You may have heard that on Dec. 21, 2020 Governor Raimondo signed on to the Transportation & Climate Initiative, along with Governors of Massachusetts and Connecticut. For me this was a day to celebrate and congratulate our governor. Why? As an environmental educator at the college level for the last 16 years, and as an oceanographer with expertise in climate science as a climate I feel I can confidently recommend this program to you, my neighbors.

If “2020” was a movie, I would not recommend it! Avoid it. Fast forward. It’s been harder for some to watch and experience than others.

Imagine an instant car battery, tool to assemble your new bed or new toys for your kid? 3D-printed for you in days, sometimes hours with very high precision.

How about printing your own toys and pets? Printing clothes for children in need? Good, these are all possible.

The Democrats outmaneuvered the Republicans by leveraging fear of a pandemic with a mortality rate of less than 3%, mostly among the elderly and those with underlying health issues, and a hospitalization rate of 17.8% into a four-week election cycle involving mass mailings, absentee ballots and early voting.

Bryant Da Cruz is the first person I met when I moved to South Kingstown five years ago. A friend had recommended him as a Realtor, and we got to know each other as we searched for a home in the middle of the “blizzard of 2015.” At several houses, the car got stuck in unplowed driveways, and Bryant had to get out to push.

In the midst of one of the most challenging elections in recent history, there was at least one shining star who came through for the residents of Rhode Island:  Nellie Gorbea! Nellie, our Secretary of State, came to office in 2014 with two missions, improving access to the ballot for all Rhode Islanders and maintaining election integrity. In 2020 a record 520,000 Rhode Island voters turned in a ballot, an increase of 60,000 from four years ago.

 I was saddened to hear of Bally’s and Sinclair Broadcasting’s expansion into i-gaming and sports betting.  The question that should be asked is, “How will that affect our vulnerable population that spends all their money on gambling addiction?”  Gambling makes losers, thousands and thousands of losers, while making gambling companies richer. 

While walking the Narrow River end of Narragansett Beach last Friday, I witnessed the heroic and sustained efforts of our local civil servants working to revive the kayak accident victim.  Thank you to the fire/police responders who valiantly attempted to save the Cumberland woman. They labored tirelessly.  May this knowledge comfort the grieving family.

Diane Fasching

Narragansett

Thank you to our community for the outpouring of support for the 2020 Peace Dale Congregational Church-Welcome House Pumpkin Patch. During October over 134 volunteers unloaded and helped sell more than 3,500 pumpkins while practicing all Covid 19 safety protocols.

We are thankful. While it is not one of the points of the Scout Law, it is a major part of Scouting life, especially at this time of the year, and in this time of life.  As a supporter of Scouting in Narragansett, I am thankful for the leaders I work with and the Scouts that continue to grow as well-rounded citizens in this challenging time we live in. 

With the news in the Nov. 14, 2020 edition of the Providence Journal that David DeQuattro, owner and managing principal of Robinson Green Beretta Corp. Architects, is in federal custody facing bribery and extortion charges, the Town of South Kingstown and the South Kingstown School District should make public that portion of the April 4, 2017 school committee meeting, held in executive session, regarding the discussion and subsequent vote to hire RGB for the Facilities Improvement Project.

Every school district in Rhode Island needs to reassess their strategic capital plan. The pandemic has shown that new thinking is required. Infrastructure needs to be flexible for the 21st century. Space needs to be reconfigurable. The education of the 21st century learner needs to integrate learning in and out of the classroom. Our thinking needs to move beyond the factory-style educational model of the industrial age.

On behalf of the League of Women Voters South County, thank you to the candidates and all who worked on the LWVSC Voters Guide 2020. By now the election is over and we can see who was chosen to represent us.

This has been an election season unlike any other.  Reflections and experience have formed these thoughts for a while now, and I feel it is a good time to share.  Purple has been my favorite color my whole life.  I think it has something to do with the polyester plaid purple bell bottoms I wore nearly every day when I was 5.  Little did I know then, how much purple would mean to me even to this day.