Town of Smithfield
news & updates
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February 1, 2020 | Issue 3
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“Into the Cold For A Warmer Winter” Drive
An Original Service Project for the Town of Smithfield
by the National Honor Society of Smithfield High School
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The “Into the Cold For A Warmer Winter” drive is now complete! The Smithfield High School administrators, Dan Kelley, Ken Hopkins, and Tammy Koller, Town Manager Randy Rossi, and Chief St. Sauveur and the Smithfield Police Department Command Staff (Deputy Chief Eric Dolan, Capt. Michael Rheaume, Capt. Ken Brown and Capt. Jay DiGrado) were forced into the cold on Thursday, January 23rd. More importantly, an amazing amount of items were collected to help the less fortunate stay warm this winter.
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This was all due to the generous donations of students, faculty, and community members. The donation barrels seemed to be overflowing with items everyday and the high school administration conference room was filled early.
The kids of the Smithfield High School National Honor Society worked tirelessly both Thursday and Friday to count and sort all of the donated items in order to share the results of your efforts.
The Into the Cold for a Warmer Winter Campaign collected:
- 2,561 total items ranging from non perishable food to brand new kids’ coats
- $105.00 in gift cards
- $181.80 in cash donations
They have already begun the process of distributing the collected items to local charities, agencies, and organizations to help those that are less fortunate during the winter months. For example, much of the new baby, children’s clothing and diapers have already been donated to Women’s and Infants Hospital. Rest assured that
ALL donations will make a difference in the lives of many people this winter!
Also, all of the balloons used to fill the various locations are going to be re-purposed by a Smithfield High Art Class.
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The Smithfield National Honor Society would like to thank everyone who donated to and promoted this drive. They especially want to thank the Smithfield High School Administrators, Mr. Kelley, Mr. Hopkins, and Ms. Koller, Town Manager Randy Rossi, Chief Richard St. Sauveur & the Smithfield Police Department Command Staff (Deputy Chief Eric Dolan, Capt. Michael Rheaume, Capt. Ken Brown and Capt. Jay DiGrado) for their participation in and the support of this drive. Also a huge thank you goes out to the kids and staff of Smithfield High School and the citizens & employees of Smithfield. Without their support, this campaign would not have been such an incredible success. It is amazing what can be achieved when everyone works together as one!
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Congratulations! We made a difference!!!!!
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Municipal Facilities and Street Light Program
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The Town of Smithfield recognizes the need to use good lighting that is efficient, energy saving and respectful of the natural environment on not just all of our street lights, but also the municipally owned buildings and public facilities. In an effort to improve efficiency and reduce municipal spending, Smithfield municipal staff will be auditing all of the lighting fixtures in our municipal buildings; both school and government and is contracting a firm to complete the replacement and upgrade of the existing fixtures to energy efficient LED units that will reduce both our energy consumption and our lighting costs to the taxpayers.
National Grid has partnered with the Town to offer rebate incentives on the procurement of the replacement fixtures that will pay for nearly all of the materials necessary to complete the job. The Town has hired a contractor who will be replacing the lighting units on all of Smithfield’s school buildings, town owned buildings and other town owned public facilities which are illuminated from behind a meter.
Additionally, the Town has partnered with National Grid and a consortium of several other municipalities looking to competitively procure services to replace all the street lights that light our local roadways for which the Town is currently paying to illuminate. This is a unique program that has also received incentive options from National Grid for the material purchase of the lighting units, further helping to reduce the cost of the street light electrification.
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The Town’s role in the Streetlight Replacement Program will entail the procurement of an operations and maintenance contractor to provide the services to retrofit mostly all of the existing streetlight fixtures with LED fixtures and maintain them under the terms of a service contract. This program is expected to be implemented in 2020 and improve energy efficiency and reduce electrification costs to the taxpayers.
The program will evaluate all of the lights currently in service to determine if they are truly needed or unnecessary. Street light evaluation criteria will consider lighting in public places, crosswalks, intersections, roadway curves and other priority areas to ensure proper lighting placement. The Town’s staff expects that 20% - 25% of the existing streetlight inventory in place may be eligible for consideration of removal simply because it is redundant, which will further reduce replacement costs and future energy costs.
During both of these upgrades to the Town’s lighting systems, light pollution, light trespass and glare are all considerations that will be factored. The Town’s staff recognizes that with these changes there may be some unanticipated issues with the lighting changes that people may not be used to and the Town will strive to meet all the lighting demands our residents and businesses expect to be safely guided through the night.
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Smithfield High School Sentinel Legacy Gala
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Every year hundreds of thousands of people are affected by heart disease, not only does it affect people personally, but their loved ones as well.
