Community News

ANNUAL CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE AT GENERAL NATHANAEL GREENE HOMESTEAD The General Nathanael Greene Homestead, 50 Taft Street, Coventry will hold their annual Christmas Open House on December 17 & 18 from 10AM-3PM. Join them for shopping in the Gift Shop and from Big Bear Trading Co., local historian & author Robert Geake will be signing his books, and plenty of live music from Lurgio & Cook as well as The Seven Mile Road Baptist Choir. Proceeds to benefit needed maintenance at the Homestead.

NARCONON Drug overdoses have become the leading cause of accidental death in the Unites States with heroin & other opiates being the largest contributor. If your loved one is struggling with drug abuse of any kind, now is the time to get them the help they need. If you believe one of your loved ones is abusing drugs, learn how you can make a difference by visiting

narcononnewliferetreat.org/drug-rehab

HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (HEAP) Have trouble paying your heating bill? The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) helps income eligible families pay their heating bills. The HEAP is a Primary Grant that is sent directly to your utility company or fuel provider, and it will be credited on your bill. You don’t need to have an unpaid bill, you can either rent or own your home, and must meet current gross income guidelines. Please call 732-4660, Ext. 175 for more information.

COVENTRY PUBLIC LIBRARY PRESENTS... Coventry Library will host a family magic show with one of New England’s funniest magicians, Tommy James on December 28 at 11AM. Along with a real live bunny, Tommy will present a rollercoaster ride of magic entertainment that will have children of all ages belly-laughing for the entire show. This program is for children ages 4-11. Registration is required and begins on December 7. Please call Youth Services at 822-9102 to register.

COVENTRY CARES

COMMUNITY CARE CLINIC NURSE HOURS The Coventry Cares Community Care Clinic Nurses Hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday from 8:30AM-12:30PM with Nurse Jane or Nurse Carolyn. The Clinic is set up at the Coventry Resource & Senior Center, 50 Wood Street, Coventry. ZUMBA FITNESS CLASSES

AT COVENTRY RESOURCE & SENIOR CENTER The Coventry Resource & Senior Center, 50 Wood Street, Coventry is offering Zumba Fitness Classes on Tuesdays from 11:15AM-12:15PM. Join them for some fun, easy to follow, low impact dance moves. Cost is $3 per class. Call 822-9175 to register.

SEEKING MUSICIANS Are you 55 or over? Play harmonica, guitar, banjo, mandolin, ukulele or any other instrument? We need you! Senior volunteer band plays gigs at Senior Centers, Nursing Homes, etc. Call David 368-6895 or Roger (nights) 397-5157. VOLUNTEER TOUR GUIDES NEEDED The Paine House, 7 Station Street in Coventry is looking for volunteer Tour Guides to share this unique historical site with the general public. Can you spare a few hours once or twice a month? All training and materials will be provided, no special skills required. This opportunity is suitable for High School students to adults. Training classes for the 2022 season will begin soon. If interested, call Bob at 439-7513 or email info@ westernrihistory.org ONGOING FOOD D RIVE TO BENEFIT VETERANS The High 5 Pantry at Flat River Tavern, 2260 Flat River Road in Coventry will have an ongoing Food Drive to benefit local Veterans. Please drop off your non-perishable donations anytime during their normal business hours. Call 407-2121 with any questions. COVENTRY SENIOR CENTER WEDNESDAY BINGO The Coventry Senior Center, 50 Wood Street, Coventry, will once again hold Bingo on Wednesdays from 1:30-4PM. The cost is $6 for 8 games. Please note that prizes have gone up as well as adding an additional Special & Quickie. You must be 18 years or older to play.

SATURDAY GRAB & GO WEEKLY MEALS Are you or is someone you know an elder in Coventry or West Warwick? St. Vincent de Paul Society is offering a warm meal from their Saturday Grab & Go weekly meals. To schedule a delivery or pick up of a warm meal, please call 828-3090 before 3PM on Wednesdays. If picking up your meal, please go to the OLC School Gym, 445 Washington Street in Coventry, between 11AM-12PM on Saturday

RICE CITY CHURCH HOLIDAY SERVICES Rice City Church, the First Christian Church of Coventry, invites you to a Christmas Eve Candlelight Service on December 24 at 6PM. All are welcome. The Church is located at 63 Vaughn Hollow Road, Greene.

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY COAT DISTRIBUTION The St. Vincent de Paul Society will hold a coat distribution on December 17 from 8AM-12PM in the school cafeteria at SS John & James Church, 20 Washington Street, West Warwick.

ADOPT A FAMILY FOR THE HOLIDAYS Would you like to make someone’s holiday a little brighter? Or are you finding yourself in need of some assistance? ‘Tis the Season assists Coventry & West Greenwich families who need a little help. You, your family, your business or organization might consider the “Adopt a Family” Program. Please call 822-9178 for more information if you would like to request assistance or if you would like to donate.

