Front Page News | Warwick Beacon

FRONT PAGE NEWS 80 YEARS LATER: Jane McGair, holds a copy of last Thursday’s Providence Journal featuring the photo of her father 1st Lt. Branson Donaldson as he was in the first wave of allied troops to come ashore on Omaha Beach. (Warwick Beacon photo)

D-Day photo triggers memories, coincidences

Jane McGair opened her browser on the 80th anniversary of D-Day and there was her father, Branson Donaldson, on the front page of the Providence Journal. “I was very … more

By JOHN HOWELL | 6/13/24

DANGEROUS CROSSING: Dash cam footage from a RIPTA bus shows a deer running onto Warwick Avenue from Sachem Avenue and jumping through the bus windshield.

Deer jumps through RIPTA bus windshield on Warwick Avenue

A deer jumped through the windshield of a RIPTA bus traveling on Warwick Avenue Monday, injuring three passengers. The incident happened near the intersection with Sachem Avenue near the … more

By ADAM ZANGARI | 6/12/24

Travis cites health reasons to end 30 years on City Council

The longest serving member of the Warwick City Council, Donna Travis, announced Tuesday she won’t seek re-election this year, citing her health and that of her husband, Bill. “Donna … more

By JOHN HOWELL | 6/6/24 | 1 comment

Having turned her life around, internet sober coach helps others

Esther Oden, of Warwick a former clinical research monitor at Rhode Island Hospital, will be 10 years sober in July. Now, Oden is a sober coach and the East Coast coordinator for the Remote … more

By ANISHA KUMAR | 6/6/24

A PLEASANT SURPRISE: Milisa O’Neil reacts after Angelica Infante-Green announces her as the 2024 Rhode Island Teacher of the Year.

Top of her field

Kindergarten teacher Milisa O’Neil did not expect Oakland Beach Elementary School’s Field Day to become a celebration of her achievements. However, that’s exactly what happened … more

By ADAM ZANGARI | 6/6/24

1,500 school personnel linked to ‘active shooter,’ emergency app

Imagine you’re a kindergarten teacher. It’s mid morning, snack time. You know the kids have been waiting for this and so have you. It’s a break for everyone. You give the word and … more

By JOHN HOWELL | 6/6/24

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

June 17, 2024