-
Table of Contents
CALENDAR 17CLASSIFIEDS 22COMMUNITY BRIEFS 4CROSSWORD 21EDITORIAL
6MAINSHEET 11NAVY NEWS 10POLICE LOG 5REALTY TRANSACTIONS 7RECENT
DEATHS 22RESTAURANTS 14-18SPORTS 18
www.Newport-Now.comTwitter.com/newportnow
Facebook.com/newportnow
MAINSHEET PAGE 11
WHATS INSIDE
LOCAL NEWS MATTERS PLEASE SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS
Vol. 39, No. 14 THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 2011 BORN FREE
High school girls fast pitch softball got underway for local
schools yesterday and, in a match up of Aquidneck Island rivals,
the Middletown High School girls romped over Rogers in a Division
II-South opener. The final score was 11-1. In the photo above, the
Vikings team captain, Maryellen Mel Settle, takes a big swing at an
Islander pitch, called for by Middletowns catcher, Glenn Murphy.
The Islanders play, next, at Barrington High School on April 9th,
while Rogers will swing for their first win on April 11 at East
Greenwich. Photo by Rob Thorn
See FIRE CUTS on page 3
Swinging Into Spring
Soilless Growing Takes Root at SRU
While the basement room doesnt look like much right now, SRUs
Sister Leona Misto points out details to Irving Backman and Eric
Milner, in what will become a state-of-the-art hydroponics lab
by
the end of April. (Photo by Meg ONeil)
NATURE PAGE 19
See SALVE on page 2
Temporary NFD Staffing Compromise
By Tom Shevlin
The citys firefighter union scored a quick victory on Friday,
temporar-ily staying a plan by the city admin-istration to cut the
departments minimum staffing levels.
According to David Hanos, presi-dent of Newport Firefighter
Local 1080 IAFF, both sides have agreed to a temporary restraining
order that will keep the city staffed at 19 firefighters until a
full hearing on the citys plan can be held.
The agreement was reached on the same day that the city had
planned on reducing the minimum staffing level from 20 men per
shift to 17, in what administration offi-cials say is part of a
impending city-wide restructuring program.
Operating without a formal con-tract since June 30, 2005, the
union had filed a request for an injunction on Friday, April 1 in
Superior Court claiming that reducing the force down to 17 man
shifts was unsafe
See CYCLISTS on page 7
Group Aims for Cyclists Paradise
By Tom Shevlin
Bari George isnt a competitive cyclist. She doesnt own an
ultra-light road bike, you wont find her in spandex, and shes not
interested in breaking any speed records on her jaunts around Ocean
Drive. But George does live in Historic Hill, and when the weather
breaks, chances are youll find her car in the drive-way and her
bike on the road.
Frankly, it makes sense for her to pedal rather than drive; gas
prices are on the rise, parking is at a pre-mium, and she lives in
the heart of the city, just a stones throw from a wealth of
shopping, restaurants, and the recreation points.
However, as anyone who navi-gates the mash of cars and
pedes-trians that clog the citys streets during the summer months
can tell you, biking in Newport can be tricky.
In an almost unspoken traffic hi-erarchy, cars rule our
roadways. Pe-destrians and scooters fill in a space just below.
Bicycles, though a criti-cal form of transportation for many in our
community, rank somewhere lower still.
Consider this: We have dedicated walking trails like the Cliff
Walk and Harbor Walk; we even have a blue trail designed for kayaks
and other small craft in the inner harbor. But
By Meg ONeil
Walking through a basement corridor of Salve Regina University,
a figurehead appears almost vis-ibly excited in an otherwise
drea-ry cellar room of the Hunt & Reefe residence hall.
Sister Leona Misto, Vice President for Mission Integration and
Plan-ning, is welcoming a small group to the bare expanse of a
room. The space is monastic; with concrete floors, an exposed
dropped ceiling, and dated wooden wall panels, lit only by the
yellowish glow of fluo-rescent lighting.
Its hard to imagine that, soon, this room is not only expected
to turn into a lab for the new Envi-ronmental Studies program at
the university, but also projected to produce a plethora of plants,
veg-etables, and fruits in the coming months.
Using hydroponic gardening methods, which allow growing to occur
with only mineral and nutri-ent rich water, the new lab has tak-en
root in the basement at SRU.
Its hard to picture at first; the suspended ceiling, with the
panel-ing taken out, leaves only a tic-tac-toe-like matrix of
aluminum beams left in place as a means of hanging various lighting
systems that will be used to grow plants in a controlled climate.
But, as Assistant Professor Dr. Jameson Chace explains, its the
very lack of windows and climate controlled capability that make
the location perfect.
According to Misto, the lab equipment will be installed by the
end of April, and growing plants by June.
If the new lab performs as an-ticipated, it could help transform
how we look at local agriculture.
The project is the result of a col-laborative effort between
SRU, Bos-ton College, and Massachusetts philanthropist, Irving
Backman.
The two campuses are working closely together in an effort to
be-come the leading hydroponics ed-ucation program on the East
Coast.
Backman, who donated the lab equipment to both SRU and BC, sees
the opportunity for hydro-ponics as a way to both reinvent the way
the world produces food and solve the worlds food short-age. It
isnt rocket science, he says. But, in a sense, it is. Were re-
producing what nature has done, and creating crops without soil.
If we can eliminate soil, were ulti-mately eliminating
pesticides.
Brought together by Provi-dence-based social venture pro-gram,
Betaspring, together, this team of agricultural innovators is
hoping to parlay their Grow-house concept into a commercial-ly
viable business model.
Theyve dubbed the project GrowhouseRI.
According to hydroponics ex-perts, the growing time for
hydro-ponic plants is faster than it is with traditional outdoor
planting meth-ods. Planting outdoors poses two major limitations:
limited outdoor
months in which to grow, and lim-ited light due to weather
condi-tions and the darkness of night.
In a hydroponics lab, a variety of different indoor lighting
sys-tems double the growth period, shortening the amount of time it
takes for a plant to reach maturity. By doubling growth time, twice
as much food can be produced. Not only is food production
increased, but proponents say that the yield can be even healthier
than organ-ic standards, as the water used in organic growing may
not be as clean as that used in a hydropon-ic system.
-
Page 2 Newport This Week April 7, 2011
AROUND TOWN
SALVECONTINUED FROM PG. 1
Home is here to stay.
Connecting You To A Network of Solutions:
CONCIERGE SERVICE
HOUSEKEEPING
HOME MAINTENANCE
ERRANDS
MEALS
LOCAL DISCOUNTS
HOME HEALTH CARE
AND MUCH MORE..
Quality Resources for Ages 50+
Child & Family31 John Clarke Road Middletown, RI 02842
401-848-4100
www.LivingWellInNewport.com
Everyone Loves a Parade... and AwardsAt an award ceremony, held
following the St. Patricks Day Parade, outstanding entrants
were recognized with plaques and certificates. The celebration
was held at the Coastal Ex-treme Brewing Company in Newport.
Hostess Laura Blackwell, below, presented a $2,000 donation from
the brewery to St. Patricks Day parade chair, Dennis Sullivan. The
young-est to come forward, was the son of Mike Farley, who is seen
at right holding the Best Float award in recognition for the Soap
Box Derbys parade entry. The Mystic Highland Pipe Band, one of four
bands acknowledged by parade judges, attended in full regalia for
the evening. Sullivan also announced that Chaz Donovan, a 30-year
veteran of the parade committee, will be honored as Grand Marshal
of the 2012 St. Patricks Day parade. Next years parade will also be
dedicated to the late Jim Toppa. (Photos by Rob Thorn)
With the confines of a small 120 square-foot classroom at BC,
As-sociate Professor Michael Barnett, head of the new hydroponic
class-room at the college, is expected to produce a crop of
lettuce, spinach, and cucumbers that would normal-ly be yielded
from roughly a half acre of land. As the project proves to be
successful, and the lab space can expand, so can the possibilities
of growth.
What can be grown in such a small space, like a classroom at BC,
and a larger basement room at SRU, is just the beginning of what
could become the next wave of food pro-duction in the United
States.
Breaking it down to a local lev-el, Barnett explains the
education-al possibilities hydroponics could bring to a community.
The collabo-ration between SRU and BC is not just a program for
those at the col-lege level. It will be a means of com-munity
outreach; extending knowl-edge learned at the universities, to the
high schools, middle schools, and elementary schools, and
ulti-mately, the homes in those com-munities.
As Barnett explains, the science behind hydroponics is a
practice that is geared toward lifelong learn-ing at a multitude of
levels.
While the BC project is only a few months ahead of Salves,
propo-nents say the idea of connecting to younger students in the
communi-ty is apparent in both.
Local elementary students can learn the germination process and
sprout the seedling, Barnett says. From there, the plant would go
to the older middle and high school students, who have been trained
with the undergrads, to raise the plants to maturity in the labsall
while learning the science and math used in hydroponics. Kids can
do pretty sophisticated work in the lab.
Once the food is harvestable, it can be served in the cafeterias
of lo-cal schools or sent home with stu-dents. Its a way to keep
kids en-gaged and motivated, says Barnett. This way, students get
hands-on ex-perience growing their own food.
Backman elaborated that tradi-tional Farm to School programs
have been hampered locally by New Englands climate. People cant
start planting until May or June, he explains, and the primary
grow-ing months occur during the sum-mer, while children are on
vacation. With a controlled environment, we can plant seeds in a
controlled set-tingall year long.
If the hydroponics labs at the two universities are successful
endeav-ors, the possibility of expansion to larger facilities is
imminent, advo-cates say.
The future of food is here, as Backman continues, As (President)
Obama said, we need innovative technologies to move our country
forward.
On this issue, Newport appears to be on the leading edge.
