Corey Plante

1 week ago | valleybreeze.com | Corey Plante

NORTH SMITHFIELD – Pickleball enthusiasts in town and beyond still have time to sign up for a new round of adult lessons offered through the Parks & Recreation Department. Led by certified instructor Marissa Pitrone, the four-session spring program caters to beginners and intermediate players eager to learn the fast-growing sport. Sessions begin later this month and cost $50, with each two-hour class including an hour of skills and drills followed by an hour of round-robin play.

2 weeks ago | valleybreeze.com | Corey Plante

BLACKSTONE, Mass. – A total of 1,184 voters cast ballots in the annual town election on Monday, a turnout of 15 percent of the town’s 7,956 registered voters. That’s a slight dip from the 1,244 voters who participated in last year’s election. In the most closely watched race, voters elected Edward Castonguay and Gino Olaes to fill two open seats on the Board of Selectmen. Castonguay led the field with 762 votes, followed by Olaes with 587. Sheri Boisseau and Michael Catalano earned 473 and 275 votes.

2 weeks ago | valleybreeze.com | Corey Plante

WOONSOCKET – Local Head Start providers are facing deep uncertainty after the federal government abruptly shut down five regional program offices, disrupting the support system that early childhood education programs have relied on for decades. Though Children’s Friend, the largest Head Start provider in Rhode Island, confirmed it has not experienced direct cuts, leaders of smaller programs, such as Woonsocket’s, say the future looks grim.

2 weeks ago | valleybreeze.com | Corey Plante

NORTH SMITHFIELD – Families and fans who couldn’t make it to the North Smithfield High School gym on Tuesday for a volleyball game can still catch it online. And, for the foreseeable future, they can also livestream upcoming games on almost any smart device. The school’s new Pixellot AI camera system, installed last month, has officially gone live. Both the junior varsity and varsity boys’ volleyball matches against Mt. Hope Tuesday were livestreamed with the new system.

2 weeks ago | valleybreeze.com | Corey Plante

NORTH SMITHFIELD — Following a dress rehearsal Monday night in the North Smithfield High School library, Natalie O’Brien’s 9th-grade American government class took an early flight Tuesday morning to Washington, D.C. for the national We the People competition. As of today, April 10, the competition remains ongoing, with an awards ceremony scheduled for Friday.