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Providence, RI Perm

it No. 34

Serving the East Side since 1975June 2010

East Side

Surviving by Archiving... page 27 | Our Annual Summer Arts Preview… pages 29-32

Five candidates begin their run for City Hall

Mayoral Material

New Price! $995,000Stately 1900’s brick Colonial. Lovely living room, formal dining and family room with fireplaces, studio, updated kitchen, master bedroom with 2 baths and private dressing room, central air, 2 car garage.

Suzie Prescott

New Listing! $405,000Fabulous location, seven room center hall Colonial, large master with walk-in closet, living room with fireplace, hardwoods, sunroom overlooking beautiful gardens, patio, garage.

Linda Mittleman

New Listing! $439,000Wonderful eight room center hall Colonial. 3 bedrooms, large fireplaced living room, breakfast room, study, enclosed second floor porch, hardwoods, finished basement, cedar closets, 2 car garage.

Linda Mittleman

New Price! $399,400Surprisingly spacious Oak Hill Colonial. Updates include new kitchen, roof, electric panel, windows, sprinklers. Master bedroom plus 3 beds. Hardwoods, fireplace, 4 zone heat, garage.

Bob Del Deo

New Listing! $1,325,000College Hill Victorian Brick and Clapboard exterior, handsome bracketed cornice. Master suite, 4.5 baths, 3 zone HVAC, lovely garden, garage.

Michael Young

New Listing! $218,000Classic Edgewood two-family in great condition. Replacement windows, hardwoods, garage, porches, expandable walk-up attic. Sunny corner lot on pretty block near schools, Pawtuxet Village.

Leonard Friedman

New Listing! $255,000Exceptional 2 bedroom, 1.5 bath 3rd floor unit. Almost 1500 sq. ft. of living space. Renovated baths, heat, central a/c and wiring. Best location!

Bob Del Deo

New Listing! $169,000Bright, spacious 3-4 bedroom unit, updated 2006. High ceilings, bay windows, eat-in-kitchen, updated tile bath. Laundry, storage, ample parking.

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June 2010 East Side Monthly 3

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Calendar announcements and news releases should be submit-ted by the 1st of the preceding month. We reserve the right to omit and edit items. Letters to the editor are welcome. We will not print unsigned letters with-out exceptional circumstances. East Side Monthly is not respon-sible for typographical errors. Corrections will be run at dis-cretion of editor.

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in this issue

Other Side . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Letters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Editorial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Community News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Cover Story . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Movies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35

Garlic Press . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39

Dining Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40

Finance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42

Art . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44

Education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50

Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56

PublishersBarry Fain Richard Fleischer John Howell

Publishing DirectorJeanette St. Pierre

Managing EditorBarry Fain

City EditorSteve Triedman

EditorJulie Tremaine

Assistant EditorJohn Taraborelli

Art DirectorAllison Cole

Assistant Art DirectorAlli Coate

Advertising Design DirectorScott Leta

Graphic DesignersKarli Hendrickson, Layheang Meas

Account ManagersDanielle Currier, Louann DiMuccio-Darwich, Ann Gallagher, Dan Schwartz, Liz Sliney, Jessica Webb

Classified AdvertisingSue Howarth, Janice Torilli

Contributing WritersLinda Beaulieu, Bob Cipriano, Mary K. Connor, Mike Fink, Don Fowler, Meagan Gann, Bob Mariani, Bet-sey Purinton, Elizabeth Rau, Dan Schwartz, Steve Triedman, Martina Windels, Sam Zurier

CalendarChristina Evon

InternsDayja Broccoli

Contributing PhotographersJonathan Beller, Dan Schwartz

Contributing IllustratorsCeleste MacPhee

4 East Side Monthly June 2010

Real Housewives to Provide Real Good Advice

The inside story of one of the true indestructible forces of nature, the archetypical “Jewish Mother,” will be explained in detail as part of a fun, entertaining discussion and book signing on Sunday, June 6 from 4-6pm at the downtown Hilton Hotel. Called “Secrets of a Jewish Mother: Real Advice, Real Stories, Real Love,” the event will feature authors Jill Zarin of the TV show The Real Housewives of New York, her sis-ter, radio host Lisa Wexler, and their mother Gloria Kamen. The event is sponsored by the Women’s Alli-ance of the Jewish Federation and promises to be both provocative and entertaining. Tickets are $36 and are available at www.JFRI.org. We also assume refresh-ments will be served – though whether it’s wine or chicken soup, we’re not sure. That said, would it hurt you to go?

At 91, Everyone Deserves a Facelift

One of the most beloved retail fixtures on the East Side is Adler’s Hardware, which opened its doors for business some 91 years ago. So what better way to celebrate than to liven up the Wickenden Street land-mark to show that even after more than nine decades of family ownership, they’re still, in their words, “look-ing pretty darn sexy.” Long known for its outstand-ing paint department, the store has undergone what owners Marc and Harry Adler call “a total soup to nuts renovation” that will keep the customer-friendly store a local “must-visit” destination for hardware, paint, wallpaper and eco-friendly interior and exterior design. Harry still wishes he’d been able to follow his preferred career path as a second baseman for the Bos-ton Red Sox. (“I’m hoping they might need a 55-year-

old rookie who loves the game, but has no actual high school, college or minor league experience.”) His real hope however, is that the stunning new store redesign will ensure that the Adler tradition will live on well into its second century.