55th
Ann
ual N
ewport St. Patricks Day Parade
Saturday March 12 2
011
-
April 7, 2011 Newport This Week Page 3
86 Broadway, Newport, R.I. 02840401-847-7766 401-846-4974
(fax)
A publication of Island CommunicationsCopyright 2011
WHO WE ARE
Editor: Lynne Tungett, Ext. 105News Editor: Tom Shevlin,
Ext.106Advertising Director: Kirby Varacalli, Ext. 103Page Design:
Annette Desrosiers
Contributors: Florence Archambault, Pat Blakeley, Ross Sinclair
Cann, Jill Connors, Ray FullertonCynthia Gibson, Marybeth Hunte,
Katherine Imbrie, Jack Kelly, Patricia Lacouture, Portia Little,
Meg ONeil, Aaron Phaneuf, Federico Santi, Mary Weaver
Interns: Kerri Adams, Paige FariasPhotographers: Rob Thorn,
Laurie Warner
HOW TO REACH US
News: [email protected]:
[email protected]:
[email protected]
ONLINENewport-Now.comTwitter.com/newportnowFacebook.com/newportnow
OUR FAMILY OF PRODUCTS
NewportNowFree. Online. Local.News
www.Newport-Now.com
The Pineapple PostNewports tourism event guide
www.ThePineapplePost.com
FIRE CUTS CONTINUED FROM PG. 1
FASTERPICTURE
FRAMINGGet the BEST for LESS!Now Oering Engraving!
Quality Newporters have trusted since 1870
a r n o l d a r t . c o m
ARNOLD ART CENTREPolo Center
714 Aquidneck Avenue, Middletown846-3349
ARNOLD ART GALLERY210 Thames Street, Newport
847-2273
NTW - April 6, 2011
Garden Objects Antiques Unique Gifts9 Bridge Street, Newport
401.848.8477www.cottageandgardennewport.com
A shyodalisqueto graceyour garden
3.81 wide x 5 high
Reservations 849-6334Great Restaurant
brickalley.com
103 Clock Tower Square (Rt.114) Portsmouth,
RIdeborahwinthrop.coP 682-2272
Join us o
n
for specia
l
promotion
s!
EXPERT BRA FITTINGHanky Panky - SASSY BAX - Wacoal -
Chantelle
Miss Elaine - SPANX - Fleurt - COMMANDOFantasie - Much
More!!!
Middletown OKs Coyote HunterBy Tom Shevlin
Over the objections of a dozen or so animal rights activists,
Town Council members here voted on Monday to approve an ordinance
change that would allow the town to hire a professional hunter to
deal with Middletowns growing coyote problem.
The move comes on the heels of an island-wide coyote summit held
in February and affirms a proposal by the police chief to combat
over-ly-aggressive coyotes.
In a memo to councilors, Police
Chief Anthony M. Pesare request-ed that Chapter 90.01 of the
towns municipal ordinances be amended to allow the chief to allow,
at his or her discretion, hunting of an identi-fied nuisance animal
with a firearm other than a shotgun. If authorized, no caliber size
above .229 would be permitted, and hunting will be re-stricted from
April 1 Sept. 1.
According to Pesare, certain pred-atory animals, specifically
coyotes, cannot be effectively hunted due to their limited range.
The change in the ordinance would allow the police department to
authorize a hunter or landowner to use a more
effective weapon. The ordinance would not affect other existing
re-strictions on hunting such as license requirements, landowner
permis-sions, or the discharging of firearms in densely populated
areas.
Its the children were concerned about, said council president
Art Weber. The chief is doing what hes supposed to do to serve and
protect, and were supporting his efforts.
The hunter, who will only be compensated for bullets and
mile-age, has not been identified. He could begin hunting within
the next two weeks.
and violated the terms of the latest arbitrators ruling.
Stopping short of granting a full injunction, Judge Stephen P.
Nu-gent issued a temporary restraining order after the two sides
met in a closed door meeting.
Attorney Elizabeth Wiens, who represented the union in the
mat-ter, said the order was agreed to by both sides, and
essentially main-tains the status quo until an full hearing could
be held on April 20.
Hanos, who had voiced his con-cern over the implications that
the planned cuts would have on the safety of his men and on the
city, was buoyed by the ruling.
This is really significant, he said. With 19 men per shift,
Hanos said that the department would be able to keep both aerial
trucks in opera-tion, hopefully, until a final contract agreement
is reached.
Up until this week, the city had planned on honoring an expired
contract which required a mini-mum of 19 firefighters per shift
during the winter, and 20 firefight-ers per shift in the summer.
The city was preparing to move up to its 20 man shift on April
1.
But according to City Manager Ed-ward F. Lavallee, the reduction
was needed in order to cope with a po-tentially crippling budget
deficit.
On paper, the fire department has 99 positions, including 11
un-filled vacancies and seven admin-istrative employees. That
means, there are 81 firefighters that can be spread out over four
platoons. The city hadnt planned on cutting any actual active
positions, but is rath-er hoping to reduce the amount in overtime
paid out over the course of a year by reducing its minimum manning
requirement.
Thats something that both the city and the union have discussed
for some time, as negotiations have been ongoing for months. In
fact, according to individuals familiar with the discussions, the
two sides had been close to a deal at least once over the summer,
but things fell apart before a final contract could be signed.
According to Hanos, his union had been prepared to reduce
staff-ing to 18 man shifts, plus give up a dispatcher position.
Whether the two sides can come to an agreement before their
April 20 court date remains to be seen. Hanos said Friday that he
looks for-ward to sitting back down to the bargaining table.
Building Committee Asks for Less Whimsy
By Tom Shevlin
Given their first glimpses of a pair of revised exterior designs
for the new Claiborne d. Pell Ele-mentary School, members of the
Pell School Building Committee agreed on Wednesday to pursue a more
traditional appearance over one that featured what architects
described as touches of whimsy.
During a roughly hour-long presentation, HMFH Architects Matthew
LaRue and Laura Wer-nick took committee members through a
PowerPoint presenta-tion in which they laid out the pro-cess that
ultimately led them to the two most recent designs for the $30
million school.
LaRue explained how the resi-dential nature of the neighbor-hood
had influenced their de-sign. The goal, he said, is to create a
building which does not over-whelm its surroundings, while at the
same time providing a stimu-lating learning environment for school
children.
Wernick explained that the goal of the exercise was not to pick
one design over another, but rather to identify specific elements
which the committee responded to.
The committee was then pre-sented with two design
investiga-tions: Option A and Option B.
Featuring a sloping roof in the center span of the building,
clock tower, and colorful perforated metal panels to accent the
outside of the building, Option A incor-porated what LaRue
described as some playful elements. It would also feature an entry
plaza with separate entry canopies for the upper and lower schools,
as well as an arbor which could be used to grow vines or other
vegetation.
But several members of the com-mittee expressed reticence over
the design, citing community re-action to other schools where
tra-dition was put aside for whimsy.
People still complain about the new Rogers High School, said
School Committee Member San-dra J. Flowers.
Option B, on the other hand, featured most of the same win-
dow placements and setbacks, but a more traditional roofline and
no metal panelling.
School Superintendent Dr. John H. Ambrogi likened the
streetscape to that of a row of townhouses. The more classic
building fits bet-ter in the community, he said, add-ing that
Option B features cleaner lines that he believes will stand the
test of time.
Building Committee Member Marty Grimes agreed. He said that he
thought that Option A would age more quickly over time than Option
B.
I dont really like whimsy, he said.
At that point, Wernick interject-ed, Who likes whimsy?
Building Committee Chair Jo Eva Gaines offered some tepid
support. I like a little whimsy, she said.
Wernick noted that the building is not meant, necessarily, for
the community, but for kids. This is a place for little kids, she
said, its a place for them.
But the consensus of the group was to take the money that would
otherwise be spent on playful ex-terior elements and allocate it
to-ward the interior learning space.
Soon after, the 10 committee members in attendance voted
unanimously to pursue Option B.
From there, discussion moved to the buildings exterior cladding.
Under the proposal put forth by HMFH, the front of the building
would be comprised of brick, simi-lar to Thompson Middle School.
The back of the building would be clad with a concrete-based
materi-al, similar in look to granite, which could come in a number
of differ-ent colors.
Ambrogi suggested that the committee hold a public meet-ing with
neighbors at the Sullivan School in the coming weeks to fur-ther
discuss the design, for which there was broad agreement.
On a final note, committee mem-bers indicated that beginning
later this month, future meetings would be held on Tuesday
evenings, as opposed to Wednesdays in order to encourage more
participation.
-
NEWS BRIEFSPage 4 Newport This Week April 7, 2011
One-Of-A-Kind-GiftsFine Antiques, Furniture,
Jewelry, Art, Books, Sports Memorabilia, Novelties
and Much More!Turn your treasures into cash!
We accept antiques for Consignment. Call or come by
for further details.Open Daily 10-5
365 Thames St., Newport401-848-2398
armoryantiquesnewport.com
Armory AntiquesRILF
Do you have a treasured item and want to know what its worth?
Send an image, as hi-res as possible, directly to Federico at:
[email protected] or 152 Spring St., Newport
For What Its WorthMr. Santi,
The enclosed photos of a marble head has been in our family for
a long time. It looks like it was broken off a larger statue, but
the back side is flat and it sits on a table evenly. I saw a
similar item on The Road Show a few years ago and it was worth over
$20,000. How old is our head and what is it worth? Marisa G.
Marisa,After looking at the several photos
you emailed, your head is a grand tour copy sold to tourists in
the late 19th century. This type of carving was mass-produced for
tourists who wished a memento of their trip to Italy. Period Roman
era sculptures are valuable while sculptures such as this one have
a value of between $500 and $600.
Coffee Hour with NTWJoin members of the Newport
This Week staff at The Peoples Caf on Thames St. on Friday
mornings, at 10 a.m. Sit down and enjoy a cup of coffee and discuss
the latest hap-penings in Newport. Got any news tips for us? How
about an idea for a story youd like to see in New-port This Week or
on Newport-Now.com?
Federico Santi, Partner, The Drawing Room Antiques (We receive
about 30 emails each week requesting information,
so please be patient; we will get to yours, in due time.)
49 Touro Streeton Historic Washington Square
401.846.5252www.janepickens.com
Friday, April 8th 12:30 3:00 7:45pm
Saturday, April 9th Noon 2:30 4:45 7:30pm
Sunday, April 10th Noon 2:30 4:45 7:30pm
Monday, April 11th 2:30 4:45 7:30pm
Tuesday, April 12th 2:30 4:45 7:30pm
Wednesday, April 13th 2:30 4:45 7:30pm
Thursday, April 14th 1:30 4:00pm
Jane EyreA new version of an old classic
Looking Upwards presentsCompassion Film Festival
April 8th 6-7:30pm $10
How Can Acupuncture Help You?
