United States Flags at Half Staff

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

The Governor has ordered all State buildings flags half mast on Monday.

PROVIDENCE, RI — Gov. Gina Raimondo has ordered U.S. and Rhode Island flags to be flown at half-staff at all state facilities and buildings in honor of North Smithfield native Spc. Matthew Turcotte, her office said Monday. The flags will be lowered beginning Monday, Aug. 28 and will return to full staff at sunrise on the day of interment.

"Matthew Turcotte was a dedicated soldier who gave his life in service of our nation. Rhode Islanders honor his sacrifice and incredible patriotism," said Governor Raimondo. "We send our prayers and condolences to his family during this difficult time."

Foster Town Council Meeting August 24, 2017

Powerball Winner from Chicopee, Massachusetts

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

A small neighborhood convenience store Pride Station & Store on Montgomery Street in Chicopee sold the winning Powerball ticket for a $758.7 million jackpot, the second largest lottery prize in US history.

The numbers for the prize, chosen in Wednesday night’s drawing, are 6, 7, 16, 23, and 26, with a Powerball number of 4. The winning ticket in the millions was sold at the Handy Variety convenience store in Watertown.

Officials said six other tickets won $2 million apiece, and there are 34 others worth $1 million. Two of those $1 million tickets were also sold in Massachusetts: one at Sandy’s Variety Store on Washington Street in Dorchester,

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PUC Approves Electric Rate Increase

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

National Grid will be allowed a 53 percent electric rate increase. The Public Utilities Commission today voted to approve the utility company's request. The company said the increase is due to auction rates locked in three years ago. It applies to the "supply side" of the bill only and would mean a total increase between 16 and 18 percent for the average customer. However, the actual increase will also depend on usage.    This will not effect Pascoag Utility District customers.

FREE TREES AVAILABLE TO HOMEOWNERS THIS FALL

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Registration for popular program that helps

Rhode Islanders save energy, money opens August 21^st

 

PROVIDENCE – The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) is teaming up once again with the Arbor Day Foundation, Rhode Island Tree Council, and the Rhode Island Nursery and Landscape Association to give away 1,000 trees as part of the State’s Energy-Saving Trees Program. The Program helps homeowners conserve energy and reduce utility costs while beautifying their neighborhood. 

 

"We’re excited to join with the Arbor Day Foundation and our local partners again this fall to offer free trees to Rhode Islanders,” said DEM Director Janet Coit. “This program is extremely popular and most trees are spoken for within days of registration opening - so be sure to register early! Planting a tree is a great way for homeowners to reduce their monthly expenses while promoting a healthier environment and creating a beautiful memory with their families.”   

 

Trees play an important role in cooling streets and homes, filtering air, and reducing stormwater pollution. The trees distributed under the Energy-Saving Trees Program are approximately four to six feet tall and will be distributed in three-gallon containers for easy transport.  The Rhode Island Tree Council will provide planting and care instruction to homeowners – as well as guidance on how to maximize energy-savings.  When planted properly, a single mature tree can save $30 annually in heating and cooling costs. 

 

Registration opens on August 21 and is required in order to reserve a tree. Supplies go fast, so early registration is recommended.  For more information and/or to register for the program, visit www.arborday.org/RIDEM.  Trees can be picked up during one of the following pick-up events:

 

Saturday, September 9 (9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.)  

Colt State Park, Route 114, Bristol

 

Saturday, September 16 (9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.)  

Coastal Growers Market, 2325 Boston Neck Road, Saunderstown

 

Saturday, September 23 (9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.)

Hope Street Farmers Market, 1051 Blackstone Boulevard, Providence

 

Saturday, October 7 (9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.)

RI Tree Council Headquarters, 2953 Hartford Avenue, Johnston

 

For more information on DEM's programs and divisions, visit www.dem.ri.gov or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/RhodeIslandDEM or via Twitter (@RhodeIslandDEM).

Foster Town Council Meeting August 10, 2017

Foster Planning Board Meeting August 9, 2017

Meet K9 Tika

Governor Raimondo’s Security Detail Tops More than $1.2 Million

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

Police Unions are very happy, Photo credit GOLOCALPROV.COM

Drive by Governor Gina Raimondo’s house on the East Side of Providence late at night, and outside each evening will be parked a Rhode Island State Trooper sitting in an unmarked SUV, or in a State Police vehicle.