Gobbles, Growls, Oinks and Howls

Easily one of the more interesting of the ongoing local fundraisers, Zoobilee will again be held at the Roger Williams Park Zoo on June 26. It’s a time when many of the area’s finest local restaurateurs descend on the Zoo for a swanky evening designed to bring out the animal in all of us. Carnivores, vegetarians and everything else in between are invited to prowl the grounds in search of that perfect appetizer or entrée. Guests are also invited to dress up in animal costume if they are so inclined. Call the Zoo at 785-3510 to make a reservation. And if you don’t get through the first time, don’t be discouraged. It just means the lion is busy.

Asian Delights

One of the most visually spectacular shows of the year arrives at the Providence Performing Arts Cen-ter (PPAC) on June 26-7 when Shen Yun, a classic presentation of Chinese dance and music, takes center stage for a visual spectacular that critics call “truly breathtaking.” Performed with a live orchestra, the event combines acrobatic talent, colorful pag-eantry and the exotic music and dance of China as it happily returns to the city after a successful run last year. Tickets are available by calling 421-2787 or visit-ing www.ppacri.org. The performance is sponsored by the Falun Dafa Association of N.E.

Mondo Mangia

Federal Hill remains one of the best places in New Eng-land (and yes, that includes Boston) to sample delicious Italian cuisine. But there are other ethnic culinary experi-ences to be had as well. The best way to get a sample of both options, without breaking the bank, is to go up there yourself and take advantage of the Federal Hill Stroll set for June 8. The food will be served from 4:30-7:30pm. Bring the family, and, of course, your appetite.

Noon-y Tunes

Beginning this month and continuing every Wednesday at noon through the end of September, the City will offer free lunchtime downtown concerts in Burnside Park at Kennedy Plaza. The music – eclectic. Some of it may even be electric. But it’s perfect to escape the hectic! Our Ocean State is a great place to hang during the summer. Mellowing out midweek only makes it better. www.ken-nedyplaza.org

The Streets are Alive with the Sounds of…

…Well, on Saturday, June 12, it’ll be with a little bit of everything. Hosting over 80 artists, crafters, musicians, food vendors and live entertainment, plus assorted other surprises, the Providence Art Festival returns to enliven our cityscape. Be forewarned, a colorful cast of characters will take over Westminster Street from Eddy to Matthew-son from 10am-5pm serving food, selling art, performing on the streets – in short, having fun. It’s a family-friendly event too, so go and enjoy as we anticipate the arrival of summer.

Diggin’ the Dugout

Several restaurants that have tried to operate in the basement of 272 Thayer Street have come and gone with depressing regularity. There’s been Xtreme Pizza and Wings, Thayer Street Pizza and Wings, plus several more before them. Finally there now seems to be a new occu-pant that’s gaining some traction. The new Dugout Grille, under the ownership of John Pappas and his nephew Arthur, has taken over the tired space, completely reno-vated it and dramatically changed the menu to make it both user and pocketbook friendly. They offer breakfast all day, homemade gyros and souvlaki, great salads and, best of all, friendly service. The word is they’re busy. Drop in, say hello and see what you think.

Your “Lost” May Have Been “Found”

Good news from the Providence police. A Williams Street resident recently (May 5) reported to the police that her car had been broken into and searched topped to bottom. Some money was stolen. The police informed her that same night that they caught a thief with a huge bag who clearly had broken into many vehicles. They are currently trying to return the stolen goods to their rightful owners. If you have been a victim, please phone the police at 272-3121 and ask to speak to detectives. In addition to money, the thief definitely had various cameras, GPSs, etc. A nice victory for the good guys!

.

Picture Perfect!About 70 people of all ages pitched in at Friends of India Point Park’s (FIPP) 11th Annual Spring Cleanup on Sat-urday, April 24, mulching dozens of trees and bushes, painting benches and picnic tables, weeding flower beds, and filling lawn bags with trash, brush and winter debris, followed by hard-earned snacks and drinks, and pizza donated by WBRU. To join Friends of India Point Park, please go to www.friend-sofindiapointpark.org or email [email protected].

Photo credit: Juliana Anderson

Email [email protected] to submit your favorite East Side picture. If we use it, we promise to send you something nice.

