Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not? - October 15, 2021
Analysis
Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not? - October 15, 2021
This week's list includes Helena Foulkes' quest, RI's Jeopardy winner, and RIDOH playing the numbers.
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? - October 15, 2021
HOT
New East Providence High School
Architecture critic Will Morgan writes, "Where would you go to experience 'the most outstanding high school project in the Northeast?' Would you have guessed East Providence?
Even making allowances for the architect's rightful boast, the Townies have a lot of which to be proud. The new high school on Pawtucket Avenue is another example of how the city across the Seekonk is quietly embracing the future."
HOT
Giant-Slayer
After 38 consecutive game-wins, 1,299 correct clues and a $1,518,601 payday, Jeopardy! champ Matt Amodio was dethroned.
The giant-slayer? An actor who has appeared in Rhode Island theater productions.
Jonathan Fisher’s feat earned plaudits from The Gamm Theatre in Warwick, where he starred in the production “A Skull In Connemara" -- and more.
Gail Hulbert, who handles PR for the Gamm, provided some more insights into the actor-turned-game show whiz.
“He’s from Florida but moved to RI for a few years after graduating from Northwestern University,” said Hulbert. “He worked for us part time in the box office. Then on stage too!”
The Gamm provided a screenshot of Fisher on the game show, next to a photo of him performing his role in “Connemara.”
And Jeopardy provided a recap of Amodio’s run — and Fisher’s upset.
“I'm still processing it,” [said Fisher], discussing the moment he defeated the 38-game champ. "Matt is so good that it was just kind of an honor to be there with him."
HOT
Latino Policy Institute
The Latino Policy Institute (LPI) celebrated its 15th anniversary as an organization commemorating its work, partnerships and successes, while honoring Rhode Island’s growing Latino community.
LPI was founded in 2005, and has since continued to inform and shape public policy discourse by objectively examining the evolving Latino experience in Rhode Island.
“It is an honor to celebrate the work, dreams, and dedication of those who have helped shape and grow LPI,” said Executive Director Marcela Bentancur. “While we have done so much, we still have so much more work to do. Let’s also recommit ourselves to the work we have ahead of us in achieving greater social, political, and economic equity for Latinos in Rhode Island.”
HOT
URI Football
The Rams are 5-0 and ranked 12th in the country.
For any team, that is pretty good.
For a team that has only had two winning seasons in the past two decades, it is practically nirvana.
HOT
A Little Weekend Normalcy
Not one person was in their home last Saturday — or that is what it felt like.
Rhode Island was out and about at events across the state to kick off the first full day of the weekend.
The crowds speak to the efforts to enjoy the fall and get outdoors during the waning Delta variant.
In Providence, there were numerous events — the Ocean State Oyster Festival on South Water Street, the Columbus Day celebration on Federal Hill, the Makers + Merchants Street Fair on Wickenden Street, and the RISD Craft Sale on Benefit Street.
And, Brown University hosted Colgate in football.
That was just Providence.
Scituate was overwhelmed by the crowd, parking, and traffic for the art festival.
Traffic was backed up in all directions.
Newport had a slew of competing events — farmers markets to foodie events.
URI football played at home in Kingston.
The events continued on Sunday with The Flea on South Water Street and more Columbus Day on Atwells Avenue.
HOT
Laird Hunt
Providence resident Laird Hunt is one of five finalists for the National Book Award for Fiction.
Hunt’s novel Zorrie is just one of his critically acclaimed writings.
He is the author of eight novels, a collection of stories, and two book-length translations from French.
Previously, he has been a finalist for the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction and won the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award, the Grand Prix de Littérature Américaine, and The Bridge/Il Ponte Book Award.
He teaches in the Literary Arts Program at Brown University.
HOT
Helena Foulkes
Welcome to fight club!
In early August, GoLocal reported that Helena Foulkes — the former CVS executive and CEO of Hudson's Bay Company — was considering a run for governor of Rhode Island.
Now, Foulkes is in the race.
The entrance of Foulkes makes for a crowded field that already includes four candidates for the Democratic nomination who have won statewide office.
Governor Dan McKee won two statewide elections as for Lt. Governor, term-limited Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea won twice, also term-limited Seth Magaziner won twice as General Treasurer, and Matt Brown was elected Secretary of State.
Foulkes has never run for or held elected office. She has spent her entire career in corporate business leadership.
NOT
Peter Alviti and RIDOT
On Monday, October 11, RIDOT implements weight restrictions on a Route 37 bridge over railroad tracks with zero public communication and inadequate signage.
On Tuesday, RIDOT's Peter Alviti yucks it up at a well-publicized ground-breaking (Washington Bridge Project). Alviti is happy to publicize and attend splashy events promoting RIDOT but fails to announce significant restrictions on a bridge impacting many hundreds of vehicles daily.
(Details about restrictions placed on Route 37 bridge: On Monday, October 11, 2021, RIDOT reduced the weight limit on Route 37 bridge over the railroad tracks between Jefferson Boulevard and Post Road from 20 tons to 16 tons (32,000 lbs.) with zero public announcements including none on their website or Twitter.)
NOT
RI Department of Health's Data Disclosure
The Rhode Island Department of Health reports a running cumulative total of post-vaccination (“breakthrough”) COVID infections, hospitalizations, and deaths in vaccinated individuals. The most recent report shows that as of October 6, 2021, there have been 7,624 fully vaccinated Rhode Islanders who have developed COVID infections, 362 who have been hospitalized, and 61 deaths.
In these reports, RIDOH also indicates the total number of COVID cases, hospitalizations, and deaths to date. Compared with the totals, the number of breakthroughs seem small – 5% of all cases, 4% of hospitalizations, and 2% of deaths. However, that is only one way of looking at the situation and may be downplaying the importance of breakthrough cases.
A more relevant way to look at the numbers could be post-vaccination cases, hospitalizations, and deaths since the advent of vaccination. Focusing on the time since vaccinations started can provide a better sense of what is happening in the vaccinated vs. unvaccinated.
The Pfizer COVID vaccine became available on December 14, 2020. The first full dosing regimen was completed on January 2, 2021, making the first fully vaccinated individuals as of January 17, 2021.
Looking at breakthrough infections, hospitalizations, and deaths since January 17, 2021, shows a different analysis with breakthrough infections accounting for 12% of total COVID cases over that time, 9% of hospitalizations, and 9% of deaths.