Shawna E.M. Snyder, D.Ac., M.A.O.M.
AQUIDNECK ISLAND ACUPUNCTURE170 Aquidneck Ave. Middletown
Find Out How, When You Listen To:
To The Point with Dr. ShawnaEvery Saturday Morning
From 10 10:30 a.m.on 1540 AM WADK Radio
www.AquidneckAcupuncture.com [email protected]
401-297-1642
Nominate a Newport Preservation Project
Nominations are now being ac-cepted for the 2011 Doris Duke
His-toric Preservation Awards, which celebrate preservation
excellence in Newport. Application deadline is Friday, April 29.
Each year, indi-vidual homeowners, non-profit or-ganizations or
local businesses are honored for their contributions to the
community. A wide variety of projects may be nominated, in-cluding
small or large buildings; landscapes or streetscapes; educa-tion or
advocacy projects; sustain-able green building preservation; and
projects showcasing crafts-manship or artisanship. Nomina-tions are
due by Friday, April 29. Visit www.newportrestoration.org or email
lisa @newportrestora-tion.org for nomination informa-tion. Award
recipients will be rec-ognized in a ceremony at Doris Dukes Rough
Point on Friday, Sep-tember 9. Event proceeds are giv-en as grants
to fund community preservation projects.
HAVE NEWS?Send your
announcementsby Friday to
news@newportthis week.net
DURIS STUDIOS
Open Wed.Mon. 115
26 Franklin St Newport, RI
401-849-1540
www.kevinduris.com
Inn Gains Elite StatusThe Mill Street Inn was recently
selected as a member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World
(SLH) brand. A former 19th-century mill, the inn at 75 Mill St.,
was convert-ed to an all-suite hotel in the 1980s and has undergone
more than $1 million in major improvements un-der its current
ownership. It now features 23 newly renovated lux-ury suites. Only
the worlds finest small luxury hotels are accepted into the SLH
brand based on strict criteria. The Mill Street Inn is proud to be
part of an unrivaled portfolio consisting of 500 hotels in 70
coun-tries.
Roger Williams Names President
The Roger Williams University Board of Trustees has named
edu-cator, scientist and attorney Donald J. Farish, Ph.D., as its
10th president. Chairman Richard L. Bready an-nounced the selection
on March 29 to university students, faculty and staff at a campus
event. Dr. Farish concludes a 13-year term as presi-dent of Rowan
University in Glass-boro, N.J. this semester and will take office
on July 1. He succeeds Ronald O. Champagne, Ph.D, who has served as
interim president at RWU since Aug. 2010.
Self-Image of WomenThe womens group, Women Em-
powered and Blessed (W.E.B.), of the United Congregational
Church in Middletown invites the public to attend a discussion in
the churchs Manchester Room on Monday eve-ning, April 11 at 7 p.m.
The church is located at the corner of Green End Avenue and Valley
Road. This discussion of self-image, for wom-en of all ages, will
be led by Dara Chadwick, Psychology Today blog-ger and author of
the award-win-ning book, Youd Be So Pretty If.Teaching Our
Daughters to Love Their Bodies-Even When We Dont Love Our Own.
Tweens, teens, and women of all ages are invited to at-tend.
Refreshments will be served. The discussion is free, but those
at-tending are asked to bring an ac-cessory appropriate for a
teenage girl; these will be donated to the Ophelia Project of The
Child and Family Services.
Free Sign Language Classes
The Friends of the Jamestown Library is offering a free, 10-week
sign language class on Wednesday evenings at 7 p.m. through June 8
at the library. Gemma Guinguing, Miss Deaf Rhode Island in 2005,
will teach the class. For more in-formation visit
www.jamestownri.com /library/
Middletown Rotary Cereal Night
The Middletown Rotary Club held a Cereal Night food and
fundraiser for Lucys Hearth on March 23 at the Middletown Library.
Food was collected and more than $200 was raised; many monetary
donations were received from people coming to use the library.
Donations will be accepted through April. For more information, or
to make a donation, call club president Carol Mitchell at
737-2221.Food & Wine Expo
The third annual Food & Wine Expo will be held at OceanCliff
on April 7 from 6 to 9 p.m. The ticket donation is $25, with
proceeds to benefit the music departments of Newport, Middletown
and Ports-mouth High Schools. The evenings musical entertainment,
which is do-nated, will be provided by Dick Lu-pino, Mac Chrupcala,
Dennis Cook, and Jeff Fountain.
Swanhurst Spring Concert
Back to Bach, Swanhurst Cho-rus Spring Concert will honor
Jo-hann Sebastian Bach with an of-fering of two choral
masterpieces, the Motet BWV 227, Jesu, meine Freude, and Cantata
#4, Christ lag in Todesbanden. The chorus will be accompanied by a
chamber orches-tra on Sunday, May 1 at 4 p.m. at the Church of S
John the Evangelist, corner of Washington and Willow streets.
Tickets are $20 and $10 for students. Visit www.Swanhurst.org or
call 682-1630 for more informa-tion or to reserve advance
seating.
Two Gentlemen of Verona at Salve
Salve Regina Universitys De-partment of Performing Arts will
close its season with Two Gentle-men of Verona: the Musical, April
15-17. The show combines a Latin pop-rock score by the composer of
Hair with Shakespeares story. Di-rected by Salve Regina alumni and
New York City actor Bobby Matteau, the musical is the story of
lifelong friends who leave their rural home-town of Verona to
experience life in the big city of Milan. Performances will be in
the historic Casino The-atre, 9 Freebody St., at 8 p.m. on Fri-day
and Saturday, April 15-16, and at 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday,
April 16-17. Tickets are $15 for gen-eral admission, $10 for
seniors and $7 for students, and may be pur-chased by calling
341-2250.
Secret Garden Soire The Secret Garden Tours will host
Bouchard On Bellevue Trois, an el-egant afternoon at Bellevue
House, 304 Bellevue Ave., on Sunday, April 17, 1-3 p.m. Bellevue
House, owned by Ron Fleming, features beautiful-ly restored gardens
and the fund-raising event is timed to coincide with the blooming
of thousands of daffodils. Guests will be treated to a gourmet
cooking demonstration by Chef Albert Bouchard and win-etasting with
Susan Samson of Sa-konnet Vineyards. Tickets are $20 in advance/
$25 at the door (if avail-able). Proceeds benefit arts edu-cation
in Aquidneck Island public schools. Tickets are available at
www.secretgardentours.org.
Victor Borge Remembered
The Friends of the Newport Mu-sic Festival will host its spring
re-ception and presentation on Tues-day, April 12, at 5 p.m. at the
Pell Center, Salve Regina University. Ja-net Borge Crowle will
present My Father Victor Borge, A Daughters Reflections, discussing
the pro-fessional and personal aspects of his life, including his
childhood, escape from the Nazis, musical training and humanitarian
work. A longtime favorite of the Newport Music Festival and friend
of Mark Malkovich III, Borge drew record crowds each time he
appeared in Newport. Tickets are $25 and may be purchased by
calling the New-port Music Festival at 846-1133.
Cereal Nights Help Neighbors in Need
Aquidneck Islanders have stepped out in force in recent weeks to
support local food pantries. Two drives focusing on cereal have
net-ted great results. St. Pauls United Methodist Church invited
parish-ioners and members of the com-munity to meet for a cereal
dinner, asking participants to donate what they would have spent on
their evening meal to support local food programs. Proceeds were
donated to the Martin Luther King Center, the Salvation Army, the
Florence Gray Center and the Methodist Community Garden. Also, the
Mid-dletown Rotary Club held a Cereal Night food and fundraiser at
the Middletown Library. Many mon-etary contributions were received
from library patrons and all food and funds were donated to Lucys
Hearth.
-
April 7, 2011 Newport This Week Page 5
Newport Police LogDuring the period from Mon-
day, March 28 to Monday, April 4, the Newport Police Depart-ment
responded to 562 calls. This list has now been expanded to include
all public services provided. Of those, 125 were motor vehicle
related; there were 103 motor vehicle viola-tions issued and 22
accidents.
The police also responded to 12 incidents of vandalism, 16
animal complaints, 10 noise complaints and 22 home/busi-ness alarm
calls.
Officers also performed 10 liquor establishment checks and 14
school security checks (5-Rogers, 7-Thompson, 2-Cog-geshall). They
transported 7 pris-oners and recorded 10 instances of assisting
other agencies. They also conducted 8 DARE classes.
In addition, 32 arrests were made for the following
viola-tions:
n Six arrests were made for outstanding warrants.n Five arrests
were made for
disorderly conduct.n Four arrests were made for
possession of alcohol by a minor.n Four arrests were made
for
simple assault.n Three arrests were made for
manufacture, possession, or de-livery of narcotics.n One arrest
was made for
noise violation.n One arrest was made for
weapon law violation.n One arrest was made for
having a toy vehicle on a road-way.n One arrest was made for
trespassing.n One arrest was made for as-
sault with a deadly weapon.n One arrest was made for
driving with a revoked or sus-pended license.n One arrest was
made for
DUI.n One arrest was made for
open container of alcohol.n One arrest was made for
possession of marijuana.n One arrest was made for larceny.
Shantel N. Bailey Memorial Scholarship
The Shantel N. Bailey Memo-rial Scholarship was established in
memory of Shantel N. Bailey, a ju-nior at Middletown High School,
who was killed crossing West Main Rd. in November 2003. Two awards
are given annually, one for a gradu-ating senior from Middletown
High School and one for a graduating senior at Rogers High School.
Ap-plicants must be seniors as of June 2011 who will be attending a
two or four year college or educational program. Applicants must be
in-volved in interscholastic sports, ex-tra curricular activities,
have been involved in community service and be committed to
continuing his or her education. Applications are available at the
guidance offic-es at Middletown and Rogers high schools or at
www.shantelbailery-project.org. Deadline for applica-tions is May
15.
