Shop in RI - March 2024

festival promoter and a well-known local philanthropist. Our family loves the area and has been a part of this community for years. When this space (for the restaurant) was available, it was like coming home again,” he continued.

The restaurant employs a dozen people and prides itself on serving dishes with a nod to the “Old Country.” Diners can feast on several signature dishes, including their bone-in veal chops that are so big that they take up the entire plate, their linguini and clams and their Italian stuffed artichokes. Patrons can also dive into their fresh fish dishes, chicken or veal parmigiana with pasta, or perhaps for dessert, their amazingly delicious homemade cannolis.

Perhaps their calling card is their "World Famous Expresso Martinis,” among other specialty cocktails that are infused with rosemary, ginger and other herbs to give them an authentic flair and taste.

Operating Officer

Palmisano said that his goal for operating a successful restaurant is simple: “I want people to feel like they are eating at my house.”

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He noted about how meals are cultivated back in Italy. “It starts with visiting the local butcher shop for the freshest meat, then walking to the garden to select the vegetables, and maybe to the local store to pick up a bottle of wine. Palmisano said that the restaurant strives to maintain this tradition because “farm to table” offers the best quality and flavors for their customers.

“I hope that when customers visit Anthony’s Italian Cuisine, they enjoy a little piece of Italy with every made-to-order dish,” he said.

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The restaurant is open Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 11:30 AM to 9:30 PM, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 11:30 AM to 10:00 PM, and Sunday from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM. The bar remains open one hour after closing.

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Joseph Matrullo

Contributors

Wallace

Matthews

Venagro

Lopatosky

Irby Berger

Lowney

Romano

Lombari

Burke

They also cater events and have daily specials and promotions. For more details about these upcoming events, please call 401273-5900. More details may be found by visiting their website at www.AnthonysonFederalHill.com.

Jen Wallace

Stacie Venagro

Tom Lopatosky

Tom

Gazerro

Wessel

Executives

Manzo

Lombari

Lombari

Michael Belsito

Editor

Rosanna Ortiz

Photographers

Guillermo Garcia

Barth

Michael Belsito

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ShopInRI 09

American Airlines Just Got a Bit More Expensive

Flying This Summer?

amount of prep work for them. Now, an option for those short on funds and time: the Reserve service by Clear, a free program that allows customers to book a spot ahead of time that sends them to the front of the line at TSA checkpoints.

Going forward, you may have to open your wallet a little wider if you fly American Airlines. Passengers who check luggage are being hit with a price increase: The first checked bag will now cost $35 if you book online (it was previously $30), or $40 if you pay at the airport. A second checked bag jumps from $40 to $45, no matter how or where you pay. Meanwhile, those who earn frequent flier miles through the airline will only be able to do so from now on if they book directly through American, partner airlines, or preferred travel agencies, according to an airline release.

The Clear site explains how the process works: In advance of your flight (how long in advance depends on the airport), you’d simply log on to make a reservation for the time you’d like to pass through security. You’ll receive a QR code that, on the day of your flight, you’ll show to a staffer in the Reserve lane near the TSA checkpoint. The service isn’t available at every airport (there are about 20 in the US, Canada, and Europe currently listed) and even at those airports, the service may be limited to certain areas. A company rep said they’re working on adding more airports into the mix.

The last time fees were raised on American was in 2018. That outlet notes how the airline first imposed bag fees in 2008, with a $15 charge for a checked bag to offset the increasing price of jet fuel, and “since then, they have become a steady revenue source for most major US carriers.” Airlines scooped up $6.8 billion in baggage fees in 2022, the last year for which figures are available from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

Reserve customers must still remove their shoes and jackets and take their electronics out for screening. Clear also offers a paid service called Clear Plus, which for the price of $189 per year allows users to not only skip to the front of the line, but also to not have to show ID; instead, your eyes or fingerprints are scanned.

TSA PreCheck also offers a paid service ($78 for five years) that, because you’ve gone through advance vetting, means you don’t have to remove your shoes, jacket, laptop, or other items. Reserve remains an option for those who don’t want to pay. “Travelers can now save even more time by seamlessly reserving their spot in the security line,” a Clear rep said in a statement.

TravelTips

There are exceptions to the new surcharge, which was just put into place: Customers who claim “elite” status in American’s loyalty program, buy a premiumclass ticket, or use an Americanbranded credit card will typically get one checked bag for free. Two of American’s biggest rivals, Delta and United, currently charge $30 for the first checked bag and $40 for the second. Southwest still lets passengers check two bags for free. However, this latest luggagefee increase probably won’t be an American outlier. “Airlines tend to move in herds,” Scott Keyes, founder of the travel site Going, tells the AP. “It’s unlikely American will be the last.”

Shop In RI Selects: The Pink Pier at Watermark As their #1 Secret New York City Getaway.

Shop In RI Selects Sugarbush Resort, Vermont as their #1 Skiing Getaway on the East Coast!

Shop In RI Selects: The Taste of Maine Restaurant in Woolwich, Maine for having the world’s largest lobster roll.

Sugarbush is an overlooked gem among its peers, with many skiers heading to nearby Killington, Stowe, or Mad River Glen over this double mountain resort. So why shouldn’t you do the same? To put it simply, Sugarbush offers practically everything that those more popular ski areas boast, minus the crowds. So if you fancy schussing down a freshly groomed slope without queuing for a lift or dodging snowploughers this could be just the place for you!

Fourth of July Airfare Down By 27% From Last Year

Feel in off those chanics neering non-stop

It’s a more L’Agulhas, sia—roughly Appalachian encountered via bridge, boat or A person three miles or obtain able for cold, tions through like South the physical than 385,000 same down

There are a few food items that are synonymous with Maine, one of them being the ever-so-delicious lobster roll. Tourists have been flocking to every corner of the Pine Tree state for decades to devour the delicacy. However, not all lobster rolls are built the same. Often, the biggest complaint people have about a lobster is...not enough lobster. So, the Taste of Maine restaurant in Woolwich decided to solve that problem once and for all. Shared on Facebook by Taste of Maine restaurant, they claim to be serving the world’s largest lobster roll, a monster sub at least three times the size of a typical lobster roll. The number one question in comments seems to be about the price. Given current market conditions for lobster, the daily market price for the ’world’s largest lobster roll’ has been between $150 and $170. Some will scoff at the price, but if you’re traveling from afar just to get your hands on a Maine lobster roll, why not try the largest one?

Traveling to the Pink Pier at Watermark in New York City promises a unique and enchanting experience that encapsulates the vibrant spirit of the city. Nestled along the waterfront, the Pink Pier boasts stunning panoramic views of the iconic skyline and the majestic Hudson River, creating a picturesque backdrop for unforgettable moments. The pier itself is adorned in a captivating shade of pink, evoking a sense of whimsy and playfulness. Whether you’re seeking a romantic evening, a lively gathering with friends, or a tranquil solo retreat, the Pink Pier offers a versatile ambiance. With a diverse array of entertainment options, from live music to themed events, the venue ensures a dynamic and engaging atmosphere. Immerse yourself in the lively energy of the city while savoring delectable cuisine and signature cocktails, making the Pink Pier at Watermark a must-visit destination for those eager to embrace the enchanting charm of New York City’s waterfront.

Travelers Choose the World’s Top 10 Beaches

Travelers who plan to fly over the Fourth of July holiday weekend can expect to pay less for their domestic tickets this year, as round trip tickets will be 27% lower this year than they were at the same time in 2022.

A round-trip ticket this year will cost a traveler a little more than $300, which is over $100 cheaper than last year. The prices of round-trip tickets are in line with how much round-trip tickets cost in 2019, according to an analysis by Hopper.

Terrain: The resort is made up of two interconnected mountains, Lincoln Peak, where the majority of trails are, and Mount Ellen. Other lower peaks include Castle Rock, Gadd Peak and North Lynx. For the type of gnarly terrain you would expect from Mad River Glen, just hop aboard the Castle Rock Double chair to Castle Rock. From the top at 3,812 ft, you’ll have the steep double black chutes of Lift Line and Rumble to get stuck into. If clocking up maximum vertical drop is more your thing then you’ll find the slopes here laid out much better for top-to-bottom shredding than at Killington. Even if you ski all 111 trails here, there’s also 2,000 ac of backcountry to explore in the Slide Brook Basin area!

It’s about that point in winter when dreams of sandy beaches start kicking in. To help illustrate those fantasies, Tripadvisor has released its “Best of the Best Beaches” list for 2024, which ranks the very top tier of its users’ ratings and reviews. Topping the list is Praia da Falesia in Portugal, which stuns visitors with its “dramatic cliffs, golden sands, and sparkling blue waters.”

3. La Concha Beach (Spain)

4. Ka’anapali Beach (Maui, Hawaii)

Woman

United

Atlanta, New Orleans, Chicago, and New York City.

June 29 and June 30 are expected to be the busiest days of the holiday weekend, with 3.7 million people expected to depart from U.S. airports on both days. The least busy day of the long weekend will be on the Fourth of July itself. A total of 3.5 million people are expected to depart from airports on July 5.

Here are the top 10 beaches that made the cut:

This year, the most booked destination in the United States over the Fourth of July weekend, which is from June 30 through July 4, is Las Vegas. The domestic cities that follow include

5. Grace Bay Beach (Grace Bay, Turks and Caicos)

6. Anse Lazio (Praslin Island, Seychelles)

Town: If all that wasn’t enough, Sugarbush is generally a notch cheaper than pricey Stowe, but not at the sacrifice of luxury. For lavish lodgings, look no further than Lincoln Peak Village. For these reasons and more, when it comes to the most practical ski destination in Vermont, Sugarbush is a fantasic choice for a winter weekend getaway!

1. Praia da Falesia (Olhos de Agua, Portugal)

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2. Spiaggia dei Conigli (Lampedusa, Italy)

The busiest airport in the country is expected to be Atlanta’s, where over 1.8 million travelers are expected to pass through. Other airports which will be exceedingly busy include Dallas (DFW), Denver (DEN), Los Angeles (LAX), and Las Vegas (LAS).

7. Manly Beach (Sydney)

8. Eagle Beach (Aruba)

9. Siesta Beach (Siesta Key, Florida)

The World’s for the You can’t a domestic get a complimentary man on went a ”stinging dropped the floor, snag the ”After on flight lanta was ponded MedLink provided said. ”The local hospital. customer

For travelers who are driving instead of flying, car rental prices are also down considerably from last year at 25%. On average, car rentals this year will set back travelers $47 per day.

10. Varadero Beach (Varadero, Cuba)

Greatest

Unopened Find of the Century Sells for $3.7M

There’s a Fresh Geyser Mystery in Yellowstone

She Became a Bride and a

with 47 eruptions, per the US Geological Survey. Why? Good question, and one that hasn’t been answered. It’s one on a long list of geyser mysteries, in fact. The geyser-research field is a thin one, and as Yellowstone National Park’s hydrologist explained the area beneath Steamboat hasn’t been mapped. However, seismic sensors there have revealed that the geyser’s water source may sit as deep as 130 feet.

Johnnie Mae had suffered two recent losses, including that of her father, when she stood in front of friends and family and committed to the love of her life on Monday. But within the hour, her groom was dead, too. As Mae and new husband Toraze Davis of Omaha, Nebraska, left the church where they said “I do,” Davis suffered a blood clot that made his heart stop. “It happened within seconds ... just after the ceremony had begun,” friend Jewel Roberson said. Family and friends are now rallying behind Mae, director of ECO Supportive Living, which assists the elderly and those with disabilities. “Johnnie Mae has suffered through so much,” says Roberson. Now “she’s been widowed and married in a 10-minute span.”

Heritage Auctions calls it the “greatest unopened find of the 21st century.” An unopened case of hockey cards from the 1979-80 season was sold for $3.72 million after a bidding war in February, the Regina Leader-Post reports. The case of O-PeeChee cards contains 16 unopened boxes of cards, each holding 48 packs of 14 cards. That adds up to 10,752 cards —and with a total of 396 cards in the set, there’s a very strong chance that the buyer has obtained around 27 highly prized Wayne Gretzky rookie cards. The auction house says the box was found by a family in Regina, Saskatchewan, who are “over the moon” about the sale price.

