Town of North Smithfield
December 7th, 2018 Edition
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN NORTH SMITHFIELD
Message from Town Administrator
Gary Ezovski

I t has been an event filled seven days! The joint venture that was our Inauguration last Saturday evening was a fine demonstration of the impressive things we can do when we work together. The collaborative effort of our Fire, Police, and School Department personnel, plus my own assistant Tami Jacques, arranged a respectful and enjoyable event. Our bagpiping retired Fire Captain Bill Callanan, the students in our high school band who entertained, and sophomore Eva Carnevale who sang our national anthem so beautifully show us again the talents that are shared among us. Thanks also to our officiating officer, former Town Administrator Elizabeth Faricy who eloquently called attention to the power of volunteers. Well done everyone!

After that, we had fun on the common late Sunday when the jazz band from our middle school performed before the tree lighting and arrival of a joy filled Santa Claus aboard our new fire engine. The middle school students showed us yet again that there is more great talent coming up in our music program. Thanks to our DPW crew who did a great job restringing the lights on our tree. May their work be a reminder that our future is bright.

Finally, the Department of Education released results of the most recent student achievement testing including scores by our North Smithfield students that were encouraging to say the least. The specific details are provided below in a table and by a link to more information. School Superintendent St. Jean has advised that he is encouraged but he is determined to see even better results in the future. Congratulations to all who lead and teach in our schools, but most importantly my compliments to every student and parent who takes their role in education seriously.  

The Parks and Recreation Department of North Smithfield would like to thank the North Smithfield Police Department and former Town Council President John Beauregard for sponsoring our annual Holiday on the Common this past weekend. Also, thank you to Slatersville Congregational Church, our Town Administrator Gary Ezovski, John Knasses and the NSMS Jazz Band, the NS Girl and Cub Scouts, Wright’s Dairy Farm, St. Antoine’s Residence, the NS Fire Department, and of course, Santa Claus! A fun and festive night was had by all!

Christmas Trees CAN be RECYCLED
Live Trees: Are composted
Artificial Trees: Are recycled with scrap metal.
All trees must be free of ornaments, tinsel, lights and cannot be in plastic bags.
We will be offering a curbside pickup for live trees starting Tuesday, December 26, 2018 through January 11, 2019. Live trees will be picked up by DPW on your trash day. Pickups are weather permitting.  Residents can also bring the trees to DPW when our recycling center is open. Winter hours of operation are Saturday 9 AM- 3 PM until January 1, 2019. From January 1, 2019 through April 1, 2019, we will only be open Saturdays from 9 AM- 1 PM.
  
Members of the North Smithfield Police Department raised $1100 for the North Smithfield Food Pantry by participating in No Shave November and Nail Polish November . Male officers donated $50 and grew beards throughout the month of November, while female officers donated $50 and wore nail polish. The initiative included 100 percent participation by officers and some dispatchers. Lt. mark Bergeron presented the check last Tuesday. Pictured from left are Sue Kiernan, food pantry volunteer; Rev. Eileen Morris, pastor at Slatersville Congregational Church and food pantry board member; Lt. Mark Bergeron; Al Menard, food pantry coordinator; Mike Kelly, food pantry volunteer and board member.
( article and photo courtesy of Lauren Clem from the Valley Breeze )
Slatersville: America's First Mill Village--Now in Post Production on Vimeo
Click on the link below to watch a video clip

We need to continue our strong recycling effort going forward. RIRRC is cracking down, and loads are being rejected at a cost of almost $800 per load. Reduced international demand for recycled materials is the reason for these rejections. Unacceptable materials like plastic bags or any plastic or metal that isn’t a container can result in rejection of an entire truck load of material.  Below are some helpful tips from RIRRC to keep recycling up in our community and avoid recycling loads to be rejected. Starting December 10, 2018 items at the curb that are not accepted at the curb will be left behind with an orange sticker explaining why it is not accepted.  Please visit our website for more information on our recycling programs.  

Holiday Fire Safety

C hristmas trees, candles, and holiday decorations are all an important part of the holiday season. While these items make our homes look and smell festive, they could pose a hazard if not treated with special care. Please consider the following tips when decorating your tree:

Live Christmas Trees should be fresh cut with needles that are intact. Trees should be watered daily. Typically, live trees only last about 4 weeks out of the ground before they start to die, even with water, so it is important to remove the tree immediately after the holiday season is over. Keep trees a minimum of 3 feet away from radiators, space heaters, wood stoves or any other sources of ignition.    

Candles smell pleasant and give our homes that warm holiday feeling, but please remember these few small tips when using candles.

1.       Only use candles when someone is at home.
2.       Keep candles away from all combustible material.
3.       Secure matches and lighters away from children.
4.       Extinguish all candles before going to sleep.

All holiday decorations should be used in a safe manor. Only use lights and extension cords that are UL certified. Make sure light strings and extension cords are intact and free from any damage. Do not over load electrical outlets. Also, keep decorations a minimum of 3 feet away from radiators, space heaters, wood stoves or any other sources of ignition.

