10 minute read
Inside the East Side
Straw, sticks, bricks, and one hungry wolf's TRICKS!
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three little The
Pigs Choreography: Louisa Mejeur
c h a t t e r B O X t h e a t r e c h a t t e r B O X t h e a t r e k i d s + d a n c e = f u n
March 14-22
festivalballetprovidence.org 401-353-1129 FBP Black Box Theatre 825 Hope St., Providence RI 02906
Which way will the Fox Point? Ward 1, which encompasses pretty much all of Fox Point but has recently been redrawn to include a growing portion of downtown, will become the center of the Providence political universe on March 3. That’s when a Democratic primary will be held to pick a successor to Seth Yurdin, the longtime city councilman representing the Ward, who suddenly announced his retirement on New Year’s. Three candidates, all Democrats, have o!cially declared: Nick Cicchitelli, owner of a real estate company and president of the Fox Point Neighborhood Association; John Goncalves, a Brown alum and one of the founders of the new citywide Providence Coalition of Neighborhood Associations; and Anthony Santurri, owner of the downtown Colosseum nightclub and founder of the Providence Responsible Nightlife Organization. Steve Triedman interviews all three on page 12. Given a proposed new tax policy aimed at the East Side, the threatening financial pressures facing the city, the ongoing debates over what should be built on our waterfront, and, of course, the disaster that is our educational system, a lot of attention here on the East Side will be listening to hear what sayeth they.
Local author wins NEA Grant Congratulations to East Side author Hester Kaplan for winning a $25,000 creative writing fellowship award from the NEA (National Endowment for the Arts). One of just 36 such grants from across the country this year, the money will be used to support her current writing projects. A well-published local author, Hester also teaches creative writing at both RISD and Lesley College as well as serving as president of the local Goat Hill Writers Collaborative. Since our beloved Little Rhody remains a treasure trove of interesting and often quirky things to write about (even with Buddy no longer with us), and given Hester’s proven track record, we have no doubts the grant money will be put to good use. with the presidents of URI, RIC, Brown, and Lifespan, this past month he corralled Speaker of the House Mattiello and Senate President Ruggerio and asked them what we can really expect to get out of the legislature this year. But it was a side question this time that drew the most audible gasps. When asked whether or not President Trump deserves to be impeached, they both responded in the negative. So next time anyone describes Rhode Island as one of the bluest of the blue one-party states, mention the thinking of Rhode Island’s two most powerful Democrats. And remind them that in the last presidential election, of our 39 cities and towns, 16 of them voted for Trump. Wonder what’s the over/under on whether that number goes up or down this November?
And now for something a little different One thing you must admit about our beloved capital city, is that when it comes to diversity, creativity, and quirkiness, we can go toe to toe with anyplace in the country. Need proof? This month on March 28, something called the Rhode Island Tattoo and Music Fest will take place at Fete, a colorful and popular club on Dike (or is it Yike!) Street in Olneyville. Thought it appropriate that we give them a shout out since both the festival and our magazine are in the ink business.
Livin’ the one-state political blues Over the last few months, the Boston Globe’s Dan McGowan has been able to round up some of the State’s most well-known and influential community leaders to participate in what have turned out to be delightful, informative, and freewheeling one-hour discussions, which we hope will continue. After tackling education
Governor Gina Raimondo and Michael Bloomberg at Plant City before a press conference announcing her endorsement of the former NYC mayor for president.
Engaging Purposeful Play!
Catherine Valenti M.S.Ed
• SPONSORED CONTENT •
JULIA CHILD. TAYLOR SWIFT. ANNE FRANK. BEYONCÉ KNOWLES. JEFF BEZOS. PRINCE WILLIAM AND HARRY. JACKIE O.
WHAT DO ALL THESE NOTABLES HAVE IN COMMON? They all a!ended Montessori schools.
“The Montessori method encourages children to engage in what interests them most and highly values the arts alongside academic subjects,” says Catherine Valenti, a master educator who has been practicing her love of learning and teaching for over 30 years. “It’s surprising how something simple, like playing with wooden toys, can enable a child to learn and understand a great deal for themselves, even quite complex theories.”
Valenti, a neuro-developmental specialist with a Master’s of Science in Education, founded Angel Care Montessori on the East Side of Providence in 1995. The handsome brick school features three bright and sunny classrooms, a children’s garden, and a play yard. The space reflects the Montessori teaching philosophy, which, under Valenti’s guidance, focuses on developing young minds (ages 2-5) through intentional, meaningful educational experiences that are child-centered, independent, and self-directed but preserve the joy of learning through purposeful play.