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“It’s seriously the saddest thing ever,” Tricia Pugsley said. She was supposed to DJ the couple’s wedding reception, but “they went to the hospital instead.” That’s where Mae “had to say goodbye to her new husband.”

Jason Simonds, a sports cards specialist at the auction house, tells the BBC that it would be “a pretty big statistical anomaly” for the case to hold much fewer than 27 Gretzkys. He says the case was found when a son was helping his father, an “old-school collector,” clear out a basement office. He says the father bought the case many years ago, intending to split it up and sell it, but never got around to it. The price, Simonds says, “surpassed our wildest expectations. He tells the CBC that it is “one of the highestpriced items ever sold at Heritage, and it’s certainly the highest price sold unopened item in the sports collectibles market.”

A GoFundMe page has raised more than $20,000 for Mae and the children the couple shared. Mae “always helps others; this is our time to help her,” the page reads. Some are finding solace in knowing that 48-year-old Davis died on what was evidently “the happiest day of his life,” a friend said. Another friend says she hopes the tragedy will teach others to care for themselves, including through annual visits to the doctor. “Not all medical

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MLB Changes Pitch Clock Rules Again

Real Life Happy Gilmore Hears From Adam Sandler

While many of the cards may be worth next to nothing, Gretzky rookie cards are a worth a lot more than their weight in gold, the Leader-Post notes. Heritage sold one of them for almost $1 million in 2020, and later brokered a $2.9 million sale of a Gretzky card classed as “Gem Mint 10 level.” Simonds say the Regina family probably has more big paydays to come. He says they found enough baseball cards to fill up a van, including cases from the late 1970s.

Most other geysers seem to be fueled by shallower reserves; deeper equals warmer, so that could be a factor in Steamboat’s ability to propel water to heights of more than 300 feet. Michael Poland with the USGS earlier this year said it’s possible that increased snowfall in Yellowstone of late has led to more groundwater to fuel the geyser. What scientists are saying is that there’s no link between the increased activity and any potential looming eruption of Yellowstone’s supervolcano. “Yellowstone has an incredible geyser system that is unrelated to magmatic activity—other than the magmatic system basically providing heat,” tweeted one volcanologist. USA Today noted that the Waimangu Geyser in New Zealand has managed to shoot water taller than Steamboat has, but it’s been

For the record, his given name is Landon Gilmore. But the teenage Indiana golfer has been going by ”Happy Gilmore” since he was a little kid because he can hit the ball like the fictional player of that name in Adam Sandler’s 1996 movie, per the Indianapolis Star. Now, the two have connected in real life. After Gilmore announced his commitment to golf for Ball State University, Sandler took note on Twitter. ”Go get em Happy,” Sandler wrote. ”Pulling for you.” Replied

Major League Baseball went nearly 150 years without limiting the time between pitches, before instituting a clock last season. Average game times fell 24 minutes, Yahoo Sports reports, to 2 hours, 40 minutes, and MLB has decided to give pitchers less time this season: 18 seconds instead of 20 when runners are on base. They’ll still have 15 seconds when the bases are empty. The head of the Players Association wondered what the rush was with shortening the clock for this year.

“That’s a conversation that should have warranted a

much longer dialogue than what we had,” Tony Clark said.

“We voiced those concerns, players voiced those concerns, and yet, the push through of the change to the pitch clock still happened.” He said injuries could increase when pitchers are given less time to recover between pitches that require maximum physical effort. “We just had the biggest adjustment this league has ever seen in regards to length of game and how the game was affected, by including a clock,” the union boss said. “Rather than give us another year to adjust and adapt to it, why are we adjusting again, and what are the ramifications going to be?”

and, yes, he enters tournaments under the moniker of Happy Gilmore. One key difference between reality and art: Gilmore doesn’t play hockey and can’t even skate. He has, however, mastered the unique hockey-style tee shot used by Sandler in the movie. ”It never fails,” he says of fellow junior circuit players. ”Every tournament, every

Beyoncé ($685 million)

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Town Entranced by Mystery Shipwreck That Washed Ashore

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and the heirs can’t quit squabbling. Here’s a look at where things though it’s been nearly two years since Prince died, the executor of the Bank and Trust, can’t split the money among Prince’s six surviving Internal Revenue Service and executor agree on the estate’s value

when that might happen. The IRS and state of Minnesota are entitled half, though the estate can stretch out the payments over time. Court months after Prince’s death suggested that it was worth around $200 taxes. The actual value remains one of the biggest secrets in the case, and redacted documents. The actual valuation could have gone up then. That’s because the various attorneys, accountants, and industry point had not yet finished appraisals and deals for the use of his music, including his Paisley Park studio.

A small community in Newfoundland got a surprise visit from the sea this January from a 100-foot-long shipwreck—and locals have rallied around learning whatever they can about it before it disappears back into its depths. CBS News reports that the ship washed up along JT Cheeseman Provincial Park, located on the southwest tip of Newfoundland, a rocky, fog-ridden shoreline that’s proven treacherous to ships over the centuries. Despite wrecks being common to the region—numbering in the thousands— the story excited locals, who teamed up with archaeologists to preserve and recover what they can. Archaeologist Jamie Brake told CBC that the wreck’s size makes it “really impossible” to pull from the water intact, but so far volunteers have recovered wooden planks, metal sheathing, and other parts for lab analysis.

A 67-million-year-old Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton might have had puny arms, but sold for a hefty $6.2 million at Zurich’s Koller auction house. The 38-foot-long and nearly 13-foot-tall fossil “is one of the most spectacular T. rex skeletons in existence,” though it’s actually not made up of just one T. rex. It’s named “293 Trinity” for a reason: The skeleton is comprised of 293 bones hailing from 3 different T. rexes found in Montana and Wyoming. Still, in an interview on Koller’s website, Dr. Hans-Jacob Siber of the Aathal Dinosaur Museum said that there are just “20 or 30 good T. rex skeletons in the world and this is one of the bigger and better ones.”

At 99, She Gains World Records and Confidence He Went In With Metal Detector, Came Out With

Ethiopia Planted 353M Trees —in Half a Day

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12 Year Old Steals Moms Credit Card.. Heads on Vacation

On Feb. 12, Leonid Ivanovic of Serbia became the youngest chess player to beat a grandmaster in a classical game at 8 years, 11 months, and 7 days. His record stood only six days, when an even younger chess prodigy stole the title. Ashwath Kaushik—aged 8 years, 6 months, and 11 days— defeated 37-year-old Jacek Stopa of Poland in round four of the Burgdorfer Stadthaus Open in Switzerland, per CNN. It was a feat that has only turned more attention toward Ashwath, who was crowned World Under-8 Rapid champion in 2022, per Chess.com. “It’s a very exciting

It still haunts me.” The line from 28-year-old Thai resident Suwanne Maliwan to Reuters expresses a common sentiment Thursday, the 15th anniversary of the Indian Ocean tsunami that claimed 230,000 lives. Maliwan, for instance, lost both her parents and five other relatives. ”Sometimes I dream that a wave is coming,” she says. Vigils and memorials across Asia were commemorating the staggering loss of life in what was one of the world’s deadliest natural disasters. A 9.1 magnitude earthquake off Sumatra island the morning after Christmas in 2004 triggered the tsunami and unleashed waves as high as 57 feet.

Egypt opened two of its oldest pyramids, located about 25 miles south of the capital Cairo, to visitors for the first time since 1965. Antiquities Minister Khaled el-Anany told reporters that tourists are now allowed to visit the Bent Pyramid and its satellite pyramid in the Dahshur royal necropolis, which is part of the Memphis Necropolis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Bent Pyramid, which the AP reports was built during the Old Kingdom of the Pharaoh of Sneferu, in about 2600 BC, is unique in that it has two internal structures. El-Anany said the Bent Pyramid represents a transitional form of pyramid construction between the Djoser Step Pyramid (2667-2648 BC) and the Meidum Pyramid (also about 2600 BC). The Guardian notes its "unusual" shape: The first 160 feet rise at "a steep 54 degree angle, before tapering off towards the top."

sentative contacted school officials Thursday about the surprise message, says a spokeswoman for the district.

Brake estimates the ship dates back to the 19th century, and is likely common to other wrecks in the area, making it not a “particularly significant or unique thing.” But that hasn’t hampered local enthusiasm. Volunteers keep watch over it to ensure looters don’t attempt to snag mementos from the wreckage, and launched a GoFundMe page to raise money for its research, stating, “we believe this shipwreck drifted into Cape Ray for a reason and we want to help tell its story.” One such volunteer is Trevor Croft, a diver who helped secure the ship with ropes and straps.

You may one day drive down roads charged with electricity that your vehicle automatically detects and sucks up through an automatic arm—if a Swedish project gains any headway. Called eRoadArlanda, it has turned 1.2 miles of road outside Stockholm into a kind of slot-car track where electric trucks insert movable arms into a rail to recharge the vehicle’s battery while driving. Designers say the technology is weather-proof and the arm will rise automatically when one car passes another, Sky News reports. The rails are also said to be safe to the touch.

A man exploring with a metal detector hit the jackpot, uncovering what a veteran gold prospector calls a “oncein-a-lifetime find.” The amateur gold digger, who is remaining anonymous, was searching the goldfields of Australia’s Victoria state, site of an 1850s gold rush, when he stumbled upon a 10-pound rock dotted with gold. He then showed up at Darren Kamp’s prospecting store in Geelong. “He pulled this rock out and as he dropped it into my hand he said, ‘Do you think there’s $10,000 (AUD) worth in it?’” Kamp of Lucky Strike Gold tells the BBC. “I looked at him and said, Try $100,000.” It was now Kamp’s turn to be gobsmacked. “He said, ‘But that’s only half the rock,’” the prospector tells the Guardian.

feeling,” Ashwath, who was seeded 59th out of 127 participants but finished the tournament in 12th place, tells the Singapore Star. “I feel very proud of myself.”

“One of the most important issues of our time is the question of how to make fossil-free road transportation a reality,” says eRoadArlanda Chairman Hans Säll. “We now have a solution that will make this possible, which is amazing.” Among its pluses, Säll says the electric road lets vehicles have smaller batteries and therefore makes vehicles cheaper to produce. The $7.7 million project will be tested with a truck fleet for two years, and if the government approves, it could be implemented for $1.9 million per mile and include buses and cars. “Sweden is at the cutting edge of this technology, which we now hope to introduce in other areas of the country and the world,” Säll says.

A 12-year-old Australian boy has pulled off a bold feat that drew international headlines: He stole his mom’s credit card and managed to fly to Bali, Indonesia, for a posh, four-day vacation before getting caught. As recounted in the Australian program A Current Affair, the boy did some research online and figured out he could fly alone without needing a letter from a parent on Jetstar Airways. He nabbed his mom’s credit card, tricked his grandmother into giving him his passport, took a train to the airport, and flew to Bali. “They just asked for my student ID and passport to prove that I’m over 12 and that I’m in secondary school,” says the boy, identified only as Drew. He then checked into a four-star hotel, having made reservations in advance, telling the clerk that his older sister would be joining him soon.

France is trying to hang onto a medieval painting with a cra zy backstory. The nation has blocked the export of a small, 13th-century work by the Ita lian artist Cimabue, a painting that hung unnoticed for deca des above a hotplate in a Fren ch woman's kitchen. An auc tioneer spotted the painting as the elderly woman was preparing to sell her house, and then sold for a staggering $26 million at auction earlier this the Guardian. The buyers are anonymous, but they're group of Chilean collectors based in the US. Now, however, they won't be able to own the painting after all.

Though the dinosaur was purchased by a private buyer, Koller indicated hope that it would be put on public display. Speaking to the BBC, Edinburgh University dinosaur expert Steve Brusatte expressed concern over private purchases—this was the first T. rex skeleton ever auctioned in Europe—saying in part that “museums can’t compete with the deep pockets of the oligarchs and the super-rich.”