Most importantly!!! MAKE SURE YOU HAVE WORKING SMOKE AND CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS IN YOUR HOME!!!

As always, feel free to contact the North Smithfield Fire Prevention office at (401) 762-1135 Monday through Thursday between the hours of 07:00 a.m. and 05:00 p.m. for any fire safety questions you may have.

From our family here at North Smithfield Fire and Rescue to you and your families, we wish you a happy and safe holiday season.   

The North Smithfield Police Department is partnering with the US Marine Corps for its annual "Toys for Tots" program. A donation box is set up in the lobby of the police station for the collection of new unwrapped toys. Donations will be accepted up until December 21st.
TOWN OF NORTH SMITHFIELD DPW
WINTER SAFETY TIPS
Winter brings with it lots of fun activities, but winter also means mounds of snow to shovel and layers of ice to remove. During some snow storms it becomes impossible for our plow drivers to know where the edge of the road is. Here are some helpful tips to ensure safety and efficiency during a snow storm.

  • Use reflective markers to make the edge of the road more visible for DPW when plowing. This is the best way to ensure trucks stay off your lawns.

  • Please remove everything from the roadway to clear it for the snow plows to come through (cars, basketball hoops, garbage cans etc.)

  • When shoveling snow or operating a snow blower, do not throw snow out in to the street or sidewalk. This is not only against State Law (State Law Title 31-22-9), but this will ensure that snow does not freeze in the roadway or sidewalk and cause a hazard for vehicles and pedestrians. Please visit https://www.nsmithfieldri.org/home/news/snow-removal-policy for more information on our snow removal policy.

  • Trucks are plowing or spreading sand/salt. Stay back from the vehicle at least 100 feet to avoid problems. Plow trucks often have to back up. There are blind spots in the mirrors. For your safety, do not pull directly behind them. They may not be able to see you.

  • Trash and recycling collections may be canceled if weather conditions warrant. Check our website www.nsmithfieldri.org or call (401) 767-2200 ext. 348 for potenial pick-up delays.

  • Clear snow from around fire hydrants near your home/business to make them visible for our firefighters.
 
Curbside yard waste collection will conclude this Friday December 7, 2018.   Yard waste can be dropped off at our Highway Garage, 281Quaker Highway. Winter hours are on Saturdays from 9 am- 3pm ONLY until January 1, 2018. From January 1, 2019 through April 1, 2019 we will be open Saturdays from 9 AM-1 PM ONLY. Residents are welcome to bring yard waste or accepted recyclables. The town offers free drop off for ridged plastic and scrap metal items as well as used motor oil. Please do not leave items outside the gate after business hours. We will take notice.

For additional information contact 767-2200 x 348
NORTH SMITHFIELD STUDENTS:
JOIN THE WACHUSETT MOUNTAIN SKI CLUB

Hey North Smithfield! Did you know that North Smithfield students have an awesome opportunity to join a ski club this winter? This program started 4 years ago and it has been great!. We have filled one coach bus and there are enough people to start another bus, but we need to fill it. If your child doesn’t ski, don’t worry. You can take lessons and rent equipment. HS and middle school students can ski without a parent. If you want to bring your Elementary child, you can, but you need to come and ski with them. We go once a week on Mondays from 3pm-8pm at Wachusett Mountain. Contact Stephen Corriveau for more info. stephen.corriveau@gmail.com or 401-523-4817
Town of North Smithfield
Department of Public Works – Highway Division
Snow and Ice Removal Policy 
The Town of North Smithfield has hired Northeast Revaluation Group LLC to conduct a statistical update to bring all real estate in town to fair market value effective December 31, 2018 for the July 2019 tax roll. The process is mandatory according to RIGL 44-5-11.6. The law requires these statistical updates every 3 years and a full revaluation every 9 years.

Throughout the project Northeast Revaluation’s staff will be in neighborhoods throughout the town. The company will attempt to physically visit, measure and inspect properties that sold over the last 2 years, which helps in the analysis of determining fair market value. They also will be visiting any properties that have unfinished construction or have taken out building permits recently.  All employees are required to carry identification and have their vehicles on file with the assessor’s office and police department. The process will last over the next several months and be completed in the spring of 2019. If there are questions or concerns contact the Assessor, Sarah Frew, 401-767-2200 ext 323 or Northeast Revaluation Group directly at 401-737-0300. Thank you for your patience throughout the process.
North Smithfield Heritage Association Releases
2018 Christmas Ornament
DONATE TO THESE ORGANIZATIONS WHO ARE OFFERING IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE
FEMA, a government entity, does not accept donations, but they are working closely with non-profits that are relying on donations. Michael R. Hart, a spokesperson for FEMA, urges people who want to donate to make sure that whichever charity you choose has been approved by  National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster  (VOAD).
Here’s a list of some organizations working closely with survivors:

  • California Fire Foundation. Through its SAVE program, the California Fire Foundation is distributing $250 cash gift cards for those who have lost their homes. “Anyone who has suffered a loss of more than 25 percent of their home can get a gift card for $250 per household,” says Carroll Willis, communications director at the California Fire Foundation and the California Professional Firefighters.


