Farmer’s Market
Vol. 38, No. 40
BORN FREE
THURSDAY, October 7, 2010
What’s Inside
A Walk to School
Broadway Improvement Project Gets a $240,000 Boost By Tom Shevlin
OKTOBERFEST
in this week’s CALENDAR
Table of Contents CALENDAR CLASSIFIEDS COMMUNITY BRIEFS CROSSWORD EDITORIAL MAINSHEET/02840 NATURE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES REALTY TRANSACTIONS RECENT DEATHS RESTAURANTS TIDE CHART
20 26 4 25 6 19 24 23 7 26 17 23
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Elementary-school children walk to Middletown’s Forest Avenue School, with principal Stephen Ponte, yesterday, as part of International Walk to School Day. (Photo by Rob Thorn)
Winds of Change in Middletown By Jill Connors A standing-room-only crowd filled the council chambers of Middletown Town Hall Monday night to voice opinions about proposed changes to the town’s wind turbine ordinance, during the first of two public hearings. The second public hearing will take place Oct. 18. The changes, submitted by the Middletown Planning Board in August, seek to define existing terms and add new language primarily on the topic of the visual impact wind turbines may have. A key phrase that has been proposed would make it a requirement that wind turbines not interfere with “scenic, natural or historic resources” in town. The Planning Board has indicated that inserting the phrase will bring the wind turbine ordinance, which was originally approved in February 2010, in line with the Middletown Comprehensive Community Plan. (Rhode Island law requires that all towns have a Comprehensive Plan, and that zoning ordinances not conflict with that plan.] Interest in the wording of the wind turbine ordinance has grown in recent weeks in Middletown as news has spread of one resident’s application for a special-use permit to construct a large-size wind turbine in the vicinity of Second Beach; that application, however, was not part
A contemporary wind turbine is a high-tech version of old-style windmills; both harness the power of the wind, a natural resource in abundance in coastal towns. In Middletown, municipal and residential wind turbines are under consideration. of the public hearing, a procedural fact voiced by council member Barbara VonVillas at the start of the meeting. As evidenced by the large crowd and the opinions voiced by a dozen speakers, adding the wording “scenic, natural or historic” is controversial. “There are few areas in Middletown that could not be described as “scenic, natural or historic,” said Peter Tarpgaard, of Longmeadow Ave., a member of the Wind Turbine Committee and
the Comprehensive Plan Review Committee, noting that adding such language would effectively mean the town would have no wind turbines. “The Comprehensive Plan encourages clean energy,” he added. Richard Price, of JH Dwyer Ave., spoke in favor of the changes, saying, “The wrong siting for industrial turbines is going to ruin our natural beaches and areas. It’s time to make sure we protect our scenic vistas.” Susan Adie, of Willow Ave., expressed concern over the changes because of uncertainty over who would decide what is scenic, natural and historic. “I fear we will miss the chance to embrace green technology,” she said. Karen Roarke, of Renfrew Ave., a former member of the Middletown Town Council, described the contradiction of the town’s website presenting images of the natural beauty of Middletown’s beaches at the same time the town is considering an application for a large-size wind turbine in the vicinity of Second Beach. “You can’t have it both ways. You can’t market your town as scenic but also have industrial-size energy generators,” said Roarke. “Quality of life is what keeps people coming here, and once it’s gone, it doesn’t come back.”
See “TURBINES” on page 3
In what could provide a much needed spark to a proposal to revamp Broadway, the state announced on Wednesday the award of $238,756 in grant funding for streetscape improvements aimed at making the heavily trafficked stretch more pedestrian friendly. Representatives from the Rhode Island Statewide Planning Program, Rhode Island Department of Transportation and the Safe Routes to School steering committee notified the city of the grant in a letter to planning department officials dated Sept. 16. In total, 24 project applications from 15 municipalities requesting over $4.5 million received, however, just over $2 million was awarded. Newport’s proposal to make improvements to Broadway, home of Thompson Middle School, was among the handful of projects selected.
See “broadway” on page 13
The School–Build It or Not? By Tom Shevlin It’s been almost 10 years since conversations over reorganizing the Newport’s public schools began to percolate into the city’s public discourse, and for most of that time, it didn’t seem like the community would would ever reach a consensus. Now, almost suddenly, the issue is coming to a crescendo, and the consensus reached of state and school officials will be put to the test. In a little less than a month, voters in Newport will be asked to weigh in on a $30 million bond referendum to construct a new elementary school at the site of the aging Sullivan School on Dexter Street. If approved, the state has agreed to reimburse the city an estimated 42 percent of the total project cost. The proposed school, to be named after the late Sen. Claiborne de Borda Pell, is slated as a K-4 facility and would take the place of the city’s traditional neighborhood elementary schools. The design calls for one building, housing what will essentially be two distinct schools: one K-1, and the other for grades 2-4. The 842-student facility would be divided into three wings connected by a central stem housing music, art, and multi-purpose rooms. The two largest wings, which would make up the main frontage of the school would be dedicated to classroom and general educational space. The third wing would be located at the back of the building, featuring a cafeteria and gymnasium space that would open up into play areas for both grade-specific and general use.
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And while the prospect of passing a $30 million construction bond during one of the nation’s worst economic downturns may seem like folly to some, proponents, like Newport Public Schools Superintendent Dr. John H. Ambrogi, argue to the contrary. “Oddly enough, the timing is right for this,” Ambrogi said during a recent interview. School Committee Chair Jo Eva Gaines, who made it a priority to put a school question on the ballot for voters by the end of the year, said that she hopes voters will see not only the need for the new facility, but the benefits of it as well. “I really think the more people learn about it, the more likely they’re going to be to support it,” she said earlier this week. That both new and seasoned members of the School Committee have gotten behind the plan, is also a testament to the diligent manner in which the committee has developed the proposal, she added. Should residents vote to approve the plan, it would end a nearly decade-long debate over how to consolidate the city’s aging and according to the state, “obsolete” elementary schools. However, the degree of voter support for the project given the current economic conditions and other capital improvement projects facing the city remains uncertain at best. The School Committee has discussed for several years plans to consolidate its elementary program under the mantra of “fewer, newer” schools. But until recently, it had failed to agree on a plan that the state is willing to finance.
See “SCHOOLS” on page 6
Page 2 Newport This Week October 7, 2010
AROUND TOWN Run For Brigid!
Victoria and Angelina D’Angelis, Hunter Hanson, Lexus Brown
Farm Fresh
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Students from Thompson Middle School enjoyed farm fresh, locally grown corn from RI Nurseries Tuesday, Oct. 5 as part of the Farm to School project (coordinated by Kids First) which brings Rhode Island grown foods into school meal programs. In all, 600 ears of locally grown corn were served in Newport’s six school cafeterias for lunch. More information on the Farm to School project can be found on the Kids First website www.kidsfirstri.org. (Photos by Rob Thorn) Hunter Hanson
The weather this past Saturday, Oct. 2 was perfect. What better way to celebrate a perfect day than with a day at Gooseberry Beach running and walking for a great cause. In its 9th year, The Brigid E. Kelly 5K Run and Family Fun Walk took place amongst the picturesque backdrop of Ocean Drive with over 100 runners racing down a scenic route to be the first one back to Gooseberry. The overall winner was Robert Mey, a youngster in the 15-19 year old age group, finishing way ahead of the pack at 21 minutes and 33 seconds. The first woman to cross the finish line was Susanne Handling at 27 minutes and 15 seconds. Compared to last year’s event which was held on a day of torren-
tial downpours, this year’s perfect sunshine was greeted with open arms. The spirit of Brigid, a Newporter whose life was cut tragically short by a drunk driver in 2001, was alive and well and seen on the face of every participant who took part in the day’s events. All money raised was to benefit the Brigid E. Kelly Memorial Foundation and will go toward an academic scholarship to a female athlete graduating from Rogers High School and majoring in Education once in college. Brigid’s memorial foundation also makes an annual donation to the RI MADD organization, as well as the Rogers High School Boosters Club and Cheerleading Team. (Photo by Meg O’Neil)
October 7, 2010 Newport This Week Page 3
Train Depot Saved By Tom Shevlin A small delegation of city planners, elected officials, and administration personnel sat down in a closed-door meeting with representatives from the state Department of Transportation on Wednesday to discuss the possible fate of the train depot on America’s Cup Avenue. In the end, the concerns of Newport’s elected and appointed officials were heard, with the state committing to restore the depot to public safety standards. RIDOT spokesman Charles St. Martin confirmed the state’s intent. As we first reported back in September, citing concern for public safety, the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) had begun what it describes as a “very early discussion” surrounding the condition and adequacy of the period station. Engineers from RIDOT inspected the facility over the summer, and determined that in its current condition, it could present a potential risk to the public. Initial discussions have focused on moving the depot and/or moving a heated railcar with restrooms to the Newport station for use as a temporary depot while a larger depot is built. But the prospect of losing the structure led some residents to express concern. On Wednesday, city leaders were given their first chance to interface directly with the state in the hopes of saving the facility. Meeting with RIDOT Director Michael P. Lewis, were state Rep. Pe-
ter Martin (D–Newport), Newport Mayor Jeanne-Marie Napolitano, City Manager Edward F. Lavallee, Director of Planning Paige Bronk, and Historic Preservationist Dana Titcomb. A representative from Senate President M. Teresa PaivaWeed’s office was also present. According to one attendee, the group talked about the building’s deficiencies, what work needs to be done, and the character that it lends to the area. “I feel fantastic,” said Rep. Martin shortly after the meeting. “I feel like this is a lifetime victory for me,” one that extends the work of those who had brought the depot to its familiar spot at the head of America’s Cup Avenue. Today, it’s used as the base for both the Newport Dinner Train and the Old Colony Railroad. 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, as well as the maintenance and the appearance of the surrounding site. For the last 15 years, the Newport Dinner Train has leased the property where the depot sits from the RIDOT, sharing it with the Old Colony & Newport Railroad, a mainly volunteer organization which operates a site-seeing train on weekends. But, as of Wednesday, RIDOT has agreed to work with the city to repair the structure in a cost-effective manner.
At only approximately 400square feet, the facility has historically been more of an icon than it has an actual station hub. It has no indoor plumbing, lacks insulation, as well as office and waiting space. First Ward Councilor Charles Y. Duncan has indicated that perhaps some of the work could be donated by local contractors. Despite its picturesque qualities, the depot wasn’t originally a depot at all – nor was it even remotely used in the city’s once bustling train industry. Instead, it had been used as a cemetery office on Warner Street for decades before being moved to 18 Elm St. in 1970s, and later to the site which the Donnolly Gateway Center now occupies, before being displaced again to its current location In the early 1980s, students from Rogers High School’s vocational program added a decorative cupola, renovated the interior, and added a pair of long canopies, transforming the one-time shed into a period train station. When the work was done, the station was named for then-Sen. Claiborne d. Pell, who had been a vocal advocate for railroads and public transportation. Since then, the building has served as a kind of reminder of the once busy train yard that occupied the area, but was removed in order to make way for America’s Cup Avenue. For some, saving the depot became more about preserving a building – it’s about preserving that history.
TURBINE CONTINUED FROM PG. 1 At the next Middletown Town Council Meeting, on Oct. 18, the second public hearing on the changes to the wind ordinance will take place, at which time the Council will vote.
Wind Turbine Request Near Second Beach In the meantime, the Middletown Zoning Review Board and the Middletown Planning Board are in the process of considering Luise Strauss’s application for a special-use permit to construct a 1-megawatt wind turbine on her Paradise Avenue property, a 13.6acre working sheep farm. In her application, filed July 15, the turbine is described as a “large tower wind turbine of a 2-blade or 3-blade design… mounted on a freestanding monopole steel tower.” The application describes her intent to operate the turbine in order to “generate electricity to supply her Strauss Farm property and to sell the remaining power to one or more off-site customers,” including St. George’s School, which abuts Strauss’s property. At 1-megawatt capacity, with a blade-tip height of 294 feet above ground level, the proposed Strauss turbine is roughly midway be-
tween the Portsmouth Abbey wind turbine, which generates 660 kilowatts and has a blade-tip height of 240 feet, and Portsmouth’s municipal wind turbine at Portsmouth High School, which generates 1.6 megawatts and has a blade-tip height of 336 feet. The procedure for any Middletown resident to apply for a specialuse permit to construct a wind turbine is outlined in the wind turbine ordinance, and consists of submitting an application and supporting documents to the Middletown Zoning Review Board, which then refers the application to the Middletown Planning Board for review and advice. It is expected that at the Middletown Planning Board’s next regularly scheduled meeting, Oct. 13, it will recommend the selection of an outside consultant to review the Strauss application, and it will schedule a special meeting for this particular application. The Planning Board has a Nov. 17 deadline to provide its advice about the Strauss application to the Middletown Zoning Review Board, which then will begin its decision-making process.
Progress on Wind Turbines Middletown continues to pursue
86 Broadway, Newport, R.I. 02840 401-847-7766 • 401-846-4974 (fax) A publication of Island Communications Copyright 2010
wind energy for municipal use, a goal outlined in the Middletown Comprehensive Community Plan, through the efforts of the Middletown Wind Turbine Committee, which had its monthly meeting Tuesday night. The six-member committee, which is chaired by Christine Weglowski Forster, of Green End Ave, includes two Town Council members, Frank A. Boyzan and Barbara VonVillas. Forster said the committee is currently pursuing two options for municipal wind turbines that would provide power for the town’s schools, police station, town hall, street lights, among other uses. As one option, the committee is researching a location on West Main Road for one or two wind turbines that would generate between 1 and 1.5 megawatts. As another option, Middletown is participating in the East Bay Energy Consortium (EBEC). This effort, which includes nine East Bay municipalities, is working on a feasibility study for a Tiverton location that would include 8 to 10 turbines. The EBEC recently received a grant from the Rhode Island Economic Development Council. Newport is also participating in the EBEC, with Mayor Jeanne-Marie Napolitano serving as the consortium chair.
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Page 4 Newport This Week October 7, 2010
NEWS BRIEFS Public Forum to Address State’s Economic Future A public forum for Newport County General Assembly candidates for the Rhode Island Senate will be conducted on Oct.13, from 6 to 8 p.m., at the Community College of Rhode Island (Newport Campus) on John Chafee Blvd. The forum will address the question: “What is Rhode Island’s Economic Future?” All Newport County candidates have been invited and have indicated their intention to participate in this forum. The forum will be moderated by Dennis McCoy, Former Newport City Councilor. This forum has been organized by Citizens Concerned about Casino Gambling. For information about the forum, please contact David Wixted at 846-2246 or newportwix@yahoo.com.
Trinity Pumpkin Newport Lions Club Installs Youth Members Understand the Opens Bond Referendum by Patch The Trinity Church Pumpkin will share its festive autumTaking a School Tour Patch nal bounty on Queen Anne Square In advance of the bond referendum for the new Pell Elementary School, the district believes it advisable to provide the residents with as much information as possible. A tour of each one of the existing elementary schools will help enlighten residents to understand the interior conditions of these schools. On Tuesday, Oct. 12, tours will be held at Sullivan and Coggeshall Elementary Schools at 5 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 6 p.m., and 6:30 p.m. On Wednesday, Oct. 13, tours will be held at Underwood and Cranston-Calvert Elementary Schools at 5 p.m., 5:30 p.m., 6 p.m., and 6:30 p.m. Residents who are interested in knowing more about the bond referendum are encouraged to participate in these tours.
For What It’s Worth
from Friday, Oct. 8 through Halloween, daily from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Pumpkins of all shapes, colors and sizes, unusual gourds, chrysanthemums, and ornamental cabbages will be for sale. Weekends in the Patch will bring live music, baked goods, lunches, a pumpkin smashing center for pent-up frustrations, and an opportunity for great fall photos.
Photographers’ Guild Meeting
The next Photographers’ Guild Meeting is Wednesday, Oct. 20 at 7 p.m. at the Newport Art Museum, 76 Bellevue Ave. It is free and open to the public. The presenter will beRichard Schultz, professional photographer and a resident of Barrington. (www.rschultz.com) His topic will be “ Seeing the Picture and Capturing the Moment.” For more information contact 847-8765 or visit www. newportphotoguild.org.
Dear Federico:
I purchase this vase at a yard sale in Little Compton quite a long time ago. I paid $20 for it, which seemed like a lot for a yard sale, but I really liked it. What is it and what is it worth? Thanks -Jason M . Jason: Your vase should have the mark on the underside that says “Amphora” for the company Riessner, Stellmacher and Kessel. Made in Bohemia, part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1899 when this vase was made. Commonly called the “Klimpt” series, the vase has piped, jeweled and gilt decorations. Amphora represents one of the most exotic designed art potteries of the era. Your $20 purchase today is worth between $600 and $750. Congratulations on an excellent purchase. — Federico Santi, Partner, The Drawing Room Antiques Do you have a treasured item and want to know “what it’s worth?” Send an image, as hi-res as possible, directly to Federico at: drawrm@hotmail.com or 152 Spring St., Newport
Cheerleaders “Go Pink” On Friday, Oct. 8, the Rogers High School Football team will play host to Narragansett High School at Toppa Field. Both teams wear red, black, and white, but for that night, the cheerleaders are “going pink”. The girls will be wearing pink bows that night in support of breast cancer awareness month. They will also be selling pink ribbons and breast cancer awareness cookies at the game. The proceeds from the sale of these items will go to Susan G. Komen For the Cure. The cheerleaders are encouraging anyone attending the game that night to “go pink” too and wear something pink.
