Jamestown, RI

PDF of print edition EZPass contract awarded for Newport-Pell Bridge By Sam Bari       The Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority announced that Caseta Technologies, Inc. was awarded the contract for installation of the EZPass toll collection system on the Newport-Pell Bridge. RITBA Chairman David Darlington made the announcement May 1 at the annual RITBA meeting. More ... Town looking to fill boards       Two vacancies exist on the Jamestown Affordable Housing Committee, which acts in an advisory capacity to the Town Council on issues relating to housing. Members sit as a review committee for proposed Housing Trust Fund Projects and conduct studies and analyses of the current housing conditions in ... More ... Commission looks for cumulative development strain in Jamestown Shores By Michaela Kennedy       A proposed development plan asking for relief from wetlands setback requirements triggered a decision by the Jamestown Conservation Commission to make a site visit to the Jamestown Shores last week. The property in question, at 15 Seaside Ave., is owned by John Hayes and located in a district kno... More ... Teachers retiring after 28 years of service By Michaela Kennedy       For two veteran instructors at Jamestown schools, this week, Teacher Appreciation Week, marks the last year they are recognized while still in the classroom. But for many whose lives have been touched by the professional educators, this will not be the last time they will be remembered for their c... More ... Chamber Chatter By Vicki de Angeli       The Jamestown Chamber of Commerce welcomes two new members to the board of directors: Ann McIntyre of Casita Sea Glass, and Richard Hopkins of the Bay Voyage. The Chamber also extends its heartfelt thanks to Eric Eunis of Eunis & Associates, CPA, for his term on the board and all his work as the C... More ... Coustan honored for "shaking up" system       Jamestown resident, Donald R. Coustan, M.D. was honored by the Rhode Island Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition at its annual May Breakfast on May 2 at the Radisson Hotel, in Warwick. More ... Bird-watching excursion planned       The Norman Bird Sanctuary will make a trip to the Mt. Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, Mass., know to be a Mecca for birds and bird watchers during the spring migration. The trip will be on Saturday, May 17, from 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. More ... LNG tanker threat continues By Sam Bari       Representative Bruce Long (R- Jamestown, Middletown) told the Jamestown Town Council that the Weavers Cove LNG proposal is back on the drawing board in a slightly different form. The new proposal made at the April 30 meeting recommended constructing a Mount Hope Bay water facility on the Rhode Is... More ... Getting a lift      Molly Tiexiera gave a horse ride to Kirstin Barrett during the annual Kentucky Derby race at Jamestown school on Monday. Physical Education teacher Joe Ucci puts on the race each year in honor of the famous May Run for the Roses. Photo by Andrea von Hohenleiten More ... Tree planting      Representatives from the town and the Jamestown Historical Society gathered for the Arbor Day tree planting at the historical society museum. The tree was donated by the Jamestown Tree Committee. Photo by Andrea von Hohenleiten More ... The Island Garden By Roger Marshall       Blossoms fall off the plum trees like a winter snowstorm as the apple trees come into bloom. Apricot blossoms have already fallen, the pears are laden with white blossoms, the peaches pink with flowers. The rhododendrons have dropped their first splash of purple and are leafing out. More ... New tree for the playground      Kindergarteners planted a tree at the Melrose school playground in recognition of Arbor Day. Photo by Andrea von Hohenleiten More ... Hansen fills number 2 spot on tennis team By Rudd Hall       The North Kingstown tennis program is looking good this season with the help of Jamestown's Sam Baines and Daniel Hansen. Hansen, a freshman, and Baines, a sophomore, are playing the two and three spots respectively on the varsity tennis team and looking to take the program back to the level it w... More ... Opening Day      Kids from military families had the honor of throwing out the first pitch for Jamestown Baseball's opening day ceremonies. Photo by Andrea von Hohenleiten More ... Register now for women's tennis       Women's Tennis will be offered this summer by the recreation department. The beginners' class will start Monday, June 2. The intermediate class will start Tuesday, June 3. Each class will run for 10 weeks and will allow up to 18 students. More ... Lawn school track runners qualify for states By Stephanie Heelan Cotsonas       Lawn Avenue School track coach Nick Alfred is thrilled with the size of his team this year. "This is one of the largest teams who have stuck. A lot of kids usually