Newport Police and Aaron Alexis- Lost Opportunity?

No one has yet asked Newport police why they did not take Aaron Alexis to the hospital yet thought the incident merited informing the Navy police regarding his behavior.

This in from Gail Ciampa's Food Blog at Projo.

"Rhode Island Premier of Food Inc. benefits the Rhode Island Center for Agricultural Promotion and Education (RICAPE), Wednesday, July 22 at the Jane Pickens Theatre in Newport.
The film will screen at 7pm, followed by a panel discussion to discuss agriculture in Rhode Island. At 6 pm light refreshments provided by Whole Foods, Greenvale Vineyards, Newport Vineyards and others will be served.

Tickets are $25 each with a portion of the proceeds to support RICAPE and may be purchased in advance at Jane Pickens.

Learn more about the film at Food Inc."

The movie is now playing through Thursday.

Happy Birthday, Sandra!

Sandra Flowers, of course. 39 today!!!

Local H.S. Seniors Honored

This in from Chris Barnett at the Secretary of State's office. Congratulations to these students!

"Honoring High School Seniors for Public Service

Students from all over Rhode Island are recognized with our 2009 High School Civic Leadership Awards.

The awards are given annually to members of the senior class who make outstanding contributions to their schools and their hometowns. The winners were honored in front of friends, family and faculty at a State House ceremony. Photos of the event.

“This award recognizes students who show an understanding of the importance public service has in a democratic society,” says Secretary of State Mollis. “These students take the principles of civics and put them into action at home and at school.”

We asked high schools around the state to nominate members of the Class of 2009 who best met the ideals of the award: public service, leadership ability and academic achievement.

Seventy-nine high schools ranging from Barrington High to Woonsocket High nominated seniors for the honor. This is the third consecutive year we have presented the awards.

"I am committed to encouraging young people to get involved. Their enthusiasm and willingness to participate in the civic life of their school and community are vital to the strength of our democracy. I hope their example inspires next year’s senior class," says Secretary Mollis.

Middletown High School: Carly Benson& Daniel A. Quintanilla

Rogers High School: Bethany Lopes & Michael Turchetti

Tiverton High School: Elizabeth McGreavy & Joshua Louis Beaupre

First (Easton's Beach) Beach

My new friend Barry Botelho, owner of the beach food concession stand & the subject of a NDN story (sorry, can't link), sent me some pics of the new prototypes thresher, or is it called a harvester?

I haven't yet seen it actually harvesting, but may be I'll be able to get some video up soon. It certainly makes for a BIG improvement beachwise which I pointed out to Rep. Kennedy when he was here. All that smelly, yucky seaweed which used to accumulate beachront is gone! Along with the smell & flies, bugs, etc. Yahoo! I've been here close to 40 years & it's NEVER been better. Now, if the sun would just shine, shine, shine. Thank god for "tan in a can," the only way a nice Irish girl like me is ever going to tan. The Portuguese part just does me NO GOOD whatsover.

Remember, the beach is still open with food, rides, etc. Myself, I'm partial to the lobster rolls. You can also check out the beach cams. http://www.eastonsbeach.com/ With no closings this year (maybe only one at Atlantic Beach?), it's cleaner than ever there. Now if we could just say the same about the Third Beach area...

Yesterday, I had a tourist laughing at me during my walk. I had on my full length raincoat with the hood up, heavy jeans, & sneakers with socks. Heck, it was in the low 60's, windy, & rainy, and I was in a BAD mood. He looked at me & shoulted, "You look like you're dressed for winter!" Yes, and the problem with that is ???? it's July & FEELS like it. LOL!

Thanks to Barry for the pics. I meet such neat people on the web!

Newport Dems Summer Dance July 30

From Sandra J. Flowers: Summer Dance with Magnolia Cajun Band: The Newport Democratic City Committee hosts Magnolia on Thursday, July 30, at the Elks Lodge, Bellevue Avenue at Pelham Street, Newport, from 8 to 11 PM. For only $20, you'll hear and dance to great music, enjoy delicious munchies, and meet lots of nice folks. Pass the word!

Magnolia Cajun Band
Source: magnoliacajunband.homestead.com
Magnolia Cajun Band of Rhode Island playing traditional French Cajun music. Dance lessons in cajun and zydeco offered. Winners of the Motif Music Awards, Folk Act ot the Year!

Bus Service in Newport Meeting on Wed., July 8.