Coastal areas of Thailand, Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, and other countries were deluged. One of the first areas hit was Indonesia’s Aceh province, notes CBS News. In fact, most of those killed were in Indonesia alone, where 170,000 deaths were registered. ”No words can describe our feelings when we tearfully saw thousands of corpses lying on this ground 15 years ago,” said acting Aceh Gov. Nova Iriansyah at a ceremony in Sigli. ”And now, we can see how people in Aceh were able to overcome suffering and rise again, thanks to assistance from all Indonesians and from people all over the world.”

Johnson said he admires Kelzenberg's courage but that he won't be able to attend prom because he'll be in Hawaii filming Jungle Cruise. Instead, Johnson rented out a nearby movie theater on Saturday for Kelzenberg and more than 230 friends and family to watch his latest movie, Rampage. Johnson even covered the cost of snacks and drinks for the theater. "I couldn't believe it. I was so surprised," Kelzenberg says. "I just kept thinking, 'He saw me! He knows who I am!'" Kelzenberg says she became a fan of Johnson's five years ago. Her favorite movies of his include Central Intelligence and Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle.

El-Anany also announced that Egyptian archaeologists have uncovered a collection of stone, clay, and wooden sarcophagi, some of them with mummies, in the area. He said archaeologists also found wooden funerary masks along with instruments used for cutting stones, dating to the Late Period (664332 BC). Mostafa Waziri, secretary general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said they also uncovered large stone blocks along with limestone and granite fragments indicating the existence of ancient graves in the area. Egypt has been whipping up publicity for its new historical discoveries in the hopes of reviving a devastated tourism sector still recovering from the turmoil following a 2011 uprising that toppled longtime autocrat Hosni Mubarak.

Brusatte added that he’s worried “that these very rare dinosaur skeletons, which are scientifically very valuable and are important for education and public engagement disappear into the vaults of private collectors which means that they are not available for public display.”

“This is something that probably hasn’t been seen for 100 to 200 years,” he tells the New York Times. “It’s pretty exciting when you get to see that for the first time.” A running theory on why the ship made its unexpected appearance is that it was dislodged from the ocean floor during Hurricane Fiona in 2022. Croft believes the ship was made from solid oak, noting that seeing “the sheer size of some of those planks on the vessel was astounding.” Brake estimated the ship’s timeframe based on observable construction details that were common to the 1800s, like treenails and wooden and copper pegs, but further lab testing will provide better insight to its age and origin.

Ethiopia claims it has smashed a record in the name of climate change— and the tree planting isn’t even More than 353 million tree seedlin gs were planted across the country just 12 hours as part of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s Green Legacy tation campaign. The campaign to see 4 billion indigenous trees ed between May and October. Citizens had been encouraged to plant 200 lion trees but Ahmed tweeted that million had been planted after hours. At the end of 12 hours, the country’s minster for innovation chnology, Getahun Mekuria, announced 353,633,660 seedlings had the ground—more than five times as many trees as were planted in India 12 hours in 2017. Some schools and government offices closed to allow dents and civil servants to take part, which notes 2.6 billion trees have been planted across Ethiopia. The Guardian reports each citizen is plant at least 40 seedlings. The goal is to transform Ethiopia’s landscape, is seeing degradation, soil erosion, deforestation, and droughts and tied to agriculture. About 80% of Ethiopia’s population relies on agriculture to make a living, with the result that just 4% of land is now forested, pared to 30% at the end of the 19th century, according to Farm Africa. Al Jazeera, a recent study estimates that 1 trillion new trees could most 750 billion tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere—or much as humans have released in the last 25 years—over several

As Kamp tells CNN, the amateur digger had broken apart the full nugget,

And there he stayed, having a fine time while his panicked mom reported him as missing back home. It wasn’t until the boy posted a video of himself in the hotel pool that his vacation finally came to an end. “I was shocked and disgusted, there’s no emotion to feel what we felt when we found out that he’d left overseas,” says mom, per news.com.au. One reason she’s ticked: Her son had actually tried this stunt twice before, only to be turned away at the airport by Qantas and Garuda Airlines. Mom says she was informed her son’s passport would be flagged by federal authorities as a result, but that apparently never happened. In the aftermath, Jetstar promises to tighten up its policies. “He just doesn’t like the word no and that’s what I got, a kid in Indonesia.”

Though not yet 9, Ashwath has been playing chess for nearly five years. He started at age 4 and within months could beat his parents and grandparents. He now practices up to seven hours a day on weekends, per the Guardian. “It’s really fun and it helps your brain get better and smarter because in chess you need a lot of thinking to find the best moves,” Ashwath tells the Star. “The chess world has recently been witnessing a surge in children scoring extraordinary results at an even earlier age, perhaps propelled by the pandemic and a rating system lagging behind in keeping pace with their rise in strength,” reads a post from Chess.com following Leonid Ivanovic’s record-breaking win over 59-year-old Milko Popchev of Bulgaria in a tournament in Serbia.

hoping to find gold inside, not realizing dirt was concealing the gold “oozing out of the rock everywhere.” Altogether, the man had found a 10.1-pound nugget containing 5.7 pounds of gold. “I haven’t seen a specimen in this amount of gold in my 43 years of prospecting,” Kamp said. “Maybe in the 1850s there was probably a few found, but in today’s terms it’s very rare.” He estimated the value at $160,000. “He said to me, ‘Oh, the wife will be happy,’” adds the prospector, who ended up buying the rock. The finder had been using a budget metal detector capable of locating items buried only a foot underground, which turned out to be well worth the $800 cost.

Art Expert Gives Museum Some Really Bad News

France's culture ministry has declared the work to be a "national and has at least temporarily overruled the sale, reports ministry hopes to hang the painting permanently in the now has 30 months to come up with the money to buy me, the family of the unidentified woman who displayed years, unaware of its origin or its worth, must continue insured. They also owe a multi-million-dollar inheritance likely have to work out a deal to pay it after the sale goes

A museum in southern France suffered a terrible blow when experts declared that over half its paintings are forgeries, The Terrus museum, dedicated to the work of painter Étienne Terrus, apparently knew nothing of the fakes until an art historian informed them. “It’s a catastrophe,” the mayor of Elne, where the museum resides, tells the Telegraph. “I put myself in the place of all the people who came to visit the museum, who saw fake works of art, who paid an entrance fee. It’s intolerable and I hope we find those responsible.” Police have taken the fakes and are trying to find those responsible.

US Teen Wins $3M at Fortnite World Cup

Someone Spent $25.3M for A ’Highly Important’ Bowl

Leonid was the first player under the age of 9 to defeat a grandmaster in classical chess. For comparison, the outlet notes that the renowned Magnus Carlsen was over the age of 12 when he first beat a grandmaster in 2003. The youngest ever grandmaster, Abhimanyu Mishra, was aged 9 years and 10 months when he first defeated a grandmaster, per Chess.com.

George Michael Gets His Own Coins

Multimillionaire Invites 10 People to Come Live in ’Paradise’

Looking to permanently while away your days overlooking the Tasman Sea and sipping on vino while watching "nice animals" with other "nice people"? Karl Reipen wants to hear from you. The Guardian reports the German multimillionaire has placed an ad seeking 10 people up to age 70 to come live in what he calls his "paradise," a 550-acre, $5.6 million estate in Awakino, on New Zealand's North Island. "If you are interested to live a life with a Group of Interesting people it can be a new life for you," reads the ad, which Stuff NZ reports was published twice in the New Zealand Herald. Reipen,

The Tyrannosaurus rex, which has one of the most distinctive skulls in the animal kingdom, is among the most iconic dinosaurs in pop culture. As an American Museum of Natural History information page notes, the 1902 discovery of the first T. rex skeleton in Hell Creek, Montana, also sparked long-lasting interest in dinosaurs in general. Trinity, however, isn’t the most expensive T. rex ever sold. In 2022 the Guardian reported that honor went to “Stan,” a Tyrannosaurus skeleton that sold in 2020 for $31.8 million

You gotta have more than “Faith” to pocket the new George Michael coin. A commemorative minting of coins that just rolled out in the UK ranged in price from a couple of banknotes to a small fortune as the late musician continues to rack up posthumous honors years after his death. A silver-colored version stamped by the Royal Mint with Michael’s likeness in trademark aviator-style sunglasses, complete with the blow-dried locks and razor stubble he sported in the video for “Faith,” starts at £15.50 (around $19.66) and rises as high as £5,305 ($6,728) for a limited-edition 2-ounce gold coin

Pennsylvania 16-year-old Kyle Giersdorf plays 8 to 10 hours of Fortnite a day, but his parents aren’t complaining: Giersdorf, better known as ”Bugha,” won a record-breaking $3 million at the inaugural Fortnite World Cup at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York. The contest featured 100 participants out of around 40 million who entered the online competition. Giersdorf, who won the solo event in front of a packed stadium, says he plans to save the prize instead of going on a spending spree. ”All I want is a new desk and maybe a desk for my trophy. In the duo event

Apparently 82 of the museum’s 140 works are phony, spotted at times because they contained buildings constructed after Terrus died in 1922. Acclaimed for his landscapes of French Catalonia, Terrus was close with artists Aristide Maillol and Henri Matisse and lived mostly in Elne, a town on the Tech River that’s less than three miles from the Mediterranean coast of Languedoc-Roussillon. The museum spent over $190,000 acquiring paintings they thought were his. But the Terrus likely isn’t alone: Art experts say at least one in five paintings in the world’s top museums may well be fake.

teen contestants Emil Bergquist dersen from Sweden and David from Austria shared a $3 million

who made his fortune in canned iced coffee, notes in the ad that the estate boasts a winery "for social meetings and dining," and that residents "can enjoy walking, fishing, shopping, kayaking, bird watching, swimming or looking at the nice animals."

The bowl is pretty and small, and also represents the “peak of painting on porcelain.” The Chinese antique went for $25.3 million at an auction with an unknown entity scooping up the ”highly important” artifact crafted sometime in the mid-18th century, per CNN.

“The superb painting of two loving swallows beside a flowering apricot tree intertwined with a willow tree is complemented by a short poem evocative of the spring,” reads the description of the bowl, sold on the Sotheby’s site.

Michael, who died in 2016 at age 53, had a banner year in 2023. Last summer, Netflix released WHAM!, a well-received documentary about the pop music duo Michael started

There are also stables and an indoor equestrian center on-site, and Reipen says, "If you would like to bring your own horse it is possible." Interested parties who prefer privacy will like that the property is an hour and a half from the nearest large town or city. The current government under Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern put in place a ban on foreigners owning homes in New Zealand, but Reipen scooped up

The bowl, painted during the time

of the Yongzheng Emperor, who ruled over China from 1722 to 1735, is an example of falangcai (“foreign colors”) ceramics, “among the rarest and most celebrated imperial ceramic wares of the Qing dynasty.” The porcelain pieces from this group were fired in the kilns of the city of Jingdezhen, then brought to the imperial workshops within Beijing’s Forbidden City. The emperor himself would greenlight the design, and then painters would finish the enamel job, before the pieces were fired a second time for completion.

with Andrew Ridgeley. In the fall, Michael, who had a hugely successful solo career after the band split up, was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. And four decades after the group’s “Last Christmas” was released, it topped the UK Christmas charts in December.

With a total prize pool of $40 provided by Epic Games, Fortnite’s rent company, the tournament broke e-sports record, though that record cted to be broken by an August event led “The International” Giersdorf, player in the North American East to qualify for the tournament, was nant in the six-game series, beating including runner-up Harrison Chang, who took home $1.8 Giersdorf was hugged by his family the win. “This is life-changing for mother Darcy Giersdorf says. “He’s playing video games since he was this is his passion. He told us he could this, he put his mind to it and he

This particular bowl changed hands multiple times over the years, most recently landing in the possession of collector Alice Cheng, who scooped it up in 2006 for $19.3 million. The sale was just one of many in the auction house’s Hong Kong spring block, whose art sales saw nearly $210 million collected. Nicolas Chow, chair of Sotheby’s Asia division, called this week’s auctions “exceptional” and noted that China’s artworks remain “at the forefront of our business.”

the property years before te. He still had to get nation's Overseas Investment which signed off on it determined he had and means to build and maintain it. "It to bring it to the standard writes in the ad. It's ture dwellers in Reipen's med utopia will be selected.

