Smithfield Weather: Friday: Sunny with highs in the upper 40s. Friday night: Mostly clear. Lows in the 20s. Weekend: Clouds develop Saturday night. Chance of snow Sunday through early next week. Fill the Rescue: The Johnston Fire Department continues its Fill the Rescue drive to benefit Toys for Tots tomorrow from 10 am to 2 om at Jacavone Garden Center on Atwood Avenue. Make your donation — and help bring a little joy to little ones. Get Artsy: Ms. Melyssa, resident artist at Marian J. Mohr Library in Johnston, hosts Art Smart for students in grades 3 to 6 this afternoon at 4. Register by …

  Smithfield Weather: Wednesday: Sunny with highs in the 40s. Wednesday night: Partly cloudy and cold. Lows in the 20s. Thursday: Continued sunny with highs in the 40s. Hobbit: Celebrate the book The Hobbit — before Peter Jackson got his hands on it and turned it into a three-film epic — tonight at 6 pm at Mohr Library in Johnston [The first installment opens tomorrow night — check Moviefone.com for times and tickets.] Lights: For some people, there's just no limit to how they'll light up their homes for the holidays — still, National Grid offers a few energy savings tips to hold down the …

  Smithfield Weather: Tuesday: Cloudy to start, clearing later. Highs in the upper 40s. Tuesday night: Mostly clear and cold. Lows in the 20s. Wednesday: Mostly sunny. Highs around 40. Connections: Looking for a unique way to make contacts with other businesspeople and grow your business? The North Central Chamber of Commerce is hosting a "speed networking" event this morning starting at 7:30 am. Get your coffee early and click here for more info. Cards: Marian J. Mohr Library hosts the second week of its Card Tournament today at 2:30 pm. For students in grades 6 to 12. Colors: Is your house …

  Smithfield Weather: Friday: A partly sunny start gives way to clouds and a 50-percent chance of rain. Highs in the 40s. Friday night: Rain and patchy fog. Temps hovering around 40. Weekend: Near 100-percent chance of rain for Saturday. Gradually clearing, with a chance of rain lingering through Monday. Holiday Events: If you're headed to the Crossing at Smithfield for some shopping today and tomorrow, there's a full slate of events at activities scheduled. Click here to learn more. Celebrate the Season: Johnston Memorial Park and the Johnston Senior Center are hosting events on Saturday — …

  Smithfield Weather: Friday: Sunny start gives way to clouds. Highs in the mid 30s. Friday night: Cold with a chance of snow. Lows in the upper 20s. Weekend: Chance of snow through Sunday afternoon, then chance of rain Sunday night. Bowling to Benefit the Holiday Fund: Tonight starting at 5:30 pm, Town Hall Lanes in Johnston hosts the 3rd Annual Bowling Tournament to benefit the Smithfield Welfare Department's Holiday Fund. Christine Mollo at the Fire Department was trash-talking a couple of local officers yesterday; see if she's got the game to back up her smack. Toys for Tots Spots: …

  Smithfield Weather: Thursday: Mostly sunny with highs in the 40s. Thursday Night: Partly cloudy. Lows in the 20s. Friday: Sunny and cold with highs in the 30s. Controversy — or 'Non-troversy'?: Remember the hubbub last year after Gov. Lincoln Chafee named the State House evergreen a "holiday tree" — like former Gov. Don Carcieri had done, incidentally? Chafee announced that he's planning a tree lighting this year, too — do you think what the tree is called is still an issue? Let us know. Bowling to Benefit: Town Hall Lanes in Johnston hosts a bowling tournament on Friday night to help the …