Due to recent changes in RIPTA service in the 'Fifth Ward' section of Newport, we have arranged to have their management come to Newport to explain these changes, including their 'South Aquidneck Flex Service'. The meeting, which will be announced in the tomorrow's Newport Daily News, will be held at the Newport Public Library on Wednesday, July 8th at 3:00 pm.

We are working on getting RIPTA to provide 'Flex Bus Service' to and from the meeting. Details will follow in the NDN.

Rep Peter Martin 401 924-2402 Peter Martin Home: (401) 847-0651 Cell: (401) 965-6137 Please visit my website at http://www.stacyhouse.com

Free at First Beach

New for the Summer of 2009- Night time family fun at the Beach beginning July 6

Monday nights- Discount Night- 1/2 price carousel rides, $ 1.00 off admission to the Beach Bounce, 10% off all Easton's Beach clothing and beach accessories at Rosie's beach store, free ice cream for kids 8 and under, 1/2 price pop corn and more.

Tuesday Nights- Family Night- Enjoy a wonderful variety of concert entertainment sponsored by The Newport Recreation Department

Wednesday Nights- Beach Idol Karaoke Night- For Kids 12 and under- Fun competition and applause only- open parents' mic to conclude the evenings

Thursdays- Children's entertainment-Singers, Jugglers, magic and more

Here is their calendar.

Remember, if we get more than an inch of rain, it will be closed due to pollution. No, they haven't yet fixed that problem. But the good news is that with the new thresher, the seaweed problem definitely seems better.

Sen. Whitehouse Continues Pasta Dinners Here

July 1 at 6 pm

Health Care Community Dinner - The Portuguese American Vasco de Gama Hall, 15 Fenner Ave., Newport, RI
Please bring your family and friends for a free macaroni and meatball community dinner on Wednesday, July 1 at 6 p.m. in Newport to share your personal story about the crisis in our health care system - and your ideas about how to fix it.

Click here to let them know you'll be there. I'll be there. So come already!

Flat Tax Costs to You

Here is what the flat tax costs you the local property tax payer. The % is the amount your taxes will need to go up to make-up for the proposed general fund monies no longer to be received. All this for less than 15 wealthy individuals (19 in Newport, 22 in Portsmouth)). End or freeze the flat tax & aid will be restored. Seems like a no-brainer to me. Sorry, this tax NEVER made any sense given R.I. economic position for the past several years.

Our property taxes should be going down, not constantly upward. How much longer before local residents say "No More" & place a good portion of the blame where it should be- the State Lege & the guv. Our tax system needs to be fairer and we should be eliminating breaks which have no proven positive effect to the citizenry- we, the people. Not, we the few.

Middletown: 2.185%

Newport: 2.508%

Little Compton: .951%

Tiverton: 1.753%

Portsmouth: 1.386%

Freebies on Sun. & Mon. Only

Newport County residents and employees of the local hospitality industry will be eligible for free admission or other discounts at a number of local attractions during “Newport County Days” on Sunday and Monday. The event is sponsored by the Attractions Council of Newport County.

To receive the discount, visitors must show proof of residency, such as a driver’s license or other identification with an address, or proof of hospitality employment, such as a business card, an employee ID or pay stub.

Free admission:

*Astors’ Beechwood mansion, 580 Bellevue Ave., Newport. 846-3772.
*Belcourt Castle, 657 Bellevue Ave., Newport. 846-0669.
* Historic Fort Adams, Fort Adams State Park, Harrison Avenue, Newport. 841-0707.
* International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum, 194 Bellevue Ave., Newport. 849-3990.
* Museum of Newport History and Shop, Brick Market, 127 Thames St, Newport. 841-8770.
* Museum of Yachting, Fort Adams State Park. 847-1018.
* Newport Art Museum, 76 Bellevue Ave., Newport. 848-8200. Sunday only; closed Monday.
* Norman Bird Sanctuary, 583 Third Beach Road, Middletown. 846-2577.
* Save The Bay Exploration Center & Aquarium at Easton’s Beach, 175 Memorial Blvd.,
Newport. 324-6020.
*Newport mansions, which include The Breakers, The Breakers Stable & Carriage House (open Sunday only), Chateau-sur-Mer, Chepstow, The Elms, Hunter House, Isaac Bell House, Kingscote, Marble House and Rosecliff; also Green Animals Topiary Garden in Portsmouth.
Ten percent discount at all Newport Mansions Stores. 847-1000.
* Free toursu International Yacht Restoration School, 449 Thames St., Newport. 848-5777.
* Tour at 1 p.m.Vineyards Sakonnet Vineyards, 162 Main Road, Little Compton. Ten percent off wine purchases. 635-8486.
* Greenvale Vineyard, 582 Wapping Road, Portsmouth. Free tasting. 847-3777.
* Newport Vineyards & Winery, 909 East Main Road, Middletown. Free tour and tasting. 848-5161.
*Harbor tours u Amazing Grace Harbor Tours/Oldport Marine, America’s Cup Avenue, Newport. Free harbor tours. 847-9109.
* Sightsailing of Newport/ Bowen’s Wharf , Newport. Free sailing aboard the Schooner Aquidneck. 849-3333.
* Easton’s Beach, 175 Memorial Blvd. Free carousel rides. 845-5599.
* Newport Grand, Admiral Kalbfus Road, Newport. 500 reward points when signing up for a Grand Rewards Card. 849-5000.
* Ride the Jamestown Ferry to the Rose Island Lighthouse. Tickets are buy one, get one free; free admission to the lighthouse. 847-4242.