Lis DaCruz, new member, Chandler DaCruz, Alexis DaCruz, Mary Ellen Lynch, new member, and RI Lions District Governor Dawn Cabral-Quimby Lions Clubs International has introduced the Cub Program in order to teach youngsters the joys of volunteering and guide them to a lifelong dedication to helping those in need. Volunteering teaches Cubs empathy, compassion and responsibility. The Newport Lions Club is celebrating their 87th of service this year and started a Cub program two years ago. The Newport Lions Club has 45 members and meets on the third Thursday of the month at 6 p.m. at the Best Western Mainstay. Lions clubs are a group of men and women who identify needs within the community and work together to fulfill those needs. For more information or to become involved locally, go to www.newportlionsclub.com
Monthly Career Exploration Series
The second seminar will be held at Portsmouth High School and will be conducted by Newport Collaborative Architects on Oct. 13 from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. The third seminar is scheduled for Nov. 17 from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. and will be sponsored by and presented at the Newport Hospital. If you would like to participate in the Monthly Career Exploration Series, please contact ChrisSemo@ aol.com or 864-0333.
New Rector at Emmanuel Church On Sunday, Oct. 17 at 4 p.m., the Right Rev. Geralyn Wolf, Bishop of Rhode Island will institute Dr. Anita Schell-Lambert as the eighteenth rector of Emmanuel Church. A reception will immediately follow the service. For more information contact the church office at 847-0675.
Automotive Department Open The automotive class located at the Newport Area Career and Technical Center on the Rogers High School Campus has reopened for business this school year. The Center’s certified automotive students perform all aspects of automotive services including, oil changes, wheel alignments, tune ups, braking needs, wheel balancing, and suspension repair. The students are under the guidance of teacher, Dan Pontes and technical assistant, Paul Mackin. For more information, and service appointments call 847-6235. Extension: 2928
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October 7, 2010 Newport This Week Page 5
Newport Police Log During the period, from Monday, Sept. 27 to Sunday, Oct. 3 the Newport Police Dept. responded to 421 calls. Of that, 182 were motor vehicle related; there were 150 motor vehicle violations issued and 32 accidents. The police also responded to 9 noise complaints and 12 incidents of vandalism.
In addition, 43 arrests were
made for the following violations: n Eight arrests were made for disorderly conduct. n Six arrests were made on the basis of District Court Warrants. n Four arrests were made for possession of open container. n Three arrests were made for driving with revoked driver’s license. n Three arrests were made for possession of alchohol by a minor. n Three arrests were made for noise violations. n Two arrests were made for breaking and entering. n Two arrests were made for domestic or simple assault. n Two arrests were made for DUI. n Two arrests were made for public urination. n Two arrests were made for possession of marijuana. n The additional six arrests were made for various reasons.
Bike-a-Thon Raises Awareness about Mental Health On Sept. 19, the Newport County Community Mental Health Center, Inc. (NCCMHC), held its second annual Tour De Newport in an attempt to raise funds and create awareness of the mental health services and programs provided to the citizens of Newport County. Each rider could choose between a 10-mile, a 25-mile, or a 45-mile bike ride that wound through Newport, Middletown, and Portsmouth. The Bike-aThon was a success and more than 120 cyclists came out to support this worthy cause.
Theatre Show to be Relocated All performances of “More Lives Than One,” Conjunction Theatre company’s acclaimed show about the legendary Oscar Wilde, have been relocated to the Megley Blackbox Theatre, located in the Antone Academic Center, Lawrence Avenue, on Salve Regina University’s campus. The show had originally been scheduled at the Stanford White Casino Theatre on the grounds of the International Tennis Hall of Fame. Performances of “More Lives than One: Oscar Wilde and the Black Douglas” will be given Oct. 7Oct. 9 at 8 p.m. and Oct 9 at 3 p.m. at Megley Blackbox. Tickets, $15 for seniors and $20 for adults, are available at www.tinyurl.com/salvecasino or by calling 341-2250. Directed by Patricia Kessler, “More Lives Than One” includes extracts from Wilde’s comedies and other works, along with scenes from his trials. It presents the fantastic highs and tragic lows of the short but dazzling life of Wilde.
Historical Painting Missing This oil painting of The Old Stone Mill was painted by Helena Sturtevant and was stolen from Newport City Hall a few years ago. Sturtevant (18711946) was a founding member of the Newport Art Association, where she taught and “painted her way across Aquidneck Island.” Residents thought so much of her that when she passed away, they assembled a collection of 62 works by her and donated them to The City of Newport where they have hung in City Hall ever since. The Newport Cultural Commission received a grant for the collection’s restoration through The Alletta Morris McBean Foundation. The Old Stone Mill hung on the third floor hallway. If you see this painting, (it is about 20” x 24”) please contact The Newport Police Department, Detectives Division.
Music of the French Baroque for HurdyGurdy An unusual concert of rare music on historical instruments played by some of the best musicians in the Early Music scene! On Thursday, Oct. 7 at 7:30 p.m. several of the most prominent players of French Baroque music will be giving a concert in the Hawes Room of Honyman Hall at Trinity Church. The music represents the repertoire written originally for instruments in the 18th century in France. It is elegant and gracious, melodious and harmonious, pleasant to the modern ear as well as to the ‘Baroque’ taste. The intimacy and acoustic of the Hawes Room as well as the historical setting in 18th Century Newport are highly appropriate for this program.
Fortress of Nightmares Returns The six annual Fortress of Nightmares haunted tours will take place at historic Fort Adams on the last two weekends October. The tours will run from Fri. Oct. 22 – Sun. Oct. 24, and again from Fri. Oct 28 – Sun, Oct 31. The 2010 edition of Fortress will be offering two different tours, both of which will bring visitors into areas of the Fort that are normally closed to the public. Tunnels of Terror Haunted Maze is one of the tours that will take visitors on a terrifying walk down the Forts dark passageways and vaulted casemates. This tour is not recommended for children under the age of 12. Fortress Ghost Hunt is the second tour that will explore the Forts living quarters and bastions in search of the paranormal. The public is invited to experience Fort Adams in ways they never have imagined and learn the hidden secrets of this magnificent structure.
AARP Meeting
The Newport County AARP Chapter will hold its monthly meeting on Monday, Oct. 18 at Fenner Ave Hall, Newport at 1:30 p.m. New members should come early and bring their National AARP membership card. The speaker for October is Florence Archambault. She will present a program on Maud Howe Elliott, Newport’s grande dame and author of “This Was My Newport.” Mrs. Elliott, a daughter of Juia Ward Howe, was also a participant in the suffragette movement. Mrs. Archambault is a free lance writer specializing in Newport history and has written many articles about Mrs. Elliott Members are reminded to bring non-perishable goods for the AARP pantry project.
Tennis Registration The Newport Recreation Department is currently accepting registrations for the Frank Kenny 50 and better men’s doubles and mixed doubles tennis tournaments. The tournaments are scheduled for this weekend, October 9th, 10th and 11th . The deadline to register is Thursday, October 7th at 12:00 noon. Registration can be done at the Recreation office, 35 Golden Hill St., Newport. For more information please call 845-5800.
Page 6 Newport This Week October 7, 2010
OPINION EDITORIAL Revisionism Run Amok
Whether Christopher Columbus technically “discovered” the Americas is up for debate around these parts. Regardless of where you fall, this weekend, we mark his achievement of opening up the new world to Western exploration. But the day is not without a tinge of controversy. Columbus has, in recent years come under scrutiny from historians and other academics. Was his voyage so remarkable? Is it something that should be celebrated. Brown University in recent years decided it wasn’t. They now celebrate a “Fall Weekend” rather than Columbus Day. It seems that increasingly, our history is being revised, or otherwise, refined. But instead of contributing to a better understanding, too often we cloud our past with modern conventions. The latest example of this modern proclivity toward impetuous revisionism can be found in an effort by some to change the state’s official name from the “State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations,” to simply, the “State of Rhode Island.” Proponents argue that the presence of the word “plantation” is somehow racially insensitive; even celebratory of Rhode Island’s past association with the slave trade. But words matter. And when placed in the context of its proper historical origin, we cannot find any reason for redacting our heritage. No matter the fact that Rhode Island was one of the leading abolitionist states, and the first to ban the import of slaves onto its shores, the effort to alter Rhode Island’s official name is a classic case of politics running headfirst into history. Plantation, as it was defined at the time, referred to a band of people joining together for a common purpose – in this case, the formation of a sovereign colony. We agree with the research previously presented in these pages by Brian J. Stinson. The Charter of 1663, which established Rhode Island’s sovereignty by proclaiming the legal right to exist and be politically and commercially prosperous, bound the island of Rhode Island (comprising Portsmouth and Newport) together with the northern mainland towns of Warwick and Providence (the Providence Plantations), forming the colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, a designation used decades before the first African slaves arrived here in 1696. Slavery did exist in Rhode Island, and many of our most prominent historical figures played a central role in the perpetuation of the triangle trade. Acknowledging that is important. But perhaps it’s time that we strive to better understand our own history rather than succumbing to a generic interpretation of the word “plantation.” On Nov. 2, we urge voters to reject a referendum to change the state’s name.
On Acceptance It’s an issue that we’ve touched on before, but one that deserves another mention. As Newporters, we tend to pride ourselves on our individuality; our open minds; and our open hearts. But as we read this week in one of our feature articles, it can be hard to be gay in Newport. To be sure, a number of our most prominent citizens and business owners are gay. For some, being able to openly share their lives with their friends, families, and neighbors, probably came easier than it did for others. On Tuesday, millions of Americans will mark National Coming Out Day, a day designed to raise awareness of the LGBT community among the general public. In light of the recent spate of suicides by gay teens, we hope that this year, more people will find it in their hearts to accept our friends, neighbors, and family members for who they are. Let’s strive to make it easier to be gay in Newport. Let’s keep things civil. Don’t let a yard sign upset the neighborhood. - T. Shevlin
Lynne Tungett, Publisher & Editor Tom Shevlin, Associate Publisher & News Editor Letters Policy Newport This Week encourages all citizens to comment publicly on the events and times in which we live. We will print any letter sent to us, adhering to guidelines for taste, accuracy, fairness, and public interest. Letters must be signed by the author and must include a telephone number and street address. Letters are limited to 500 words. Direct letters to: Newport This Week, 86 Broadway, Newport, RI 02840. Letters may also be sent via email to editorial@newportthisweek.net Corrections: We adhere to the highest standards of accuracy, fairness and ethical responsibility. If you feel we have not met those standards, please notify us.
FROM THE ARCHIVES
Can you guess what election year this cartoon is depicts? Hint the caricatures include George “The Barbarian” Bush, Ron “Spiderman” Machtley, “Bad News” Bruce Sundlun and Fred “Double Death” St. Germain. This was the cover of the October 13, 1988 issue and was penned by NTW contributor Tracy Morse. In John Pantalone’s infamable way his opening editorial was titled “Is this the best we can do?” Inside numerous political ads ran for Robert Silva, Kathleen Connell and Joseph DeCotis, while articles included an interview with Christopher Zepp, Newport city planner; debates set for cable television and a symposium on breast cancer prevention and progress.
GUEST VIEW
Energy Commission Seeks Public Input By Marty Grimes
This is the first in a series of articles from the Newport Energy & Environment Commission. Today’s focus is to introduce the Commission and priority points to be fully explored in later issues of Newport This Week. As an advisory commission established by the City Council in 2008, we were given the mission, of advising the City Council and educating Newport residents on awareness of energy and other environmental issues and best ways to lower the use of carbonemitting fuels. To be a most effective Commission, we seek public collaboration on the areas below to get citizen voices and concerns heard by the Council. The following are our seven stated priority areas. Maximizing energy efficiency in city buildings National Grid’s “Whole Building Assessment” has been completed for City Hall, the public library, and Thompson Middle School. Thompson’s participation enabled the fifth grades to participate in National Grid’s educational program, “The Power to Save,” which concluded with a “Go Green Night” program for students and their families last October. Recycling We’re working with the Clean City Program Director to raise the City’s current recycling rate of 22.98 percent to the state mandated rate of 35 percent by 2012. In addition to #1 & #2 plastic bottles, RI Resource Recovery Corporation must accept
all #3-7 plastics by 2012. Commercial recycling and multi-unit residential recycling as well as other options to increase our recycling rate are being investigated. Diesel engine idling and non-polluting modes of transportation The Commission is working with Newport Police to plan for enforcement of the anti-idling ordinance (no on-road vehicle engine idling for longer than five minutes.) So far, we’re happy to report that we’ve seen progress with buses at the Gateway Center and with school buses. Wind power and other forms of renewable energy The Commission submitted a model domestic wind turbine ordinance drafted by a volunteer in 2008, and while no action has been taken by the Planning Department yet, the Comprehensive Land Use Committee has consulted us on a proposed wind ordinance, and the Commission is represented on East Bay Energy Consortium, a nine community effort studying the feasibility of developing a regional wind energy system. We’re also represented on the recently reconvened Aquidneck Island Energy Alliance, under the auspices of the Aquidneck Island Planning Commission’s Energy Manager. Storm water quality and city infrastructure The UV radiation of storm water run-off and Easton’s Pond berm reconstruction has been, and continues to be, a Commission priority. So too is the Thames Street and Wellington Avenue sewer/storm water
project, and the development of a sustainable road design to achieve the best value for our infrastructure improvements. Environmental education in city schools Over the course of our charge, we have committed to visiting each of the city’s public schools, encouraging community gardening, recycling programs and water conservation. The Commission has also supported efforts to improve school meal nutrition and eliminate the use of Styrofoam. Commission members are also active on the advisory committee for the proposed Claiborne Pell Elementary School. Public awareness and education As part of our mission to engage the community, the Commission is the principle sponsor of the yearlong Neighborhood Energy Challenge, a program which encourages reduced energy consumption and green living in the home. Finally, the Commission is also working with Newport This Week and its on-line partner, Newportnow.com to provide a regular public awareness program featuring energy tips or information encouraging sustainable behaviors as well as features on areas of special interest to Newporters. The Commission typically meets on the fourth Thursday of each month at the library. We hope to see you there Marty Grimes is the chairperson of the Newport Energy & Environment Commission.
SCHOOLS CONTINUED FROM PG. 1 The proposed design builds on similar fundamentals incorporated into the lauded Thompson Middle School. Classrooms, for example, will be located in a cluster layout with shared spaces known as “learning commons” also incorporated into the design. Classrooms will average 950-square feet, with every two classrooms sharing a special 127-square foot shared room for use in special education as per RIDE requirements. Windows on the east and western exposures will be limited while on the north and south, plenty of natural light, which has been shown to be beneficial for learning, will provide students with a bright and airy environment. And while it would represent the island’s largest elementary school, proponents say it would have the feel of a much smaller school. Parents would be able to approach the school from two different directions. Two separate entrances would provide clear differentiation between the upper and lower schools, and setbacks in the facade would create the illusion of a less imposing building. If approved, work could begin as soon as May 2011, with the building ready for occupancy by June of 2013. As for the current schools, only one meets new fire code regulations, none are energy efficient, one has a functioning gymnasium,
and all contain asbestos and lead paint. An oft-cited 2005 report on the existing schools, rather ominously stated, “We’ve studied the schools in Miami, Detroit, Los Angeles and other urban districts, and all of the elementary schools here are in the worst physical condition we’ve seen.” According to Ambrogi, if the bond passes, taxpayers would save an estimated $800,000 per year in operational costs. The new school, he said, won’t need four elementary school principals, three nurses, or the same number of reading specialists on staff. The existing buildings, he said, “are dying by inches. And the state’s not going to give us 42 percent for the renovations.” On the other hand, if the bond fails, the city will have to begin spending an estimated $19-$22 million in upgrades to bring the remaining existing schools into compliance with the state’s fire and safety codes. And that’s saying nothing of the educational needs of students, which according to proponents, would be enhanced at a new facility. However, if passed, it will add to an already staggering list of infrastructure projects identified by city planners over the next few years, not least of which is a projected $100 million in water and sewer system improvements.
It would also turn the page on the neighborhood elementary school model that has existed in Newport for well over 100 years. “I know that people believe that we have true neighborhood schools, but we haven’t had true neighborhood schools in Lord knows how long,” Ambrogi said. “Youngsters are bused all over the city to different locations based on where we have seats. We do have schools in neighborhoods where some kids go, but they’re not your old neighborhood schools. And I think that just like when we moved the fifth grade up to Thompson, after a year everyone loved it, I think the same thing will happen when we have the new Pell Elementary School.” In the end, whether voters pass the school bond, or choose to pass on it, may come down to one thing: Trust. “I’m hopeful that the community is more trusting of the school committe and school administration to do the right thing, and to spend money wisely, and to be innovative in providing educational opportunities for all our kids,” Ambrogi said. “When I came on, I promised eight years, I had an eight-year plan, and I’m seeing this as the culmination of my promise to the School Committee that originally hired me. But we need to have this new school in order to move forward on the elementary school level.”
