HOT TOPICS

An overview of what’s happening around the city right now

Observatory Neighborhood Association welcomes new City Councilor

The Observatory Neighborhood Association joined with the Ward 3 Democratic Committee and new Councilwoman Sue AnderBois in a community meeting on February 6. Held in the community room of the Rochambeau Library, there was a standing room only crowd. AnderBois introduced herself, discussed her priorities for the year, and then answered questions from the audience. Joint meetings will continue throughout the year.

Neighbors took part in winter cleanup challenge to nip waste in the bud

Elmwood Neighborhood Association and other Providence volunteers took to the streets collecting littered bottles as part of the Great Nip Pickup Challenge put on by Save The Bay and Friends of the Saugatucket. The collection effort kicked off December 27 and ran through March 27. Neighbors brought discarded nips to Save The Bay’s headquarters in Providence to keep tally of this year’s impact. At press, the challenge is still underway, but last year, around 20 volunteers collected over 21,000 50mL plastic nips off the streets and out of Rhode Island waterways, all within 90 days. This quantity was instrumental in bringing the nip conversation to the forefront of local and statewide policy.

Though the challenge has ended, there are still ways to get involved in local cleanups via Save The Bay by becoming a cleanup leader. Enroll in the upcoming training seminar via Zoom on April 5 to go over the nuts and bolts of leading and organizing a cleanup in your neighborhood, and sign up to be an assistant leader at a spring event to complete your training. Visit online to learn more at Volunteer.SaveBay.org.

Final link connects Providence River Walkway in the Jewelry District

At the end of January, two large trailer trucks from Pickens, SC pulled slowly toward the river end of South Street. Their arrival signaled the end of a years-long e ort to create a pedestrian path from Waterplace Park to the Point Street Bridge. The next day at low tide, after the two halves of the bridge were permanently joined together, a crane hoisted the 25,000-piece walking bridge into place. At time of press, Jewelry District Association (JDA) expects to see construction begin in March, with railings, planting, lighting, and other final touches to be installed. By mid-June the bridge will be open to the public. The JDA extends thanks to Wexford Science & Technology, the company that rescued a Providence landmark by turning it into South Street Landing. Now, the city will have another delightful amenity. (Eyewitnesses report that rabbits are already using the bridge to reach new feeding grounds.)

Mile of History Association announces events, new street lights on Benefit

The Mile of History Association (MoHA) is planning a complimentary spring outdoor block party for members and prospective new members, with more details to come. Looking ahead to this summer, MoHA will again be the major supporter of the Concerts in the Garden program at Shakespeare’s Head in collaboration with the Providence Preservation Society. The monthly concerts of the 2023 season will run from May through September. The restoration of the streetlights along Benefit Street has begun. The first ones are installed towards the southern end of Benefit Street. We expect that more will be in place by the time you read this. MoHA has arranged major funding for this project. For more information and to join MoHA’s ongoing preservation e orts, visit MileOfHistory.org.

Call for board members ahead of Summit Neighborhood Association meeting

Are you new to Summit and looking to meet new people and get more involved in the community? Are you a long-time Summit resident with a great idea for improving the neighborhood? Do you have a passion project in mind that you’d like help and support bringing to life? Are you looking to connect with others to work on grass-roots projects? If you answer yes to any of these questions, consider joining the Summit Neighborhood Association (SNA) board. Becoming a member is a great way to get to know the community and your neighbors, while volunteering on projects like the Hope Street Mural, food pantry deliveries, tree planting, street improvements, park development, and more. The SNA’s Annual Meeting will be held on Monday, April 24 in the Sopkin Auditorium of Miriam Hospital. They will hold elections for board o cers and members. Contact us at SNAProv@gmail.com for more information.

