekend can receive 50% off the regular $8 admission to the Museum. Visitors will also learn how they, too, can preserve their family artifacts in the Treasury of Life – and support the Museum’s endowment.

And for your final Friday "Thing to Know," Reflections with Connie Lemonde:

Poppies for Memorial Day​

For the past couple of weeks, at different intersections in the city, we've seen volunteers selling little paper poppies to raise funds for the benefit of veterans.  Did you know that it was a woman who started this practice almost 100 years ago?

Memorial Day was officially proclaimed on May 5, 1868 by General John Logan, national commander of the Grand Army of the Republic, and was first observed on May 30, 1868, when flowers were placed on the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. After World War I, the holiday changed from honoring those who died fighting in the Civil War to honoring Americans who died fighting in any war. 

It was not until 1915, however, that Moina Michael wrote the following poem, and red poppies became a symbol of the sacrifice of veterans.

We cherish too, the Poppy red
That grows on fields where valor led,

It seems to signal to the skies

That blood of heroes never dies.

She then thought of wearing red poppies on Memorial day in honor of  veterans who died serving the nation during war. She was the first to wear one, and eventually she sold poppies to her friends and co-workers with the money going to benefit servicemen in need.  If she was around today, she would  certainly be happy to see that her symbolic action has survived for almost a century.
In the past, when I bought those poppies, I always put them near my windshield, and left them in the car. From now on, however, I will pin them on me to display them everywhere I go; and I hope you can join me in manifesting the little flowers that have such a significant meaning. 

Have a great day.