The Bay October 2022

WRIGLEY STUDIO the working artist studio and gallery of Brenda Wrigley Scott. Paintings and pottery featuring fora and fauna. Join us for painting groups, call to inquire. Main Road, Garden Entrance (401) 339 9676 @Wrigley_studio

CÉDIAN PAINTING: STUDIO-GALLERY

The working studio of Jennifer Jones Rashleigh NEW LOCATION in LITTLE COMPTON, RI  Fall Hours: Thurs, Fri, Sat: 11am-5pm & by Appointment  73 Simmons Rd, Suite E. LC · (508) 951 0696 www.cedianpainting.com

MILUKAS STUDIO

Poppasquash Point | Bristol, Rhode Island

Chart House Realtors is thrilled to invite discerning buyers to one of the most unique and exclusive home sites in the region Nestled along the eastern shore of Bristol's Poppasquash Peninsula, a custom home is designed and ready to be built by WKP Construction, a renowned local design build firm.

This private retreat will provide nearly 5,000 square feet of custom living space with five bedrooms, each with its own private bathroom. The open floor plan will boast stunning views of the Mt. Hope Bridge with an expansive kitchen, living room, and patio to provide the perfect entertaining space Two wood burning fireplaces, two gas fireplaces, hardwood flooring, stone countertops, high ceilings, and crown moulding are just some of the many exquisite amenities this home will offer.

Poppasquash enjoys an ideal location between Providence and Newport, with easy access to hidden gems along the Rhode Island shore This oasis is positioned conveniently along majestic Bristol Harbor, home to world class sailing and a working waterfront of fishing boats, fantastic restaurants and bustling marinas From the quiet of your backyard paradise, watch sunrises over the harbor, or soak in the coastline of Bristol’s charming, historic downtown

This is a rare opportunity for the buyer who desires something special Contact us today to learn more! Awaits

Photo by @jilll.jpeg Ocean State using featured here!

Photo by Kiel James Patrick

The Buzz

Buzz on the Bay Voices of the Bay Rhody Gem Calendar

Let’s Get Together

A Newport workshop and meeting space all about creating community connections

Recognizing that growth and education are important at all stages of life, Sara Emhof created The Huddle, a cozy nook on Spring Street in Newport, where a chalkboard wall fosters creative vibes the moment you enter and programs cover everything from life coaching to crafting. On the one hand, it’s a modern coworking space for company retreats, but evening workshops and classes nurture community-wide connections.

And it all started in a Zoom room. Emhof, chief experience officer at The Huddle, worked in civil education for years, a job that centered around building relationships with and amongst students. When the pandemic happened and so many people were experiencing feelings of isolation, Emhof sought a way to kickstart conversation and camaraderie that folks were craving. Her solution? A virtual mixer of sorts.

Photo courtesy of The Huddle

Sara Emhof, founder of The Huddle

The Buzz THE BAY

By Megan Monte

“During the first six months of COVID, I was hosting these virtual huddles of strangers, where we were playing and connecting and building community every week. I realized how important play and creativity and con necting authentically were for people, espe cially in this time,” says Emhof. Once COVID restrictions eased, “I felt this call to create a physical space that has the same essence, where people can connect and create and play together.” Thus, The Huddle was born.

The mission of this classroom-meets-co eeshop spot is to “make meaningful connections,” says Emhof, “and we do that by providing the space and experiences that inspire creativi ty, conversation, and growth.” The Huddle’s

diverse class o erings allow groups of strang ers to meet and learn together. Coworkers and companies can also rent the space for o -site team meetings or private workshops that en courage relationship-building and growth.

Classes range from crafting tutorials and cookie decorating to cryptocurrency lessons and tarot card readings. September was the start of a six-week course for women focused on self-discovery and clarity, as well as Co work Mondays for remote workers to congre gate. The Huddle recently partnered with the LGBTQ+ organization Newport Out, which hosts a monthly Queer Connections group with a focus on making friends while bond ing over books, games, and movies in a safe

space, with more programming in the works.

Last fall at The Huddle saw families and friends gathering for a pumpkin painting party, an autumn mocktail class, and other festive fun hosted by local entrepreneurs. This season, there’s still availability for teachers to bring their seasonal skills to the classroom with new workshop offerings.

Emhof created The Huddle to give locals a chance to teach and share experiences, or simply to network and expand their social circles. “It seems to be a magnet for curious people who are looking to connect,” she says. Find upcoming programming and space res ervation details at TheHuddleRI.com or visit The Huddle at 42 Spring Street, Newport.

The Huddle in Newport is a creative coworking space

The Buzz ON THE BAY

Pizza and Pulse

By Ken Abrams

You never know quite what to expect from Rhode Island musician Ben Shaw. At any given live show, you might hear jazz, clas sical, or acoustic guitar. Frequently shifting between musical styles throughout his ca reer, Shaw explains he’s not really tied to genre much these days. His latest project is a series of open sessions held on the third Thursday of each month at the Warren House of Pizza.

You may be wondering, ‘a music resi dency at a pizza joint?’ But it’s the perfect fit for a town that takes pride in its unof ficial motto of “Keep Warren Weird.” And for Shaw, it was a no-brainer. “My buddy Mauricio Ossa and his business partner Ed Gomez bought the Warren House of Pizza during the pandemic. Mauricio and I have been playing for years. I sit in on saxo phone with his band sometimes; we have a really good relationship.”

Initially, Shaw played with the idea of running a jazz night at the restaurant, but he’s recently focused his creative energy on songwriting. Recently released album Seven Songs is his first collection of piec es he wrote treading into acoustic territo ry. “I really view myself now as more of a singer-songwriter; I think my voice comes through a little bit more in that, so I’ve been focusing more on doing that and mixing it in with other genres,” he explains.

How are the sessions organized? “I bring my band, we go on stage and play a couple of tunes; it can be anything we want it to be,” says Shaw. “If I want to play a song that I had just written that week, we’ll do it. It’s kind of like an open rehearsal, as if you were in somebody’s basement when a band is rehearsing. You’re there, you’re hearing the jokes, you’re getting the stories, you’re seeing the looseness of it. I think that is kind of unique in the state; there doesn’t seem to be that spot where you can be loose and experimental.”