George Michael Entertainment said it was deeply honored by the new coins. “He would have been enormously proud and genuinely touched that a national institution should have decided to pay tribute to his memory in this way,” the organization said in a statement. The Mint has previously created commemorative coins for David Bowie, Elton John, the Rolling Stones, and Queen.

T. Rex Skeleton Sold at Auction for $6.2M

Our Next Chapter

by Dale J. Venturini, President/CEO, Rhode Island Hospitality Association

As many of you have undoubtedly heard, I concluded my 35-year tenure as president/chief executive officer of the RI Hospitality Association (RIHA) at the end of February. As I pen this farewell column, I’m filled with a profound sense of gratitude and nostalgia. After more than three decades at the helm of the Association, which together we built into an incredibly important voice for our industry in the state house and in the community, the time has come for me to pass the baton.

My journey began in 1988 when I was recruited by visionary leaders and local restaurateurs Ned Grace of the Capital Grille, Bill DeAngelus Jr. of Twin Oaks, and Ted Fuller of Gregg’s Restaurants & Taverns. During my tenure and with the support of our staff, members, and the community atlarge, RIHA has flourished as the state’s premier advocacy group for the hospitality sector. We have achieved a significant expansion in our reach, a substantial increase in our membership, and have successfully advocated for the industry in the state house. The founding of the RI Hospitality Education Foundation (RIHEF) and the Hospitality Training Academy stand as pivotal achievements, underscoring our dedication to nurturing the next generation of industry leaders and providing welltrained, well-equipped staff.

At times the challenges were many, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. We navigated and provided guidance through restrictions, provided financial relief to displaced employees, adapted training methods, and launched the “Be Kind” campaign, among other initiatives. These efforts were not just about survival, but also about fostering a resilient and adaptable industry to meet this challenge.

There is no one better to continue this work at this moment than Heather R. Singleton, whom I am thrilled to announce as the Interim President/CEO of RIHA. Heather, with her extensive 25-plusyear experience in the industry and remarkable leadership skills, is the ideal person to steer

RIHA during this transitional phase. Her contributions as RIHA’s chief operating officer have been invaluable, and her work across various educational and advisory roles demonstrates her commitment to both RIHA and the broader hospitality sector.

Heather’s distinguished career includes positions on the International Society of Hotel Associations board, the State of Rhode Island’s Special Legislative Commission addressing economic and social issues related to shortterm rentals, the Governor’s Workforce Board Local Area Advisory Committee, and as chairperson of the National Restaurant Association Certification Governing Committee. Her academic credentials from Johnson & Wales University, along with her recognition on the 2007 Women of Influence list and Providence Business News’ “40 Under Forty,” highlight her exceptional abilities and commitment. Heather is well-equipped to lead RIHA during this interim period.

As I transition out of my role, I am confident in Heather’s ability to maintain and enhance RIHA’s commitments to advocacy, education, and innovation, ensuring the organization’s continued success during this interim phase.

To the members, staff, and countless friends I’ve made along the way, thank you for an incredible journey. Your support, dedication, and passion for the industry have been the driving force behind our success. As I embark on this new chapter in my life, I will carry the many memories and lessons of these wonderful years.

No matter where my journey takes me, RIHA’s Culture of Community and its ‘Eight Cs’ remain constant. These guiding values, both for RIHA and for me personally, encompass cooperation, collaboration, communication, connection, curiosity, compassion, civility, and camaraderie. They are the foundational principles that have steered my actions and decisions, and I am confident they will continue to inspire and guide the future endeavors of RIHA. Thank you for 35 incredible years. I will always consider the hospitality community my home.

As they say in Italian: Gli amici sono la famiglia che scegliamo noi stessi. Friends are the family we choose ourselves.

Heather R. Singleton

Your body burns more calories in colder climates than warmer ones.

WHAT’S UP WITH THAT?

Holding money in your hand can help reduce stress and pain.

WHAT’S UP WITH THAT?

There’s no word in the English language that rhymes with ‘silver’.

WHAT’S UP WITH THAT?

51% of Americans use subtitles all or most of the time when watching TV shows and movies.

WHAT’S UP WITH THAT?

While only 8.4% of Americans don’t wear seat belts, nearly half of all people killed in car crashes didn’t have them buckled.

WHAT’S UP WITH THAT?

Forgetting minor details, such as the

of someone you’ve just met, helps your brain maintain efficiency by prioritizing more important information.

WHAT’S UP WITH THAT?

By Al Milukas

Al enjoys discovering great food, creative cocktails, and the people who make them. Listen to him on the Paul & Al show, weekdays on 94HJY. For more blogs delivered to your e-mail, sign up at www.livethelive.com.

Reuben Soup

FRESH CORN AND TOMATO SALAD

ASIAN NOODLES WITH PEANUT SAUCE

Why have soup and a sandwich when your soup can be your sandwich?

This is a salad you want to make now, while corn and tomatoes are still in season, but I’ve found that frozen organic corn and greenhouse tomatoes work pretty darn well.

I had all of the ingredients to make a Reuben sandwich. But I wanted soup. So I made Reuben Soup!

The same idea as a French Onion Soup with Reuben ingredients.

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs. fresh or frozen organic corn

• 1 container grape tomatoes, chopped

• 1 small red onion, finely chopped

• 6 oz. mild crumbled cheese, like cotija or feta

• 1 package (5 oz.) organic baby arugula

• 1 teaspoon Fleur de Sel

• 1 teaspoon black pepper

• 1 tablespoon capers, drained

• 2 teaspoons white balsamic vinegar

• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Directions:

INGREDIENTS:

Rye bread slices

• If you’re using fresh corn, remove it from the ears, then pan saute it in a little olive oil, but leave it nice and crisp. If you can roast the ears of corn over some coals, even better. If you’re using frozen corn, pan saute in a little olive oil. Set the corn aside to cool.

Sauerkraut, drained and rinsed

Chicken stock

Pastrami, sliced thinly

• Mix the corn with all the other ingredients in a bowl. Cover and refrigerate.

Swiss cheese, sliced thinly

• Right before serving, taste and season it again, mixing well. I think it’s best a little cooler than room temperature.

I like to take the sauerkraut, rinse it under cold water, and toss it in a pot that already has some finely chopped bacon and onions cooking in it. Once the ingredients have cooked down, set it aside. (If you prefer not to use bacon and onions, that's fine, too.)

There’s something about Asian noodle dishes that make them incredibly addictive. They’re great hot or cold, and easy to make at home, which is important to me because I live in the boonies, about 30 miles from my favorite Asian restaurant. I store an arsenal of basic Asian ingredients in my pantry, so slapping this together is no effort at all. And if you don’t have Asian noodles around, chances are you’ve got a box of pasta, which works just as well.

To make this recipe gluten-free, I use Gluten Free pasta, and you can find gluten-free hoisin sauce in the Asian food section of most supermarkets.

Ingredients:

• 4 tablespoons creamy peanut butter

• 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce

• 2 teaspoons sesame oil

• 1 teaspoon Chinese chili garlic sauce (more, if you like it spicy!)

• 16 oz. package Chinese noodles or pasta

Find a source for great pastrami, like a good neighborhood deli.

Directions:

Heat the chicken stock in a pot. Take the thinly sliced pastrami and chop it up into bite-sized pieces. Place the pastrami in the chicken stock to warm through. Keep the stock warm on low heat.

• Combine the peanut butter, hoisin sauce, sesame oil, and chili garlic sauce in a bowl. Set it aside. I keep my peanut butter in the fridge once the jar is open, so sometimes it’s a bit thick. So I just zap it in the microwave for about 10 seconds to soften it up.

Now you're ready to assemble...

• Boil the noodles or pasta until al dente. Drain it and place it in a large bowl.

• Mix the noodles with the sauce.

Take an oven-proof soup bowl. Line the bottom with some rye bread. On top of that, place a nice helping of the sauerkraut. Pour the warm chicken stock with the pastrami over the sauerkraut. Layer slices of Swiss cheese over the top of the bowl. Place it under the broiler until melted. Enjoy!

74 YEARS

Age Gracefully With Functional Training

By Stacie Venagro | 2017 World Miss Fitness America Pro

As we gracefully navigate through the passage of time, maintaining our physical well-being becomes increasingly vital. Embracing functional training emerges as a key component in ensuring a healthier and more active lifestyle, as we age. Unlike traditional workout routines that often isolate specific muscle groups, functional training emphasizes movements that mimic daily activities, enhancing overall functionality and reducing the risk of injuries.

often overlooked in conventional workout routines. The coordination and concentration required for multi-joint movements stimulates the brain, fostering improved cognitive function and mental acuity. Engaging both the body and mind in functional training can contribute to enhanced overall well-being, as we age.

Furthermore, functional exercises promote the development of functional strength—strength that directly translates into improved performance in everyday activities. Whether it’s lifting groceries, getting up from a chair, or reaching for items on a high shelf, functional training ensures that our muscles work harmoniously to meet the demands of daily life.

FOR TICKETS: text 489-8839 or call Thirsty Beaver 270-7686

One of the primary benefits of functional training for seniors is its focus on improving balance and stability. As we age, the risk of falls and related injuries becomes more pronounced. Functional exercises, such as lunges, squats, and balancing drills, help fortify core muscles and enhance proprioception, ultimately contributing to better stability and a reduced risk of falls.

Maintaining joint flexibility is another crucial aspect of functional training. Incorporating exercises that involve a full range of motion helps lubricate joints, preventing stiffness, and promoting better overall joint health. This becomes particularly pertinent as we age and encounter the natural decline in flexibility that can impact daily activities.

Functional training also targets cognitive health, an aspect

Adaptability is a key feature of functional training, making it accessible for individuals with varying fitness levels and health conditions. Tailoring routines to address specific needs and challenges allows seniors to reap the benefits of a personalized approach, fostering a sense of empowerment and accomplishment.

Functional training is a valuable ally in the quest for a healthier and more active lifestyle, as we age. By focusing on movements that align with daily tasks, enhancing balance, flexibility, and cognitive function, functional training not only helps seniors maintain their independence, but also ensures a more resilient and vibrant quality of life. So, let’s embrace the aging process with open arms and functional movements, redefining what it means to age gracefully.

Stacie Venagro Fitness

161 Macklin Street, Cranston

Dynamic Thoughts

By: Dr. Pete Dionisopoulos, PT, DPT

Zone 2 training has been the most popular thing in the fitness world this past year or so, and it isn’t just some fad. The only thing that is misleading is that people think it is a revolutionary way to exercise. Truth be told, this method has been around for decades and only became mainstream thanks to popular podcasters and fitness influencers on social media copying one another.

So what is this Zone 2 training all about?

It is a specific exertion level of cardiovascular exercise that utilizes primarily fat cells and provides health benefits, such as improving blood pressure, lowering resting heart rate, improving stress tolerance/mood, improving sleep quality, and increasing recovery.

Generally, this is done with continuous work at a steady pace, such as walking. hiking, biking, swimming, or jogging. The nice thing about this is that it doesn’t matter what you do. The only thing that you need to do to unlock these incredible benefits is be consistent over a period of time.

It will take about 6-8 weeks to see some significant changes at about 2-3 sessions per week. The work should be for a minimum of 30min, and the intensity is talking with slight resistance. Basically, you can’t tell a massive story, but you are able to speak sentences and not work so hard that you can only get 1-3 words out at a time.

This has been used as the primary training method for most athletes to speed up recovery and improve their overall work capacity. Depending on the sport, this can take up about 80% of an athlete’s training volume vs all-out efforts and make them feel like they are going to die.

If you feel overwhelmed and don’t know where to start, give us a call!