“Part of the Montessori ethos is the idea that you need to make mistakes to learn and that you should not let the fear of making a mistake put you o! trying,” explains Valenti. “Montessori is credited with out-of-the-box thinking, a trait that is commonly associated with top earners and successful entrepreneurs. Montessori teaches children to question the world in which we live and to embrace all that is good.”
At Angel Care, kids can play with whatever interests them – without time limits, which allows them to focus on what inspires them the most. While they are given a lot of freedom as they are observed, shadowed, and guided by teachers in the classroom, they are never allowed to be disrespectful or unkind. Instead, they learn social grace and courtesy as part of their everyday experiences. This goes beyond “please” and “thank you”: They explore the proper way to interject, wait patiently, respond assertively but kindly, politely decline, and gracefully accept. “We cultivate children’s ability for careful attention to detail and provide opportunities to work on developing their observation and listening skills,” says Valenti. “Many of those who attended Montessori school praise it as one of the important success factors.”
Valenti is excited for this year, which marks a quarter-century that Angel Care Montessori has been educating “competent, capable, confident, respectful, and responsible human beings and joyful learners!” She encourages interested parents to attend their open houses on March 2 and April 25 (10am-12:30pm) and look into enrolling for September 2020. Plus, Valenti adds, they are looking for dedicated, creative, and motivated team members as they expand their classes. Says Valenti, “We are searching for the right partners to help us lead the next 25 years!”
INTEGRITY | EXPERIENCE LEADERSHIP
401-316-4288 • AnthonySanturri.com anthonysanturri @anthonysanturri @anthonysanturri
Democrat Anthony Santurri for City Council Experience Matters
A small business owner and longtime community leader, Anthony Santurri will be ready to work for us on day one.
When Anthony saw a growing divide between neighbors and the police, he organized community discussions that helped create stronger relationships and safer streets. Anthony will bring people together to solve the problems facing Providence.
Anthony’s Plan for Providence: 3 Stronger Local Economy. A pillar of the Providence business community, Anthony will lead efforts on the city council to attract new jobs and help businesses thrive.
3 Safer Streets. Anthony is committed to increasing community policing and ensuring that our public safety vwV>Ã >ÛiÌ iÀiÃÕÀViÃÌ iÞii`Ìii«ÕÃÃ>vi°
3 Better City Services. As> vÕ`iÀ>` >À`iLiÀ of community groupsiÌ i *ÀÛ`iVi >Ìv i} LÀ ` ƂÃÃV>ÌÃ] ƂÌ ÞÕ`iÀÃÌ>`à ÜÃÌÀ} VÌÞ ÃiÀÛViÃV>«ÀÛiÕÀµÕ>ÌÞv vi°
Vote Democrat Anthony Santurri in the March 3rd Special Election!
Jerry’s Artarama Art Supply Store
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 one-stop art supply store, the first floor of Jerry’s Artarama is a veritable bazaar of paints, pencils, and specialty paper. The second floor is dedicated to custom framing and stretched canvases, both for artists and collectors. While Jerry’s is a national franchise, the Providence location is locally owned and provides demonstrations by and for local artists.
How to find it: Jerry’s stands on an unassuming corner on North Main Street, across from the shopping plaza that contains Whole Foods and Staples. There is almost always street parking out front.
What makes it a Rhody Gem? Providence has several great art supply stores, but Jerry’s is a little more out of the way. Driving past, you would never guess how deep and well-stocked the store is, nor how friendly and knowledgeable the sta!. Whether you’re a new hobbyist or an established artist, Jerry’s feels as much like a club as a retail venue: The VIP card entitles you to not-insignificant discounts, and artists can pour themselves a free co!ee on “WakeUp Mondays.” Jerry’s has also been known to host free demos and events.
Jerry’s Artarama 653 North Main Street JerrysRetailStores.com/Providence-RI
South County Health Cancer Center is proud to welcome Angela M. Taber, MD AS OUR NEW MEDICAL DIRECTOR The most personalized cancer care in Rhode Island just got even better.
Dr. Angela Taber joins South County Health’s Cancer Center from The Miriam Hospital and Rhode Island Hospital. She is the only physician in Rhode Island board certified in both Oncology and Palliative Care. For the last two years, Dr. Taber has been chosen by her peers as a Rhode Island Monthly “Top Doctor” in Oncology.
She leads a multi-disciplinary team of expert physicians and highly trained staff practicing the latest medical advances in cancer diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up care. And it all happens in one convenient location – the South County Health Cancer Center, one of only 24 accredited cancer programs in the United States to receive the 2018 Outstanding Achievement Award from the Commission on Cancer. T o l e a r n m o r e , c a l l 4 0 1 - 7 8 3 - 6 6 7 0 o r v i s i t s o u t h c o u n t y h e a l t h . o r g / s t a r t h e r e
100 Kenyon Avenue, Wakefield, RI 02879
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