NEWPORT, R.I. – Newport stands to see a 15.3 percent reduction in school aid under a proposed statewide education funding formula released earlier today.
The long-awaited formula, which is aimed at providing state and local officials with a quantitative basis for distributing funds to school districts based on enrollment and other contributing factors, was developed by the state Department of Education in cooperation with Brown University. Currently, legislators base financial aid by previous years’ precedents with no regard for enrollment or, for that matter, any other metric.
MIDDLETOWN, R.I. – Police have charged an employee of the Middletown School District with assaulting a 12-year-old girl after she and a group of juveniles allegedly rang the man’s doorbell at his home in Portsmouth and ran.
MIDDLETOWN, R.I. – It was hard not to take note of the collective hush that swept over the bar at a particular local tavern on a recent evening. On the television screen, the phenomenon that is Olympic curling had cast its spell over a normally lively bunch of regulars who in unspoken unison had craned their necks in one direction to take in this unlikeliest of Olympic sports.
Few pretend to understand exactly how the game works, but there is something undeniably enthralling about watching the strategy and strangeness that typify competitive curling.
Channel 10’s Mario Hilaro took a trip out to Middletown recently where the Ocean State Curling Club gathers each Saturday to hone their skills at the St. George’s ice rink.
The fledgling club currently has about 40 members – or 41 if you count Hilario, who took to the ice himself in fairly impressive fashion.
If you’ve been bitten by the curling bug, then check out the OSCC website at www.oceanstatecurling.com. This Saturday, they’re inviting the public to come take in a match or two and see what the sport is like up close and personal. Competition begins at 7 p.m. and admission is free.
NEWPORT, R.I. – Less than two weeks after Navy officials listed roughly 260 acres of excess waterfront property on the federal register, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, acting on behalf of a local Indian tribe is asking that the process take a step backward.
According to Tina Dolen, executive director of the Aquidneck Island Planning Commission (APIC), her office received a phone call late Friday afternoon from David Drozd, Director of the Base Realignment and Closure Management (BRAC), Program Management Office Northeast.
The loss of his father, the late Sen. Ted Kennedy, is one of the reasons cited by Rep. Patrick Kennedy for his decision to step aside from public office.
NEWPORT, R.I. — Rep. Patrick Kennedy, an eight term Democrat and the only remaining member of his storied political family in elected office, will not seek re-election this November.
From the Providence Journal, who broke the story last night:
“I will not be a candidate for reelection this year,” the 42-year-old Kennedy says in an emotion-laden advertisement released by his office Thursday that will air Sunday night. Facing the camera in a blue suit and striped tie, the Rhode Island Democrat mentions his years of service and the death of his father, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, last summer.
“We all know how difficult the last few years have been,” Kennedy begins. “Rhode Island families have struggled,” he adds, citing the bad economy and mortgage foreclosures.
Then Kennedy says of his father, the longtime Democratic senator from Massachusetts: “Illness took the life of my most cherished mentor and confidant, my ultimate source of spirit and strength.”
Kennedy’s surprise decision spells the end of an era in American politics, instantly raises the prospects for the congressman’s Republican opponent, state Rep. John Loughlin III, of Tiverton, and may spur a fight among Democratic contenders for the seat.
“Great news for Aquidneck Island and Rhode Island! This announcement is both long awaited and greatly celebrated,” the Aquidneck Island Planning Commission said Tuesday upon learning of the news.
NEWPORT, R.I. – Tonight’s regularly scheduled meeting of the Newport City Council has been canceled due to inclement weather. Instead, councilors will meet on Wednesday, Feb. 17 at 6:30 p.m.
Other recently announced cancellations and closings are as follows:
NEWPORT, R.I. – Schools and community organizations across Aquidneck Island and in Jamestown have been closed in advance of Wednesday’s anticipated snow storm.
MIDDLETOWN, R.I. – In anticipation of an expected mid-week snow storm, Middletown’s Department of Public Works has begun pre-treating area roads with a salt brine solution.
It’s standard practice, we’re told, when storms appear to be imminent. What’s novel, is that the department broadcast the action over the its fledgling Twitter stream which we highlighted here.
“Winter Operations: In preparation of Wednesday’s 2/10 snow storm, DPW has commenced pretreating road surfaces with Salt Brine solution,” the Tuesday afternoon Tweet read.
It’s a simple task and was the first “Tweet” for the department, but it demonstrates just the kind of free-flow of information that municipalities can realize through new technology.
Hopefully, the town will take advantage of this Wednesday’s storm to hone their Tweeting prowess and keep residents up-to-the-minute on road conditions and the like. If you’d like to follow Middletown DPW’s Twitter stream, simply visit www.Twitter.com/MiddletownDPW.
[Update] MIDDLETOWN, R.I. – The snow might not arrive until tomorrow morning, but parking bans have already been issued for both Middletown and Newport. In Middletown, the ban will begin Wednesday at 1 a.m. and last until Thursday at 1 a.m. Newport’s parking ban is set to begin at 2 p.m. on Wednesday.
Vehicles left on the road may be ticketed and towed to allow plows and emergency vehicles to pass.
The following streets in Newport are designated as tow zones for emergency snow removal work: Bellevue Avenue; Kay Street to Bowery Street; Broadway; Friendship Street; Spring Street; Summer Street; Thames Street; Washington Square; West Marlborough Street; Van Zandt Avenue, from J.T. Connell Memorial Road east to Malbone Road.
Residents are also reminded not to deposit snow onto any state or town road as it can contribute to hazardous driving conditions.
Snow covers a statue at the Brick Marketplace. (Taken back in December by Tom Shevlin)
NEWPORT, R.I. – The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Watch for the area from Wednesday morning
through late Wednesday night.
The watch area includes northern Connecticut, all of Rhode Island and southeast Massachusetts. According to the weather service, snow is expected to develop over the watch area Wednesday morning or early afternoon and may become heavy at times with six or more inches of snow expected along the coast.
AI Youth kicked off their first meeting on Friday. (Photo via Facebook by Suzanne Escobar Bang Kane)
NEWPORT, R.I. – A menagerie youth groups from multiple churches across Aquidneck Island will come together Friday nights for a new program entitled AI Youth (Aquidneck Island Youth).
The program, which kicked off on Friday evening at Evangelical Friends Church in Middletown, invites junior high through high school students to enjoy games, skits, a live youth band and a message. “We will be coming together once a month to gather all students of the faith in Christ, to provide a platform for relationships, growth and unity overall in the family of God,” says Ed Pichette, Youth Pastor at EFC Newport.
MIDDLETOWN, R.I. – Two teenagers are being charged with armed robbery after allegedly holding up the Domino’s Pizza parlor on West Main Road at One Mile Corner.
Middletown Police Department responded to Domino’s Pizza, located at 19 West Main Road, for an armed robbery just after 1 a.m. Monday morning. Domino’s employees stated that two males wearing all dark clothing and ski masks entered the business with a firearm. The suspects left on foot with no direction of travel mentioned with an unknown amount of money.
NEWPORT, R.I. – Results of the fall 2009 New England Common Assessment Program (NECAP) tests in reading, mathematics, and writing were released Wednesday, and the results were mixed for Aquidneck Island schools.
According to the Department of Education, while Newport saw gains in its reading comprehension, scores declined slightly on the math side, and overall scores still lag behind the statewide average in both categories.
MIDDLETOWN, R.I. – In anticipation of an expected mid-week snow storm, Middletown’s Department of Public Works has begun pre-treating area roads with a salt brine solution.
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Newport, RI