12 Industrial Land, Johnston, RI 02919

401-702-0293

OVEREATING VS. BINGE EATING

And How to Stop

By: Susan Gazerro

Everyone overeats from time to time, however, overeating and binge eating are very different. Binge eating is when you eat a lot of food in just a few hours, even if you are not hungry. Binge eating is also more dangerous than just overeating. When you binge eat, you compulsively overeat, without having the need to eat. People usually do this to drown out emotions, and almost always feel regret or shame after binge eating. All eating disorders are awful, and to overcome them, you must first understand what is causing them.

There is always an underlying issue, as to why people turn to food for comfort. The questions that may require thought are…What’s missing in one’s life? What is causing the depression? What changes have recently taken place, causing binge eating? What is the added stress in their life that may be contributing to this problem? The frequency of binge eating is said to occur at least twice a week, for six months, and it’s typically done in privacy. People who binge eat don’t like to go out to eat or be around people, so as to keep their illness a secret from those around them.

If you are wondering if you binge eat, ask yourself the following questions. Are there some days, even though you want to stop eating, you’re not able to stop yourself? Are there some days you surprise yourself with how much food you can eat in a short period of time? Do you ever feel guilty after realizing how much food you have consumed at any one or combined sitting? At the end of each day, do you find yourself saying, “Tomorrow, I am going to stop binging.”

Here are some differences between overeating and binge eating. Both of these involve mindless behavior, meaning that one eats too much, without even thinking about it. If food is in front of you, without a second thought, you consume it. But, there are real differences between these two disorders. One example of overeating is having more than one dessert after a meal. Another example is finishing an entire bag of popcorn, while watching TV or a movie. An example of binge eating is when you sneak a large bag of chocolate or candy into your room, and finish all of it, while doing it discreetly. Binge eating

is also eating an entire cake in one sitting, and immediately feeling guilty, or finishing three burgers, even when you know you are uncomfortably full.

There is also something referred to as “emotional eating.” This type of eating is due to a stressful event, such as a breakup or a death, but could also be related to a happy event. For example, emotional eating can occur after a friend or loved one announces an engagement, when you learn about someone you know, winning the lottery, or when you hear that a friend or family member is expecting a baby, etc. Some people eat simply because they are sad or depressed, and some people are what I refer to as “happy eaters.” I, personally, cannot eat when I am sad or stressed. I am, though, a happy eater. There are plenty of people who turn to food when they are feeling down. Food becomes comfort for them, but the reality is that the comfort is short lived. Once someone with this issue realizes how they feel after eating for emotional reasons, they are creating a habit of turning to food for comfort.

If you think you may be a binge eater, or have an eating disorder, consider talking with a doctor or therapist. Only a trained mental health professional can diagnose your condition. Now, contrary to what you just read, there are times when overeating is not considered an eating disorder. As Americans, we tend to overeat, in general. However, to bring this all together, frequent or compulsive overeating, especially if you feel out of control during these times, is a main symptom of binge eating. Overeating can also be a symptom of other eating disorders like bulimia nervosa. Again, let a professional help you sort it out. The first step in getting help is talking with a primary care doctor (PCP). Your medical doctors can help you get to the root of the problem, which is really the only way to heal oneself. A PCP can refer you to a mental health professional, who specializes in eating disorders and is able to diagnose the condition. They can also suggest therapy, or they may even provide medication.

One thing to keep in mind is that weight loss programs are considered to be the wrong approach when treating eating disorders. If your doctor or therapist suggests you should try to lose weight, consider switching to a different healthcare professional. The world, today, seems to be all about appearance, and young girls are most vulnerable. It is more important to them to look good or be skinny, than it is to be healthy. Consequently, it is vital that they are taught how to avoid thinking negatively about themselves and how to develop a healthy self-esteem from when they are at a very young age. To prevent eating disorders, females, especially (although males can also be afflicted by these disorders), need to believe that they are perfect just the way they are, and learn to love themselves, unconditionally.

Eating disorders are no joke. They are serious illnesses, which need to be treated as such, and building confidence at a young age can be a significant preventative measure to help prevent them from developing.

12 Things You Didn’t Know

12 Things You Didn’t Know

1. Smoking a single cigarette shortens your life expectancy by about 11 minutes on average.

1. 2.

Charles F. Feeney has given away $8 billion—he now has $2 million to live on.

Spanish just for the purpose of trash talking opponents.

The sentence “the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog” uses every letter in the English language.

The world’s first labor strike was held on the site of a pyramid.

New research has found that the more visually creative a person is, the lower the quality of their sleep.

MC Hammer once challenged Michael Jackson to a dance-off.

2. A single strand of spaghetti is called a “spaghetto”.

The average American woman now weighs as much as the average 1960s man.

The world’s oldest hotel has been operating since 705 AD in Japan.

3. Bats eat an average of 6,000 to 8,000 insects every night.

All of the Rugrats were voiced by women.

The average human eats 8 spiders in their lifetime, at night.

Subscriptions to streaming music services increased by 50% in 2016, totaling 92 million.

Research shows that the creativity may begin in the cerebellum, rather than the “right brain.”

The name tag on Heath Ledger’s nurse uniform in “The Dark Knight” read “Mathilda” the name of the actor’s daughter.

The average human eats 22 flies in their lifetime, at night.

In a group of 23 people, there is a 50% chance that 2 of them will share the same birthday.

4. An Arizona man once escaped prison to meet with his girlfriend on Valentine’s Day. He crawled past razor wire, scaled two fences, and made his way to a bar roughly 10 miles away before being captured.

According to an extensive study, the best day to buy plane tickets is Sunday—especially if you’re booking more than 21 days in advance.

Making art has been found to lower stress hormone levels in most people, regardless of skill.

A rhinoceros horn is made of compacted hair.

You can control the volume of a YouTube video by using the up and down arrows on your keyboard.

One man, without help and without proper construction tools, spent 34 years building the Watts Towers, which still stand in Los Angeles.

5. Worker bees are all female, and they’re the only ones that can sting. The males are just used for reproduction.

Studies show that, when it comes to food, the human brain is bad at judging quantity increases but accurate at judging quantity decreases.

A U.S. study found that the most disproportionately common interest found on people’s resumes in New Hampshire is “Bigfoot.”

In New York City, about 1,600 people are bitten by other humans every year.

The shortest war in history was between Zanzibar and England in 1896. Zanzibar surrendered after 38 minutes.

6. The average person touches their face 16 to 23 times every hour.

Louisiana has the highest incarceration rate of any U.S. state, and New Orleans has the highest incarceration rate of any city in the state.

50% of Netflix users watch an entire season of a show in a week.

A new U.S. study has found that economy round-trip and one-way airline tickets are the lowest they’ve been since 2013.

The design of the tallest residential building in the world, 432 Park Avenue in Manhattan, was inspired by a trash can.

A polar bear’s skin is black. Its fur is not white, but actually clear.

Samsung has been granted a patent in South Korea for contact lenses that project images directly into the wearer’s eyes.

7. The average millennial has already worked as many jobs as most people in their 50s have throughout their entire career.

By 2050, it’s estimated that four trucks of plastic waste will be added to the ocean every minute.

Studies show the key to happiness is spending your money on experiences rather than possessions.

Studies show the key to happiness is spending your money on experiences rather than possessions.

Donald Duck comics were banned in Finland because he doesn’t wear pants.

By 2017, it is estimated that nearly 207 billion emails will be sent every day.

Research shows that kids are more likely to be honest when they know it will please their parents, even if their parents still punish them.

8. The average honey bee produces 1/12th of a teaspoon of honey in its lifetime. Two tablespoons of honey would give a bee enough energy to fly around the world.

On average, early risers writing emails between 4am and 8am make 11.8 mistakes per 100 words.

Air Jordans were banned from the NBA, however Michael Jordan always wore them as Nike was willing to pay the fine for each game.

More people are killed by donkeys annually than are killed in plane crashes.

A recent study found that higher blood pressure in an expectant mother is associated with having a boy.

Studies suggest that gifted people often have bad handwriting because their brains work faster than their hands.

A study found that only 24% of Canadians know that Queen Elizabeth II is their head of state.

Studies show Americans ages 18-29 are far more stressed out that anyone else in the country.

Shakespeare invented the words “assassination” and “bump.”

9. Macaulay Culkin was paid $100,000 for “Home Alone” and $4.5 million for “Home Alone 2”.

In 2015, Americans wrote out 17.3 billion checks. In the same year, they made 69.5 billion debit card purchases.

Cheetos are naturally gray before they are given a bright orange artificial color.

Cotton candy only costs about six cents per serving to make, including the cardboard cone.

Research has found that, on average, a person’s social media writing contains three times as many mistakes as their emails.

If you keep a goldfish in the dark room, it will eventually turn white.

10. On average, the popcorn you buy at movie theaters is sold at a 1,275% markup.

Looking through Instagram accounts of healthy meals can actually trick you into enjoying those foods more than you otherwise would, a study found.

According to a survey, 67% of hiring managers cite lack of eye contact as the biggest mistake candidates make in interviews.

According to NASA, the perfect nap should last no more than 26 minutes.

The name of all the continents end with the same letter that they start with.

Amy Schumer is the only woman ever to land on Forbes’s list of the world’s highest-paid comedians.

11. 95% of California avocados sold today are descended from a single tree planted in 1926 by a Milwaukee postman.

Women are statistically better drivers then men.

New research has found that the NFL players that incur the most penalties get arrested more than their teammates.

According to USDA projections, by 2025 Americans will consume 219 pounds of meat per year on average.feeling to occur.

The word “lethologica” describes the state of not being able to remember the word you want.

Studies suggest that eye contact must be held for about 8.2 seconds for that “Love at first sight” feeling to occur.

It cost $15 million to build Disneyland’s New Orleans Square—the amount the U.S. paid for the real New Orleans in the Louisiana Purchase.

12. Not only do quick naps increase alertness, but they also improve decision-making, creativity, and sensory perception.

Unveiling the Blueprint:

Prioritizing Locomotion for Individuals Over 50

By Kevin Kearns

Within the functional training paradigm encompassing 8 key elements of fitness, one stands out as paramount, particularly in my humble assessment: locomotion.

Reflecting on my tenure as a consultant for Tufts Medical Bariatric Surgery, I recall a pivotal lesson imparted by the lead exercise physiologist: “Move to Improve.” Regardless of surgical interventions aimed at weight loss, the imperative of movement persisted as a cornerstone for weight maintenance, and the enhancement of both healthspan and lifespan.

From a functional training perspective, I hold a particular affinity for the agility ladder. Its allure lies in its portability, adaptability to all skill levels, and its efficacy in enhancing foot coordination and kinesthetic awareness—our sense of body positioning in space. As we mature, this kinesthetic awareness tends to diminish, necessitating proactive efforts to maintain it. Irrespective of one’s chosen fitness regimen, locomotion emerges as an indispensable component for sustaining vitality.

It’s not uncommon to witness individuals opting for early retirement, only to succumb to sedentary lifestyles and subsequent health deterioration. The adage, “move to improve,” echoes resoundingly here. While traditional warm-up methods like treadmill or elliptical routines effectively prime muscles for exercise, they often fall short in preparing individuals for the dynamic demands of daily life.

In my practice, I prioritize functional warm-up routines, utilizing the agility ladder, supplemented with boxing, Muay Thai footwork, and Filipino stick (kali) fighting techniques. Beyond merely elevating heart rates, these activities cultivate essential agility—a skill with far-reaching implications for everyday functionality.

By integrating such practices into our warm-up protocols, we not only promote cardiovascular health, but also equip individuals with the agility necessary to navigate life’s myriad of challenges, with grace and resilience.

This element, or better known as the “pillar” of human movement, exists every day and needs to be put into every regimen, in my professional opinion. It is very simple to add 5 -10 minutes of agility work, or “locomotion,” to your fitness programming. Even without an agility ladder, one can mimic these movements, even in a hotel room, while being a “road warrior“ for work. As well, we should take a page from our children, and “play” more often.

Whenever I run a workshop or class for children, they all tend to love the agility ladder, without me even telling them the benefits of this element of fitness. So, my suggestion is to take some of these drills from this article and incorporate them, today, into your fitness regimen.

