By JOHN HOWELL Once a cog in the gears of the Industrial Revolution, the Sawtooth mill building in Apponaug is being eyed as the future home for municipal offices and an engine to revitalize the village. Members of the City Council met with Mayor Frank

Aid for India

By ARDEN BASTIA For Dr. Jinen Thakkar, the COVID crisis in India hits close to home. Dr. Thakkar, who now serves as a hospitalist at Kent Hospital, was born and raised in Mumbai, where many of his family members, including parents, still live.

Getting rid of the blues

By JOHN HOWELL Frank Picozzi described the day he learned the city could remove the metal blue box planters lining Post Road in Apponaug "as one of the happiest days I've had as mayor." The 42 planters, each costing $5,000, will be removed by city crews

School Committee votes on high school plans, teacher contract

By ARDEN BASTIA The Warwick School Committee, fearing further delay of the high school renovation projects, voted Tuesday to approve plans for Pilgrim and Toll Gate High Schools. The school committee also approved a tentative agreement with the Warwick

Champs again

By ALEX SPONSELLER Despite trailing 16-14 at halftime, the Bishop Hendricken football team would surge to beat rival La Salle, 43-22, to win its 10th state title in 11 years. Trailing 16-14 heading into the third quarter, the Hawks began to roll and set

More Top News

Putting the colors in the spotlight

Putting the colors in the spotlight Thanks to the efforts of several Warwick Neck residents, a piece of Warwick history has a new shine. City-owned land on Warwick Neck Avenue dominated by a boulder bearing a brass plate informing that the home of

Fire guts Speaker Shekarchi's condo offices

By JOHN HOWELL "It was like the Twilight Zone," Mayor Frank Picozzi said Wednesday morning, recalling the events of the night before. Picozzi was on a telephone call with House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi about 9:30. They were talking about the Hummel

Faith leaders gather to play at City Hall

By ARDEN BASTIA About 50 worshippers gathered on the steps of Warwick City Hall on Thursday, May 6 to celebrate the National Day of Prayer, a nationwide event that calls together people of many faiths in collective devotions. During the event, local

Pipeline shutdown prompts spike in gas prices

Rhode Island's average gas price is up five cents from last week, averaging $2.88 per gallon. Monday's price is 11 cents higher than a month ago and 95 cents higher than May 10, 2020. Rhode Island's average gas price is 8 cents lower than the national

Police promote eight officers during City Hall ceremony

By RORY SCHULER The Warwick Police Department celebrated the promotion of several officers during a ceremony last week at City Hall's Council Chambers. "Tonight we are proud to present these eight gentlemen, who in a short time will be given the oath of

Bodies of 2 residents recovered, sunken sailboat missing

The Department of Environmental Management's Division of Law Enforcement is investigating a fatal boating incident that occurred about 4:30 p.m. Tuesday in Greenwich Bay off the city of Warwick. A 23-foot sailboat took on water and sunk, and two

Elks celebrate Mother's Day

By PETE FONTAINE In honor of moms, living and lost, the region's Elks paid tribute on Mother's Day. They called it a "simple, public ceremony" that touched on values such as remembrance, benevolence, protection and inspiration. "Members and guests, we

Former Burger King to become newest Plant City

By ARDEN BASTIA The former Burger King on Centreville Road will once again serve burgers, but this time without the meat. Plant City X, a breakout chain from Plant City in Providence, will soon be moving in and serving a plant-based fast food menu. This

More News

By ARDEN BASTIA It's not everyday that a 9-year-old asks for snail mail for his birthday. In fact, in this age of social media, Brady Wright could have had thousands of people wish him happy birthday from around the world in a single online post.

Senior project…a career step?

Senior project.a career step? Pilgrim senior Jack O'Donnell has an attachment of the city skate park in Oakland Beach. It's where he spent a lot of his time as a kid. So, it's not surprising that he picked cleaning up the park as his senior project. He

Zooming along

By JOHN HOWELL They can't weigh more than 5 ounces, and some look like they have come off the set of a science fiction movie. Others could be the cars of the future, yet still others are not much more than a block of brightly colored wood with stickers

Keep Smiling

By ZACHARY TAYLOR With the Senate Environment and Agriculture Committee moving its proposed bag ban, Rhode Island is one step closer to ensuring that all plastic bags allowed in the state will all end up in one place, according to the Rhode Island

No need for a mower

We've been invaded, and so far, it's been a good thing - except for the missing crocuses. Never have I seen so many rabbits. They outnumber the squirrels in our yard. Just the other day I spotted three of them, evenly spaced about 3 feet apart, hopping

VP's whirlwind visit to RI

Although Vice President Kamala Harris had a whirlwind visit to Rhode Island last week, she spent a lot more time with locals than predecessors Mike Pence and Joe Biden when they were here, respectively, in 2017 and 2016. The way that Harris directed the

Sour Grapes

More Opinions

Donald P. Higgins Sr.

Donald P. Higgins Sr., 83, of Woodbine Street, passed away on May 1, 2021 at Rhode Island Hospital after a short illness. He was the beloved husband of Gloria A. (Jacobson) Higgins for 55 years …

E. Joseph Sullivan

E. Joseph Sullivan, “Sully” Lieut, Warwick FD, 63, died Wednesday, May 5, 2021. A lifelong resident of Warwick, he was a son of the late Ellworth J. and Catherine (McCabe) Sullivan. Sully …

Frank Fandetti

Frank Fandetti, 91, of Warwick, passed away on Sunday, May 2, 2021. Born in Providence, he was one of eight children of the late Vincenzo and Rose C. (Pezzi) Fandetti. Frank proudly served his …

Frank Wunderler Sr.