Organizations are welcome to send scholarship information to
[email protected]
The FinerConsignerMarch 23rd thru
April 9thMOVINGSALE
50-75% OFFEVERYTHING
IN THE STORE!Some Things FREE
Come early for best selection!OPEN AT NOON 7 DAYS
72 East Main Rd.Middletown
849-9162New Home in May
163 Aquidneck Ave.Middletown
We transferred our children to St. Michaels (in 4th and 6th
grade) last year, from a large public school in MA.
Switching to St. Michaels was the best thing we could have done
for our family. At St. Michaels, the teachers bring out the best in
children. They get to know them so well, individually, that they
can pull the least confident learner out of their shell, and help
all students get the most out of their education. Our children have
blossomed into confident and composed middle-schoolers with a love
of learning.
As parents, we have a small window in these formative years not
only to educate our children, but to get them prepared for the
challenges of the real world. We have found a partner in St.
Michaels in raising our children and know that their SMS education
will carry them confidently through to higher education and
beyond.
&RHGXFDWLRQDO1RQGHQRPLQDWLRQDO,QGHSHQGHQW
4VIWGLSSPXLVSYKL+VEHI
5KRGH,VODQG$YHQXH1HZSRUW5,
[[[WXQMGLEIPWGSYRXV]HE]SVK
Successful secondary school placement School culture that
promotes respect, trust and responsibility
'SQIXSSYV34)2,397)7EXYVHE]%TVMPXLEQ2SSRSVZMWMXSYVWGLSSPER]XMQI'SRXEGX(MVIGXSVSJ%HQMWWMSR7EPP]'EWI]
EXI\XSVIQEMPLIVEXWGEWI]$WQGHWSVK
=SYKIX32)',%2')XSIHYGEXI]SYVGLMPH;IFIPMIZI7X1MGLEIPW'SYRXV](E]7GLSSPMWXLIFIWX
&YXHSRXXEOISYV[SVHJSVMXEWOETEVIRX
- Steve and Zulekha, parents of two SMS students
DAR Chapter to Hold Meeting
The Aquidneck Island Chapter of the Daughters of the American
Revolution will hold a joint meet-ing with the Nathanael
Greene-Pet-taquamscutt Chapter of East Green-wich at the Newport
Public Library on Tuesday, April 12 at 2 p.m.
The guest speaker will be Mary Ann Huggins, who will talk about
her book Aesops Mirror.
At the March meeting, the fol-lowing slate of officers was
elected: regent, Barbara Simmons; vice-re-gent, Margaret Hendrick;
secretary, Maris Humphreys; treasurer, Linda Becker; registrar,
Rosemarie Mello and chaplain, Florence Archam-bault. They will be
installed at the May meeting.
The chapter is a merger of three Island chapters: the William
Ellery Chapter, the Colonel William Barton Chapter and the Major
William Tag-gart Chapter. The chapters merged into the Aquidneck
Island Chapter in 2001.
Membership is open to any wom-an 18 years or older, regardless
of race, religion or ethic background, who can prove lineal descent
from a patriot of the American Revolu-tion. The group meets the
second Tuesday of the month. For informa-tion, contact Barbara
Simmons at 849-2629.
The National Womens Council of Realtors selected the
Newport/Kent Washington Chapter to receive the Gold Award,
recognizing excellence in membership value for 2010. The award is
based on the quality of the local chapters membership recruitment
and retention, educational program-ming, leadership development and
communications. The Gold Award will be presented to the local
chapter at the councils national convention in Washington, DC this
May, and will be accepted by Shannon Buss, of Keller Williams
Realty, who serves as the councils Rhode Island governor and lo-cal
chapter president.
To learn more about the organization and membership
opportunities, please visit www.WCR.org or contact the local
chapter vice president of membership, Erica Sousa, 835-8523 or at
[email protected].
Nelson Eddy, RIs Own Russell Crowe, the Oscar-win-
ning star of the 2000 Film Gladia-tor, celebrates his 47th
birthday on April 7th. While this column usu-ally focuses on
film-related infor-mation that has taken place in and around
Newport, Mr. Crowe has never made a film here. We hope that
changes.
Rose Marie, a film starring Rhode Island born, Nelson Eddy and
Jea-nette MacDonald will be shown Wednesday, April 13, at 6:45 p.m.
at the Jamestown Library. Read more about Eddy on page 10.
The Newport Film Commission is a City of Newport Commission. For
more in-formation visit them on facebook: New-port Film Commission
or email them at [email protected]
Bike Ride for CharityThe public is invited to learn
about the clean water and hiv/aids charity: Blood:Water Mission
at a fundraiser to be held on Thursday, April 14, from 6-9 p.m. at
Aquidneck Pizza, 27 Aquidneck Ave. There will be food, games,
raffles and prizes. This summer, Newporters Lisa and Aaron Phaneuf
will be cycling from San Diego to Seattle (2,000 miles) to raise
support and awareness for the project. The pair will partner with
10 other riders passionate to help this cause to continue their
work in communities of need. The cost is $20 per person, with a
por-tion of the nights proceeds going toward the couples charity
ride.
Living Stations of the Cross Portrayal
Jesus Saviour Youth Group will present the Living Stations of
the Cross on Palm Sunday, April 17 at 7 p.m. and again on Good
Friday, April 22 at 3 p.m. at Jesus Saviour Church, 509 Broadway.
The public is invited to attend. For more infor-mation, call
847-1267.
Aquidneck Islands best place to work out.
951 Aquidneck Ave., Middletown, 401.619.0709,
bridgetofitness.com
....
....
....
....
....
....
.....
........
........................
. . . . .
. . . . . . . .
BTF BTW #15Exercise 5 times per week and you can
add up to 14 years to your lifespan
Design servicesfor gardens,containers &window boxes
+BTMLOQfOFPQLI401-644-8892
[email protected]
TwoGirlsDigging.....
Arts Week about to Kick Off
Spring into Art week is just around the corner, perfectly timed
to coincide with April school vaca-tion. This years celebration of
the arts in Newport County runs April 16-23, kicking off with an
open-ing reception on Friday, April 15 at Downtown Designs, 57
Broad-way, 4-6 p.m. Dozens of events are scheduled in Newport,
Middle-town, Portsmouth, Jamestown and Tiverton at 18 venues.
Theatre, mu-sic and visual arts for all ages are showcased across
Newport Coun-ty. Visit www.NewportArts.org or www.GoNewport.com for
a com-plete schedule.
Mentors Needed Turning Around Ministries (TAM)
provides support services for peo-ple recently incarcerated as
they transition back into the community. By providing counseling
and case management services, TAM assists individuals in becoming
productive members of society, finding jobs, housing and a
supportive social cir-cle, helping them avoid the recidi-vism that
often plagues former in-mates. The organization is in need of
mentors for those going through the reentry porcess and also for
people being placed in apartments through Housing First. TAM will
host a fundraising dinner and silent auction at the Green Valley
Coun-try Club in Portsmouth, April 16 at 6 p.m. Tickets are $50 and
are avail-able by calling 846-0607.
New Officers InstalledNational Association of Realtors
president, Ron Phipps, recently installed
the 2011 officers of the Newport/Kent Washington Chapter of the
Wom-ens Council of Realtors during ceremonies at Castle Hill Inn.
New officers installed were: president Shannon Buss, Keller
Williams Realty; president elect, Michelle Drum, Gustave White
Realty; vice president of member-ship, Erica Sousa, William Raveis;
treasurer, Cynthia Valenti Smith, Wash-ington Trust Bank; and
secretary, Anna Anton, William Raveis. Phipps also presented the
2010 Member of the Year Award to Nancy Rutter, Keller Wil-liams
Realty and the Entrepreneur of the Year Award to Shannon Buss.
Viking River CruisesExploring the World in Comfort
2 for 1 Early Booking Savings!e Rhine- Normandy- Danube
And Many More Sale ends soon, so contact us
Space still for New York City April 16th
Creaney Cruise & Travel, Inc.We do the Work, You Have the
Fun!
190 East Main Rd. Middletown, RI401-849-8956
www.creaneytravel.com
(From left to right) Barbara Jagolinzer, Elaine Southwick,
Shannon Buss, Ron Phipps (president, National Association of
Realtors),
Michelle Drum, Erica Sousa, Cynthia Valenti Smith and Anna
Anton.
-
Page 6 Newport This Week April 7, 2011
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Upcoming Municipal Meetings
NEWPORT
Regular Council Meeting, April 13 @ 6:30 p.m., T.B.A.
Regular Council Meeting, April 27 @ 6:30 p.m. City Hall-Council
Chambers
MIDDLETOWNPlanning Board, April 07 @ 3:30 p.m.
Comprehensive Community Plan Update Committee, April 7 @ 5
p.m.
Beach Commission, April 12 @ 4:30 p.m.
Please note that some meetings scheduled after press time may
not ap-pear above. For the latest upcoming meeting schedules visit
SOS.RI.Gov, or visit Newport-Now.com.
Lynne Tungett, Publisher & Editor
Tom Shevlin, Associate Publisher & News Editor
Letters PolicyNewport This Week encourages all citizens to
comment publicly on the events and times in which we live. We will
print any letter sent to us, adhering to guidelines for taste,
accuracy, fairness, and public interest. Letters must be signed by
the author and must include a telephone number and street address.
Letters are limited to 500 words. Direct letters to: Newport This
Week, 86 Broadway, Newport, RI 02840. Letters may also be sent via
email to [email protected], Attention: Editorial.
Corrections: We adhere to the highest standards of accuracy,
fairness and ethical responsibility. If you feel we have not met
those standards, please notify us.
Your opinion counts. Use it!Send your letters to:
[email protected]
EDITORIALHow Can City Close Deficit? Send Us Your Opinion
Nuclear Science Center in RI a Community RiskTo the Editor and
Governor Chafee:
Located on the University of Rhode Islands Narragansett Bay
campus, the Rhode Island Nuclear Science Center has operated for
nearly fifty years. Construction on the 2-megawatt research reactor
began in 1962 and reached criti-cality, or stable research
usability in 1964. Professor Dan Hirsch, the president of the
non-profit nuclear policy organization Committee to Bridge the Gap,
has commented that a reactor at this age is old in terms of safety,
security, and use-fulness. In the wake of Japans nu-clear crisis at
the Fukushima Daiichi plant, it is critical that we reevalu-ate the
use value of this facility and address the potential risks it poses
to the Rhode Island community.