October 7, 2010 Newport This Week Page7
Don’t Let Your Vote Be Absent By Erik Thorsen
Voters take note: the deadline to register for an absentee ballot to vote in the Nov. 2 General Election is Oct. 12. Absentee ballots are available for all residents that will not be able to vote at their designated polling location on the day of the election. For example, if you suddenly find out that your employer is requiring you to go out of town during the election; you can complete an absentee ballot at City Hall. Even in the case of an emergency, all registered voters are guaranteed their right to vote. An emergency ballot will be available from Oct. 13 to Nov. 1 for any resident who has a serious emergency in that period of time. These emergency ballots will be available during this period at City Hall, on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. In order to ensure that the highest percentage of registered voters have the opportunity to vote, city
officials deliver absentee ballots to nursing homes and other known residents who are either immobile or can’t leave their homes. Any residents that are in the hospital during the time of the election will still have the opportunity to vote. Hospitalized residents can call the canvassing office at City Hall and request that a city official deliver a ballot to them. “We are always happy to help anyone and allow them the opportunity to vote,” said Rick O’Neill, the canvassing clerk for Newport RI. “I have even delivered an absentee ballot to Miriam Hospital in Providence to a voter.” In the past, ward candidates have been known to offer rides to residents that were not able to make it to the polling locations. “Voters should feel welcome to call me, or any of the other candidates, if they need a ride to vote. We want to see as many people vote as possible” said Justin McLaughlin, Newport second ward councilor.
There are over 13,400 registered voters in Newport this year and the city is expecting a good turn out on Election Day. However, O’Neill cited that in 2006, a non-presidential election year 496 absentee ballots were requested as opposed to this year where only 160 have been requested so far. The recent primary, that took place on Sep. 14, drew in just over 20% of the registered voters in Newport. Despite this small turn out, the percentage of registered voters actually voting in the general election is expected to increase. “Primaries typically have a smaller turnout” said O’Neill. “Just about 3,000 voters showed up at the last primary.” In hopes of a larger turnout for the General Election on Nov. 2, all registered voters are encouraged to get out there and vote. For more information on the 2010 General Election visit www. cityofnewport.com. This website gives a list of polling locations, candidates, and sample ballots.
Primary Voting List Highlights Need to Clean Up the Voter Roll By Tom Shevlin When voters went to the polls last month in the city’s primary election, several individuals–including two police officers–were eligible to cast ballots listing cityowned properties as their home addresses. A review of the city’s eligible primary voting list shows that three voters could have voted from two well-known municipal addresses: City Hall and the Newport Police Station. And according to Canvassing Clerk Rick O’Neil, there’s little he can do to prevent someone from walking in an declaring they reside someplace like City Hall. Under Rhode Island General Law, identification is not required at the polls in Rhode Island, in most cases. O’Neill said that commercial property may not be used for an address when registering to vote, and all three instances are being treated as oversights rather than any indication of intentional wrongdoing. According to O’Neill, while none of the voters in question cast ballots in the September election, they could have. One of the individuals had an address of 43 Broadway, Canvassing Office, listed as her
place of residence. O’Neill speculated that she may have given that address due to what was likely the transitional nature of her housing situation. The other two individuals, Robert Caroulo and Joseph B. Lavallee, are active duty Newport Police Officers, who both listed 120 Broadway as their place of residence. 120 Broadway is home to the Newport Police Station. According to Police Chief Michael G. McKenna, both officers were made aware of the registration error and were correcting the problem. In the case of Officer Caroulo, McKenna explained that he had listed the police station in his registration after his reserve unit he serves in was deployed overseas. Caroulo had been a resident of Newport for years, however, after receiving his orders, his family began to transition off-island. Caroulo currently lives in the West Bay. Lavallee, a young, but already highly decorated officer, does reside in Newport – and within the same district as the police station. He was made aware of the error and McKenna reported that he would be correcting the problem immediately.
Rather than signaling some kind of voter fraud, the obvious inconsistencies highlight what some believe are loopholes in the state’s election law, which for the most part, don’t require voters to present identification when registering to vote, or casting their ballot. And, in presidential elections even nonregistered voters are eligible to vote for president and vice-president at local Boards of Canvassers. According to the state Board of Elections, the only instance where a voter may be asked for proof of residency, is if they failed to include a Rhode Island driver’s license, identification card number, or Social Security number in their mail-in registration form, or if those numbers do not correspond with the record of their respective agencies. But those instances are few and far between, say election officials. Meanwhile, one door down from the Canvassing Office, in an irony that cannot be ignored, Newporters are asked to present a proof of residency in the form of a lease, as well as proof of insurance and a copy of their registration, to obtain one of the city’s all-important parking stickers.
Real Estate Transactions: September 24– October 1 Address
Seller
Buyer
Price
Newport 3 Goose Neck Cove Ln. Albert Naar & Judith Kelly 160 Eustis Ave. Anthony & Betty Smith 104 Kay Blvd. Cheryl Carvalho & Patricia Canning 33 Young St. William & James Lacey 68 Hall Ave. Dawn Mckenna 23 Stockholm St. Daniel & Mary Sullivan
Landrone LLC Samuel & Kathleen Goldblatt Janet Brown Michael Brescia, Kristin Ashman, Zachary Kimmel Ryan Ellis John Arsenault
$4,000,000 $930,000 $490,000 $285,000 $225,000 $210,000
Middletown 268 Tuckerman Ave. 283 Third Beach Rd. 23 Homestead Place 38 Blue Grass Dr. J Berkeley Ave. 563 Green End Ave. 695 W. Main Rd. 5 Acacia Drive 83 Honeyman Avenue Berkeley Ave.
David Leys, Jr. Behan Hill Properties Richard Jacobs Helen Burnham David & Laura Hull Stephanie & Paul Berdy, Jr. ohn & May Burns Camille & Jean Pierre Guerin Estate of Joseph Medeiros Lee & Heidi Holland Paula Kelley Steven Geruso Barry Fain Barnett Fain Ian & Carolyn Johnson Charles & Ellen King Norma Childs Hawthorn Investments LLC The National Society of Lee & Heidi Holland Colonial Dames of America in the State of RI and Providence Plantations
$1,050,000 $590,000 $465,000 $374,000 $301,000 $280,000 $200,000 $190,000 $190,000 $50,000
Portsmouth 33 Freeborn St. John Medeiros & Carolyn Figerie Newport Health Property 1194 Anthony Rd. Thomas Floyd 1194 ARP LLC 75 Redwood Dr. Samuel Abbe William Calhoun 66 Cove St. Eamonn & Tara O’Brien Kathryn Farrington
$350,000 Management $320,00 $276,000 $178,000
Page 8 Newport This Week October 7, 2010
Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are… By Meg O’Neil “It’s not easy to be gay in Newport.” Those were the words of the executive director of Youth Pride RI, an organization in Providence that provides a safe haven for gay youth, when asked about the resources available to the gay community. “We used to have a dropin center there, but had to shut it down due to poor attendance.” It’s true; there are very few options for gay youth in Newport. While Newport seems to be progressive in terms of acceptance compared to other places across the country, it still is not easy to be gay in a town where very little is offered for the gay community. Monday, Oct. 11 marks an important day across the country: National Coming Out Day, a day set aside for those who are ready to take the step out of the “closet.” Founded by Dr. Robert Eichberg and Jean O’Leary in 1988 as a way to raise awareness of the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans) community among the general population, its approach comes amidst a flurry of headlines that have drawn attention to the discrimination gay Americans face on a daily basis. With gay marriage issues, “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell,” and gay bullying being the apparent cause of more than six suicides among teen boys who were harassed for their sexual orientation or simply suspected of being gay, all entering into the national dialogue in recent weeks, advocates say the time has come
to examine ourselves as a country; and on a smaller scope, as a local community. “I think straight people just don’t understand what it’s like to be gay,” said a local youth, who asked that her name be withheld. “They have no idea what the process of coming out is like. The secrets and double lives that you have to live in hopes that you don’t get caught because you’re different. I imagine it’s hard to be gay as an adult, but I don’t think it comes anywhere near as hard as it is to be a gay teen…I hope for a day when it gets easier.” For those looking for help to make that process easier, several groups do exist–but their numbers are scarce. The East Bay branch of The Met School is one of only a handful of Aquidneck Island schools that offers a Gay Straight Alliance group. These groups in middle schools and high schools are often vital for gay youths that feel as though they have no place else to go. In a day when bullying is running rampant in school hallways, and cyber-bullies spreading hateful messages across the Internet, kids often feel as though they have no place to turn to find help, experts say. They fear rejection because they feel they are different. Not knowing how one will be accepted when coming out can be terrifying. Perhaps the most active GayStraight Alliance group in Newport is the one at Salve Regina University. Salve GSLBA (Gay, Straight, Lesbian, Bisexual Alliance), meets weekly on
Salve’s Gay Straight Lesbian Bisexual Alliance met to create colorful posters to help promote equality for special events in the gay community around Rhode Island.
thing wrong when it comes to being gay. The recent string of gay youth committing suicides is but one important example. Having a day that might make it a little easier for someone who struggles with their sexuality is wonderful.” Another local, Alana Markowitz, added, “National Coming Out Day is important because it is a chance to promote appreciation and understanding and create a chance to celebrate our friends and loved ones. It is there to provide encouragement to anyone who might need an extra push to come out loud and proud or soft and confidently.” “Anything that can help a ‘closeted person’ who is terrified of losing their friends, losing their family, losing their job, being judged, bullied, assaulted, or even killed just for who they are and who they love, is a good thing. They need to know that there is help, support, and compassion for them,” said Newporter, Michael David Casieri. So what can you do to help promote National Coming Out Day? It’s simple really. Be there for someone. Be there, judgment free, with open arms for your friend or family member who needs you at this vital step in their journey of self-discovery. And if you are gay, and you feel like you have absolutely no where to turn to, and have no one to go to, come find me at our office on 86 Broadway, or e-mail me at Meg@ Newport-Now.com. Because I’ve been there, and I know how hard it can be, and I’ll be here for you.
campus to discuss current issues, plan social activities, and generally offer a place for members to communicate with one another openly. Their Facebook group has close to 100 members and is very active compared to several years ago when the group was defunct. On Oct. 11, students in the group will be wearing white T-shirts and blue jeans with the words NO H8 either written on their faces or on their shirts. The NO H8 Campaign is a form of silent protest that was created by photographer Adam Bouska after the passing of Proposition 8 in California on Nov. 4, 2008. Megan Petit, president of Salve GSLBA said, “The importance of this day is
something that is special to each person. To some if can signify the day they found the courage to tell those around them that they are part of the LGBT community and for others it is a day to show their support towards the LGBT community and issues like repealing Prop 8 in California.” So why is National Coming Out Day important? We extended the question to local Newporters, wanting to hear what others thought about this special day. Susan Perkins, an attorney and City Council candidate, said, “I think it is important to recognize this day for a variety of reasons. Most of all it seems society is doing some-
Hamilton Presents Proceeds
Test Scores Indicate Improvement
The proceeds from the Newport Antiques Show were dispersed to two local charities. Show Chair Anne F. Hamilton, a resident of Newport and Philadelphia, presented checks for over $100,000 each to the Newport Historical Society and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Newport County. More than 1,800 visitors enjoyed the Show at St. George’s School, with 600 attending the opening night gala. Underwriting for the Show was provided by more than 50 individual “Founders” and sponsors, and by more than 40 local and national businesses.For more information, visit www.newportantiquesshow.com
By Tom Shevlin The percentage of elementary and high school students in Newport testing proficient in science, has improved over last year, the latest round of NECAP tests show. According to the New England Common Assessment Program, 43 percent of Fourth Grade students tested at or above proficiency in science. The scores were 12.3 percent higher than 2009 – good enough for the the ninth highest year-overyear gain in the state. Drilling down to individual school performance: Coggeshall School improved by 19.1 percent;
Cranston-Calvert improved by 11 percent; while the Sullivan School posted a staggering 24.6 percent gain, with the Underwood School not far behind with a 21.4 percent improvement. Students in Grade 11 at Rogers High School also saw improvements over 2009, with 17.1 percent of students testing at or above proficiency. That’s an improvement of 7.7 percent over last year, and sixth best among all districts in the state. Performance at the middle school level, however, didn’t fare as well. Students in Grade 8 posted slightly lower test scores than the previous year, with just 15 percent of students testing at or above proficiency, according to NECAP standards. In 2009, 18 percent of students tested at or above proficiency in the same test. Meanwhile, in Middletown, 28.6 percent of students in Grade 8 tested proficient, up from 26 percent in 2009. But in both grades 4 and 11, the results were off over last year. According to the results, 45.6 percent of fourth graders tested proficiently in science in 2010, down 2.3 percent from 2009; and 24.4 percent of students in 11th grade testing proficiently, compared to 39.2 percent in 2009, or a drop of 14.8 percent. The tests were administered in May 2010. The full report can be found online at www.Newport-Now.com.
October 7, 2010 Newport This Week Page 9
AT THE LIBRARIES “Life of the Mind” Continues at Redwood
Books Set Sail to the Caribbean For the past 10 years the Friends of the Newport Public Library have operated a Bookstore selling gently used books and donating all profits to the Library. The Bookstore is also involved in community outreach – providing reduced price books for local charitable organizations. One recent unique outreach is the discounted sale of almost 900 books to “Hands Across the Sea.” (www.handsacrossthesea.net). Founded by Tom and Harriet Linskey, the program provides books from “wish lists” for literacy programs focused on the islands of Antigua, St. Kitts and Nevis, Dominica, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Lucia, and Grenada. The program was established in 2008 and now serves 10,000 students at 47 schools, plus a growing number of community libraries and reading programs. Working hands-on with local teachers, school principals, and U.S. Peace Corps Volunteers, Hands Across the Sea is helping to raise literacy levels and bring a brighter future to school children in the often-impoverished islands of the Caribbean. The Linsky’s have been in Newport harbor this summer on board Hands Across the Sea, a Dolphin 460 46-foot sailboat. It serves as the Linsky’s mobile base of operations for assisting children, schools, and community libraries in the islands of the Caribbean. So, from Aquidneck Island to the Caribbean Islands your Friends Bookstore is reaching hundreds of families.
Sorting and Pricing “Back Room” Books All donated materials are used – some go directly into the Library’s collections, most go into the Bookstore or are sold at the Fall, Winter and Spring Book Sales and some are sold at discounted rates to charitable organizations. The Friends of the Newport Public Library Bookstore is located on the lower level of the Newport Library. Bargain books are on sale in the Spring Street Lobby, all hours with an Honor Box while the full Bookstore is located in the room just off the lobby. The Bookstore is open the same days as the Library and hours are posted on the door or at www.newportlibraryri.org and then click on The Friends Bookstore. All proceeds benefit the Newport Public Library.
Look for Newport This Week on Thursdays
The Redwood Library and Athenaeum will continue it’s LIFE OF THE MIND Salon series throughout October beginning on Thursday, October 7th. This is part of the Redwood Library and Athenaeum’s series of 8 weekly presentations and discussions entitled, “The Life of the Mind.” Each presentation will take as its theme an issue which concerns, interests, educates, amuses or even provokes the thinking of American society today. Each will be led by a respected authority on the topic. The presentations will be in the form of a salon. Beginning at 5:30
pm, attendees and the evening’s guest presenter will have the opportunity to meet and chat over refreshments. At 6 pm, the authority will put forth, explain, or ask questions about the topic in an informal setting designed to stimulate lively conversation and discourse.
The next 4 presentations are: October 7: Ed Achorn, long-time editorial writer at the Providence Journal, will discuss “Was Baseball’s Greatest Season Right Here in Rhode Island?” based on his new
book Fifty-nine in ’84: Old Hoss Radbourn, Barehanded Baseball and the Greatest Season a Pitcher Ever Had. October 14: Richard Saul Wurman, architect, graphic designer, and pioneer in the practice of making information easily understandable, will present “A Conversation with Richard Saul Wurman.” October 21: Daniel Asa Rose, writer and traveler extraordinaire, will discuss “So You Think You Have a Crazy Travel Story?” promoting his new book Larry’s Kidney – Being the True Story of How I found Myself in China with My Black
Sheep Cousin and His Mail Order Bride, Skirting the Law to get Him a Transplant and Save His Life. October 28: An interfaith panel representing Christianity, Judaism and Islam will discuss “Can Organized Religion Survive in a Secular Age?” The Life of the Mind series is free to Redwood members and their guests. Others are welcome for the price of $5 per presentation. For more information, contact Carolyn du Pont at the Redwood Library, 401-847-0292, or log on to www.redwoodlibrary.org.
Page 10 Newport This Week October 7, 2010
Cocktail Party Will Help King House By Katie Imbrie The Edward King House Senior Center is one of those places that you might not notice until you – or someone you love – needs it. When an elderly parent is so isolated that he or she begins slipping into depression… when illness or a fall means that an older person needs help getting out of the house, that’s when the King Center’s programs and informational resources can become a lifeline. The Center runs 31 programs for seniors, ranging from movement classes and courses in artistic expression to workshops on health insurance, legal issues, veteran and government updates, disease awareness, care management and nutrition. “We’re the best-kept secret in Newport,” says Executive Director Michelle Duga. Yet, to the 375 seniors who visit the Center each week, it’s a secret weapon against the challenges of aging. “We fill a gap for them,” says Duga. “We’re not a nursing home or an assisted-living center, but we provide a place to go, a chance to chat with friends, to take a class, or just to go and read a book a corner. We’re busiest around lunchtime, when we provide a hearty meal for $3. For some, it’s their only meal of the day.” By providing a “place to go,” the King Center combats social isolation – one of the leading causes of depression in older adults. The Center is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., with later hours on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thurs-
A vital part of many seniors’ daily lives, the Edward King House provides a gathering place for activities, workshops, lectures, and a hearty lunchtime meal. Fundraisers for the King House are particularly important this season, with budget cuts threatening its 31 programs. Shown here: Monica Marcucci prepares hand-made pasta while Jack Napolitano perfects the meatballs at the Edward King House on Tuesday, Oct. 5, as part of Festa Italiana. (Photo by Meg O’Neil) days depending upon what activities are going on. With cutbacks in city, state and Federal funding, as well as increasing competition for limited grant dollars; the Center is now looking to the community for help. It will host its annual cocktail party fundraiser Saturday, Oct. 16, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at 35 King St., behind Bellevue Gardens. Tickets are $20 for members of the Center, and $25 for nonmembers. “The cocktail party is definitely our social event of the year,” says
Duga. “We have a lady who plays the piano, there’s singing, and local restaurants donate all of the food and liquor. We always have a good crowd, and this year, since it’s an election year, we’ll be well-attended with politicians who know who their constituents are!” Then on Nov. 7, from 3 to 7 p.m., Sardella’s restaurant will host a dinner with a special Edward King House Menu to benefit the Center. Tickets for that event are $15. Tickets for both events must be purchased in advance.
