Sentinel Media Group

Please see the message below from Smithfield Emergency Management.

Another round of severe thunderstorms are expected this afternoon and into the evening. The main time frame for weather is noon to 10pm.

The main threat from these storms include high wind, heavy rain and frequent cloud to ground lightning. The chance for another tornado is a possibility with these storms.

Please remain vigilant this afternoon and evening, especially if you have outdoor plans.

The National Weather Service has issued a HEAT ADVISORY as the seasons firsts stretch of hot temperatures grip Southern New England. The HEAT ADVISORY is in effect at 12pm Tuesday and continues until 7pm Friday. Air temperatures will combine with high humidity values resulting in feel like temperatures of 90°F to 100°F+, especially during the afternoon hours. Temperatures fall back to the 70s in the evening.

Public message points for this event are as follows:

Smithfield EMA reminds everyone to seek SHADE from the sun, REST often if working outside and HYDRATE with water and avoid beverages containing alcohol and caffeine. Please check in on family and friends, especially those who require additional assistance during adverse weather consitions. During hot weather, electrical demand peaks. Please help conserve energy by turning off extra lights and appliances.

If you need a spot to beat the heat, the Smithfield Municipal Ice Rink has been activated as our cooling center. Residents seeking a place to cool off may do so in the bleachers between 9AM and 10PM Tuesday to Friday.

Hello everyone! Take a look at our June Newsletter!
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SUMHLC June 2024 Newsletter






June 2024 CEU Trainings
SUMHLC is excited to offer trainings at half price for the month of June! Register Now!

June 12, 2024 “Overview of Psychiatric Medications” 12:00pm-2:00pm 2 CEU’S
This training will review the classes of commonly prescribed medications, such as Antipsychotics, Antidepressants, Mood Stabilizers and Stimulants. The participant will be able to identify potential side-effects and drug interactions of psychiatric medications as well as the most common acute and permanent movement disorders associated with Psychotropics. The training will discuss the impact of substance use disorders including cigarette smoking. Discussion includes client education and the importance of client adherence to treatment and the impact on client outcomes.

June 13, 2024 “Interpersonal Violence and Addiction” 12:00pm-3:00pm 3 CEU’S
This course is designed to provide information to health care professionals on interpersonal violence. Topics of discussion will include the cycle of violence, types of violence, and the influence of external factors such as addiction. Other areas of discussion will include the impact of the beliefs of the practitioner, and common mistakes, as well as interventions. Participants will also learn about the different types of abuse, as well as strategies for working with clients who undergo abuse.

June 17, 2024 “Stress Management: Use of Relaxation, Imagery, & Mindfulness Techniques” 10:00am-12:00pm 2 CEU’S
2 hour training module that provides an overview of the phenomenon of stress, stress responses and successful strategies to manage the potential negative impact in our personal and professional lives. Participants will be taught about signs and symptoms as well as the various presentations of ‘Good Stress/ Bad Stress’ in our lives as well as in our clients. Strategies to manage stress with be explored and taught. Participants will practice and utilize the various stress reducing techniques including progressive muscle relaxation, imagery, and mindfulness techniques. Lastly, the course will cover the positive impact of good nutrition choices and exercise on stress management.

June 26, 2024 “Motivational Interviewing and the Stages of Change” 10:00am-1:00pm 3 CEU’S
The Trans-theoretical Model, commonly known as the Stages of Change, describes the states humans find themselves in as they consider, make and maintain changes. MI is a flexible communication tool kit that promotes connection, collaboration and mobilizes inner and outer resources. This highly interactive, intermediate-level course integrates the two, provides practice in identifying the Stage of Change as it shifts and offers a menu of practical MI skills to work effectively within each stage.





Keep your message brief, friendly, and to the point. If readers need to know more than you can fit here, add a link to an outside resource that covers the rest.