“OH, MANN, IT’S CHRISTMAS!” AT SUMMIT BAPTIST CHURCH Summit Baptist Church, 1176 Victory Highway (Rte. 102), Greene, is hosting “Oh Mann, It’s Christmas!” on December 18 at 3PM. This musical Christmas Celebration is in memory of beloved Evelyn Hopkins Mann. There will be a free will offering. Refreshments to follow. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED AT GEN. NATHANAEL GREENE HOMESTEAD The Gen. Nathanael Greene Homestead in Coventry is looking for individuals interested in becoming Tour Guides for the season. The Homestead, also known as “Spell Hall”, was built by Nathanael Greene in 1770 and has been authentically restored as a Museum dedicated to his memory. Tour Guides will learn about Gen. Greene, his family, and life in the 18th Century. Experience is not necessary. All information will be provided and scheduling is flexible. For more information, please email

nathanaelgreenehmst@gmail.com Visit us at nathanaelgreenehomestead. org

PAINE HOUSE MUSEUM NEEDS VOLUNTEERS Paine House needs your help. Volunteers needed to preserve local history. Looking for folks interested in research, computers, photography, gardening & yard work, fund raising, etc. If interested, call Bob at 439-7513 for more information.

PASSPORT APPLICATIONS ACCEPTED AT THE WEST WARWICK PUBLIC LIBRARY The West Warwick Public Library, 1043 Main Street, West Warwick is accepting Passport Applications (DS-11 Forms only) on behalf of the US Dept. of State. Please contact Information Services at 828-3750, Ext. 1 or email ref@wwpl. org to schedule an appointment or for more information. For even more information, you can call 1-577-487-2778 or visit travel.state.gov

YELLOW HORSE EQUINE ASSISTED ACTIVITIES & THERAPY PROGRAM SEEKS VOLUNTEERS In partnership with the unique attributes of the horse, Yellow Horse facilitates social, emotional and behavioral growth and learning to children, adults, families and the community through equine assisted activities and therapy programs. We are looking for volunteers to join our Yellow Horse family. Horse experience is not necessary; just a positive attitude and desire to participate! Free training provided. Ages 15 and Up. Located at 40 Collins Road in Ashaway. For more information visit www.

yellow-horse-equine.com or email volunteer@yellowhorseri.com

LITERACY VOLUNTEERS OF KENT COUNTY OFFERS ENGLISH LESSONS Learn to speak, read & write English. Enroll in Literacy Volunteers of Kent County’s free learning program. In just a few hours per week, you can improve your English skills in speaking, reading and writing. You will be paired with a Tutor who will instruct you, one-on-one according to your individual needs. Lessons are scheduled at your convenience and all information exchanged remains confidential. Please call 8229103 or email lvkc@coventrylibrary.org for more information. COVENTRY PUBLIC LIBRARY SERVICE SPOTLIGHT: CAKE PANS The Coventry Public Library has a collection of cake and cookie pans that are available to borrow! Bake cakes in fun shapes and borrow our decorating tools to make them look extra special! Cake pans check out for three weeks with no holds and 2 renewals. Cake pans are fine free!†For more information, visit the Circulation Desk or call 822-9100 and press 1. BINGO AT KNOTTY OAK VILLAGE Knotty Oak Village Community Hall Bingo is back!! Bingo to be held at 14 Manchester Circle, Coventry on Saturdays at 4PM - doors open at 3PM. Snacks & beverages will be available for purchase.

Holiday lights are now everywhere come the holiday season. Private homeowners tend to hang the holiday lights outside their homes around anksgiving weekend and keep them up through New Year’s Day. ough it might seem like a tradition without a deep history, decorating a Christmas tree with electric lights can be traced all the way back to the nineteenth century. In 1882, Edward Johnson, who was a friend and colleague of the man who invented light bulbs, omas Edison, replaced candles, which had traditionally been used to brie y light Christmas trees, with light bulbs. But at the time of Johnson’s innovation, the high cost and relative infancy of light bulbs ensured the idea did not catch on. And though United States President Grover Cleveland used electric lights to illuminate a Christmas tree in the White House in 1895, it would be another eight years before General Electric would begin selling Christmas light kits. ose kits cost $12 in 1903, which equates to several hundred dollars today. e rst outdoor Christmas light shows started to become popular in the 1920s, and this is the same time when commercial sales of Christmas lights picked up. In the 1960s, GE’s decision to begin manufacturing Christmas lights overseas helped reduce the price of outdoor lights even further, thus paving the way for the tradition of decorating home exteriors with string lights during the holiday season to take a rm hold. And that tradition remains wildly popular today.