Archive
March 14th, 2011
BY DAVID PEPIN
The School Committee is hoping to squeeze one more new position into the fiscal 2012 budget it sent on to the Town Council Tuesday night.
TIVERTON--A brand new sculpture created by world-renowned artist and Narragansettâs own Mimi Sammis was unveiled at the Four Corners Art Center in Tiverton on Monday, March 7. The sculpture, titled (Rebirth Woman of Peace), was dedicated to the memory of another one of Sammisâ sculptures that was stolen and defaced roughly one year ago on March 9, 2010.
WAKEFIELD - They want protection for their children, safety for their community and most of all justice for Jason. Hundreds of protesters, from across the state from South Kingstown to Scituate converged on Main Street in Wakefield Saturday morning for a peaceful protest, their message was heard and felt far beyond the small community: Do not release Michael Woodmansee.
March 13th
NORTH KINGSTOWN â Who said girls canât do what boys do?
Whoever it was clearly never met North Kingstown resident Megan Nadeau, a seventh-grade student from St. Mary's Bay View Academy that recently helped her St. Mary Academy Robotics Team capture first place in the First Lego League (FLL) Rhode Island Robotics Championship 2011, held in January at Roger Williams University.
BY JAMES MEROLLA
Mary Todd Lincoln came to Cranston last week. So did Lincolnâs Vice President Hannibal Hamlin.
They were accompanied by three other members of the Attleboro GOP in authentic 1860s array to discuss Abraham Lincoln in the marvelous confines of the impressive Governor Sprague Mansion.
The decorated visit put the âcivilâ in Civil War.
CHARLESTOWN â Looking for tasty, reasonably priced meals in a quiet, mellow location? Head to the Small Axe Cafe.
SOUTH KINGSTOWN--Feelings of positivity and optimism in the relations between teachers and the school committee waned Tuesday night as teachers from across the district expressed their disappointment in the school committeeâs decision to send 144 teachers non-renewal letters.
There was much tension between the school committee and superintendent and the teachers as many teachers attended the committee meeting to express their concerns, causing the meeting to be held in the high school auditorium instead of the library to accommodate the crowd.
âWe know the economic times are tough and we know the state aid is limited and we understand the need for flexibility, but laying off 144 teachers is excessive,â Martha Spiewak, a math teacher at South Kingstown High School said. âIt is counterproductive to be so callous of the employees.â
March 12th
PEACEDALEâThe Friends of Kingstown Station held their annual meeting at the Peacedale Library on Monday night, giving an update on the possibility of rail service coming to Wickford Junction.
Speaker Steve Devine, Chief of Intermodal Planning of the Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT), presented a program update called âBeyond Wickford Junction,â which focused on the progress of a train station coming to Wickford.
âWe're not building any more highways,â Devine said. âAs the congestion worsens in the state, our big macro-goal is to find other ways of transportation.â
March 11th
Exeter-West Greenwich Regional School District Superintendent Dr. Thomas Geismar has an expression he likes to refer to that prevents him from overreacting to bad news.
âI always say to myself, donât cry before youâre hurt,â Geismar said in a phone interview yesterday afternoon.
PEACE DALE--Residents of Schaeffer Street where a child killer was found living amongst them 29 years ago after murdering a five year old do not want him back.
In 1975, Michael Woodmansee brutally killed his 5-year-old neighbor, Jason Foreman. The boy was mysteriously missing for seven years until 1982, when Woodmansee was caught after attempting to strangle a second boy on his paper delivery route. Now, Woodmansee is scheduled to be released in August after serving just 28 years of a 50-year prison sentence for murder. He was initially to serve just 40 years of the sentence, but shaved off an additional 12 years for good behavior.
Woodmansee grew up in the quiet friendly neighborhood on Schaeffer Street, where children from around the block, including Harrison Street, Austin Street and Uncle Samâs Lane all played together until the streetlights came on. It was a simpler time in 1975 when parents could let their kids out to play, believing they were safe in a neighborhood where everyone knew one another. Woodmanseeâs horrific act shattered that peace of the small town community.
.jpg "Photo by Kathleen McKiernan<p>
People gather with signs and shout slogans at passing cars at Dale Carlia Corner in South Kingstown on Saturday to protest the early release of Michael Woodmansee. Woodmansee, convicted of killing 5-year-old Jason Foreman in 1983.")
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