St. Clare Home Debate Draws On By Tom Shevlin For the fourth time since May, the city’s Zoning Board of Review met in special session on Monday to hear arguments for a proposed expansion to the St. Clare Home on Spring Street. And for the fourth time, the board heard close to four hours of testimony on behalf of the applicant, only to adjourn with more to come at a future date. The evening began with the continued testimony of architect Spencer C. McCombe, a senior architect at Smithfield, R.I.-based Robinson Design, who elaborated on the findings of a study conducted by St. Clare Home to determine the amount of of light that would be blocked by the new facility. Attorney Robert Silva added that the design team has indicated a willingness to increase the setbacks on the second and third floor to minimize shadowing to the neighborhood. Attention then turned to a prolonged question and answer session regarding the appropriateness and necessity of the proposed facility. Board members peppered a series of applicant witnesses with questions ranging from the need for added assisted living rooms, to a brief exchange over a proposed underground parking garage. Testimony was also given on the planned landscaping features for the property, which while not directly related to zoning, was introduced based on the applicant’s desire to address neighbor concerns. The final half of the meeting was spent listening to concerns over how the facility would impact traffic around the neighborhood, and specifically, on the often busy Spring Street. Board members were assured that the impact to traffic would be marginal. In addition to taking cars off the street by expanding parking on the facility’s grounds, a traffic specialist from the St. Clare Home said that the peak traffic times for the facility would center around the morning and evening rush hour commute, and added
that it would not have a major impact in the summer months. The St. Clare Home, which since 1909 has been providing care for elderly Newport residents, has been seeking approval to expand beyond its current footprint with a 15,133-square-foot addition. The proposed expansion would add 40 beds of the assisted living and 13 beds of skilled nursing to the facility. According to an application on file with the city, the St. Clare Home currently operates 47 beds of assisted living and has been running a budget deficit since 1996. The added facilities would go a long way to close that gap, the applicant states. But the proposal has not been without a dose of neighborhood opposition. Several letters have been submitted to the Planning Department expressing concern with the project, which has already secured approval for the demolition of a pair of homes on Dennison Street – including one that once played host to the former skipper of America’s Cup victor Australia II. If approved, the project would push the facility out behind the existing facade of the building, closer to Dennison and Brewer streets, which border the property to the south and north, increasing in size from a current 19,000-square-foot building, to more than 34,000square-feet. Parking would also be expanded, from 24 designated spaces to 107. Central to the proposal is the transformation of St. Clare Home into a “household” model nursing care facility. According to industry experts, the household model is considered a much-improved departure from traditional skilled nursing homes and assisted living facilities aimed at create a more warm and welcoming community. The proposed renovation to St. Clare Home incorporates architecture that will allow the staff to provide services to residents and their families that offer more privacy, autonomy and overall support. The next meeting on the project was set for Monday, Nov. 8. at 7 p.m. at Newport City Hall.
October 7, 2010 Newport This Week Page11
Wellness
Are You Eating a Healthy Breakfast? Breakfast is unfortunately one of the worst meals to eat out and yet it seems to be the most popular activity on weekends for a lot of people. Cereal, pancakes, toast, margarine and non-organic eggs are not healthy food. So, have a protein shake at home and then join your friends for coffee. When it comes to protein shakes, you need to be careful of which ones you buy. Consumer Reports purchased 15 protein powders and drinks and the levels of arsenic, cadmium, mercury and lead in many of them exceeded USP limits. One way to avoid exposures to these toxins is to go organic. There are a variety of protein powders some containing whey, which is a good way to go if you are not a vegan. Whey protein supports blood sugar levels, promoting insulin secretion. It supports your immune system, as it contains immunoglobulins and it helps preserve lean body tissue.
However the source of whey is of primary importance as is the method used in p r o c e s s i n g. Most whey powders , derive from pasteurized dairy products that are processed with heat and acid. Many are artificially sweetened. Make sure to look at the label to see if the whey is derived from grass-fed cows not treated with pesticides or hormones. It should be cold-processed and sweetened naturally. If you are a vegan there are protein powders made out of hemp or sprouted brown rice, but again, make sure that they are organic. Read the labels. A protein shake is a great way to get a healthy breakfast if you are
rushing in the morning. Make it tasty so your kids will love it. Many of the powders come in chocolate and vanilla flavors. It’s also a nourishing pick meup in the afternoon for everyone, and healthy after a workout at the gym. Ingredients: 1-1/2 cups of organic milk (use rice or almond milk if vegan) 1 banana 1 raw organic egg (if not vegan) 1 scoop of protein powder 1 teaspoon of bee pollen 1 teaspoon of organic coconut oil PREPARATION: Place milk and all ingredients in a blender and blend well or put into a jug and use an immersion blender. Next week: Why your multivitamin may be doing nothing for your health?
Take a Deep Look at Eating Habits Join holistic health coach and award-winning nutrition educator Jeannette Bessinger for a lively session coming up at the Innerlight Studio for Yoga in Middletown. Participants will delve deeply into the heart of eating and what it takes to heal our relationship with food. Among other core strategies, they will learn how to “hit the reset button” to balance the body’s chemistry and correct its internal cuing system. “The Yoga of Natural Eating: Harnessing the Power of Real Food and Real Pleasure to Bring Your Eating Back into Balance” occurs on Saturday, October 16 from 2 to 4 pm.
Online registration is available at www.InnerlightYoga.com. Innerlight is located at 850 Aquidneck Avenue in Middletown, RI. Call 8493200 for more information. Natural eating is eating according to the body’s delicate internal signals of hunger and satiety as well as the body’s natural calls for different foods in different seasons and at different times of life. Natural eating is the way we were born to eat. It is the way nearly every human ate until about 50 years ago. For the past 30+ years, Americans have been running a sophisticated and costly experiment in “dieting” to lose weight. The result?
n 98% of all weight loss “systems” are clinical failures.
n Except for 2% of the population,
dieting is not an effective permanent weight loss strategy. n Diet supplements are not an effective permanent weight loss strategy. n Exercise is not an effective permanent weight loss strategy. Anyone tired of dieting and ready to get to the heart of their discontent should join Jeannette for these revealing and motivational workshops. She will bring to the table the most challenging food, eating and lifestyle issues that you are facing in your everyday life.
Finding Health Information Online Workshop When you search the Internet, do you have trouble figuring out which websites have legitimate health and medical information? Does it seem like a lot of websites are trying to sell you something? The RI Hospital Library will hold a free computer workshop at the Newport Public Library on Tuesday, Oct. 19 from 9:30 – 11 a.m. where you can learn about non-biased health and medical websites that provide accurate information for seniors. You will get hands-on experience with specific, easy to use, government sponsored health websites. Basic computer skills are required such as using a mouse and searching the Internet. Registration is required. Please contact the Newport Public Library at 847-8720 ext. 208
Flu Clinic Getting the flu can make you feel rotten! It can cause body aches, sore throat, fever, cough, congestion, and extreme fatigue. Your best defense against the flu is a flu shot. The Friends of the Jamestown Library are sponsoring a Flu Shot Clinic from the Wellness Company at the Jamestown Library on Saturday, Oct. 9 from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. There will be no charge for people insured by Blue Cross Blue Shield, Medicare Part B, Neighborhood Health or Tufts. There is a charge of $20 if you are covered by a different insurer than above. You must have your insurance card with you. There is a charge of $30.00 if you have no insurance. Walk-ins are welcome but you can also register online at www.thewellcomp.com. Flu shots are available for ages 6 months and older.For more information, please call the library at 423-7280 or call Eleanor Hanson at 423-0346.
Pink Martini Night
Prepare to be shaken and stirred by the fight against breast cancer as Stillwater Spa at Hyatt Regency Newport Hotel & Spa hosts Pink Martini Night on Oct. 15 to raise funds and awareness for the ongoing effort to find the cure for one of the most significant women’s health issues. All proceeds from the event will go to the Rhode Island chapter of the American Cancer Society. Scheduled midway through National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Pink Martini Night is intended as an upbeat event, celebrating the resolve of all who have been affected by breast cancer and the passion with which the cure is being sought. Donate $20 at the door and enjoy an evening for a good cause from 5 – 8 p.m.
Artists Program The Friends of the Jamestown Library are pleased to present a program on “Outsider Art and Its Artists.” The program will be held at the Jamestown Philomenian Library on Thursday, Oct. 7 at 7 p.m. Top Drawer Art Center is a nonprofit visual art center providing art programs for adults with developmental disabilities. Through the arts, they are dedicated to creative expression, individuality, and selfempowerment. They work to promote the idea that art is a universal human trait that gives purpose to one’s life and works as a bridge between people and communities. The mission of Top Drawer is to unravel the traditional social isolation adults with developmental disabilities have faced and reintroduce them as working, productive members of a community, where their role has transformed from “disabled person” to “artist”. The program is free and open to the public. For more information call the library at 423-7280.
Page 12 Newport This Week October 7, 2010
ARCHI•TEXT Richard Morris Hunt “Cottage” as the Stage for Modern Dance
Designed in the style of a French medieval hunting lodge, Belcourt Castle was built in 1891 for devoted equestrian and bachelor Oliver Belcourt. Today, Richard Morris Hunt’s architecture is evident in the façade, top, and courtyard, inset, which can be seen during tours or stage productions. (Photo courtesy www.A4arch.com)
By Ross Sinclair Cann, AIA
Architecture is not just an art form in itself, but often serves as the platform upon which other art is presented. Never has this been truer than in the upcoming presentation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula by the Island Moving Company at Belcourt Castle. This production, which premiered last year, is scheduled again this fall from Oct. 20-24. It is an extraordinary multi-media performance that blends literature, live musical performance, film and dance. But what is particularly special about this production is the way it makes particular use of the architecture of Belcourt Castle. The production employs the house almost as a central figure in the unfolding of the action. The performance begins in the dining room on the ground level as guests dance at a masked ball. At the end of the dance Dracula rises from his slumber assisted by
three lithe vampires in a sensual and powerful performance that will leave the audience breathless. The large open space lets the action swirl around and past the audience. Next the action (and the entire audience) moves to the library, where the closely confined space heightens the tensions as Count Dracula wrestles with a solicitor from London, throwing him around in the dance with seeming superhuman strength. The next act moves the audience and action upstairs to the main ballroom where the grand Gothic space lends grace and gravitas to the unfolding plot. In one particularly spectacular scene, two female vampires surprise an unsuspecting visitor to Dracula’s Castle by descending on long silken curtains from the great height of the organ keyboard overlooking the ballroom. Like performers from Cirque de Soleil, the dancers move like weightless spiders as they glide
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upon the white silken streams of fabric and the stone filigree of the architecture perfectly frames their movements. The performance concludes with the action being moved out to the stair foyer where the confines are so tight and the drama of the action so intense that the audience is pushed up against the ornate walls with the wild dance of the vampires spinning past them at less than an arm’s length away! Belcourt Castle was originally commissioned by Oliver Hazard Perry Belmont in 1891. The architect was Richard Morris Hunt, designer of many of Newport’s great “cottages,” including Marble House and the Breakers. Belmont was a devoted equestrian, founder of the Belmont Stakes and (at the time of the original construction) a bachelor sportsman. The house was designed in the style of a French medieval hunting lodge. The ground level of the home, in a brash break with convention, housed the sta-
bles and tack room for the estate, with the ballroom and single master bedroom directly above. When Alva Smith Vanderbilt and her first husband, William K. Vanderbilt (who had commissioned Marble House as a gift for Alva), divorced, she married Oliver Belmont, who presented Belcourt Castle to her in 1896 as a wedding present. Under Alva’s direction, major changes were undertaken. The stables were relocated out of the main residence and a large area for dining and entertaining was created. Amazingly, she also continued to own and use Marble House for her entertaining and social purposes at the same time. After the end of the Gilded Age, the house went through a number of owners, slowly becoming more and more derelict. But in 1956, the Tinney family purchased the building and the house became a repository of objects d’art collected by the family from around the world. To help finance the mainte-
nance of the house, it was opened for weddings, for public visitation and for Ghost Tours. The Tinney family continues to own the house to the present time, although it is now on the market for sale, which heightens the need to see the performance of Dracula before it is banished from the building that so perfectly complements the action of the story in a way no simple stage ever could. It is wonderful when art forms like architecture and literature can inspire the creation of music and dance. But it is even more wonderful when all the arts can come together at once to create something truly magical! Such is the case of Dracula as it is to be performed at Belcourt Castle. Ross Sinclair Cann, AIA, LEED AP, is an historian, educator and practicing architect living and working in Newport.
www.newport-now.com
Christine Sandorfi performs on the silks while Gregg Saulnier is sprawled on the bed below. (Photo byThomas Palmer)
October 7, 2010 Newport This Week Page13
BUSINESS New Salon Opens
New Manager
Spalon has opened at 770 Aquidneck Avenue in Middletown and is owned by April Ducker and Donna Morrel. The full-service salon and spa provides hair cutting, coloring and styling, skin treatments, hair removal, nail treatments, Reiki treatments and more. 842-0100, Spalon02842.com
Charlotte Snowden of Newport has been named Events and Marketing Manager at Forty 1° North, a boutique hotel and marina at 351 Thames Street. In addition to event management, Snowden produces all social media communications for the company and designs internal events for the public and/or cardholders, including wine tastings, guest chef dinners and more.
Real Estate Firm Internationally Recognized Christie’s Great Estates, the world’s leading luxury real estate network, presented the Affiliate-ofthe-Year Award in the Small-Market Category this week to Lila Delman Real Estate of Rhode Island. “We are honored to be selected from among our affiliates worldwide to bring this honor home to Rhode Island,” said Melanie Delman, President, Lila Delman Real Estate. The business is headquartered in Narragansett with five offices around the state including in Newport.
Design Center Opens
Perimeters, a design center, celebrates its grand opening on Saturday, October 9th from 12–2 p.m. at 1366 West Main Road in Middletown. The center features cabinet designs from popular brands, flooring, handcrafted cabinetry, doors, countertops, hardware and molding, plus the latest windows and doors from Andersen. The center, which also has a North Kingstown location (others are in Long Island, NY and Queens, NY), will be open Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–6 p.m., and Saturdays, 8 a.m.–3 p.m. 541-7480, www.perimetersforthehome.com/ locations/middletown.aspx
BROADWAY CONTINUED FROM PG. 1
In its letter, the state recommended that $218,182 of the total $238,756 be used on infrastructure improvements, and the remaining $20,574 for non-infrastructure-related work. According to Newport planning officials, the grant brings the city one step closer to realizing an ambitious plan that would transform Broadway from a pedestrian-dodging thoroughfare to a pedestrianfriendly main street. The Broadway Streetscape Project, which is currently wrapping up the preliminary engineering phase, has been in the works for months, and once complete, it would effectively extend the restoration of the city’s historic core from Washington Square north to Bliss Avenue. Public workshops highlighting the project have drawn scores of interested residents, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive. With an estimated price tag of $3 million, planners have busily been seeking outside funding for the project. Notably, the grant award comes just six weeks after the city made public its intent to seek another $1.6 million through the federal Tiger II Planning Grant. Awards for the TIGER II grant were expected to be made sometime after Sept. 15
New Manager Tonight, Oct. 7, Project Undercover hosts Drinks on Us, a fund-raiser with beer, wine and pub fare from 5 –8 p.m. Project Undercover is a Rhode Island-based non-profit organization that collects and distributes underwear, socks, and diapers for the state’s poorest children, and has donated more that two million items in its 15-year history. Tickets are $30 at the door. Learn more at www.projectundercover.org
Teacher of the Year
Blackberry Instruction Steve Phelan of Wireless Zone in Portsmouth will lead a workshop on getting the most from your Blackberry device on October 14 from 5:30–7 p.m. at the Newport County Chamber of Commerce, 35 Valley Road in Middletown. Please RSVP to Kathleen Papp, kathleen@newportchamber.com or 847-1608.
Holiday Donations The Teen Center’s Advisory Council; AMPT (Adolescents Making Programs for Teens), will be colleting toys for Hasbro Children’s Hospital for this holiday season. We are looking for donations of new and unwrapped gifts such as books, CDs, DVDs, games, Disney toys, arts and craft supplies, and bath and body products. Donations can be dropped off at the Recreation Center between October 25th and December 18th. For more information call 423-7261 or email dtungett@ jamestownri.net.
The Newport Public Schools announced that it has named Underwood Elementary School kindergarten teacher Dale Blaess as the city’s 2011 Teacher of the Year. “Dale Blaess is an outstanding representative of the many fine teachers who work in the Newport Public Schools,” Superintendent Dr. John H. Ambrogi said in a statement issued Tuesday. Blaess, who holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Columbus State University in Early Childhood Education and a Master’s Degree from Roger Williams University in Literacy Education Society, has been with the district for nine years. In addition to her duties in Newport, she also currently serves as an Adjunct Professor at Roger Williams University.