What is the lifespan of this reactor? Is the state of Rhode
Island taking a risk by continuing to operate this aging
facility?
The initially projected operation-al lifetime of most nuclear
reactors is 30 to 40 years. When a reactor exists beyond this time
frame, its usefulness and stability must be as-sessed consistently
and rigorously. Because the reactor in Narragan-sett is quite small
and dedicated to research, its security threat is easily
underestimated.
Like many other research reac-tors in the nation, the Rhode
Island Nuclear Science Center convert-ed to low-enriched,
non-weapons grade uranium in 1994. The pri-mary security concerns
at facilities such as this are for the potential theft of nuclear
fuel, the targeting
of the reactor with an automotive bomb, and the possibility of
an er-rant, though catastrophic, reaction. Facility director Terry
Tehan has veri-fied that the enacted security sys-tem is fully
prepared to coordinate a response to any of these scenarios.
The cost of maintaining the Rhode Island Nuclear Science
Cen-terin terms of both budget and community riskcannot be
over-stated. Now, more than ever, we must reevaluate the utility of
nu-clear energy and research in Rhode Island. Following in the
example of similar research reactors at other universities, I
strongly encourage that you consider a decommission of the
facility.
Ray RickmanProvidence
For the first time in its 160-year history, a challenge has been
made by a South Korean yacht club for the Americas Cup. The Sail
Korea Yacht Club, represented by Team Korea, has been officially
accepted as a challenger for the 34th Amer-icas Cup, the team
announced on Wednesday.
Team Korea will be known as the White Tiger Challenge. The White
Tiger, or Baekho in Korean, is one of the revered ancient guardian
gods in Korean mythology, ferocious and potent, and a fitting image
for a team from one of the worlds major industrial nations with
long term Americas Cup ambitions.
Founder of Team Korea is Dong Young-Kim, an accomplished sailor
and the organizer of one of the big-gest prize money sailing events
in
the world, The Korea Match Cup.The inaugural 2011/12 Ameri-
cas Cup World Series begins this summer with three regattas to
be staged in Portugal, England and the USA further series are
planned for 2012/13, before the Louis Vuit-ton Cup for all the
challengers in San Francisco in 2013, followed by the 34th Americas
Cup match it-self. Racing begins in new AC45 catamarans, which are
then re-placed by giant 72-foot wing sailed monsters, potentially
capable of speeds over 40 knots, competing in a combination of both
fleet and match racing.
One of our major goals for the new Americas Cup is to enable
teams to be sustainable sports fran-chises, so were excited to see
Ko-rea enter the Americas Cup for the
first time, with sights set on build-ing a team for the future,
Chairman of the Americas Cup Event Author-ity, Richard Worth
said.
Having a country such as Korea enter the Americas Cup adds to
the global impact of our event, so were very pleased to welcome
Team Ko-rea to our growing field of interna-tional competitors.
Team Korea becomes the ninth Challenger accepted. They join two
teams each from France and Ita-ly, one each from China, Sweden,
Australia, and New Zealand, plus the defender from the USA. There
are three additional challengers who have yet to announce and two
more are in the process of having their challenges vetted, making a
total of 15 teams set to compete in the 34th Americas Cup.
Korea Announces First Americas Cup Challenge
As we recently reported, preliminary estimates show that the
City of Newport is facing a budget deficit upwards of $9 million.
In the current fiscal year, the city is being forced to make up
some $1.5 million.
The reasons for the gap are many: the economy, reduced state
aid, and mounting legacy costs.
Last week, we received an e-mail from a reader who had some
rather interesting suggestions to help close the citys projected
budget gap.
With the city manager poised to present his proposed budget to
the City Council later this month, were interested to know what
ideas you might have for either 1) generating new revenue, or 2)
cutting the budget.
Were looking for some creative ideas; ideas which could get our
elected officials thinking a bit outside the box.
This year, its up to us. There wont be any federal stimulus
money to save us; the state
is tapped dry. There are going to be hard choices made over the
next few weeks, and some in city government could very well be out
of a job, soon.
If you were on the City Council, what would you do? Is it time
the city moves to tax its non-profits? Is an admission
surcharge to summertime events the solution? What about work-ing
with the municipal court to come up with some creative ideas for
community service?
Councilors will begin the budget process next week when they
formally receive the administrations proposed budget at their
reg-ular April 13 meeting.
Perhaps we can get the discussion going here in print with your
suggestions.
If you have an idea on how the city can make ends meet, wed love
to hear them.
Send in your ideas electronically to [email protected],
or mail to Newport This Week, 86 Broadway, Newport, R.I. 02840, and
well print them here in our Letters section over the next several
weeks.
For space purposes, please try to keep letters to 450 words or
less, and be sure to include your name and mailing address for
veri-fication purposes.
-
April 7, 2011 Newport This Week Page 7
ffacebook.com/newportnow
CYCLISTS CONTINUED FROM PG. 1
Middletown
Portsmouth175 & 177 Mill Ln. Kurt & Ripa Paul Edenbach
Susan & Licinio Alves $355,000 11 Silva Ave. Lawrence &
Sandra Davies Katherine & Luca Dewey $300,000468 Turnpike Ave.
Steven & Heath Julian Stephanie & Dustin Metcalf
$255,000
Real Estate Transactions: March 21 March 28 Buyer Seller
PriceAddress
Newport
580 thames st . , wel l ington square401.619.4848
*VMIRHYWSRXSWIIEPPSJSYV*VMIRHP](IEPW
580 thames st . , wel l ington square401.619.4848
*SPPS[YWSR
TOMS LAWN & GARDEN EQUIPMENT, INC.1055 EAST MAIN
ROADPORTSMOUTH, RI 02871
(401) 683-0002
www.lawyernewportri.comFlanagan Law Oces, LLC
401.849.3337
ATTORNEYFRANCISJ. FLANAGANVETERAN TRIAL LAWYER NAVY JAG
VETERAN
Divorce Child CustodyMarital Estate Division/ProtectionMilitary
Divorce Pre-Nuptial AgreementsFederal & State Criminal
DefenseMilitary Defense Security ClearancesDUI Defense Private
Investigative Services
Now at the oces ofHoulihan, Managhan & Kyle, Ltd.Two
Marlborough Street, Newport, RI 02840Please see our new website at
lawyernewportri.com
In conjunction with the human-itarian agency World Vision, First
Presbyterian Church, Newport, is launching a drive to raise money
for basic supplies medicine, ban-dages, ointments, soaps,
wash-cloths and other items to stock AIDS Caregiver Kits for
distribu-tion to family members and friends of AIDS victims in
Africa and other AIDS-afflicted parts of the world.
A second phase will occur on Saturday, May 14, after the
supplies have been ordered and received, when volunteers will break
down the pallets of supplies, set up as-sembly tables in the church
dining room, sort the supplies, and pack
the contents of each kit. The as-sembled kits will then be sent
to a World Vision warehouse for ship-ment overseas.
An estimated 32.9 million people are living with HIV and AIDS
world-wide. Every day, more than 5,400 people die from AIDS. This
project will provide basic care which re-quires simple drug store
supplies often unavailable locally those who are living and dying
with AIDS can be comforted and helped by those closest to them.
The church invites community participation in both the fund
drive and the hands-on kit assembly process. Donations may be
sent
to the church office, 6 Everett St., Newport, until the
deadline, April 17. The total cost of each kit, in-cluding supplies
and shipping, is about $30, but donations need not be made to pay
for complete kits. Gifts of any amount are welcome.
Both adults and older youths are welcome to help assemble AIDS
Caregiver Kits. Names and contact information of volunteers may be
submitted to the church office by calling 847-1749 or emailing
[email protected].
For further information, con-tact AIDS Caregiver Kit Project
Di-rector Jim McGrath, 619-0292 or [email protected].
Gray Craig, the landmark man-sion overlooking Second Beach
purchased by actor Nicholas Cage in 2007, has sold.
Lila Delman Real Estate, the list-ing agent for the property,
an-nounced the sale on Monday. The buyers are Pamela and Andrew
Constantine.
Originally listed at $19 million in 2008, the price for the
opulent manse was recently reduced to $7.75 million. Cage purchased
the home in 2007 for $15,700,000, but was cited for unpaid taxes by
the town amounting to over $128,000.
Built in the tradition of the great English country manors, Gray
Craig occupies more than 27 acres of land abutting the Norman Bird
Sanctu-ary and Nelson Pond, with views of the Atlantic Ocean
beyond.
The Constantines are proud to proceed with the established
tradi-tion of respectful stewardship and plan to continue the
conservation and preservation undertaken by previous owners, Lila
Delman Real Estate said in a statement. They have a true
appreciation of historic buildings and extensive experience in
their restoration.
The Constantines plan to make Gray Craig available for rental to
those wishing to experience the beauty and tranquility of a seaside
country estate.
This is a significant sale in the context of the realities of
todays market, said Melanie Delman, pres-ident of Lila Delman Real
Estate. Rhode Island is positively impact-ed in that, as a
previously some-what undiscovered treasure, our high end properties
present as a significant value relative to other northeast
destinations. Buyers who have previously considered areas such as
Nantucket or the Hamptons are delighted by the beauty and
liv-ability of a place like Newport that is also so accessible from
New York and Boston.
unlike many other historic and sce-nic cities, Newport is at a
loss for bike trails.
But the issue is broader than that. To many, Newport lacks a
co-hesive cycling culture.
For years, civic leaders have es-poused the need to promote
bicy-cling as an alternate mode of trans-portation. But bringing
concept into reality has proven elusive. Thats where George comes
in.
Hoping to boost the citys cycling consciousness, for the last
several months, George has been spear-heading a multi-pronged
effort to make Newport more bike-friendly.
Working with city and school officials, George believes New-port
can be a model, bike-friendly, road-sharing city.
Bike Newport, and its associ-ated Website BikeNewport.me,
launched in earnest this week. Working toward nothing less than a
fundamental shift in the way the city views and approaches
bi-cycling, George can picture a day when people tourists and
resi-dents, alike leave their cars at home or in public parking
facilities removed from downtown and opt to bike, walk, and
trolley.
