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 THE VALLEY FREE APRIL 4-10, 2019 Serving North Smithfield, Blackstone and Woonsocket NORTH SMITHFIELD – This past Sunday, a frenzy of activity took place in Globe Hall at Slatersville Congregational Church, UCC. As some volunteers packaged up food in plastic bags, others whisked the bags off to be sealed and packed while a third group replaced the constantly dwindling food supplies with new items. By the end of the afternoon, church members had packed more than 10,000 bags of food into neat boxes to be hauled away. While it might look like the world's most efficient lunch line, the activ- ity was part of a service project that Slatersville Congregational has partic- ipated in for the past seven years. The church teams up with Rise Against Hunger, an international organiza- tion providing ready-to-cook meals to families in impoverished communities around the world. The organization enlists the help of volunteer groups such as Slatersville Congregational to Slatersville Congregational packs more than 10,000 meals for those in need By LAUREN CLEM Valley Breeze Staff Writer lauren@valleybreeze.com Animal shelter to get 'pawfect' play space for pooches WOONSOCKET – Residents of the Woonsocket Animal Shelter are about to get a big improvement that will make for a more enjoyable stay at the city-owned property, according to staff and volunteers. On Monday, the City Council voted to approve $19,500 for con- struction of an outdoor pavilion to create a covered play yard and exercise area for dogs. The pavilion, according to supporters, will allow volunteers to take the dogs out in all types of weather, from the snowy winter to the hot summer months. By LAUREN CLEM Valley Breeze Staff Writer lauren@valleybreeze.com WOONSOCKET – The last time the second floor of Main Street's his- toric Liberty Building was occupied, a Hollywood film crew headed by Richard Gere was using it as head- quarters while filming "Hachi: A Dog's Tale" at nearby Depot Square. That was in 2008, and the upper level of the building has sat mostly quiet since then. This week, however, 154 Main St. was a scene of activity as Belle Mente Counseling, a city- based counseling practice currently located on Front Street, prepared to take over the entire second floor. Beth Mancini, practice owner, told The Valley Breeze the move fits the needs of her rap- idly expanding busi- ness. In addition to Mancini, a licensed professional counsel- or, the practice cur- rently employs three full-time counselors and an intern, and is looking to hire several more clini- cians in the coming weeks. "It's huge," she said of the 5,800-square-foot office space. "Something much bigger than we're going to need right off the bat, but something we hope to grow into." The Liberty Building, located across the street from City Hall, was constructed in 1914 and spent the first several decades of its his- Counseling center fills Main Street's Liberty Building By LAUREN CLEM Valley Breeze Staff Writer lauren@valleybreeze.com MANCINI See LIBERTY, Page 10 BREEZE PHOTO BY BILL MURPHY As MARC VERMOUTH, left, of Medford, Mass., holds the gong, ABBIGAIL HALLIWELL, 11, of North Smithfield, rings it to signify another 1,000 meals packed for Rise Against Hunger. Vermouth is the community engagement man- ager of Rise Against Hunger. See RISE, Page 18 See SHELTER, Page 13 Mario's Appliances Serving Loyal Clients Since 1989 (401) 765-1636 Appliance Sales & Service Refrigerators, Stoves, Space Heaters, Washers, Dryers, Dishwashers & More! 6 Month Guarantee on parts and labor 968 Elm St. Woonsocket, RI 02895 mariosappliances@gmail. com 30 years in business! 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.