The theme will vary from month to month – expect the unexpected. “Ryan Kowal is coming in October. He’ll be doing an experimental jazz thing,” notes Shaw.

A singer-songwriter blends genres with open sessions at a Warren pizza joint

Ben Shaw presents a variety of genres with monthly open sessions at Warren House of Pizza

“We also have this great singer Michelle MyBelle Hill, who has an R&B electronic groove thing; she’ll sit in with us.” Shaw’s even looking for classical ensembles that might want to play the series.

Shaw is embracing a multi-genre approach in his career and with the artists he brings to his sessions. “I’ve been really heartened over the last few years. The ‘genre’ thing seems to be more and more stripped away, and peo ple are recognizing that music is this kind of fluid, amorphous thing that you can kind of dip in and out of.”

On top of this, Shaw’s list of creative endeavors only continues to grow. In Sep tember, he released “Madeline,” the first single from a new album planned to drop in December. This latest work will be ac companied by a novella Shaw has penned – so feel free to add “author” to his list of achievements. BenjaminShawMusic.com

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Photos courtesy of Ben Shaw

The Buzz OF THE BAY

By Nina Murphy

A Town’s Best Friend

When Bristol Police Department (BPD) school resource o cer Keith Medeiros first looked into the chestnut-colored eyes of his new partner, o cer Brody, in March 2020, he knew it was the beginning of a special relationship. Brody is a chocolate-brown Labrador therapy comfort dog and the first in the state to be assigned to a school resource o cer, paving new ground for the BPD and community. Medeiros, who holds a degree in criminal justice from Roger Williams University always dreamt of being a K-9 o cer. He discovered New England Police Comfort Dogs, which led him to Boonefield Labradors, a group of New Hampshire breeders who do nate their dogs for therapy comfort programs. Then Medeiros learned about a Massachusetts school with a therapy comfort canine program and proposed to Bristol’s chief Stephen Lynch a similar one for Mount Hope High School. Now Medeiros serves as the o cer at Bristol’s ele mentary schools with Brody in tow. O cer Bro dy has even developed an international follow ing via Instagram: @bpdk9brody.

DOG TAG:

I put a survey out to some kids to name our K-9 o cer. They said if we are going to name him Rhody, why don’t we name him Brody –“B” for Bristol, “rody” for Rhode Island?

Bristol’s school resource o cer gets a little help from his four-legged friend

O cer Keith Medeiros with K-9 Brody reporting for duty

BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS:

The biggest thing I have taken away from this experience is the kids who never would have come up to any police officer or engage in conversation, who I was get ting to know through Brody. As they were petting Brody, I could ask how their day was going, what’s their name and grade, what do they want to be when they grow up. The second part of it was having 5060 high school students I called my reg ulars, who were in my office every single day to study and hang with Brody, or if they were in crisis, instead of acting out, they would come to my office, pet Brody and within minutes were able to go back to class and learn.

GOOD BOY:

A therapy comfort dog is a well-behaved, well-trained dog. It’s a proven fact that canines lower your anxiety. You may not even realize it. Brody can sense when somebody is sad, upset, or maybe afraid of him. With repetition, the student can get comfortable with him. I truly believe Brody brought a culture of camaraderie, of bringing teachers and staff together when they returned after COVID.

A GREAT WORK DAY:

I was at an out-of-district school to show them Brody and what we do. I was walk ing down the hallway and came across a third- or fourth-grader, severely autistic, non-verbal, a flight risk who was in cri sis, surrounded by a school psychologist, teacher, and social worker. I asked the stu dent if he wanted to pet Brody; he shook his head no, and then I said, “Could I leave Brody with you while I talk with the adults? I don’t want him to run away.” I put Brody in the down position, started talking to the staff, and maybe 35 seconds later, I turned around and the boy was lying on the floor petting him. It normally took the student an hour to come down from an episode. I asked him if he wanted to walk Brody to the cafeteria (he had never eaten lunch in the cafeteria), and within five minutes he was eating his lunch in the cafeteria. That’s when I knew what we had was re ally special, not only with Brody, but that other dogs, communities, and school dis tricts could do the same thing for kids.

Know someone who might be a good fit for Voices of the Bay? Email Nina at YourHomeWithNina@gmail.com

Students hanging out with K-9 Brody

By Elyse Major

Caron Jewelers, Ltd. Jeweler & Giftware

We’re on the hunt for Rhody Gems! Every neighborhood has that secret, hidden, cool and unusual, or hole-in-the-wall spot that locals love. Email or tag us on social media using #RhodyGem to suggest yours, and we might just feature it!

What it is:

A family-owned jewelry store founded in 1956 o ering custom work, repairs for fine jewelry, watches and clocks, exclu sive designer collections, and giftware from regional artisans.

Where to find it:

Look for an “open” flag hanging from one of a pair of teal columns near a lamppost on Hope Street in Bristol. Be fore entering, be sure to check out the current window display.

What makes it a Rhody Gem?

Not just a jewelry store, Caron is a jeweler, which means you can design custom en gagement rings and wedding bands from their selection of diamonds and gemstones. Owner Joe Caron has serious credentials, including being a certified watchmaker, Master IJO Jeweler, and Graduate Gemolo gist. With her artistic eye and MFA in fine art printmaking, wife Diane Berube-Catanzaro keeps the shop beautiful along with her own line of rare gemstone jewelry called Michi Designs, etchings, and artwork. Be dazzled by their designer collections and goods at various price points. In addition to all of this eye candy, you can get your watch battery replaced while you browse. GEM

Caron Jewelers, Ltd.