(source)

Towns Lose Under New Budget

Under the House's proposed General Budget, aid to towns & cities will be deep-sixed.

% = amount of municipal budget loss

Middletown $829,818 3.8%
Newport $1,564,837 2.92%
Tiverton $547,575 3.34%
Little Compton $89,670 1.93%

Portsmouth $554,736 2.84%

This could be restored in the flat tax were frozen or eliminated. But we wouldn't want to actually help all of us with our own monies, would be?

Thanks to http://www.rifuture.org/ & Tom Sgorous for the info. Meanwhile we keep the flat tax which costs us all lost revenues for the benefit of fewer than 15 residents. How's the working out for us?

Now is the time to let your local legislators hear your scream- before budget approval.

School aid is frozen, I believe- where it has been for the past few years while their expenses have gone up. How much more of this can local property tax payers bear? The Assembly swallowed up many sources of our income while looking "cool." Not so glam, however, when we all have to make up for the local shortfalls.

Local councils should be screaming along with local legislators. Listen ...

Free Yoga!

Come to a free yoga class Newport Hospital Wed Jun 24 noon !


All-Level YogaEIE Community Room, 3rd Floor MacLaurin, Newport Hospital


New Session begins the week after. Wednesday noon $48 for a 6 week pass Single class $10


Janne Sahady, Registered Yoga Teacher

Call 401-465-6577

Other yoga possibilities this summer– First Beach Monday series July 6: 6-7PM

Zumba Dance- Linda Rawstron July 13: 6-7PM

Yoga on the Beach- Janne Sahady July 20: 6-7 PM

Dance and Movement- Shake Your Soul- Christopher & Katherine Carbone July 27: 6-7PM Gentle Yoga- Christopher and Katherine Carbone Aug 3: 6-7 PM **

Beach Walk (information on walking included) - Janne Sahady Aug 10: 6-7PM

Zumba Gold- Newport Athletic Club (Valley Rd., Middletown) Aug 17 - TBA


**FREE Yoga in Ballard Park in Newport http://www.ballardpark.org/events.html Yoga at Innerlight, 850 Aquidneck Ave, Middletown http://www.innerlightyoga.com/ Yoga at Tenth Gate, Old Almy Village, 1016 East Main Rd, Portsmouth, RI 02871 http://www.tenthgateyogacenter.com/ Gentle Yoga at Norman Bird Sanctuary Monday 6pm See calendar at http://www.normanbirdsanctuary.org/


Enjoy!

Nothing in Size 12

Ophelia's Wardrobe is a fundraiser for the Ophelia Sessions held by C & Family of Newport Co. They have new/used designer clothing for all! Tickets for the $60 preview & auction Fri. nt. while the actual sale is Sat. & Sun. at Wakehurt (Ochre Point & Leroy- good luck with parking). 10-4; 10-2.


Yes, I'll be there and NO there will be nothing there that is size 12 or size 8- 81/2 in shoes. So don't even look; although, there may be something after I leave. But everything else is a go!


It's a good cause & is held every other year.


Call 401-848-4150 for more information or for tickets.

How is Your Bank Doing?

Today the AP announced that it will distribute work by four investigative non-profits being: "the Center for Public Integrity, the Investigative Reporting Workshop at American University, the Center for Investigative Reporting, and ProPublica." This is a six month trial arrangement due to the fact that newspapers rarely offer investigative reporting while there is an ever-increasing non-profit sector offering such. A trail marriage, if you will.

