May Day! May Day! Sorry, no emergency. I’m just excited for May. Yup, cue the Justin Timberlake memes. It’s gonna be May and we’ve got 20,000 rubber ducks, tight-rope walkers, trolls, guacamole and more.

Let’s ride, friends.

THE CIRCUS IS IN TOWN

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey rolls into PVD. Expect six shows from April 26-28 at the AMP. Some 75 performers hailing from 18 countries will put on a show that includes, according to a press release: stunts like “The Triangular Highwire” and “Double Wheel of Destiny,” comedic performances, “a modern take on clowning,” juggling, acrobatics, and dancing. Plus a skate park where BMX riders perform stunts, and trapeze artists, aerialists, music and more. 1 LaSalle Square. Tickets from $20. Details here.

FOOD TRUCK FRIDAY RETURNS

Beep beep beep! You know summer is returning to Rhody when the food trucks migrate back to Roger Williams Park Zoo & Carousel Village. It’s #FoodTruckFriday season: From April 26 through Sept. 27 — weather permitting — some 15 local food trucks park at Roger Williams Park at 5 p.m. Bring a chair or blanket and soak up live tunes from local artists, jump on the carousel, hop the train ride. Free admission; pay for what you eat. 1000 Elmwood Ave., Providence. Details here.

SOCCER IN RHODE ISLAND

The Ocean State now has a pro men’s soccer team, Rhode Island FC, and you can get your Ted Lasso on this week. According to the Globe, they play in the USL Championship league, the second tier of American men’s soccer, a notch below Major League Soccer. There are a number of ways you can buy tickets, from “Beer 2-pack” to “single match” or “mini plans.” This week’s game is April 26 at 7:30 p.m. in Smithfield against Phoenix Rising FC. Ticket prices vary. At Beirne Stadium at Bryant University. 1150 Douglas Pike, Smithfield. Read more here. Details here.

20,000 RUBBER DUCKS

It’s time for one of the most whimsical of Rhody traditions: the 24th Annual Pawcatuck River Duck Race. Watch 20,000 rubber ducks race the Pawcatuck River in Westerly on April 27 to benefit dozens of local charities. This full-on spectacle is free to watch — plus there are children’s games, rides, food booths, bounce house, and other activities. The event typically raises some $60,000 for groups involved, according to the event’s website. Plus: 90 prizes are up for grabs, including a trip to Disney World. The fun starts at 11:30 a.m., with a corporate race at 1 p.m., and the main race at 1:30 p.m. Downtown Westerly on the Westerly/Pawcatuck, Connecticut line. Details here and here.

EARTH WEEK

Earth Day truly is every day. Aquidneck Island is celebrating all week. Upcoming Aquidneck Island Earth Week events include:

• Albro Woods Work Party April 27 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. “Nearly all the beech trees in Albro Woods are infected by beech leaf disease and large sections of the forest canopy are at risk,” according to billing. Volunteers are invited to lend a hand in removing invasive species and planting new trees. Afterward, everyone is invited to enjoy a potluck meal.” 125 Mitchell’s Lane #41, Portsmouth. Free. Details here.
• Help with an “Easton’s Beach Clean-Up & TrashBlitz” April 27 from 1-3 p.m. at Easton’s Beach. 175 Memorial Boulevard, Newport. Details here.
• Take time to notice birds on a free bird hike April 28 at the Norman Bird Sanctuary, 8-10 a.m. 583 3rd Beach Road, Middletown. Details here.
• Bonus for the 21+ set: Newport Vineyards, in honor of Aquidneck Island Earth Week, offers a free wine or beer flight to folks to help clean up. Participants are asked to pick up a bag or bucket of trash at their choice of location and take a photo. When they arrive at the event, they can enjoy a free tasting. Through April 27 during operating hours. Must present ID to show proof of 21+. Details here.
• Bonus for all ages: Scavenger BioBlitz is on — bring your BioBlitz scavenger hunt sheet to the Norman Bird Sanctuary for free admission for the whole fam through April 27 — and Earth Week Bingo encourages kids “to take environmental actions around their homes. There’s a sweet treat for kids who make five environmental actions in a row,” according to billing.

TAYLOR SWIFT DANCING FOR PUPPIES

A Westerly woman dropped a new album that broke Spotify this week (though she needs a grammar check on that title) And yes, there’s a Taylor event in Rhody: “Tailored for Tails: A Swift Promenade” is a night of human dancing to benefit the East Greenwich Animal Protection League. Billed as “an enchanting adult prom,” Swifties can dance the night away and enjoy a buffet. Dress to impress in “elegant attire” or “favorite Swiftie concert wear.” $60. April 28, 6-10 p.m. at the Event Factory, 144 Metro Center Blvd., Warwick.

CURL UP

I don’t know what intrigues me more: The shoes? The brooms? I vow every Winter Olympics to learn this sport. The Ocean State Curling Club hosts a “Learn to Curl” session April 28, 2:15-4:15 p.m. at Smithfield Municipal Ice Rink. Must register. $45. 109 Pleasant View Ave. Details here.

TROLLS! TROLLS!

I have been waiting a year for this. Recycle artist/activist Thomas Dambo, who makes giant trolls from recycled wood all over the world, is bringing his trolls to Charlestown’s Ninigret Park. Dambo takes stage April 30 at 7 p.m. at the United Theatre to talk about his life in Denmark, larger-than-life trolls — and to inspire you to think about trash and recycling differently. Stay tuned for my exclusive interview with the fascinating Dambo. 5 Canal St., Westerly. $5. Details here.

