The Valley Breeze Newspapers serving the Northern Rhode Island towns of Cumberland, Lincoln, Woonsocket, Smithfield, North Smithfield, Pawtucket, North Providence, Scituate, Foster, and Glocester
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©2019 BREEZE PUBLICATIONS INC. BREEZE PHOTO BY ROBERT EMERSON ELLORIE CORCORAN plays the Queen of Hearts in the Wolf Pack Drama Club production of "Alice in Wonderland, Jr." dress rehearsal at Gallagher Middle School last Thursday afternoon. See more photos on page 15. SMITHFIELD – A directive by Town Council President Suzy Alba states that Town Manager Randy Rossi should make "significant reduc- tions" to all town department budgets to minimize the impact of this year's budget on taxpayers. Each town depart- ment from animal control to zoning presented proposed budgets for the 2019- 2020 fiscal year to the Town Council on March 26. The School Department was at the forefront of the presentation, receiving criticism from the council for requesting a 3.27 percent increase in town appropriation in response to a $1.4 million drop in state funding. The requested increase comes after last November's taxpayer approval of a $45 million elementary school reconfiguration bond that will cause the town to fund a jump in debt ser- vice payments in the coming years. Councilor Sean Kilduff questioned Supt. Judy Paolucci on the timing of the bond, asking her if she knew about the decrease in state aid before the townwide vote. Paolucci respond- ed that neither she nor the School Smithfield seeks sweeping budget cuts By JACQUELYN MOOREHEAD Valley Breeze & Observer Staff Writer jackie@valleybreeze.com See BUDGET, Page 6 ALBA SCITUATE – After two years of hiding from public scrutiny, a local woman and her business partner are coming out of the cannabis closet to share their story of becoming the first solely women-owned medical marijuana cultivation operation in the state. Cassy Heneault, of Scituate, and Lisa Cadan, of Warren, run a small marijuana cultivation company in Providence's Olneyville neighbor- hood called Elle-Cie, which translates to "her company" in French. They say they haven't disclosed their pro- fession to anyone until now. Heneault said she had concerns that neighbors and the local PTO might judge her negatively due to her occupation, and Cadan had simi- lar apprehensions about telling her daughter about what she did for a living. "Scituate and Glocester are not can- nabis friendly," Heneault said. Despite the hostile climate, Heneault, a Hopkinton native, said she learned to grow medical mari- juana at her home with her husband, Daryl, as a caretaker providing can- nabis for patients. She said she gave up her caretaker license when she and Cadan decided to apply for a micro-license, allowing Facing growing competition, women-owned pot business goes public By JACQUELYN MOOREHEAD Valley Breeze & Observer Staff Writer jackie@valleybreeze.com See MARIJUANA, Page 7 Second chance for Smithfield Village Board of Appeals sends plans back to Planning Board SMITHFIELD – Preliminary plans for the Smithfield Village, a 27-building residential and com- mercial development on the corner of Esmond Street and Route 44, will go back to the Planning Board with stipulations after the Board of Appeals last week reversed the Planning Board's earlier denial based on traffic and safety con- cerns. By JACQUELYN MOOREHEAD Valley Breeze & Observer Staff Writer jackie@valleybreeze.com See VILLAGE, Page 8 Serving Smithfield, Scituate, Foster and Glocester FREE APRIL 4-10, 2019 Observer THE VALLEY BREEZE & Bright Start Academy Preschool Pre-K Celebrating Our 20th Year! Now Enrolling for 2019/2020 1 FREE Week with Enrollment (Expires 4/15/2019) 688 Putnam Pike (Rte. 44), Greenville, RI 401-949-5461 www.BrightStartRI.com Wills & Trusts Estate Planning & Settlement The Law Office of George M. Prescott Esquire Rhode Island does not have a procedure for the certification or recognition of specialization by lawyers. 300 Front Street, Lincoln, RI 02865 Telephone – 401.726.5577 www.GeorgeMPrescottLaw.com No fee for initial consultation.