Five Things for Monday: Skip the Mall, Sun Returns and More

Welcome to the first Monday of December, 2012 — start it off right with a check of weather, events, and celebrity birthdays.

  Smithfield Weather: Skip the Mall: The Children's Workshop on Cedar Swamp Road in Smithfield is hosting holiday shopping with products from Lia Sophia, Mary Kay, Avon, Wildtree, and others tomorrow afternoon at 5 pm. Free admission; you don't need to have children enrolled to shop. Window Painting: The sun will probably help highlight the window painting project in the Andrew Greene Young Adult Room at Mohr Library in Johnston. Stencils and paints available; art starts at 2:30 pm. Get Your Game On: Mohr Library is also hosting video games for kids in grades 6 to 12 starting at 3:30. Celebrity Birthdays:

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5 Things To Know Today

Five Things for Friday: Bowling to Benefit the Holiday Fund & More

Start your day with a check of weather, news, and events in Johnston.

  Smithfield Weather: 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's got two designated drop-off sites for Toys for Tots this year. Click here for details. Save on Gas: Okay, so it may not be that far to Warwick Mall or your favorite holiday shopping spot — but saving money on gas is good, all the same. Use the SmithfieldPatch Commute page to find the cheapest gas nearby — and check traffic conditions. Celebrity …

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Will You Brave The Black Friday Crowds This Year? [POLL]

Do you plan to go shopping today?

  Named for the color used to show that businesses have turned a profit, "Black Friday" has become an indicator for predicting how well the holiday shopping season will be. But with America still recovering from The Great Recession and stubborn unemployment, there's a chance that this year's Black Friday may be further proof of ongoing problems. Then again, the first official day of the holiday shopping season — and the deep discounts offered by most retailers — usually draw hordes of deal-hunting shoppers and could be a sign of a rebound in consumer spending. So, which are you — a deal hunter, or someone who avoids Black Friday? Let us know by casting a vote in our poll, and posting your comments below.

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