June is National LGBTQ+ Pride Month

On a hot summer’s night in New York on June 28, 1969, police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay club in Greenwich Village, which resulted in bar patrons, staff, and neighborhood residents rioting onto Christopher Street outside. Among the many leaders of the riots was a black, trans, bisexual woman, Marsha P. Johnson, leading the movement to continue over six days with protests and clashes. The message was clear — protestors demanded the establishment of places where LGBT+ people could go and be open about their sexual orientation without fear of arrest. Pride Month is largely credited as being started by bisexual activist Brenda Howard. Known as ‘The Mother of Pride,’ Brenda organized Gay Pride Week and the Christopher Street Liberation Day Parade a year after the Stonewall Riots. This eventually morphed into what we now know as the New York City Pride March and was the catalyst for the formation of similar parades and marches across the world.



June is National PTSD Awareness Month
National PTSD Awareness Month is observed in June and it ushers in an array of awareness campaigns run for the benefit of PTSD survivors. PTSD, which stands for post-traumatic stress disorder, occurs in people after they have experienced a particularly traumatic event like war, violent physical/sexual/verbal assault, accidents, and so forth. Symptoms include depression, anxiety, nightmares, paranoia, insomnia, disturbing thoughts, and much more. Many people recover from PTSD after a few days, weeks, or months. Yet, for others, the recovery road might mean one year or more. This mental disorder is highly treatable, but due to the lack of knowledge around it as well as the stigma attached to seeking mental help, many choose to ignore the problem and suffer through it.


June is National Men’s Health Month
This month is all about encouraging the men in your life (including you, men out there!) to take care of their bodies by eating right, exercising, and working to prevent disease. The official symbol for the month is a blue ribbon and the purpose of Men’s Health Month is to heighten the awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of diseases including cancer, heart disease, and depression.


June 19, 2024 is “Juneteenth”
The proclamation declaring the abolishment of slavery was issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, in the nation’s third year of an ongoing civil war. Known as the Emancipation Proclamation, it declared that ‘all persons held as slaves within any State or designated part of a State […] shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free.’ Granger’s arrival at Texas was to enforce this decree, which had originally gone into effect two years earlier. The news had come as a shock to more than 250,000 slaves in Texas who were unaware of it. The freedom of African Americans from slavery in the U.S. in 1865 is celebrated on the holiday Juneteenth on June 19. Juneteenth is made up of the words ‘June’ and ‘nineteenth,’ and it is on this day that Major General Gordon Granger arrived in Texas more than 155 years ago to inform slaves that slavery had been abolished.

June 26, 2024 is National Day of Joy

Celebrate National Day of Joy on the last Wednesday of June, which falls on June 26 this year. We want to observe it by finding happiness outside the norms that society calls for. The search for joy is often attributed to material possessions but neglects family. National Day of Joy started when caregivers realized how important it is for senior people to be joyful. Enjoying everyday moments improves general well-being. It is not based on outward circumstances. This includes wealth and prestige. It is an ability to rejoice at all times and over the small things.

June 30, 2024 is National Social Media Day

World Social Media Day was launched by Mashable on June 30, 2010. It was born as a way to recognize social media’s impact on global communication and to bring the world together to celebrate it. Everyone uses social media every day; it’s how we connect with people all over the world in a simple and fast way. Mashable is known to use social media to connect various cultures, movements, and fandoms, which is why they wanted a day to celebrate it. People use the hashtag, every year, and this year is your time to get involved!