The result would be less traffic, quieter neighborhoods, and an
overall healthier city.
On Tuesday, George met with city officials in the morning and
then joined Schools Superinten-dent Dr. John H. Ambrogi at a
meeting with state education offi-cials in the afternoon.
Plans are currently underway to develop a K-12 grade-appropriate
curriculum centered around the concept, and according to George,
both the Met School and the New-port Public Schools have signed on
with the project.
According to a 2009 U.S. De-partment of Transportation study,
the percentage of students walk-ing or bicycling to school has
de-creased from 48 percent to 13 per-cent in the past 40 years. In
the same period, the percentage of
students arriving or leaving by car has increased from 12
percent to 44 percent. Not surprisingly, child-hood obesity has
seen an increase from 5 percent to 28 percent in the same
period.
On the city side, momentum is building toward developing an
ed-ucational outreach program that would educate bikers on the
rules of the road.
Thats just the beginning. The group plans on kicking things off
in style with the citys first Bike to Work Day on Friday, May 20.
Join-ing the organizing effort are the AARP, Aquidneck Island
Planning Commission, the Met School, New-port Historical Society,
the City of Newport, T3 Fitness, Ten Speed Spokes, Newport County
Chamber of Commerce, and the Newport and Bristol County Convention
and Visitors Bureau.
The day will start out with a breakfast meet up at the Friends
Meeting House, followed by a mid-day press conference, and a
com-munity ride to King Park where the day will wrap up with a
city-wide bike fair. Any money raised during the fair will go to
fund the proposed bicycling education pro-gram at local
schools.
The CVB has also signed on to produce the first Newport City
Bike Map, which would provide cyclists with the safest and most
scenic routes in Newport, as identified by the state Department of
Transpor-tation.
According to George, whatever concerns or objections there might
be to promoting more cycling the narrowness of our historic
streets, the condition of the roads, and cur-rent lack of dedicated
signage have all been faced by other com-munities around the
country.
What it all boils down to, she says, is making Newport a
healthier, more livable city. Well be following along the efforts
of Bike Newport in future editions of Newport This Week. For more
on the group, visit us online at Newport-Now.com.
Cages Gray Craig Sells
Helping the world of AIDS sufferers
30 Concord Dr. William & Judith Nagle Finbarr Murray
$410,000 38 Sanderling Way, Unit 2C Bay Ridge Dev. Corporation
Dennis & Pauline Klodner $349,000 1965 Stewart Coach John
OConnor, Mary Ellen Joan & Alex Appel $15,400 Watkins &
Patricia Pritchard
62 Third St. Blue Rock Property LLC James Brown & $600,000
Rebecca Toppa 44 Clarke St. Gregory & Maria Mellekas
Christopher Fiumara $465,0001401 Capelle South Christin &
Margaret Montalbano Gerald Hussey $280,000 52 Morton Ave. Luca
& Katherine Dewey Jill Blanchard $255,000 18 Newport Ave.
Thomas Harris & Ellen Retlev Lisa Silvia & Matthew $250,000
Bruneau 5 Nicol Terr. Christopher & Erin Parker Gregory &
Maria Mellekas $234,500 18 Weaver Ave. Todd Pietrasiak & Jason
Scott Ara Millette $232,000 21 Hope St. Federal National Mortgage
Assoc. Jonathan Kenney $221,007
-
Page 8 Newport This Week April 7, 2011
Were committed to improving the health of Rhode Islanders. Thats
why were offering a new health plan for people with pre-existing
health conditions. To qualify, you must:
Be uninsured for at least six months and a Rhode Island resident
who is lawfully in the United States
Have certain pre-existing medical conditions
Not be eligible for employer-sponsored coverage, Medicaid,
Medicare, or other programs
Need health insurance?
Have a medical condition?
Applications are accepted on a monthly
basis. Apply now.
To learn more about this plan or other health plan options,
please go to BCBSRI.com or call 1-800-252-1219.
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island is an independent
licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
03/11 DPAY-8653
We have a plan for you!
The Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan for Rhode Island is
offered under a contract with the U.S. Office of Health & Human
Services and is made possible by the Patient Protection &
Affordable Care Act. Enrollment may be limited due to limitations
in federal funding.
%&%65,+53SULQW[LQGG $0
A FREE service of Rhode Island Hospital/Hasbro Childrens
Hospital, The Miriam Hospital, Bradley Hospital, Newport
Hospital
for FREE physician information, referrals and health information
you need.
Connect with the answers to better health today! 401-444-4800
1-800-927-1230
www.Lifespan.org
Call or Click and Connect
General Assembly HighlightsHere are the highlights from news and
events that took place
in the General Assembly this week. For more information on any
of these items visit http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/News/
n Bill to regulate devocaliza-tion of pets introducedSenate
Majority Leader Domin-ick J. Ruggerio has introduced a legislation
to prohibit devocal-ization of pets unless deemed by a veterinarian
as a medical necessity for the animal. Devo-calization, also known
as de-barking, is a surgical procedure that permanently takes away
the ability of dogs to bark and cats to purr.n Health insurance
exchange approvedThe Senate Health and Human Services Committee
recom-mended the approval of a leg-islation sponsored by Senate
President M. Teresa Paiva Weed (D-Dist. 13, Newport, Jame-stown) to
create a health insur-ance exchange through which small businesses
and individu-als can learn about their health insurance options and
available subsidies. Required under the federal health care
overhaul, the exchange would help individu-als and small businesses
com-
pare health plans. Rep. Brian Pat-rick Kennedy is sponsoring the
bill in the House.n House approves full-day kindergartenThe House
approved a resolu-tion sponsored by Rep. Rober-to DaSilva calling
for full-day kindergarten classes. The mea-sure requests that
kindergar-ten school days contain at least five and one half hours
of actu-al school work, excluding lunch, recess periods, common
plan-ning time, pre- and post- school teacher time, homeroom
peri-ods, etc.n Bill would require felon DNA samplesJayann Sepich,
whose daugh-ter Katie was murdered in 2003 in New Mexico, testified
before both chambers Judiciary Com-mittees in favor of legislation
that would require DNA samples of anyone arrested for a felony. The
legislation is sponsored by Rep. Brian Patrick Kennedy and Sen.
David E. Bates.
Local General Assembly officials: Sen. Louis P. DiPalma (D-Dist.
12, Little Compton, Middletown, Newport, Tiverton); President of
the Senate, M.
Teresa Paiva Weed (D-Dist. 13, Newport, Middletown); Rep. J.
Russell Jack-son (D-Dist. 73, Middletown, Newport); Rep. Deborah
Ruggiero (D-Dist. 74, Jamestown, Middletown) Rep. Peter F. Martin
(D-Dist. 75, Newport), Rep. Daniel Patrick Reilly (D-Dist. 72,
Newport, Middletown, Portsmouth)
Rep. Martin Named to Mental Health Board
Rep. Peter Martin (D-Dist. 75, Newport) has been named to the
Board of Directors of the Newport County Community Mental Health
Center. A graduate of Providence College in 1964 with a degree in
so-ciology, Rep. Martins first job was as a psychiatric social
worker at the Taunton State Hospital in Taunton, MA. Martin, now
serving his sec-ond term in the House of Repre-sentatives, is the
Vice Chairman of the House Committee on Municipal Government and a
member of the House Committee on Judiciary and the House Committee
on Veterans Affairs.
Grant for Senior Center
Rep. Deborah Ruggiero (D-Dist. 74, Jamestown, Middletown)
pre-sented a $1,000 legislative grant to the Jamestown Senior
Center for support of the centers operations, which provides meals
and activities for the island senior citizens. Col. Bruce
Livingston, president of the Friends of the Jamestown Senior
Center, said the grant is a reminder of the generosity of the
Jamestown community, whose residents re-cently helped raise about
$10,000 for a new roof on the Grange Hall that houses the senior
center.
Economic Update Luncheon
The Newport County Chamber of Commerce invites the public to
learn more about Governor Cha-fees Fiscal Year 2012 proposed
bud-get and its impact on Rhode Island businesses on Thursday,
April 21 at noon. RI Economic Development Corporation Executive
Director Keith Stokes and a representative from the RI Department
of Revenue will give an overview of the budget and provide detailed
information on the governors Businesses Tax Competitiveness
Proposal which includes: reduction of the corpo-rate income tax
rate; lowering and restructuring the minimum corpo-rate
tax/franchise fee; and reduc-tion and modernization of the state
sales tax.
The luncheon will be at the New-port Harbor Hotel and Marina,
ad-vance registration is required, con-tact www.NewportChamber.com
or 847-1608.
Whitehouse Honored for his Support of Arts
Americans for the Arts, the na-tions leading nonprofit
organiza-tion for advancing the arts, in con-junction with The
United States Conference of Mayors, will present the 2011 National
Award for Con-gressional Arts Leadership to Sen-ator Sheldon
Whitehouse (D-RI). The award, which recognizes dis-tinguished
public service on behalf of the arts, will be presented at the
Congressional Arts Kick Off during Arts Advocacy Day on Capitol
Hill.
-
April 7, 2011 Newport This Week Page 9
; appeared with Matt Damon in Stuck on You; and most recently
created, wrote and starred in the funny Olympia Sports advertising
campaign on the NESN Boston Red Sox broadcasts.
when it matters most,you can count on us
DISCOUNT OIL - COD PRICES
QUAKER HILL HEATINGFamily Owned & Operated
WE SAVE YOU MONEY
683-0086Serving All Of Aquidneck Island & Surrounding
Areas
Happy National Library Week!Newport Library
Best Buddies Book Club MeetingOn April 11 at 3:30 p.m. there
will be a Book Buddies Book Club meeting. The Book Buddies Book
Club for children in grades 3, 4 and 5 will meet monthly to discuss
a popular childrens book. Snacks will be provided. Registration is
re-quired. For more information visit the Book Buddies Blog or
contact Cathy Antonio. Writers WorkshopOn April 11 from 7:00 - 8:30
p.m. Dianne Grinnell will be holding a Writers Workshop in the
Rotary Room of the library. Book DiscussionOn April 12 at 1:00 p.m.
the Tuesday Book Club will discuss Finn, by Jon Clinch. No
registration required, but please read the book and be willing to
share your thoughts. Free and open to the public. The dis-cussion
will be held in the librarys Stride Room.Pajama Time Story Sharing
On April 12 from 7:00-7:30 p.m. The library will be offering a
pajama time story 1/2 hour during which teen readers will share age
ap-propriate stories with 5-8 year old patrons. A librarian will
supervise reading sessions. Parents are asked to remain in the
building. Books & CraftsOn April 14 at 3:30 p.m. Books &
Crafts for children ages 4 - 6 years old features read alouds,
songs, ac-tivities and a craft. The program as-sists children with
school readiness and supports emergent readers. Registration is
required. This will be held in the John Clarke Childrens Program
Room.Author PresentationOn April 16 at 10:30 a.m. Author Dr.
