Archive - Nov 2012

Electees set goals, head to the Hill

November 24, 2012

By PAUL J. SPETRINI
pspetrini@ricentral.com

Catherine Cool Rumsey may be new to the State Senate but, less than two weeks after defeating incumbent Frank Maher in District 34, the soon-to-be first-time legislator is already saying all the right things when asked what her goals are for the upcoming term in the General Assembly.
“It’s jobs, jobs, jobs,” Rumsey said. “Bringing the economy back, that’s the focus.”
It’s a message all six of North Kingstown and Exeter’s state representatives can’t stress enough.

NK Town Council accepts Stakeholder report

November 23, 2012

By TRACEY O’NEILL
Special to the Standard

NORTH KINGSTOWN—Monday’s meeting of the North Kingstown Town Council saw the Rt 2-102 stakeholder group submitting a 101-page document detailing its visioning process research, findings and recommendations for moving forward with the Rt. 2-102 intersection project.

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November 22, 2012

It's Thanksgiving and that means it's time to reflect on what we're all thankful for.
Also, it's time to eat. A lot.
In this week's Standard-Times, we take a look at one local woman with a rich history of making desserts and pastries on Federal Hill and chart the way her family business has changed over the years.
In addition, we bring you a local look at this year's 'A Christmas Carol' play through the eyes of a pair of North Kingstown children who will never forget what it's like to take part in the annual holiday classic.

Alt. Learning Center may come to NK

November 21, 2012

By TRACEY O’NEILL
Special to the Standard

NORTH KINGSTOWN–Meeting in a work session on Tuesday night, the North Kingstown School Committee unanimously approved funding of a feasibility study for transformation of multiple buildings as a precursor to what may become an in-district Alternative Learning Center.
Previously presented in October as an expenditure of approximately $18K by Superintendent Philip Auger, the funds will allow for an architectural design plan and lay the groundwork for future project approval.

Voter ID law had little impact at local polls on Election Day

November 20, 2012

By TRACEY O’NEILL
Special to the Standard

NORTH KINGSTOWN– The State Board of Elections and local boards of canvassers had several new issues to deal with at the polls this election season, including implementation of the Rhode Island Voter ID law in its maiden voyage in a general election.

Local teens pledge not to text and drive

November 19, 2012

By ANGELENA CHAPMAN
Special to the Standard

NORTH KINGSTOWN—Statistics, texts and video showed teens at North Kingstown High School last week the dangers of mixing texting with driving.
Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin was joined by the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT), state and local police, school and town officials and AT&T to bring kids the message “It can wait.”
Over 700 teens gathered in the auditorium at the high school to view the AT&T presentation that started in the state this fall.

NK's FEMA rank a point of debate

November 18, 2012

By TRACEY O’NEILL
Special to the Standard

NORTH KINGSTOWN– Although much controversy has recently surrounded the Town of North Kingstown’s National Flood Insurance Plan (NFIP) ranking, the No. 9 rating assigned by FEMA is a measure of the Town’s participation in a nationally ranked program and not directly related to Hurricane Sandy and her untimely visit to the area.

Exeter response team handles all Sandy can offer

November 17, 2012

By MARTHA SMITH
Special to the Standard

EXETER – Even though Hurricane Sandy caused some tricky problems – the generator at Shady Acres nursing home failed, there was no phone service at the emergency dispatch center for two hours on storm day and schools didn’t reopen until Friday because there was no power at Wawaloam Elementary – most people agree that the town’s emergency plan worked.

Johnson squeezes past Patterson in nail-biter

November 16, 2012

By MARTHA SMITH
Special to the Standard

EXETER – After the State Board of Elections finished a marathon tally of votes from the Nov. 6 general election, Exeter’s 130 absentee ballots moved challenger Bob Johnson into the fifth and final slot on the town council.
Trailing incumbent Dan Patterson, a local contractor, by only four on election night, Johnson wound up garnering 66 absentee votes to pull out a victory over the sole Republican councilor who tacked on 57 after the final tally.

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November 15, 2012

Every Veterans' Day, we pause and reflect on the sacrifices made by our men and women in uniform across the globe.
In this week's Standard-Times, we bring you a look at the annual Veterans' Day festivities in North Kingstown and give you an update on all the issues important to NK and Exeter as we bring you in-depth coverage of the results of the counting of mail-in ballots--which changed the outcome in one race--and continue evaluating the lessons learned from Hurricane Sandy.