473 Hope Street, Bristol

CaronJewelers.com401-253-9460

To submit your Rhody Gem, please email Elyse@ProvidenceOnline.com

By Karen Greco

THE MUST LIST

10 essential events happening this month

Through October 16:

Explore the grounds of Blithewold Man sion and peep images of photographer David Bird’s nature characters construct ed of acorns, sticks, and other backyard finds at Becorns Come to the Mansion Bristol, Blithewold.org

October 1-2:

Celebrate the harvest season at the Nor man Bird Sanctuary’s annual Harvest Fair , an award-winning event featuring sack races, a home and garden competition, live music, a crafter’s tent, and more. Middletown, NormanBirdSanctuary.org

October 2:

Atwater-Donnelly Band is joined by The Whelks, Caribbean Soul Duo, and Mag nolia for The Collaborative’s Folk at the Farm at Frerichs Farm, featuring food and bevvies from favorite East Bay purveyors. Warren, TheCollaborative02885.org

October 6-9:

Yuck it up with top national and local stand-up comedians performing eight shows at three venues around the island at the Rogue Island Comedy Festival, the state’s only stand-up comedy fest. New port, RogueIslandComedyFest.com

October 7:

Flutist Adam W. Sadberry , who’s com mitted to expanding the Black diaspora in classical music, brings his radiant, lyr ical playing to Recital Hall at Emmanuel Church for Newport Classical’s chamber series show. NewportClassical.org

October 8:

Celebrate Warren’s shell fishing heritage at the Portside Picnic , the annual gala for the Warren Heritage Foundation. Sing sea shanties and enjoy upscale pic nic fare from Blount Clam Shack by the river. WarrenHeritageFoundationRI.org

Folk at the Farm features toe-tapping tunes and tasty bites in Warren

Vegan for a Week

Food & Drink

Fall Brews Experience Food

What started as a grassroots vegan movement in Providence has now grown to encompass restaurants across the state. PVD Vegan Restaurant Week – which is technically two weeks – is the brainchild of Chris Belanger and wife Karen Krinsky who have more than 50 years of eating plant-based between the two of them. They’re also owners of the popular Like No Udder vegan ice creamery.

Inspiration struck when Belanger learned about vegan chef competitions sprouting up in other regions and wondered why Rhode Island didn’t have one. “I’m not really into competitions and felt that such a program was too complex to manage; I really wanted to make it about the vegan food rather than me and the restaurants essentially managing a popularity contest.” With “Restaurant Weeks” a widespread concept, he took a page from other models but distilled the idea into something simpler and more a ordable for participating restaurants.

Participation has spread around the East Bay with places like Basil & Bunny and Foglia in Bristol and Sprout and Lentil in Middletown curating plant-based specials that will be posted online closer to the date. Thrive Tribe Cafe in Barrington is getting in on the fun, too, presenting a “BLT” swapping bacon for locally made spicy seitan, served on multigrain toast with fresh greens, avocado mash, and chipotle mayo. They’ll also be serving arepas – grilled cornmeal cakes – topped with BBQ seitan and a vegan IPA cheddar sauce, along with two types of empanadas.

Now in year four, PVD Vegan Restaurant Weeks takes place October 28 through November 6 (straddling November 1, which is World Vegan Day) and welcomes five new locations. VegRestaurantWeek.com | By Abbie Lahmers

Photo courtesy of Thrive Tribe

East Bay restaurants celebrate plant-based dining with special menus

Food & Drink

FALL BREWS

Brewery Tour

By Ken Abrams

From Oktoberfest ales to festbiers, these East Bay taps are flowing with hearty brews

Fall is beer season in New England, and the re gion’s breweries are prepared for enthusiasts and casual ale sippers to flock to their taprooms and beer gardens. In the last two decades, doz ens of micro-breweries have opened around Rhode Island. We reached out to local spots to see what’s on tap for the autumn season. Read on for Oktoberfest selections and more.

THE GUILD

A relatively new addition to the East Bay brew scene, The Guild is a waterside beer hall featur ing views of colorful sunsets and brews of many hues, too. A tasty food menu of elevated pub fare complements favorites pours including the Chair 3 Light Wheat, the Santilli American pale ale, and the Slightly Cloudy hazy IPA. Look for seasonal specialties from the small-batch brew ery year-round. Warren, TheGuildWarren.com

NEWPORT CRAFT BREWING

Founded in a garage by four college friends in 1999, Newport Craft Brewing is one of the re gion’s mainstays. A selection of 16 craft beers and nine distilled spirits is currently flowing, and you’ve likely sipped one of them at the Newport Folk and Jazz festivals. Try Ungourdly Hour, a double barrel pumpkin ale, brewed with 300 pounds of pumpkin puree and aged in both whiskey and rum barrels for a year. Festbier, a German-style lager, is their Oktoberfest o ering. NewportCraft.com

PIVOTAL BREWING

This new kid on the block opened their eclectic tasting room filled with local art in Unity Park in late 2021. Pivotal plans to kick o “Rock-tober” with a concert featuring the DMD Project on Oc tober 1, followed by their Fall Festival the week end of October 14-15. On draft special for the season is the Burn, Gaspee, Burn lager and the Grateful Dead-inspired Shakedown Street New England IPA. Bristol, PivotalBrewing.com

RAGGED ISLAND BREWING CO.

This state-of-the-art tasting room sits on 37 acres of farmland in Portsmouth. Ragged Island grows their own hops for many of their 15+ draft brews, including European-influenced Old Boys

Vienna Lager, Zero Viz Belgian Wit, Oktober fest Marzen Lager, and summer favorite Beach Night IPA. Check online for their weekly lineups of food trucks and entertainment. Portsmouth, RaggedIslandBrewing.com

REJECTS BEER COMPANY

Fondly named for Reject’s Beach, a strip of nearby shoreline adjacent to Easton’s Beach, the brewery is equally cherished by locals. The taproom hosts monthly comedy shows and art pop-ups, along with old-school vid eo games, some of the coolest merch around, and, of course, great beer. Fall highlights in clude the Munich-style Fest Beer and Locals

Only, a popular cream ale. Don’t miss the Doggie Halloween Costume Party on October 28. Middletown, RejectsBeerCo.com

SIX PACK BREWING

This dog- and lit-friendly spot opened in 2020. A book club, Books & Brews, meets on the third Monday of each month. For a Sep tember Barktoberfest event, they released a Festbier, which will still be on tap this month. Keeping with the theme, Hair of the Dog, a brown ale, debuts this month in time for their Howl-o-ween Party, and their Anniver sary Party takes place November 19. Bristol, 6PackBrewing.com