Frances Gerber will present her book of nursery rhymes and
activi-ties, Teaching with Heart, to parents and preschoolers ages
2 - 5 years old. No registration is required for this free program
held in the John Clarke Childrens Program Room. For more
information contact the Childrens Department.300 Spring St.,
847-8720Hours: Monday: 12:30 9 p.m.Tues. Thurs.: 9:30 a.m. 9
p.m.Friday & Sat..: 9:30 a.m. 6 p.m.Sunday: 1 5 p.m.
Middletown LibraryStorytelling by Fairy Queen Flutterby On April
12 at 1 p.m. the Childrens author Robin Aliece Borakove will be
storytelling her book, Little Ed-wins Triumph at the Middletown
Public Library in character as Fairy Queen Flutterby. This program
is free but tickets are required. Please visit or call the
Childrens Depart-ment at 846-1573 to pick up or reserve tickets
before the show. Please contact Candise Prewitt or library director
Theresa Coish for more information. About the event.
Meet the Author Vincent Buddy Cianci, Jr.On Tuesday April 12 at
7p.m. author Vincent Buddy Cianci, Jr. will be speaking at the
Middletown Pub-lic Library. Lets talk Politics and Pasta with
Providences most no-torious mayor! The one and only Mr. Vincent
Buddy Cianci, Jr. will be here to discuss his life in politics and
share his experiences as the author of his newly released book
Politics and Pasta: How I prosecut-ed mobsters, rebuilt a dying
city, dined with Sinatra, spent five years in a federally-funded,
gated com-munity and lived to tell the tale. Seating is limited and
tickets are re-quired. Following the ticketed pro-gram, all are
welcome to attend the After Hours Meet and Greet with Buddy! Books
will be available for purchase and signing, along with a photo
opportunity. Light refresh-ments will also be served.700 West Main
Rd., 846-1573Hours: Monday Thursday: 9:30 a.m. 8 p.m.Friday &
Saturday: 9:30 a.m. 5 p.m. Sunday: 1 5 p.m
Redwood LibraryAuthor PresentationOn Thursday, April 14 at 6 p.m
the internationally renowned artist John (Fud) Benson will be
giving the presentation Is the freedom of artistic expression
seriously threat-ened by current trends in political correctness
and religious fanati-cism?Map Exhibit
A Sense Of Place: Exploring New-port and Narragansett Bay
Through Historic Maps has been mounted in the Van Alen Gallery and
Roven-sky Room Display Cases at the Red-wood Library. These maps
reflect the perceptions and uses of these spaces over time and
according to interests, including ownership, exploitation of
natural resources, strategies of warfare, navigation, and tourism.
This exhibition will be on display through Dec. 50 Bellevue Ave.,
847-0292
Monday Wednesday: 9:30 a.m. 5:30 p.m.
Thursday: 9:30 a.m. 8 p.m. Friday & Saturday: 9:30 a.m.
5:30 p.m. Sunday: Closed
Jamestown LibraryLibrary Music ProgramThe Jamestown Library is
offer-ing a wonderful program of music on Sunday April 10 at 3 p.m.
Musi-cians Lisa Spraragen & Josu Prez have joined forces to
form a new
high-energy sound with elements of Flamenco, Latin and classical
music. Their 20+ years of collabora-tion have produced an
innovative approach to the guitar, which they call GUITARRAZN. As a
composer, Josu allows the natural logic of the guitar to determine
the path to follow. The duo is known for fi-ery, spontaneous
flamenco as well as a wide range of Latin music.Emily Dickinson
Film and TalkOn Monday, April 18 at 7:00 pm and Tuesday, April 19
at 1:00 pm, the Jamestown Library Book Discussion group members are
invited to read a biography of the poet Emily Dickinson, or
liter-ary criticism of the author or her works, or her poetry. Both
these discussions are in preparation for a viewing and discussion
of the film Loaded Gun: Life, and Death and Dickinson.26 North Rd.,
423-7280Hours: Mon. & Tues.: 10 a.m. 9 p.m.Wed.: 10 a.m. 5p.m.,
7 9 p.m.Thurs.: Noon 5 p.m., 7 9 p.m.Friday & Saturday: 10 a.m.
5 p.m.Sunday: 1 5 p.m.
Redwood Library Poetry Winners
At its annual island-wide High School Poetry Contest on
Satur-day, April 2, the Redwood Library awarded winners of the top
three coveted spots with a free year-long membership to the
library. Pictured above, Portsmouth Ab-bey student Jesse Bessinger
was rewarded with the third place spot.
In addition to Bessinger, Eliza-beth White from Portsmouth High
School took home second place. Top honors went to St. Georges
School student, Tao Ouyang. Con-gratulations to our local poetry
pros!
-
Page 10 Newport This Week April 7, 2011
Naval Community
BriefsAuschwitz Survivor to Speak
Rabbi Barush Goldstein, one of the last Auschwitz survivors,
will be the guest speaker at Naval Station Newports observance of
Holocaust Days of Remembrance on Wednesday, April 13. The lec-ture
will be at 11 a.m. in the Naval Justice School auditorium,
build-ing 360. The event is open to all hands with base access.
Summer Camp Registration
Naval Station Newports Youth Center Summer Camp will begin
Monday, June 27. Children (ages 5-12) of active duty personnel, DoD
civilians and contractors are eligible to participate.
Registra-tion for children of active duty personnel begins April
11; chil-dren of DoD civilians/contractors may register April 18.
Call 841-2883 for more information.
Spouse Social The Newport Officers Spous-
es Club will host a private tour and social event at the Newport
Storm Brewery on Friday, April 15 at 6 p.m. Members are invited to
register online at www.Newport OSC.org. Registration deadline is
April 13.
SEA GraduationThe Senior Enlisted Academy (SEA) graduated 48
students during a graduation dinner at the Officers Club on Naval
Station Newport on April 7. The SEA is the Navys only professional
military education institute for the senior enlisted force and
provides education in communication skills, leadership and
management, and national security affairs. Completion of the SEA
program is a prerequisite for assignment as command master chief or
chief of the boat.Go Navy!
OClub Easter BrunchAll hands with base access are
eligible to enjoy an Easter brunch and traditional breakfast at
the Officers Club on Sunday, April 24. Seatings are from 11 a.m. to
3 p.m. and advanced ticketing is required. Tickets are available at
the ITT office. For more informa-tion call 841-3116.
Naval Base Information Compiled by Pat Blakeley
The sixth seminar of the Newport Council for International
Visitors Great Decision Series will be held Wednesday, April 13, at
7 p.m. in the Pell Center at Salve Regina Universi-ty. Sanctions
and Nonproliferation will address the effectiveness of sanctions in
curbing nations in vio-lation of international law. The Hon-orable
Sue E. Eckert, senior fellow at the Watson Institute of
Internation-al Studies at Brown University, will present. Eckert
served as Assistant Secretary of Export Administration in the
Clinton Administration and has recently worked with the U.N.
Secretariat and the governments of Switzerland, Sweden and Germany
on targeting sanctions. Her current research focuses on issues at
the intersection of economic and na-tional security terrorist
financing, targeted sanctions and critical in-frastructure. The
Newport Council for International Visitors and Salve Regina
University are co-sponsor-ing the series. The lectures are free but
seating is limited. To reserve email [email protected]. For
more information, contact Bob Sleiertin at 847-5196.
In Ground PoolsAbove Ground Pools
Pool Repairs ~ On Site ServiceChemicals & Supplies
RI Lic #1599
POOL SALE
Proudly Serving Southeastern New England Since 1968.
16x32In Ground
ABOVE GROUND POOLS
POOL MAKE OVER SALELiners ~ Heaters ~ Salt Systems
$19,995
SALEStarting at
$1,799
THE LAKESIDEPREMIERE
Starting at
ALN Looks Ahead After Seven Influential Years
By Tom Shevlin
For an organization whose pur-pose is admittedly abstract, the
Al-liance for a Livable Newport enters into its seventh year having
left an indelible mark on the citys civic discourse.
From school issues and noise complaints, to municipal elec-tions
and city finances, ALN has been driving the conversation on a wide
range of topics that speak to the heart of their mission:
improv-ing the quality of life for Newport residents. Just last
year alone, the group held a series of 10 public fo-rums ranging
from candidate pan-els in the run up to the November elections, to
an in depth look at the future of Fort Adams.
On Monday, just over two dozen people gathered inside the
War-ren Weston Room of the Martin Lu-ther King Jr. Community Center
for the Alliances annual membership meeting.
Founded in 2004 by Newport cit-izens concerned about the quality
of life in the city, ALN brings togeth-er an otherwise loose
collection of neighborhood organizations under one umbrella. And
while their mis-sion is broad and their influence strong, for most,
their work remains unseen.
Its not something you can drive by and point to, explained ALNs
new president, Isabel Griffith.
ALN is not a political organiza-tion; its mission is strictly
non-parti-san. As Griffth said, People tend to take sides...ALN has
always strived to be non-biased and aware of all
sides on an issue.Because of that, the group has
drawn a diverse array of members and supporters, including city
of-ficials, municipal workers, small business owners and leaders in
the religious, arts and environmental communities.
But Griffith is hoping to expand its reach.
The meetings location at the MLK Center spoke to that point.
Speaking at the beginning of the evening, the centers executive
di-rector, Marilyn Warren, reflected on the centers history as a
gathering place for the community first as the Newport Community
Center.
This was the place where (New-porters) learned to be good
citi-zens, Warren said.