Providence Neighborhood Associations

Blackstone Parks Conservancy

Jane Peterson

P.O. Box 603141

Providence, RI 02906

401-270-3014

BlackstoneParks@gmail.com

BlackstoneParksConservancy.org

College Hill Neighborhood Association

Rick Champagne

P.O. Box 2442

Providence, RI 02906

CHNA@chnaprovidence.org

CHNAProvidence.org

Downtown Neighborhood Association

DNAPVD@gmail.com

DNAPVD.com

Facebook: Providence Downtown Neighborhood Association, DNA

Elmwood Neighborhood Association

Karen Hlynsky

ENA-PVD.org

Facebook: Elmwood Neighborhood Association PVD

Fox Point Neighborhood Association

Amy Mendillo

P.O. Box 2315

Providence, RI 02906

FoxPointNeighborhood@gmail.com

FPNA.net

Jewelry District Association

Sharon Steele

Sharon@sharonsteele.com

JewelryDistrict.org

Facebook: Jewelry District Association

Providence, RI

Mile of History Association

Wendy Marcus c/o Providence Preservation Society

24 Meeting Street

Providence, RI 02903

MileOfHistory@gmail.com

MileOfHistory.org

Mount Hope Community Center

401-521-8830

MHNAInc@gmail.com

Facebook: Mount Hope Neighborhood Association, Inc.

Olneyville Neighborhood Association

Eduardo Sandoval

122 Manton Avenue, Box 8 Providence, RI 02909

ONAProvidence@gmail.com

Facebook: Olneyville Library

Providence Coalition of Neighborhood Associations

Info@provcna.org

ProvCNA.org

Reservoir Triangle

Neighborhood Association

David Talan

25 Santiago St.

Providence, RI 02907

401-941-3662

DaveTalan@aol.com

Smith Hill Partners’ Initiative

Wole Akinbi

400 Smith Street

Providence, RI 02908 Suite #1

AAkinbi@half-full.com

Facebook: Smith Hill Partners’ Initiative

South Providence Neighborhood Association c/o Dwayne Keys

P.O. Box 5653

Providence, RI 02903

401-369-1334

SouthProvNeighbors@gmail.com

Facebook: South Providence Neighborhood Association

Summit Neighborhood Association

Meeting date: April 17

P.O. Box 41092

Providence, RI 02940

401-400-0986

SNAProv@gmail.com

SummitNeighbors.org

Washington Park Neighborhood Association

237 Washington Avenue

Providence, RI 02905

BettyLinda@aol.com

Facebook: Washington Park Association

Wayland Square Neighborhood Association

Katherine Touafek

Facebook: Wayland Square Neighborhood Association

WaylandSquareNeighbors@gmail.com

West Broadway Neighborhood Association

1560 Westminster Street

Providence, RI 02909

401-831-9344

WBNA@wbna.org

WBNA.org

T.F. Morra Tackles

Beech Leaf Disease and More This Season

First observed in RI in 2020, Beech Leaf Disease (BLD) is set to make its mark in spectacular fashion again this year, decimating beech forests and landscape trees throughout the state. BLD a ects the leaves of the tree and is thought to be spread by or directly caused by nematodes that are active inside buds prior to bud break. Early signs include dark striping on the leaves, which will then wither and yellow, leading to leaf-loss. Over time, this can send the tree into decline and potentially be fatal.

“There is a lot that we do not know about BLD yet – as far as we can see, it impacts all varieties of beech regardless of age or size,” explains Tom Morra, owner of T.F. MORRA TREE CARE, INC. “We are monitoring the spread and progression of the disease closely, and are working with our product developers on treatment options to combat the damage.” Treatment season begins in the spring, so now is the time to come up with a plant health care plan for your landscape using the options available at T.F. Morra.

T.F. Morra also o ers low-impact, ecologically sound treatment options for a variety of other plant health care issues, including but not limited to Hemlock Wooly Adelgid, Emerald Ash Borer, mosquitoes and ticks, and fungal pathogens, as well as fine pruning, tree preservation, and, if necessary, removal services. Please contact Stephanie via email at stephanie@tfmorra.com to set up your consultation today.

AUDIO/VIDEO HELP

Home theater, TV or stereo? Jon Bell, Simply Sight & Sound, 401-749-8283. Reasonable rates. 30+ yrs exp.

BEYOND THE PALE

Quality interior painting, color consulting, lead certified, green products. Lic. #15914. Call Mike 401-573-4498.

EAST SIDE HANDYMAN

Carpentry, painting and repairs. Small jobs welcome. References, insured. 401-524-6421. Reg. #3052.

MALIN PAINTING

Most ceiling & wall repairs, wallpaper removal, oil-based & latex finishes, staining, varnishing. Fully insured, Many local references. Safe, secure, fast service. 226-8332. Reg. #19226.

USED MUSIC WANTED!

Round Again Records needs your used CDs and records. Cash paid. Call 351-6292.