Woonsocket Radio News Room

Town of North Smithfield

July 13th, 2018 Edition

Message from Town Administrator

Gary Ezovski

For the past six years, Jackie and Joe Puffer of Burrillville have been among the many, many volunteers who make us who we are in North Smithfield. I’m told that while driving through town one day in 2012, they became aware of a need for help at the then fledgling North Smithfield Food Pantry that had been formed a year or so earlier in a cooperative effort between the Slatersville Congregational Church, Slatersville’s St John the Evangelist Church and the Town. Mr. and Mrs. Puffer stepped forward to very quickly become the leadership of the Food Pantry that is graciously housed in the Slatersville Congregational Church basement. Under their guidance, the Pantry has experienced explosive growth to a point where it serves 60 North Smithfield based families twice each month, but that is not all! 

The organizational skill that Joe and Jackie provided allowed establishment of a Food Rescue and Distribution Program that in a smaller way benefits up to 1500 families in the region. My recent tour of the Food Pantry was enlightening and encouraging to say the least. The system that they have created to make this all possible is an amazing gift.

Now, Mr. and Mrs. Puffer have decided they have to retire. I think it is fair to say from my brief encounters with them that the spirit is still more than willing, but the challenges of advancing senior citizen status is saying it is time to pass the baton to others. As a community, I have no doubt that we all hold great appreciation and respect for people like Jackie and Joe who do so much for others. These two have clearly gone above and beyond! Shouldn’t the best thank you we can afford them be finding a few people to continue their mission? Reverend Morris and I have agreed to a concerted effort to find a sufficient number of people to take over segments of the work that Jackie and Joe have established. If everyone does a little, no one must do a lot. So, on behalf of the dozens of existing volunteers and the many benefactors of the programs, Rev. Morris and I are hoping to find some folks who have interest to fill just a portion of the big shoes that we must fill. If you would like to tour the Food Pantry or meet with me and Reverend Morris to learn more, please reply to the email that brought our newsletter to you, call me at town hall, or call Reverend Morris at the church. Let’s thank Mr. and Mrs. Puffer for their six years of outstanding work by continuing what they have created!    

Good water news?

For about fifteen years some homeowner drinking water wells in the northern portion of our town have been known to contain low level but still unacceptable concentrations of chemicals. Despite long term efforts and some stronger effort of late by EPA and RIDEM, the source of the chemicals has not been identified. After much effort of our own, I believe we have finally found a financing package that can fund the installation of a water line extension from the existing Slatersville water system. The Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank provided a commitment letter this week which will provide a level of support that we haven’t seen in a pipeline project in a long time. I look forward to discussing the details with the Town Council at their meeting on Monday and, if all goes well, moving the matter forward to a point where construction can take place in the spring of 2019.

North Smithfield's First Ever Fireworks Display is Scheduled for this Saturday, July 14th

Rain Date: Sunday, July 15th

Where: North Smithfield High School

Time: Dusk

Bring your own lawn chairs and blankets.

If you have any questions, please call Town Hall at 767-2200 ext. 301.

2018 Tax Bill Due Dates

Dear North Smithfield Taxpayer:

ALL 2018 Real estate, motor vehicle and tangible personal property bills are being mailed on July 13^th.

Please be aware ALL bills are due on the date listed on the bill stubs. Because there are no complications with auto taxes or budget timing this year, we are back to our regular billing cycle and due dates.

The dates are also listed below.

Real Estate, Motor Vehicle and Tangible Personal Property

1^st payment due 08-15-18

2^nd payment due 10-15-18

3^rd payment due 01-15-19

4^th payment due 04-15-19

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Tax Assessor’s Office at 401-767-2200 ext: 323 or the Tax Collector’s Office at 401-767-2200 ext: 511

TOUR OUR TOWN'S 60 HISTORIC CEMETERIES

This past Saturday morning, seven NS Heritage Association volunteers conducted the first Historic Cemeteries Tour at Union Cemetery and the five lots that comprise the Union Cemetery annex as well as the nearby Friends Church lot across the street. During the tour, the group learned much about abandoned lots and how to restore them. Participants learned about RI founders Roger Williams, Roger Mowry and other founding families. They visited the notorious "vampire grave" as well as numerous veterans graves, some dating back to the Revolutionary War. 

Cemetery tours will resume on Saturday, July 28 at 9:00 am with visits to NS08, NS56, NS05, NS54, NS09 in the vicinity of Pound Hill Road. Participants will first meet at Union Cemetery, Smithfield Rd. Park on the dirt access Rd next to the stone wall near the Union Annex. They should bring insect repellent and a bottle of water. A copy of the upcoming tours can be accessed by CLICKING HERE.

Cemetery volunteers will continue to clean regrowth at the Union Cemetery Annex each Tuesday with morning and afternoon shifts. Workers also plan to restore other cemeteries on Thursday mornings. Helpers have adopted three small family lots, agreeing to weed wack once a year.  

Rich Keene

President, NSHA

401-447-6394

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Full & Part Time Police Dispatcher Positions Available

• The North Smithfield Police Department is seeking full and part-time dispatchers
• Shifts Available: 1st 0800-1600 hrs 2nd 1600-0000 hrs 3rd 0000-0800 hrs.
• Paid training: 80 hours
• Benefit package: full time employees
• Wage scale: PT $19.00/hr FT $21.00/hr

NSPD CIVILIAN EMPLOYMENT APPLICATION

Please return completed applications as soon as possible. Positions will commence September 1, 2018. Interested parties may contact a department representative for further information at 401-762-1212 ext. 200.

Summer Concert Series on the Common

Sunday, July 15th

5:00 pm- 6:30 pm

Slatersville Congregational Church 

Starring 

BRANDED

Generously Sponsored by 

Navigant Bank 

**Bring blankets, lawn chairs, and join family and friends under the summer skies. **The church kitchen will be serving great food and ice cream sundaes to top off the night. **The North Smithfield Food Pantry will be holding a 50/50 raffle to benefit the pantry and get ready for winter needs. 

12th Annual 

North Smithfield 

Great Pumpkin Festival

Saturday - September 15, 2018

11:00 AM - 5:00 PM

North Smithfield High School Grounds

Vendor spots are still available. Due to overwhelming requests, vendor spots are larger this year. Get your application in quick before all the spots fill up.

The next committee meeting will be Wednesday, July 18th at 6:00 at R&R Machine Industries, Inc. 147 Industrial Drive, North Smithfield

Click Here for more information on the event and a list of the upcoming Committee Meetings.

UPCOMING MEETINGS

Agendas can be found on the Secretary of State Website by

CLICKING HERE

Town Council Meeting

Monday, July 16th @ 6:45 pm

North Smithfield Middle School

1850 Providence Pike

North Smithfield, RI 02896

Sewer Commission Meeting

Wednesday, July 18th @ 7:00 pm

Primrose Fire Station

1470 Providence Pike

North Smithfield, RI 02896

PumpkinFest Committee Meeting

Wednesday, July 18th @ 6:00 pm

R&R Machine Industries

147 Industrial Drive

North Smithfield, RI 02896

Board of Canvassers Committee Meeting

Wednesday, July 18th @ 9:00 am

Municipal Annex

575 Smithfield Rd

North Smithfield, RI 02896