Merry Christmas northern Rhode Island!
With the Christmas holiday landing on Wednesday, Dec. 25, we’re all taking a break to spend time with friends and family this week. And so, in place of our usual “things to know” articles for Burrillville, North Smithfield and Glocester on NRI NOW, we’ve highlighted a few things to check out from our three coverage towns below.
We hope that all of our readers have a warm and wonderful holiday, and that you get to take some time off to connect with loved ones.
Food truck cheer
Visit Dinolicious food truck and enjoy some holiday cheer on Main Street at Fountain Square in Pascoag this afternoon. The food truck will be serving complimentary hot chocolate and a sweet treat from 4 to 7 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 23. The Grinch, Santa, Mrs. Claus, and Santa’s elves will be in attendance and visitors are invited to take pictures.
Holiday hours
Glocester Town Hall will close at noon on Tuesday, Dec. 24 and will re-open for business at 8 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 26.
Burrillville Town Hall will close at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday and will be closed on Wednesday.
North Smithfield Town Hall will be closed all day on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Trash pickup in North Smithfield and Burrillville will be on the regular schedule through Tuesday, with no pickup on Wednesday and a one day delay for the remainder of the week.
Winter classic
Visit Burrillville High School’s Levy Rink on Thursday, Dec. 26 through Saturday, Dec. 28 for the 12th annual Winter Classic, with six teams competing and games at noon, 1:30 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. each day. Raffle tickets are now on sale for 17 different prizes, listed below, with winners to be announced on December 28. Tickets cost $7 or $5 for students and seniors.
All proceeds from the event will benefit the BHS boys hockey team.
Dedication
The gazebo by North Smithfield Town Hall at 83 Green St. will be dedicated to to Maurice “MO” Bourget in a ceremony on Friday, Dec. 27 starting at 7 p.m. All are invited to attend.
Holiday Heroes
Congratulations to Burrillville Police Officer Geoffrey Cicatiello, and Glocester Police Sgt. Colin Esposito and Officer Ryan Charleson on being named a “Holiday Heroes,” over the last week by the Rhode Island Police Chiefs Association.
“Every day brings something new, and I’m proud to be part of something bigger than myself,” said Cicatiello in a release. “Teaching DUI awareness at the academy gives me the opportunity to share my dedication to highway safety and pass that knowledge on to others. I also take great pride in participating in honor patrols—paying tribute to victims of impaired driving and raising awareness about the devastating, lasting impact it has on families.”
“I grew up viewing officers as role models, and now, as one myself, I hope to be that figure for our community,” said Charleson. “The positive aspects of this role far outweigh the challenges, and I’m truly motivated by meaningful interactions with residents. Even during a traffic stop, it’s often an opportunity for a positive conversation and a learning moment, allowing us to effectively improve safety on our roads.”
“I’ve wanted to be a police officer since I was a kid, captivated by the lights, the speed, and wondering where they were headed—I wanted to be part of it and to be in the know,” said Esposito. “The most rewarding part of my job now is the positive interactions with the community, especially with kids. Whether it’s showing them the cruisers or giving them a tour of the station, it takes me back to when I was their age, visiting a station myself. In a career that often involves difficult moments, those experiences bring a sense of joy and remind me why I do this work.”
Rhode Islanders are encouraged to nominate their own holiday heroes by sending an e-mail to [email protected] with the officer’s name, department, and a description of why they are being nominated. Nominations can be made now through December 31.
Town meetings
The Pascoag Fire District will hold a meeting on Monday, Dec. 23 starting at 7 p.m. at Station #2 at 141 Howard Ave. The agenda is here.
The Glocester Land Trust will not be holding their regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 24.
A note on town meetings: Meeting agendas published after our weekly “things to know,” articles may not be listed above. Check the Secretary of State’s website for the latest updates.
