Five Things: Good Grief & Circus Smirkus

Good Grief: How do you handle the loss of a loved one? Bob Houghtaling presents a session on what you can learn from difficult times and situations. Speakers are Richard Morsilli, whose son 13-year-old son Todd was killed 30 years ago by a drunk driver on First Avenue, and Andrew Maksymowicz, who's parents both died when he was in high school (). At Swift Community Center at 6:30 p.m.

Historic District Commission meeting: There is only one hearing on the agenda, for the building at 246 Main St. The meeting starts at 6 p.m. in Council Chambers at Town Hall.

Water Street closed: Traffic continues to be blocked on Water Street from Queen Street to Lion Street, at least during the day. This construction is to replace the 90-year-old sewer main from the bottom of King Street to the Waste Water Treatment Facility. Work is supposed to be done by the end of March. If you have any questions, please contact the Department of Public Works at 886-8618.

Blizzard debris pickup: According to the Public Works Department, tree debris from the February blizzard is still being picked up. If you have tree branches, move them curbside and the DPW should get to them in the next week or two.

Circus Smirkus is back: You don’t have to run away to join this circus – you just have to be in third, fourth, fifth or sixth grade. Cirkus Smirkus is back for a second year in a row offering a weeklong after-school circus “boot camp” for kids in grades 3 through 6. (Read about their program last year here.) Students who sign up will learn juggling, tight wire, diabolos, devil sticks, acrobatics and much more – all from a professional Circus Smirkus coach. The program runs from March 18 to March 22 from 3:30-5:30 p.m. at Hanaford Elementary School. The final performance takes place there on Friday, March 22, at 6 p.m. Cost of program: $100 per student. Use the application attached here, or contact Amy Synder at amy.l.snyder@gmail.com.

On Thursday ... 

What’s Your Book Worth? workshop: Are you holding on to a rare first edition? Have a priceless signed copy? A sought-after collector's item? Or maybe you were left a trunk full of old books and no idea what they are worth? "Value of the Book" is a lecture and interactive book appraisal workshop presented in an Antiques Roadshow format by rare book dealer, former Providence bookshop owner and former state representative Ray Rickman. He will describe what kind of books tend to have high market values, explain the characteristics that influence the worth of a particular book and offer free estimates of the value of up to three books for each participant. The program takes place Thursday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the East Greenwich Free Library, courtesy of the Friends of the EG Free Library.