CELEBRATE THE 13TH ANNUAL
NEWPORT WATERFRONT IRISH FEST
Vol. 38, No. 35
BORN FREE
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 2010
Peaches A-Plenty
What’s Inside
New Alcohol Policy at Salve By Meg O’Neil
BE SEEN ON THE MAINSHEET!
Table of Contents 02840 CALENDAR CLASSIFIEDS COMMUNITY BRIEFS CROSSWORD DINING OUT EDITORIAL LETTERS MAINSHEET NATURE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES REALTY TRANSACTIONS RECENT DEATHS
10 16 22 4 22 13 6 6 11 21 22 6 19
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It’s the best time of year to get out to Sweet Berry Farm and pick your own peaches. There are still plenty of these sweet fruits sun-ripened and ready to be enjoyed. Pictured here, Sophie is a pro at picking the perfect summer peach. (Photo by Meg O’Neil)
See “SALVE” on page 7
City Passes Historic District Zoning Overhaul
The Wiggle Room: Day Care Goes to the Dogs By Meg O’Neil
With summer winding down here in Newport and kids gearing up to head back to school this week, many of you loyal dog owners are going to be looking for the ideal substitute for your favorite dog walker or puppy sitter while your beloved pooch is left home alone on work and school days. Maia Chrupcala, the mastermind and owner of The Wiggle Room, has opened the only doggy day care facility on Aquidneck Island. Located at 741 West Main Rd., in Middletown, The Wiggle Room has moved into the old Petrageous pet supply storefront. I recently got the chance to go visit Maia and hang out with several of the cutest and funniest dogs around. Having been open for only a few weeks, Maia says, “So far so good…New dogs are coming every day. It’s been getting busier and busier.” Chrupcala, a Newport native who previously worked as a veterinary technician for Newport Animal Hospital, had the idea of opening a doggy day care for several years; all she really needed was the space. “I’ve been looking for years. In February, I found the store just driving by and saw the number. I decided to give it a shot and call. The space is huge. I had to get a special use permit through Middletown, got all my paperwork in order, and it
NEWPORT – Salve Regina University will be instituting a new alcohol policy on campus for this upcoming school year which starts Sept. 8. The policy, which allows for the limited possessin of alcohol on campu, was developed through student input and is supported by President Jane Gerety, the Senior Administration, and by the school Trustees. In an email sent to the student body, President Gerety outlines the changes that the school is making in regards to alcohol on campus. For years, any student living on campus, regardless of age, was fined for having any alcohol in any of the dorm rooms. In her email, Gerety states, “The law of our nation grants individuals 21 years of age and older the right to consume alcohol. I want Salve Regina students living on campus who are of legal age to be treated as mature individuals. Therefore, students who are of legal age and reside in designated residence halls will be allowed to
By Tom Shevlin
Five month old Roxie cools off in a kiddy pool after playing around with her new pals. passed! My background as a vet tech really helps.” The colorful open room environment gives the dogs plenty of room to run around and play with each other. A few couches and beds are there to rest their heads after running around and an outdoor play area complete with a couple kiddy sized pools for an afternoon splash and cool down. While the Wiggle Room doesn’t discriminate against any breeds of dogs, there is a size requirement to attend, and all dogs must pass a temperament test before they can stay for the day. Chrupcala says, “It’s not for every dog. Sometimes it’s a little too stressful for the older guys…there is a weight limit of 15 pounds and up because when they get going, there is some serious playful wrestling so the little ones can get hurt.” Every owner must fill out the Wiggle Room’s “En-
See “Dogs” on page 7
The train depot alongside America’s Cup Avenue is one of the first sights people see upon entering downtown. It’s in need of repairs, and could be moved. (Photo by Tom Shevlin)
Parties Mull Depot Fate By Tom Shevlin NEWPORT – Citing concern for public safety, the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) has begun what it describes as a “very early discussion” to determine the fate of the train depot on America’s Cup Avenue. The depot, which serves as the base for the Old Colony & Newport Railroad and Newport Dinner Train, has been a fixture along the city’s main downtown thruway since being moved to its present location in the early 1980s. It’s one of the first historic looking structures visitors see after coming off the Newport Bridge, but in recent years, there has been growing concern over the structural integrity of the canopies, the maintenance and the appearance of the surrounding site. It’s gotten to the point now where state transportation offi-
cials, working with the depot’s private stakeholders, have begun exploring the possibility of moving the building up the track, and replacing it with either a new structure or temporary rail car facility. RIDOT spokesperson Charles St. Martin said on Tuesday that the building, which was originally used as a cemetery office on Warner Street, could be removed from its present location using funds available through the federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) improvement plan. A bid request is currently outstanding to determine the cost and feasibility of relocating the building. For the last 15 years, the Newport Dinner Train has leased the property where the depot sits from RIDOT, sharing it with the Old Colony & Newport Railroad, a mainly
See “Depot” on page22
LOCAL NEWS MATTERS PLEASE SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS
NEWPORT – After 30 months of development and debate, City Council members last week voted to approve a dramatic overhaul to the city’s Historic District zoning ordinance. The vote, however, excluded any mention of a controversial provision governing historic gates, walls, and fenceposts. The comprehensive ordinance change, aimed at making the historic district zoning review process more user-friendly, has been a focal point for preservationists and historic homeowners for years. But in June, the revisions stalled following disagreement over a proposal to protect historic landscape features along Bellevue Avenue. After years of frustration over process and procedure, in 2008, city councilors created the ad-hoc Historic District Zoning Ordinance Review Task Force. For more than 18 months, the group met to craft language that would balance the city’s need to preserve its historic fabric while at the same time making the HDC review process less restrictive and time-consuming for homeowners. With more than 50 percent of all buildings in Newport falling in a historic district, few entities in the city so closely affect homeowners as
See “HDC” on page 22