One such site is the second offering a tool for researching the current financial status of your your bank with current FDIC numbers. Click here. Citizens Bank has its main office in Prov. while you can find Newport Fed & Bank Newport here in Newport.

Two banks in R.I. rec'd bailout funding. They are: Bankcorp of R.I. & Independence Bank. (via Propublica)

Mortgagee Sale in Portsmouth

Now you may wonder why I'd be interested in this lovely waterfront multi-million $ home in Portsmouth. Or maybe not. This particular one is up for mortgagee sale as it's owner, Doylestown Partners, has defaulted on their loan (NDN- Thurs.). Yeah, you say, not exactly earth-shattering news.

Ah, Doylestown Partners. Now it gets interesting. They filed for Ch. 11 more than a yr. ago. It's listed in the R.I. Corporate data base as a real estate investment foreign corporation with Daniel Patrick Reilly as Secretary & sis, Shannon (4 companies at her address) as Prez. Ah, Dan Reilly. He ran for State Rep. against Rep. Amy Rice. Age 19? or maybe it's 20 now. He & his family keep writing those anti-Rice letters to the local paper.

Doylestown Partners owns 105 Heidi Dr. which is the home of said Dan Reilly, now going bye-bye. Uh-oh.

Can't daddy William J. Reilly (lawyer & with 14 companies at his Boca Raton address) who along with his wife currently owe the State of Rhode Island more than one million dollars in back taxes help out (Hey, didn't they promise to "take care" of this before the last election? NDN)? Just a slight mistake.

BTW, I was the first with the scofflaw story. Love that Google.

So where's poor Dan going to live? Maybe his bro., Christopher, who lives in Middletown & is V. Pres. of Shamrock Equity with an address of the same Heidi Dr. could help out. Daddy also owns this company. Shamrock lent Dan's campaign thousand of $ with Dan listing himself as an employee of same. Daddy couldn't directly lend it under his own or the company name because of campaign limits. Understandable since Dan has yet to hold a full-time job while studying at Bryant- Shamrock employment notwithstanding. Of course, he did hold a summer job at the Dept. of Environment. No, I'm quite sure that the guv had nothing to do with this. These jobs are so easy to get.

The house was refinanced in 2007 after being purchased in 2000 from- the Reilly's. One other former partner/owner was the former owner of- Doylestown Partners. Following all this? So why would you want to pay back all that equity that you pulled-out? Heck, maybe one of your other companies can buy it for less $ than is owed on it & then refinance again. Sounds like a plan to me.

Oops, maybe no help from daddy after all. It seems that he's current under an SEC frauds indictment. Forming a shell company with no assets & no income, but not exactly revealing this when it goes public, turns out to be not a good thing after all. And him a N.Y. lawyer who "... presently serves with the rank of Commander in the United States Naval Reserve, Judge Advocate General's Corps..." (source) That S.E.C., sometimes it actually takes a dim view of cheating investors. Who knew?

Poor Dan. No home, no money, no tuition. I'll bet poor Portsmouth, too. It's difficult paying local property taxes when you're not making your mortgage payments. But don't worry, Dan. There's a strong social services net out there to help you & your family fostered by your favorite guy, our guv- NOT! Or Plan B- maybe Rep. Rice can bid on the house & rent you a room. Of course, she may not be too keen on this after the dirty tricks you pulled off during the last election.

Kinda young to already be an officer of a bankrupt co., not to mention losing your home address. Let's see. Amy Rice owns a business & a home, pays her taxes, and has a full-time job. She & her family still live here and haven't formed dummy corporations or bankrupted any of them, I'm guessing. They also don't write vicious letters to the local rag about Dan, and I'll bet not one of them has ever been indicted by the feds. Guess they're just not living right.

And you wanted to be my Rep.

Do you think R.I. will collect it's mil in back taxes? Do you think you'll win the next Power Ball? Yeah, I figure the odds are about the same.

Down (but not out) at First Beach Update

**UPDATE** My new friend, Barry, sent me the lowdown on First Beach. The new harvester should be up & running next week. It was working fine ... until it wasn't. I would imagine there is a learning curve here for the operator(s).