Award-winning blonde ale, The Meg, gets a pumpkin-spiced cousin this season

TAPROOT BREWING COMPANY

Established in 2018 as part of Newport Vine yards, Taproot is a state-of-the-art seven-bar rel brewhouse in Middletown. Featured beers this fall include a strong Imperial Pumkin Ale matured in bourbon barrels, the Blackberry Fizz seltzer for those not into the frothy stu , and F-Bomb, a popular New England IPA. Middletown, TaprootBeer.com

TWELVE GUNS BREWING

Named after an early Rhode Island Naval ves sel, Twelve Guns keeps the vibe lively with music and trivia nights. Their award-winning blonde ale, The Meg, gets a fall twist with the release of Pumpkin Spice Meg. Smoky and sweet, the Marshmallow Inferno is a one-ofa-kind graham cracker rauchbier, and for light sipping, opt for their popular hard seltzer line, Cannon & Anchor. All will be pouring at their third anniversary celebration on October 12. Bristol, TwelveGunsBrewing.com Six

By Rose Kenyon

Come for the Ghosts, Stay for the Food

A local haunt in Portsmouth known for its pasta, pizza, and past

Pulling up to the Valley Inn Restaurant in Ports mouth, at first my sister and I questioned if we were in the right place. Had we accidentally stumbled upon someone’s home? A spacious farmcoast B&B? We paused to admire the 19th century architecture – the pedimeted entry, the dormers, the gabled roof, not to mention two uniquely shaped windows on the third floor bearing an uncanny resemblance to those of the Amityville Horror house. Sensing our un certainty, a kind man – who turned out to be none other than owner Joe Occhi – guided us to the side entrance of this beloved local spot.

I won’t deny it – the notion that the restau rant may be haunted (turn to page 29 to read more about the Cornells) piqued our interest, but once inside we were charmed by the expansive dining room with its rustic touches like floral curtains, old chandeliers, kerosene lanterns, and wooden beam ceiling.

We meandered through brick archways past the bar – where every seat was filled – to our table against an exposed stone wall, where twinkling lights illuminated wine bottles be hind us. A beautiful view of rolling fields and ocean completes the cozy (and only slightly spooky) New England atmosphere.

We were immediately greeted by Joe’s youngest son, Michael, with a wicker basket full of warm Italian bakery-style baguettes and put in an order of stuffed quahogs and French onion soup to start things off.

As we were blowing on spoonfuls of steaming soup – served in old-fashioned brown and yellow crocks – Joe checked in to see how we were doing. He regaled us with the details of the restaurant’s long (and intriguing) history while we indulged in the delightfully rich and slightly sweet onion soup topped with melty gobs of cheese.

We learned that Joe’s father, Ennio “Ma rio” Occhi, had purchased the property in 1957 and opened the restaurant a few de cades later in 1975. Ennio and his father –Joe’s grandfather – were both accomplished chefs, Ennio having worked at the nowclosed high-end Muenchinger-King Hotel in Newport. Ennio and his wife had emigrated from Parma, Italy just before Joe’s birth.

By then, we had dug into the quahogs, de lighting in the soft and spicy stu ng, scrap ing up every bit of the warm and generous ly sized pieces of clam meat. Joe went on to share that the extension had been built by Ennio, who was apparently as skilled in design as he was at cooking. He salvaged the beams from a Newport barn, the ceiling from the floor of a basketball court at Gym 109 on the naval base, the bar top from a bowling alley at First Beach, and the built-in

Cozy-rustic charm inside Valley Inn Restaurant

Must-Try Items

Pasta Primavera ($19):

Fresh seasonal vegetables prepared aglio e olio with scallops

Limoncello Cake ($6):

Lemon cake with whipped cream and powdered sugar

wine holders from clay drainage pipes.

As I ordered an entree – pasta primave ra with fresh vegetables and scallops – Joe shuffled off to check in with the hostess, and then a few guests…and then a few more guests. We watched as he greeted every single table with a congenial familiar ity. The restaurant was full of Portsmouth neighbors, fitting for a family-run estab lishment that caters to its regulars.

The pasta was delizioso , as to be expect ed from the next Italian chef in the Occhi family line, Mario, Joe’s oldest son. Prepared aglio e olio, the oil and garlic sauce was del icate and warming. It showcased the flavor of the perfectly seared scallops mingling with fresh asparagus, thinly sliced red pep pers, mushrooms, onions, and spinach.

We followed it with something sweet: a slice of limoncello cake, which featured four layers of light and flu y goodness, topped with whipped cream and a dusting of powdered sugar.

Sipping white wine and swaying along to the live guitar music that had just begun, our spirits were high, but we couldn’t help but ask Joe about spirits of another kind. Were the rumors true? Was the Valley Inn haunted?

Everything we’d heard – the unfortunate death of Rebecca Cornell, the ghost testi mony, the murder conviction – was histor ically accurate, Joe said. As for the haunt ings? That depends on what you believe.

By Karen Greco

Halloween candy for grown-ups

Inspired by friend Brian Leosz’s success with Butterbang Croissants, pastry chef Miguel Allis founded local confection com pany Hawt Chocolate over the summer, handcrafting artisan bars and bonbons. Al lis and his husband are recent Rhody trans plants, having just moved from Boston where the Mexico City-native climbed the ranks to pastry chef at Flour Bakery under renowned owner Joanne Chang.

Allis’ filled chocolate is inspired by his ex tensive travels, with flavors like PB&J remi niscent of American nostalgia while Straw berries and Cream is based on a treat he had as a kid. The menu changes seasonally, and fall flavors include a whiskey caramel in a dark chocolate shell and a pumpkin spice latte encased in milk chocolate. He sells his lush chocolates at Hope & Main’s Wednesday market and expects to roll out online ordering soon. “I love how excited people get when they try the chocolate,” he says. Warren, HawtChocolatePVD.com

“We’re excited to be back in full force,” says Adrienne Krueger, the events man ager at Bowen’s Wharf. This year, their annual Newport Seafood Festival is big ger than ever, with an expanded footprint into Market Square, which is closed to tra c to house more vendors and, for the first time, food trucks. In addition to the gastronomical delights from local eater ies, homegrown bands perform live while shoppers visit the many retailers along the wharf along with a carefully curated selection of vendors.

