Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not? - June 3, 2022
Analysis
Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not? - June 3, 2022
This week's list includes Bates is back, seagliders and RI's poker table makers.
Now, we are expanding the list, the political perspectives, and we are going to a GoLocal team approach while encouraging readers to suggest nominees for who is "HOT" and who is "NOT."
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Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not? - June 3, 2022
HOT
Poker Kings -- Hot, and Getting Hotter
A small Rhode Island business has a huge national — and international — presence in the poker world.
Gorilla Gaming, based in Warwick, has made poker tables for Hard Rock Casinos, Wynn Las Vegas, Encore Boston, and Foxwoods. It counts Golden State Warrior Klay Thompson and PGA golfer Sergio Garcia among its customers.
Now, it is returning as an official table sponsor for the World Series of Poker, currently taking place on the strip in Las Vegas.
And even hotter? It's growing.
"We have purchased the old 'Rooms To Grow' property in Warwick and are currently renovating it to more than triple our current space," GG Co-Founder Glenn McCrory told GoLocal. "This exciting new move was made possible with the help of Eric Lichatin of Centreville Bank and James Tierney of the Ocean State Business Development Association. We are very excited for the future of Gorilla Gaming."
HOT
She's Back
After she tearfully -- and famously -- announced she was out at NBC WJAR 10 last September, Kelly Bates will be returning to TV at ABC 6 as a weekend weather forecaster.
“We are thrilled to have Kelly join the WLNE family and are looking forward to bringing her familiar face back into the homes of Southern New Englanders,” said WLNE General Manager Alex Wolf in the station announcement.
Bates had previously worked for ABC 6 twenty years ago as the weekend night meteorologist.
HOT
Seagliders
The Investment Committee of Rhode Island Commerce on Monday gave the green light for employee tax credits to Regent Craft — the producer of maybe the most unique concept vehicle for moving people on the water -- a "seaglider."
The company is eligible for tax credits for up to 600 employees over the next five years.
Regent, according to Commerce, already has hundreds of orders for its “all-electric, passenger-carrying, wing-in-ground-effect vehicles.”
In February of this year, Regent announced they closed on a new round of capital.
Investors in this $18 million round include lead investors Thiel Capital and JAM Fund, Mesa Air Group, Toba Capital, and Olive Tree Capital. Regent has now raised over $27 million of capital over two financing rounds: this $18 million round and the $9 million round previously announced in April 2021.
"We were honored to receive the strong interest from investors that led us to this additional strategic capital raise. It has been incredibly confidence-inspiring to see our investors and customers come together and truly buy-in on our vision of revolutionizing regional transportation with seagliders. We couldn't ask for a better hard tech investment lead than Thiel Capital, and with participation from Mesa Air Group, we are excited to accelerate seaglider development with a world leader in regional air mobility who is at the vanguard of sustainable transportation technologies," said Billy Thalheimer, CEO of Regent in February.
HOT
PVD Teacher of the Year
The Providence Public School District (PPSD) honored Lindsay Paiva, Third Grade ESL Teacher from Webster Avenue Elementary School, as the District’s 2022 Teacher of the Year.
Paiva was surprised with the news by hundreds of students and staff at Webster Elementary this morning.
“Ms. Paiva puts in an incredible amount of time and effort every day, and she is committed to getting to know each of her students completely,” said Superintendent Dr. Javier Montañez. “She is making a huge difference in their lives and opening up new paths to success for our multilingual learners. Congratulations on this well-deserved award!”
“Congratulations to Lindsay Paiva, a phenomenal, dedicated educator who cares deeply for her students, her colleagues, and our community,” said Providence Teachers Union President Maribeth Calabro. “Lindsay is an expert at her craft and develops lasting and trusting relationships with her students and their families. We are proud to call her a colleague and a friend. Congratulations, Lindsay on this well-deserved honor!”
Paiva has been with PPSD for five years, the last four of which were at Webster Elementary. She has been an educator for a total of seven years. In addition to her classroom work, Paiva participates in several extracurricular activities at the school including academic support for students before school, an anti-racism work group, and coaching Girls on the Run, a group that uses physical activity and dynamic discussions to build social-emotional and physical skills and encourage healthy habits for students.
HOT
Money, Money, Money
The Champlin Foundation announced on Wednesday the awarding of more than $9.6 million in capital funding, including three $1 million grants awarded to the Tomaquag Indian Memorial Museum, Crossroads Rhode Island, and the Boys and Girls Club of Providence.
According to Champlin, 87 nonprofit organizations receiving funding in this cycle serve Rhode Islanders of all ages across youth services, healthcare, arts and culture, and beyond.
“While our lives return to normal in many ways, the impact of the pandemic can still be felt, especially in our nonprofit community. In organizations across the state, workforce shortages continue to leave nonprofits doing more with less, and inflation and supply chain disruptions have a significant impact on capital projects,” said Nina Stack, executive director of The Champlin Foundation.
HOT
House Passes Shoreline Access Bill
Some progress, let's see if the Senate takes action.
Leader Blake Filippi (R-Dist. 36, New Shoreham, Charlestown, South Kingstown, Westerly), co-chair of the Rhode Island Shoreline Access Commission, says, “Our shoreline access rights are so important to this Ocean State that we have seen fit to codify them as fundamental constitutional rights. This bill ensures that there is enough beach area for those rights to be exercised. Without this legislation being passed by the Senate and signed by the Governor, our constitutional shoreline access rights will remain an illusion.”
NOT
Refusing to Answer Questions on Costs for a Taxpayer-Subsidized Project
None of the players in the proposed Pawtucket soccer stadium plan can define the size and the cost of the components of the project as of Wednesday.
The once-heralded $400 million project is now unraveling.
The developer — Fortuitous Partners of Arizona — is refusing to answer questions about the overall costs of the project. GoLocal asked the developer about the cost of not only the soccer stadium, but all other aspects of the project costs.
According to information from Fortuitous, the cost of the stadium has jumped from $83 million to $124 million -- a $41 million increase. The developer is asking the State of Rhode Island to provide an additional $25 million just for the stadium.
The building costs of the 435 housing units and the parking garage have also spiked since they were proposed in 2019, but neither the city nor the developer will disclose those increases.
The City of the Pawtucket, the host community and the cheerleader of the project, tells GoLocal they cannot define the scope of the project’s costs now.
According to Emily Rizzo of the City of Pawtucket, she does not know of the updated costs for all the elements of the project.
NOT
Shekarchi and Ruggerio
There have been over 200 mass shootings so far in 2022.
The sensible bills gun safety bills pending at the Rhode Island General Assembly have been debated for years.
General Assembly veterans Joe Shekarchi and Dominick Ruggerio were able to push the legalization of cannabis through at a record pace this session, but continue to delay the passing of any significant gun safety legislation.
NOT
Woman Threatened With Bat and Knife Over $100 -- Man Assaulted With Hammer for $10
How do you think our economic recovery is going?
Well, not for all.
People are nearly killing each over just a few dollars.
NOT
Texas Response and Cover-Up to Mass Shooting
Rarely have we seen a bigger failure by the government to respond to a crisis.
To say the police response to the mass shooting in Texas was an embarrassment is an understatement.
The lies and misleading statements in the aftermath of the unspeakable tragedy are despicable.
