Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not? - December 9, 2022

HOT

Coffee Exchange Dedux

GoLocal's architecture critic Will Morgan has a delightful essay on the transformation of The Coffee Exchange on Wickenden Street in Fox Point.

The renovation and reopening of the Coffee Exchange is one of the most heartwarming urban design achievements in Providence in ages. The Coffee Exchange makeover is proof that small ventures can be more meaningful than large and flashy megaprojects. Seemingly modest, the renewal of this Wickenden Street landmark is the kind of significant building block that demonstrates how thoughtful, customer-oriented planning can make a real difference to a neighborhood’s success and self-esteem.

After offering window service for a couple of years during the pandemic, the Coffee Exchange re-opened quietly just before Thanksgiving. To judge from the full house patronage, a lot of coffee mavens are thrilled to have their gathering, reading, studying, catching-up place back. Yet, owner Charlie Fishbein resisted a grand opening (he calls it a “soft opening”), mostly because he wants his business to thrive on service, not hype–he wants the Coffee Exchange to be the “preeminent coffee shop and roaster” in Rhode Island. Having grown comfortably over almost four decades (“it took as much time as it took”), the refreshingly decent Fishbein, is determined to “do the right thing.”

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HOT

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky -- Time's Person of the Year

In a letter to readers, Time editor-in-chief Edward Felsenthal wrote, “This year's choice was the most clear-cut in memory. Whether the battle for Ukraine fills one with hope or with fear, the world marched to Volodymyr Zelensky's beat in 2022. In the weeks after Russian bombs began falling on Feb. 24, his decision not to flee Kyiv but to stay and rally support was fateful. From his first 40-second Instagram post on Feb. 25 … Ukraine's president was everywhere. His information offensive shifted the geopolitical weather system, setting off a wave of action that swept the globe. In a world that had come to be defined by its divisiveness, there was a coming together around this cause, around this country that some outside it might not be able to find on a map.”

HOT

Wanna See the Celts Play the Lakers in LA - FLY from PVD

Breeze Airways has announced new and resuming service between Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport (PVD), including non-stop routes to Columbus (CMH), Cincinnati (CVG), and Los Angeles (LAX) in 2023.  

“We are thrilled that Breeze has continued to enhance its service to Rhode Island, now offering a total of twelve nonstop and direct routes throughout the nation,” said Iftikhar Ahmad, President and CEO of the Rhode Island Airport Corporation. “We’re proud to partner with Breeze Airways to offer additional options for travelers, including a total of at least 30 weekly flights from Rhode Island T. F. Green International Airport next summer.”

“This is wonderful news for both business and leisure travel to the Ocean State,” said Governor Dan McKee.  “New connections to the west coast and cities across the United States are a foundation of our Rhode Island 2030 plan to boost our state’s tourism and hospitality economy.”

HOT

Two Smarties "Pass Go" and Collect Four-Year Scholarships

Two Blackstone Valley Prep students have earned full rides to top New England colleges. 

The public charter school made the following announcement. 

“We’re filled with pride to announce two academically outstanding #BVPHS seniors will receive full, 4-year college scholarships thanks to #QuestBridge,” the school announced. 

“Help us to congratulate Andrea Zamora who matched with @BostonCollege & Rosie Pantoja-Ramirez who matched with @holy_cross,” BVP continues. 

HOT

Bryce Is Looking Like THE MAN

PC has a major emerging talent.

Kentucky Wildcat transfer Bryce Hopkins looks like he may be the Friars' next big mega-star.

Only a sophomore, Hopkins has the makings of an NBA talent as of late. Sit back and watch.

HOT & NOT

Joe Biden Gets a HOT and a NOT

President Joe Biden announced on Thursday that WNBA player Brittney Griner has been released from a Russian prison. 

She had been sentenced to nine years in prison after Russian authorities said they found a vape cartridge with hashish oil in her luggage. 

In exchange for Griner, the U.S. has freed convicted Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, according to multiple media reports.

“I spoke with Brittney Griner — she’s safe, she’s on a plane and on her way home after months of being unjustly detained in Russia, held under intolerable circumstances,” said Biden. “Brittney will soon be back in the arms of loved ones and she should have been there all along.”

That is the good news.

Not getting Marine Paul Whelan included in the deal is the NOT.

NOT

Homeless Strategy

Rhode Island has surpluses in the hundreds of millions - this is the time to build a long-term solution to address homelessness in the state. 

Time for the governor, legislative leaders, advocates, the United Way, and the Rhode Island Foundation to design a strategy.

Sleeping under bridges and at the State House in protest is not a strategy. 

NOT

Mozzarella Snack-Stick Gate

A federal judge has ruled that a potential nationwide class action lawsuit can proceed against the makers of "TGI Friday's Mozzarella Snack Sticks” — for allegedly not actually containing mozzarella cheese. 

The lawsuit was originally filed in Illinois District Court and this week the judge allowed the suit to continue against manufacturer Inventure Foods — but not against the restaurant chain that shares the same name.

Plaintiff Amy Joseph in her initial complaint (see below) in February 2021, accused both TGI Friday's Inc. and the makers of the cheese sticks, Inventure Foods Inc., of misleading customers with the packaging label, and alleging that customers would not pay as much — or buy as much  — of the product if it was accurately labeled, according to the lawsuit.

According to the suit, the cheese listed on the snack package is actually...cheddar. 

U.S. District Judge Robert M. Dow Jr. on Monday denied a motion from Inventure Foods to dismiss the lawsuit, according to Reuters. 

PHOTO: CC: 2.0

NOT

Slashing and Burning

If you count the layoffs at CNN, Gannett (the parent company of the Providence Journal), the Washington Post and other news organizations across the country this week, the numbers add up to as many as 600.

And, the layoffs may just be beginning.

CNN cut somewhere around 400 news staffers.

Gannett, the Virginia-based newspaper conglomerate, let go of hundreds of more workers -- and this was the company’s third round of staff reduction in the past six months.

Earlier in the summer, 400 were cut or took early buyouts. Then 400 vacancies were not filled.

In November, GoLocal reported G. Wayne Miller announced his departure from Projo after 41 years.

Education reporter Linda Borg also announced her departure. 

Now, there are hundreds more.

“The layoffs, which [continued] into Friday, are part of Gannett’s efforts to cut its news division staff of 3,440 by 6%. That amounts to roughly 200 layoffs,” reported Poynter on Thursday.

SEC filings revealed that Gannett's CEO Michael Reed received $7,741,052 in compensation in 2021 – 160 times the median salary of the average Gannett worker.

NPR Freezing Over 100 Jobs

National Public Radio announced that the company's 137 job vacancies at the network represent about 11% of its workforce will not be filled.

The company is facing a $20 million shortfall.

“As we did during the pandemic, we are prioritizing our staff and not anticipating layoffs at this time," Lansing wrote. Yet he noted that he recognized the strain that a near-freeze on hiring would put on NPR's current journalists and their non-newsroom colleagues.

"It means we won't have the skills and support of the people who would have been in the roles that must remain vacant," chief executive, John Lansing wrote. "For those working long and stressful hours, that is not good news. But it is a reality we can't avoid if we are to save jobs."

NOT

Providence Journal - Even More Cuts

The Providence Journal does not have an editor. In the most recent round of cuts, Gannett cut even more staff at the Projo, including the paper's editor David Ng.

In the 1980s, the paper had 300 in the newsroom, and today there are less than ten reporters.