Top Stories | Warwick Beacon

Dimeo picked to build high schools

Following the opening of bids for the construction of new Toll Gate and Pilgrim High Schools last Wednesday and lengthy interviews with the four contractors … more

By JOHN HOWELL and ADAM ZANGARI | 4/11/24

PACKAGE DELAYED: These images of the Amazon construction site in Johnston, after sunset, were captured by a drone piloted by Trevor Bryan, an FAA Licensed and insured drone pilot, the owner and operator of New England Aerial Services, on Sept. 21, 2022. The illuminated project has been taking shape on the Hartford Avenue hill overlooking Johnston, but its opening date has now been pushed to late 2024.

Amazon renegotiates tax deal with Johnston

Since Amazon has not yet opened for business in Johnston, the mega-retailer has invoked a costly construction clause in its contract with the town. Over the past few months, the company … more

By RORY SCHULER | 4/10/24

Johnston School Building Committee awards $40M+ in construction contracts for new elementary

The Johnston School Building Committee has so far awarded more than $40 million in contracts to Rhode Island firms for the construction the town’s new elementary center. “This … more

By RORY SCHULER | 4/5/24

CONGRATULATIONS PETE: In this 2017 file photo, Pete Fontaine was presented with a special commendation by Town Councilman Robert Civetti. He was recognized for doing a “great job for the Town of Johnston and the athletes of the town at all levels,” he was honored for his coverage of events of all kinds. That same year, Fontaine was inducted into the Johnston High School Hall of Fame.

PETE FONTAINE (1946-2024) Ink in his veins, heart on his sleeve

Pete Fontaine died an hour after deadline last week. Although he had submitted his final byline several weeks earlier, the Johnston Sun Rise’s faithful freelancer held on until the last pages of the paper were on the presses. The man had ink in his veins. more

By RORY SCHULER | 4/4/24

It’s a Par-Tee

The Warwick Boys and Girls Clubs are going small to play big. Traditionally the club holds a September golfing day and dinner at the Warwick Country Club. That’s on the calendar for this … more

By JOHN HOWELL | 4/4/24

Keep pedaling until you’re 100…maybe even more

A Disco Duck – that’s his name - was riding his “Cadillac”- that’s his bike - on West Shore Road Easter afternoon. There was no way of missing him. … more

By JOHN HOWELL | 4/4/24

CENTER PIECE: Two  architect renderings of the outdoor skating rink complex to be built behind City Hall in Apponaug which Mayor Frank Picozzi envisions will be a focal point for events year round. The City Council awarded Tower Construction of Cranston the $7,219,000 contract Monday.

Ice rink construction skates through legal drama

Mayor Frank Picozzi’s dream to build an open air ice rink in Apponaug was approved by the City Council by an 8-1 vote, but now has to skate through a legal challenge from the bidder that was … more

By ADAM ZANGARI | 4/4/24 | 1 comment

Surprise switch

Differences of opinion, different accounts of a meeting that happened earlier this year and last-minute surprises best describe the path of legislation giving Warwick a voice on developments at T. F. … more

By RAYMOND BACCARI | 4/4/24 | 1 comment

CHARGED: Scott Avedisian, Warwick’s longest-serving mayor, entered a not-guilty plea Wednesday morning at Kent County Court to charges he left the scene of a car crash.

Ex-Warwick Mayor Avedisian pleads not guilty to leaving scene of fast food fender-bender

Scott Avedisian, Warwick’s longest-serving mayor, entered a not-guilty plea Wednesday morning at Kent County Court to charges he left the scene of a car crash. The fender-bender occurred … more

By ADAM ZANGARI | 4/3/24

Longtime Beacon Communications freelancer Pete Fontaine dead at 77

Sad news to report. Our longtime freelancer Pete Fontaine died Wednesday afternoon. For decades, you've been reading his upbeat stories highlighting community giving. His bylines have regularly … more

3/29/24

LOST TOO SOON: David Viens visits the site of a future memorial to his son Dillon and other Johnston youngsters lost too young at Johnston’s Memorial Park. Two years ago, Dillon lost his life when he was accidentally shot with an improperly stored gun belonging to the relative of a friend. David Viens hopes legislation passes the Rhode Island House and eventually reaches the governor’s desk. One day, he also hopes the bill, once adopted, may be named for his son.