  Smithfield Weather:  Wednesday: Chance of snow. Clearing later. Highs in the 40s. Wednesday night: Mostly clear and colder. Lows in the 20s. Thursday: Sunny. Highs in the 40s. Contest: It's time for the Patch "Deck the House" Contest, where the winner could snag a cool $100,000 for their local school district, plus $500 to help with the electrical bill. Click here for more info. Greetings: Yesterday, JohnstonPatch posted a holiday greetings video from Lt. Col. Bill Courtemanche of the USAF. If you've got a friend or family member serving overseas, be sure they send videos to joseph.hutnak@…

  Smithfield Weather:  Tuesday: Cloudy with a 50 percent chance of snow. Highs in the upper 30s. Tuesday night: Continued chance of snow. Lows in the 20s Wednesday: Partyly sunny. Highs in the low 40s. Giving: A nationwide group of nonprofit organizations is collaborating to raise awareness for their causes as part of "Giving Tuesday." Click here to learn more and find Rhode Island area nonprofits who are participating. Skating: Over in Smithfield, the Municipal Ice Rink is open for public skating form noon to 2 pm today. $3 Admission, $5 Skate rentals. Reading, Pt. 1: Planning buy books as …

  Smithfield Weather: Friday: Mostly sunny. Highs in mid/upper 50s. Saturday: Cloudy with a 50 percent chance of rain. Highs in the upper 40s. Sunday: Partly cloudy. Highs in the 40s. What It's About: The term “Black Friday” was coined in the 1960s to mark the kickoff to the Christmas shopping season. “Black” refers to stores moving from the “red” to the “black,” back when accounting records were kept by hand, and red ink indicated a loss, and black a profit. Ever since the start of the modern Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1924, the Friday after Thanksgiving has been known as the …

  Smithfield Weather:  Wednesday: Mostly cloudy in the morning, then becoming partly sunny. Highs around 50. Wednesday night: Mostly cloudy. Lows in the mid-30s.  Thanksgiving Day: Sunny. Highs around 50. Help the Homeless: If you're heading out to Smithfield Crossing to shop this weekend, your lunch stop at UNO Chicago Grill will do more than fill your stomach — it'lll help the homeless in Rhode Island. UNO is donating 20 percent of each bill to the Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless. Thanksgiving Football: The Smithfield Sentinals are scheduled to travel to North Providence High School…

  Smithfield Weather:  Tuesday: Partly sunny. Highs around 50. Tuesday night: Mostly cloudy. Lows in the upper 30s.  Thanksgiving Nears: Did you know that AAA is forecasting that 43.6 million people will travel 50 miles or more for Thanksgiving? If you're traveling in or through Little Rhody, check out this alert from the RI State Police. Public Skating: The Smithfield Ice Rink hosts public skating today from noon to 2 pm. Admission $3, Skates $5. Post to Patch Yourself; Try Blogging: It's ridiculously easy for to post an event or make an announcement on SmithfieldPatch. Blogging is simple, …

  1. Reminisce: Hurricane/Superstorm/Whatever Sandy forced the postponement of the North Central Chamber of Commerce 30th Anniversary Wine Tasting to last night — here's the video shown at the event as part of the celebration. 2. Rembrandt: Or maybe it'll be Van Gogh this time — sign the kids up for Art Smart with Ms. Melyssa at 4 pm today at Mohr Library in Johnston, she see whose style she'll be teaching today. For kids in grades 3 to 6.   3. Rock: For a bit louder of an artistic expression, the JamStage in Pawtucket is hosting a girls and ladies Rock Lab starting at 6:30 pm. For the gals, …

  1. Milestone: Greenville Public Library recently celebrated its 130th anniversary — check out the announcement. [And if you'd like to share news from your school or organization, just visit the SmithfieldPatch Announcement page.] 2. Reading: Mohr Library in Johnston hosts a Readers' Lair meeting tonight starting at 6:30 pm. Registration requested; book discussion, activity, and a snack. Free. 3. Visit: The Bridge at Cherry Hill senior facility hosts an open house and tour starting at 3 pm. Refreshments and snacks; call ahead to reserve your spot. 4. Discuss: There are other things going on …