Page 14 Newport This Week October 7, 2010
FROM THE GARDEN
Growers Going Wild Through October By Cynthia Gibson There is time left to shop for homegrown produce, organic meats, and fantastic baked goodies. The Aquidneck Growers’ markets are still in full swing until Oct. 27 according to the market manager Jennifer McCabe. What a delightful way to spend part of an afternoon on Wednesday in Newport between 2-6 p.m. On Memorial Boulevard, (across the street from Jimmy’s Salon) the small white tent lining the street is just filled with breakfast, lunch, and dinner just waiting for you! There is a spirit about this market that makes one simply have a delightful time shopping for honest food, lovingly grown, baked, bottled, or turned into a pleasing morsel. The first tent houses homemade artisan cheeses from the Narragansett Creamery. Their fresh mozzarella cheese cannot be beat! A must try is their ‘Pirate Spread’ which is made from Feta Cheese, Sundried tomatoes, Cayenne Pepper, and Rosemary. It will turn a crust of toasted bread or any cracker into a hearty and tangy bite. They also sell a small container filled with mini-mozzarella cheese they call ‘Newport Pearls’. These too are
great to add to salads, or a standalone side dish. They are drenched in extra-virgin olive oil, chives, and a select blend of their own herbs. After the Growers’ Market season is over, you can find their cheeses at Bliss Market. Paradise Hill Farm takes the next booth that looks like a larger than life Flemish still life. Their best sellers are still field-ripened tomatoes, sweet corn, and peaches when in season. Shirley Robbins, the owner, obviously loves being a grower and participant of the Growers Market. Her potted herbs are also a huge seller. Pat’s Pastured is not to be missed. This booth sells ‘pastured’ meats. They literally move their fences for their chickens so they always have fresh grasses and grains upon which to feed. The fresh eggs are wonderful! They even sell a ‘Poulet Rouge’ a reddish French chicken, a Cornish Cross and sausages that are superb. This tent is a must visit as well! The breakfast sausages are the very best and these are the tastiest chickens you can buy! Simmons Farm grows magnificent produce and a variety of hot peppers, which are just beautiful to look at. They, too, sell pastured meats, and the good news is their
Narragansett Creamery produces artisan cheeses with fresh, local milk. For autumn they specialize in semi-soft to well-aged wheels.
fresh goat cheeses will be ready by December, perfect for eating or gift giving. To find out more about Simmons Farm please visit Simmonsorganic.com. Can’t wait until December can you? While you’re at the market, you’ll want a little ‘pick-me-up’. A quick stop at the ‘Coffee Guy’ will do the trick. Please try a large cup of the ‘Coffee Addict’. This is an especially cold-brewed coffee that is simply the essence of coffee, and it is oh, so good! The next tent sells produce and apples from the Barden Family Orchard. The cider is perfection. They also have apple picking at their farm. They sell many varieties of apples and another great seller of theirs is butternut squash. They bring their orchard fresh apples to Newport and Middletown for both Growers’ Markets. The farm is located in North Scituate, RI. They can be found online at bardenfamilyorchard.com. Since the summer was very warm the apple crop is early this year so run don’t walk to pick your fill of their incredible apples! The best seller is the ‘Honey-Crisp’ apple. Bet you can’t just eat one! Maplewood Farm has one of the best varieties of potatoes to behold and buy at the Growers’ Market. Eileen Shea, who sells these earth sprinkled nuggets, really knows her potatoes! Not only is she enthusiastic about potatoes, she is as informative as to their different uses. Maplewood Farm is a three-generation business in Portsmouth, RI. They grow at least nine varieties of potatoes! The most sensational looking potato there is the ‘Viking’. It looks like a gigantic purple asteroid! Apart from its comical appearance, a pure-white potato is quite sweet and just right for mashing! The farm is open through Christmas, so it is a perfect place to visit this winter for special holiday spuds! As for desserts there are three separate tents filled with taste treat delights! Olga’s Cup and Saucer has quite a few specialties. Their seasonal fruit tarts and pies are sure winners! The tomato Tart is truly a great lunch in a small package. A butter crust is filled with fresh tomato, fresh Basil, caramelized onions and topped with Cheddar cheese. Sound good? Wait until you taste it. A great pastry item that they sell, are two pizza crusts, already rolled, and ready to fill with toppings from all of the produce tents! The crusts are un-baked, and ready for your favorite toppings. The cost is $3.75 for two and one crust is large enough for three people or a fantastic hors d’oeurvre cut into small squares. They also freeze well and defrost quickly for a simple, easy meal. Store up on these! During the winter, you can find their desserts at Clements Market in Portsmouth. The wonderfully British June
Eileen Shea of Maplewood Farm, Portsmouth, gathers herbs to take to the Aquidneck Growers’ Market. (Photos by Rob Thorn)
TO GO
Several markets on Aquidneck Island offer fresh produce and more: Aquidneck Grange Farmers Market: Thursdays, 2-6 p.m., until Oct. 28; 499 East Main Rd., Middletown Aquidneck Growers’ Farmers Markets: Wednesdays, 2-6 p.m., until Oct. 27; Memorial Blvd. near Chapel St., Newport Saturdays, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., until Oct. 30; 909 East Main Rd., Middletown Lawton is the baker of June Loves Cakes. Love is an ingredient in her cakes! June takes her recipes from jolly old England in the most fanciful and tasty way. Her ‘Sticky Toffee Pudding’ is a true taste of England. Serve this cake warm for the height of ‘Toffeeness’! The best selling cake is ‘Lemon Cake’, which is perfect for teatime or anytime! June’s ‘Butterfly’ cupcakes are a special indulgence for both adults and children. “No child’s birthday party in England is a birthday without “Butterfly’ cakes”. Please discover these ‘delices’ in either chocolate or vanilla. ‘June Loves’ Cakes can be eaten year round if you purchase them at Sweet Berry Farm or Clements Market. Provencal Bakery from Middletown is very well represented with croissants the size of your head, fresh baguettes, and delicious Sour Dough Boules. Provencal Bakery really understands the ‘staff of life’! During the winter, their new loca-
tion on Aquidneck Avenue offers up an enormous varieties of fancy pastries, baked goods, breakfast, and lunch! For children visiting the Growers’ Market, their very large M&M cookies are a definite scream softener! The most unusual item they sell is the ‘Ginger Scone’. For those who love or crave ginger, this scone is for you! Flowers for the table? The tent to visit is owned and run by Polly Hutchison of Robin Hollow Farm. Robin grows lovely seasonal, annuals, perennials, herbs, and ornamental vegetables. Her casual approach to a seasonal bouquet is charming. Her color choices are excellent. Robin grows in both a greenhouse and in fields. During the summer, her colorful zinnias fly out of her booth! Right now, she is still harvesting sunflowers in lovely colors. She whimsically mixes fresh herbs, ornamental peppers with
See “Markets” on page 16
DINNER & A MOVIE
October 7, 2010 Newport This Week Page 15
“Never Let Me Go” is rated R for “adult subject matter.” Kiera Knightly’s acting credits include “Atonement,” “Pride and Prejudice,” “Love Actually” and all three installments of “Pirates of the Carribean.” L to R: Domhnall Gleeson, Carey Mulligan, Keira Knightley and Andrea Riseborough. (Photo by Alex Bailey)
A World Apart By Patricia Lacouture With the look and vague feel of a science fiction film “Never Let Me Go” turns that genre on its ear by unveiling an alternate universe where secrets and lies dwell behind the mask of an idyllic British boarding school. Based on the novel by Kazuo Ishiguro (“The Remains of the Day,” “An Artist of the Floating World” and “When We Were Orphans”), the film adaptation carefully follows the book’s label: It has been described as “a literary sci-fi fable.” The action takes place in a fictional school called Hailsham. The school’s children are orphans of a sort. They don’t have human parents. Their caregivers raise them without affection but, instead, to be obedient and, most importantly, to not ask questions about the world outside the school’s grounds. They are, in fact, forbidden to ever visit that world. What happens when they do get “out” is the stuff of the well-crafted mystery. The science fiction aspect of “Never Let Me Go” revolves around genetic engineering, a subject one would expect to see in a futurific world or, possibly, the current time. Hailsham, however, exists in
the past—the turn of the century, and this creates a sense of time out of time. The film’s narrator, Kathy (Carey Mulligan of “An Education”), is placid on the surface, but a cauldron of emotions bubble beneath her restrained mannerisms. Ruth (Kiera Knightley) is Kathy’s best friend, but conflict arises when Ruth falls in love with Tommy (Andrew Garfield). Their love stirs Kathy’s jealousy, and, because of who these people are and what their destiny involves, it also as bittersweet and doomed as “Romeo and Juliet.” The first act of the film takes place when the three friends are children. Young Kathy is played by Isobel Meikle-Small. Twelve-yearold Ella Purnell plays young Ruth, and Charlie Rowe plays the younger Tommy. The children of Hailsham are kept in line by headmistress Miss Emily (Charlotte Rampling), who teaches them that they are specially and must keep themselves well—healthy inside. A spirited new teacher, Miss Lucy (Sally Hawkins) bristles at the schools secrecy about who these children really are and their shocking purpose in life, so she takes it upon herself to reveal the shocking truth.
The drama escalates in act two where, as young adults, the Hailsham captives arrive at a place known as The Cottages, where they begin to learn portions of the truth and also where the love triangle sets off a stream of conflicting emotions. Director Mark Romanck has been quoted as saying, “The film is about the urgency of embracing the people you love in the moment because time is so short.” Other major themes arise as the narrative unspools its surprises— for the characters and the viewers. Issues of identity emerge as the characters face universal questions: Where did I come from, and what is the purpose of my being here at this place and time? The classroom scenes are dark— lit with cool light that creates a sense of unease. We see them wearing mismatched uniforms in drab blues and grays. Costume designers Rachael Fleming and Steven Noble create the look of nearly ragged clothing that may have been hiding on the final sale rack of a thrift shop. Novelist Kazou Ishiguro has stated: “The suspense in the book parallels the way in which I think we discover, as we become older, the reality of the human condition.” Patricia Lacouture currently teaches film studies at Salve Regina University. She also taught at Rhode Island College for ten years. She completed her graduate studies in film from Boston University.
ADVERTISE IN PRINT AND ONLINE CALL 847-7766 x103
Page 16 Newport This Week October 7, 2010
from the garden CONTINUED FROM PG. 14 coleus leaves and sunflowers. Her bouquets are perfect for your summer through fall table. What is so lovely about Polly’s booth, like produce, the colors change with the season. She does have the best bouquets for fall. The price range is right too! After the thoughts of growing, cooking, baking all taken care of for you, now it’s time for a little pampering; not that shopping doesn’t do the trick. On to ‘Earth Essence Herbal’s’ tent for Marlene Wojcik’s sensational artisan creams and lotions. Her following is growing by the year. She touts her ‘Wonder Cream’ for the face as one of her best sellers. Lavender is another favorite fragrance of her customers. She rates her face cream as the number one seller, then her foot cream and homemade Shea Butter body cream. I think the growers should try them all! Marlene’s products have a true soothing aromatic quality. Try them! As for the last tent, an umbrella actually, we find Lou and Denise of Lou’s Hot Dogs & More! What is an organic, green market with fresh fruit and baked goods without a hotdog? Just ask Lou! For those who just cannot wait to rush home and cook your newly purchased goodies, it’s time for a quick doggie. This market only serves Boar’s head all beef dogs, and sausages from ‘Pat’s Pastured’ for an organic dog! Keeping in step with the Aquidneck Market the organic dog is a strong seller, with sauerkraut and mustard please.
CULTURAL FESTIVITIES Eins, Zwei, G’suffa! Newport Celebrates Oktoberfest
Stephen Andrews, also of Maplewood Farm, sorts through some choices for the market. (Photo by Rob Thorn) Hopefully you’ve gotten the flavor of our Aquidneck Growers Markets. Not only is it an enjoyable experience, you really get to know where your vegetables are grown and by whom and who really cares about giving you the best quality they possibly can. This entire ‘tent city’ moves to The Growers Market in Middletown, behind the Newport Vineyards on Saturdays, between, 9am and 2pm on Route 138. The Growers Market in Newport, is held on Wednesdays between 2pm and 6pm. The people are fun, the spirit is fun. For Thanksgiving, there will be a special ‘Thanksgiving Harvest’ Market in Middletown on Saturday November 20 from 9am to 2pm, rain or shine! You will become friends or acquaintances after just one visit. There is no place like home.
Mangia, Mangia! The 16th Annual Newport Festa Italiana is underway with several activities going on over Columbus Day weekend. The Festa Italiana is a non-profit organization that promotes the importance of the Italian culture and the important contributions that Italians and Italian-Americans have made to the world community and to American society. There is nothing like a meatball sandwich, a glass of chianti, and a Pavarotti song…so go enjoy everything that the festival has to offer! On Sunday, Oct. 10 at 6:30 p.m. is “A Night at the Opera” with Jane Shivick, Ray Bauwens, Rene de la Garza, and Patricia Newman at the Edward King House. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased by calling 849-7464 or 847-4444. Monday, Oct. 11 has an afternoon full of events: Catholic Mass at St. Joseph’s Church on Broadway at 11 a.m. Columbus Day parade at Noon with Grand Marshal Kathleen Monticone Silvia Columbus Monument Ceremony at 1 p.m. at Bellevue Ave. and Memorial Blvd. Lunch and musical entertainment at Sardella’s Restaurant, 30 Memorial West Blvd., at 1:30 p.m. $12.50 for adults and $5 for children. Tickets are available at the door of the restaurant.
One, two, drink! This German toast will be heard a multitude of times coming from the Newport Yachting Center this upcoming Columbus Day Weekend. The 18th Annual International Oktoberfest is set to bring you the tastiest biergartens, bratwurst, and Bavarian music for a weekend of fun fall festivities under the traditional tent at the Yachting Center. So where did this celebration of biergartens and lederhosen come from? It’s time for a history lesson! Crown Prince Ludwig, who eventually became King Ludwig I, was married to Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen on Oct. 12 1810. To celebrate the event, the citizens of Munich, Germany were invited to attend a day of festivities on the fields in front of the city gates. To close out the event for all of Bavaria, horse races were given in the presence of the royal family. The party was such a huge success that the decision was made to repeat the horse races which gave rise to the tradition of Oktoberfest. In the first few decades of the event, the choices of entertainment at the horse races were sparse. In 1818, the first carousel and two swings were set up. Visitors to the party were able to quench their thirst at small beer stands, which rapidly grew in number. In 1896 the beer stands were replaced by the first beer tents and halls were set up by the enterprising landlords with the backing of the breweries. The festival grew exponentially every year. Since 1950, there has been a traditional festival opening: A twelve gun salute and the tapping of the first keg of Oktoberfest beer at 12:00 by the incumbent Mayor of Munich with the cry “O’ zapft is!” (“It’s tapped!”) opens the Oktoberfest. The Mayor then gives the first beer to the Minister-President of the State of Bavaria. The Oktoberfest held in Munich every year lasts for 16 to 18 days and draws in more than 5 million attendees. While Newport’s numbers will not reach quite so many, our own little Oktoberfest celebrates all things Bavarian for the entire weekend. Come down to the tent for the tastiest German foods, beer, dancing, and family fun. TO GO: WHAT: International OKTOBERFEST! WHERE: Newport Yachting Center, America’s Cup Ave., Newport WHEN: Sat., Oct. 16 through Mon., Oct. 18, noon to 9 p.m. Saturday; noon to 8 p.m. Sunday; noon to 6 p.m. Monday. ADMISSION: $20 Saturday and Sunday; $12 Monday. Children under 12 are free with adult. MORE INFO: 846-1600 www.newportwaterfrontevents.
The three B’s -- biergartens, bratwurst, and Bavarian music -- bring the flavor of old Germany to the Newport waterfront this Columbus Day weekend as the 18th annual International Oktoberfest kicks off the fall season with sampling of the best of German food, music and culture. The outdoor tented event takes place at the Newport Yachting Center, Saturday through Monday. Two stages will host live music and dancing. New this year, there will be a special appearance by “St. Pauli Girl” Katarina Van Derham, who will be making her first-ever visit to the festival at Saturday’s opening ceremony, signing autographs and raising the curtain on a fun- and food-filled schedule that is geared to both adults and children. “We’re looking forward to celebrating a slice of Germany right here in Newport,”said Festival director Mike Martin. “With German food, music, dancers, and a variety of beer styles at our expanded International Biergarten and St. Pauli Girl Biergarten, it’s truly an authentic fall festival
that’s fun for the whole family.” Throughout the three-day festival, there will be continuous live entertainment on two stages, featuring performances by the Alex Meixner Band, the SPITZE! Alpine Show Band, Die Schlauberger, the Austrian Boys Band, as well as Rhode Island’s own S.G.T.V. Alpenblumen Bavarian Folk Dancers. For children, a Kindergarten Tent will feature seasonal crafts and activities. Festival-goers can sample more than 20 varieties of beer in the Biergarten, including St. Pauli Girl, Spaten, Samuel Adams, Newport Storm, Narragansett, Leinenkugel Oktoberfest, Harpoon, Sierra Nevada, Amstel Light, and many more. To go with all that beer, German food will be provided by Schnitzels & Giggles of Danbury, NH. Among the hearty fare will be Chef Bob Graf’s Weiner Schnitzel sandwiches, Brats on a Stick, German potato salad and more. Fans of bratwurst can get their fill at a 65-foot grill (a touring production of Johnsonville Brats), where some 750 brats can be barbecued at one time.