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The Leadership Council

Cannabis Tops Alcohol as Americans’ Daily Drug of Choice
A new study shows a growing number of people are regularly using cannabis, while frequent alcohol consumption has remained stable.
By Christina Caron
May 23, 2024
For the first time on record, cannabis has outpaced alcohol as the daily drug of choice for Americans.
In 2022 there were 17.7 million people who reported using cannabis either every day or nearly every day, compared with 14.7 million who reported using alcohol with the same frequency, according to a study, published on Wednesday in the journal Addiction that analyzed data from the U.S. National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
While far more people drink than use cannabis, drinking frequently has become slightly less common than it was around 15 years ago, the study found. But the proportion of people in the U.S. who use cannabis frequently has increased 15-fold in the three decades since 1992, when daily cannabis use hit a low point.
Cannabis legalization has also rapidly accelerated since the ’90s. The drug is now legal for recreational use in 24 states and Washington, D.C., and for medical use in 38 states and D.C.
The sharp increase in the prevalence of high-frequency cannabis use over the last three decades might partly be attributed to a growing acceptance of the drug, said Jonathan P. Caulkins, a professor of public policy at Heinz College at Carnegie Mellon University. And because the survey data was self-reported, people may now feel more comfortable disclosing how often they use it.
More on Cannabis
• Risk to Seniors: In Canada, cannabis poisonings rose sharply among people 65 and older after the country legalized the drug, a new study found.
• Easing Restrictions: The Biden administration moved to downgrade ma*****na from the most restrictive category of drugs, signaling a significant shift in how the federal government views the substance.
• Risk of Heart Attack: People who frequently smoke ma*****na have a higher risk of heart attack and stroke, according to a study that has researchers and experts concerned.
• CBD Stalls Out: CBD, which is derived from cannabis or h**p, was poised to be the next big “it” ingredient. But a lack of federal regulation and a mishmash of state laws got in the way.
Even so, “I don’t think that for most daily or near-daily users it is a health-promoting activity,” he added. “For some, it’s truly harmful.”
Several experts who were not involved in the research said the study’s findings were concerning. Those in favor of legalizing cannabis have argued that making the drug widely available would draw people away from the harms of alcohol, said Beatriz Carlini, a research associate professor in the psychiatry department of the University of Washington in Seattle.
But the study’s data, which shows only a slight decline in frequent alcohol use, suggests this has not been the case.
“It is disheartening,” she said.
Dr. Carlini and others noted that the concentrations of THC, the psychoactive component in ma*****na, have increased dramatically over the years.
In 1995, the concentration of THC in cannabis samples seized by the Drug Enforcement Administration was about 4 percent. By 2021, it was about 15 percent. And now cannabis manufacturers are extracting THC to make oils, edibles, wax, sugar-size crystals and glass-like products called shatter with THC levels that can exceed 95 percent.
In the last decade, research has shown that frequent cannabis use — and particularly the use of high-potency products with levels of THC greater than 10 percent — is a risk factor for the onset of schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders.
“But that isn’t to say that use less frequent — monthly or yearly — is necessarily safe,” said Dr. Michael Murphy, an assistant professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and a psychiatrist at McLean Hospital in Belmont, Mass.
“As we see higher rates of cannabis use in young people, I expect to see higher rates of psychotic disorders,” he said.
The risks of developing psychotic symptoms are higher for those who use cannabis before age 25, people who use it frequently, those with a genetic predisposition (for example, a parent or sibling with a psychotic disorder) or individuals who experienced stressful events like abuse, poverty or neglect during childhood.
In states that have legalized cannabis for recreational use, anyone 21 and over can purchase it.
Those who use cannabis frequently are also at risk of developing cannabis addiction as well as cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, a condition that causes recurrent vomiting, the experts said.
This latest study arrives on the heels of the Biden administration’s move last week to downgrade ma*****na from the most restrictive category of drugs, known as Schedule I, to Schedule III, which includes drugs thought to have a low-to-moderate risk of abuse.
The survey did not collect information about the concentrations of THC in the products purchased by frequent users or note how often the respondents used cannabis each day.
“A lot of people go home and have a v**e after work or take a gummy to go to sleep at night,” said Aaron Smith, the co-founder and chief executive of the National Cannabis Industry Association. He didn’t see that kind of casual daily use as a problem, he added.
At the same time, there may be young people who are using throughout the day “and are exposing themselves to a lot more THC than those people who are just taking a puff a day,” said Ziva D. Cooper, the director of the Center for Cannabis and Cannabinoids at the University of California, Los Angeles. “The mental health and the physical health outcomes are probably going to vary drastically when you look at those different groups of people.”
Christina Caron is a Times reporter covering mental health. More about Christina Caron

SUMHLC Website Connects Patients with Vital Resources
By:​John J. Tassoni, Jr.
​President/CEO
Substance Use and Mental Health Leadership Council (SUMHLC)


SUMHLC is pleased to announce that we have officially unveiled our new website, which can be found by visiting www.sumhlc.org. The website has been designed to connect those struggling with addiction or mental health issues with vital resources.

