Biomes Brings Out the Kid in Everyone

by Mark Berger

Since Mark Hall was a teenager, he had an affinity for marine life. He would go to the shores of New England to search, locate, and study such wildlife. It would become his life’s work in learning all there is to know about the area’s inhabitants of the land and sea.

By collecting all forms of animals, Hall envisioned a way of educating others, both young and young-at-heart, about the creatures small and large and what they can teach us.

That dream became a reality after he opened up Biomes on Post Road (Rte. 1) in North Kingstown, as a way to show people other life forms and their purpose in life. His six-member staff (including Hall) spend their days looking after hundreds of species, from lizards and fish to a tortoise named “Darwin,” who is one of the facility’s most popular attractions.

When families, groups, or field trips arrive, Hall ensures they are treated to one interesting experience.

“We hold private group functions during the morning for birthday parties, scouting excursions, and school field trips. Many people like touching Darwin, the horseshoe crabs, and seeing all of the different animals we have here. They also have the chance to see unusual animals that migrated here from either the Caribbean or Florida. There is plenty to see and do here,” he said.

That’s because Biomes possesses a 12,000 sq.ft. building to house all of the new and unique characters. Those who enter can marvel at the large aquarium tank filled with three different sharks and stingrays. They also have rescued and local marine life on display. Hall estimates that roughly “95 percent” of its collection comes from local waters. He added that they have the largest New England collection of animals in the world. Should some of their guests get too large for their care, their partnership with the New England Aquarium in Boston enables them to pass them on for continued care.

Learning about animal life is something Hall deeply believes in. He began as a 14 year old catching marine life in the area. He would later start supplying specimens to local colleges and schools. That transformed into becoming a traveling Biomes teacher, traveling throughout New England to show students near and far his assortment of animals. Hall would get requests from teachers who wanted to have him come display his work to their classes. He said that the business simply snowballed from there.

In 1991, Hall decided to not only bring his collections to the people, he would also have a place where people can come to him. That became the beginning of Biomes.

These days, Biomes find themselves in their peak time of the year. Hall said that they are busy from April vacation to the end of August. Rainy days, weekends, and other occasions make for a prime destination for families and groups.

The fall will be when Hall, his staff, and several volunteers will comb the local waters in search of discovering new aquatic life. Sometimes, they can make a contribution in ways they never envisioned.

One time, they found a southern sand tilefish that strayed up this way. By its name, one can surmise that particular creature is not from around here. They found it on an enclosed beach. If someone else finds this species somewhere outside its range, then The Smithsonian will document it and change the range regarding where that animal is located. While the odds of that happening are almost zero, Hall said that it is pretty cool to be registered as having found this rare fish in this area.

Hall considers learning about these animals as a world in and of itself.

“Ghost crabs live in warmer climates and don’t live in water,” he said. “We are in the process of building an enclosed beach for them that mimics their normal habitat. It’s the opportunity to educate others about the other life forms around us.

“Some of our volunteers have been doing this with us for 25 years,” Hall continues. “This is their passion and they want to contribute this way.”

The Biomes Center is New England’s only private marine education facility and the most hands-on aquarium in the region. They’ve been providing interactive marine biology programs for schools and families since 1989.

They specialize in teaching children and adults about the marine animals of Narragansett Bay and the Atlantic Ocean.

Biomes is open daily from 12:00 noon until 5:00 PM. Reservations for groups must be made in advance by emailing Mark Hall at mark@biomescenter.com or calling 401-885-4690.

Further details about tours and upcoming events may be found by visiting their website at: biomescenter.com.

Toyota of Smithfield Welcomes New Service Manager Anthony Almedia

By Mark Berger

Having been in the automotive industry for many years, Anthony Almedia’s journey has landed him as Toyota of Smithfield’s new service manager.

He began the new position, recently, and expects the first few months of his tenure will be learning from the 30-employee staff, and exceeding the department’s goals for the upcoming year.

Almeida credits General Manager John Durrani for encouraging him to work for the dealership.

“John was the primary reason for me coming here,” said Almedia, who previously worked as service manager at Kia of Norwood, before taking over in April. “Working with John and the dealership’s location were some of the main reasons why I decided to work here.”

Almeida’s top priorities are building customer retention and building customer relationships in the service department. Customer care and relations require almost three times more attention in the service department, than in any other department in the automotive store.

“This is where Almeida’s experience and expertise will benefit Toyota of Smithfield—and more importantly—our customers,” Durrani said. “As I always say, ‘without our customers, we do not have a business.’ So, we added Tony strictly to improve our customers’ service experience. This is all about our customers and their well being.”

Another major goal is earning The President’s Award, again. Almedia said that the dealership missed out on 2022, after winning it in 2021. He said that winning it will be a tall task, but one he and other staff are ready to face.

Almedia comes to Toyota of Smithfield with 25 years of experience. He worked his way from starting off as a “lot kid,” parking vehicles before cleaning cars and entering into sales, before returning back to service.

The dealership will continue to hold its monthly private sale. This month’s event takes place on Saturday, June 24 and Sunday, June 25, from 10:00 AM until 6:00 PM, by appointment only. Managers will be there to answer questions and offer additional incentives.

The Dealership’s Peace of Mind Purchase Process means no hassles over pricing, trade-in values, cash back and rebate incentives offered up front, and the best available leasing and financing terms, up front. Durrani said that this is just part of the all-around, customer-driven experience he implemented to ensure the process does not get bogged down in miscommunication.

Schedule an appointment by calling them 401-723-0962, or on their website at www.toyotaofsmithfield.com