The Pendulum

Briarbrook Farm still thriving, even in tough times

November 30, 2011

EAST GREENWICH – Some people think outside the box.

Jerry Thompson thinks outside the box stores.

That’s what Thompson, who has run Briarbrook Farm with his family decades before Wal-Mart, Home Depot, Lowe’s or Target even existed, calls those mega-chains – “Box stores.”

These are chains, which bind and constrict. Now entering its 62nd year, the Mom and Pop operation that is Briarbrook – a fixture on South County Trail since Truman was in office – has succeeded in competing with one-stop mega-stores.

Schools to limit lunch credits

November 30, 2011

EAST GREENWICH — The line “there's no such thing as a free lunch” will no longer be a punch line in East Greenwich schools.

It will soon be replaced by something involving the word “cheese.”

A crackdown on cafeteria freeloaders is coming after the School Committee gave first reading to new procedures on lunch credit limits at last week's meeting.

While students can purchase lunch and breakfast using a form of debit card through the MyNutrikids.com website and district food services provider by ARAMARK, school officials are concerned about running negative balances on their cards.

EG Deputy Fire Chief won't be further disciplined

November 18, 2011

EAST GREENWICH — East Greenwich Deputy Fire Chief Russell McGillivray, suspended for two days with pay following an incident two weeks ago at a state Fire Marshal's Office training class, will not face further disciplinary action from the district's Board of Fire Commissioners.

Meeting in executive session Thursday night, the board refused to divulge any vote taken on further disciplinary action against McGillivray in the wake of an NBC10 I-Team report alleging that he had dropped his pants during a training session.

East Greenwich Little League to have lights next summer

November 14, 2011

EAST GREENWICH — A light snack and lights on a baseball field...somehow, they just go together.