BE RELENTLESS!

The Irish Influence In Rhode Island

By Paul Lonardo

There is a lot to love about St. Patrick’s Day, whether it’s getting decked out in green, indulging in a cold beer (green or otherwise), partaking in the holiday staple that is corned beef and cabbage, or enjoying a St. Patty’s parade. It’s all about Irish pride, but for those who may not be Irish themselves it’s about honoring the contributions made to our communities by Irish Americans and celebrating alongside them.

According to Irishcentral.com, people who are of Irish ancestry make up 24% of the population in Rhode Island, which is behind only Massachusetts (28%) and surprisingly Delaware (24.5%).

The impact Irish Americans have had on our state is more than just sheer numbers. Their contributions over the past two centuries have been significant and continue to this day.

Rhode Island experienced its first real wave of the emigrants from Ireland in the early 1820s. They came seeking work, which usually involved manual labor such as the digging of the Blackstone Valley channel. It was a hard existence that was not without a degree of discrimination that had to be tolerated. “Diggers” like Michael Reddy not only persevered but thrived. Reddy was believed to be the first Catholic to take up permanent residence in Woonsocket. He settled on Front Street as a farmer, becoming a leader in the growing Irish community and organizing the first Catholic service there in 1828. As a result, Woonsocket became a stronghold for Irish immigrants, but in the 1840’s Rhode Island saw a massive influx of Irish fleeing their homeland as a result of the Great Hunger, or the Great Famine (aka The Irish Potato Famine), a period of starvation and disease in Ireland the lasted from 1845 to 1852. During this time, roughly 1 million people died and more than 2 million more fled the country, causing a loss of nearly a quarter of its population and creating

one of the greatest exoduses from a single island in history. It was this tragedy in part that brought many of the Irish to our shores, and by the end of the 19th century the Irish becamethe largest ethnic group in Rhode Island.

Joseph Banigan was the first Irish Catholic millionaire in Providence. A young Banigan, along with his parents, was part of the wave of Irish‑Catholic refugees who fled the Potato Famine in Ireland. Arriving in Rhode Island in 1847 at eight years old, he dropped out of school a year later and began working, apprenticing in the jewelry industry and learning about the production of rubber products. He was only twenty when he discovered a way to bypass the vulcanization patent of Charles Goodyear, and in 1867 he opened the Woonsocket Rubber Company. According to the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame, Banigan employed a progressive agenda ranging from labor relations to the latest production methods to build his venture into the premier establishment of its kind in the United States. He sold his company in 1893 for an whopping $9,000,000, and in 1896 he built Providence’s first skyscraper, the ten story Banigan Building on Weybosset Street. Banigan’s philanthropic endeavors included establishing the Home for the Aged Poor, St. Vincent De Paul Infant Asylum, St Joseph’s Hospital, and St. Maria’s Home for Working Girls.

Bishop Thomas Francis Hendricken, born in Kilkenny, was ordained the first bishop of Providence in 1872. Hendricken oversaw construction of the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Providence, and Warwick’s Bishop Hendricken High School was named in his honor.

John Treacy, a native of Villierstown, County Waterford, was a long-distance runner who graduated from Providence College in 1978 and won a silver medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. His brother Ray Treacy, a 1982 PC graduate, has been a highly successful Head Coach/Director of Cross Country and Track at Providence for the past thirty nine years.

Patrick J. McCarthy became Providence’s first foreign born mayor in 1906, which was by no means an easy accomplishment. McCarthy was born in County Sligo, Ireland and emigrated in 1850 at age two. After losing both his parents to typhus, he spent his childhood being shuffled between various relatives and orphanages. He took whatever work he could, taking classes at night and eventually earning a Harvard law degree, after which he relocated to Providence and entered the political arena.

J. Joseph Garrahy, a son of Irish immigrants, was our state’s 53rd governor, serving from 1977 to 1985. Providenceborn Garrahy was referred to as the ‘people’s governor,’ and is best known for how he handled the state during the weatherrelated crisis that was The Blizard of ’78.

Irish women contributed greatly to the state’s economy as well, working in textiles mills and becoming teachers, ultimately changing labor relations forever. Others shattered early glass ceilings, including Florence Kerins Murray, who was a high ranking officer in the Women’s Army Corps during WWII. Murray became the first woman to be elected to the state senate. In 1956, she was the first woman appointed as a Superior Court judge in Rhode Island, and in 1978 she was appointed Chief Justice of the Rhode Island Superior Court. The Newport County Courthouse was renamed the Florence K. Murray Judicial Complex in 1990, the first time a courthouse in the United States was named in honor of a female jurist.

These are only some of the most well-known Irish Americans who’ve made impactful contributions to Rhode Island. There have been, and continue to be, untold numbers of Irish Americans who are part of the rich, historical fabric of our state. This if what we all celebrate on St. Patrick’s Day each year. However you may choose to show your appreciation for all that the Irish have done for Rhode Island, wearing green socks or drinking green beer, March 17th is the one day a year when we are all Irish.

STATE THE FACTS...

1 out of every 8 Americans have been employed by McDonald’s at some point.

Rhode Island Trivia

Rhode Island History

California's State Animal Doesn't Exist in California. Before the mid-1800s, thousands of grizzly bears could be found across California—so much that the animal became the state’s official animal. Nowadays, all of the grizzlies are gone

Apple has more money than the U.S. Treasury.

The Cogswell Tower in Central Falls was the site of an Indian observation point in use during King Phillips War in 1676. The tower was built in 1904 as part of the last will and testament of Caroline Cogswell.

In Montana, cows out number people 3 to 1.

Harvard Was the First University In the United States. The University was founded in 1636, in Cambridge, Massachusetts right across the Charles River from Boston.

The Cogswell Tower in Central Falls was the site of an Indian observation point in use during King Phillips War in 1676. The tower was built in 1904 as part of the last will and testament of Caroline Cogswell.

Though most Americans speak English, we have no official national language.

Rhode Island never ratified the 18th Amendment prohibition.

Rhode Island never ratified the 18th Amendment prohibition.

Judge Darius Baker imposed the first jail sentence for speeding in an automobile on August 28, 1904 in Newport.

The First Face Of The $1 Bill Wasn’t George Washington it was Salmon P. Chase. The first $1 bill was issued during the Civil War in 1862. Salmon Chase was the Secretary of Treasury at that time and was also the designer of the country’s first bank notes.

Medical errors are the 6th leading cause of death in the US.

Judge Darius Baker imposed the first jail sentence for speeding in an automobile on August 28, 1904 in Newport.

Polo was played for the first time in the United States in 1876 near Newport.

Virginia has birthed more presidents than any other state.

27% of Americans don’t believe we landed on the moon.

Rhode Island was the last of the original thirteen colonies to become a state.

Rhode Island was home to the first National Lawn Tennis Championship (the precursor to the U.S. Open) in 1881. It was held at the Newport Casino.

Ohio Wasn’t Formally a State Until 1953. Ohio congressman George H. Bender brought a bill to the U.S. Congress asking them to retroactively admit his state into the United States of America. (That’s why, despite the bill being passed in the ‘50s, Ohio’s official founding date is 1803.)

If you have $10 in your pocket and no debt, you are wealthier than 25% of Americans.

Russia Sold Alaska to the United States for Pennies. Alaska is the largest state in the United States, and was sold for a total of $7.2 million, which amounts to about 2 cents per acre. The state was purchased in 1867.

The White Horse Tavern was built in 1673 and is the oldest operating tavern in the United States.

100 acres of pizza are served in the US every day.

St. Mary’s, Rhode Island’s oldest Roman Catholic parish was founded in 1828. The church is best known as the site of the wedding of Jacqueline Bouvier to John Fitzgerald Kennedy in 1953.

Rhode Island Red Monument in Adamsville pays homage to the world-famous poultry breed.

Americans spend roughly 4.4 years of their life at each of their jobs.

The state was home to the first open golf tournament. The event occurred in 1895.

Only Two States Don’t Practice Daylight Savings Time. Though legislators in some states have tried and failed to pass laws to get rid of daylight savings time, all 48 contiguous states practice the measure. But, if you hate resetting your clock twice a year, may we suggest moving to Hawaii or Arizona? Neither state does.

Rhode Island founder Roger Williams established the First Baptist Church in America in 1638. The existing structure was built in 1775.

The Library of Congress is keeping an archive of every tweet ever tweeted.

The first circus in the United States was in Newport in 1774.

Ann and Hope was the first discount department store in the United States the property was opened in Rhode Island.

22 million chickens are consumed in the US every day.

Settled in 1642 Pawtuxet Village in Warwick lays claim to being New England’s oldest village.

1 out every 3 Americans is obese.

The Empire State Building Has Its Own Zip Code. It happened in 1980, and the zip code is 10188. The building was declared a landmark on May 18th, 1981, by New York City’s Landmarks Preservation Commission, and in 1982 The Empire State Building was listed on the State and National Register of Historic Places.

George M. Cohan was born in Providence in 1878. He wrote, “I’m a Yankee Doodle Dandy,” “You’re a Grand Old Flag,” and a wide variety of other musical entertainment.

Portsmouth is home to the oldest schoolhouse in the United States. The school was built in 1716.

There’s Enough Concrete in the Hoover Dam to Span the Nation.

The White Horse Tavern in Rhode Island was built in 1673 and is the oldest operating tavern in the United States.

The United States could build a two-lane highway from San Francisco to New York City. There is 3.25 million cubic yards, to be exact. It also weighs more than 600,000 tons.

Since 1785 Bristol has the longest running, unbroken series of 4th of July Independence Day observances in the country.

Rhode Islanders were the first to take military action against England by sinking one of her ships in the Narragansett Bay located between Newport and Providence. The English ship was called “The Gaspee”.

Put Your Year-End Bonus to Work

By: Edward Pontarelli Jr.

For many Americans, the start of a new year is the time they find out if they received a year-end bonus. If you are anticipating one, take some time to think about how you want to use this hard-earned money. Consider the ideas below before the money hits your bank account.

Supplement your investment contributions. Consider applying your bonus to an employer-sponsored 401(k), up to the maximum allowable amount. Take advantage of your employer match, if applicable. Alternatively, since it’s also wise to diversify your investment dollars, you could apply your bonus, up to the amount allowed in your situation with an IRA. Depending on your adjusted gross income (AGI), both 401(k) and traditional IRA contributions may help reduce your annual tax bill, as you grow your savings over time.

Set aside funds in a health savings account (HSA). If you have a high-deductible medical plan, you may be able to make tax-deductible contributions to an HSA. The funds grow tax free and roll over, year to year. The money can be withdrawn, tax-free, to pay for qualified medical expenses today and in the future.

Save for education costs. Invest your bonus in an education savings plan to get a head start on future costs related to elementary and secondary school, college, or trade school. You can open a 529 account on behalf of a beneficiary to fund their future education expenses, or contribute to an existing plan. Your contributions may be tax deductible; check with your tax or financial advisor to determine what giving strategy is best for you.

Invest in the stock market. Diversify your investment portfolio by putting bonus money into the stock market. The stock market provides the opportunity to create a balance of active and passive management that fits your financial goals. Talk to your financial advisor to determine how investing in the stock market can be done to accommodate the timeline of your goals (i.e., a vacation, kitchen remodel).

Build emergency reserves. If you don’t already have an emergency fund, consider using this year’s bonus to get one started. Open a separate savings account for this purpose, if you want to reduce the temptation of using it for non-emergency purposes.

Give to the causes you care about. It’s rewarding to give to others. Put your bonus to good use by investing in the community agencies that are important to you. Most nonprofit organizations rely on the generous support of donors to provide the services they offer. As added incentive, you may earn a tax deduction if the organization you fund has tax-exempt status.

Fund your personal growth. Consider investing your bonus dollars in a learning experience, physical activity, or hobby that’s been on your wish list. Perhaps you’ve been meaning to learn a new language, join a pickleball league, or buy art supplies for a new hobby. Applying bonus dollars toward meaningful experiences can energize you personally, and pay dividends at home and at work.

