Smile, Woonsocket!

Updates, Events, and More

December 2025

Greetings!

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Here is what is going on in the city for the Month of December:

• December 1, 7pm - City Council Meeting at Harris Hall 169 Main St.
• December 4, 5-7pm - Agape Fundraiser "A Night of Sonnet & Song" at Pomodoro
• December 6, 10-4pm - LEGO Workshop at the Museum of Work and Culture
• December 6, 2-7pm - Winter Wonderland Holiday Stroll, Downtown
• December 6, 6pm - Christmas Party at St. Ann's Arts & Cultural Center
• December 10, 11:30 - Mr. Guitar Man at Harris Public Library
• December 11, 6-7pm - Renaissance V Brass Quintet at Harris Public Library
• December 13, 10-4pm - Stitch-a-Thon at the Museum of Work and Culture
• December 13, 2pm - Read to a Dog: Storm the Alaskan Malamute at Harris Public Library
• December 14, 9-noon - Breakfast with Santa & Mrs. Claus at St. Joseph's Veterans
• December 14, 12-2pm - Walks in Woonsocket at River Island Park
• December 15, 7pm - City Council Meeting at Harris Hall 169 Main St.
• December 18, 6-8pm - Downtown Woonsocket Collaborative's I <3 Woonsocket
• December 20 - Post 85 Christmas Party
• December 24 & 25 - City Hall is Closed

Where Holiday Magic Meets Main Street!

Small Business Saturday Walking Tour

On November 25, Woonsocket kicked off Small Business Saturday with a vibrant speaking program at the historic Polar Express Depot, followed by a guided walking tour highlighting some of our city’s beloved local businesses. Community members and leaders visited Danielle’s Juicy Bar, The Small Business Hub at the WOC, Timeless Antiques, Main Street Café, and Lao Thai Kitchen, showcasing the creativity and resilience of Woonsocket’s small business community. The event featured an impressive lineup of speakers, including Robert Piechota and Peter Steele (SBA), Mayor Beauchamp, Senator Jack Reed, Congressman Gabe Amo, Lt. Governor Sabina Matos, Treasurer James Diossa, Commerce Secretary Stefan Pryor, Monika Zuluaga (Northern RI Chamber of Commerce), and James Toomey (Blackstone Valley Tourism Council). Their shared message was clear: small businesses are the heart of Woonsocket’s economy, and supporting them strengthens the entire community.

Be sure to shop at Woonsocket small businesses on Saturday November 29th!

Amazing Deals

Bileau’s Flowers

Born-O-Uniform

Bullseye Shooting Supplies

Daisy & Co. Floral Boutique

Edible Arrangements

Flint Armament

Gold Loan Pawn Shop

Iron Abbey

Kathy’s Closet

Louis Michael Coins & Jewelry

Park Square Florist

The Honey Shop

Timeless Antiques

Vose True Value

Walt’s Clothing

Meeting with Business Leaders to Shape the Future

Over 20 local business leaders gathered at the Woonsocket Education Center (WOC) on November 20th. Information from this session will be incorporated into the final report to be released in early 2026.

The City of Woonsocket and Skills for Rhode Island’s Future have spent the past year developing an economic development report shaped by the real experiences of our residents and businesses. As part of this effort, Mayor Beauchamp hosted a CEO Roundtable to gather insights from businesses connected to the Woonsocket community. This conversation went beyond typical planning, it was an opportunity to share day-to-day challenges, opportunities, and ideas that can strengthen our local economy and improve quality of life. Feedback from the Roundtable will directly inform the final report and guide future policy, investment, and partnership strategies.

How Safe is your Neighborhood?

The Woonsocket Police Department maintains an interactive Crime Map on its website that gives residents, businesses and community partners up-to-date visual data on incidents across the city. Once on the map you can filter by incident type (such as theft, burglary, assault, etc.), date range, and location so you can zoom into neighborhoods or streets. The data is refreshed regularly and built to reflect recent incident postings, making it a helpful tool for staying aware of local crime trends and supporting safety efforts in our community. And please remember, if you see something, say something. You can make an anonymous report by calling 766-1212.