Other Side by Barry Fain


Thank You for the Support To the editor:

I would like to thank everyone who had been sup-porting my campaign for General Treasurer. After careful deliberation, I have decided to suspend my campaign. This was not an easy decision, but I believe, it was the correct one. I truly appreciate your help in our efforts to bring progressive change to the State House and I hope you will join me in supporting Gina Raimondo in her campaign. Tom Sgouros

What About ACT? To the editor:

I just read the article in the new East Side Monthly about the success of the Gamm Theatre after 25 years (“Silver Anniversary,” May 2010). I haven’t seen anything reported about All Children’s Theatre, which recently went into receivership after 20 or 25 years. Its website says, “Due to unforeseen circum-stances, All Children’s Theatre has suspended all of our Winter Programming. Please check back in 2010 for details.”

Randy W

Editor’s Note: The venerable All Children’s Theatre does indeed remain closed at the moment. We will follow up on this story in a future issue. In the meantime, check their website, www.actinri.org, for updates.

Pop Life To the editor:

I really enjoyed reading Elizabeth Rau’s article about Blockbuster closing (“Long Live the Block,” April 2010). I too would go there a lot and enjoyed speaking with the manager about any number of films – new, foreign, indie. I also loved browsing the aisles waiting for a movie to “pop out” at me. I’ve tried Netflix and I don’t like it (perhaps because I also want to bring back rotary phones and typewriters). I’m on a computer all day – why does my entertainment also have to be cho-sen from a computer?

While the world may love Netflix, I don’t find it friendly, easy or anything else. Big deal you get your movie in the mail – what is so special about that? Mov-ies don’t “pop out” at you on the computer: instead of walking around, you have to scroll, scroll, scroll and still have trouble finding something interesting to watch. When you’re in a video store, there might be someone nearby to say to you as you pick up that French film, “Oh, that was great, you’ll love it.” I’ve had many a great conversation with fellow movie buffs in Blockbuster – and chat rooms, don’t quite match an

in-face chat.So here’s to Ms. Rau’s thinking; I’m right there with

her. At least we still have a library to walk to and to pick out films.

Kimberly TwistProvidence

Opening Doors To the editor:

We are launching a new mentoring program at Open-Doors, and are looking for a good way to recruit vol-unteer mentors.

Do you believe in second chances? Become a mentor. The Second Chance Mentoring Program is a compre-hensive program offering one-on-one and group mentor-ing to formerly incarcerated adults. The program will provide healthy role models and social supports, and will encourage mentees to become positive contributors to their communities. The overall goal of the program is to reduce the rate of recidivism in Rhode Island.

All prospective mentors will attend an orientation session, complete an application, participate in a face-to-face interview with reference checks and complete

an initial training.Mentors will receive ongoing training and support by

attending an initial training and will attend monthly training and support sessions facilitated by the Men-toring Program Coordinator. OpenDoors will host monthly activities for their mentors and mentees, as well as open hours for mentors and mentees to meet onsite at OpenDoors.

A good mentor will have the following skills and qualities: caring, good listener, strong communication skills, committed and reliable, non-judgmental, patient and empathic, positive and encouraging, wants to make a difference in their community, open-minded. Men-tors must be at least 21-years-old, agree to one-year time commitment and have a desire to make a differ-ence in the community.

We strongly encourage individuals with a criminal record or history of substance abuse to apply, as long as they have not been incarcerated in the past two years, have no felony conviction in the past two years and have at least two years of sobriety. Exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis.

You can learn more about the program by visiting our website: www.opendoorsri.org/mentoring Melissa Grisi, LCSWMentoring Program CoordinatorOpenDoors (formerly Family Life Center)

These are not the best times for one of Rhode Island’s most powerful political families, the Lynches. Up until a few weeks ago, they were cruising. Patrick had announced his candidacy for Governor. Brother Bill had announced for the Sec-ond Congressional District. Their father had been the longtime mayor of Pawtuck-et. In short, the Lynches were making a concerted run to replace the Kennedys as the Political Power Fam-ily of choice.

But then came allega-tions against Patrick’s good friend Charles Moreau, the current Mayor of Central Falls. Behind that came both the State Police and the Feds to investigate pos-sible favoritism, kickbacks or worse. Then Patrick’s

girlfriend quits as Moreau’s press secretary. And while it’s too early to be sure how this all is going to play out, it certainly isn’t the tradi-tional path taken to ensure one’s political legacy.

Now an obvious “Lynch Mob” mentality has taken root. The humor, of course, is whether you see the unfolding events positive-ly (“Stop the lynch mob’s unfair rush to judgment.”) or negatively (“The Lynch Mob epitomizes Rhode Island’s unfortunate I know a guy brand of politics.”).

But more important from our point of view is how this entire debacle is affecting us all, regardless of how we feel about the Lynches. Why in heaven’s name does a town one square mile (actually 1.3) in size, home to only 19,000

residents, site of a dysfunc-tional school system that only state intervention keeps alive, led by a police chief who is now drawing two salaries to perform a job he was doing last month for one – why does a town like this even need a mayor? Central Falls should become the poster child for regionalization.

