Last month's extra-big full Moon was mostly lost in the clouds, but those of you who missed it will get another chance this weekend. This Saturday night, January 10, another extra-close, extra-big Moon is due. It will be the biggest full Moon of 2009, almost identical to the one we missed last month. The bad news.... forecasters are predicting snow for Saturday night, but it might not be here till late, in which case we might still catch the Moon... look for it in the East at sunset, about 5 p.m.

Click here for more info, from NASA.

Okay, the holidays are over, everyone's back at work, where is NNN? We're busy here behind the scenes finishing up a new design and fresh content, so we'll have lots of new features here for you soon! Meanwhile, our Community Calendar and Classifieds (including Green Jobs) continue to be updated daily, so check them out!

More soon!

New posts here at NNN will be slow for a couple of weeks while we take some holiday time, but there is still plenty of fresh content here for you!

Our NNN Community Calendar is continuously updated by users and by the indomitable Sue Korte.

Our Green Jobs and other ads also are updated by users, and the equally steadfast Jerry Noel.

Our Holiday Eco-Market is fresh and full of ideas for enjoying the season.

And we have loads of other content you can explore -- just click the items on the top navigation bar, or the categories in the left sidebar, to catch up with all the stuff we have here on the NNN site.

And enjoy your holidays! We have lots of amazing new stuff in the works for 2009!

As the year's end approaches, many of us, if we are lucky enough to have enough for ourselves and our families, think about ways we can give back to our community, and share what we can spare with those in need. With a crumbling economy bringing hard times for so many of our neighbors, it's tough to consider giving to anything other than programs that will meet those basic needs for food and shelter and warmth.

But while there are plenty of useful ways to contribute to those needs -- and we hope you will -- we hope you also will not forget about the many nonprofit groups we are lucky to have here in RI that work to create a better future for all of us. Yes we need food and shelter, but we also need forests and farms, we also need parks and clean rivers for children to play in, we need education and inspiration for the next generation. 

So when you think about what you can give, and where it should go, please keep in mind your neighbors who are working every day, year in and year out, to create a better Rhode Island for all of us. Click here for NNN's listing of these local advocacy groups. They need your support, now more than ever!

As we celebrate the Solstice and the start of a New Year, it's a good time to stop and say Thanks to all those who help the NNN network to keep going. Our infinite gratitude goes to all of these folks who contribute their time, their skill, their ideas, their inspiration, and their support to help us keep NNN fresh and new every day!

DJ Johnson * Bill Mott * Sue Korte * Jerry Noel * Susan Genett * Greg Gerritt * Ben Jones * Karina Lutz * Chris Kearns * Barry Schiller * Lisa Sussman * Bruce Campbell * Kyle Macdonald * Francine Jackson * Steve Stycos * Nancy Green * Jeff St. Germain and Little Falls Cafe * Eugenia Marks * Genie Trevor and Alex Corcoran at Edible Rhody * everyone at ECRI, ASRI, Apeiron, and CWA * Matt Auten * Sheila Dormody * Denise Parillo * July Lewis * John Martin, John Torgan, and everyone at STB * everyone at Farm Fresh, PP&L, and NBRR * Frank Carini * Fred Unger * Michelle St. Sauveur * Kathy Hodge * Kira Stillwell * Russ Waldron * Bob Chew and everyone at SolarWrights * Kathie Florsheim * Chip Young * Ian Donnis * Peter Lord * Erich Stephens * John Flaherty * Craig & Kathe Ross * Caro Roszell * Kiersten Marek * Matt Jerzyk * Jim Malloy * Bill Gerlach * everyone at Green Drinks in Providence, Newport, and South County * everyone on our mailing list! * everyone who contributes ideas, input, and support! * and everyone who visits the NNN site!

Thanks to all for your support of NNN in 2008, and be sure to come back in 2009 for lots of exciting new projects!

You might have seen Save The Bay's Uncommon Guide to life in the Bay, which has been around for quite a few years. This new edition is not just an update but an extreme makeover, with lots of new information and a beautiful new format. Check it out at STB's site, and you can buy online!

And don't forget the other new Bay book, just out this summer, with pix by Richard Benjamin and text by Baykeeper John Torgan. Click here for all the info.

What the heck is the Solstice anyway? Most folks aren't quite clear what it means and why it happens.

We can explain it so it makes sense, and you can impress your relatives around the holiday dinner table with your insight into the forces of nature.

For the full story, click on "More..."!

It's a busy week for most of us to add in one more event, but this one is special. Matt Jerzyk, who has created one of our state's best blogs, RI's Future, has passed his bar exam, got a real job, and sold the site to an as-yet-unnamed new owner. We have faith that Matt has chosen carefully and the site will continue to provide great news and commentary every day. Matt's blog truly fulfills the role of the press in a democracy, helping to keep our community informed and also helping to expand and strengthen that community. We wish him well in his next chapter, and look forward to meeting the new blog owners at Tuesday's celebration!

Tomorrow night, Tuesday, December 23, starting at 6pm at the Wild Colonial, Drinking Liberally and RIFuture.org will combine forces to celebrate the departure of Matt and learn the identity of the new blog owners.

Click here for the Facebook invitation, which includes a map to find the Wild Colonial.