Our goal is to make a positive difference in the lives of those we serve. We so often hear that finding resources when needed most is challenging. We work each day to promote a collaborative, coordinated system of high quality, comprehensive community-based mental health and substance use prevention and treatment services. That starts with creating a one-stop source for patients and their families.

When you visit www.sumhlc.org you will find an informative list of resources relating to mental health and substance use. This list includes information about outpatient medically assisted recovery treatments, and an active list of daily bed availability for inpatient detox and residential treatment centers.

Additionally, the website provides information on housing, affordable health care programs, and other licensed behavioral and mental health programs that are offered throughout Rhode Island.
To support our partners in substance abuse and mental health treatment, we also offer workforce development training. This was added to assist the behavioral healthcare workforce in developing their professional skills and knowledge and to support them on their career path. We offer a variety of live interactive webinar (virtual) training sessions, hybrid trainings and self-paced, and asynchronous online trainings.
Visitors to our website will also be able to view job postings, staff contact information, and the latest episodes of Recovery TV. Housed on our YouTube channel, these episodes provide a wealth of resources aimed at supporting mental health and substance use recovery.
We hope you will take the time to visit our website, SUMHLC.org which has been designed to empower both professionals and individuals seeking guidance.

Comprehensive community-based mental health and substance use prevention for RI SUMHLC champions a coordinated, collaborative approach to mental health and substance use prevention and treatment. We offer comprehensive, community-based services tailored to the needs of our clients and communities, focusing on advocacy, training, and high-quality care.

***FOUND DOG***

This older intact male Beagle wearing an orange collar, was brought in by NPPD last night.

Located in the area in Tingley Lane in NP.

If you recognize this guy, please contact the shelter at 719-1516.

Hi John!
I'm hoping you can help me get the word out to as many caregivers and service providers as possible.

RI Elder Info is seeking to better understand the needs of older adult caregivers who are caring for adults living in the community. We have created a brief online survey to gather information from caregivers as well as service providers for individuals who have disabilities. We hope to learn what older adult caregivers need and want to age successfully in the community and to learn what service providers believe their clients' older caregivers need for them both to age successfully in the community.
This input helps our advocacy to improve caregiver support.

Our survey takes 5-10 minutes and the answers are kept confidential.
It is in English and Spanish.
Will you please share our survey with any caregiver, caregiver groups, and provider organizations you know?

English https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SeniorsasCaregivers

Spanish https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/personasmayorescomocuidadores

The Seniors as Caregivers project is funded by the RI Foundation's Newport County Fund and Bank Newport with support from Plan RI, East Bay Community Action Program, Edward King House Senior Center and the Little Compton Wellness Center.

If you have any questions please contact me directly.

Thank you very much for your help!
Sincerely,
Deb Burton, MS (she/her)
Gerontologist
Executive Director
RI Elder Info
501c3 nonprofit
RIElderInfo.com
[email protected]
401-585-0509
Follow us on Facebook, YouTube,
If this was helpful consider paying it forward by donating today!

Rhode Island Elder Info Rhode Island's most comprehensive resource for older adults, caregivers and the professionals who serve them.

New back drop for my TV show

This weekend
With Nancy Murray and Desiree Soto of RI Lottery services on problem gambling
Airings are :
MY RI TV (EPRI) SATURDAY EVENINGS @ 10:30PM (FOLLOWING LOCAL 10P 12 NEWS NOW)
WPRI CH 12 SATURDAY EVENINGS @ 11:30PM (FOLLOWING LOCAL 11P 12 NEWS NOW)
CW – PROVIDENCE (ENAC) SUNDAY MORNINGS @ 8:00AM*
FOX – PROVIDENCE (WNAC) SUNDAY MORNINGS @ 11:30AM

Please join me the problem is getting worse - make sure you check your Childrens Halloween bags before they eat any candy

Team TASSONI- talking issues that matter to our seniors

The Italian dinner for Smithfield seniors

Time to clean up and off we go to the next event

Feeding the Smithfield Seniors - team TASSONI paid for everything- chicken parm - eggplant parm - macaroni and salad , rolls and dessert- flowers for the ladies

Chef Kenny and I feeding our seniors

Love meeting new voters and a new mom

Love to feed my first responders- stay safe my friends

Tassoni proposes major overhaul to the town’s recreational fields in his bid for Smithfield town council



Smithfield, R.I – Oct 10, 2022 – “Our kids deserve better places to play,” said Smithfield Town Council candidate, John J. Tassoni, Jr.