Yet nothing happens. We do need a lynch mob mentality all right –meta-phorically and nonviolently speaking, of course – but it should to be aimed at our legislature that continues to avoid making the kinds of decisions that must be taken before our beloved little state is left penniless and hanging in the breeze. Let’s hope Central Falls will serve as the catalyst we so desperately need.

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A Lynch Mob Mentality?


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O n a warm summer afternoon, there’s

nothing more pleasant than spending an after-noon exploring all the lit-tle shops in a quaint New England town. You could drive all the way to Mystic or Cape Cod – but when was the last time you took some time to explore your own state? Just half an hour away from the East Side, Wickford is a local gem that’s worth a visit. While there are plenty of things to take in – the sea-coast, the outdoor spaces, the food – an afternoon shopping in Wickford is an afternoon well spent.

First, there are the clothes. The cozy streets of Wickford are home to some long-established Rhode Island institutions. Wilson’s of Wickford, selling men’s and women’s apparel, and Green Ink, a boutique for the ladies, have been in business for decades and are still popular local shops. Gossip offers the best of what you’ll see in fashion magazines, but for a lot less (be sure to check out their selection of consigned designer jeans). When it comes to acces-sorizing, stop by Lulabells for fabulously chic accessories, and A Bit of the West for unique Native American jewelry. For kids, the selection of adorable dressy and casual clothing at Teddy Bearskins is unmatched.

If you’re more interested in decorat-ing your home than decorating yourself, there is no shortage of options in Wick-ford. The only problem is deciding where to start.

The Wickford Collection is a home furnishings store gorgeously styled by owner Deb Mehringer, whose talent for interior designer definitely shows. The yard of the store opens up directly onto the water, where you can sit in their outdoor furniture and take in the sights.

The Porch offers beautiful home and garden décor, most of which is carefully hand painted by owner Jules Macher. Find the perfect finishing touches at Blue Hydrangea, where the seasonal displays are always one-of-a-kind.

When it comes to gifts – especially for wedding season – you can get that shop-ping done in Wickford, too. J.W. Graham and the Yes! Gallery have a high-end selection of artful gifts that are perfect keepsakes for a couple starting a home together. Voila, in addition to being a community art center, has a fine art gal-lery featuring the work of local artists. Scrimshanders and Different Drummer also specialize in memorable, unique gifts.

If you’re looking to give to yourself, Beauty and the Bath is chock-full of cos-metics, bath and body products and cute bath accessories – including their own line of body creams, shower gels and body scrubs. Feed your knitting hobby at the Mermaid’s Purl. And if you’re looking to give to your pet, don’t miss Shaggy Chic, where your pooch is as welcome as you are. No matter where you choose to shop in Wickford, you definitely won’t leave empty handed.

TheWonderful Boutique Shopping

in Wickford

P

Wickford DestinationsA Bit of the West • 83 Brown St, 294-1089, www.americanturquoiseofthewest.comSpecializing in authentic Native American-made jewelry and craft, including sil-ver jewelry with Turquoise, Onyx, Malichite, Opal, and Lapis stones.

Bagelz of Wickford • 21 West Main St, 294-6366, www.bagelzri.comEnjoy New York-style bagels, sandwiches and fresh baked goods or relax over coffee with friends. Free wi-fi!

Beach Rose Cafe • 85 Brown St, 295-2800, www.beachrosecafe.comCasual waterfront dining featuring seafood, salads, sandwiches and grilled items. Enjoy break-fast or lunch on the deck overlooking Wickford Harbor or sit inside to enjoy local artwork.

Beauty and The Bath • 11 West Main St, 294-3576, www.beautyandthebath.comVisit for a wonderful array of bath and beauty products, including Thymes body products and candles, pajamas and robes and perfumes.

Blue Hydrangea • 2 Main St, 295-2583, www.295blue.comFun and fabulous gifts for you and your home, including festive seasonal décor, beautiful stationery and candles.

Different Drummer • 7 West Main St, 294-4867, www.differentdrummerri.comWhimsical to sophisticated, offering American handcrafts, RI artists, fabulous cards, pottery, jewelry, and South County’s largest Trollbeads collection.

Gardners Wharf Seafood • 170 Main St, 295-4600, www.gardnerswharfseafood.comStop by for the area’s finest selection of fresh fish and quality seafood, bought directly from local fisherman in Wickford, Galilee and New Bedford.

Gossip • 16 Main St, 294-7333, www.shopgossip.comGossip fans flock to get the first pick at one-of-a-kind designer clothing, and accessories. Shop with us and find out why some don’t want to share this secret!

Green Ink • 89 Brown St, 294-6266, www.greeninkboutique.comGreen Ink is a women’s lifestyle boutique offering unique clothing, shoes, jew-elry, accessories, gifts and more.

Lullabells • 12 Main St, 667-7676, www.lullabellsgifts.comDistinctive gifts, stunning jewelry, fashion and home accessories. Featuring handcrafted art from local and North American artisans.

The Mermaids Purl • 1 Main St, 268-3899, www.themermaidspurl.comFeaturing a great selection of specialty yarns and beads. Also offering classes on knitting and beading.

