Memorial Day heralds the start of boating season in the Ocean State. With record numbers of recreational boaters on the Bay and new boaters dropping in each season, boating safety has become vitally important to Rhode Island summers.
National Safe Boating Week, an initiative by the National Safe Boating Council, takes place from May 20-26 and highlights both reminders and new legislation for individuals utilizing all types of watercraft.
The Narragansett Town Council on Monday passed a motion, 3-2, to add three additional “add-alts” for the Maury Loontjens Memorial Library Renovation Project via a $108,000 boost to the capital improvement budget for Fiscal Year 2023-24.
Council President Ewa Dzwierzynski, Councilor Susan Cicilline-Buonanno and Councilor Deborah Kopech voted “yes” while Council President Pro-Tem Jill Lawler and Councilor Steven Ferrandi voted “no.”
Spain restaurant on Ocean Road reopened this month after a winter-season flirt of selling the business or shutting the doors completely.
Spain restaurant owners had listed their Ocean Road property for $4.5 million and shuttered the long-time restaurant and laid off staff. Reportedly the restaurant owners received purchase offers, but rejected them.
The Narragansett Town Council unanimously approved beach fees for the 2023 summer season this week.
The daily admission fee, which passed 4-0 with President Pro-Tem Jill Lawler abstaining from the vote, will remain $12. The daily parking fee is $10 and weekend and holiday parking is $15.
Pappas OPT Physical, Sports & Hand Therapy clinic located at 650 Ten Rod Road, North Kingstown received its Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island LGBTQ+ Safe Zone certification.
Certification requirements for BCBSRI LGBTQ Safe Zones include staff training specific to the care of LGBTQ+ patients, protection for patients and staff from discrimination based on gender identity or expression, gender neutral bathrooms, inclusive forms and procedures, and a public commitment to connecting with and serving the LGBTQ community.
Capturing meaningful moments, while still possible, was something important to Aly Packhem Sparks of North Kingstown. Her Mother, Judy, died two years ago from cancer at age 60.
U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, along with state representatives and officials on Friday cut the ribbon on the future of ocean studies at the University of Rhode Island’s Bay Campus.
“Today marks a transformational first-step towards a renewed Narragansett Bay Campus,” URI Dean Paula Bontempi said. “More than a pier behind me, it’s home for a new research vessel, it’s a research platform, and it’s a symbol of URI’s position as an anchor for the Blue Economy.”
Lilly Manfredi has found that South Kingstown’s Career and Technical Education program (CTE) has given her in high school a hands-on education as well as advanced learning in the classroom.
“Getting hands-on experience and the opportunity to get real-world experience,” the junior said and the CTE program helps students “figure out what you want to do for your future career (and) it also helps to create friendships with people who are interested in the same career paths are you.”
A ransomware attack is less likely these days to create a hostage-taking of information in local governments, say officials, because of beefed-up security.
North Kingstown recently faced the threat of one but quickly beat back any effort to extort money for unlocking information that was illegally accessed. Narragansett and South Kingstown officials said their towns have strong protections in place.
The Narragansett Town Council on Monday unanimously approved adding a 43rd officer to the town’s police department to serve as a third school resource officer for the elementary school — duties that would be shared between the school district and police department.
The motion is subject to school committee approval.
Narragansett Town Manager James Tierney said he was notified by the Department of Environmental Management (DEM) on Monday that notice has been given to PRI X, LLC, of Cranston, that its lease of the property that was formerly the Lighthouse Inn in Galilee has expired and will not be renewed.
The Narragansett Planning Board last week unanimously denied a master plan for Boston Neck Road, LLC, to insert a 20-unit development on six acres along Route 1A, near the University of Rhode Island’s Bay Campus, along the Westerly side of Boston Neck Road.
The applicant can appeal the decision, drop the project — a comprehensive permit under the affordable housing law — or return with a revised version of the application.
The Narragansett Town Council on Monday unanimously approved the lining of existing basketball and tennis courts in town for added pickleball play and the $5,302 purchase of paint, six portable pickleball nets and three storage containers.
The town six years ago transformed three tennis courts on Clark Road into pickleball courts, Parks and Recreation Director Michelle Kershaw said on Tuesday.
The town of Narragansett is spending more money on a shared dog pound with South Kingstown than on a joint program for senior citizens.
And the dogs and cats only number about 200, while the seniors served are well over 1,000, a number that stands to increase each year as the population ages.
This interesting comparison came to light from South Kingstown Town Manager James Manni Monday night during an unusual appearance before the Narragansett Town Council, which he asked to restore a nearly $50,000 cut in senior aid for their joint program.
The Narragansett Town Council granted a one-day Class F alcohol beverage license to the casino at 11 Pier Market Place, for the University of Rhode Island award ceremony scheduled for April 21.
The motion passed on a 3-2 vote after Council President Ewa Dzwierzynski and councilors Susan Cicilline-Buonanno and Deborah Kopech approved the measure. Council President Pro-Tem Jill Lawler and councilor Steven Ferrandi voted no.
The fate of a proposed $1.5 million cut in the South Kingstown school budget for the 2023-2024 fiscal year will be decided by voters Tuesday in a special referendum.
Earlier this month, SK Superintendent Mark Prince said that, if the cut is approved, the district would have no choice but to eliminate all fall sports for the high school and middle school.
The move was met with an outcry on social media by those who oppose the referendum but, in a letter to the editor in this week's Independent Newspaper, local resident Roland Benjamin echoed the sentiment of many proponents for the reduction that the threat is "hollow at best."
"If there is truly a willingness and/or obligation to cut the $150,000 sports budget, why proceed with a $6 million athletic facilities overhaul?," Benjamin asked. "It is not the first time a district used these types of threats to activate voters."
Do you believe the SK school district will eliminate fall sports if voters approve a $1.5 million budget cut? Why or why not? Let us know in this week's poll question below.
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