Corey Plante

2 days ago | valleybreeze.com | Corey Plante

WOONSOCKET – Members of the City Council voted unanimously last week to reject awarding a city contract to City Solicitor Michael Lepizzera’s law firm, citing conflict of interest concerns. The resolution would have granted a tax sale services contract to Lepizzera & Laprocina, the firm that submitted the lowest bid of $62,000. Both Lepizzera and his colleague, Alan Fung, recused themselves from the chambers prior to the discussion.

2 days ago | valleybreeze.com | Corey Plante

NORTH SMITHFIELD – A local business owner is facing felony charges after State Police said she collected tens of thousands of dollars in pandemic unemployment benefits despite continuing to operate her pet boarding business and continuing to work at Women & Infants Hospital. Last Tuesday, members of the Rhode Island State Police Financial Crimes Unit arrested Kim Dicostanzo, 63, of 89 Old Sayles Hill Road on the border of North Smithfield and Lincoln.

2 days ago | valleybreeze.com | Corey Plante

WOONSOCKET – City officials say Woonsocket’s lead hazard reduction program remains fully active and is accepting new applications, despite confusion among landlords and residents about whether the program had been paused or suspended. While the city’s $4 million Lead Hazard Reduction Grant awarded in 2019 does technically expire next Monday, June 30, with almost $1 million unspent, the city’s program remains ongoing, supported by an additional overlapping grant.

2 days ago | valleybreeze.com | Corey Plante

WOONSOCKET – A lively group of 16 octogenarians gathered at River Falls Restaurant on Sunday to celebrate 70 years since graduating from St. Clare High School in Woonsocket. The event, described by organizers as a “get-together” rather than a formal reunion, brought the former classmates together for lunch, conversation, and plenty of reminiscing. The women, all members of the St. Clare Class of 1955, were seated at a line of tables pushed together in the back room of the restaurant.

2 days ago | valleybreeze.com | Ethan Shorey |Corey Plante

Consumers noticing hiked prices on certain fireworks can blame new tariffs on China, where the bulk of all fireworks come from, say those in the business. That said, a number of sellers say they were able to get out ahead of the tariffs and consumers won’t notice significant tariff-based hikes when they buy up their sparkly goods in the coming week. Area residents have noticed substantial increases on fireworks, but the bulk of those are apparently for more typical reasons.