THIS DAY IN HISTORY

Associated Press

Today is Saturday, Dec. 5, the 340th day of 2020. There are 26 days left in the year.

Today’s Highlight in History:

On Dec. 5, 2013, Nelson Mandela, the anti-apartheid leader who became South Africa’s first Black president, died at age 95.

On this date:

In 1791, composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart died in Vienna, Austria, at age 35.

In 1792, George Washington was re-elected president; John Adams was re-elected vice president.

In 1848, President James K. Polk triggered the Gold Rush of ’49 by confirming that gold had been discovered in California.

In 1932, German physicist Albert Einstein was granted a visa, making it possible for him to travel to the United States.

In 1933, national Prohibition came to an end as Utah became the 36th state to ratify the 21st Amendment to the Constitution, repealing the 18th Amendment.

In 1952, the Great Smog of London descended on the British capital; the unusually thick fog, which contained toxic pollutants, lasted five days and was blamed for causing thousands of deaths.

In 1977, Egypt broke diplomatic relations with Syria, Libya, Algeria, Iraq and South Yemen in the wake of criticism that followed President Anwar Sadat’s peace overtures to Israel.

In 1998, James P. Hoffa claimed the Teamsters presidency after challenger Tom Leedham conceded defeat in the union’s presidential election.

In 2002, Strom Thurmond, the oldest and (until Robert Byrd overtook him) longest-serving senator in history, celebrated his 100th birthday on Capitol Hill. (In toasting the South Carolina lawmaker, Senate Republican leader Trent Lott seemed to express nostalgia for Thurmond’s segregationist past; the resulting political firestorm prompted Lott to resign his leadership position.)

In 2008, the Labor Department reported that an alarming half-million jobs had vanished in Nov. 2008 as unemployment hit a 15-year high of 6.7 percent. A judge in Las Vegas sentenced O.J. Simpson to 33 years in prison (with eligibility for parole after nine) for an armed robbery at a hotel room. (Simpson was released to parole on Oct. 1, 2017.)

Woonsocket

• The Museum of Work & Culture, a division of the Rhode Island Historical Society, is happy to announce new expanded hours beginning Thursday, Sept. 24. The Museum will now be opened on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. for visitors who have purchased tickets in advance. Tickets are available at rihs.org/buy-tickets.

• The Museum of Work & Culture will offer weekly discounts to promote safe, local shopping in its newly-launched online gift shop. New sales will launch each Thursday and curbside pick-up will be available at the museum on Wednesdays from 9 a.m.2 p.m., with a final pickup date of Wednesday, Dec. 23. Sales include 25% off Woonsocket crockery by Westerwald Pottery from Dec. 3 to Dec. 9, 25% off children’s books and toys from Dec. 10 to Dec. 16 and 20% off your total purchase from Dec. 17 to Dec.

23.

Lincoln

• The Lincoln Council Knights of Columbus are collecting brand new items in support of Operation ROVAC (Remembering Our Veterans at Christmas). The items collected will be donated to men and women at the RI Veterans Home in Bristol, RI. Suggested items are winter hats, gloves, and scarves, shirts, pajamas, underwear, khaki pants, jeans, sweatpants, sweaters, and jackets. (Sizes Med to 4X). Also DVD Movies, CD’s, Greeting Cards, and full size Dove Soap, Stick Deodorant, Shaving Cream and Cologne/Perfume. Donations can be dropped off at the Columbus Club of Lincoln, 171 Jenckes Hill Road on Fridays from 3 pm to 6 pm. Until December 18th.

