You’re listening to the Westerly Sun’s podcast, where we talk about news, the best local events, new job postings, obituaries, and more.

First, a bit of Rhode Island trivia. Today’s trivia is brought to you by Perennial. 

Perennial’s new plant-based drink “Daily Gut & Brain” is a blend of easily digestible nutrients crafted for gut and brain health. A convenient mini-meal, Daily Gut & Brain” is available now at the CVS Pharmacy in Wakefield.

Now for some trivia. Did you know that Rhode Island native, Albert Henry Soar was an American football running back and defensive back in the National Football League who went on to have a long career as an umpire in Major League Baseball? Soar played nine seasons for the New York Giants, and caught the game-winning touchdown pass in the 1938 NFL Championship Game against the Green Bay Packers at the Polo Grounds.

Now, we turn our feature story….

Gov. Daniel McKee said Rhode Island is expanding its coronavirus testing and vaccination capacity as record numbers of new cases continue to strain the state.

To get more people vaccinated, and to give residents a chance to get their booster shots, the state will reopen a mass vaccination site at the Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence by mid-January.

He acknowledged that many people are frustrated with long waits for tests, and long turnaround times, a situation he witnessed firsthand in Central Falls this week.

McKee said “We can do a lot better."

The state has hired a second lab to accelerate testing and to turn PCR tests around more quickly, and a third one will be brought online to get testing turnaround times down to 48 hours, officials said. Testing sites will also be open on New Year's Day rather than stay closed for the holiday, he said. Rapid tests are also being distributed to high-risk areas.

Several protestors could be heard at some points outside the briefing shouting and blowing air horns.

The processing of tests for nursing homes and schools continues to be prioritized.

The governor also said that there are no plans to delay the start of school reopenings after the holiday break and no plans to switch to remote learning, although some districts “may take a phased approach” to bringing students back into classrooms.

For example, students in the Providence public schools will return to in-person learning after the holiday break on a staggered basis.

“This phased approach will allow the district to conduct testing as students return to prevent potential exposures”.

Pre-K, kindergarten and grades 1, 6 and 9 are now scheduled to return on Jan. 3. Grades 2, 3, 7, 10, and 11 will return on Jan, 4, and grades 4, 5, 8, and 12 will return on Jan. 5.

The district, the state's largest with about 22,000 students, said all teachers and staff, regardless of the grade they work with, will be required to return in person for the first day of classes.

Stay up to date on this story and more at westerlysun.com

Today we're remembering the life of Joan C. Anderson of Westerly.

Born in Warwick, she was employed in assembly at the former Leviton Manufacturing in West Kingston for over 12 years until the factory closed. She previously was a head waitress at the former Howard Johnson's Restaurant in Hope Valley for 10 years. Joan was a former member of the VFW Post #12, North Kingstown Ladies Auxiliary.

She is survived by her children, her sister, and by 19 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.

Thank you for taking a moment with us today to remember and celebrate Joan’s life.

That’s it for today, we’ll be back next time with more! Also, remember to check out our sponsor Perennial, Daily Gut & Brain, available at the CVS on Main St. in Wakefield!

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