In many ways, ALN continues on that mission.
Topics of upcoming forums for 2011 include combined sewer
over-flow reduction results, the Tallship, Oliver Hazard Perry
construction and educational program, plans for the possible return
of Americas Cup racing to the city, and an up-date on planned
improvements for Fort Adams.
Leading up these effort will be ALNs newest executive officers:
the aforementioned Griffith; Roger Wells, vice president; John
Hirsch-boeck, secretary; and Ron Becker, treasurer. Anyone
interested in be-coming involved in the group, or to catch up on
its efforts over the last few years, should log onto
www.Al-lianceForLivableNewport.org. Chamber Opposes Chafee Tax
Plan
By Tom Shevlin
The Newport County Chamber of Commerce has joined in the chorus
of opposition to Gov. Lincoln D. Chafees plan to extend the states
sales tax.
Speaking at the groups annual meeting at OceanCliff on Tuesday,
Chamber Executive Director Jodi Sullivan said the group will join
in the fight against Gov. Chafees tax proposal, pledging at the
same time to mo-bilize the business community if necessary.
Seeking to close a projected $300 million budget deficit,
Chafees plan looks to raise close to $165 million in new revenue by
reducing the states sales tax from 7 to 6 percent, while at the
same time applying it to an array of currently exempt services and
items, from haircuts and dry cleaning to car repairs. Some
big-ticket items such as home heating oil would be sub-ject to a 1
percent sales tax.
The Newport Chamber joins other prominent business groups,
includ-ing the Rhode Island Manufacturers Association and Greater
Providence Chamber of Commerce, in opposing the Chafee plan.
Sullivan also told members that the chamber would continue its
fight against a proposal by Hess LNG to bring an offshore liquefied
natural gas terminal to Mount Hope Bay.
Nelson Eddy was born in Provi-dence and grew up in Pawtucket. A
handsome baritone, with serious operatic credentials, he became a
Hollywood heart throb for millions of American women at the side of
the beautiful Jeanette MacDonald.
The Jamestown Community The-atre, in concert with the Jamestown
Historical Societys Jamestown and the Silver Screen, is pleased to
pres-ent Rose Marie, a film starring Jea-nette MacDonald and Nelson
Eddy on Wednesday, April 13 at 6:45 p.m. at the Jamestown
Library.
Because his father, William Darius Eddy, and his step-mother,
lived in
Jamestown, Nelson Eddys work is included in the series of
programs making up this years Jamestown Historical Society major
exhibit Jamestown and the Silver Screen.
Bill Eddy was divorced from Nel-sons mother, Isabel, when he met
Marguerite Elliott at St. George Episcopal in Newport where they
both sang in the choir, according to a biography written by Gail
Lu-lay. The program is free and open to the public.
International Sanctions and NonproliferationSeminar
School Building Committee Pushes Ahead with Green Design
By Tom Shevlin
Members of the Pell School Build-ing Committee took another step
closer to incorporating some addi-tional green energy elements into
the final design of the new Clai-borne d. Pell Elementary
School.
Meeting with representatives from HMFH Architects for yet
anoth-er round of design review, commit-tee members voted
unanimously to move forward with a cost explo-ration on four
potential add-ons aimed at reducing the new schools carbon
footprint. Most notable was a decision to consider employing a
partial geo-thermal heating sys-tem, which if incorporated into the
final design would draw on the very ground below the school to fuel
part of its heating and cooling system.
If it proves economically feasible, the system would be used to
con-dition main administrative offices and media center, and would
pay for itself within 24 years. An alterna-tive, full-facility
option was also dis-cussed, but committee members determined that
the upfront price and projected 37 year payback was too great to
swallow. (For the com-plete story go to www.Newport-now.com)
Nelson Eddy Film Screening
-
MAINSHEET
Spirits Were High for Swing Into Spring
Brittany Tedeschi and Ruth Thumbtzen
Whitney Slade and Suzi Conklin Nance
LCDR Ian and Kate Nesbitt
Sister T Theresita Donach
Does your organization have an upcoming gala or fundraising
event? If you would like to increase attendancetell us about the
event in advance or, if you would like Newport This Week
to attend and provide post event coverage for your organization
call 847-7766, x 105 or send an email to
[email protected]
April 7, 2011 Newport This Week Page 11
NOW OPEN
Weekends
3064 East Main RoadPortsmouth RI
One Mile from Clements Market401-855-3061 Weekdays by appt.
Even Mother Natures snow and sleet could not put a damper on the
festivities last Thursday night at the Swing Into Spring benefit
for the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center. The Atlantic Beach
Club was the place to be as Newport turned out in force for an
evening of dinner and dancing in celebration of this organization
which does so much for our community. The night was a smashing
success for new Executive Director Marilyn Warren and the two dozen
committee members who worked tirelessly to pull off such a
memorable event.
Photos by Denise Drapeau-Walker
Sally Swistak, Mr. Alex Nance, Peggy Leary, Marlene Horan ,
Jeanine Richardson, and Susan Potter
-
Have you done your taxes yet??????
Come get your taxes done at Newport Tax Servicesand get a $5.00
Bens Chili Dogs Gift Certificate!
Newport Tax Services2 Broadway Newport, RI 02840(Across from
Fastnet Pub)(401) 847-8117
Individual Federal and State Returns Small Businesses Free
E-filing
Individual Federal and State Returns Small Businesses Free
E-filing
Come get your taxes done at Newport Tax Servicesand get a $5.00
Bens Chili Dogs Gift Certificate!
Newport Tax Services2 Broadway Newport, RI 02840(Across from
Fastnet Pub)(401) 847-8117
Have you done your taxes yet??????
FREE SHOWING OF
Jane Pickens TheatreSunday, April 17th, 1:00pm
PALm Sunday Afternoon
Please bring a dry goodsfood donation for theMLKCC food
pantry
Sponsored by the St. Pauls United Methodist Church of
NewportCall 846-0966 for more information
Jesus ChristSuperstar Jesus ChristSuperstar
Free Popcorn, too!
Displaced Actors Find Room at InnBy Katherine Imbrie
When Astors Beechwood Man-sion was sold last year, Newport lost
not only a spectacular Bellevue Av-enue mansion that had been open
to the public, but also the unique attraction of the Beechwood
The-atre Company. Led by actor/director Patrick Grimes, the company
had earned acclaim for enhancing the experience of visiting
Beechwood by having its troupe of costumed actors play the roles of
upstairs and downstairs characters in the Astors Gilded Age
world.
Visitors were treated to vignettes of everyday life in that
world, wheth-er it was Mrs. Astor hosting a ball, or guests
visiting for the weekend, orat Christmasa multi-course feast.
All of that thespian fun ended when Beechwood became a private
home. In January 2010, Grimes and some of his actor crew who not
only had performed at Beechwood, but also had been living there --
were packing up to leave the mansion for the last time when Grimes
began chatting with friend Nick Maione, owner of the Architects
Inn.
Basically, I thought it would be great to do a series of
weekend-long murder mysteries, with the guests at the inn getting
involved by playing roles themselves over the course of a couple of
days, says Grimes.
So, with a new name, Marley Bridges Theatre Company, and new-ly
incorporated as a non-profit arts organization, Grimes and his
part-ner in crime Jessica Bradley, along with others from their old
cast of characters, set about rebuilding themselves as a kind of
rental the-ater company. Since leaving Beech-wood, theyve done
murder myster-ies and other plays at Belcourt Castle and at the
Newport Art Museum but none with the depth and length of the
performances they do at the Architects Inn.
Its a unique concept and a great partnership, says innkeeper
Maione. I loved what they were doing at Beechwood, and I would send
our guests over there all the time. Pat-rick and Jessica are
amazing people so dynamic, with so much talent and energy.
Now, Architects Inn guests dont have to leave their lodging to
expe-rience the theatrics of a murder mys-
tery. When they reserve a weekends stay at the inn, with the
add-on of a murder mystery, they are given a role in a storyline
and a character profile to study, so that when they arrive at the
inn, they are prepared to play a part. Some guests provide their
own costumes; others use the ones provided for them by the act-ing
company.
From Friday night through Satur-day, while they are working on
solv-ing the crime that occurs at the inn, guests dont even know
who is an-other guest and who is actually an actor. Sometimes, they
are sent on elaborate scavenger hunts around Newport to pick up
clues. Then, on Sunday morning, the identity of the real murderer
is revealed before everyone goes home.
Guests have come from Boston, New York, Connecticut and
Provi-dence for the murder mysteries, says Maione. They love
getting into it. It requires more energy than a regular murder
mystery. They really get in-volved, and they want to solve the
crime. Plus, (playing these roles) is a real icebreaker. Everybody
becomes great friends by the time they go
home on Sunday.Occasionally, guests have got-
ten so caught up in the role-playing that they forget that the
murder is fiction, says Maione, who frequently ends up playing the
role of butler.
The right hand never seems to know what the left hand is doing
during the I Do or I Die murder mystery weekend at the at the
Architects Inn. Soon-to-be newlyweds Nicole ( Cici Ice) and Neil
(Patrick Grimes) have too many skeletons in the closet to ever
find
happiness. Lets hope that closet doesnt get too crowded!
Page 12 Newport This Week April 7, 2011
Fashion Jewelry &
Accessories%ULFN0DUNHW3ODFH*RGGDUG5RZ1HZSRUW5,
ZZZEHGD]]OHGLQFFRPCoupon Valid until April 30, 2011
Coupon must be present at the time of the purchase, not valid on
prior purchases
35(3$5(72%('$==/('Come see our new Spring Collection!
Receive 20% off your entire purchase with this ad$6$/:$
-
The road to American indepen-dence began in Newport well be-fore
Paul Reveres famous ride in 1775. In fact, Newport played a
piv-otal role during the Revolutionary War. Such famous figures as
Wil-liam Ellery (Rhode Islands signer of the Declaration of
Independence), George Washington and the Comte de Rochambeau walked
Newports streets and lived in its houses. Ver-non House, a Newport
Restoration Foundation (NRF) property, served as the headquarters
for Rocham-beau and hosted George Washing-ton during his stay in
Newport. The
home of William Ellery no longer exists, but his son lived
at