  • California Community Foundation, assisting with long-term recovery efforts and people who have been displaced and/or unemployed because of the fires. This organization also supports mental health services.

Emergency Management Can’t Alert You If They Can’t Find You

With every severe storm there are inevitably reports of people receiving no notification to get ready for or evacuate from approaching danger. North Smithfield Emergency Director Colonel Peter E. Branconnier says that in many cases this is because the parties haven’t registered for alerts with their local emergency management agency.

“The California wildfires serve as an important reminder to be signed up for a citizen alert notification,” Emergency Management Director Branconnier said. “We’re hearing reports that several of the victims in California were not signed up ahead of time to receive warnings.” Several weeks ago, a tornado passed through the area south of us in Lincoln and North Providence. Did you know that, and what would you have done?

So the important question is-- are you signed up to receive emergency notifications for a local disaster?

The North Smithfield Emergency Management Citizen Alert system(Code Red) is able to alert residents about severe weather, fires, floods, toxic environmental issues, radiological events and other emergencies. Messages can be sent to residents on any communication path desired, including cell phone, land line, email, text messaging, fax, pager, and PDA. It ensures that residents receive life-saving emergency information and important public service announcements in minutes. Citizens listed in the area’s white pages landline phone database are automatically subscribed to emergency alerts by phone. Citizens may also self-register their cell phone, VOIP phone, email, text message device, fax, TDD, and pager. The system is a geographic-based system, so you must enter a valid street address to receive notifications.

North Smithfield Emergency Management says its system has White Pages and Yellow Pages phone numbers. But unless you register, the agency doesn’t have your cell phone number.
Click on the “sign up” button on North Smithfield home page Code Red button on the first page and register today, or go directly to the sign up page by CLICKING HERE.
THE NORTH SMITHFIELD FOOD PANTRY NEEDS YOUR HELP!
 
The Food Rescue and Distribution portion of the North Smithfield Food Pantry needs a Volunteer Coordinator to oversee the volunteers who pickup and deliver food. This volunteer Coordinator position requires 8-10 hours a week of time on the phone and in the Food Pantry. The Coordinator does not deliver or pick up except in an emergency. This program helps hundreds of people every week.   

Can you help us? Please contact Rev Eileen Morris 401-769-2773.
The Town of North Smithfield is Seeking Volunteer Members for Several Committees

* Planning Board Committee
* Economic Development Committee
* Budget Committee

Anyone interested in volunteering, please contact Gary Ezovski at 767-2200 ext. 303 or gezovski@nsmithfieldri.org
North Smithfield Residents Food Pantry
Slatersville Congregational Church
25 Green Street
North Smithfield, RI 02896

The flavor of the month for December is  
MAYONNAISE
Any donations or monetary gifts for the food pantry can be dropped off at the Slatersville Congregational Church between 9:00 am and noon. An additional drop box is available at the Town Hall during regular business hours. 
Senior Services, Inc.  has provided services to seniors and adults with disabilities residing in Northern Rhode Island since 1975, in accordance with the Congregate Meal Program financed through a grant with R.I. Department of Elderly Affairs. Senior Services, Inc. provides nutritionally balanced lunches five days a week at our meal sites throughout Northern R.I.
Senior Services, Inc. offers activities, entertainment, computer classes, Alzheimer's Disease Support Groups, and Wellness programs, which include a weekly blood pressure clinic and exercise classes.
 
Senior Services, Inc. also offers an Adult Day Care Program ("A Home for the Day"), and a Community Information Specialist who can provide information on eligibility for all state and local programs, including RIPAE.




Senior exercise classes at Scouter's Hall, 32 Main Street, North Smithfield include:
  • Zumba Gold Mondays at 10:00 AM
  • Chair Exercises, Mondays at 11:00 AM
  • Zumba Gold Thursdays at 10:00 AM
Saturday, December 29, 2018  
9:00 AM – 1:00 PM
 
North Smithfield Town Garage
281 Quaker Highway
North Smithfield, RI


Indie Cycle, LLC will accept all electronic items including computers, laptops, monitors, televisions, routers, PDAs, cell phones, mice, keyboards, ink-jet printers, toner cartridges, CD/DVD players, radios, cameras, network equipment, wires, stereos, speakers, telephones, microwaves, small household appliances, and acid lead batteries such as auto/marine and back-ups.
A $10 disposal fee will be charged for laser-jet printers, air conditioners, dehumidifiers, and other coolant-containing devices. 
NO light bulbs, single use batteries, tapes/disks, glass plates or bowls, broken TV tubes or hazardous materials.
 
For more information:  www.indiecycle.com  or email  indiecycle@gmail.com .
UPCOMING MEETINGS
Agendas can be found on the Secretary of State Website by