Tree Pickup, Pawsox Idol, and a Huge Food Donation From OSJL

Christmas Tree Pickup

The City of Woonsocket, Public Services Division will be picking up discarded Christmas Trees from Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2012 through Friday, Jan. 13, 2012

Trees will be picked up on your regular trash pick-up day.  Residents are asked that the trees are not wrapped in any type of plastic nor have any ornaments left on them. 

Place discarded trees in front of your property in the sidewalk area. Remember to leave enough room in the sidewalk area for pedestrians.

YWCA Second Winter Session Registration Begins-

Registration begins on Tuesday, Dec. 27 for the second Winter Session at . Classes run for six weeks and begin on Monday, Jan. 9.

Vacations Camps are available Dec. 27-30 and Feb. 21-24. Reserve a spot for your child. Doodle Bugs is for 2 ½ to 3 ½ year olds with a "Winter Wonderland" theme. Busy Bee is for 3 to 5 year olds with various themes including "Wild and Wacky Wednesday." Adventure Camp is for 6 to 12 year olds. Campers enjoy sports, arts/crafts, cooking, dramatic play, imagination/creativity, games and sledding at Cold Spring Park (weather permitting). Ask about Junior Leadership for youth 13 and over.

Other youth programming includes physical activities, art studio and gymnastics. A sampling:
- Supersonic Superstars is for walking to 3 year olds. It is an active class for child with parent. Lots of fun with an obstacle course, parachute play, songs and sports (hockey, tennis, golf, basketball and soccer). It meets on Mondays from 9-10 a.m.
- Small World is a unique program offering opportunities for socialization, creativity and toilet training. It includes storytime, songs, crafts, playtime and snack. One hour (Thursdays or Fridays from 9-10 a.m.) and two hour (Thursdays or Fridays from 10 a.m.-noon) options are available. It is for 2 ½ to 3 ½ year olds.
- Action Club is for 3 to 5 year olds. It includes action packed gym time followed by a light snack prepared by the children. It meets on Wednesdays from 9-10:30 a.m.
- Art for Children is for 5 to 10 year olds. It introduces students to basic color theory via fun, hands on, interactive lessons and creativity games. It meets on Fridays from 5-6:30 p.m.
- Gymnastics Academy is for 3 to 18 year olds and allows gymnasts an opportunity to advance to higher levels. Classes are held throughout the week for beginners, intermediate, advanced and competitive teams. This is a Rhode Island USA Gymnastics certified program.

Your child is able to grow-up with YWCA. It meets all your child care needs with quality Infant, Toddler, Pre-Preschool, Preschool, Before & After Kindergarten Care, and Before & After School Age Care. The programs are licensed by the Rhode Island Department of Education and the Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth and Families. YWCA is accredited by the American Camp Association and a member of the Rhode Island Afterschool Plus Alliance.

Wellness programs for adults include:
- Aerobic Dance offers benefits such as increases in heart health, muscular endurance, mood, energy level and a decrease in shortness of breath. It meets on Mondays and Wednesdays from 7:15-8:15 p.m.
- Belly Dancing is a great core workout offered in a fun, supportive environment. Classes are on Tuesdays. The beginner class starts at 6:30pm. The intermediate class starts at 7:30 p.m. Learn some exciting moves - snake arms, figure eights, hip circles, traveling steps and shimmies.
- Inquire about the Women's Workout Room, Health Programs, Parenting Programs, Volleyball Leagues, Walking Club and Women’s Clubs.

To set up a tour or for details, call 401-769-7450. To register, visit 514 Blackstone Street in Woonsocket. To view the complete brochure online, visit www.ywcanri.org.

$1 Customer Donations Help Job Lot Send 25,000 Pounds to Food Bank-

A tractor-trailer truck emblazoned with Ocean State Job Lot’s logo rolled up to the Rhode Island Community Food Bank’s facility on Niantic Avenue in Providence with a special delivery last Wednesday, Dec. 21. Their donation: 25,000 pounds of boxed prepared dinners – enough to fill up an 18-wheeler. It’s one of at least 14 truckloads Job Lot expects to contribute to the Food Bank’s Holiday Meal Drive, which runs through Dec. 30.

In what has become a tradition, Job Lot has been inviting customers to donate $1 at the register to help buy food for Food Banks in their service area during the holiday season. Job Lot then matches that amount dollar for dollar up to $100,000. According to Job Lot owner Alan Perlman, this has resulted in a fund of $1.1 million, which Job Lot is using to purchase food at Job Lot prices (often well below wholesale) for Food Banks in the seven states in which they have stores.

Donations are directed toward the state Food Banks in which stores are located; the Rhode Island Community Food Bank benefits from the contributions of Job Lot’s 16 Rhode Island stores. The total donation is based on the generosity of their customers. Based on prior years, Job Lot anticipates a total donation to the RI Community Food Bank of 14 to 15 full tractor trailer loads, ranging from 20,000 to 40,000 pounds per truckload (depending on the weight of the particular food type), during the winter season.

More than 60,000 Rhode Islanders now rely on the Rhode Island Community Food Bank’s statewide network of 163 emergency food pantries to help meet their basic food needs. The need for food assistance in Rhode Island has risen 58% since the start of the recession four years ago.

The Rhode Island Community Food Bank accepts donations of non-perishable food or funds every weekday between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. at its facility at 200 Niantic Avenue in Providence. (The facility is closed today, Dec. 26.)  Most needed items include: peanut butter, canned tuna, canned fruits and vegetables, dried or canned beans, pasta, rice, breakfast cereal, and canned soups, stews or chili. For more information, visit www.rifoodbank.org/HolidayMealDrive.

Pawsox Idol-

The Pawtucket Red Sox will be holding their second annual PawSox Idol promotion. This singing competition is open to anyone 15 years old and older and auditions begin in February. The top singers from the auditions will be invited back to participate in the season long promotion which will run every Friday home game in 2012.
 
Auditions will be held at the following locations:

                        Feb 11 at the Lincoln (RI) Mall from 12-4 p.m.
                        Feb 18 at the Swansea (MA) Mall from 10-2 p.m.
                        Feb 25 at the Chestnut Hill (MA) Mall from 12-4 p.m.
                        March 3 at the Emerald Sq. Mall Attleboro (MA) from 12-4 p.m.
                        March 10 at the Warwick (RI) Mall from 10-2 p.m.
                        March 17 at the Solomon Pond Mall from 12-4 p.m.
                        March 24 at the Greendale Mall from 12-4 p.m.
 
Those interested can go to www.pawsox.com for information and registration information.    

Warm Hearts Make Knitted Scarves

Dattco Bus Company located in Burrillville, RI recently donated hand-made scarves, mittens, and hats to (FRCA), a Woonsocket social service agency. Seven Dattco Company employees Sharon Brunelle, Denise Deguire, Rose Shaw, Karen Taylor, Vickie Eddy, Elenor Robert, and Linda Fanning put in over 230 hours knitting 58 scarves as well as several hats and mittens. Their donation will go to individuals and families served by FRCA.

In previous years, the group has donated handmade scarves to military troops and their families. “We are all put on this earth to help one another,” noted Dattco Bus Company supervisor Sharon Brunelle. “Giving back to the community is very rewarding.”