This family-friendly event is free to attend and, while summer crowds have dwindled, it’s a popular weekend for the locals. “The vendors are ready at 11am. Come by early, especially if you want to make sure you get that lobster roll from Matunuck Oyster Bar,” Krueger advises. “If you live locally, try to walk or ride a bike over. [Newport] still gets crowded on the weekends.” Newport, BowensWharf.com

Say cheese on Water Street

Cheese lovers rejoice! Wedge, a new cheese shop, is opening on Water Street in Warren. During the pandemic, owner Sasha Goldman used her extra time at home to craft intricate charcuterie boards for her family. The Columbia Universi ty-trained journalist realized there was nowhere in the area to purchase the spe cialty items that graced her boards and thought other people might feel the same.

Since deciding to open Wedge, Gold man’s scoured New England for the best regional products – from cheese to meats to preserves and other confections to stock, including bonbons from Hawt Choc olate. Wedge can craft custom grazing boards for folks too busy to DIY. Mocktail mixers from local maker Kristi’s Kraftails are available, and Goldman is happy to suggest local beer and wine pairings for items. Pop in to sample cheese flights and other o erings. “We want to make it a fun vibe,” she says. Warren, WedgeRI.com

Celebrate the ocean’s bounty in Newport

Behind

A closer look at East Bay legends and stories from paranormal investigators and historians

BY ABBIE LAHMERS

Ifeel like this whole island is haunted,” says Amy Bruni, of Kindred Spirits and Ghost Hunters fame. She lists off a handful of Aquidneck Island sites, both well-known for their frights like White Horse Tavern and those less traversed by tourists – Miantonomi Tower, where public hangings once took place, and the supposed “blood alley” behind the Newport Opera House. Paranormal investigators like Bruni spend their careers not only communicating with the dead, but also ruminating over genealogical texts, court records, and house deeds. Visit any historical society in the area and it will become immediately clear –the East Bay is home to both hallowed grounds and the stuff of haunts and legends. While seeking out spooky encounters can be a fun pastime – especially during Halloween – there’s a sobering side to the lore, too.

“

Photography by Nick DelGiudice

Investigating The

“Ghosts did bring me here,” says Bruni, who was drawn to spirits from a young age, a pas sion her father helped foster by supplementing it with American history lessons. Often travel ing from California to the East Coast to film Ghost Hunters, she met her significant other in Providence and settled down in Portsmouth. She jokes that this comes with the benefit of sleeping in her own bed after investigating nearby haunts, but it also means she’s never far from the region’s abundance of lore.

LOCAL LORE

The oldest tavern in the country dating back to 1673, it comes as no surprise that Newport’s White Horse Tavern may host a spectral presence or two. Clientele ranged from government o cials to pirates during a time when it was safer to drink alcohol than water. Watch for an apparition in old-fashioned clothes that sometimes lurks near the fireplace.

“There are little cemeteries everywhere, es pecially on Aquidneck Island,” Bruni says. “You can just pick one and learn fascinating things about a family there. Like the Cornells. They’re buried behind a condo complex in Portsmouth.” She’s referring to the family who went down in infamy for Thomas Cornell’s alleged murder of his mother, Rebecca Cornell, in 1672. The kick er? The evidence leading to Thomas’ conviction and execution was purely spectral – the ghost of Rebecca appeared to her brother, John Briggs, with a message about the illicit nature of her death: “See how I was burnt with fire.”

It’s likely Thomas Cornell now rests be neath the Valley Inn Restaurant parking lot – apart from the family plot, of course.

Bruni investigated the Valley Inn for para normal activity on both Kindred Spirits and her podcast, Haunted Road (and returns often for the stellar pizza – read more on page 24), though the job takes her all over. She brings a uniquely thoughtful approach to coaxing out stories from the past.

“It’s just about humanizing the ghosts. I won’t claim to know exactly what a ghost is or speak in absolutes; I’m still not sure what we’re dealing with. But I just imagine, if someone were there in front of me, how would I treat them?” she says.

Bruni compares what they do to walking into a party where you don’t know anyone. In Kindred Spirits, you’ll see her and paranormal partner Adam Berry calmly, cautiously conferring with the spirit box – a means of getting on the ghosts’ wavelengths to hear what they have to say – and asking polite but probing questions, reading the room and feeling out the energy. “And it can be scary – sometimes, just like in day-to-day life, people don’t like a super cheerful lady walking

Visitors of Rose Island Lighthouse have claimed to feel the presence of its former keeper, Charles S. Curtis, still determined to keep the light on

SCARY STORIES

Catch episodes of Kindred Spirits and Ghost Hunters, starring Amy Bruni, on discovery+ and other streaming services. Bruni also takes deep dives into haunted destinations with her podcast, Haunted Road. Rhode Island spots are explored in these episodes:

SEASON 1, EPISODE 4:

“See How I Was Burnt With Fire” on the Valley Inn Restaurant, Portsmouth

SEASON 1, EPISODE 5:

“This is No Place for Children” on The Conjuring House, Burrillville

in. Sometimes we’ll actually have homeowners or business owners introduce us to them. It’s just manners,” Bruni explains.

Bruni and Berry go where they’re invited, and the scope of their investigations varies. Some times it’s homes plagued with unexplained phenomena. In those cases, “I think a lot of it is understanding,” says Bruni. “To a family, they’re living with door slamming every day and foot steps and voices and that’s terrifying until may be Adam and I come in and provide some per spective. Sometimes that’s all it takes.”

For locations steeped in history like Fort

Adams or Rose Island, “There’s just so much information to draw on,” says Bruni. They conferred with Joan Quinn, a historian and tour guide who has worked for the Newport Preservation Society, on their visit to Rose Is land Lighthouse. A former lighthouse docent, Quinn is not only an expert of the island’s his tory but has also spent lots of time there.

“I feel like the lighthouse has always had a very friendly kind of feel,” says Quinn. “I would say it’s very spiritual, but there is some spooky stu , too.” Two mass graves, barracks that once housed a cholera ward, and a deadly ship collision that

happened close to its shores all make the small island a prime source for otherworldly activity; but inside the lighthouse itself, both Bruni’s team and Quinn detected the more peaceful presence of its long-time keeper. Charles S. Curtis is ru mored to still make the trek up the stairs every night to turn the light on, and appearances of a child could be grandson Wanton Chase.