Receiving an annual bonus is a testament to how hard you worked last year, and you should feel confident in how you decide to use it. A financial advisor can work with you to review your goals, investments, risk tolerance, and other factors, and help you make the right plan.

Edward Pontarelli Jr, APMA®, CRPC® is a Financial Advisor and Managing Director with BeaconPoint Wealth Advisors a financial advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. in Providence, RI. He specializes in fee based financial planning and asset management strategies and has been in practice for 23 years.

Please contact him at

https://www.ameripriseadvisors.com/team/beacon-point-

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Protecting Your Financial Stability After a Divorce

By: Carrie McPherson

Like many aspects of divorce, managing your finances after splitting up with your spouse can feel complicated and overwhelming. This is true whether the separation is amicable or acrimonious. Because every divorce is different, it’s wise to consult with your attorney and financial advisor for guidance, but here is a basic primer to help you navigate your finances independently from your ex-spouse.

1

Adjust your budget to match your current lifestyle. Start by calculating your new monthly income, including spousal or child support, if applicable, and estimate what you expect to earn over the next year. If you are a stay-at-home parent or spouse, you may decide to re-enter the workforce to bolster your income. Or, the time may be right to switch careers or seek a side hustle.

Next, look at your spending to see if you need to adjust your patterns. Whether you’ve decided to remain in your home or seek new living arrangements, crunch the numbers to see how much house you can realistically afford. Also, evaluate your lifestyle spending, including entertainment, dining out, and vacations, to see if it’s necessary to trim your expenses. If possible, avoid making any major purchases until you feel comfortable with your updated budget.

Consider your children’s future. If you have children, they will understandably take center stage in your planning. It’s important to start thinking about how you’ll handle future financial milestones. Milestones may include paying for private grade school, college tuition, the down payment on a home, or a wedding. If you’d like to help your children with such expenses, consider these questions: Will you receive financial support from your former spouse? Do you expect your kids to contribute? As each event approaches, be upfront with your kids about what you can afford, so they can set realistic expectations.

Prioritize saving for retirement. No matter how close – or far – you are to retirement, make it a priority to update your retirement goals and continue building your nest egg. You are responsible for your own savings. In fact, the biggest challenge most Americans face financially is having enough money to cover what could be several decades of expenses in retirement. While retirement saving can feel overwhelming as you balance competing financial priorities, having a plan can help you feel more in control.

Ensure you’re protected. An important step following divorce is to maintain, replace, or establish insurance that will help secure your financial future. All forms of insurance should be reviewed and considered, and your beneficiaries should be updated, if needed. Make sure you understand the specific benefits that you and your former spouse are entitled to through your employers, as well as applicable life, health, and disability insurance policies. If you have children, whose health insurance plan will be used to cover them? Work quickly to establish an insurance plan to avoid the financial risk of being uninsured.

Consider the tax implications of your new marital status. Review your situation with a tax professional to see if you need to revise your tax strategy. Divorce can affect your tax situation in several ways. Impacts may include entering a different income tax bracket, providing or receiving child or spousal support, and changes to your investment strategy and your process for handling future tax returns.

Dream and plan for the future. Once you have a handle on your new day-to-day finances and retirement goals, allow yourself to dream and plan for other milestones that are important to you. Do you wish to visit every continent? Pay off your mortgage before retirement? Open a small business? Whatever your dreams, determine the cost of each one so you know how much you’ll need to save. Save what you can each month, and keep in mind that even small amounts will add up over time. If you’re tempted to spend the money elsewhere, consider establishing a separate savings account.

Don’t go it alone. Professional guidance from an attorney, tax professional, estate planner, and financial advisor, can help you make empowered choices that match your new priorities. Financial advisors, like myself, routinely advise clients on how to navigate with the complex decisions that arise during a divorce, and strategies designed to help you meet new financial goals are offered.

Carrie A. McPherson, CRPS®, CDFA®, ChSNC® is a Financial Advisor and Certified Divorce Financial Analyst with BeaconPoint Wealth Advisors, a financial

https://www.ameripriseadvisors.com/team/beacon-point-

Annual 401Gives Campaign Set for April 1

By Mark Berger

Hundreds of charities statewide will look for additional revenue to help their respective causes and missions during the “401Gives” Campaign that kicks off on April 1.

The 24-hour event encourages the nonprofit community to ask for donations, matching contributions and provides incentives in the form of cash and other prizes, for reaching certain financial plateaus.

This event is spearheaded by The United Way of Rhode Island.

More than 500 charitable organizations throughout Rhode Island can get involved in this virtual, on-line event. Any registered organization can sign up on their website, and then encourage their friends, colleagues, coworkers, and other groups to help raise as much funds during that period.

In the 2023 campaign, 401Gives generated several million dollars for various organizations, according to their website.

“On April 1, 2023, 401Gives once again made Rhode Island history by raising over $3.4 million for 546 local nonprofits from over 15,000 donors,” their website posted. It added, “Thank you to all the donors, participating nonprofits, fundraising champions, business fundraisers, sponsors, and media partners for helping to make the 4th annual 401Gives a huge success!”

One of the many ways charities can earn more money is through the event’s incentives. For each hour a group reaches a certain goal set by 401Gives, they are entered into a drawing to win either a cash prize ($1,500 in some cases) or some other gift. These contests are fiercely run and can become really intense.

Regardless of which charity one chooses, just getting a donation from either a new or an existing source can have lasting, positive impacts for the communities and organizations they serve.

Phil Auger, Owner of Grants New England in North Kingstown, can attest to this phenomenon. He works closely with various nonprofit organizations on finding and obtaining grant money to help these causes. He works with clients throughout Rhode Island and Massachusetts, and even outside of New England.

Auger believes both individuals and business owners want to help out their communities in some way. However, they usually do not have available resources to contribute. “This event is one vehicle to enable anyone to make a difference,” he said.

”I am always amazed at the variety of worthy

causes supported by non-profits in Rhode Island,” Auger said. “In our work to assist nonprofits with their grant-writing needs, we have engaged with causes as wide ranging as after-school and summer learning for kids, various health access causes, programs to assist veterans, financial literacy, music therapy, teen mentoring, food pantries, basic needs and social services, recovery programs, historic restoration, and the list goes on and on.”

401Gives provides the platform for any registered nonprofit organization in the state, the ability to generate funds. It doesn’t matter if they raise a few dollars or several hundred thousand dollars. It also does not matter if it’s an established cause or one that just started. Every organization has the chance to make an impact.

Auger believes getting involved is the first step. Getting name recognition would be next, while sharing their story could make something happen.

“Fundraising is difficult work, even for nonprofits that have strong reputations,” he said. “If we all do what we can for the cause or causes that are most meaningful to each of us, it will be a great day for nonprofit fundraising across the state!”

“Focus on the giving, while being assured that the causes included with 401Gives are all worthy of your support and doing important work to

improve our communities,” Auger said.

His advice would be to develop a team now to get started and be prepared for the day of giving.

“For newer start up 501c3 organizations, breaking through to establish relationships with charitable foundations and individual donors is especially challenging,” said Auger. “401Gives provides a platform to draw attention to so many of these truly important needs in Rhode Island that are desperate for financial support. The challenge for those who contribute is to choose among them.”

The public can participate by becoming one of their “Community Champions. They are seen as partners for the 401Gives’ efforts. Community Champions help spread the word about this statewide giving campaign, raising the visibility of the state’s nonprofit sector.

Their biggest function is letting people know about the event and how they can contribute— either monetarily or otherwise, through social media channels and local media outreach.

The 401Gives Campaign starts at 6:00 AM on Monday, April 1, and continues until 6:00am on Tuesday morning at 6:00am.

Anyone who would like to contribute to either one of these groups, or who would like to see where else to donate may visit: www.401Gives.org to learn more about the program and how to donate during that time frame.

American Blind Wholesale Outlet Commitment to Customer Service

By Jennifer Coates

The last few years have afforded home and property owners a rare chance to rethink their interior and exterior designs. Out with the old, tired, and dated materials and in with new, fresh, and colorful ideas! Many considered the possibility of changing their window coverings to not only improve their rooms’ appeal, customers also find that the great insulation value of many window treatments save them money that they were just throwing out the window.

Many of these home and business owners turned to American Blind Wholesale Outlet in North Providence, a longstanding business which prides itself on offering the widest selection of custom blinds, shades and shutters in the area in addition to unparalleled customer service.

Owner Francis Clark said the latter commitment is the foundation of their company. For several decades, the staff have made window coverings their “mission” and, in doing so, have built enduring relationships and loyalty with an ever-growing customer base.

“When you contact us, you will speak with an actual person instead of an automated operator. Our staff have been with us for a long timetwenty years on average. That starts with a six-month training course for new employees to understand the industry and our way of doing things. We don’t just say we offer great customer service, we prove it every day by going above and beyond what customers expect,” Clark said.

“We preach Customer Service, Customer Service, Customer Service…you cannot buy customer service at a big box store, you cannot buy customer service online… At American Blind customer service is FREE!”

American Blind Wholesale Outlet, located at 360 Sunset Avenue, has been in North Providence for 23 years. Prior to this location, the company spent more than a decade in Smithfield. Clark, who graduated from Bryant with a degree in business, went into the industry because “it was something different” from the financial and other similar disciplines that recruited him. From there, he worked at Manufacturing Blinds in the mid-1990s. He purchased that company from the prior owner and set out on his professional journey.

One aspect about American Blind that sets this company apart from its competitors is that they not only sell to other companies selling their products, they also sell directly to the consumer. This has made a big difference and has translated into passing on the savings to his customers. Also helping is Clark’s ability to choose quality products based on his own experience.

Another winning move was when American Blind secured a tractor trailer to make weekly trips from their manufacturing plant in Philadelphia to Rhode Island. That move cut the turnaround time for orders to roughly three to four weeks cutting the normal delivery time in half, Clark understands now especially how important the truck has been in the last year.

“There have been so many issues with the lack of drivers and the supply chain constantly breaking down,” said Clark. “Having our own trailer at our disposal has enabled our customers to get their orders in a timely fashion and without too many hands touching the items.”

American Blind doesn’t use shipping companies, couriers, or other methods because that provides more opportunities for breakage, he said. The truck leaves Philly and arrives in North Providence where the employees directly unload the trailer. Fewer people handling the merchandise means fewer accidents.

People often have strong ideas about what they want for blinds, however, they may lack the technical expertise to handle such a project. Clark said he understands. “Most people are not blind experts; WE ARE. We can come in and make recommendations, take the measurements and do the installation at no additional charge. From start to finish, American Blinds has you covered! Their motto is: “Everything should be this easy”.

To begin, one of American Blinds designers, Linda Arruda or Coreen Pollino will come out to your home or business to measure your windows

for a perfect fit and to help you design the perfect style. Our designers have many years of experience and product knowledge in all aspects of custom window treatments.

Once your order has been fulfilled, their expert installation staff, headed by master installer Ryan Clark, will come back to your home to install your new window treatments professionally. All you have to do is to enjoy them! Ryan is also our motorization expert, motorized blinds today no longer need wiring, they recharge just like a cell phone, but only need to be charged once per year.

Their office manager, Julie Capaldo, is always here for your needs. Whether you have product questions, are setting up a measurement consultation or coordinating the installation of your blinds, you are in great hands with Julie. At American Blind, a dedicated staff will always be there for you; they actually think of everyone as family.

American Blind also has a dedicated service department with technicians who will come to a customer’s residence for blind repairs or to pick up blinds to be repaired. This is different from other places that will simply sell you a blind and after that you’re on your own. “We are all about customer service - our ultimate goal is for our customers to become repeat customers,” Clark said.

Customers not only rely on this top-notch service, they also rely on American Blinds topshelf materials. American Blinds carries only the top brands in the window covering industry

including Hunter Douglas, Worldwide Window Fashions, Graber, Norman Shutters and many more.

