By JOHN HOWELL When solar farms were first proposed for large tracts of Western Cranston, the projects were embraced for their green energy and the fact that land wouldn't be developed for housing, resulting in more traffic and increased city services.

Target: 70% of RI workers with higher education

By ARDEN BASTIA Former Gov. Gina Raimondo set a lofty goal - get 70 percent of the state's working-age population to hold a postsecondary degree or equivalent credentials by 2025. Dr. Shannon Gilkey, the state's new commissioner of postsecondary

Delayed implementation of beach parking fees

With a rush on beach parking passes and the city waiting for more from the printer, the city has delayed implementation of parking fees for residents and non residents until July 1. Beach parking …

Curiosity, humanity inspire Smith's novels

By ARDEN BASTIA What do local news stories have to do with vampires? For local author Raina Smith, it's everything. Smith is the author of four novels, each exploring the universal energy force that connects all life, uncovering the complexities of the

A prom like few others

By ARDEN BASTIA Pilgrim High School seniors celebrated the end of an unconventional school year with an unconventional prom on June 1. Instead of the typical country club backdrop and the sit down dinner, Pilgrim students got to boogie outside at the

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Olympian Beisel to lead STB youth swim clinic

Save The Bay will offer a youth swim clinic on Tuesday, June 29 led by Olympic medalist and Saunderstown native Elizabeth Beisel. Swimmers ages 8 to 18 are invited to register for the clinic, which will include a Q&A session, 60 minutes of pool time, and

Remembering inner strength, smile of Kate Harrigan

By JOHN HOWELL Holliman Elementary School Principal Joseph Coffey asked students to close their eyes Friday morning and visualize the strongest person they know. It was impossible for him to know if students followed his instructions. The students were

Ashley Rappa joins woman-led advertising agency

E. Ashley Rappa of Warwick has joined MORE Advertising, a full-service, minority- and woman-led marketing and advertising agency launched in 1997. As a copywriter, Rappa will create long- and short-form copy for a diverse range of mission-driven

White wagon

White wagon There's no mistaking the newest of the city's rescues - it's white, while the others are red. The city moved quickly to purchase the vehicle from Greenwood Emergency Vehicles in Massachusetts when a municipality canceled delivery and it

Reclaim RI targets Shekarchi in effort to increase tax on wealthy

By JOHN HOWELL Mickey Stevens Sports Complex was ground zero Tuesday morning for the Reclaim Rhode Island campaign to increases taxes on those making more than $475,000 annually in order to generate an estimated $128 million that could be used to improve

Beacon Buzz - June 17, 2021

By ARDEN BASTIA Beach passes sold at Library The Warwick Public Library, Sandy Lane branch, will be selling Warwick beach passes starting on Saturday, June 19. Beachgoers will be able to purchase passes anytime the library is open. Passes are $20 for

Friends team up to shape their destiny

By ARDEN BASTIA The sign at 350 Wellington Ave. might still say Lou Pelosi's Precision Collision Service, but as of late April, the well-known Cranston auto body and mechanical repair shop has proud new owners. After more than 50 years in the business,

Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program at CCRI to launch its 15th cohort this fall

The Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses (10KSB) Rhode Island program seeks applicants for its 15th Cohort, to launch September, 2021. Applications are due by June 1 at 10ksbApply.com. Now in its fifth year of operation, Rhode Island's premier business

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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

9-year old gets birthday wishes from around the globe

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

Keep Smiling

Fog can be comforting, yet alarming. As I starting climbing the hill, the crest that I know so well, having passed this way countless times, disappeared. The fog consumed the sun, leaving a consistent opaque gray. I checked to make sure my lights were

Fire Department under 'fire'

To the Editor: With pun intended, the Warwick Fire Department is under fire from many directions. Warwick firefighters are accustomed to putting out fires at other folks homes and businesses; let's hope they are just as adept at putting out the fire that

Directing our focus

To the Editor: Presently our federal government is addressing the most serious issues with large spending programs. We are currently over twenty eight trillion dollars in debt and growing. Is this the correct means to overcome many of our national

Income tax hike unlikely this year at General Assembly

More than a decade has passed since Rhode Island cut the state's top marginal tax rate under then-Gov. Don Carcieri in 2010. Now, with more progressives in the General Assembly, there are growing calls to raise taxes on affluent residents. The Rhode

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Brian J. Brennan

Brian J. Brennan, 57, formerly of Cumberland, passed away at the Kent County Hospital, Warwick. He was the husband of Sallie (Trudell) Brennan and they had been married for the past 26 years. …

Sidney S. Minnie Jr.

Sidney S. Minnie Jr. 80, passed away Tuesday, June 15, 2021. He was the beloved husband of the late Lola K. (Arute) Minnie. Born in Karnes City, TX, he was a son of the late Sidney and Helen …

Steven Chousse Jr.

On Sunday, June 13, 2021, Steven Chousse Jr. passed away suddenly at the age of 28. Steven will be forever remembered by his two beautiful children Ciara Chousse and Arianna Chousse, his fiancé …

Lisa M. Pucino

Lisa M. Pucino, 60, passed away Sunday, June 13, 2021 at Roger Williams Hospital. She was the loving wife of Dennis J. Pucino. Born in Warwick, she was the daughter of Walter and Frances (Lackey) …

Charles R. Proctor

Charles R. Proctor, 95, of Warwick died Tuesday at the Philip Hulitar Hospice Center in Providence. He was the husband of the late Irma M. (Skidds) Proctor. Born in Providence, son of the …

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Some things never change

One of my favorite joys as a parent was throwing a birthday party for one of my young children. In addition to my own five, we fostered 17 tots, who received equal birthday treatment. Being selfish, my own home would not be used as the venue. (Only great

PVD United Fest to celebrate Pride Month in block party style

By ROB DUGUAY June is Pride Month in the United States, which promotes equality for and increased visibility of the LGBTQ+ community. If you've seen a lot of rainbow colored flags on cars, houses and windows this month, this is the reason why. It's also

Wickford Art Association to host first Celebrity Art Show & Auction

Launching with an in-gallery and virtual exhibit on July 16, the Wickford Art Association (WAA) will present its first Celebrity Art Show & Auction featuring a variety of artworks by influencers across Rhode Island media, business, politics, and the

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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

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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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