DINING OUT 4HERE ARE MANY lNE RESTAURANTS AND EATERIES IN THE AREA 7E HOPE THIS MAP HELPS YOU lND ONE THAT SUITS YOUR TASTE
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WHERE TO EAT
Map Legend
For more information about these restaurants, please see their display ads found on the pages of this week’s edition of Newport This Week. 1) Ben’s Chili Dogs, 158 Broadway, Newport Other Area Restaurants 2) Norey’s, 156 Broadway, Newport & Other Dining Options 3) Salvation Cafe, 140 Broadway, Newport Not Within Map Area 4) Pour Judgement, 32 Broadway, Newport Long Wharf Seafood 5) Perro Salado, 19 Charles Street, Newport 17 Connell Highway, Newport 6) Rhumbline, 62 Bridge Street, Newport Newport Grand 7) Brick Alley Pub, 140 Thames Street, Newport 150 Admiral Kalbfus Road, Newport   8)  Monty’s at Vanderbilt Hall, 41 Mary Street. Newport OceanCliff’s Safari Room   9) Busker’s Irish Pub, 178 Thames Street, Newport 65 Ridge Road, Newport 10) Barking Crab, Brick Market Place, Newport Coddington Brewing Company 11) Pier 49, 49 America’s Cup Ave., Newport 210 Coddington Highway, Middletown 12) Marina Cafe & Pub - Goat Island, Npt. 13) Tallulah on Thames, 464 Thames St., Newport Rhea’s Inn & Restaurant 120 W. Main Rd., Middletown 14) O’Brien’s Pub, 501 Thames St., Newport 15) Sambar, 515 Thames St., Newport Sweet Berry Farm 915 Mitchell’s Lane, Middletown 16) Thai Cuisine, 517 Thames St., Newport Scampi 17) Griswold’s Tavern, 103 Bellevue Ave., Newport 657 Park Ave., Portsmouth 18) La Forge Casino Restaurant, 186 Bellevue Ave., Npt. DeWolf Tavern 19) Jimmy’s Saloon, 37 Memorial Blvd. 259 Thames St., Bristol 20) The Chanler’s Spiced Pear, 117 Memorial Blvd., Npt. 21) Flo’s Clam Shack, 44 Wave Ave., Middletown
October 7, 2010 Newport This Week Page 17
Page 18 Newport This Week October 7, 2010
Stamp Collecting Island Tour
By Aaron Phaneuf I don’t mean the sort of stamp collecting you’re probably thinking of. The sort that entails dusty binders sitting on the floor, full of weirdly-sized foreign stamps colored with flags and faces.
I’m referring to the kind you receive on your national passport by the very friendly Ecuadorian man you meet at 2 a.m. after just arriving from Miami. The kind you must get all inky before it can work properly. Two years ago, a few local heros got together and brainstormed a brilliant idea: Coordinate a pro-
gram whereby folks can visit local non-profits, explore their offerings, and then collect a stamp. Wrap the program with a reasonable timetable and offer cool prizes. They organized the Family Passport to Aquidneck Island program. Participants are encouraged to
Things That Go Bump in the Night Our regular Newport Now readers may recall last October, when we debuted our First Annual Newport Now Spooktacular Guide to Halloween. Well, us ghouls are at it again this year, and we’re looking for submissions. If you have an event or spooky idea for celebrating this Halloween, then we want to know about it. Simply email us at news@newport-now.com, or send us a note
via Facebook or Twitter (@newportnow), and we’ll do our best to include it in this year’s guide. We’re averaging 10,000 page views every day at NN. Don’t miss out on getting yourself listed! Also, if you or your organization would like to sponsor this year’s printable, highly refrigeratorfriendly, edition, e-mail Kirby@ NewportThisWeek.net for details.
visit at least five of the eleven organizations listed. The game ends October 31st. For those who return their stamped passports in time, there will be the chance to win an amazing basket of prizes. My wife and I learned of the program while reading this publication, just prior to its launch earlier in the summer. I immediately went online in search for the proper documentation. Not able to find the right links, I emailed contact person Reada Sully. Reada is a volunteer at the Rose Island Lighthouse and a delightful person. She graciously replied within hours with an advanced copy of the PDF they had just finished for this year’s season. I printed our passport and we began mapping our initial routes. My wife suggested we use our bikes to visit the majority of locations. She also thought it might be fun to jump-start the summer by collecting several stamps during Memorial Day weekend. We calculated that we should have time to visit three to five locations in one afternoon. We live in the 5th Ward, a fine launching pad for avid bike riders anxious to begin collecting stamps. We designed two days of activity that would take us to five locations and give us a strong start to the summer
Live
season. Ever wonder what that giant tower in Miantonomi Park is? The 100foot stone tower is a World War I monument. Erected in 1929, the tower is only open to the public two days a year: Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day. Thanks to my wife’s keen eye, we made plans to visit the tower over Memorial Day weekend. I must say, the walk up is a bit claustrophobic, but the view was well worth it. The tower sits on Newport’s highest point, setting the stage for gorgeous views of the Newport Pell Bridge, Middletown and even parts of Portsmouth. Over the course of two days we collected three stamps, two fewer than our goal. We excused our miss on the count we had biked to each. Time on the bicycle gave us extra time to think. What if next year they developed a “green” passport program? Where participants accrue additional points for traveling to locations by foot or bike. At one point, I went so far to suggest that we might be able to visit all 11 sites in one day; by boat and bike only. True, it would be a long day, but loads of fun. Kudos to the smart folks who had the vision to create this program. The participating organizations already exist. Many of us have visited most them at least once. But too often the business of life keep us from taking the time to enjoy our backyards. This island is so rich in natural beauty and full of amazing people interested in keeping these spots clean, accessible and safe for generations to come. It’s never too late to join the fun. That’s why we’re urging our readers to take advantage of the program over the next few weeks. Get out there; collect some stamps. And, if you’re so inclined, feel free to share your photos and videos with us on our Flickr page at www. Flickr.com/newportnow.
Calling All Ghosts, Goblins, and Ghouls The Friends of Ballard Park has begun planning for its 8th Annual Ballard Park Pumpkin Tour slated for Saturday, Oct. 16 from 4:30 -9 p.m. at Ballard Park. The evening tour features a display of over 1,000 jack-o-lanterns carved by local community groups and the general public. Want to get in on the action? Friends of Ballard Park is currently accepting sponsorships for the free tour which featured over 1,000 jack-o-lanterns last year. Sponsorships help offset event costs and allow Friends of Ballard Park to purchase pumpkins which are distributed for carving parties and lessons for children enrolled in area nonprofit organizations and public schools. Local businesses, families and civic organizations are invited to participate in the tour by purchasing their own display area. Display areas are $75 and should include at least 20 pumpkins. Those interested in reserving a display should do so by Friday, Oct. 8 in order to be included in the map given to tour goers that evening. Volunteers are also needed to pick up, receive and set up jack-o-lanterns, monitor the trails during the tour and clean up. Anyone interested in sponsorships, displays or volunteering contact Friends of Ballard Park at 619-3377.
Musical Entertainment Thursday, October 7 Newport Blues Café – Blockhead Newport Grand – Cabaret by Downtown, 8 p.m. Perro Salado – Honky Tonk Knights Rhino Bar- Hot Like Fire, 10 p.m. – 1 a.m.
Friday, October 8 Hyatt Hotel - Dave Manuel on piano, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. Jimmy’s – Cliff’s N’ Bangers 6-8 p.m., and Visible Estrus, 10 p.m. – close LaForge – Dave Manuel, 6 p.m. Newport Blues Café – Zoom Newport Grand – Matty B, 9 p.m. Cabaret by Downtown, 8 p.m. O’Brien’s – Sean Rivers, 10 p.m. – 1 a.m. One Pelham East – What Matters Rhino Bar – Felix Brown Rhumbline – Dawn Chung Sambar – Live Acoustic with Andre, 9 p.m. The Chanler – Dick Lupino & Friends, 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Saturday, October 9 Hyatt Hotel - Dave Manuel on piano, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. Jimmy’s – Karaoke w/ DJ Phino, 9 p.m. – close Greenvale Vineyard – Dick Lupino & Friends, 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. Newport Blues Café – Separate Ways Newport Grand – Brooklyn Brothers, 9 p.m. One Pelham East Rusty, 3-6pm The Kulprints, 10 p.m.-1 p.m. Rhino Bar –Batteries Not Included Rhumbline - Lois Vaughan Sambar – DJ Butch, 9:30 p.m.
Sunday, October 10 Castle Hill – Dick Lupino & Friends, 12:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Fastnet Pub – Live Traditional Irish Music, 6 – 10 p.m. Newport Blues Café – George Gritzbach Band One Pelham East – Chopville, 6-9 p.m. Chris Gauthier, 10 p.m. – 1 a.m. Clarke Cooke House– Bobby Ferreira, 12:30–3:30 p.m. Newport Blues Café – Blackberry Smoke, 8:30 p.m.
Monday, October 11 Fastnet Pub- “Blue Monday” 10:30 p.m. – 1 a.m. Rhino Bar- Karaoke
Tuesday, October 12 Newport Blues CaféFelix Brown, 9:30 p.m. – 1 a.m. Rhino Bar – “Metal Night”
Wednesday, October 13 One Pelham East – Chris Gauthier Newport Blues CaféMellow Mood w/ The Rudeness 9:30 p.m. – 1 a.m. Rhino Bar- Rhyme Culture Sardellas – Dick Lupino & Friends, 7:30 p.m. – 10 p.m.
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October 7, 2010 Newport This Week Page 19
Wind and World Issues By Virginia Treherne-Thomas
The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind… — Bob Dylan
Wind was in the news this year when the Cape Wind Project, an off shore wind farm in Nantucket Sound was approved. Costing between 1 to 2 billion dollars, 130 turbines, 285 feet high, will cover up to 24 square miles off the south coast of Cape Cod, producing an average of 170 mega watts of electricity. That’s enough to power 75% of the demand used by residents of the Cape, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. That is a lot of homes! Closer to home, a Paradise Ave., Middletown, resident has applied for a large-size wind turbine on her farm near the north ridge of St. George’s School. It will be nearly 300 feet tall, and will generate enough electricity for the farm plus plenty of excess power, which the owner plans to sell to St. George’s School, among others. Middletown residents are concerned that the town’s wind turbine ordinance may need different wording in order to protect the community against poorly situated turbines. All sorts of lectures come our way here on a variety of subjects that teach us about what’s happening in the world. Dr. Joseph England gave a talk at Newport Hospital last Tuesday on palliative care, which is the medical specialty focused on improving quality of life for patients facing serious illness and their families. In 2011, baby boomers will turn
65, and in 20 years the older population will double. Gosh…want some more statistics? “85% of Americans die of a chronic disease and although they would like to die at home, 50% die in hospitals, he said.” Dr. England feels that end of life is a subject that should be discussed and palliative care is important because it looks at the patient as a whole, in order to meet the individual needs of each person, including their family. It’s not a one-size-fits-all approach. Like hospice, it’s not a place, it’s a philosophy, and open communication can help people who are sick live more comfortably. Gus Cordeiro, president of the hospital, welcomed everyone in his usual cheery fashion, a nice respite after a somewhat difficult subject, and Norey Cullen dished up her distinctive goodies passed by her team of lovely young women. Speaking of cheery, The Life of The Mind Salon Series on Thursdays continues tonight at The Redwood Library, at 5:30 p.m. with Ed Achorn, an erudite fellow from the Providence Journal, who will talk about baseball. Was baseball’s greatest season right here in Rhode Island? Baseball was in the news last weekend as most all players, baseball and all, donned pink in honor of breast cancer awareness. It’s nice to see men not afraid of their femininity ready to support woman! Thanks guys. On Oct. 14 at the library, have a conversation with architect Richard Saul Wurman, our very own Newporter and pioneer in the practice of making information
easily understandable. His talk begins at 6:30 p.m., but especially for Mr. Wurman, get there early. He is our resident intellectual with a delicious data packed brain! The Pell Center is off and running with Betsy Baker at 6 p.m., Oct. 20, speaking on Arctic security and why the International Law of the Sea Treaty matters. Curtis Roosevelt, the eldest grandson of President Franklin D. and Eleanor Roosevelt, will tell stories on Nov. 3 about the White House years, and on Nov. 17, Ambassador Paul Taylor will talk about Brazil and why we should care about its future. Tonight the new Newport Casino Theatre is not ready for her debut and the one man show,” Oscar Wilde and the Black Douglas,” will be performed at Salve Regina’s auditorium. Hopefully the theatre will open on Oct 16 with Prokofiev’s classic symphony “Peter and The Wolf.” For this production, Salve Regina students are involved in creating both the choreography and scenic backdrops used during the performance. Alumna and Newport resident Pat Toppa will read the narration during the performance. The orchestra is made up of a combination of students, community members and professional musicians. There will be two performances at 3 p.m. and at 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at www.tinyurl.com/Salvecasino or by calling 866-811-4111. Seems like Newport residents can be out every night of the week examining many issues in our world. The late Senator Claiborne Pell would feel good about that.
Lara Cullen and Norey Cullen
Elissa Nabozny and Karen Conley
Dr. Joseph England, left, and Gus Cordeiro, president, and CEO of Newport Hospital.
Texas, Hello! Members of the Dallas Garden Club toured Newport last week, visiting the Breakers, Marble House and Rough Point, as well as a selection of private houses and gardens including Brown Villa, the home of the late Eileen Slocum. In all, 28 women participated in the tour, arriving in Newport Sunday evening and departed on Wednesday. (Photos at the Slocum garden by Katie Imbrie)
Cynthia Perthuis, Nancy Klein and Susie Woodall
Does your organization have an event coming up? Let us know in advance to help increase attendance. If you would like post event coverage or would like Newport This Week to attend please e-mail us at calendar@newportthis week.net
or call 847-7766, ext. 105
Elaine Harman, Sandy Saalfield, Susan Nowlin
CALENDAR Page 20 Newport This Week October 7, 2010
Thursday October 7
Island Farmer’s Market Fresh local foods including chowders and salsas, Aquidneck Grange Hall, 499 East Main Rd., Middletown 2-6 p.m., 441-4317. Watershed Conference Learn about local watershed issues, 5 – 8 p.m., Bazarsky Lecture Hall, Salve Regina, 846-5434, or www.aquidneckwatershed.org. Life of the Mind Salon Series “What Can and Can’t Wind Farms Do?” 5:30 p.m., Redwood Library, 50 Bellevue Ave. 847-0292. Optimizing the Web Entrepreneurs, business owners, marketers, and related creatives are invited to gain insight on the subject of Search Enging Optimization. 6 – 9 p.m., upstairs at Christie’s, 14 Perry Mill Wharf. Register at www.newportinteractivemarketers5.eventbrite.com BYOI Thurdays Bring Your Own Improv! Interactive improv show that welcomes voluntary audience participation! 8 p.m., Firehouse Theater, 4 Equality Park Place, 849-3473. Author Event Free and open to the public Thayer Donovan will share stories from his book “The Maxies: Short Stories of Growing Up on the Point Section of Newport”, 7 p.m., 847-8720 ext. 208, info@newportlibraryri. org.
Murder at the Museum A 90-minute family friendly interactive Murder Mystery, 7 p.m., Newport Art Museum, 76 Bellevue Ave., 848-8200 or www.newportmurdermystery.com. Drinks on Us $30 open bar at O’Brien’s Pub to benefit Project Undercover. 5 – 8 p.m., 501 Thames St., 849-6623. Redwood Library Lecture “Was Baseball’s Greatest Season Right Here in Rhode Island?” Lecture led by Ed Achorn, 5:30 p.m., 50 Bellevue Ave., 847-0292 La Vielle a Roue A concert of the French Baroque of unusual melodious music from the time of the great French Kings. 7:30 p.m., Trinity Church, 441-9263 Green Drinks A night of improv at the Firehouse Theater with a cash bar provided by Green Drinks Newport and The Pour People from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Go for the drinks, stay for the Improv. 849-3473 Irish Museum Lecture Series 6 p.m. at the LaForge Casino Restaurant, 186 Bellevue Ave., with speaker Michael F. Crowley discussing “Eamon De Valera: The Man Who Was 20th Century Ireland.” $15 for non-members. Reserve a spot by calling Ann Arnold at 8415493 or at tpm1@earthlink.net Cabaret & Humor Newport Grand Slots presents an
Grab a group of your friends (or enemies you’d like to run away from) and get out to Escobar Farm in Portsmouth to run amok through more than two miles of twists, twins, and 85 decision points in the state’s largest corn maze. Newport This Week’s Meg O’Neil went out with a group of friends and did the maze in under an hour. Lots of laughs, lots of disagreements about which way to go, but a fun time was had by all. The maze is open on Fridays from 3:30 p.m. to dusk, Saturdays from 10 a.m. to dusk, and Sundays from 11 a.m. to dusk through Nov. 7. Located at 251 Middle Road, Portsmouth. Cost is $7 for ages 12 and up, $5 for ages 5 – 11, and free for kids under 5. For more information call 864-1064 or www.escobarhighliandfarm.com
evening of great musical composers. 8 p.m., $15 per ticket to help support Child and Family of Newport. 150 Admiral Kalbfus Rd., 608-6777. Run and Chug Club Running and walking group that meets at 6:15 p.m. weekly outside Fastnet. Meet new friends for a three-mile walk or run around Newport and then return to the Fastnet Pub to have a pint. “If It’s Thursday, It Must Be Shakespeare” Informal group meets to give interpretive readings of Shakespeare’s works, 6 – 7 p.m., free, Redwood Library, 847-0292, www.redwoodlibrary.org
Friday October 8
Outdoor Movie Screening Bring your blankets to cozy up and watch the 2006 film Miss Potter at Newport Vineyards. 6:30 p.m., Free and open to the public. Trinity Church Pumpkin Patch Find the perfect pumpkin starting today! Open daily through Halloween from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. at Trinity Church
Cabaret & Humor 8 p.m., See Thursday, Oct. 7 for more details. The Bit Players Newport’s award-winning comedy improve troupe, The Bit Players create on the spot laughs from audience suggestions, 8 p.m., Firehouse Theater, 4 Equality Park Place, $15, 8493473, www.firehousetheater.org
Saturday October 9
International Oktoberfest Bavarian weekend full of bier, bratwurst, yodeling, and folk dance performances. 12 – 9 p.m.$20 per person, 12 and under free. Newport Yachting Center, www. newportwaterfrontevents.com, 846-1600 Train with Jane Pilates, resistance stretching, all to benefit LiveStrong and awareness of cancer survivors, 9 a.m. - noon, 699 Aquidneck Ave., Middletown. Stonewall Workshop Hands-on experience to build and repair traditional stone walls, 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., Prescott Farm, reservations required 846-4152.