As part of his campaign platform, Tassoni is recommending that the town upgrade and repair its public ball fields and recreational facilities to provide more playing time and safer environments.



“Current conditions are deplorable,” Tassoni said.



Sprinkler systems need to be installed or repaired, and the ballfield surfaces need to be upgraded to a blend of three-grade sediment of sand, silt and clay mixed with water. The clay mineral particles should be smaller than two micrometers, so it becomes plastic when wet and solid when dry, for extra strength and moisture tolerance, he explained.



Tassoni was the architect of the lighting improvement project for Smithfield High School and Whipple field and wants to see all recreational facilities have the same state-of-the-art lighting.



He has also explored several grants for turf field improvements for which he intends to submit applications.



“Having a good recreational facility helps promote a sense of community and overall well-being,” Tassoni said. “Coaches and staff can create an atmosphere of growth and learning for young people. That should be the goal of all of our ball fields.”



Tassoni, a life-long resident of Smithfield, is currently President/Chief Executive Officer for the Substance Use and Mental Health Leadership Council of Rhode Island.



He is a former six-term state senator representing the town, a well-known business leader, a TV and radio talk show host, former union executive and mediator. He has over 35 years of experience in the private sector and labor community. His advocacy for fair labor practices, affordable healthcare, substance abuse treatment, and assistance for the homelessness, earned him high praise among constituents and citizens alike.



“Public service, be it for the greater good, the community, or as a voice for the under-served and under-represented, is why I feel I was put on this earth. The opportunity to continue to work for the residents and town of Smithfield fits perfectly into my personal mission and goals,” he said.

CCA fundraiser last week

Mental health services and substance abuse aid are top priorities for Tassoni in bid for Smithfield town council



Smithfield, R.I – Oct 4, 2022– Those suffering from mental health issues or substance use can get immediate access to supportive services and practitioners, thanks to a partnership created by Smithfield Town Council candidate, John J. Tassoni, President/Chief Executive Officer for the Substance Use and Mental Health Leadership Council of Rhode Island, and the town’s police and fire departments.



Smithfield Safe Stations within each of Smithfield’s three fire stations, located at 607 Putnam Pike, 66 Farnum Pike, and 15 Log Road, provide a welcoming environment for anyone struggling with addiction and are ready to embark on recovery, with immediate connections to treatment support and services. Trained staff are on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week.



“Accidental drug overdose deaths are increasing at alarming rates since the COVID pandemic began, with no decrease in sight. In RI there are 80-90 overdose per month. People with mental health issues who have turned to drugs and alcohol can get real help at the Safe Stations, with no judgement or questions asked,” said Tassoni.



The Safe Stations offer critical care and supportive services when needed most, Tassoni added.



Additionally, Tassoni was instrumental in securing a dedicated registered clinician for the Smithfield police department, to work with individuals in need of assistance on matters of mental health or substance use.



“There is immediate help available for mental health disorders and addiction recovery, and it is there for the asking,” said Tassoni.



Tassoni, a life-long resident of Smithfield, is a former six-term state senator representing the town, a well-known business leader, a TV and radio talk show host, former union executive and mediator. He has over 35 years of experience in the private sector and labor community. His advocacy for fair labor practices, affordable healthcare, substance abuse treatment, and assistance for the homelessness earned him high praise among constituents and citizens alike.



“Public service, be it for the greater good, the community, or as a voice for the under-served and under-represented, is why I feel I was put on this earth. The opportunity to continue to work for the residents and town of Smithfield fits perfectly into my personal mission and goals,” he said.