  1. Enter the Patch Halloween Contests: This year, SmithfieldPatch is offering two ways to show off your handiwork: Costume Contest: This is a national competition to see who's got the best costume — winner gets $5,000. Click here for info on how to enter. Pumpkin Decorating Contest: Rhode Island Patch sites are also hosting a contest for best jack-o-lantern [or painted pumkpin]. Check out the details here. 2. Make Your Own Costume: Thinking of entering our costume contest — or just trying to save a few bucks this Halloween? Abby Jordan has some great homemade costume ideas. 3. Create a …

  1. Money: Did you hear? Alan Hassenfeld, he of the Hasbro Corporation, donated $1 million to Bryant University. Read all about it here.  2. Missiles: You may have heard Bob Schieffer mention the Cuban Missile Crisis in his opening remarks at Monday night's final Presidential Debate — but how much do you really know about this major event? Lucky for you, the Johnston Historical Society is hosting Dr. Gary L. Hylander from Stonehill College for a presentation tonight at 7 at The Little Inn. Admission is free, cash bar before the lecture. 3. Masks: And costumes, and carvings — Patch has two …

  1. Contests: Patch has two ways to get into the Halloween spirit: Pumpkin Decorating: Post your decorated pumpkins here and enter to win a gift card in the Rhode Island Patch contest. Best Costume in America: Have a great costume? Upload your photo here and see if yours is named the best in all of Patchland. Winner scores $5,000. 2. Class: Today"s the last day to register for the citizens academy at the Smithfield Police Department. Contact Ptlm. Orlando Braxton for more information. 3. Conditioning: What better way to stay in shape than with a little hockey? The Municipal Ice Rink hosts …

  1. Feedback: People are still talking about Tuesday night's debate between President Obama and Mitt Romney — what's your take? Click here to speak your mind. 2. Fiction: Greenville Public Library hosts a discussion of Every Sunday by Peter Pezzelli — it's set in Providence. Part of the library's "Picnic Table Reads Book Club," today's meeting starts at 1 pm. 3. Photos, Pt. 1: All the Patch sites in Rhode Island are hosting a Best Pumkpin Contest — add your photos here. 4. Photos, Pt. 2: Patches across America are also looking for great Halloween costumes — be the first to post your photo. …

  1. Reading: There's no doubt that reading is an important thing for kids to do — and if you're looking to encourage your little ones to crack open more books [or at least read them on a Kindle or iPad], check out the advice provided by author James Patterson for SmithfieldPatch. 2. Roaring: Dinosaurs roared, right? It wasn't just a Hollywood invention, right? Find out the answer at today's After-School Adventure for kids in kindergarten through third grade at Mohr Library in Johnston. Program starts at 4:30 pm, registration required. [And pick up a few books while you're there!] 3. …

  1. Committee: The Smithfield School Committee is scheduled to meet tonight at 7 pm at the high school. According to the agenda [find a .pdf attached to this article], there's a second vote scheduled on the 2012-13 school calendar, which now includes Jewish, Hindu, and Muslim holidays. 2. Cops: Want to learn more about law enforcement? The Smithfield Police Department kicks off its Citizens Police Academy tonight at 7 pm. Don't worry if you haven't signed up yet — Ptlm. Braxton [(401) 231-2500, ext. 202] says they'll take registrations until next Monday.  3. Candidates: Which of the …

  1. Running: If you're a candidate in Smithfield and haven't signed up to blog yet, click here to get started. You'll be able to tell voters about yourself and your platform — and upload photos and video.  2. Recognition, Pt. 1: Congratulations to Bryant University for making the Princeton Review's list of the 296 Top Business Schools. Read more by clicking the link. 3. Recognition, Pt. 2:  The YWCA in Woonsocket is hosting a ceremony to mark International Day of the Girl today at 12 pm. More info: (401) 769-7450. 4. Revocation: Did you hear? The RI Department of Health suspended the …