Front Page News | Warwick Beacon

Warwick stepping closer to a voice on RIAC board

House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi said Monday he has cleared the runway for House passage of legislation giving Warwick representation on the Rhode Island Airport Corporation board of directors. … more

By JOHN HOWELL | 5/30/24

City Council amends budget, boosts taxes 1.97%

By a 6-3 vote, the Warwick City Council approved an amended version of Mayor Frank Picozzi’s Fiscal Year 2025 budget last Thursday, which Picozzi said he would sign. The amended budget … more

By ADAM ZANGARI | 5/30/24

Summer is on the way

The Memorial Day weekend offered a prelude to yet even warmer weather. At left a couple enjoy the bay breeze at Conimicut Point. (Warwick Beacon photo) Gaspee Days are here Catch up on all … more

5/30/24

So far, Picozzi unchallenged for 4-year term

Crickets! That’s all you’re hearing from Republicans and Democrats interested in running for the highest elective seat in Warwick. In fact, the only Democrat expressing an interest … more

By JOHN HOWELL | 5/30/24

TALKING ABOUT TILI: Ashton speaks to a crowd at a tent outside of the new institute about the impacts that the center will have on communities in Rhode Island.

Institute to train medical volunteers

By ADAM ZANGARI It all began with a fire. More specifically, a small brush fire in West Greenwich in 1986 near Brooke Lawrence’s childhood home. Following that, the town’s fire … more

By ADAM ZANGARI | 5/23/24

lots of questions: City council president Steve McAllister asks questions at Monday’s budget hearing.

Council set to vote on mayor’s $360.8M budget

Mayor Frank Picozzi’s proposed $360.8 million city budget, which Finance Director Peder Schaefer calls the “best one” in his 50 years as an administrator, underwent seven hours of … more

By ADAM ZANGARI | 5/23/24 | 1 comment

Breeze to double airport flights

Three years after they landed their first flight in Rhode Island, Breeze Airways is picking up speed with a major expansion of operations at Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport. … more

By ADAM ZANGARI | 5/23/24

CLASS A APARTMENTS: Wood Partners expect to spend $64 million to develop 214 apartments in two buildings on more than 6 acres on Post Road abutting the Airport Connector ramp.

City Centre to bloom?

Ground was officially broken Wednesday for construction of what developers believe is the largest private Warwick project in recent years. The first of two Class A apartment buildings with a … more

By JOHN HOWELL | 5/23/24

HEADED TO WASHINGTON: Aaron Mackisey has worked for Mayor Frank Picozzi’s administration since he first took office, and said that while moving on is tough, he’s looking forward to the challenges that working in Washington will bring.

Mackisey looks to DC to do even bigger things

Warwick Chief of Staff Aaron Mackisey is set to leave Mayor Frank Picozzi’s administration within the coming months to take a job in Washington, D.C. While an official date hasn’t … more

By ADAM ZANGARI | 5/16/24

WHAT’S PLANNED: A rendering of the South Air Cargo facility and the proposed road with access to the Airport Connector. This early plan does not include a rotary enabling traffic to access the connector which is under design.

Private property included in airport plan

It was the late 1990s when a resident whose Field View Drive home backed up on Green Airport, turned to the news media to voice concerns about the noise and fumes of aircraft idling and revving their … more

By JOHN HOWELL | 5/16/24

WHAT A PERFORMANCE: NEIT President Richard Gouse shares the moment with actress Rita Moreno at commencement Sunday at the Amica Mutual Pavilion in Providence. Moreno, 92, urged the graduates to never give up in her address. (Beacon Communications photos by Will Steinfeld)

Rita Moreno electrifies NEIT Commencement

What makes a commencement special? There are a couple of key ingredients: students celebrating, proud families hooting and hollering encouragement, pageantry, music, big arenas. The personal … more

By WILL STEINFELD | 5/9/24

Fox to succeed Howell as Beacon Communications publisher

Joy Fox will succeed John Howell as Beacon Communications publisher. “John has been at the helm for five decades,” Fox said Wednesday morning. “He’s … more

By RORY SCHULER | 5/9/24

ALWAYS FRIENDS: Heather Santoro (right) embraces Tracy Sormanti, her former coach, at an event prior to Sormanti’s passing.

Patriot cheerleader honors late Coach Sormanti with Barks & Bubbles

By ADAM ZANGARI Ruff Riders, located at 317 Bald Hill Road, will host Barks and Bubbles- A Paw Wash for a Cure as part of Heather Santoro’s campaign for the Leukemia and Lymphoma … more

5/2/24

SIGN OF THINGS TO COME: In addition to state highway work including completion of the repaving of Post Road, the city has budgeted about $4 million in city road projects this summer. Work started last week.

Intense road repaving set this summer

If you frequently drive West Shore Road from Hoxsie Four Corners, you know what side of the lane to hug to avoid the rattling thump of partially sunken manhole covers. And then there is the … more

By JOHN HOWELL | 5/2/24

KITCHEN MAESTROS: (L-R) Kate Whelan, Tyler Lowe, Bruce Angelini and Harper Salinas pose for a team picture at the state Restaurant Management competition.

National competition on menu for student chefs

Four student chefs from the Warwick Area Career and Technical Center are flying to Baltimore today with hopes of winning a prestigious national competition. Warwick’s team of chefs- Bruce … more

By ADAM ZANGARI | 4/26/24

GROWING: From their humble beginnings in 1,100 sq ft on Greenwich Ave. to cutting the ribbon on their new 5,000 sq ft office on Centerville Road in , the family welcomed Mayor Scott Avedisian to do the honors. Pictured from left at the opening in 2017 are Lauren Slocum, Nick Slocum, Phil Slocum, Mayor Scott Avedisian, Bob Slocum, Chris Slocum and Donna Slocum.

At 75, Slocum Agency is still a family business

His first day on the job, Phil Slocum was given some advice from his father, George. It was 1978. The father and son were sitting in a conference room at Slocum Real Estate and Insurance, the … more

By CHRISTOPHER GAVIN | 4/25/24

Dragons everywhere

And you thought Roger Williams Park Zoo was the only place to find dragons at this time of year. Well, Peter Legg who was watching the sunset at Fort Getty in Jamestown Sunday, grabbed this shot of … more

4/18/24

Karen Santilli wants to move the YMCA past its COVID slump

There’s a room just off the lobby of the Kent County YMCA equipped with plenty of exercise balls and stationary bikes, and even a mirrored wall, complete with a ballet barre. Each hints at … more

By CHRISTOPHER GAVIN | 4/18/24

Trails in the sky: Steve Johnson, who keeps an eye on the sky, sent along this photo of the eclipse framed by contrails

Many pick Rocky Point to view solar show

Rocky Point drew a crowd of about 400 Monday afternoon for a rare solar show. With the eclipse reaching 92% totality at 3:29 p.m., Warwick was closer to seeing a total solar eclipse than … more

By ADAM ZANGARI | 4/11/24

Breaking records

Angelica and Mike Penta of Gel’s Kitchen on West Shore Road have been raising thousands of dollars for worthy causes for years. Last Friday Gel outdid herself in more than one way. She took to … more

4/11/24

June 1, 2024