The East Providence
eporter R
NOVEMBER 2009 Volume 5, no. 11
FREE
Serving the Community and Businesses of East Providence
The Holiday Guide turn to page 47
Riverside School HEROS Program Teaches Non-Violence
by Carolyn Bray Police Officer Mike Spremulli is on duty today at East Providence High School because one of their regular officers is out with an injury. Normally this five-year veteran of the Police Department’s School Resource Officer (SRO) division is on duty at Riverside Middle School, working with children in grades six through eight. He has enjoyed his two days at the high school, partly because he is getting to catch up with kids with whom he worked at Riverside, who then graduated up to the high school. Officer Spremulli says the biggest part of his work is mentoring, “building bridges between kids and the police department.” He points out that there are a lot of negative stereotypes about police, partly because kids usually only see them “when something bad happens.” Interacting with children in their classrooms, the cafeteria, and at athletic events normalizes relations and helps kids understand the police are there to help them. ...Continued on page 16
EP Dept. of Parks & Recreation
Annual “Turkey Trot”
TOWNIE PRIDE PARADE
4.3 Mile Charity Road Race
Sat. Nov 21 10am More info on page 45
WE'VE GONE GREEN! The Reporter Now Prints on Recycled Paper.
Nancy Cullion, principal at Silver Springs School, shows her “Townie Pride” at the Parade.