Schrimshanders • 14 Main St, 294-2262, www.scrimshanders.comA unique selection Scrimshaw, Nantucket baskets, marine art, bird carvings, Sailor’s Valentines and much more.

Tavern By The Sea • 16 West Main St, 294-5771, www.tavernbytheseari.comThis romantic restaurant and tavern serves great food along with the great views. Alfresco dining overlooking the Harbor.

Voila • 31 W. Main St, 667-5911, www.voila-art.comVoila is a fine art gallery, art supply store and community art center that offers top quality artists’ materials and classes to inspire both children and adults.

Wickford Collection • 30 West Main St, 295-7222, www.thewickfordcollection.comCome and experience The Wickford Collection. Distinctive furnishings for the home and garden. Located at the most picturesque site in all of South County.

Wickford Package Store • 41 West Main St, 294-4681Knowledgeable and friendly staff at Wickord Package Store will assist you in finding the perfect wine, beer or spirit.www.wickfordvillage.com

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community news What’s happening in your neighborhood?

Community News is space that East Side Monthly makes available to community orga-nizations free of charge. The content does not necessarily reflect the views of the editors of this publication.

Brown Street Park News By Wendy Nilsson

Summer is packed with events at Brown Street Park for every member of the fam-ily. We are happy to again host the free Providence Neighborhood Performing Arts Initiative Concert series. Please join us every Wednesday in July (July 7, 14, 21, 28) from 5-7pm for music in the park. For a list of performers and vendors at each concert, visit our website (www.friendsofbrownstreetpark.org) or contact David and Carolyn Beal ([email protected]). We are thrilled to have Whole Foods University Heights as our major sponsor and watermelon supplier!

For the little ones there are CVS Playdates every Tuesday at 3:30pm (best for children 3 and up) and Athenaeum Story Hour every Wednesday at 3:30pm. For adults there is a range of fitness activities. Free spring and summer classes are going on now with our summer fitness partner, East Side/Mt. Hope YMCA. It is not too late to sign up. To enroll, sign up for free child care (during classes) or see the schedule of fitness classes at BSP, check out Facebook, the FBSP website or contact Kara at [email protected]. And thanks to everyone who participated in the Fitness Expo. If you are wondering how to use the equipment at BSP, check out the Expo videos on our website.

Our friends at Site Specific LLC (www.sitespecificllc.com) will be working with us to install new toddler equipment soon (using repurposed and eco-friendly materials). We will also be working with our partners at CVS to install new signage and improve the curb

appeal of the park. If you are interested in helping, please email Dan: [email protected].

The Community Garden at Brown Street Park is well underway. If you are interested in being on a waiting list for a garden plot, please email [email protected]. Many thanks to the Parks Department for prepping the beds, and to Home Depot for our “seed” money grant.

Brown Street Park is a success because of the wonderful volunteers who donate their time. If you are interested in helping out, check out our website: www.friendsof-brownstreetpark.org. Email [email protected] if you would like to be added to our email list.

You can support the FBSP when you collect your Eastside Marketplace receipts for “The Friendship Fund.” Please give or mail your receipts to Marcy Wemple at 87 Benefit Street, Providence, RI 02904. East-side Marketplace will then make a donation equivalent to 1% of the total to Friends of Brown Street Park to support our revitaliza-tion efforts. Thanks to all of you who have saved receipts on our behalf!

If you’ve enjoyed events at the Park, please consider becoming a volunteer or donor. Visit our website at www.FriendsofBrownStreet-Park.org to learn more. Friends of Brown Street Park is a 501C(3) non-profit organi-zation. All donations to the group are tax-deductible.

Fox Point NewsBy John Rousseau

State Okays RFP for Shooters SaleThe Rhode Island State Properties Commit-tee overlooked zoning questions April 13 and granted permission to the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT), allowing it to sell the Shooters property for an undisclosed amount.

The zoning of Shooters is at question because in documentation provided by Kevin

M. Flynn, chairman of the committee, the property was listed as W-2, which allows for residential uses. That designation conflicts with four-to-one-abstention decision by the City Plan Commission (CPC) February 23. After reviewing the issue at four separate hearings, the CPC voted to remove residen-tial zoning from Shooters in the Waterfront Plan and the College Hill, Wayland and Fox Point Neighborhood Plan. But in Flynn’s packet to the committee, a letter from Thom Deller, director of the Providence Depart-ment of Planning and Development (DPD), dated January 8, 2009 indicated, “the W-2 zone will remain unchanged.”

In January 2009, the State Properties Com-mittee gave the okay for RIDOT to initiate a request for proposals (RFP), but with some conditions. Those included the submission of a written request for the funding reimburse-ment from the Federal Highway Administra-tion (FHA); a letter from the city regarding existing and future zoning of the site; a report on the site’s value as a marine terminal; and a land-use evaluation of the I-195 highway parcels by Alix Krieger, a development con-sultant to the city and state.