Newport’s Buried History Walking Tour Listen to stories about Newport’s people of color, enslaved and free. Visit the c.1697 Wanton-LymanHazard House and the colonial African burial ground. Tour departs at 11:30 a.m. $12 per person, $5 for children 12 and under. Reservations suggested. Museum & Shop at Brick Market, 127 Thames St., 841-8770. Blacksmithing Workshop Create and take home an S-hook, workshops limited to eight people, reservations required, time slots are at 1 p.m., 2 p.m., and 3 p.m., Prescott Farm 846-4152. Light the Night Walk Fund-raiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Salve Regina 5:00 p.m. registration, 7:00 p.m. Walk begins. Calling All Gardeners! The Fall Garden Talk led by Chuck DiTucci in the kitchen of the Edward King House, 35 King St., Newport, 846-7426. Register to Skate Register for skating lessons at St. George’s from 10 – 11 a.m. For more information, contact Dorothy Cunningham at 508-577-3092. Aquidneck Island Growers Market 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Newport Vineyards, 909 East Main Rd., Middletown Aquidneck Land Trust Trail Tour A tour of the Sakonnet Greenway Trail at 9 a.m. Free and open to the public. Contact Andy Arkway at aarkway@ailt.org or 849-2799 ext. 14 to register. The Bit Players 8 p.m., Please see Friday, Oct. 8 for more details.
Sunday October 10
International Oktoberfest 12 – 8 p.m. Please see Saturday, Oct. 9 for more details. A Night at the Opera Opera Providence performs at Belcourt Castle, a Festa Italiana event, 6:30 p.m. reception and concert at 7:30 p.m., 849-7464
October 7, 2010 Newport This Week Page 21
Monday October 11
International Oktoberfest 12 – 8 p.m. Please see Saturday, Oct. 9 for more details. Columbus Day Parade & Celebration Mass at St. Joseph’s Church at 11 a.m., parade from St. Joseph’s to Columbus Statue on Memorial at Noon, 1:30 p.m. Lunch at Sardella’s Restaurant. Open to the public and part of Festa Italiana. Columbus Day Vacation Camp at Norman Bird Sanctuary 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Students aged 4 – 11 enjoy a day off from school with exciting, nature-based activities. $50, call 846-2577 to reserve a spot.
Tuesday Oct. 12
Time to Tango Argentine Tango practice will be held from 7 – 8:30 p.m. at the Edward King House. $20 per person, $30 for couples. For more information, contact newportenostango@ gmail.com
Wednesday Oct. 13
Aquidneck Growers Market Fresh produce, baked goods, and more, 2-6 p.m., Memorial Blvd.
Thursday Oct. 14
Gallery Night at Rough Point 5 – 7:30 p.m., Celebrate the release of NRF’s book “Extraordinary Vision: Doris Duke and Newport Restoration Foundation,” $5 admission. Children under 12 are free. Rough Point Mansion, 680 Bellevue Ave., 847-8344 Pumpkin Carving for Artists & Cooks Learn the tools to use and skills necessary to carve amazing pumpkin designs. Also share delicious recipes and seed ideas. $50, 6 p.m. at the Edward King House, 35 King St., 293-0740 BYOI Thursdays Bring Your Own Improv! Interactive improv show that welcomes voluntary audience participation! Firehouse Theater, 4 Equality Park Place, 849-3473, 8 p.m.
Redwood Lecture Series A Conversation with Richard Saul Wurman, architect, and graphic designer. 5:30 p.m., Redwood Library, 50 Bellevue Ave., 847-0292 Run and Chug Club 6:15 p.m., please see Thursday, Oct. 7 for more details. “If It’s Thursday, It Must Be Shakespeare” Informal group meets to give interpretive readings of Shakespeare’s works, 6 – 7 p.m., free, Redwood Library, 847-0292, www.redwoodlibrary.org Cabaret & Humor 8 p.m., See Thursday, Oct. 7 for more details.
Friday Oct. 15
Pink Martini Night Join the Hyatt Regency and the Stillwater Spa in honoring the fight against breast cancer. Suggested donation of $20. 5 – 8 p.m., Donation includes pink martinis, hand treatment, bra fitting, chair massage, and more. Goat Island Hyatt, 851-3225 The Bit Players 8 p.m., Please see Friday, Oct. 8 for more details. Cabaret & Humor 8 p.m., See Thursday, Oct. 7 for more details.
Saturday Oct. 16
Open Hearth Cooking Workshop Join Linda Oakley, food history and hearth cooking expert from Old Sturbridge Village. Workshop runs from noon – 4:30 p.m., tickets are $55 per person and reservations are required. Prescott Farm, 2009 W. Main Rd., 846-4152. Bowen’s Wharf Seafood Festival 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Copious amounts of seafood, live music and family fun. Free admission Aquidneck Island Growers Market 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., Newport Vineyards, 909 East Main Rd., Middletown Learn to Skate Ice skating lessons at the CabotHarmon Ice Center at St. George’s will be held from 9 – 9:50 a.m., and 10 – 10:50 a.m. for all skill levels.
Haunted House Fundraiser 4 – 7 p.m. at Rogers High School, 15 Wickham Rd., $2 per person. A haunted house including children’s games, and bake sale. 847-6235 ext. 2808. 8th Annual Ballard Park Pumpkin Tour More than 1,000 locally carved pumpkins light a path through Ballard Park from 4:30 – 9 p.m. Free and open to all. A Night of Cheers 7 – 10 p.m., 15 Fenner Ave., Newport, All Rogers alumni cheerleaders, families and friends will gather for a night of laughs and memories. $25 at the door to benefit RHS cheering program. For tickets call Carol Mureddu at 855-1701. Psychic Faire of Newport Psychic medium Liz Souza hosts the second annual faire from 12 – 5 p.m. Come get a reading and find out what your future hold! $30 for 15 minute reading. The Elks Mansion, 141 Pelham St., 419-7918. Edward King House Fundraiser 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. annual member’s cocktail party. No tickets available at the door. You must have a ticket for entry. Call 846-7426 for info. $20 for members, $25 for nonmembers Family Tour and Art Project See art and make art together at the Newport Art Museum from 10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. $18 for nonmembners, 76 Bellevue Ave., 8488200 The Bit Players 8 p.m., Please see Friday, Oct. 8 for more details.
Sunday Oct. 17
Bowen’s Wharf Seafood Festival 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Copious amounts of seafood, live music and family fun. Free admission James L. Maher Center Cocktail Celebration Come to the Hyatt on Goat Island from 5 – 7 p.m. to help benefit the children and adults supported by the James L. Maher Center. $50 per person, 846-0340 or www.mahercenter.com for more information.
Calendar continued on p. 22
Shop Locally! Dine Locally! Grow Your Local Economy, First!
Page 22 Newport This Week October 7, 2010
CALENDAR
Continued from page 21
Gallery Shows & Artist Openings Anchor Bend Glassworks Gallery Fall Harvest Designs Show through Nov. 22. Gallery open daily 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., 16 Franklin St., 849-0698, www.anchorbendglass.com Harbor Fine Art Featuring the work of seven local artists. Gallery open daily 11 a.m – 5 p.m., 134 Spring St., 848-9711, www.harborfineart.com Sheldon Fine Art Opening reception for Sally Caldwell Fisher Saturday, Oct. 9, 5 -7 p.m. Art on the Wharf Featuring the 10th Annual “Boat Show” by artist Tony Gill. The show runs through Oct. 31. Gallery hours are Fri. – Mon., noon-5 p.m., or by appointment, 33 Bannister’s Wharf, 845-6858 Cadeaux du Monde Featuring the Summer 2010 feature exhibit, “Images of Africa.” 26 Mary St., 848-0550, www.cadeauxdumonde.com
Isherwood Gallery Gallery hours are Wed.-Sat., 38 Bellevue Ave., 699-2276, www. isherwoodgallery.com Bristol Art Gallery Hope St. Bristol, 396-9699 www.bristolartgallery.net Gallery Hours: Tues. - Thurs. 11am to 5pm, Fri. - Sat. 11am to 6pm Sunday 11am to 4pm , closed Mondays DeBlois Gallery Gallery hours are Tues.-Sun., noon5 p.m., 138 Bellevue Ave., 847-9977, www.debloisgallery.com Didi Suydam Contemporary Gallery is open Thurs.-Mon., 12 - 5 p.m., 25 Mill St., 848-9414, www. didisuydam.com. Jessica Hagen Fine Art + Design Gallery open Thurs.-Sat. 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. and by appointment. 226 Bellevue Avenue, #8, the Audrain Building, second floor, 849-3271, www.jessicahagen.com Newport Potters Guild 302 Thames St., 619-4880, www.newportpottersguild.com.
Read the NTW “E-Edition” online at
Reel Gallery Opening party for 15 local artists Oct. 23 from 6-9 p.m. 94 William St., 484-7535, www.reelgallery.com Sheldon Fine Art Opening reception for marine artist, Carolin Wehrmann , Sat., Sept. 25, 5-7 p.m. Gallery is open daily 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., 59 America’s Cup Ave., Bowen’s Wharf, 849-0030. Spring Bull “Step Into Fall,” show through Oct. Gallery open daily noon-5 p.m., 55 Bellevue Avenue, 849-9166, www.springbullgallery.com Victorine Contemporary Art 192 Thames St., 835-1920, www. victorineart.com William Vareika Gallery “Historic New England” exhibition will be on display until Nov. 14. 212 Bellevue Ave., 849-6149 or www. vareikafinearts.com
Mansions, Museums and Historic Sites Belcourt Castle A Gilded Age mansion, guided tours, evening ghost tours, reservations recommended, 657 Bellevue Ave., 846-0669, www.belcourtcastle.com The Breakers Open daily, 44 Ochre Point Ave., 847-1000, www.newportmansions.org
Chateau-sur-Mer Open daily, 474 Bellevue Ave., 847-1000, www.newportmansions.org The Elms Open daily, 367 Bellevue Ave., 847-1000, www.newportmansions.org Fort Adams Largest coastal fortification in the United States, an engineering and architectural masterpiece. “History you can touch”. hourly tours from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily (weather permitting) 841-0707, 90 Fort Adams Drive, www.fortadams.org International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum Discover the history of tennis through a diverse collection of memorabilia, art and video, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, 194 Bellevue Ave., free for kids under 16 , 849-3990; www.tennisfame.com. Marble House Open daily, 596 Bellevue Ave., 847-1000, www. newportmansions.org Museum of Newport History Exhibits on display depict the city’s role in the American Revolution and its emeravgence as a Gilded Age resort, open daily 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., 127 Thames St., 841-8770, www.newporthaavaistorical.org National Museum of American Illustration Original artworks from the Golden Age of Illustration in a historic Gilded Age mansion, 492 Bellevue Ave., 851-8949, ext. 18, www.americanillustration.org
Naval War College Museum Permanent exhibits on the Navy in the Narragansett Bay area, 10 a.m.4:30 p.m. weekdays, free and open to the public, visitors without a base decal must call the museum to gain access to the Naval Station; 841-2101. Newport Art Museum Permanent collection of contemporary and historic works, open daily, 76 Bellevue Ave., 848-8200, www.newportartmuseum.org Ochre Court One of Newport’s first “summer cottages” built in 1892, now Salve Regina University’s administration building, ground floor open Monday thu Friday, 9-4 p.m. Prescott Farm Restored 1812 windmill, guided tours, Rte. 114, West Main Rd., Middletown, 847-6230, www.newportrestoration.org Rosecliff Open daily, 548 Bellevue Avenue, 847-1000, www.newportmansions.org Redwood Library The nation’s oldest library, c 1748, 50 Bellevue Avenue, free, donations always welcome, 847-0292; www.redwoodlibrary.org Rough Point Doris Duke’s oceanfront estate, 680 Bellevue Avenue, 847-8344, www.newportrestoration.org Whitehall Museum House Berkely Road, Middletown, open Tuesday-Sunday.
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This Week’s Home Games Salve Regina University Field Hockey (1 - 10) Currently in 8th place in TCCC Monday, Oct. 11, 1 p.m. against St. Joseph’s at Gaudet Tuesday, Oct. 12, 4 p.m. against Gordon at Salve Women’s Tennis (7 – 2) Currently in 3rd place in TCCC Saturday, Oct. 9, 1 p.m. against Endicott Women’s Volleyball (4 – 11) Currently in 7th place in TCCC Thursday, Oct. 7, 7 p.m. against Lasell
Rogers High School Football (4 – 1) Currently in 3rd place in Division III Friday, Oct. 8, 7 p.m., against Narragansett at Toppa Field Girl’s Soccer (3 – 7 – 1) Currently in 6th place in Division III Central Wednesday, Oct. 13, 4 p.m., against Mt. Pleasant Girl’s Tennis (6 – 0) Currently in 1st place in Division III South Thursday, Oct. 14, 4 p.m. against Mt. Hope
Middletown High School Girl’s Soccer (6 – 2 – 2) Currently in 4th place in Division III Central Friday, Oct. 8, 6 p.m. against Cranston East at Gaudet Wednesday, Oct. 13, 4:45 p.m. against Moses Brown at Gaudet Boy’s Soccer (3 – 3 – 1) Currently in 5th place in Division II South Tuesday, Oct. 12, 6 p.m. against Pilgrim at Gaudet
Salve Junior Liza Galla and Sophomore Georgia Feroce help goalie Jessica Lane successfully defend a goal attempt from Curry on Wednesday, Oct. 5. Salve’s Lady Seahawks flew away with a 3 – 0 win against the Colonels, bringing them to 6 – 6 this season.