Sturbridge

• Christmas by Candlelight will return to Old Sturbridge Village (OSV) this December to celebrate New England Christmases of the 19th century and today. On select dates in December, from 3 to 8 p.m., the Village will open for guests to take in the holiday cheer. Guests can see demonstrations of classic Christmas projects like knitting stockings, wreath-making, natural ornament-making and more, and watch

as costumed interpreters create a traditional Christmas meal or work on special projects such as making ice skates or a sled from scratch. A horse-drawn carryall (a large wagon) will run throughout the night to warm up beside. Guests are also invited to stroll the Christmas Tree Trail, featuring dozens of sparkling, decorated trees. Tickets are on sale now for members at the discounted rate of $20 for adults and $10 for youths ages 4-17. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Nov. 17 at $22 for adults and $11 for youth. Admission is free for children ages three and under.

Blackstone Valley/State

• Family Service of Rhode Island, a statewide nonprofit human service organization, has launched “Be Safe Plus,” a program delivering fresh foods, masks, cleaning and personal care supplies to Rhode Island seniors, people with disabilities and their caregivers who are at high-risk for COVID-19. FSRI recruited Chubby Chickpea and “Hope & Main,” located in Warren, and Roch’s Fresh Food, of West Greenwich, to put Rhode Islanders back to work by employing them to pack and deliver “Be Safe Plus” boxes. Seniors can access Be Safe Plus by calling 401-462-4444/The Point for assistance in English and Spanish.

Central Falls

“Search for Santa” is an outdoor, socially-distanced event that includes a 20-minute river ride to view the North Pole on a real-life boat – The Explorer – that is filled with a reading of the classic children’s story “‘Twas The Night Before Christmas,” a delicious treat, activity sheets & crayons, and a scavenger hunt to find some of your favorite Christmas characters, including the big guy in red, where he’ll give a special greeting from the riverbank and pass along a gift to every child! Bring a blanket to keep cozy, and kids… bring a flashlight to help you find the hidden items along the ride! Arrive early for fantastic photo opportunities in front of our custom-made backdrops, including a new Search For Santa backdrop, our popular letters to Santa mailbox, and our small gift shop that will include some official Polar Express items – all beside the decorated river landing where music is playing and the spirit of Christmas fills the air! After your trip, enjoy a cup of Mimi & Pop’s hot chocolate, which is included with your ticket! “Search for Santa” is hosted every day from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at Central Falls Landing. Email info@tourblackstone.com for more details.

December 5

Foxborough

Patriot Place and the New England Patriots Foundation will host a Stuff-A-Truck Toy Drive on Saturday, Dec. 5 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in Lot 20, located near CVS and Starbucks. Guests can help children in need this holiday season by stuffing the truck with new and unwrapped toys, and can bring new and unwrapped toys to the blue and white collection bins throughout Patriot Place through Sunday, Dec. 6. Collection bins will be set up at the entrances to Showcase Cinema De Lux, Patriot Place Management Office hallway, Bass Pro Shops and the Patriots ProShop. The Patriots Foundation will also be collecting toys at Magic of Lights on Saturday, Dec. 5. Guests with Magic of Lights tickets for that day are encouraged to bring a new and unwrapped toy that they can drop into the toy collection boxes directly from their vehicle window upon arrival.

December 10

Cumberland

The Cumberland Public Library, in conjunction with the Mystic Noank Library, is hosting a program on Thursday, Dec. 10 at 4 p.m. to give you new tools and resources for dealing with stress. Join Francine Figueroa, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, for a free webinar about learning and practicing healthy skills for stress management. These coping skills are informed by Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and additional evidence-based models. Participants may log on with or without cameras, microphones, or names listed depending on their privacy preferences, with a Q&A at the end of the seminar.

December 13

Woonsocket

A teen gift drive for “Operation Christmas! Adopt a Teen!” will be held on Sunday, Dec. 13 at the Woonsocket Train Station, 1 Depot Square, Woonsocket, Rhode Island from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Operation Christmas will be offering curbside pick-up: When someone arrives with a donation, they can text (401) 585-9291 with the color and type of their car and a volunteer will meet them. All gifts must be new and unwrapped. To adopt a teen, visit the Adopt a Teen Facebook page, pick a teen who you wish to adopt and leave a comment saying you would like to “adopt” them. For more information, call Tara Cruz at (401) 585-9291.