07/23/2008

A Ride along the Riverside
Children and adults ride through lush foliage approaching Glenbridge Avenue as the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council hosts a bicycle ride on the new bike path yesterday along the river from Riverside Mills Park, on Aleppo Street, in Providence, to Lyman Street, in Johnston, and return. Below, Jayden Taylor, 7, tries out a borrowed bike for the trip. For more information on coming rides, see Metro Notes on D2.

DUI suspect had highest alcohol level recorded
A detoxification expert says Stanley Kobierowski, who had a blood-alcohol level of .491 when his car hit a sign on Route 95, is lucky to be alive.

DUI suspect had highest alcohol level recorded
A detoxification expert says Stanley Kobierowski, who had a blood-alcohol level of .491 when his car hit a sign on Route 95, is lucky to be alive.

Metro Notes
Bike ride tonight: All bicycling enthusiasts are invited to join the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council (WRWC) tonight at 6 for a 5-mile after-work bike trip along the new paved off-road portion of the Fred Lippitt Woonasquatucket River Greenway.

07/22/2008

Lincoln man, 21, charged with buying liquor for a minor
NORTH PROVIDENCE — A 21-year-old Lincoln man was charged Friday with buying alcohol for a minor after an undercover investigation by two patrol officers in the parking lot of Douglas Liquors at 1661 Mineral Spring Ave.

North Providence fundraiser still on, but for different charities
NORTH PROVIDENCE — Organizers of the outdoor festival planned next month to help defray the medical bills of Matthew Irving before it was canceled at the family’s request will hold the event anyway — but for an array of other charities.

Zoning Board OKs 12 condos at Cher’s
NORTH PROVIDENCE — The owners of the former Cher’s restaurant and lounge at 83 Waterman Ave. have won permission from the Zoning Board of Review to demolish the nightspot and build a 12-unit condominium project.

North Providence fundraiser still on, but for different charities
NORTH PROVIDENCE — Organizers of the outdoor festival planned next month to help defray the medical bills of Matthew Irving before it was cancelled at the family’s request will hold the event anyway — but for an array of other charities.

07/18/2008

Lone Republican drops out of council race
NORTH PROVIDENCE — The one Republican who declared candidacy for Town Council failed to return qualifying signatures, paving the way for yet another uncontested council election in November.

North Providence begins sending out tax bills
NORTH PROVIDENCE — The tax collector’s office at Town Hall announced that tax bills for the new fiscal year will be mailed to taxpayers starting today.

Polluted soil found at site for planned Lowe’s store
NORTH PROVIDENCE — An analysis of the soil of the former car dealership that is being cleared for a new Lowe’s store shows it to be contaminated, and a plan will have to be developed to remediate the site.

Letters to the Editor
Residents held hostage by Ironman street closings

A Matter of Opinion
On immigration, courts sully motto: Justice, independence, honor
When I left my office in the Licht Judicial Complex Tuesday afternoon it was the end of a work day like any other. When I turned on the radio Wednesday I learned that the end of my work day was the beginning of a nightmare for dozens of other courthouse workers. Tuesday, the Rhode Island State Police teamed up with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency to raid six courthouses throughout the state in search of undocumented workers.

Metro Notes
¡CityArts! celebration: CityArts will hold its summer celebration on Thursday from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at 891 Broad St. The celebration is a 16-year tradition that includes summer youth performances, art, food and live music with the Kim Trusty Band and Mr. Deep Positivity.

Benefit for Matthew Irving cancelled
NORTH PROVIDENCE — Bowing to a request from Matthew Irving’s family that the event be cancelled, the group that was organizing a daylong outdoor concert and festival to help pay for his medical bills notified school officials yesterday that the concert was off and that it was withdrawing its request for use of the football field at North Providence High School.

‘Tinted’ water in North Providence determined safe by supply board
NORTH PROVIDENCE — The Providence Water Supply Board informed Diane Echmalian yesterday that its testing of water samples this week from her home at 3 Malcolm St. showed it to be “within normal range” and that the levels of bacteria were well below what would pose a risk to humans.

Nurses at Fatima Hospital in North Providence authorize strike
The union head says the two sides are “miles apart,” but hospital officials hope to reach agreement by July 31.

07/17/2008

Metro Notes
Meeting on adoption: Adoption Options will hold a free informational session for those considering adoption, tonight from 6 to 7 p.m. at 959 North Main St. Licensed adoption workers will be available to provide information and answer questions.

The avian way
John Rivera throws pieces of bread as he makes his daily rounds to feed the birds in Donigian Park, in the Olneyville section of Providence. Rivera moved here from Brooklyn six months ago to be near his daughter and is still trying to find his way around the city.

2 held on drug charges in North Providence after stop for speeding
NORTH PROVIDENCE — A Cranston man and his North Providence female companion are being held without bail on drug charges after their car was pulled over for speeding on Douglas Avenue.

