SAVING THE BAY
SAVE THE BAY WRAPS UP A 10-YEAR EELGRASS TRANSPLANT PROJECT THIS WEEK. READ ABOUT THE LANDMARK PROGRAM ONLINE AT NEWPORT-NOW.COM
Newport† �������������������������
��������������� �������������
����������
Funding formula has schools bracing for cuts
WELCOME SUMMER!
By Tom Shevlin
The Newport Flower Show kicks off this weekend. See our calendar for details beginning on page 14.
TABLE OF CONTENTS ARTS CALENDAR CLASSIFIEDS COMMUNITY BRIEFS CROSSWORD DINING OUT EDITORIAL LETTERS MAINSHEET NATURE OBITS REALTY TRANSACTIONS
12 14 18 4 18 10 6 6 9 17 16 7 What says summer more than a roadside lemonade stand? With temperatures hovering above 80 degrees for most of the last week, Tyler and Molly Hurd joined with Nixon Brownell to offer up some rather tasty lemonade along Ruggles Avenue.
NEWPORT-NOW.COM TWITTER.COM/NEWPORTNOW FACEBOOK.COM/NEWPORTNOW
(Photo by Tom Shevlin)
NEWPORT – For the first time in 15 years, Rhode Island has a uniform school funding formula. The formula, which will go into effect on July 1, 2011 (the start of the 2012 fiscal year) has long been a goal of education advocates seeking an even-handed approach to how the state funds public schools from across the state. And while some communities stand to benefit, schools across Aquidneck Island are bracing for cuts. The long-awaited formula, which is aimed at providing state and local officials with a quantitative basis for distributing funds to school districts based on enrollment and other contributing factors, was developed by the state Department of Education and General Assembly. Until now, legislators base financial aid by previous years’ precedents with no regard for enrollment or, for that matter, any other metric. The funding formula comes against the backdrop of continued discussion regarding the feasibility of regionalization and consolidation between the island’s three school districts. It’s not clear at this point what affect the proposal will have on the topic, but it would seem to add fuel to proponents’ claims that it’s no longer possible to
SEE ‘FORMULA’ ON PAGE 2
It takes a (Yachting) Village Habitat for Humanity project begins off Lower Thames Street
If you’d like to contribute to Habitat for Humanity of East Bay, but do not have the time to volunteer, a “Seaside Soiree” is being held on Friday, June 25, at Regatta Place on Goat Island from 7-11 p.m. Tickets to the event are $75, all inclusive, with live music, savory food, delicious cocktails, and a silent auction all to benefit the local Habitat for Humanity of East Bay. To RSVP to this event, call 1-888-270-5274 or register online under the “events” section at www.habitateastbayri.org
By Meg O’Neil The world is hugged by the faithful arms of volunteers. ~Terri Guillemets NEWPORT – There is little else in the world that feels as good and fulfilling as reaching out to help others in need. Actions speak louder than words, and in the case of Habitat for Humanity of East Bay, these actions are helping create a new home and a new life for a family in Newport. Habitat for Humanity was founded in 1976 by Millard and Linda Fuller, as a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry. Since 1976, 350,000 houses have been built by volunteers around the world, providing 1.75 million people in 3,000 communities with safe, decent, affordable shelter. Currently, Habitat for Humanity of East Bay is building a new home on McAllister Street in Newport. Thanks to local volunteers and donations, such as Ralph Plumb III of Atlantic Building, Jamie Williams of The Carpenter Connection, John Mcardle, East Coast Construction, All Island Landscape, and New England Tree Preservation, Christina Rahn and her two sons will have a new home in a matter of months. It has been of dream of Christina, who grew up in Newport, to own her own home for her family. In November of 2009, a ground breaking ceremony was held on the plot of land where the new home would be built. In early May of this year, excavation of the site began
Habitat for Humanity’s Seaside Soiree
��������������������������������������������������������������������������������� ������������������������������������������������������������������
and a foundation was poured only a few days later. If you go by the house today, located off Thames and Spring St., you will see just how far and fast the volunteers are progressing. These local volunteers provide most of the labor, while both individual and corporate donors provide the materials and money to build the houses. The families that are receiving the house must also invest roughly 400 hours of work, known as “sweat equity”, into building their home and the homes of future recipients. Joe Hearn, a board member of Habitat for Humanity of East Bay said, “We are very excited for our third Habitat home in Newport. It’s the first one we’ve done in about five years.” He went on to say that, “The
great thing about this organization is that Christina volunteers her time to building her house and subsequent builds. Working alongside the homeowner is really a lot of fun and really brings the event full circle.” Habitat for Humanity is not a giveaway program. New homeowners’ monthly mortgage payments go directly back to the foundation and are used to help build more Habitat houses. A truly rewarding experience of community and accomplishment, Habitat is always looking for volunteers to lend a helping hand. To get involved in any way and give Christina and her two sons their dream home, call 1-888-270-5274 for more information on becoming a volunteer.
Even if you’re more skilled on the dancefloor than you are on the sub-floor, you can still contribute to Habitat for Humanity’s McAllister Street project at this Friday’s Seaside Soiree. WHEN: Friday, June 25, 7-11 p.m. WHERE: Regatta Place on Goat Island COST: Tickets to the event are $75, all inclusive, with live music, savory food, delicious cocktails, and a silent auction all to benefit the local Habitat for Humanity of East Bay. MORE: RSVP to 1-888-270-5274 or register online under the “events” section at www.habitateastbayri. org
��������������������������������������������������
City fills parking fund position By Tom Shevlin NEWPORT – The city has hired a retired police lieutenant to fill a parttime position created by the elimination of it’s full-time economic development director’s post. According to City Manager Edward F. Lavallee, former Newport Police Lt. Michael Brennan has been hired as the city’s new parking fund administrator at a rate of $25 per hour. The part-time position is a seasonal hire, and does not include benefits. Brennan will be responsible for overseeing the city’s parking fund – one of five such enterprise funds designed to raise revenue independently from the the city’s general fund. The newlycreated position became necessary, according to Lavallee, after he made the decision to eliminate the city’s fulltime Economic Development Director position as of July 1. Created three years ago to oversee three of the city’s enterprise funds, the economic development director position had been occupied by Jonathan Stevens, a veteran policy and planning official who made it a mission to improve the efficiencies to the city’s parking, maritime, and beach enterprise funds. But according to Lavallee, as the enterprise funds have grown in scope and independence, the position “no longer fit the mold.” The decision to eliminate the position is expected to save the city over $100,000 in salary and benefits per year.