“Maybe some people get stuck, maybe it’s some kind of trauma, or maybe it’s, ‘oh I love this house, I never want to leave.’ I think Rose Island was very much that,” says Quinn. “I think he still wanted to do his job. It was that important.”

TOURS AND SOCIETY: TOURS: Historical

A view of Kickemuit River, where Warren’s oldest ghost story originates and the setting of centuries of history

“Bristol is where a lot of the chiefs were born, and Warren is where they were buried,” says Quinn. It’s in 1600s So wams – the rich, resource-abundant land inhabited by Native tribes, including the Pokanoket people, spanning Barrington, Bristol, East Providence, Providence, Warren, and parts of Massachusetts –where she begins her history tours.

At the foot of the Baptist Church on Main Street in Warren, Quinn sets the stage of winter 1635. Bristol and Warren are tribal base camp, sacred ground. Sachem Mas sasoit’s home is along the Kickemuit River, and his sons Wamsutta and Metacom live in present-day Mount Hope Farm. Roger Williams has just fled religious persecution in Massachusetts and Massasoit comes to his aid, o ering shelter from the treacher ous New England cold.

The first treaty in America – between the Pokanoket Tribe and the Puritans – spelled peace for more than 50 years, even usher ing in what many locals believe to be the first Thanksgiving at Mount Hope Farm, but all the while tensions brewed. As more colonists encroached on Sowams, bringing diseases and conflicts, tribes joined forc es to drive settlers out. After his death in 1661, Massasoit was succeeded by his el dest son, Wamsutta, who died under mys terious circumstances after meeting with pilgrims in Plymouth. Metacom, known as King Philip to the colonists, took over with the intention of keeping the peace, though relations by then were shaky.

“Now the original ghost story goes back to that,” says Quinn. Hugh Cole’s Warren settlement was ransacked and burned by Pokanoket warriors, one of whom was killed by a settler in the attack. The warriors returned to enact revenge, and “they killed the men they battled with the day before, which was common at the time – they cut o their heads, which were never found.”

This was the start of King Philip’s War in 1675 and the bloodshed to follow. Ever since, people have claimed to see the eight heads of the killed colonists floating along Kickemuit River at sunset, some times glowing and sometimes on stakes.

D iscover a school as unique as child

“The Native Americans say ‘man might for get, but the trees and the grass and the rocks, they remember,’” says Quinn. On almost every block of downtown Warren and Bristol are buildings and old architecture from colonist his tory, while sacred and private indigenous sites, like King Philip’s Chair, also remain, serving as reminders of the region’s complicated past.

Quinn, who speaks of local history and paranormal encounters with both relish and reverence, absorbs tales relayed by guests in her haunted history tour groups and – with their permission – adds them to her reper toire of lore, which has expanded to become a sort of oral history collection of East Bay

experiences over the years. She has wit nessed glowing orbs in graveyards, heard doors slamming in the Rose Island barracks, and found mysterious streaks of light on photos. Others have entrusted her with sto ries of hearing Revolutionary war flutes in the Bristol Town Commons, apparitions on Tower Street, and other echoes of the past.

“Being a religion minor, it always made sense to me that there is another step after this, an other reality, maybe,” says Quinn. “I always ask people on my tours, ‘are you believers?’ I don’t even know what I think, but there’s definitely something going on. What we see is very min imal of what is really out there.”

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LOCAL LORE

Travel along Tower Street in Bristol in the evening and find three white Xs painted in the gravel. Joan Quinn shares that visitors who stand or park in this spot have reported mysterious fogs and apparitions surrounding them.

For investigators like Bruni, the search for spir its begins in courthouses, historical societies, and libraries before ever setting foot inside a haunted house. And often, the discoveries made in old paper trails can be more reward ing than the lure of the supernatural. This is true for Marjory O’Toole, executive director of Little Compton Historical Society.

“I find a lot of what I do is start with the old histories and compare them to primary source documents and find that many of them need adjustment in order to be more factual, more accurate,” says O’Toole. “The legends are fas cinating and often start with a grain of histor ical truth, but it’s really rewarding to try and discern what is truthful and what is legend.”

Even when ghosts can’t be conjured be tween the lines of historical records, there’s evidence of colonists’ superstitious belief found in small details like silver jewelry stu ed in children’s shoes and hidden be hind fireplaces for protection, or circles and lines etched into wood to ward o witches.

Apotropaic marks, or witches marks, can be seen in Little Compton’s Wilbor House, on furniture originally from the Waite-Potter

LOCAL LORE

The Old Stone Mill in Newport’s Touro Park goes by many names and has as many rumors attached to its origins – from Vikings to Portuguese sailors to ancient Druids – though there’s no evidence to support it was built before the 1600s. Su ce to say, no one really knows when or who built it, but speculation is part of the fun.

TruthHouse in Westport, MA. “They were purpose ly tangled marks and designs because that would help tangle up and catch the witch as she was trying to get into your house,” ex plains O’Toole. “New England colonists would try to protect themselves from evil spirits with these marks…we have this impression of Puritans as not being superstitious people but in reality, not everyone was a Puritan, and English colonists brought European supersti tions with them to the new world.”

Their concern over evil spirits was deep ly rooted. “I think it was a fear of things they couldn’t control or understand and attaching that fear to imaginary things like witches and spirits that would come and hurt them,” speculates O’Toole. “The real fear, the greatest fear of all, was illness. There’s no antibiotics; something as sim ple as strep throat could kill your children.

“And they feared the wrath of God. Quite sadly, there was also a belief that God was punishing them. The witches marks and hid den shoes weren’t connected to God – they were connected to the opposite of God: evil creatures, evil spirits.”

The story of Jonathan Dunham – known as Shingleterry – and Mary Rosse taps into New England’s obsession with witches. O’Toole re counts the story as it’s told in The Naked Quak er by Diane Rapaport. In the 1700s, across the street from the Quaker Meeting House in Little Compton, the crime-committing duo broke into the home of John and Elizabeth Irish, bar ricading their children inside and setting the house on fire. John Irish was able to rescue his children, and Shingleterry and Rosse were “turned over to the o cials – local judges –who decided that they needed to be tied to the back of a wagon and whipped on their way out of town. So they were sent out of town but not imprisoned,” explains O’Toole.