Raimondo is the first Governor in Rhode Island to request 24-hour security coverage -- at more than $40,000 per monthly in security costs.  Under previous administrations, governors received 24-hour protection for limited periods of time. Governor Bruce Sundlun received full-time coverage after his administration closed the credit unions in 1991, during the banking crisis.  In addition, on a few occasions, Governor Donald Carcieri had round-the-clock coverage due to specific security threats.
However, no governor has had it 24/7 - until now.
A GoLocal investigation found that the taxpayer cost of providing security for Raimondo has totaled $1,269,431, since her taking office --from January 1, 2015, through June 24, 2017.
An Access to Public Records Act (APRA) request by GoLocal secured the security costs, including 29-pages of overtime sheets from the Rhode Island State Police. Raimondo's office refused repeated requests for comment.
The costs break down into two categories - the budgeted cost of the Governor’s security detail and the additional cost of the overtime.
Over the past two-and-a-half-years, the Governor’s security units’ salary from January 6, 2015, to the date of the request for the documents, June 24, 2017, included payments to seven different State Troopers.
Seven members of the State Police have been assigned to Raimondo’s day-time security for her tenure. Under previous governors — from Ed DiPrete to Lincoln Chafee, just two officers were assigned, and other troopers would be assigned for vacations.


The top paid trooper is Lt. Paul Sikorsky — his net salary during the period of Raimondo’s tenure is just under $300,000 ($299,494.15) over the two-and-a-half years.

Major Timothy Sanzi of the Rhode Island State Police said that Raimondo faces a “wide variety of potential threats.”
State Police Officer Steven Haynes’ time was valued at $110,352.22 — he also worked on Governor Lincoln Chafee’s detail, but Chafee’s detail was confined to only daytime assignments. The only time Chafee was staffed 24/7 by the Rhode Island State Police was during out-of-state travel or during an emergency period, such as natural disasters or blizzards.

Other members of the State Police:
Michael Doherty’s time was valued at $53,399.30.
Brent Wilks: $57,086.46
Peter Filuminia: $33,545.23
Kimberly Pitts-Wiley: $7,810.38
Erik Mills: $7,810.38
Source: GOLOCALPROV.COM

Thank God, we live in the Country...

Posted by Wayne G. Barber & Photos Property of Wayne G. Barber

As long as I still have my health I truly enjoy a fresh summertime country breakfast after a heavy thunderstorm replenished our earth. Yes, barefoot at 66 in the cool moist grass and clover and hand pick our 6 varieties of blueberries and our local honey on some oatmeal with a piping cup of Maxwell House Coffee, half and half, no sugar and listen to the many wild animals  (Garter Snake) under the bird net and (Chipmunks) that I share my Strawberries, Rasberries and Blueberries with and birds from the many bird feeders in our part of the woods. No cell phone in sight and take in the moist air,give thanks for all that we have in our Great Country. We all have many choices in our journey and I am very happy with the one's I have made. Wayne

Pascoag, RI Main Street Construction Projects

Posted by Wayne G. Barber & Photos property of Wayne G. Barber

League of Extraordinary Youth Battle R.I. Invasives

Posted by Wayne G. Barber

For five weeks this summer, six high-school students and a college sophomore will tear, chop, cut and pull oriental bittersweet, black swallow-wort, privet and a host of other invasive plant species from conserved lands across the state.
The Rhode Island Youth Conservation League was created seven years ago by the Rhode Island Natural History Survey and the Rhode Island chapters of the Audubon Society and The Nature Conservancy. It was formed as a follow-up to the Natural History Survey’s 2010 Forest Health Works Project summer youth crew.
On a late-July day ecoRI News caught up with the six teenagers — Keishla Santiago-Garcia, Edward Moniz, Courtney Naughton, Deanna Phan, Grace Rumowicz and Anna Stansfield. The high-school sophomores and juniors from North Kingstown, Central Falls and The Greene School were at the Emilie Ruecker Wildlife Refuge on Seapowet Avenue. Wearing matching yellow T-shirts, the students, led by Audubon Society conservation assistant Kyle Hess and University of Rhode Island sophomore Brittany Amaral, were clearing trails of fast-encroaching oriental bittersweet and in-the-way tree branches. They also spent a considerable amount of time avoiding poison ivy.
So far this summer, besides working at the Emilie Ruecker Wildlife Refuge, the group spent four days on Block Island and spent time at the Narrow River Land Trust’s Winter Preserve in South Kingstown, securing a trail with water bars and clearing brush from old building foundations and an historical cemetery.
But beating back invasives trying to take over preserved Audubon Society, The Nature Conservancy and Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management lands is the main task of this annual summer crew.
In 2011, for example, the group of teenagers eradicated mile-a-minute vine from many Rhode Island locations.
The program’s goals are to create summer jobs for high-school students that include outdoor stewardship work around the state, address the need for hands-on labor to help steward Rhode Island’s protected land, and strengthen connections between people and nature.
Students work four days a week, from 8 a.m.-4 p.m., and are paid $9.60 an hour, Rhode Island’s minimum wage. Funding has come from the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation, the Rhode Island Conservation Stewardship Collaborative, National Grid and others.
Source:  FRANK CARINI/ecoRI News staff