RIDOT Director Michael Lewis again said his department was “under obligation to sell the property,” so that it could return the money to the Federal Highway Administra-tion to complete the I-195 project.

Sell Real Estate in Current Market?Another committee member questioned whether delaying the sale until real estate prices improved might not be a wiser decision. While Chairman Flynn would not provide the exact asking price in the RFP, he noted it was “seven figures less, meaning more than $1 mil-lion and less than $10 million.” He also said it was less than the $3.5 million appraisal that RIDOT proposed in December 2008.

David Riley, co-chair of the Head of the Bay Gateway Committee (HOBG), called the February 23 CPC decision to remove resi-dential from the zoning “a definitive answer,” which should not be overlooked. He also quoted a report from the Rhode Island Pub-

lic Transit Authority (RIPTA) that called Shooters “the most ideal location for a ferry terminal” that could join Newport and Provi-dence.

A letter from State Senator Rhoda Perry and State Representative David Segal urged the committee to not sell the property and pay attention to the growing public support for a public waterfront in Providence and around the state.

The Committee approved the RFP by a vote of four-to-one, but stipulated that it should be revised to include wording to encourage a public-private partnership for the development of a marina and public destina-tion envisioned by HOBG. The committee also directed that the RFP should leave open the possibility for lease of the property rather than an outright sale. RIDOT’s projected October 1, 2010 closing date for the sale would be adjusted to allow for RIDOT revi-sions and State Property Committee’s review, Flynn said.

Seekonk Shoreline at Gano Park is 1/3 CompleteDespite on-and-off misting rain April 17, the Earth Day Cleanup of the Seekonk Shoreline at Gano Park succeeded by reaching 1/3 of its goal of restoring the park’s view. Though tired and damp, volunteers and personnel with the Providence Parks Deparment seemed agree-able to a second cleanup in May or June to extend the view from the dog park towards the Crooks Point Bridge.

FPNA has set up an advisory committee to assist with its long-term goal of giving the park a single identity and a more functional riverfront. The committee includes repre-sentatives from DEM, the Narragansett Bay Commission, Save the Bay, Parks Deparment, Brown University, Fox Point’s three elected officials and leaders of the various groups using the park.

The initiative coincides with news that the proposed East Transit Street Boat Ramp, to be located at the southern end of the park, is back on track. Stymied for three years by the discovery of a former landfill on the boat ramp


site, the Parks Department and DEM have now lined up necessary funding for the project to be initiated, according to Robert A. McMa-hon, Parks Superintendent. “A number of permits are still required from DEM and the Coastal Resources Management Council over the summer before site work on the project could begin in September,” McMahon said.

The boat ramp’s targeted completion date is scheduled for May 2011.

Street Tree Deadline is June 1The deadline for applying for neighborhood street trees, which could be planted as early as this fall, is June 1, according to Liz Downing of the Providence Neighborhood Planting Program. December 1 is the deadline for trees to be planted as early as spring 2011. FPNA volunteers, in association with the Provi-dence Neighborhood Planting Program, have planted over 150 street trees in Fox Point. Since 1988, the Mary Elizabeth Sharpe Street Tree Endowment has matched Providence Parks Department funds to provide sidewalk preparation, new soil, trees and tree deliv-ery at no cost to Providence residents who apply and receive a Neighborhood Street Tree Planting Award.

To receive street trees through the Neigh-borhood Street Tree Planting Award, neigh-borhoods should have a volunteer to organize a neighborhood application; at least five prop-erties that each need at least one tree within an area of one to three city blocks; permission from each property owner to plant each tree requested and a pledge from each property owner or tenant to help plant, water and weed the prospective tree space. To apply for trees for your neighborhood visit www.pnpp.org.

Blackstone Parks NewsBy Anna Browder

This month we are focusing on Blackstone Park on the Seekonk River. It is a Conserva-tion District by city ordinance, a natural place once rich in wildlife and still holding the pos-sibility of restoration.

On April 10, nine alumni from Franklin Pierce University spent four-to-five hours with Chris Shafer from the Appalachian Mountain Club. They moved large logs to line and define trails, and staked them in place. They installed log steps on a steep section of the East Bluff trail. They picked up four large bags of trash from the shore of York Pond, and pulled one large bag of garlic mustard near Works Progress Administration (WPA) trail in the woods. It was a pleasure to work with this group of young adults and we hope they will be interested in returning in the future.

Chris Shafer, Jack Schempp and members of the Appalachian Mountain Club have worked with us longer than any other group,

teaching us how to install steps to slow the course of water and water bars to redirect water flow, and providing many skilled, expe-rienced and strong volunteers.

We used an Earth Day Grant from the Department of Environmental Management to do a planting in a bed of bulbs at the Witherby statue on the Boulevard. Aiming for year round interest, we chose hellebores and heucheras, whose foliage remains throughout the winter. The grant also paid for stones at the site to enhance the setting and protect the area from foot traffic.

