Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not? - November 1, 2024

HOT

Brilliant

GoLocal art columnist Michael Rose has a great take on the brilliant work of Richard Whitten:

In his barn-like studio in Cranston, painter Richard Whitten is preparing for a solo exhibition. The show opens November 7 at Rhode Island College, where Whitten has enjoyed a long teaching career. His exhibition, titled Objects of Wonder, will be on view at RIC’s Bannister Gallery through December 6 and offers the opportunity to see a rich collection of work by a talented artist and academic.

Whitten grew up in New York and earned an undergraduate degree in Economics at Yale before pursuing an MFA at the University of California, Davis, where he studied under famed painter Wayne Thiebaud. He has been the subject of numerous exhibitions, including a recent showcase at the Morris Museum in New Jersey and was the recipient of a 2023 Pollock Krasner Foundation Grant.

Whitten’s paintings, which include illusionistic views of imagined machines and architectural spaces, exemplify his technical virtuosity as well as inventiveness and humor.

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HOT

URI Football

With a six-game winning streak and an undefeated record in FCS play, the Rhode Island football team moved to No. 14 in Monday morning's Stats Perform and AFCA Top 25 polls.

The Rams, who were slotted 15th/16th a week ago, beat Maine 24-14 last Saturday at Meade Stadium to improve its record to 7-1. URI's Homecoming victory saw the team rush for three touchdowns while racking up a season-high seven sacks. 

HOT

Alive and Well

A Providence ice cream shop that was slated to close will remain open under new ownership. 

Helado Taiyaki, located on the edge of Federal Hill on Dean Street a block from Atwells Avenue, announced in August it would be shutting its doors.

Now, it will continue operations in the city. 

Linnette Lopez Torres, the former owner of Helado Taiyaki, told GoLocal the news this weekend. 

"I’m thrilled to share that a wonderful member of our team, Valentina De La Cerda Cordon, along with her family, has taken over ownership of the business," said Lopez Torres. "They’ve put their heart into keeping Helado Taiyaki alive, and in addition, they’ve even opened a morning cafe for our community to enjoy."

Lopez Torres said she wants the public to know the business is still there and open. 

"Knowing that such a dedicated person and her amazing family are now leading the business will mean a lot to our customers," said Lopez. 

HOT

Regent Seagliders

Some positive business news. Fingers crossed that the big promises of this company and technology take off.

Rhode Island-based Regent Craft, the manufacturer of all-electric seagliders, announced Tuesday that United Marine Egypt’s (UME) order will be the first delivery of the company’s 50-100-passenger Monarch seaglider. Regent said the targeted delivery time is before the end of the decade.

Regent did not disclose the number ordered or the revenue generated by UME's purchase.

Regent is working to produce seagliders of multiple sizes.

According to Regent, the deal builds on UME’s existing order for the 12-passenger Viceroy seagliders, reflecting increasing demand for seaglider transportation solutions across the globe.  

Regent claims it has already secured more than 600 seaglider orders valued at more than $9 billion from leading airline and ferry operators around the world and has raised more than $90 million from investors.

In the past month, Rhode Island Commerce Corporation approved new incentives, including $1 million under the First Wave Closing Fund Act to support Regent’s operational expansion in Rhode Island and $3 million under the Rebuild Rhode Island Tax Credit Act.

In addition, Regent’s previous award under the Qualified Jobs Incentive Act, approved in June of 2022, was amended to reflect a new hiring schedule. Regents’s job commitment is 300 over ten years, with a potential of up to 750, a claim of a dramatic decrease.

“Regent’s partnership with UME demonstrates the growing need for sustainable, high-speed transportation solutions,” said Adam Triolo, VP of Commercial Business Development at Regent. “We look forward to working together to bring seagliders to coastlines in the Red Sea and beyond.”

HOT

She Did It Again

Only one Rhode Island college basketball team is a top-20 preseason pick. 

Friars? Nope.

Rams? Incorrect.

Rhode Island College has been picked No. 20 in the 2024-25 D3hoops.com Women’s Basketball Preseason Top-25 Poll.

Head Coach Jenna Cosgrove’s team finished the 2023-24 campaign with a 29-1 overall record, a perfect 16-0 (first place) mark in the Little East, won the Little East Regular Season and Tournament titles for the fourth straight season and reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Div. III Championship for the second straight year.
 

NOT

Pretty Simple Breakdown of CVS' Problems

Business Insider writes:

"Big chains like Walgreens and CVS make their money in two main ways: selling prescriptions in the back of their stores and selling everyday goods out front. The problem for companies is that both sides of the business are under pressure from outside forces."

NOT

Billionaire Sleaze

Jeff Bezos, in the final days of the election, blocked the endorsement of the paper for the Presidential election.

The paper had already published other endorsements for this political campaign cycle.

His explanation is not believable. 

PHOTO: CC: 2.0 Flickr Jervetson

NOT

Three Years?

The Rhode Island Attorney General and the Rhode Island State Police took three years to issue a report on McKee and the ILO contract. 

In their words:

Governor McKee’s interference in what he and his administration purported to be a competitive and fair procurement process for the School Reopening Contract caused this Office, the Rhode Island State Police, and the public to question whether the award of the School Reopening Contract to ILO was done properly or otherwise.

The Governor and his administration did not follow state procurement rules and regulations – the evidence of that is plain and cannot be seriously disputed.  

This took three years?

NOT

Dud Duo

The Celtics broadcasters, due to Drew Carter and Brian Scalabrine, are the worst TV team in Boston sports history.

Can artificial intelligence be used for good by dubbing Johnny Most, Tommy Heinsohn, and Mike Gorman's voices into the broadcast?

There is little insight into the game or matchups, but there is endless blithering about betting.

It is painful.

PHOTO: Drew Carter X