Five Things You Need To Know Today: Oct. 14

Cicilline, Fontaine Kick Off ShelterWalk:

The 23rd Annual ShelterWalk to support the Woonsocket Homeless Shelter will take place on Saturday morning with registration starting at 9 a.m. Mayor Leo Fontaine and US Congressman David Cicilline to kick off the event, speaking at at 9:45.

The walk begins at 10 a.m. and is expected to have between 300 and 400 participants, including over 25 teams from local schools, churches, clubs and businesses. Funds raised will go towards the sheter, which serves around 300 individuals, more than half of which are children, every year, and towards homelessness prevention programs.

Spookfest to Raise Money for Playground:

The PTO is holding its second annual Spookfest on Saturday beginning at 4 p.m. The event is open to the public and will take place on the school’s athletic field, featuring Halloween-themed games, including a Haunted Haystack and Pumpkin Seed Toss, pumpkin painting, arts and crafts, and food booths. A portion of the school’s Nature and Fitness Trail will be transformed into a pirate-themed Spooky Trail, which, according to the PTO, is guaranteed to thrill and delight children of all ages. Because last year’s Spookfest was such a huge success, the PTO has decided to add a few additional attractions to this year’s event.  

Several local businesses have agreed to sponsor this year’s Spookfest, including major sponsor 1-800-GOT-JUNK. Other sponsors are: , and Vohn’s Restaurant. All of the money raised from the event will be used to help fund a playground for the school. Donations are also welcome. Admission is $3 for children and $6 for adults and all children must be accompanied by an adult. Festival continues until 8 p.m. 

Woonsocket residents to compete in Amica marathon:

Nearly 5,000 runners - ages 14 to 88 - are expected to participate in the 2011 Amica Marathon in Newport on Sunday. The event begins at 8 a.m. and participants will cover a historic and scenic course from Easton's Beach in Newport, along Ocean Drive and through Bellevue Avenue. The second half of the 26.2-mile course is along the Sakonnet River with a finish line back at Easton’s Beach. Full descriptions of the Amica Marathon and UnitedHealthcare Half Marathon courses are available at amicamarathon.com.

The Amica Marathon is a 2012 Boston Marathon qualifier. Notable participants include:

-Geralyn Hoffman and Larry Ducady, a couple from Cumberland, RI, who will run together for 26.2 miles and get married after they cross the finish line. They have both lost loved ones to cancer and are members of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Team in Training. They have asked guests attending their reception to donate to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in lieu of gifts, saying their gift is the gift of helping others.
-Mark Kruger, a contestant from Season 5 “Biggest Loser,” who lost 129 pounds and was the runner-up when he competed on the NBC show in 2008. In 2011, Mark completed numerous running events, including a 100-mile race, three full marathons and two 50ks. He has run a total of more than 1,600 miles this year.
-Lynn Edwards, at age 88, is the oldest participant in the 2011 Amica Marathon. Edwards began her running career at age 55. She competed in her first Ironman triathlon at age 69 and won her age group while competing in that event the following year in Hawaii. Despite suffering from ovarian cancer a few years ago, she continues to remain active and lace up her running shoes every chance she gets. She is currently writing a book about being motivated and staying active.
-Team Dave was created by Nathan Hobbs in honor of his father-in-law, an active man who discovered in January that he had rare spinal tumor. Dave, who had run 12 marathons (including a personal best 2:37) was immediately confined to a wheelchair and passed away in June.

The following runners from Woonsocket are scheduled to take part in the race: Kaitlin Fonseca, Christopher Aiudi, Anthony Aiudi, April Peloquin, Viengkhek Phimmasone, Michael Tessier, Melissa Tessier, Belinda Refino, Christopher Whipple, Matthew Gringas, Kevin Fitzgerald, Angela Ackley, Peter Menard, Christopher Hoard, and David Dufresne. 

Race-day registration will be held Sunday at Easton’s Beach from 6:30 to 7:45 a.m. Amica Insurance is the title sponsor of the marathon and proceeds will benefit the Providence Ronald McDonald House and the March of Dimes.

Meet the Candidates:

Mayor Leo Fontaine and all of the candidates for City Council and School Committee have agreed to participate in the Meet the Candidates forum sponsored by MyWoonsocket.comIt will be an open question and answer forum with Roger Bouchard of WNRI as moderator and Bill Bryda as time keeper.

1380 WNRI will broadcast Meet The Candidates live and internet fans can listen via WNRI's streaming service at www.wnri.com by clicking Listen or the On Air sign. MyWoonsocket.com has posted a form on its website for the voters and taxpayers of Woonsocket to submit questions to be asked of each candidate should they not be able to attend.
 
Anyone wishing to dine prior to Meet The Candidates, Chan’s Fine Oriental Dining will be serving a buffet at 5 p.m. for $10. Cash bar will also be available.

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

REFLECTIONS

Matthew's wish to see Hawaii started at twelve years old, when he saw his grandparents' snapshots of their vacation to the islands. Ten years later, he began to make preparations for his long-desired trip to the land of his dreams.  He talked his friend, Jim, into going with him, and as time went on they got more and more excited at the prospect of  playing on unbelieveable golf courses, seeing breathtaking waterfalls, enjoying native dancing, swimming in tropical waters, and, of course, the Hawaiian welcome lei.

Then, two weeks before they were to take the plane, Jim got a call from Matt's brother.

“Matt's in the hospital with broken ribs and a torn-up leg.”

“What happened.”

“Car accident. He'll be okay, but it'll take a long time for him to recover fully. He wants you to cancel the trip.”

“I'll do it right away. Wow! That won't help him get better soon!” 

“I guess not,” said the brother. “You probably won't believe this. He's  more concerned about cancelling the trip than about his injuries."

“Oh, I do believe it,” Jim said emphatically. “I guess John Lennon knew what he was talking about when he wrote: “Life is what happens to you while you're making other plans.” If we want to keep our calm and our balance, I guess we'd better learn to go with the flow. So, I wish him well. In the meantime, try to impress on him that the islands won't go away;  we'll see them later; and I'll go see Matt soon.

Lemonde's 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 conlemonde@gmail.com. SUBJECT: radio