Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not? - March 31, 2023

HOT

20 Nonstops

Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee was joined by Breeze Airways Chief Operations Officer Mike Wuerger on Wednesday to celebrate Breeze Airways’ inaugural day as a base of operations at Rhode Island T.F. Green International Airport (PVD).

With this launch, Breeze Airways has completed its initial hiring and expects to expand to as many as 250 full-time jobs, including pilots, flight crews, support staff, and maintenance personnel, to sustain up to a total of 20 nonstop routes.

A “base” is an airport where an airline permanently bases aircraft and crew. This increases the potential for additional flight options for consumers and enhances the reliability of routes given the availability of reserve crews and backup aircraft. 

Rhode Island benefits from the creation of up to 250 new permanent airport jobs and receives economic and tax revenue benefits generated by more routes, increased tourism-related employment and expanded options for business and leisure travel.

HOT

New Bosses

Kim English is the head men's basketball coach and Erin Batth is the new head women's basketball coach at Providence College.

He became the 16th coach of the men's basketball program, while she became the 11th coach of the women's basketball program. 

HOT

In Bill We Trust

The Providence Gay Flag Football League (PVDGFFL) has announced that it is one of 25 organizations to be awarded the 2022 Bill Belichick Foundation Grant, which ‘recognizes deserving athletic communities or organizations in need of financial support.’ 

“We’re incredibly grateful to the Bill Belichick Foundation for their support,” said Chris Almonte, PVDGFFL’s Commissioner and Executive Director. “This grant will ensure that players throughout Rhode Island and the surrounding area have a chance to fall in love with the game of football and build meaningful relationships.” 

About League

Since being founded in 2018, PVDGFFL has welcomed hundreds of athletes of all sexual and gender identities, athletic abilities, ages, and backgrounds, providing a fun and community-based environment where players can develop new skills and strengthen ties to the LGBTQIA+ community. 

The league is home to more than 200 players, who compete in Open and Women’s+ divisions, and also participate in regional and national tournaments. The PVDGFFL is part of the National Gay Flag Football League (NGFFL), which brings together more than 200 teams across 26 leagues in the U.S. and Canada under the motto “Compete. Connect. Unite.” 

HOT

Scholars of STEAM Selected for National Youth Science Camp

RI Education Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green announced the selection of two Rhode Island high school students who have demonstrated a strong passion for everything STEAM to serve as delegates at the National Youth Science Camp this summer. These young women have earned their spot at this prestigious camp through their hard work and dedication to their dreams.

Taina Marigny, a senior at Davies Career and Technical High School, plans to study bioengineering and agriculture. Currently, she works as a pharmacy technician and has been a past representative for XQ+RI to reimagine the high school experience. Taina never passes up an opportunity to collaborate with her peers. Her effective communication and STEAM skills have led her to internships at both the Urban Perinatal Education Center in Pawtucket and the Mount Hope Community Garden in Providence.

Mia Schenenga is a senior at East Greenwich High School. She hopes to become a pediatric neurologist and loves to learn how the human mind works. She is a varsity athlete, a cello teacher and a math tutor to students who need some extra guidance in the fields she loves. Mia has previously participated in the Brown University Brain Bee and the Johns Hopkins University Global Health Leaders Conference.

These students are undoubtedly going to make Rhode Island proud this summer, and we cannot wait to hear of their successes now and in the future. Congratulations to Taina, Mia and their school communities!

In partnership,

HOT

Top Chef

A Rhode Island chef is now a James Beard Foundation Award finalist. 

In January, three Rhode Island chefs were named semifinalists in this year's recognition of the top individuals and restaurants in the country. 

This week, it was announced that Sherry Pocknett of Sly Fox Den Too in Charlestown made it through to the finalist category for top chefs in the region. 

The finalists are: 

Best Chef: Northeast (CT, MA, ME, NH, RI, VT)

• Valentine Howell, Krasi, Boston, MA
• Christian Hunter, Community Table, New Preston, CT
• Sherry Pocknett, Sly Fox Den Too, Charlestown, RI
• Yisha Siu, Yunnan Kitchen, Boston, MA
• Renee Touponce, The Port of Call, Mystic, CT

The final winners will be celebrated at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards Ceremony on June 5 in Chicago.

About Award

The James Beard Foundation’s Restaurant and Chef Awards—established in 1990 and first awarded in 1991—is one of five separate recognition programs of the James Beard Awards. 

This program celebrates excellence across a range of experiences, from fine-dining establishments to casual gems, and emerging talents to established leaders. The 2023 Restaurant and Chef Nominees are recognized across 22 categories, including a new Award for Outstanding Bakery. 

HOT

CCRI Student and Promise Scholar Dakota Hunter Earns 2023 Academic Scholarship

Community College of Rhode Island sophomore and West Warwick resident Dakota Hunter has been named a 2023 Coca-Cola Academic Team Silver Scholar and will receive a $1,250 scholarship.

A Rhode Island Promise scholar and member of CCRI’s Phi Theta Kappa – the international honor society for two-year colleges – Pi Omicron chapter, Hunter graduates in May with his Associate Degree in General Studies with a concentration in Cellular & Molecular Biology.

