By ARDEN BASTIA Now 15 years old Francesca Beagan started dancing at Distinctive Dance when she was just 19 months, and has no plans to stop. The dancer had a challenging start to her life. When she was born, she was diagnosed with a lung condition that

'Dangerous' student busing policy worries parents

By ARDEN BASTIA Amy Kuiawa may be able to drive her kids to school as a stay at home parent, but she says the "mama bear in [her] jumped out" when the Warwick School Department released the new guidelines for bus transportation. The Warwick Public

There are still lines

There are still lines Warwick tax collectors knew what to expect as soon as bills were delivered - lines out the door at the City Hall Annex at Buttonwoods. While the bills have a first quarter payment deadline of July 15, the grace period has been

School finance officer placed on administrative leave

By JOHN HOWELL School finance and operations director Robert Baxter, whose bold plans to showcase schools, streamline busing, increase community use of school buildings and build enrollment were featured in a July 1 Warwick Beacon front page story, has

Unemployment high, yet many jobs go unfilled

By ARDEN BASTIA According to data from the Department of Labor and Training, 20,386 Rhode Islanders collected unemployment in May 2021, about 79 percent of the state's unemployed population. But despite the number of Rhode Islanders who say they are

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Child Tax Credit payments now hitting bank accounts

By ARDEN BASTIA Paul Salera, president and CEO of Westbay Community Action, has witnessed firsthand how the pandemic impacted families, whether it was a parent who lost their job or a child struggling with distance learning. Starting July 15, the Child

Solar ordinance hearings to start all over again

By JOHN HOWELL Faced with arguments that a proposed ordinance to regulate solar panels could boomerang, resulting in their uncontrolled proliferation in residential areas with the loss of trees, along with fears the law could be legally challenged, the

Virtual public meetings end this Friday, but streaming to stay

The days of public Zoom and teleconferencing meetings is coming to an end, although the city will continue to live stream meetings. In a notice issued Wednesday to the city, Stacy DiCola, associate director of public information with the Secretary of

That ice cream goodness

That ice cream goodness The management at Sparrows Point II treated residents Friday to an ice cream social that Pat Waldeck described as a "great thing to have on a very humid day." She said the event was greatly appreciated, naming property manager

After 25 years, Niles Madsen is ready for a new chapter

By ARDEN BASTIA It was the early 1990s and Niles Madsen needed a career change. He was in his mid-forties, and working as an insurance claims examiner with Blue Cross in Maryland. "We were in a company-wide meeting one day when the boss told everyone

Ready to jump in?

Ready to jump in? Pull out your bathing suit, find those goggles, and start practicing your dives because McDermott Pool will be open and ready for swimmers starting Monday, July 26. The grand reopening will be held at 9 a.m. Mayor Frank Picozzi and

Shekarchi: Staving off tax hikes a success for Assembly

By JOHN HOWELL What legislation didn't pass is as important as what was enacted, House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi told members of the Warwick Rotary Club Thursday. Legislators did not approve the so-called "tax the rich" plan or a sugar tax on drinks

Leading the pledge

Leading the pledge There was a story to why Arielle Luong, clutching a teddy bear in fatigues, led the City Council in the Pledge of Allegiance Monday night. When City Council President Steve McAllister learned Police Chief Brad Connor and Fire Chief

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Boaters know Jeff Jeff English, who only recently retired from running the Warwick Cove Marina fuel dock for 27 years, was in for a surprise last Thursday during a ceremonial ribbon cutting at Fairwinds Marina in Oakland Beach. Joe McGrady, who bought

It takes a team

It takes a team Joe McGrady owner of Fairwinds Marina in Oakland Beach will host the many contractors who transformed what was formerly the Warwick Cove Marina with new docks, a new bulkhead, renovated buildings and landscaping at a ribbon cutting at

No keeping secrets from Dottie

By JOHN HOWELL You can't surprise Dottie McCarthy. At least that's what she says. So, it wasn't surprising she would claim she knew about her "surprise" retirement party a month ago. But sources say otherwise. Under the ruse that they were having drinks

Keep Smiling

My son Ted had seen and heard reports of great white sharks being caught in the fishnets off Point Judith. Now he was out there foil sailing. That would have been good, only the wind dropped to under five knots and he lost power. The tide was carrying

New leaders serve with devotion

To the Editor: The well-done Beacon article, "Reflections on a new administration," by Arden Bastia (June 24, 2021) highlighted our new Superintendent of Warwick Schools Lynn Dambruch along with the new Assistant Superintendent William McCaffrey. They

Who knew?

To the Editor: Thank you Leslie Derrig and Jane Kenney Austin for alerting us in your letters of July 8, 2021, to the critical solar ordinance up for consideration at the July 19th Council meeting. Who knew! Who knew that our city is considering allowing

In good hands

To the Editor: Eight of the top 10 students at Pilgrim HS are young women and nine of the top 10 at Toll Gate HS are young women. Why is this? I think it's safe to assume that women and men are of equal intelligence. Could it be that women work harder

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Mary E. (McGrath) Selwyn

Mary E. (McGrath) Selwyn, 95, a retired schoolteacher for the Warwick School Department for 33 years passed away Tuesday July 20, 2021 at the Scalabrini Villa in North Kingstown. She was the wife of …

Mary E. (McGrath) Selwyn

Mary E. (McGrath) Selwyn, 95, a retired school teacher for the Warwick School Department for 33 years passed away Tuesday July 20, 2021 at the Scalabrini Villa in North Kingstown. She was the wife of …

Erminia “Ernie” Esteves

Erminia “Ernie” Esteves, age 82, of Warwick, passed away on Sunday, July 18, 2021 at the Philip Hulitar Hospice Center in Providence. Born in Cranston, a daughter of the late Antonio and …

Mary C. Pellicano

Mary C. Pellicano, age 86, of Warwick, passed away at home on Monday, July 19, 2021. Born in the Norwood Section of Warwick, and a life-long resident, she was a daughter of the late Bruno and …

Roberta B. Todd

Roberta B. Todd of Attleboro, MA and Warwick, RI died peacefully on July 15, 2021, after a long illness. She was the daughter of the late Milton Todd and the late Mildred Bradley Todd. After …

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Sophia Hopkins chalks up a first in EG Chamber art contest

By ARDEN BASTIA Warwick artist Sophia Hopkins place first in the annual Chalk the Block contest sponsored by the East Greenwich Chamber of Commerce. The event was held on July 15, and featured artists aged 7 and older. Contestants entered the

Proclamation to celebrate legacy of late co-founder at Daveapalooza

By ROB DUGUAY When Proclamation Ale Company proprietor and co-founder Dave Witham passed away from cancer on Christmas Day last year, it shook Rhode Island's craft beer industry to its core. It left the brewery without its face and the community without

On Netflix

On Netflix THE COOK OF CASTAMAR This Spanish melodrama has a little bit of everything - intrigue, a love story, sex, violence, history, politics and the "upstairs/downstairs" relationships between the wealthy and their servants. The series has too many

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The following students have earned 4th quarter honors at Toll Gate High School: Grade 9 High Honors: Andrew Agostinelli, Robert Allen, Sydney Amaral, Jessalyn Andreozzi, Bruce Angelini, Adeline Areson, Francesca Beagan, Serene Blanchette, Jordan

Magna cum laude graduate

Magna cum laude graduate Katherine Baxter graduated on Sunday, June 13, from Saint Raphael Academy in Pawtucket. The graduation was held at the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, with Bishop Robert C. Evans presiding. Katherine is a member of the RI

Vets Middle School posts honor roll

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

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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.

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