Smithfield High School is honoring Doreen Nicholson, who passed away suddenly in August of 2018 from a heart complication.
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Doreen was a loving mother of four, as well as a pillar in the Smithfield, RI community. Many who knew Doreen knew that she was an incredible person who had a significant presence in the community. She was involved in everything that she could. From PTA, to coaching, to volunteering, and so on. Being the selfless person she was, she organized many events throughout Smithfield and devoted most of her time to everyone else. Doreen was an incredible mother and friend, she accepted everyone into our home and was like a second mother to many. Doreen gave her family and community more than they could have ever asked for.
On
February 29
th
from 4:00-6:00 PM,
Smithfield High School will be putting on the first ever Sentinel Legacy Gala. This event will be put on by Jessica Nicholson, Doreen’s daughter, and her fellow National Honor Society members.
The Sentinel Legacy Gala will be held in memory of Jessica’s mom and all of those who have faced the challenges of heart disease. Join the Smithfield High School’s National Honor Society as they transform the halls of the school with food, entertainment, heart healthy demonstrations, hands only CPR, drawings, and lots of fun!
Smithfield High School is working in partnership with the Southern New England American Heart Association and vendors throughout Rhode Island to bring awareness to this important cause. The Sentinel Legacy Gala is free to the public, but we ask and encourage the community to support the Southern New England American Heart Association, by donating any monetary amount you deem appropriate or honorable. Donations can be made at the event or online at:
SmithfieldHSLegacyGala
If you are a vendor and would like to be a part of this exciting event, please contact Jessica Nicholson at:
JNicholson
or Vincent Zibelli at:
Vzibelli
.
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Smithfield Freezin' For A Reason
On Wednesday, January 1st, 2020 Town Council President Suzy Alba, Town Councilman Sean Kilduff, and Town Manager Randy Rossi took the Plunge for athletes of the Rhode Island Special Olympics (Smithfield, RI) by taking a chilly dip alongside many other warm-hearted people. It's the largest and oldest grassroots fundraiser, where all the participants raise funds to Plunge into the winter waters at Roger Wheeler State Beach The Smithfield Freezin' For a Reason Team raised over $1,300 to support over 4,000 athletes who participate in Special Olympics Rhode Island's year-round training and competition in 21 sports.
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Donation Database
Ready for a CLEAN OUT?
Please
GIVE
to friends & family, and
DONATE
to those in need before sending it to the landfill!
Check out this partial list of venues that may be able to give a second life to those unloved items taking up space in your life:
Goodwill Industries of Rhode Island
- Accepts used clothing, automobiles and electronics under a partnership with Dell.
- (401) 861-2080
- website
Big Brothers/Big Sisters of the Ocean State
- A truck will come to your house and make gently used clothes and household objects go away and go to a good cause. You get a tax write-off and the fuzzy warm feeling of altruism. You can schedule a pickup online.
- (401) 921-2434
- website
The Salvation Army
- Oldie, but goodie. Accepts gently used items: clothing, furniture, appliances and toys.
- Call 1-800-SA-TRUCK (1-800-728-7825) to schedule a free pickup or to find the nearest drop-off bin.
Habitat for Humanity ReStore
- Nonprofit home improvement store and donation center that accepts and sells new and gently used furniture, home accessories, building materials and appliances. They are selective about what they will accept. Call ahead.
- ReStore, 1555 Shannock Road, Charlestown, RI
- (401) 213-6716
- website
RI Donation Exchange Program:
- Call (401) 831-5511 for information on donation. They will request a photo and are selective about what they will accept-no rips, stains, tears or animal fur, please. Also on Facebook at Rhode Island Donation Exchange.
Providence Clothing Collaborative
- Donate clean, ready-to-wear, in-season professional clothing and work wear.
- 645 Elmwood Avenue, Providence, RI
- (401) 784-8663
- website
Career Closet (a program of East Bay Community Action Program)
- Accepts clothing that is ready to wear to work.
- 55 Turner Avenue, East Providence, RI
- (401) 228-6605
- website
K’s Kustoms
- Accepts children’s ride on toys and Power Wheels for reuse and recycling. They will come pick-up accepted items.
- (401) 426-0778
- website
Freecycle.org
- An international nonprofit providing Internet listings, organized by geographic location. Join online to post offered or wanted items for free. Some items Rhode Islanders were giving away in December: five laying hens, a 1949 chrome kitchen set and hair clippers.
- website
Consignment Stores
- Most require an appointment so make sure to call ahead. Prices fall over time. After three months, consignors are expected to retrieve unsold items. Clothing consignors typically donate leftovers.
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Where can I donate my gently used items?
RIGHT HERE IN SMITHFIELD
!