He will transfer to the University of Rhode Island in the fall through CCRI’s Joint Admissions Agreement (JAA) program to study Neuroscience and Biochemistry and eventually plans to apply to medical school in hopes of working in Pediatrics, inspired by his recent volunteer work for the past year and a half with Inspiring Minds, a non-profit organization that works with Providence Public Schools to help students gain the education skills and self-esteem they need to become successful learners and productive members of the community.

“Winning the scholarship is an awesome feeling,” said Hunter, 19, the oldest of three in his family. “I was a bit nervous because I had applied in December and didn’t hear anything for a while, so I didn’t think I won, but when I got the news, it definitely helped my week get a lot better.”

Students are nominated for the Coca-Cola Academic Team by their college administrators. Selection is based on academic achievement, leadership, and engagement in college and community service.

Coca-Cola Academic Team members will be recognized in both local and statewide ceremonies and will also be recognized internationally during Phi Theta Kappa’s annual convention, PTK Catalyst, scheduled from April 20-22 in Columbus, Ohio.

As the self-described “art kid” growing up, Hunter attended Ponaganset High School through its Career and Technical Education (CTE) program ­– which prepares students for college and careers in high-demand and high-wage labor markets – and enrolled at CCRI in Fall 2021 to pursue a career in Graphic Design. He interned at Hasbro for a short while until the start of the pandemic, which “threw everything off the rails.” Computer Science was his next pursuit. A year later, he joined PTK and “started to fall in love” with Biology and Chemistry. After considering a career in Neuroscience, Hunter zeroed in on Pediatrics through his work with kindergarten students at Inspiring Minds.

“The program connects people from the community to children in the classroom and the students get a lot of one-on-one time,” Hunter said. “We work with a lot of kids who’ve never had any schooling before and it’s truly rewarded. I can see myself doing this for a long time.”

Phi Theta Kappa is the premier honor society recognizing the academic achievement of students at two-year colleges and helping them grow as scholars and leaders. PTK is made up of more than 3.8 million members and nearly 1,300 chapters in 11 countries with approximately 240,000 active members in the nation’s colleges.

NOT

Trump

Former President Donald Trump was indicted by a grand jury in New York on Thursday over “hush money” payments in 2016 to adult film star Stormy Daniels, according to multiple news outlets. 

The charges come more than four years after Michael Cohen, the lawyer who handled the payment for Trump, was convicted in 2018 and received a three-year prison sentence. 

Cohen has been a witness against the former president.

Trump, who is running for president in 2024, is the first president in U.S. history, sitting or former, to face criminal charges

“The big picture,” reported Axios. “Trump, who frequently casts himself as a victim of overzealous investigators, the media and others, has repeatedly blasted the probe by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.”

Axios continued:

"While Trump publicly predicted he would be arrested last week, upending news cycles and provoking reactions across his party, the grand jury investigating him did not conclude on that timeline."

NOT

Roadmaster -- NOT

Rhode Island has once again come in last for the quality of the conditions of its roads and the implications are it is costing Rhode Islanders far more than the Average American driver.

Despite billions being spent over the past decade, Rhode Island came last in every category in a new study released  by the insurance industry

“America’s deteriorating roads and bridges are costing drivers money. Our team of analysts found that poor roads and bridges cost drivers an average of $556 every year. Nationwide, nearly 20% of America’s roads and 5% of bridges are currently in unacceptable condition,” said the report.

While the national average cost to American drivers is $556 each year, the cost for Rhode Island drivers is $845 — 51% higher.

This is another national study ranking Rhode Island roads as the worst. For the past eight years, Peter Alviti has served as the director of the Rhode Island Department of Transportation and was recently reappointed by Governor Dan McKee.

Despite about two dozen organizations and individuals opposing his reappointment, Alviti was overwhelmingly confirmed by the State Senate.

51% More Expensive for RI Drivers

What’s not included in the table above is the cost of repairing your car and the effect poor road infrastructure can have on your insurance. It’s estimated that driving on poor-condition roads costs each driver $533 in vehicle repairs and operating costs. If road conditions contribute to a crash, that can get even more expensive. Filing a claim can increase your auto insurance premium, and getting into an accident can also increase premiums by 42% or more.

NOT

No Stadium and No Refund Policy

The proposed minor league soccer team, which had promised investors and season ticket depositors that it would play in the so-called “Tidewater Stadium” in March of 2024, is refusing to answer questions about refunding season-ticket deposits.

But, the stadium, if ever built, certainly will not be built in the next year.

GoLocal asked the team, if it is offering refunds now that the stadium is in question.

The team’s spokesman refused to answer the questions about refunds but provided a statement asserting that the team will play at an undetermined location.

“We are evaluating all venue options while the construction of Tidewater Stadium progresses and will finalize those plans in the near future. Once the venue situation is finalized, we will announce plans and policies as to how season ticket deposit accounts can convert to 2024 season tickets,” said Mike Raia, the spokesperson, told GoLocal on Friday.

When consumers placed their deposit the soccer team disclosed that there was “no refund.” 

But the team was also promising a new $120 million stadium.