Gun bill step closer to becoming RI law

Rhode Island is one step closer to enacting a safe storage law. The bill, sponsored by state Sen. Pam Lauria, cleared the Rhode Island Senate 28-7 on Tuesday, March 19. It now heads to the House, … more

By RAYMOND BACCARI | 3/28/24

READY FOR OCCUPANCY: Eagle candidate Eiriana Fairbairn Summers shows off the newly built bat house that the scouts installed during her recent Eagle Service Project.

13-year old Eagle candidate leads environmental initiative at Robertson School

The answer is a lot if you ask Eiriana Fairbairn Summers, a Life Scout with Scouts BSA Troop 77 Buttonwoods, who exhibited her dedication to community service by planning, organizing, and leading an … more

3/28/24

BURST PIPE: Michael DiPetrillo and a section of 30-inch cast iron pipe that carried about half of the 9 million gallons of water the city uses daily. The section of pipe ruptured in December 2018. Fortunately, there was a bypass that the city has depended on since. (Warwick Beacon file photo)

A fix finally

Imagine Warwick as a gigantic bathtub that, depending on the time of year, needs to be filled with 15 to 25 million gallons of water daily. Now imagine two large water spigots each capable of … more

By JOHN HOWELL | 3/28/24

Fifth annual 401Gives set for Monday, April 1

It’s that time of the year again in Rhode Island. The fifth anniversary of 401Gives, a statewide philanthropic initiative that aims to raise money through social media for local nonprofits, is … more

By RAYMOND BACCARI | 3/28/24

Neighbors fear squeeze of expanding marina

As a practice, city planners write an opinion as a guide for the Planning Board on most applications for major land development/subdivisions. An approval was drafted for Safe Harbor Greenwich … more

By JOHN HOWELL | 3/28/24

ON THE SCENE: Around 8:24 a.m., Thursday, March 21, Warwick Police responded to 71 Frawley St. for a reported domestic disturbance. According to a department press release, they “discovered the deceased body of a small child as well as an adult male who was also deceased; having suffered from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.”

Child shot and killed in Warwick

UPDATED: Warwick Police have identified the victim in Thursday's tragic shooting. more

By RORY SCHULER | 3/21/24

AT THE BOOK NOOK: McKee buys two books from Tracy Doyle at Mary’s Paperbacks for his granddaughter. The governor mentioned that while it was too late for reading week, the Disney-themed Easter book was just in time for another holiday.

Gubernatorial visit heats up potential mayoral race drama

By ADAM ZANGARI Governor Dan McKee visited Warwick on Monday to hand out certificates of special recognition to seven small businesses along West Shore Road. McKee was flanked by State … more

By ADAM ZANGARI | 3/21/24 | 1 comment

Police, Pilgrim High double down on violence

Educators, parents and students are hopeful Pilgrim’s reputation as a school of violence has come to an end with the announcement last week that neither the school nor police will tolerate … more

By JOHN HOWELL | 3/21/24

WITH THE CHEF: Gathering for a photo with WACTC culinary arts program Chef Austin Irons are School Committee member Leah Hazelwood, Assistant Superintendent William McCaffrey, RI Commissioner of Education Angélica Infante-Green, School Committee chair Shaun Galligan and Warwick Superintendent Lynn Dambruch. (Warwick Beacon photos by Kevin Fitzpatrick)

‘Many of our kids need to work’

The Commissioner of Education for the State of Rhode Island, Angélica Infante-Green, visited Tides Restaurant at Warwick’s Career and Technical Center last week for a chat with members … more

By KEVIN FITZPATRICK | 3/21/24

Teacher contract brings raises, labor peace, language review

What does it take to break a habit of failing to reach a teacher contract by the start of school and then dragging on the process for months to come? There are multiple answers why the Warwick … more

By JOHN HOWELL | 3/21/24

April 25, 2024