To volunteer to work on the Boulevard or in the park, or to become a member, contact us through our web site, www.black-stoneparksconservancy.org. Or, send mem-bership donations to The Blackstone Parks Conservancy, P.O. Box 603141, Providence, RI 02906: $25/individual; $50/family; $100/Protector; $250/Conservationist; $1000/ Life-time.

Please send your Eastside Marketplace cash register receipts to help us cover administra-tive costs to the P.O. Box above.

Wayland Square News By David Kolsky

The next meeting of the Neighborhood Dis-cussion Group at Books on the Square (471 Angell Street at Elmgrove, opposite Star-bucks) will be at 7pm Wednesday, June 23. No speakers or topics had been chosen by deadline.

To keep abreast of activities and meet-ings around Wayland Square, please visit the public message board of our Yahoo! Group at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Wayland-Square (no extra punctuation or spaces). Even better, join the group so that you can contribute and receive notices by e-mail.

Medway Parking issueOn Monday, April 26, the City of Provi-dence’s Zoning Board of Review voted unani-mously to deny Gregory Weiss’s renewed application for three variances to allow extra parking on his property at 155-57 Medway Street (below Wayland and opposite the laundry). The vote was 5-0.

Mr. Weiss asked for the variances because he said several former tenants had left early when they found using the commercial park-ing lot next door to be unsatisfactory, while several prospective tenants would not rent without parking directly on the property. One of the principal arguments made against granting the variances is that if they were granted for a property that abutted a parking lot, then it would be hard to deny applications anywhere else.

Arguments (or assertions) were made both ways about perceived safety, economic hard-

community news


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Trees and Blackstone ParkThe next day, Tuesday, April 27, the Discus-sion Group heard Douglas Still, the Provi-dence City Forester, talk about the city’s tree canopy and plans for Blackstone Park (where Angell, Irving and Pitman Streets meet the Seekonk River).

The City now has a more systematic schedule for inspecting and replacing dead trees, although its execution take time and money. Residents can get free trees for the sidewalk and reduced-price trees for their own properties through two city programs funded by private and public grants. Neigh-bors on Irving Avenue just helped replaced dead and dying trees with a dozen new ones in April.

The City wants to restore and rehabilitate the pathways and vegetation in Blackstone Park, which have suffered not only from the weather and invasive alien tree species, but also from people and dogs running off established paths. Volunteers are helping to identify and replace harmful invasive species. Some irregular paths will be blocked off with barriers and better signage.

Reaching any kind of consensus on the contentious issue of running unleashed dogs in the park will be more difficult. A draft plan for the park was begun last winter, but as spring and summer bring more demands on the Forestry Division, it is now looking for professional consultants to help finish the draft for public consultation in late summer or fall.

For more details, read the Blackstone Park column on this page.

College Hill News By Diane Greco

The Board of the College Hill Neighbor-hood Association met on Monday, May 4 at the Lippitt House Museum. Alison Spoon-er, DonnaLee Gennaro, Barry Fain, Heidi Heifetz, Yvonne Shilling, Brenda Shannon, Sara Bradford, Diane Greco and Ed Bishop attended.

CHNA President Allison Spooner and Ed Bishop reported on the recent meeting of Brown’s Community Working Group, where discussions focused on preparing neighbors for Brown’s summer construction projects. The new fitness center on Hope and Lloyd was a special point of interest. Neighbors were assured that Brown intends to preserve the stone wall that bounds the edge of the athletic complex on Lloyd. Although the wall will be altered slightly to improve safety, as it currently restricts drivers’ sightlines,

there are no plans to remove it, and any stones removed from the wall will be reused on the property.

At May’s Board meeting, College Hill’s Police Lieutenant John Ryan and Officer Nicole Darling were on hand to review graf-fiti in the neighborhood. Graffiti on College Hill has abated, due to the coordinated efforts of Lt. Ryan, Officer Darling, CHNA’s Graffiti Task Force, and neighbors who have reported graffiti and taggers. If you see a fresh tag, or one in the making, call the substation at 243-6990 and report it to Officer Darling. Tips can also be reported anonymously by calling 1-800-TAGGERS. Timely reporting is crucial.

Information on graffiti removal may be found at CHNA’s website, www.collegehill-neighborhoodassociation.com or at www.graffitihurts.org.

A reminder to College Hill’s dog owners: as the weather warms, it becomes especially important to pick up after your pooch. Bio-degradable plastic bags made specifically for pet waste are available, and may be ordered online if they’re not in stock (though they often are) at local grocery and pet supply stores. We look forward to seeing College Hill’s canine residents around the neighbor-hood this spring!

Trash does tend to pile up at this time of year, as residents move in and out of the neighborhood. If you are planning to dispose of large and/or bulky items during your move, CHNA implores you not to leave these items on the sidewalk. Instead, take advantage of the city’s free large item disposal service. To schedule a pickup, contact Waste Management at 800-972-4545 24 hours before your scheduled trash collection day and let them know what you’d like to have removed. You may dis-pose of up to three large items at a time, such as mattresses, televisions and large household appliances. Alternatively, you may want to donate your gently used items to a charitable organization such as the Salvation Army, or try posting your item to Free Exchange RI: www.freexchangeri.org. Charitable donations are unusually scarce this year due to the economy, so you can be sure that your gift will be deeply appreciated.