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There are plenty of local donation options right here in town!
Smithfield Human Services Department
Non-perishables such as hot and cold cereals, peanut butter and jelly, pasta, rice, soup, crackers, pasta sauce, tuna fish, and canned goods of any kind will be accepted with valid expiration dates. We also accept toiletries, food gift cards in small denominations and monetary donations.
East Smithfield Public Library
Donations accepted at main check-out desk
Books (within the last 10 years preferred), Ink and Toner Cartridges, DVDs and VHS accepted
Greenville Public Library
Donations accepted at main check-out desk
Books (within the last 5 years preferred), Ink Cartridges, DVDs and VHS accepted
St. Michael’s Food Closet
Non-perishable food donations accepted – no dented cans
Craigslist
Call it free, you can get rid of just about anything on Craigslist. If your price is right, and people desire the item — think American Girl doll clothes — it will go fast. Pictures help.
Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation
Drop off items that are not suitable for curbside pickup to be recycled: large appliances with no Freon, books, CDs, DVDs, VHS, computers, large rigid bulky plastics, lawn furniture, pet carriers, toys, playhouses, TVs and dry, odor-free textiles.
Check out the A-Z list
- A great resource for recycling information
Yard Sale
A good old 7 a.m.-to-noon proposition. Make sure to advertise. Get cash and coins to make change. Tag everything. Price it to go! This is not the place to make a killing or sell anything rare or valuable. Also a great way to meet the neighbors.(Please remember that a permit is needed)
There are also plenty of donation bins located throughout town that accept clothing, fabrics, shoes, books, CDs, DVDs, and Toys for reuse. Be on the look-out when travelling around Town!
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The Rhode Island Department of State has prepared this guide to provide candidates and delegates with relevant information about the 2020 Presidential Preference Primary. Elections are fundamental to our democracy. You can find more information online at
vote.ri.gov
. You can also contract the Elections Division at (401) 222-2340, TTY711, or via
email
.
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Elementary Reconfiguration Project Update
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This month’s update will focus on the next phase of the School Building Project which includes adding additional detail to the architectural plans and progress towards choosing a general contracting firm for additions and renovations of Anna McCabe, Old County Road School, and Raymond LaPerche elementary schools. The Town advertised for a Request For Qualifications in order to pre-qualify general contracting firms for the project which the Town Council will consider a recommended list at their February 4th meeting. Only the pre-qualified firms will be eligible to submit a proposal for general contracting services.
The Request for Proposals will be sent out on or around February 14th to the pre-qualified general contracting firms in order to solicit proposals. District Administrators are working closely with the architects to develop preliminary phasing plans to ensure safe and effective learning environments during construction. Valuable input from the Fire and Police Departments have been essential to the process and appreciated by those involved.
Updated architectural plans will be shared with members of Rhode Island Department of Education's School Building Authority for approval the first week of February. Approval from the School Building Authority is required at various stages of the project prior to moving forward.
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Together with our architect and the interior designer from DBVW the interior and exterior finishes were presented and approved at the January 22nd School Building Committee meeting. With the help from the library task force, elementary school teachers and administrators furniture plans will continue to be refined.
The next School Building Committee meeting is scheduled for February 25th at 4:00 pm at the School Administration Building, 49 Farnum Pike. All meetings are open to the public. Agendas, minutes, and presentations are posted on the school construction update page.
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- Vacancies for Town Boards and Commissions
- The Town is currently seeking volunteers to serve on various boards and commissions. These boards and commissions act as an advisory committee to the Town Council. Town residents with an interest in serving on any of these boards or commissions are encouraged to apply.
- Interested parties should submit a letter of interest to the Town Manager’s Office, 64 Farnum Pike, Smithfield, RI 02917 along with an application form. A letter of interest may contain your interest or experience in the field of each particular board or commission that you are applying for and, optionally, resume information.
- Check online for board & commission vacancies at Onboard click the “Run Report” button on the left of that page.
- The Smithfield Town Council has an initiative program called “Smithfield Samaritans,” and encourages anyone in the community to self-nominate or submit a name to the Town Manager, of a Smithfield resident or business in town who is doing or has performed an act of kindness or a good deed that is notable or charitable.
- The Town Council will review all nominations that are submitted and will each month select one individual or business to be recognized with a citation and the opportunity to speak at the council meeting explaining their good deeds “on the record.”
- The nomination form is available online here as well as printed copies available in Town Hall.
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It is our hope that the number of subscribers will continue to grow over time in an effort to reach most households and businesses in Town. If you have friends or family that may be interested in receiving our electronic newsletter, please forward them a copy.
Subscribing to the electronic newsletter is easy and painless.
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