He uses real butter, fresh lettuce, & Hellman's mayo for the twin lobster rolls. "Broadwalk" fries which are twice the cost of regular ones, but "worth it," are used. Portion size has been increased rather than profit now that the lobster costs have decreased. He uses frozen lobster. I didn't even realize that they froze lobster. I thought that it was only canned. They are super and I am fussy about these as I so seldom have one. Eat one & save the other for later. Or better yet- bring a friend! Buy local! Pray for sun & warm weather, too! ***


More correctly, I suppose it's Easton's Beach. I've been eagerly awaiting the new thresher which is supposed to control or eliminate the awful red seaweed there. Yuck! Unfortunately, I understand that the first time out it blew one of its balloon tires- not an auspicious sign. So no-go for awhile, but who swims now anyway besides the polar bears? On this promise of reduced seaweed, I am purcashing a beach sticker.

I love this beach! Close to me, picturesque, good parking, a nice walkway, & just downright pretty. If you have never tried the snackbar- do! Get the twin lobster rolls with fries. What a deal for $11 when compared to the current fresh market price of $24 for one elsewhere! Now I'm assuming it's canned lobster, but still -darn good with large chunks, a light mayo, & lettuce. It doesn't overflow so you can actually hold it in your hand while eating. Sitting at the beach in the sunlight while deliciously warm and eating lobster. Life is good.

You can always get a deal by parking, paying the fee, getting your snackbar recipe, & then being reimbused everything but $2. Same deal with the carousel. Sounds like a plan to me. Let's be honest here. Riding the carousel is fun at any age.

Their website also has two good webcams of the beach.

Local Farmers' Markets

Coming soon, although you can now also buy products locally! Try Sweet Berry Farm or Chase Farms in Portsmouth on East Main (many plants also). You can also go to the Green Grocer in P'mouth on Fri. from 3-6. Haven't been there yet.

I love these things. You can buy almost anything from farm produce- both grown & meats, prepared foods to-go, plants, and whoever else shows that day. Have a hotdog or It. sandwich with Middletown's own Lou & Denise of "Lou's Hotdogs." Knishes, too!

I'm listing the closest. Right now farm products include all kinds of greens, kale, scallions, lettuce, mushrooms, asparagus, radish, rhubarb (yum), and some herbs. Too early for strawberries, sigh. Meats, eggs, milk, cream... if you can't find them, you ain't looking. I always try & puchase Rhody Fresh- no hormones! There is also a Tiverton farm which supplies local products- Arruda Dairy. And don't forget Susanna's homemade ice cream (she's always working out new combos) at Sweet Berry & Cory's Kitchen bakery products. Ahhh, why I live here- well, one reason, at least.

Local farm products- good for you and No Recalls! And ALWAYS- local honey; esp. if you or your pets have allergies!

There is a new location this yr.- the Grange! And I hadn't previously known about the Green Grocer.

Aquidneck Growers' Wednesday June 10
Wed 2:00-6:00 Memorial Blvd. along the wall

Aquidneck Growers' Saturday June 6
Sat 9:00-1:00 Middletown Newport Vineyards & Winery

Middletown / Aquidneck Grange June18
Thu 2:00-6:00 Middletown Aquidneck Grange corner of Aquidneck & E. Main Rd.

Portsmouth
Fri 3:00-6:00 May-Nov The Green Grocer E. Main Rd. (must be inside their store)

Sakonnet Growers' Market June 27
Sat 9:00-1:00 Tiverton Pardon Gray Preserve

St. Sen. DiPalma before the Middletown Town Council

**UPDATE** Darn! All that editing & hours of stuff for naught. I fixed & hopefully link will work now.

This is Sen. DiPalma giving a lege update at the Mon. Council meeting. I missed the first 3? minutes- the State is doing roadwork on W. Main, most of the Charter changes are on the guv's desk waiting to be signed, and the change giving seniors with limited incomes a local tax break is in committee.

Since it was so long (too long- 13 min.), it had to be divided. See Pt. 2.

My totally unsoliticed advice: whoa, Nellie! Stick to a script (less than 5 min.) which would help eliminate the run-on sentences during which we fall asleep wherein you also throw in so much stuff that it's like my kitchen sink and I lose track whereupon the sentence ends and I hear something I'm interested in but I'm so off-track at that point that it takes me by surprise and I'm unsure that I heard it correctly. Got it? KISS.

Newport Gulls Open Fri.

The Gulls play in Newport's historic Cardines Field. The tickets are cheap $4-$1 for topnotch ball & a heckuva good time for all.

Games being at 6:35. Plenty of parking in the area- just be prepared to pay.