HOLY GUACAMOLE

Who makes the best guac around? Avocado fans, get to Providence Brewing Company May 1 for a “Wicked Best Guacamole Showcase and Tasting.” Local restaurants will also throw down in a “friendly competition.” Bonus: first 100 Early Bird passes get a free beer, according to billing. 10 Sims Ave. #Unit 110, Providence. From $15. Details here.

PARTY IN THE BALLROOM

FirstWorks — a Providence-based nonprofit with a mission “to enrich the social, educational and economic fabric of Rhode Island by engaging diverse audiences with world-class performing arts experiences” — is turning 20 and you’re invited to the party.

Head to the Ballroom at the Providence G on May 2. Your $75 supports FirstWorks programs in Rhode Island, according to the website. Expect to “mix and mingle with fellow supporters and friends” with “drinks and small bites.” On the evening’s docket: two “sets” from dancers Soledad Barrio & Noche Flamenca, steel pan and vocals by Becky Bass; Sidy Maiga with DJ Brazao, and raffle. 100 Dorrance St., Providence. Learn more about the artists here, here and here. Event details, FirstWorks details and artist videos here.

PAINTING BIRDS

When I interviewed an Audubon educator/artist this week about the power of noticing — and drawing — birds, Clare Walker Leslie told me: “Once you become aware, you care.” An advocate for nature journaling and drawing, Leslie had me reaching for my sketchbook. With that vibe in mind, head to Rhode Island Audubon’s Maxwell Mays Art Studio for “Watercolor From Nature 101.”

The first session on May includes experimenting with brushes, paper and paint to create a landscape with birds. In the second session on June 7, you’ll learn color theory and drawing basics. No experience necessary, all materials provided. Meet in the parking lot. Maxwell Mays Wildlife Refuge, 2082 Victory Highway, Coventry. Last day to register May 2. $125/non-members, $100 for members. Details here.

RHODE READS

As a Rhody book lover, I started this subsection because every week, there are great Rhode Island author and book events. In this week’s book news…

April 27 is National Independent Bookstore Day and women-owned Ink Fish books in Warren hosts its 6th Indie Bookstore Day Party. Expect free books, raffles, including a signed-copy giveaway of Jamie Brenner’s “A Novel Summer,” and two talented local authors:

Did you love Rhody’s own New York Times bestselling author Jessa Maxwell’s hit “The Golden Spoon”? Same. If you haven’t read it yet, the book — which earned raves — was billed by its publisher as “Only Murders in the Building” meets “The Maid” and that’s accurate. Maxwell, of Jamestown, will be on hand for the party, along with an Empanada Assassin pop-up from noon to 5 p.m.

Plus, Rhody native author Christa Carmen signs copies of her gothic novel “The Daughters of Block Island,” from 1-3 p.m. according to Ink Fish. 488 Main St., Warren. Details here.

For my picks on other Rhode Island indie bookstores, see here.

Until next week, Rhody: Keep rockin.’

Lauren Daley can be reached at ldaley33@gmail.com. Follow her on Twitter @laurendaley1.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee joined ABC6 Anchor Karah Bailey Thursday morning in studio to discuss the Washington Bridge and the lane changes he and RIDOT hope will relieve some of stress felt by commuters.

“I think we have a real effort right now with enforcement with our state police to reduce accidents”

McKee attributed most of the traffic backup to accidents that have occurred on the bridge.

“Safety has been our number one priority,” said McKee

“That’s the reason why we closed the bridge on December 11 because the safety issues far outweighed any other consideration.”

McKee reiterated that the reduction of accidents will help keep the flow of traffic going strong on the bridge.

McKee went on to say he believed that process to begin demolition and new construction would be moving ahead soon.

“Our anticipation is that before the end of the summer the demo work will begin and that sometime around this time next year, the new bridge, the construction on that will be in place.”

To the Editor,

It’s clear to me that Rhode Island Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi (D-Warwick) is trying his best to fix that which isn’t broken.

In his recent 15 bill package, addressing housing throughout Rhode Island, he is intent on side-stepping local Zoning Boards and taking State control (H-7062).

The motivation is to develop multi-unit housing in areas where it’s never been before. These areas would include business districts and industrial zones.

This is not to mention the possibility of apartment buildings and condominiums, conceivably, in residential areas reserved and designed for single family homes. Imagine, if you will, a second separate house in your next-door neighbor’s backyard. With no Zoning Board to intervene, YES it could happen under this plan.

It’s obvious there’s a shortage of housing throughout Rhode Island and this issue needs to be addressed, but in a thoughtful and precise way. A cookie-cutter approach statewide is no way to cure this problem. What’s right for Central Falls or Providence is not what’s right for Johnston or Cranston.

This legislation would eliminate the authority of local Boards allowing developers to simply erect multi-unit, or other housing, wherever they want with little or no local permitting. The elimination of local Zoning Boards or the combining of local Planning and Zoning Boards is a thinly veiled means of putting all control in the hands of the State by statute.

Local boards understand their towns, their comprehensive plans and the local neighborhoods. Most importantly, these boards understand the people who live and work there and are accountable to those same people.

Clearly the Speaker’s intent is to override all local control, creating tracts of housing like a runaway train, with no consideration for consistency of local architecture or neighborhood design, but most importantly no consideration for homeowners and businesses.

The Johnston Zoning Board has done a remarkable job of guarding the interests of our town. We dare not put that decision-making responsibility in the hands of the State or remove it by statute. You can imagine how that will turn out.

Let’s remember, these are our neighborhoods, this is our Town and we have the right to plan and shape it free of State interference, the way we see fit.

Richard Fascia, of Johnston

Member of both the Johnston Zoning Board & Johnston Republican Town Committee