Monday Five: Fire Fund, Budget Dates, Scam Alert, Hope Plates

Coyne Family Fire Fund - On the afternoon of Tuesday April 30th, Lt. John Coyne of the Smithfield Fire Department and his family lost their home due to a tragic fire. The Smithfield Firefighters, along with close friends of the Coyne's, have set up a fundraising page to help alleviate some of the financial burden that John and Dawn will face over the upcoming months. Although nothing can replace all that they have lost, every dollar will help. Through our love and support we can help the Coyne's through this critical time of need. For more information, visit http://smithfieldfire.com/coyne-family-fire-fund/.

Budget dates: The Town of Smithfield will hold its Public Budget Hearing Tuesday, May 14. The Financial Town Meeting will be held Thursday, June 13. Both meetings at Smithfield High School, 7 p.m.

Family scam alert - The Smithfield Police Department warns of scams in which somebody poses as a relative or friend and states that a family member is in some kind of trouble or emergency situation....and needs money wired FAST. If you receive a call or message from someone claiming to be a family member or friend desperate for money, you should: a) Resist the urge to act immediately, no matter how dramatic the story is; b) Verify the person's identity by asking questions that a stranger could not possibly answer; c) Call a phone number for your family member or friend that you know to be genuine; d) Do not wire money or send a check or money order by overnight delivery or courier; e) Report possible fraud at ftc.gov/complaint or call 1-877-FTC-HELP.

Ribbon of Hope - Be one of the first to purchase a Ribbon of Hope license plate this Saturday at Brewed Awakenings in Johnston and Wakefield - and get the ball rolling on making the plates a reality for Rhode Islanders. Proceeds from the $41.50 plates go to aid under-insured and uninsured women in getting breast cancer screenings. That's important, especially in RI, where the rate for breast cancer is one in six, as opposed to the national rate, one in eight.

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