Frank Wunderler Sr., passed away peacefully at home on May 1st, 2021. He was the loving husband of Nancy J. (Fazioli) Wunderler for 66 years; the devoted father to daughters Barbara Wunderler-Selby, …

Alison Erinn (Dwan) Fracassa

Alison Erinn (Dwan) Fracassa passed on May 2, 2021 at age 44 and at 4:44 am (44 was the uniform number of her husband in college and often of her children in sports). Alison entered hospice on Good …

More Obituaries

Annual and perennial flowers, garden-ready vegetable plants and specialty plants will be available for sale at the Green Animals Topiary Garden Plant & Seedling Sale. Previously this annual sale has been a one-day event, but this year it will be offered

Authentic Indian cuisine at Chennai Express

Restaurant Review by DON FOWLER Looking out the window of Dr. Frankel's waiting room, I noticed this tiny Indian restaurant across the street at 745 Reservoir Ave in Cranston. Inquiring about Chennai Express on social media, I learned that patrons were

May in years past

By DON FOWLER 20 years ago "Godspell" was at PPAC. "Scary Movie 2" was worse than the first one. "Pearl Harbor" was an excellent movie. "Shrek" was the biggest hit of the year. Eddie From Ohio was at the Odeum. Trinity Rep presented "Cider House Rules,"

More Lifestyles

NEWS

Pair of Titans headed to next level

By ALEX SPONSELLER A pair of Toll Gate Titans made their college decisions official this week, as Meaghan McCamish signed to play both field hockey and ice hockey for New England College while Julianna Roa committed to play soccer for Emmanuel. McCamish

North opens season

The Warwick North Little League softball season got underway last Friday evening at the fields on Bend Street. Players, friends, family and other locals gathered to celebrate Opening Day as well as …

SPORTS

Hawks-Rams rivalry renewed

The Bishop Hendricken football team won its 10th state championship in 11 years with a 43-22 victory over rival La Salle last weekend at Cranston Stadium. Sure, the Hawks are always the favorite and their win was nothing surprising. It has gotten to the

NO FLUKE

Kayak fishing basics and more

I have always felt privileged to interview Rhode Island's best fishermen and charter captains and then write about the expert fishing strategies and tactics they relate. Todd Corayer, a great fisherman and award winning fishing writer, is one of those

NEWS

Hawks edge NK, headed to final

By ALEX SPONSELLER The Bishop Hendricken football team grinded out a 14-7 win over the visiting North Kingstown Skippers in the state semifinals last Saturday night. The Hawks and Skippers have had some high-flying contests in the past few seasons, so

SPORTS

Apponaug thanks its volunteers

By PETE FONTAINE The famed Apponaug Baseball Complex, which some people say has been the scene of youngsters playing the national pastime for many moons and perhaps dating back a half-century, has never looked better and may be in its best shape ever.

More Sports

The following Warwick Veterans Memorial Middle School students have earned honors for the quarter: High Honors Grade 06 Ethan Alves, Maryam Atif, Jack Bannon, Riley Barker, Oriana Blanco, Mackenna Buffery, Myles Butler, Bryan Carreiro, Andy Castillo

Honor student

Honor student Jake Brodeur, a sophomore at North Carolina State University and a 2019 Toll Gate graduate has been named to the dean's list. Brodeur is a Business and Marketing major.

Pilgrim announces 2nd quarter honor students

The following Pilgrim students have earned honors for the second quarter: FRESHMAN HIGH HONORS: Avery Adams, Damien Isaiah Aptt, Tiana M. Arruda, Ariana Ayriyan, Ryan Kenneth Barlow, Nicole E. Blanton, Madison Lynn Boscia, Braxton Logan Bragg, Emma R.

Winman honor students listed

The following Winman Middle School students have earned honors for the second quarter: Grade 8 High Honors Olivia Bradford, Lena Butera, Isabella Cambio, Lyla Costa, Kamryn DeAngelis, Lucas Franco, Shannon Furlong, Emma Harrold, Emma Hindle, Jordyn

Earning Pilgrim high honors

Pilgrim High School seniors Allison Rodrigues and Nathan Rainey were inadvertently omitted from the school's first quarter honors list published in last Thursday's Beacon. Both students earn high honors.

1st quarter honor students listed at Winman Middle School

The following Winman Middle School students have earned honors for the first quarter: Grade 6 High Honors Debra Adeyefa, AnaMarie Alfieri, Zoe Banach, Chase Birmingham, Jayden Bottella, Jonah Buccheri, James Daily, Charlotte DeGaetano, Wyatt Dyer, Braig

Read more

DUI Just before 12:30 a.m. on April 26, Officer Keara Enos was conducting a routine patrol, heading east on Airport Road toward Warwick Avenue, when she observed a vehicle - described as a 2009 Mercury Milan - stopped in the middle of the intersection.

Rhode Island fishing regulations for 2021

Rhode Island's 2021 recreational fishing regulations were discussed and voted on Monday, March 1 at the RI Marine Fisheries Council. The Council recommends both recreational and commercial fishing regulations to Janet Coit, Director of the Department of

New leaders

By ARDEN BASTIA In a unanimous vote, the Warwick School Committee appointed Lynn Dambruch as the new superintendent. As her first act as superintendent, Dambruch named William McCaffrey assistant superintendent during a special meeting Tuesday night.

May 6, 2021 e-EDITION

Radio Beacon is a podcast from Beacon Communications run by Dan Kittredge (Cranston Herald), Jacob Marrocco (Johnston Sun Rise), John Howell (Warwick Beacon) and Alex Sponseller (Beacon …

John Donegan

John Donegan, the Ward 3 member of the Cranston City Council and leader of the Democratic caucus, joins Dan to discuss the city’s budget review, ordinances he’s working on, the panhandling case settlement, the fortunes of the Yankees and Knicks, and more.

Read more