WHS Students Get Ready to Vote

Board of Canvassers Manager Giana Savastano visited Woonsocket High School on November 4, corresponding with 2025 Election Day in other states around the country, to register eligible and interested students. In RI, you must be 18 years old to vote, but at 16 or 17 you can pre-register so that on your 18th birthday you will automatically become an eligible voter. You must also be a U.S. citizen and a resident of RI. The voter registration drive would not have gone quite as smoothly without the help from Woonsocket High School's very own Gabe Arce. A junior at WHS and a poll worker in the 2024 General Election, Gabe assisted Giana by educating his peers on the voter registration process and assisting students in completing registrations. Thank you Gabe for your continued civic engagement!

If you or a student you know would like to be a poll worker, please reach out to Giana at (401) 767-9221.

At the age of 16, Mariam Kaba was the first-ever winner of a statewide competition funded by the Papitto Foundation foundation which pledged to invest $1 million in her ideas for making a positive impact in the lives of the young people in Woonsocket.

The City of Woonsocket is proud to announce that it has been awarded a $110,317 Mariam’s Fund Grant through Leadership Rhode Island and the Papitto Foundation. This funding will allow the City and its community partners to deliver expanded wraparound services for individuals in shelters, encampments, or at risk of becoming unhoused, supporting physical health, mental health, and access to opportunities, especially during the harsh winter months. The City is proud to partner with Thundermist Health Center, Community Care Alliance, Woonsocket Education Center (WOC), Connecting for Children and Families, Milagros Project, Limitless Living and Pretty Cares, Inc on this initiative. This grant represents an important step in strengthening Woonsocket’s response to homelessness and deepening support for residents in need.

Welcoming New Woonsocket Team Members!

The City of Woonsocket is proud to welcome five new firefighters to our Fire Department, strengthening our commitment to public safety and emergency response. We also extend a warm welcome to five new team members in the Public Works Highway Division, who will help keep our roads, infrastructure, and community spaces running smoothly. In addition, we’re pleased to welcome one new hire to the Finance Department’s Personnel Division. We’re grateful for their service and excited to have them join the Woonsocket team!

Pictured above are the 5 new firefighters: DJ Lorenzo Lewis, J. Brendan Craveiro, JacQuan Stanley, Jayden Champagne, and Matthew Iasimone along with Public Safety Director Eugene Jalette, Chief Robert Cahill and Mayor Chris Beauchamp

From the Woonsocket Education Center (WOC)

FREE MS Office Class

Coming Soon! This instructional program will provide an introductory experience in the understanding and use of Microsoft Word in an office setting. Part of the program will cover office computer technology, terminology, and practices as they relate to business processes. And, getting to know Excel and PowerPoint are also included.

The Small Business Hub

This is a resource for local entrepreneurs and small-business owners. The hub offers workshops, one-on-one coaching, and technology support to help residents strengthen their business skills and bring new ideas to life. This initiative is part of the city’s broader effort to expand economic opportunity and support homegrown businesses.

High school students in grades 9-12 spent time at Woonsocket Education Center for hands-on learning about engineering pathways from the New England Institute of Technology. They were introduced to activities that draw from the world of engineering, such as air-powered dragsters, Rube Goldberg machines, soldering, and more.

New Certifications & a Major Accomplishment

The City of Woonsocket is celebrating major accomplishments in our Code Enforcement Department! Aaron J. Broccoli and David Daneault have earned their Building Inspector certification through RIBOA after completing an intensive two-month program to strengthening public safety, code compliance, and professional expertise within the city.

We’re also proud to recognize Maria Toro, Code Enforcement Coordinator, for leading the digitization of over 10,000 historic building files through OpenGov. This project modernizes department operations, improves transparency, and makes property records easier than ever to access. Congratulations to Aaron, David, and Maria for their outstanding work and dedication to serving Woonsocket!

'Tis the Season of Giving!

All Shelters are Open for the Winter

As temperatures drop, Woonsocket’s winter shelters are now open to ensure that anyone experiencing homelessness has a warm, safe place to stay. Residents in need of shelter or related support should contact the Woonsocket Regional Access Point, the centralized entry point for connecting individuals and families to available beds, services, and resources. You can email cca.shelter@communitycareri.org or call 401-445-4237 to access the shelters. The Regional Access Point team can help determine the best shelter placement, provide transportation assistance when available, and connect individuals to additional supports such as case management, basic needs, and housing services.

If you or someone you know needs shelter this winter, please reach out to the Woonsocket Regional Access Point to get connected quickly and safely. No one should face the cold alone.

169 Main Street | Woonsocket, RI 02895

(401)762-6400