Rhody Pets of the Month

By Karen Kalunian

Looking to welcome a new furry friend into your home? Adopt, don’t shop!

Shelters around the state have dogs and cats ready to find their forever homes. Here are three pets ready to meet you, or reach out to the shelters to learn about even more adoptees.

If you have been thinking of adopting or if you know of an animal in need, please contact Karen directly at animaltalk1920@gmail.com.

TIMMY

This smart two-year-old “best boy” knows all of his basic commands and then some –he’ll even wait patiently for a treat! He has a gorgeous brindle coat, golden eyes, and the biggest smile, and he’s ready to be part of a loving family. This superstar is working on his agility training, too. Give the shelter a call to schedule a time to meet Timmy and see for yourself what a good pup he is.

Cranston Animal Shelter

464-8700

Shelter to Sofa: sheltertosofari@gmail.com

ARNOLD

Attention hound lovers: Arnold is the perfect match for you! This two-year-old hound mix has a contagious smile and zest for life. A tall boy, Arnold’s long legs are his most noticeable feature, along with his white and tan coat accented by light golden eyes. He loves going on long walks, and in true hound fashion, Arnold is very smart and likes to be busy, so a fenced-in yard would be best. Once he’s had his playtime, he’ll cozy up with you, too.

Heart of RI Animal Rescue

467-3670

HeartOfRI.org

With captivating golden eyes and a gorgeous black-and-white coat, Petra is simply magical. This tuxedo kitten (she’s only six months old) likes spending time with other cats. She’s a little on the shy side but once she gets to know you, she’s as playful as they come – and will quickly win you over with her stunning looks and fun personality!

Pawswatch at the Community Cat Care Center

285-9800

Communitycatcarecenter@gmail.com

In the Driver’s Seat

By Hugh Minor

The Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) is bringing learning to the streets with their newly launched Menu for Success. Through the grant program, 13 area high schools are funding food trucks that students design and operate, all while developing skills in entrepreneurship, culinary arts, automotive learning, graphic design, and more.

“As Rhode Island rebuilds and reimagines its education system, RIDE is thinking outside of the box,” says Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green. “Through Menu for Success, we will provide our students with real-life experience in entrepreneurship, management, and accounting, sharpen their culinary skills and spark their creativity.”

Thirteen local education agencies (LEAs) have committed to participate in the initiative: Central Falls, Chariho, Cranston, Coventry, Davies Career & Technical High

School, East Providence, Lincoln, Newport, Pawtucket, Providence, Warwick, Westerly, and Woonsocket.

A Taste Of The Real World

The goal of Menu for Success is to move learning beyond the classroom and into the community, where students can gain practical real-world experience that will aid in their future careers. As Lamel Moore, community connections and partnership liaison for the Pawtucket School Department, explains, “We want to make this the best and most outstanding learning experience that it can be. Students will have the opportunity to participate both inside and outside of the classroom. That is a great learning experience. It can be invaluable.”

“It’s not just culinary classes,” Moore adds. Schools can determine how to incorporate the food truck development into their curriculum. In East Providence, for example,

Automotive Technology Program students work on fixing and maintaining the trucks as part of their regular course studies. “Students from every area of focus can be involved. Graphic design students can map out the look of the trucks. Finance students can be involved from a business sense. The scope and breadth of what these students can do is outstanding. It really is unlimited.”

An Investment For The Future

The $1.6 million cost of the statewide program includes approximately $125,000 toward each truck, purchased through a joint request for proposals, plus additional support and resources provided by RIDE. Participating schools are expected to maintain the custom-fitted food trucks, which are expected to arrive this spring.

The program design was inspired by Rhode Island’s reputation as a food tourism destination, with the popularity of food trucks on the rise worldwide. Students have the chance to be part of that exciting industry trend. At William M. Davies, Jr. Career and Technical High School in Lincoln, director Mary Watkins can’t wait to get the program up and running. “Food trucks are a fantastic small business and culinary learning opportunity, and – at Davies especially – a food truck will provide a great allhands-on-deck project for students in our culinary, electrical, automotive, and graphics technical programs.”

Each LEA is pursuing different options, from truck size to deciding on a trailer or a full-service vehicle, along with what kind of cooking equipment will go inside – a food truck business designed for baking, for instance, will look different than one serving hot wings. In January, representatives from each of the participating organizations met at the Cranston Area Career and Technical Center to review their options and tour two successful and well-known local food trucks: Nanu Burmese Fusion and Food Vibes.

Opening Doors For Every Student

Through industry exposure, RIDE’s Menu for Success initiative aims to open doors for students of color and increase the number who graduate with a defined plan for continued success. Although Rhode Island’s food sector accounts for countless jobs and billions of dollars in sales annually, not everyone has historically been invited to the table. The state lags far behind in creating opportunities to own and operate food businesses for people of color, who make up only 2 percent of Rhode Island’s 14,000 restaurants. This program hopes to address that issue.

The big picture, as Moore explains, is “having students perform at the highest level in ways that will make them proud and get the most out of them as well. These students will be exposed to countless opportunities. This can be the pipeline for so many outstanding experiences.”

RIDE plans to hold an event October 21, 2023 at Chase Farm in Lincoln, bringing together all 13 food trucks to celebrate the culinary arts in Rhode Island. For more information on the program, visit RIDE.RIgo v

Courthouse Center For The Arts

SATURDAY 4/29 | 8PM

THE DOOBIE BROTHERS TAKIN’ IT TO THE STREETS

SUNDAY 5/7 | 6PM

CLAY MELTON

FRIDAY 5/12 | 8PM

BAD COMPANY - ROCK STEADY

SATURDAY 5/13 | 7:30PM

BEACH BOYS - THE DRIFTWOODS

FRIDAY 5/19 | 7:30PM

VAN MORRISON TRIBUTE MOONDANCE

THURSDAY 5/25 | 1:30PM

ELVIS - ROBERT BLACK SHOW

FRIDAY 5/26 | 7:30PM

THE STEVE PATI BAND

70’S ROCK & ROLL

FRIDAY 6/2 | 8PM

THE ONE HIT WONDERERS 70’S

80’S TOP ROCK & ROLL SONGS

Simple Perfection

Our founder’s last and neverreleased design has been put into production to commemorate our 75th Anniversary. Each bowl is made to order, place yours online today!

Peter Pots Pottery

494 Glen Rock Rd., W. Kingston

Acouple years ago, chef Sherry Pocknett was driving through Charlestown after a ceremony at the Narragansett Indian Tribe reservation, looking for a gas station. She came across a small, red building at a fork in the road, surrounded mostly by woods and a few homes. A sign said the space was available for lease.

“I said, ‘Oh, that’s a cute little place,’” Pocknett said. “And I came back and wrote the number down and called, and we were in here the next month, I think. Took a while to open up. It doesn’t happen overnight. But we did it. Now we’re going on our third year.”

Pocknett’s restaurant is called Sly Fox Den Too. In the few years it’s been open, the restaurant has gotten a lot of attention and praise. It draws in regulars, summer vacationers, and foodies who’ve seen the restaurant featured in media coverage.

The menu features everything from spicy firecracker shrimp and grits, to bison bratwurst over Indian fry bread with peppers and onions, to a vegan bowl with corn cakes and three sisters rice.

Seafood is prominent on the menu. Depending on the season, you might find smoked salmon, soft shell crab, seared bluefish, quahogs,