Metro Religion
Chapel Gallery: “Faces and Places from Turkey, II,” photographic works by Cemal Ekin, are on exhibit through July 30 in the Chapel Gallery of Mathewson Street United Methodist Church, 134 Mathewson St.

Board expected to OK fundraiser at North Providence High School
The benefit is for a former student who is receiving experimental treatment for the daily pain he suffers.

Kent County grand jury indicts 6 in pair of Warwick robberies
A Kent County grand jury on Tuesday handed up indictments against six people in connection with two unrelated robberies in Warwick.

07/16/2008

Town looks into contract change to cut trash costs
NORTH PROVIDENCE — Thanks to changes instituted during the last year, the town was able to save $207,000 in tipping fees at the central landfill in Johnston. But, Robert E. Nascimento, town recycling coordinator, said the savings might have been more were it not for a quirk in the contract with the town’s trash hauler.

Metro Notes
Fundraiser for the Providence Chargers: The Providence Chargers youth football and cheerleading teams will hold their first fundraising golf tournament on Sunday, July 27, with a shotgun start at 1:30 p.m. at Triggs Memorial Golf Course, in Providence.

Suspect faces charges in housebreak
NORTH PROVIDENCE — A 22-year-old man who allegedly broke into a house on Zipporah Street, only to be surprised when the owners returned and found him standing in the doorway, was arrested early Sunday on burglary and gun charges.

Electronics Recycling Day Saturday at high school
NORTH PROVIDENCE — Rhode Islanders can drop off old television sets and obsolete consumer electronics from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday at a town-sponsored Electronics Recycling Day in the parking lot at North Providence High School.

Talks under way
Governor Carcieri speaks to members of his Advisory Panel on Implementation of the Illegal Immigration Executive Order during their first meeting, yesterday at the State House. Story on A7.

07/15/2008

Candidates thinned out for Assembly, council seats
NORTH PROVIDENCE — With two more days to go before the Board of Canvassers determines whether prospective candidates for the fall elections have amassed enough signatures to secure a place on the ballot, the town has already lost one candidate for Town Council and two for General Assembly.

Neighbors question safety of dirty water
The Providence Water Supply Board says the water is safe, but it is conducting tests on samples.

07/11/2008

Letters to the Editor
‘Let’s get charged for trash pick-up!’

Gambling on experimental treatment for pain
NORTH PROVIDENCE — He’s only hours away now from embarking on a trip many hope will give him his life back and free him from excruciating pain.

Metro Notes
Capital City Community Centers: The Capital City Senior Program at the Lillian Feinstein Senior Center, 1085 Chalkstone Ave., will make its annual trip on Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. to Camp Cronin. All are welcome.

745 residents challenge new property assessments
NORTH PROVIDENCE — The firm that conducted the recent statistical revaluation of town properties took appeals in late May and early June from 745 taxpayers who thought the assessments were too high and approved changes to 438 of them.

07/10/2008

Metro Religion
Birthday celebration: A birthday celebration in honor of Shiloh Gospel Temple Ministries’ copastor Nancy Perry will be held tonight through Sunday at 7:30 nightly at the Greater Abundant Life Church, 1532-34 Broad St., Cranston. The theme of the celebration is “It’s my due season.”

Metro Notes
Music and more on tap: The Rhodeshow will perform tonight from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Dexter Training Ground, near the Armory, as a part of West Side Thursdays. It’s a troupe of spoken word, hip-hop artists and dancers.

07/09/2008

Metro Notes
College fair: The Greater Providence Chapter Links will hold its 11th annual “Focusing on the Future” College Fair tomorrow from 1 to 5:30 p.m. at Brown University, Smith-Buonanno Hall, 95 Cushing St. The event is held in conjunction with the 17th annual Brown University Summer College Fair which will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Olney-Margolies Athletic Center, Hope Street and Lloyd Avenue.

Town debit cards for gas fail at the pump
NORTH PROVIDENCE — A glitch in the new debit card system allowing members of the Police and Fire Departments to fuel town-owned vehicles at two local gasoline stations had some town employees wondering over the weekend whether the town had failed to pay its bills.

Motorcyclist, 61, hurt in crash
NORTH PROVIDENCE — A 61-year-old motorcyclist was injured Monday night when his cycle collided with a car emerging from the Stop & Shop parking lot on Mineral Spring Avenue.

07/08/2008

Several men charged with disorderly conduct
NORTH PROVIDENCE — Four men were arrested on disorderly conduct charges in separate incidents over the holiday weekend.

Council issues warning to Golf lounge
NORTH PROVIDENCE — The Town Council has advised the owner of the Golf Restaurant & Lounge to take additional measures to control noise or risk a suspension or revocation of his liquor and entertainment licenses.

07/03/2008

Metro Religion News
Chapel Gallery: Through July 30, Cemal Ekin’s photographic works, “Faces and Places from Turkey, II,” are on exhibit in the Chapel Gallery of Mathewson Street United Methodist Church, 134 Mathewson St.