SMITHFIELD – Smithfield officials are asking that any resident who can use wood to heat their home, or who needs heating assistance, reach out to the town as it launches a new program to deliver trees felled by developers to people in need.
Town Manager Randy Rossi said the idea came from Town Council candidate John Tassoni, who expressed concerns at the Sept. 6 council meeting that too many trees are being taken down around town.
During that meeting, representatives from Rhode Island Energy and Verizon New England explained the need to remove 60 trees to make room for new poles necessary for the Log Road Solar project.
Tassoni recommended that developers donate as many trees as possible to the town to be used by residents in wood stoves for heating homes. He said he was glad to hear the town listened to his advice and is moving forward with the plan, and is happy to hear that people in need who can use the wood will find some relief.
“I’m glad that common sense prevailed here and glad that people who need help will get it heating their home, especially in light of Rhode Island Energy’s 47 percent (electric) increase and people having trouble buying food and medicine,” he said.
“We put this program together in conjunction with developers and Stanley Tree Service,” Rossi said.
Rossi added that Smithfield-based Stanley Tree Service has partnered with and volunteered much work to the town, including clearing trees from the town’s lots for the developing dog park and new fire station off Route 116.
“Stanley Tree Service always goes above and beyond to help us, we have a great partnership with them,” he said.
Rossi said the town went a step further with the idea and is creating a list with the Department of Human Services of people who can use the wood to heat their homes. He said the Planning Board and Planning Department will encourage anyone creating a development in town to join the program.
He said the town will deliver wood to homes from the sites after trees are cut down. He said the wood will not be cut in wood stove-sized pieces, and may require extra cutting.
“It will be nice to get them delivered and not have to drive to the Department of Public Works to pick up the pieces or find a way to move them yourself,” he said.
Rossi added that DHS needs residents to be on a list before delivery, and should contact Karen Armstrong at 401-949-4590. DHS is located at the Smithfield Senior Center, and residents may also visit the center to sign up for the “log list.”
“I think we will want to get the structure in place first. It’s a good start to develop the list and know who needs it,” Rossi said.
With increased electric and heating prices affecting all residents, Rossi said it is important that Smithfield residents know there are resources in town for anyone struggling to heat their home or meet other needs this winter, or at any time.
“Let us know if you are struggling. We will find a way to help in any way we can help them,” he said.
He said DHS offers confidential assistance to those in need, and partners with the state and local organizations to assist people in need.
“It’s the least we can do to help people in town. Call, stop in, email for help,” Rossi said. “We need to know or else we can’t help.”

***Tassoni wants to take measures to divide sewer taxes, secure grant monies, and repair town’s infrastructure in his bid for Smithfield town council

Smithfield, R.I - Sept. 27,2022 – Smithfield Town Council candidate, John J. Tassoni, today outlined his vision and action plans for his candidacy in the upcoming November election.

Lessening the burden on taxpayers is his first priority, he said.

“By expanding the town’s commercial tax base, we can give the residential homeowner some much needed tax relief,” Tassoni said.

Tassoni also wants to divide the sewer tax bill into four payments, in the same way that property taxes are collected, to make it easier for resident taxpayers.

Additionally, he wants to maintain the senior tax freeze and provide more services and resources for seniors and elder care.

Tassoni also believes that there are untapped grant opportunities available for the town and hopes to work with the Smithfield’s grant writer to take advantage of monies available for major infrastructure improvement projects.

“The town’s roads, buildings, water and sewer lines need repair, and in some cases, complete rebuilds and overhauls. It is imperative that we get those projects moving and completed before they become irreparable,” he said.

Also on Tassoni’s agenda is to work with the Smithfield Land Trust to protect and preserve the town’s open spaces and trails.

Tassoni, a life-long resident of Smithfield, is currently President/Chief Executive Officer for the Substance Use and Mental Health Leadership Council of Rhode Island.

He is a former six-term state senator representing the town, a well-known business leader, a TV and radio talk show host, former union executive and mediator. He has over 35 years of experience in the private sector and labor community. His advocacy for fair labor practices, affordable healthcare, substance abuse treatment, and assistance for the homelessness, earned him high praise among constituents and citizens alike.

“Public service, be it for the greater good, the community, or as a voice for the under-served and under-represented, is why I feel I was put on this earth. The opportunity to continue to work for the residents and town of Smithfield fits perfectly in my personal mission and goals.”