Girl’s Tennis (1 – 6) Currently in 7th place in Division II South Tuesday, Oct. 12, 3:30 p.m. against South Kingstown at Gaudet
Portsmouth High School Girl’s Soccer (5 – 2 – 3) Currently in 2nd place in Division I Central Thursday, Oct. 7, 7 p.m. against South Kingstown Girl’s Tennis (5 – 2) Currently in 3rd place in Division II South Thursday, Oct. 7, 3:30 p.m. against East Greenwich Tuesday, Oct. 12, 4 p.m. against Coventry Boy’s Soccer (4 – 3 – 1) Currently in 3rd place in Division I East Thursday, Oct. 14, 7 p.m. against Providence Country Day
October 7, 2010 Newport This Week Page 23
REEL REPORT
PPROFESSIONAL SERVICES DIRECTORY
Big Bass Lurk Nearby – Blackfish Dos and Don’ts By Capt. Tim Flaherty Strong gusty winds, some rough seas and a sea swell of six feet kept many boat anglers ashore this past week as a triple low pressure system brought foul weather to the entire Atlantic seaboard. Shore anglers also had a difficult time trying to fish our rocky south shore as huge waves crashed against the rocks sending plumes of spray high into the air. It seems rain and wind will be in our forecast until a Canadian high clears the weather during the latter part of the week. If anglers get a break, and can safely leave the dock this week, the new moon, on Thursday the 8th, will bring strong tides and great fishing conditions. Some big bass were taken this past week in the bay. Newport harbor, especially, is holding many big bass that lay in wait for migrating bait pods that would seek shelter from predators, there, before heading seaward. Striper fishing in the Sakonnet River continues to improve, too. Night anglers had a productive week when weather and sea conditions permitted and they were busy on the Sakonnet’s rocky shores from Black Point to the Flint Rocks. Casting live eels in the shallows there, has yielded good results and Sakonnet Point continues to produce fish, as well. Although fairer weather would get more folks out fishing, there are those old-timers who would never wait, insisting that easterly winds, low pressure systems make bass feed voraciously. Black sea bass fishing has been excellent. Big blueheads were taken in 30-50 feet of water on October 2nd. Boat fishermen near Beavertail and the Narragansett humps had a fine time slamming these delicious treats using herring and squid strips as bait. Most boats were anchored and fished deeper holes and drop offs. While fishing a wreck Sunday, our guests landed several 4 lb black sea bass. Remember: R.I.D.E.M.’s new regulations have imposed a complete closure on the taking of black sea bass, beginning October 11th and that ban will continue until November 1st. However, state fishing regulations are subject to change without no-
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Gary Sandt, left, a Navy flyer and current War College student and his friend Ron Reyen, a cattle rancher from Washington state, battled bluefish and sea bass and won on October 2 aboard the Fishfinder. tice, so stay informed by calling the D.E.M. for updates. Blackfish angling has been very productive. Shore anglers were out in large numbers fishing rocky areas from Clingstone to Beavertail on the Jamestown side of the East Passage, as well as at Fort Adams, Castle Hill and along Ocean Drive. Boaters also did well fishing the NUWC Breakwater. As we mentioned last week, blackfish fillets have distinctive, sweet taste and are highly sought after by local chefs, but rarely found regularly on restaurant menus. This is due to the fact that the commercial season is very limited by D.E.M. regulations. The commercial season opens October 16th and then is closed by December 11th. With this brief season, the supply of blackfish never lasts long. A recreational angler can take 3 fish per day at a minimum 16 inches under present regulations, but these fish cannot be sold for commercial use. The only way to acquire blackfish, now, is by fishing for them locally with rod and reel, yourself. Blackfish are an elusive species and not easy to hook or land. Here are a few tips that can improve your catch rate: For your terminal tackle, we favor a #5 Virginia hook or a #5 Gamagatsu Octopus for best results. Rigging is simple - Use 50lb leader material, make a 5 inch loop at the end of your leader, then run the loop through the eye of a 4oz. bank sinker and then pull firmly to tight-
en the loop. Eight inches above the sinker, make another 5 inch loop and tie a couple of overhand knots to insure the loop will hold. Now, run the loop through the eye of the hook. If you wish to fish with 2 hooks, repeat the process with another loop and hook. Bait your hook with a small, whole green crab. The hook should be placed between the first and second leg and pressed firmly into the body of the crab. For larger crabs, cut them in half and insert the hook in the same way as mentioned above. When baited, drop the rig to the bottom and take up all slack in your line. You must feel the line or rod tip for hits and this requires concentration. When you feel the tug, delay setting the hook for two seconds, giving the blackfish a chance to swallow the bait. Lift the rod tip quickly and firmly upwards to set the hook. If the tip bends, start cranking on your reel to get the fish off the bottom or he will quickly dive into a whole and hang up your rig. At first, you may miss many fish, until the timing of your hook setting improves. Remember to change your bait every 6 minutes or so. We’ll have more tips and techniques for catching blackfish in next week’s column. Capt. Tim, of Flaherty Charters, Castle Hill, Newport, is an island native, who taught high school and college history. He has been bay angling for over 50 years as was his father, Frank.
NEWPORT TIDE CHART DATE
CARPENTRY
HIGH
LOW
AM
hgt
PM
hgt
AM
hgt
PM
hgt
Sunrise
Sunset
7 Thu 8 Fri 9 Sat 10 Sun 11 Mon 12 Tue 13 Wed 14 Thu
7:57 8:46 9:35 10:26 11:18 - 12:37 1:34
6.5 6.6 6.5 6.2 5.8 - 4.3 4.1
8:20 9:09 9:58 10:49 11:42 12:13 1:09 2:07
5.8 5.6 5.4 5.0 4.7 5.3 4.8 4.4
1:00 1:43 2:26 3:09 3:51 4:35 5:21 6:16
-0.6 -0.7 -0.6 -0.5 -0.2 0.2 0.6 1.0
1:37 2:28 3:16 4:03 4:49 5:38 6:40 8:34
-0.6 -0.6 -0.4 -0.1 0.3 0.7 1.1 1.2
6:49 6:50 6:51 6:52 6:53 6:54 6:56 6:57
6:17 6:16 6:14 6:12 6:11 6:09 6:07 6:06
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Page 24 Newport This Week October 7, 2010
NATURE Wildlife Refuges — Windows for the Natural World By Jack Kelly When I first started my journey into the natural world, it was by accident. I was actually following a new found passion for photography when I literally stumbled into wildlife and nature photography. I was out early one winter’s morning after an overnight snowstorm, looking for snow and storm related pictures. Upon passing Roger’s High School, a large deer bolted across the road in front of my car and ran into Ballard Park. I stopped my vehicle and walked to the edge of the woods, in an attempt to see the deer, catching sight of it running through the trees and saplings. Without thinking, I moved in lateral pursuit, toward an area where I might see the deer cross a path a few yards away. The deer was quicker and I missed the shot I wanted. We began a game of hide and seek. Eventually I found the deer after about twenty minutes of patiently following its lead. I managed to set up one picture of the deer crossing a pristine, snow-white, tree-lined path. As the deer entered my shot, it looked directly at me. I could see its breath in the frigid air. My heart was racing as I took the photograph. The deer, then, disappeared into the woods again. The experience was incredible. I was breathless and my entire body was energized. I had not been that close to a wild animal in a long time. It was a raw, visceral feeling and I enjoyed it. When I had my film developed and saw the natural beauty of the deer, the snow, and the woods, I was hooked! I began my own journey of discovery into nature and myself. I found that the more I learned, the less I seemed to know about nature, or myself. I found that the rules of man don’t apply in the natural world. The only rule in nature is survival. I am thankful that I live in an area of exceptional natural beauty. The island is blessed with an abundance of picturesque city parks, beaches, marshes, sanctuaries, and wildlife refuges. It gives each of us the chance to pursue a personal path with the natural world. My individ-
The author’s first, ever, nature photo that got him hooked. ual journey continues daily, as I am awestruck by new discoveries on a regular basis. Rachel Carson, a distinguished biologist and author, once wrote, “Wild creatures, like men, must have a place to live. As civilization creates cities, builds highways, and drains marshes, it takes away, little by little, the land that is suitable for wildlife. And as their space for living dwindles, the wildlife populations themselves decline. Refuges resist this trend by saving some areas from encroachment, and preserving in them, or restoring where necessary, the conditions that wild things need in order to live.” Carson wrote this in reference to the Natural Wildlife Refuge system established in 1903 by President Theodore Roosevelt. That year, he named Florida’s tiny Pelican Island this country’s first wildlife refuge. The National Wildlife Refuge system, is now 107 years old and extends to all fifty states and U.S. possessions, ranging from the western Pacific Ocean to the Caribbean Sea. Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge will celebrate National Wildlife Refuge Week 2010, Oct. 9-16, at the refuge in Middletown. On Sat-
For the latest updates of bird migration check www.RIBirds.org or www.allaboutbirds.org
urday, Oct. 9, a family day event will be held. Brooks Mathewson, a naturalist and wildlife photographer will give a presentation from 3 – 5 p.m. His presentation will feature “Birds of the National Wildlife Refuge.” Mathewson has spent many years tracking and photographing migratory birds. There will be guided nature and bird watching walks, conducted by volunteer staff members. For more information, call 847-5511 daily from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. This could be a great opportunity to begin your own journey into the natural world.
Migratory Report This Columbus Day weekend, historically marks the peak of the fall migration season. With good weather forecast for this weekend, it should be a high volume viewing time for many species of migratory birds. Get out there and see for yourself!
Best birding spots”during the current fall migration n Miantonomi Park n Norman Bird Sanctuary n Brenton Point State Park (fields,
woods and seashore)
n Albro Woods, Middletown n Ballard Park/Hazard Road, New-
port (including Gooseneck Cove salt marshes)
n Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge (including salt marshes behind Third Beach parking lot)
October 7, 2010 Newport This Week Page 25
CROSSWORD
Across 1. Weathercock 5. They’re called on account of rain 9. Sioux shelter 14. Creative spark 15. Medicinal plant 16. Web-footed animal 17. Broadcasts 18. Horse-hoof sound 19. Ocean behemoth 20. Some good advice (Part 1) 23. Like deserved recognition 24. National Clown Week mo. 25. Type of tea or medicine 29. Lacking confidence 32. Undivided 33. Pt. of NAACP 36. Better to do this than not? 37. Reminder 38. Some good advice (Part 2) 42. Western Samoa capital 43. Strive for superiority 44. Void 45. Mississippi mud, e.g. 46. Diminishes 49. Paranoid king’s employee 51. Type of pen or lighter 52. Unit of heat, for short 55. Some good advice (Part 3) 59. Jelly 62. Type of book 63. It’s overhead 64. Exhibited brilliance 65. Alpaca’s habitat 66. Church recess 67. Pumpkin lover 68. Earth parts? 69. Tech support caller Answers on page 26
Down 1. Choice dish 2. Arrivederci kin 3. Cheek 4. Alleviate 5. Peyote or saguaro 6. Claim 7. Derisive crowd emanations 8. National Courtesy Mo. 9. Long-tailed finch 10. Old-style anesthetic 11. School organization 12. Japanese delicacy 13. Palindromist’s ‘’before’’ 21. Dude’s place? 22. Storied bear contingent 26. Swag 27. Poker bets 28. Glances with malicious intent 29. Minuscule amount 30. Bring the food 31. Exclamation of disgust 33. Conform 34. Early photo color 35. Sneaks peeks 37. Collars 39. Blatant 40. Do a tailor’s job 41. Band instrument? 46. Frozen water remover 47. In agreement 48. Vitamin C source 50. Packaging cord 52. Back-up sounds 53. Jittery 54. Proclaim 56. Big buildup 57. It’s-grand link 58. German woman 59. Cleo’s undoing? 60. Helmsman’s pronoun 61. It could be a crock
Page 26 Newport This Week October 7, 2010
ISLAND CLASSIFIEDS Low INTRODUCTORY Rate: $1 /Word/ Week. Classified advertising must be prepaid. MasterCard, Visa, Discover or American Express accepted. Call 401-847-7766 Ext. 103 or e-mail Kirby@NewportThisWeek.net
RECENT DEATHS Lenardo Dean Bradic, 53, formerly of Portsmouth, died Sept. 24, 2010 in Florida. A memorial service will be Saturday, Oct. 9 at 5 p.m. at the Memorial Funeral Home, 375 Broadway, Newport. Salvatore “Joseph” Buonvino, 81, of Portsmouth, died Oct. 2, 2010 at home. He was the husband of Karen M. (Coggeshall) Buonvino. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy. Donations in his memory may be made to the Portsmouth Rescue Wagon Fund, PO Box 806, Portsmouth, RI 02871.
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John E. Furtado, 81, of Tiverton, died Sept. 29, 2010 at Charlton Memorial Hospital, Fall River MA. He was the husband of Bernice A. (Freeborne) Furtado. He served in the National Guard during the Korean War. His funeral service will be private. Donations in his memory may be made to the American Heart Association, 1 State Street, Suite 200, Providence, RI 02908. Richard A. Hines, 79, of Tiverton, died Sept. 30, 2010 at home. He was the husband of Dawn Powell Hines. His funeral service was held on Wednesday, Oct. 6 with a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Mark Church. Sr. Cecily McNulty FCJ, 91, of Portsmouth, died Sept. 30, 2010 at Newport Hospital. The funeral Mass was held on Oct. 4 at St. Philomena School Auditorium. Agnes A. Perry, 88, of Middletown, died Sept. 18, 2010 at Village House Nursing Home, Newport. She was the wife of the late Manuel F. Perry Jr. Her funeral was held on Saturday, Oct. 2 at the Memorial Funeral Home. Joseph Dennis Silveira, 91, of Middletown, died Sept. 23, 2010 at home. He was the husband of Beatrice (Raposa) Silveira. He served in U.S. Army during WWII. His funeral was held on Tuesday, Oct. 5 at the Memorial Funeral Home. Donations in his memory may be made to the Beacon Hospice, 529 Main Street, Suite 101, Charlestown, MA 02129. Anthony R. Soares, 67, of Middletown, died Oct. 3, 2010 at Philip Hulitar Inpatient Center, Providence, RI. He was the husband of Patricia Silveira Soares. Calling Hours will be on Thursday Oct. 7 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Hambly Funeral Home, 30 Red Cross Avenue, Newport. A memorial service will be at the end of calling hours at 7:30 p.m. Donations in his memory may be made to the Middletown Rescue Wagon Fund, 239 Wyatt Road, Middletown, RI 02842 or to the Robert Potter League For Animals, PO Box 412, Newport, RI 02840. Joan Silvia Welcome, 69, of Newport, died Oct. 1, 2010 at Newport Hospital. Her funeral was held on Wednesday, Oct. 6, with a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Mary’s Church.
NEWPORT COUNTY TV PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS OCTOBER 7–14 n Newport County Votes 2010 / Candidate Forums n Newport School Committee FRI @ 8:30pm / SAT @ 12:30pm) n Newport City Council At-Large (Live THUR @ 7pm / replays SAT @ 7pm / SUN @ 11am) n Newport City Council Ward Seats (Live THUR @ 8:30pm / replays SAT @ 8:15pm / SUN @ 12:15pm) n Portsmouth Town Council (FRI @ 9:30pm / SAT @ 1:30pm) n Portsmouth School Committee (FRI @ 10:55pm / SAT @ 2:55pm) n Middletown Town Council (SAT@ 9:15pm / SUN @ 1:15pm) n Casey’s World / THUR @ 11:30am n Congress of Councils: LNG Forum SUN @ 8:15pm n Crossed Paths (Navy Band Newport: RI Sound) FRI @ 6pm / SAT & SUN @ 10am & 6pm n Jazz Bash (Dick Lupino) THUR @ 11am n Kid Stuff (Splash) THUR @ 10am n Newport County In-Focus FRI – SUN @ 6:30pm / SAT & SUN @ 10:30am n Newport / ALN: Financial Forum SUN @ 7pm n Newport City Council Mtg: 9.29 THUR @ 9:30pm / FRI @ 1:30pm n Portsmouth School Committee Mtg: 9.28 THUR @ noon For the most update programming go to Cox Channel 18. For more information call (401) 2930806 ore email NCTV@cox.net
Red Cross Offers CPR and Safety Courses CPR and other Health & Safety Courses will be held locally this fall at the East Bay Branch of the American Red Cross Rhode Island Chapter, 1015 Aquidneck Avenue, Middletown.
n CPR – Adult Wed., Oct. 13, 5:30 – 10 p.m. n Standard First Aid Thurs., Oct. 21, 6 – 9 p.m. n Standard First Aid with CPR for Adult, Child & Infant Thurs., Oct. 7 & 14, 6–10:30 p.m. Sat., Oct. 23, 9 a.m.– 6:30 p.m. n CPR – Adult and CPR – Infant & Child Review Tues., Oct. 19, 6 -10 p.m. n CPR for Healthcare Providers and Professional Rescuers Sat., Sept. 18, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Sat., Oct. 16, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. n Babysitter Training Sat., Oct. 18, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. To register, call 846-8100 or go online to www.riredcross.org. The fees for the classes are $40-$75. Crossword Puzzle on p. 25
October 7, 2010 Newport This Week Page 27
Page 28 Newport This Week October 7, 2010
Ocean Drive Estate Bought for $4 Million NEWPORT, R.I. – Pointing to a possible uptick in the luxury real estate market, Gustave White Sotheby’s International Realty announced the sale of yet another multimillion dollar home off of Ocean Drive. “Cove Haven,” an Ocean Drive estate located at 3 Gooseneck Cove Lane, sold last week for $4 million. Realtor Jay Serzan was the listing agent. He noted “The estate attracted 2 bidders and was under contract in 67 days. This is an example where a well-located property in excellent condition and properly priced can quickly find a buyer.” He added that “Recent activity suggests that highend buyers see Newport real estate as a good value.” The property was listed in May at $4,795,000. “Cove Haven” encompasses a 3.67 acre gated site that contains the 4,669 square foot main house plus a pool, pool house and guest quarters. “The house fronts on Gooseneck Cove and offers panoramic views of the cove and the open ocean across Ocean Avenue”, Serzan said. The house was constructed in 1984 by Jay and Suzie Schochet and was known as “The Columns” because of its distinctive architectural styling. Mr. Schochet founded the firm that built Brick Market Place on Thames Street. Brick Market Place is a mixed use commercial and residential development that is credited with launching the rebirth of Newport’s downtown waterfront in the early 1970’s. [http://schochet. com/history] Gooseneck Cove has recently completed an environmental restoration totaling $1.2 million which was spearheaded by Save The Bay. [http://www.savebay.org/Page. aspx?pid=1198] The sellers are Albert R. Naar and Judith A. Kelly. The buyer is Ladrone, LLC. Annabelle Harris of William Raveis Chapman Enstone represented the buyer. Mr. Serzan has brokered other neighborhood properties near “Cove Haven”. The most recent being “The Playhouse” at 294 Ocean Avenue that sold for $2,190,000 in July. He also holds the record for the highest residential sale on Ocean Avenue – the former James and Candace Van Alen estate “Avalon” that sold for $10.3 million in 2004.
Ocean Drive Estate Sells in Foreclosure Auction In an update to a story we wrote about last week, one of Newport’s most secluded private compounds was sold at auction on Thursday for more than half of its assessed value. Wyndham, a 12,000-square foot mansion overlooking Ocean Drive, was sold for $2.5 million during an auction outside the front door of the palatial estate. The home has been assessed at $5.2 million. Built in 1890 by William Ralph Emerson, the home features nine bedrooms, nine baths, a home theater and sprawling, park-like grounds. Bids were accepted by several qualified buyers, but the winner of the auction has so far declined to be identified.
BLESS THIS PET
Colleen Soares with 22-month old rescue, McGee, were on hand for the Blessing of the Pets at King Park on Sunday. (Photo by Michelle Palazzo)
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