Wednesday, May 16, 2012
The Alliance for a Livable Newport held a public forum on the single-stream recycling system coming to Newport this summer.
Local and state officials introduced the new single-stream recycling system that will be implemented in Newport this June during a forum presented by the Alliance for a Livable Newport on Tuesday night at the Newport Public Library. The forum also explained how to reduce and recycle items that are difficult to dispose of, such as paint, mattresses, light bulbs and batteries. Sarah Kite, Director of Recycling Services for the Rhode Island Resource and Recovery Corporation, Kristin Littlefield, Clean City Coordinator for the City of Newport, Ellie Leonardsmith of RI Clean Water Action, and Victor Bell, President of Environmental Packaging International, sat on the panel. Laura Carson, member of the Alliance for a Livable Newport, moderated …
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
The Newport County Council of the Navy League held its 55th Annual Military Appreciation Night at the Atlantic Beach Club.
The Newport County Council of the Navy League of the U.S. recently held their 55th Military Appreciation Night at the Atlantic Beach Club. A group of approximately 300 Navy League members, local business representatives and Military guests attended the even, including Philip Dunmire, the National President of the Navy League, Washington, DC to help the local council recognize Newport area Military personnel. The guest speaker was the Honorable Juan M. Garcia, III, Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Manpower and Reserve Affairs). He addressed the ever-changing personnel needs of the Sea Services. Garcia also met with the local Sea Cadets from the NETC and Falcon Divisions. He noted their sharp appearance and the outstanding job they did with …
State officials told the crowd that fees on the Mount Hope or Sakonnet River bridges are unavoidable to maintain the spans.
Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority Chairman David Darlington hadn't yet made it through the second slide of his presentation when the questions started. East Bay and Aquidneck Island residents peppered Darlington and Department of Transportation Director Michael Lewis with pointed questions and comments, most opposing proposed tolls on the Mount Hope and Sakonnet River bridges, throughout a forum last night at the Burnside Building on Hope Street in Bristol. The response was not an unexpected development, Darlington said. Residents have come out in force at previous public hearings on the proposal that would bring tolls to the Mount Hope Bridge for the first time since 1998. The fees to cross the bridge — if the General Assembly …
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Monday, May 14, 2012
A forum at the Burnside Building tonight at 7 addresses concerns over proposed fees for the Mount Hope and Sakonnet River bridges.
Since 1998, Rhode Islanders — especially those on the East Bay — have had the option to get onto Aquidneck Island without paying the tolls the Newport Bridge charges. The free ride could soon be coming to an end and crossing onto and off the island may soon cost drivers money regardless of the route they take. The Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority hopes so. The authority — which already approved raising rates on the Newport Pell Bridge — has proposed adding fees to the Mount Hope and Sakonnet River bridges. The tolls would range from 52 cents to $3.25 each way. The Newport bridge is scheduled to increase from $4 to $5 for cash-paying drivers. Those using an E-Z pass pay less than $1. Residents have voiced strong opposition to the …
Thursday, May 10, 2012
In an interview with ABC News, the president says gay couples should have the right to marry.
President Obama made headlines Wednesday during an ABC News interview when he said he supports same-sex couples ability to marry. The president, who in the past had supported civil union parternships for gay couples, said that his stance on the subject has "evolved" since he took office in 2008. Obama said while he supports same-sex marriage, he believes it is within a state's right to regulate such unions. Vice President Joe Biden and Education Secretary Arne Duncun in recent days both expressed support for gay marriage. From Obama's ABC interview: "I have to tell you that over the course of several years as I have talked to friends and family and neighbors when I think about members of my own staff who are in incredibly committed …
The council commended Bike Newport's education efforts and invited the group to help the city accommodate bicyclists.
The Newport City Council passed a resolution Wednesday night commending Bike Newport for its initiatives and achievements, and inviting the organization to assist the city in making Newport more bikeable. The resolution requested Bike Newport to assist in educating motorists and cyclists on how to share the road, and helping Newport achieve recognition as a bicycle friendly community. Rhode Island is one of only two states in the country without a certified "Bicycle Friendly Community," defined by the League of American Bicyclists, as a community that "welcomes cyclists by providing safe accommodation for cycling and encouraging people to bike for transportation and recreation." The Bicycle Friendly Community Program provides incentives…
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Tuesday, May 8, 2012
The Newport City Council held a budget workshop on Monday to discuss part of the Department of Utilities budget.
There will be no water rate increase in 2013, city officials revealed during Monday's City Council budget workshop on the Department of Utilities Water Division and Water Pollution Control Division, though increases are expected in future years. Director of Utilities Julia Forgue said there will be no increase in fiscal 2013, but an estimated 18 percent increase will be needed in fiscal 2014. This year saw an estimated 22.5 percent increase, and increases for fiscal 2015 and fiscal 2016 are 21 percent and 2 percent, respectively. City Manager Jane Howington stressed that those estimates were just that — estimates, and not hard numbers which could still be subject to change. According to the current budget proposal, revenues have been …
Monday, May 7, 2012
Students created an art installation focusing on "hope" to be on display in the nation's capital.
An art installation focusing on the Rhode Island state motto of Hope and the state symbol of an anchor by the seventh grade at St. Michael’s Country Day School will soon be on display in Washington, D.C. Aware of Senator Sheldon Whitehouse’s long-standing commitment to the promotion of Rhode Island artists and their works in his offices, Leslie Grosvenor, Director of Institutional Advancement at St. Michael’s, reached out to Vivian Spencer, the Senator’s Special Projects Coordinator. This lead to a collaboration by St. Michael's art teacher, Leslie Fisk and middle school English teacher, Tami Holden on a multi-disciplinary project with the seventh grade, incorporating their studies in English and art. After exploring various Rhode Island …
Saturday, May 5, 2012
State Rep. Stephen Ucci (D-Johnston, Cranston) has proposed a bill to give holders of EZ-Pass accounts a tax credit — what do you think?
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Saturday, May 5
A Johnston legislator has proposed a tax credit to EZ-Pass account holders who use the electronic payment system to cross the Newport Bridge. Rep. Stephen R. Ucci (D-Johnston, Cranston) said in a press release that the bill is meant to help drivers recover some of the cost of using the Newport Bridge. "It’s an added expense to have to travel across a toll bridge constantly," Ucci explained. "Some of these folks have to use their EZ-Pass five days per week just to get to and from work. In this economy, everyone needs a little extra assistance and this specific population of people is getting hammered with fees." According to the Rhode Island Bridge and Turnpike Authority website, Rhode Island residents pay $25 to activate an account and up …
Friday, May 4, 2012
City Hall is closed in honor of Rhode Island Independence day.
City Hall is closed today in honor of Rhode Island Independence Day. According to an announcement on the city’s website, anyone coming from out of state to apply for a marriage license on May 4 may go to Middletown Town Hall between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Newport residents may only go to Middletown Town Hall if the marriage is to take place on Friday, May 4.
John H
8:17 pm on Wednesday, May 16, 2012
@ Jack No the state won't lose it's revenue because you and the tourists will pay for the bridges. Anyone on the island not sucking on the hind tit of the Navy/Government will be suffering anyway: RI's brand of subsidized tourism enriches the few and enslaves the poor in minimum wage jobs, meanwhile the dwindling middle class pays the third highest water rates on the East coast as its property … more ›