Tracing out-of-town court records, you can chart the pair’s destructive path, and eventually their crimes caught up to them – or at least to Rosse, who was declared a witch. “The court decided that Shingleterry was under Mary’s spell and he was innocent. From what I understand, he became a minis ter and had congregations down in the New Jersey/Maryland area, and I’m not sure what happened to Mary but I’m sure she wasn’t treated as well by the courts.”

Early settlers scrawled witches marks into furniture and beams to ward o evil spirits

A visit to Wilbor House paints a picture of life in Little Compton through the decades as well as o ering guests the unobscured stories behind local legends

TOOLS OF THE TRADE

SPIRIT BOX

“The spirit box is a device we use that scans through radio waves,” says Bruni, and sometimes voices will emerge. “We’re not talking about radio voices; you’ll hear a very separate voice. For some reason spirits can kind of manipulate that sound.” Either she or Berry listen to the device with noise-canceling headphones and a blindfold while the other asks questions to the netherworld, thus eliminating some cognitive bias.

SLS CAMERA

Often seen on TV, including in Kindred Spirits and Ghost Hunters, Structured Light Sensor Cameras pick up on movement undetectable by the naked eye, recognizing human shapes and often displaying them as glowing stick-figures.

BASIC PHOTOGRAPHY

You don’t need a fancy camera to point and shoot and see what comes out. Look closely for unusual glowing orbs, streaks of light, or even humanoid figures in photos you take on paranormal tours.

THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX

To get the attention of any ethereal dwellers, the Kindred Spirits team sometimes uses props from their past lives, like the sound of cannon fire at Rose Island Lighthouse to signal for the keeper that it’s time to ascend the stairs and turn the light on.

DIG DEEP

If it’s your own abode you want to learn about, uncover deeds, land evidence records, and probate records – all available to the public – and trace the ownership of your house. You never know what historical rabbit holes this may lead you down.

LOCAL LORE

Thomas Cornell wasn’t the only one in his family tree to be accused of murdering a parent. He was the six-times great grandfather of the infamous Lizzie Borden, the Fall River woman accused but then acquited of murdering her parents.

All LOCAL LORE and archival images compiled with the help of the Rhode Island Historical Society. To start your own historical investigation, visit RIHS.org or email reference@rihs.org to set up an appointment.

The Baptist Church in Warren is where historian Joan Quinn begins her historyhauntedtours

Little Compton Historical Society, and its Wilbor House museum, is a bottomless well of these kinds of stories, as well as lesser-known tales of ordinary people liv ing in the town at di erent periods of time. O’Toole notes the wealth of new informa tion digitized records gives us access to. “In the past, people would think, you can’t do the history of people of color in New En gland because there just aren’t any records. That’s simply not true. There are lots of re cords, but they’re hard to find, so it really comes down to how hard we are looking.”

It’s this process of uncovering the facts be hind the myth that drew O’Toole to the field of history, though she doesn’t dismiss the tantalizing lore that circulates our region.

“The main thing is that the stories are really fun and there’s nothing wrong with a story – even an exaggerated story – if it piques someone’s interest in the history,” she says, “but I think as interesting as the stories are on their own, it’s even more re warding to try and do a little bit of digging to find the truth behind it.”

Home Shop Rhody Reads

Farm Fresh Arts and Crafts meets Farmhouse Style in a Rumford renovation/addition

Ever find yourself on a drive, spot a big ol’ farmhouse, and wonder what it would be like to make it your own? This was the case for a pair of empty-nesters who were aware of a vacant property not far from where they lived in the Rumford section of East Providence. Off a main street, close to a reservoir sat a charming white farmhouse built in 1860. The couple, who’d been searching for a historic renovation project, saw possibilities in the 1,200-square-foot dwelling and had the vision to make it into their “forever farmhouse.”

Photography by Nat Rea, courtesy of SR Fine Home Builders

The new addition on the left side blends seamlessly with the existing house

Black accents against white connect elements throughout the home

To begin, the couple hired Gail Hallock Architect and SR Fine Home Builders to col laborate on the project, two North Kings town-based firms with solid reputations for attention to detail on old homes. “The challenge with a historic renovation project often lies in the retention, rehabilitation, and/or replication of original details and materials,” says Nick Vanasse, chief operat ing officer of SR Fine Home Builders. “Not only did we need to ensure the new addition matched the existing structure in detail, but since the house sat vacant for several years, it needed a lot of time and attention to be sure that it would last for years to come. Ev ery portion needed to be repaired, rebuilt, or refreshed in some way.”

The renovation and addition that followed more than doubled the home’s square foot age to 2,750 and resulted in space for a

living room, an additional bedroom, a screen porch, and a finished basement that houses a home gym. “The homeowners wanted a family gathering space in their new home, designed around the fireplace – as would be seen in a traditional farmhouse – so we crafted the space with shiplap and a custom mantle featuring a Carrara marble fireplace surround,” says Vanasse.

The builders refer to the project as the Arts and Crafts Farmhouse, which is fit ting since the home boasts details from both movements. Structural elements like the staircase with oak cross buck railings emphasize craftsmanship and beauty in utility, a hallmark of the Arts and Crafts movement, while shiplap (once simply used for sheathing) and architectural de tails like a porch and fireplace check the farmhouse boxes. Interior design choic es echo these themes, like the trestle-style dining table by Lorimer Studios of Wickford, or bare windows that show their muntins. Of course, being nestled among tall trees, a roll ing lawn, and surrounding stone walls gives a pastoral vibe that simply can’t be replicated.

An oak cross buck design with steel cable creates a beautiful – and safe – stairway design

GET RHODY STYLE

Ideas and resources for making the most of living in the Ocean State.

LOCAL TALENT

SR Fine Home Builders founder and CEO Jeremy Sherer and COO Nick Vanasse lead a team of craftsmen and construction managers across new construction, whole-home renovation, and historic renovation projects. They pride themselves on bringing unequaled transparency to all they do.

CUSTOM WORK

Once the original front door was restored, glass panels were added by Golden Rule Designs of West Kingston (GoldenRuleDesigns.com). The custom, handmade, solid-wood farmhouse dining table is from Lorimer Studios (Wickford.com).

