Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not? - September 18, 2020

HOT

Frontline Non-Profits

Let's give a tip of the proverbial hat to the folks on the front lines at community organizations -- like Boys & Girls Clubs, childcare providers, and all the developmental disability providers.

How about the Samaritans of RI, and Spurwink RI too. The list goes on and on of organizations working to provide critical support during the most difficult budgetary and public health crisis. 

These folks have always been “HOT” and they continue to serve the community during the most critical time.

READER NOMINATED

Restaurants Fighting Back

While the news this week seemed especially cruel for the restaurant industry, there was some positive news.

Across Rhode Island, a number of restaurant owners are opting to open -- or reopen -- as the fall season begins.

Places like Ocean State Sandwich downtown are just one of the spots reopening or expanding hours.

READ MORE 

HOT

Cam Newton

One game does not make a legacy, but it was fun to watch Newton run and throw.

His 15 carries for 75 yards coupled with two rushing touchdowns was the anti-what-is-his-name performance.

If the Pats beat the Seahawks in Seattle Sunday night, watch out.

PHOTO: Cam Newton

HOT

Expansion of Small Business Grants

Commerce RI tells GoLocal that the $50 million Restore RI small business grant program is being significantly expanded -- more businesses will be eligible and will now include businesses up to 50 employees as well as sole proprietors.

"We expect to further increase eligibility for the program as we said we would, opening up the application process to sole proprietors and other small businesses without employees by the end of next week," Matt Sheaff, spokesperson for Commerce tells GoLocal.

"We will also be lifting the cap on the number of employees a business can have from 20 employees to 50 and reducing the percent of revenue loss that non-severely businesses must demonstrate --making even more businesses eligible to apply for the program," said Sheaff. 

HOT

Olivia King

Rising Rhode Island music star Olivia King has over 87,000 Instagram followers, has partnered with a nonprofit to help promote education and job training for recently incarcerated individuals — and her music can be heard currently at home games at Yankee Stadium. 

King, who graduated from the University of Rhode Island in 2016, spoke with GoLocalProv.com about her evolving musical career during the coronavirus pandemic, and how she plans to shoot a music video at the home of the Yankees, where her brother Mike King is currently playing as a starting and relieving pitcher — and walks out to music created by his sister. 

Messin’ with the King

King said she came up with the entrance song for her brother while he was a star pitcher at Boston College — and now, Yankees announcers are mentioning her on-air. 

READ MORE

NOT

Federal and State Investigations

A GoLocal investigative series unveiled the dumping of contaminated soil for use in the $410 million 6/10 construction project.

As a result of GoLocal's reporting, there are now federal and state investigations.

Sadly, this appears to be just the beginning. 

PHOTO: GoLocal

NOT

Special Place in Hell

A homeless man told Providence Police he was struck with a rock -- and robbed of $12 -- on Sunday at Kennedy Plaza in Providence. 

Police were dispatched to Kennedy Plaza shortly before 10:30 PM Sunday night. 

The report marks the latest episode of violence in the city, which this past week saw shots fired at a vehicle by Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza's house, shots fired into residences, and recently had five homicides in two weeks. 

In March, Elorza touted the announcement of 'transformative investments to create a unified vision for downtown’s public spaces" -- including Kennedy Plaza. 

It has been three years since Elorza announced a "vision for the future" for Kennedy Plaza. 

NOT

Nuancing "Ghettoization" From Ghetto

An article about the redevelopment of Newport’s North End in Bloomberg has turned controversial, as former Mayor Harry Winthrop called out City Council Susan Taylor for being quoted as saying the city needs to break up the “ghettoization of the area.”

This week, Bloomberg’s Alex Ulam wrote “History and Gentrification Clash in a Gilded Age Resort,” in which he wrote about Newport’s North End being at the center of an “increasingly intense battle over development.”

The focus? Newport’s move last fall to block developer Carpionato from a $100 million proposal at the Newport Grand property by imposing a development moratorium. 

“I just read the Bloomberg hit piece. While I take exception with its narrow focus, I take great exception with your characterization of the North End as a ghetto,” wrote Winthrop in an email to City Councilors, obtained by GoLocal.

Taylor then explained her decision to use the term.

Read more here. 

NOT

Brad Stevens

The nicest thing we can say about Celtics Coach Brad Stevens' coaching in the playoffs is - well, he's a good regular season coach.

For the second series, Stevens is being flat-out outcoached. 

NOT

A Sad Week for Local

The announcement of the closure of the Venus de Milo, the sale of the Old Grist Mill, the closing of Birch, and a year-long closure of Trinity Rep is demonstrating the vulnerability of both established -- and popular -- local icons.

These are the unique places that create our shared experiences. They are what makes Rhode Island and the region so special.