drop out, but I have 53 kids that compete in the meets. I am really happy because I love to get them interested in track and get them ... More ... Donate old boating equipment to yard sale       The North Kingstown Sailing Team is looking for donations of nautical items for its fund-raising yard sale, which will be held this Saturday, May 10, from 8 a.m. to noon in the high school cafeteria. Clothing, boat hardware, electronics and small boats are welcome. All items should be in good, wo... More ... Jamestown resident to graduate as top music student       On a summer outing when she was three years old, Jamestown resident Lydia Lis saw a group of students playing violins and immediately decided that she wanted to play violin, too. Nineteen years later she is set to graduate from the University of Rhode Island as the top music student on campus. More ... Animal shelter to holds flea market       Friends of the Warwick Animal Shelter will host a "Flea Market Extravaganza!" on May 17, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Warwick Animal Shelter, 250 Service Rd. (off Jefferson Blvd.), in Warwick. Over the last 6 months, the Warwick Animal Shelter has been overwhelmed by two separate instances of ca... More ... Hunger awareness day in Peace Dale       The Hunger Task Force - a joint initiative of the Jonnycake Center of Peace Dale and the URI Feinstein Center for a Hunger Free America - will sponsor its second annual Community Hunger Awareness Day event on June 5. This year's event will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on the Village Green in ... More ... Diabetes education offered for nurses       Nurses are invited to attend a "Diabetes Refresher for Nurses" on Thursday, May 29, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. at Blenheim-Newport, 303 Valley Rd., in Middletown. The program will be presented by Joanne Costello, assistant professor at Rhode Island School of Nursing and Maureen Bouris, director of healt... More ... Blood drive at Bowen's Wharf in Newport       There will be a blood drive at Bowen's Wharf in Newport on Thursday, May 15, from 4 to 7 p.m. The Mobile Donor Coach will be parked in front of Seamen's Church Institute on Market Square. For more information, contact the Rhode Island Blood Center at www.ribc.org. More ... International Rotary team visits island schools By Stephanie Heelan Cotsonas       The Jamestown Rotary Club had a busy week as they hosted an international Rotary team from India. The team was specifically in Jamestown to learn more about special education and types of education, under the direction of Steve Mecca, More ... Raffle to benefit skin cancer education project       Tickets are available for the Melanoma Education Foundation's 8th Annual Calendar Raffle to support skin cancer teacher training and student materials in New England schools. Each ticket enters 31 drawings, starting July 1. Prizes include overnights at Sheraton Boston and Hotel Lenox, gift cards ... More ... Patriotic band concert this weekend       The Lafayette Band of North Kingstown will perform a free concert, this Saturday, May 9, at 7:30 p.m. in the NK High School Auditorium. The program, of patriotic songs and sing-alongs, is a salute to Armed Forces Day, which falls on May 17. More ... Ferry service will resume in May       Jamestown-Newport Ferry service between Jamestown Village, Rose Island, Fort Adams, and Newport Harbor will begin on Memorial Day weekend. Veterans ride free May 24, 25 and 26. The 45-passenger ferry, Jamestown, starts running weekends May 24 through June 15, after which daily service continues t... More ... Art classes in Wickford       The Wickford Art Association will offer four new classes at their Beach Street location, beginning later this month. A class on Composition, with accomplished watercolorist, Vernon Graham is scheduled to begin June 4. The class will meet on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to noon for 5 weeks. All mediums... More ... Historic mansion open for summer tours       Linden Place Mansion, built in 1810 by the seafaring General George DeWolf, has opened for visitors for the 2008 season. Guided tours of the estate, featured in the film The Great Gatsby with Robert Redford and Mia Farrow, will be given Thursdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., Sun... More ... Bird count changes meeting location       The 2008 Conanicut Island Spring Bird Count will be held on Sunday, May 18, from 6:30 a.m. to noon. Birding enthusiasts should meet at the Jamestown Town Hall, 93 Narragansett Ave. This is a change in location from previous bird counts. More ... Reed, DiStefano receive accolades       Two Jamestown residents, U.S. Senator Jack Reed and Joseph DiStefano, Esq., were inducted into the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame on May 3. The dinner and ceremony, with some 650 in attendance, were held at Rhodes on the Pawtuxet, in Cranston. More ...