CHNA’s membership drive is ongoing. Look for our membership table at upcoming summer concerts at Brown Street Park, at the corner of Brown and Creighton, where you can join CHNA while grooving to live music and enjoying treats from local eater-ies. If you’re not yet a member, please con-sider joining! Benefits of CHNA membership include our free monthly e-newsletter, which reports items of interest to our community and free and/or inexpensive local events. To join CHNA, or renew, send a check for $20 made out to College Hill Neighborhood Association to the Treasurer, Box 2442, Providence, RI 02906, or call 453-3937.


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Festival of Historic Houses Set for June 5 It’s a local event that appears on virtually all the national “Don’t Miss It” lists. It attracts a loyal cadre of visitors who religiously support it every year. And guar-anteed, you’ll come away with some inter-esting design ideas to improve your own home. What is it? The Annual Festival of Historic Homes, sponsored by the Provi-dence Preservation Society (PPS) which this year will be holding its 31st annual weekend event on Friday, June 4 and Saturday, June 5. PPS will celebrate the occasion by focusing on new but interest-ing locale: the Wayland Historic District.

Located amidst the wide streets near Wayland Square – Humboldt Avenue in particular – this area of the East Side is one of the most recent to be awarded designa-tion on the National Register of Historic Places. It’s an attractive area filled with dwellings that reflect Providence’s late 19th and early 20th century domestic life. The motion picture perfect streetscape of Humboldt Avenue almost begs the pres-ence of a young Judy Garland in leg-o’-mutton sleeves, shades of Meet Me in St. Louis. For one day only, we are all invited to visit some of the very best of these hous-es to see first-hand how current residents have adapted their century-old houses for contemporary living.

Because this is the first time this area has been featured on the tour, two other tie-in events will be held to make this year’s PPS Festival that much more special. Things get started on Thursday evening, June 3 when the fine merchants of Wayland Square sponsor a “Shop ‘Til You Drop” evening from 5-8pm. All participating

stores will be donating up to 15% of their sales that evening to PPS. It’s a nice thing for the businesses at the Square to do, so kudos to all who are involved.

Then on Friday night, there will be a special Patrons’ Party featuring cocktails and songs of the Cole Porter era. This “de-lightful, de-licious, de-lovely” party will take place from 6-9pm at an exceptional East Side house of that period. There will also be “de-lectable” food will be provided by Plantation Catering. Patrons’ Party tick-ets also include admission to the tour on Saturday. Contact PPS at 831-7440 or ppsri@org for more info.

The actual Festival of Historic Houses itself will take place from 11am-5pm on Saturday and will feature homes and gar-dens in the Wayland Historic Area. As in the past, each of the houses on the tour will be detailed in a booklet in which Wm McKenzie “Mack” Woodward, Principal Architectural Historian with the R.I. His-toric Preservation and Heritage Committee elaborates on the design and often colorful historical past of these classic late 19th and early 20th century homes, none of which have ever been open to the public before.

Providence, at the turn of the 20th cen-tury, was considered the wealthiest com-munity per capita in the country thanks to its manufacturing success. Many of the houses reflect the money that could be spent on attracting some of the country’s best architects to Rhode Island as well as on the craftsmen who painstakingly imple-mented their designs.

Take the Alice and James Sullivan House for example. It was built in 1893-4

and likely will be the most unusual of the houses on this year’s tour. Its design com-bines a wide range of geometric forms and decorative details into a chaotic crescendo that is strangely appealing. Built to the exacting standards of the Sullivans – she was the daughter of the founder of US Rubber Co., an important presence in Providence during this period – the house reflects a commitment to craftsmanship difficult to replicate today.

Another wonderful stop on the tour will be George O. Sackett house (circa 1899). This gracious home boasts a magnificent gambrel roof as well as a full-width front porch that recalls the days when the house overlooked the cultivated fields of the Dexter Farm located across the street.

The event, which draws visitors from all over the country, is a wonderful celebration of Providence and the critical role historical preservation in making our city so unique. Tickets for the event are available at ppsri.org or by calling 831-7440. The tickets will also admit tour goers to a presenta-tion at St. Martin’s Church entitled “The History and Architecture of the Wayland Neighborhood,” presented by Robert O. Jones, Senior Architectural Historian for the Rhode Island Preservation and Heritage Commission. In addition Wendy Brown, owner of Wendy Brown Fine Linens will present “Thread Count and Linen Secrets” in her Wayland Square store.

All proceeds go to benefit the activities of the Preservation Society. “Come with us,” say PPS organizers, “behind closed doors to see how compelling-and how much fun-old houses can be.” Amen, say we.

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