NEWMAN AVENUE EATS

Follow Route 114 toward East Prov idence and discover Newman Ave nue. For co ee and baked goods, there’s a Seven Stars Bakery lo cated in the mill that once housed Rumford Baking Powder with plen ty of outdoor seating. Next door is Avenue N American Kitchen and The Pantry, owned by well-known Rhody chef and author Nick Rabar and wife Tracy. Enjoy a range of inventive apps, soups and salads, entrees, pizza, and more.

A round mirror and patterned textiles soften the hard lines of the shiplap and marble

By Karen Greco

Bauble Bauble Toil and Trouble

Given Rhode Island’s witchy history, it’s no surprise our state is chock full of independent artisans with a metaphysical edge. Whether you seek clarity for a vexing problem, are looking for a statement piece necklace, or just fancy a fresh new fragrance, these local makers o er handcrafted goods perfect for crossing the veil between the living and the dead.

1. Bast Brass Cat Tooth Lariat Necklace

Cast from an ethically sourced cat tooth, this lariat necklace from Silver Moon Alchemy celebrates Bast, the goddess of joy, music, sensuality, and protection. SilverMoonAlchemy.com

2. Blue Hydrangea Bubble Pendant

This bubble-shaped pendant from Roses N Dragons Designs features locally gathered white hydrangea flowers preserved in resin. RosesNDragonsDesigns.com

3. Hex Hankies

Maker Julia Thorpe sews items like altar drapes and quilted tarot bags, but the hex hankies, crafted from vintage handkerchiefs, are a conversation starter. Etsy.com/shop/JulieThorpeQuilts

4. Shadow Work Deck

This magical 60-card deck featuring creator Mary Rose’s fine art photography guides seekers to look deep within themselves to create positive change. ShadowWorkDeck.com

5. Witchcraft

Belle Toi’s all-natural, small-batch skincare products are Reiki-charged and crafted with loving intention. Their fruit-scented Witchcraft line includes a scrub, bar soap, body oil, and perfume. BelleToiNaturalSkincare.com

6. Wolf Skull Memento Mori Pendant

Metal artist RyAn Holmes from Never Living Atelier crafts his Memento Mori pendants to celebrate the impermanence of life through di erent icons of remembrance, like the wolf skull. Etsy.com/shop/NeverLiving

7. Zodiac Soap

Lather up with Eclectic Garden ’s smallbatch zodiac soaps. Charged by the light of the full moon, the scents are based on each astrological sign. EclecticGardenSoap.com

7

By Hugh Minor

Rhody Reads

Six books with nature themes perfect for fall

October is the perfect time to get back to nature as we forgo the summer heat for au tumn’s cool, fresh air. This edition of Rhody Reads highlights a half-dozen books that cap ture the feeling of the great outdoors even if you’re enjoying the view from the comfort of your favorite armchair and sipping a pumpkin spice latte. These selections might even moti vate you to get outside, especially if you plan to visit your favorite local bookstore.

Marc Parnell’s Birds of Rhode Island (The Birding Pro’s Field Guides) is the first state field guide for Little Rhody in over 120 years. Interest in bird-watching has in creased dramatically since the beginning of the pandemic and Parnell’s book provides tips and tricks to finding the rarest species in the hottest spots. There’s even a bird feeding guide so you can attract particular feathered friends to your own backyard or garden. Let the birding begin!

If the weather doesn’t permit you to get out side, then create nature indoors with The Wind in the Willows Felt Friends: Beginner-Friendly Sewing Patterns to Bring Kenneth Grahame’s Classic to Life by fiber artist, author, and sew ing instructor Cynthia Treen. Get crafting making felt animals, including clothing, acces sories, and furniture, following user-friendly patterns and instructions. Then recreate favor ite moments or take o on all-new adventures with Ratty, Mole, Badger, and Mr. Toad.

When Oakland Forest in Portsmouth was slated to be clear-cut to make way for condominiums, arborist Matthew Lar gess stepped up to defend the woods. In Treehugger, Jamestown novelist Shamus Flaherty tells the story of a man responding to his calling to be the “voice of the forest” and his mission to save the trees while bat tling demons from his own past and present. If you believe that small actions can have a huge impact, this tale is a story for you.

The magic of the changing foliage from summer to fall is captured in author/illustrator Gabriel M. Pat rick’s The Autumn Fairies . As charac ters Henry and Maria travel through the woods after school one day, they discover a special secret that not all eyes can see. Join them in ex ploring the beautiful color and light that illustrates their journey through the fantastical woods on a mystical fall day.

The changing environment has had a devastating impact on the lives of many, including Betty and Benny, the main characters in Bee-Cause We Care: About Honey Bees. Author Laura Strauss teaches young people about the importance of these insects to the ecosystem as well as the dangers of pesticides in a fun, rhyming tale. This joyfully drawn book will have readers buzzing like a beehive while learning about how people and bees can live together in peace and harmony.

As Roger Williams Park Zoo cel ebrates its 150-year anniversary, Arcadia Publishing has released a new book by Leigh Picard and Su san Ring. Picard is the current man ager of interpretation and graphics at the zoo, a position once held by Ring, also the award-winning author of over 100 books. Roger Williams Park Zoo details animals that call the park their home, greeting countless guests from all over the world.

SHOP INDIE

A listing of Island

Arc{hive} Book + Snackery: Warren, bio.site/ArchiveBookSnackery

Barrington Books: BarringtonBooks.com

Book Nerd: Barrington, Facebook Books on the Pond:

Books on the Square: Providence,

Cellar Stories Bookstore: Providence,

Charter Books:

Curiosity & Co.: Jamestown,

Heartleaf Books:

Inkfish Books:

Island Books:

Island Bound Bookstore: Block Island,

Lovecraft Arts & Sciences: Providence,

Paper Nautilus Books:

Rarities Books & Bindery:

Ri ra Bookstore + Bar: Providence,

Savoy Bookshop & Cafe: Westerly,

Stillwater Books:

Symposium Books:

Twenty Stories:

Wakefield Books:

Pic of the Bay

ABOUT KAYLA @k___elizabeth Awkward millennial sarcastically MacGyvering my way through marriage, motherhood & life with my camera in hand.