Customers will never find subpar or flimsy materials that other well-known outlets may use and then pass off as “quality” materials. Since many people don’t know or understand the difference, those facilities can often “pawn off” their blinds. They also may not have the knowledge of whether a blind is worth investing in or going to need to be replaced in short order.

Clark assures his customers that they are “in this for the long haul. We aren’t here to sell customers an inferior product and go on to the next sale.”

For more details about American Blind Wholesale Outlet, including scheduling an appointment, please contact them at 401-351-5959 during normal business hours. More details may also be found by visiting their website at: www.americanblindwholesaleoutlet.com

Ask An Expert

My name is Tom Lopatosky. I’m the President of LOPCO Contracting (www.LopcoContracting.com) & I’m honored to have the opportunity to talk to you about home improvement on a monthly basis.

I love answering your questions! Please send them to tom@LopcoContracting.com or call 401-270-2664

Thanks in advance for taking the time to read this column!

How To Pick The Correct Paint Sheen

Certainly, one of the more asked questions that I receive when I am having conversations about painting, whether interior or exterior, is what sheen of paint should be used when painting the surfaces that are being coated.

While at the end of the day, the decision really is situational depending on who is viewing the freshly painted surface, both right afterward and in the future, there are certain common themes that should be considered when figuring out what sheen makes the most sense for you individually.

Terminology can vary from one paint manufacturer to another, but as a general rule of thumb, here would be a list of paint sheen terms, listed from lowest to highest sheen, that you may run into most often:

Flat • Matte • Low Lustre • Satin

• Semi (or Soft) Gloss • Gloss • High Gloss

There are some universally accepted truths that should be considered while evaluating which sheen to choose for your project:

- The higher the sheen, the easier the surface will be to clean.

- The higher the sheen, the easier any defects in the surface that is painted will be able to be seen.

-In terms of the exterior, the higher the sheen, the more natural resistance against the Sun’s Ultra-Violet rays, and therefore the more fade resistance.

-Some sheens are looked to as the ‘go-to’ sheens for specific surfaces, almost regardless of the situation.

-Take ceilings as an example, North of 97% of the ceilings we paint are done in a ‘Flat’ sheen.

-The few exceptions I have seen to this are in cases in which someone has a historic home where the ceiling has a super high sheen to it and the owners are working to keep this theme going.

This is generally because many times ‘back in the day’ the mindset was a bit opposite of what it is today, and it was much more commonplace to see a higher sheened ceiling. The one other exception I have run into was in instances where someone was aiming for a specific type of decorative look to their ceiling, either to mimic that of one of these historic ceilings or because it is their personal preference for a higher sheened ceiling.

On the opposite end of the spectrum would be the exteriorfacing side of entry doors – particularly front ones! In these cases, a higher sheen is often preferred, more so for aesthetic purposes than anything else (these higher glosses also tend to be SUPER easy to clean!).

While it is not always necessarily a ‘High Gloss’ (though in many cases a ‘High Gloss’ is definitely desired!!), doors in general are painted a “HIGHER” gloss than one might utilize on other areas of their exterior.

Keep in mind that whether it is the rare instance of it being used on a ceiling, in the application of the exterior side of an entry door, or any other substrate that the finish may be being applied to, the higher the gloss, the trickier the finish will be to work with and the less forgiving any stray brush or application marks will be.

Regardless of the surface that is being painted, ease of application may be a short-term idea that you balance with the benefit of your utopic finish for the surface that you are applying the paint to.

Whether you naturally lean toward liking higher sheens, lower sheens, or somewhere in between, doing a small sample test before you paint is the best way to truly get an idea of what the sheen will ultimately look like when used on a larger scale vs. painting the entire side of your home with a satin finish, when you really would have liked a low lustre finish much better.

Who knows?

You may even surprise yourself and by testing in this manner, you might discover that a sheen which you thought you would like, you do not actually like, and instead be led down a path where you find a sheen that you like much better than you may have ever thought of if you never tried testing!

About Tom Lopatosky

Tom Lopatosky has run his own RI-based painting and repair business since 1995; LOPCO Contracting – the “Personable, Particular Professionals” – specializes in exterior & interior painting and carpentry. Recently LOPCO Contracting was named ‘RI’s Finest Painting Contracting Company’ by ShopInRI Magazine. In 2013, Tom was named “Humanitarian of the Year” by the Painting and Decorating Contractors of America (PDCA) and a “40 Under 40” award winner by Providence Business News. He is a member of both PCA (Painting Contractors Association) and RIBA (Rhode Island Builders Association). Tom has often had weekly ‘Home Improvement Tips’ that have aired on the radio on 630 WPRO AM and on television on WPRI 12. You can catch Tom LIVE on the radio EVERY Saturday, 2pm-3pm, on 630 WPRO AM (99.7 FM) during his weekly ProTalk Home Improvement Radio Show!

The Marketing Camp 2024 is being held in Newport RI

By Mark Berger

The newly renovated Wayfinder Hotel in Newport, a charming boutique hotel brought to life by a group of local chefs, bartenders, and innovative entrepreneurs, recently joined forces with ‘The Marketing Camp,” as the official host of the largest two-day marketing conference for small business owners in Rhode Island.

The Marketing Camp is an in-person marketing conference with a fun camping twist. The idea to layer a camping theme over a marketing conference came about by founders Sal Sauco, Dave Englund, both of Englund Studio in North Kingstown, and Bob Salvas, who works for the Rhode Island Builders Association (RIBA)in East Providence.

Englund said it best, as he shared, “Fun learning works better than dull learning. Ultimately, the techniques, tools, and tactics learned at The Marketing Camp tend to get remembered and applied to the businesses.”

Past attendees have been owners of new and existing businesses, as well as solo entrepreneurs, and have represented many different industries throughout New England.

The presentations run all day on Friday, May 31st, which includes a continental breakfast, lunch,

and dinner, followed by a favorite Marketing Camp tradition; the Friday Night Firepit Party, which is open to both attendees and non-attendees.

Salvas said that it’s a fun tradition that enables attendees to meet and join in some activities.

“You’ll be networking with fun people, enjoying a whisky, smoking cigars by a fire pit, and watching a LIVE bluegrass band, as an added treat,” said Salvas. “This year, we have the amazingly talented ‘Four Bridges.’ They specialize in traditional and contemporary Bluegrass music.”

The Camp features presenters, who will each tackle different aspects of marketing. The purpose is to educate attendees about various marketing principles.

“Each presentation lasts 45 minutes long,” Sauco said. “This year, we have six presentations: Relationship Marketing, Communications Strategy, Social Media Marketing, Video Marketing, Content Strategy, and Sales Strategy. There are no boring powerpoint presentations at The Marketing Camp. In addition, we ask all presenters to give away their best secrets, tips, tricks, and techniques.”

Some people will get to experience The Marketing Camp for the first time at its new Newport locale. Others have turned this event into an annual tradition. The Camp has succeeded in providing new ideas for business owners to put into practice right away.

“In the past 10 years, I’ve attended many marketing conferences—and without a doubt—The Marketing Camp was by far the BEST one I attended,” says attorney, Tim Sweet, a past attendee.

In holding to the camping theme, camp counselors keep the program moving and on-time, with 15-minute breaks in between the presentations (a perfect duration for Q&A with the presenter or just to stretch and review notes).

Salvas added, “The camp counselors lead you through strategic networking with all the other attendees. We have surprise giveaways spread throughout the

day, team building exercises, and so much more.”

Activities Director Michelle Girasole, owner of Fresh Maps in North Kingstown, said, “In every sense of the word, it is truly a retreat for business owners to meet other business owners and recharge their marketing batteries.”

She noted that by the time the first presentation is over, everyone in the room is comfortable and are asking questions, taking notes, sharing feedback, and even encouraging the other attendees with their businesses. It’s a truly bonding time for all,” Girasole said.

“Every year after the last presentation and just before dinner, an award is given out to the best small business, with exceptional marketing in the areas of creativity, customer-centric engagement, smart use of social media, and brand awareness, as seen around the state,” Sauco added. “We feel it’s important to highlight businesses that are taking marketing seriously. In fact, we call the award the WGM Award, which stands for We Get Marketing.”

Attendees are encouraged to book a room at The Wayfinder, so they can wake up ready to go for Part 2 of the conference on Saturday morning.

The conference ends with a question-and-answer panel, offering attendees a chance to get specific marketing advice. Many business cards have been passed and strong alliances have been made at past Marketing Camps.

A ratings survey is given out at the close of the conference to improve on presentations, location, education, networking, and accommodations.

Sauco said, “We’ve begged people for negative feedback. We feel feedback is a gift; the only negativity we’ve gotten is they wish it lasted longer!”

Interested in having a sponsor table? If you sell to other businesses, it would be a great opportunity for your business to get in front of other growing business owners.

Sponsorships are limited, so contact The Marketing Camp by email at: sal@englundstudio.com.

If you sponsor, then you still get to attend and learn all the great content at The Marketing Camp.

Sign up before March 31st to take advantage of their early-bird pricing. To register for this year’s Marketing Camp on May 31st-June 1st, go to:

www.themarketingcamp.com.

The first 50 people who register will receive a Marketing Camp t-shirt!

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Meet The Dream Team: Rocco Elgar

Each month, Shop in RI Magazine profiles one member of “The Dream Team,” a weekly networking group that meets in Smithfield. This month, we feature Rocco Elgar, President of Homefront Building Inspections in Smithfield.

Rocco began his journey more than two-and-a-half decades ago, when starting a young family meant he needed to move on from working for others in the racing greyhound business. He says while watching another home inspector go through his first home purchase, Elgar realized that he could also make the career switch.

“I took many different construction-related classes at Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School (in Franklin, MA),” he said. “I had a wide array of construction, electrical, plumbing, HVAC courses and even earned a MA Refrigeration Apprentice License before completing high school. That experience gave me a nice base of knowledge.”

Rocco credits his Home Inspector Training and Certification at The Inspection Experts (Boca Raton, FL.) as the real springboard to opening Homefront Building Inspections in January 1998. The course was tremendous, covering all ends of operating a successful home inspection business, says Elgar.

Homefront Building Inspections works with residential and commercial clients in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Rocco assesses the visible structural and mechanical components and documents his findings in a thorough but easy-to- understand inspection report. The information enables buyers to make informed decisions and sometimes using the information as a negotiating tool. Elgar is known as

thorough and as an educator, especially for first-time home buyers.

Rocco warns in this market of waiving inspections.

“If you put down a deposit and then waive the home inspection, then you are at risk of losing that money if you have to back away from the sale,” he said. “Don’t waive that opportunity! Many people are looking at the home’s location, cosmetics, kitchen space, etc. Home inspectors like me are unbiased and focus on the ‘bones’—structure and mechanicals. Doing the home inspection is informative and protects your interest not the seller, lender, Realtor, or anyone else.”

Additional testing services Elgar provides include: radon testing, well/water tests, lead paint and more.

“The Dream Team” currently has 20 members. They meet every Wednesday morning, from 7:00 AM until 8:30 AM, at the Home2Suites Hilton on Douglas Pike (Rte. 7) in Smithfield, across from Laura’s Bar and Grill. The group is looking to grow its team and is interested in meeting professionals from various businesses looking to connect and help each other grow through referral business. Dream Team is all about, “Friends helping Friends”

Further information about the group may be found by contacting either President Rocco Elgar at 401265-0857 or at therockhbi@msn.com, or Vice President Tim Richard at 401-766-4200 or at tim@ estenandrichardinsurance.com

BayCoast Bank Promotes Scott P. Lopes to Senior Vice President, Chief Human Resources and Talent Officer

BayCoast Bank (baycoast.bank), a community savings bank with a strong history of serving the people and businesses on the South Coast of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, is proud to announce the promotion of Scott P. Lopes of Swansea, Massachusetts, to the position of Senior Vice President, Chief Human Resources and Talent Officer.

Lopes has 24 years of experience in the banking industry, beginning his career at age 16 as a part-time teller for First Federal Savings Bank of America. He later joined Human Resources at Webster Bank, running training programs in both Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

Lopes joined BayCoast Bank in 2012 as Assistant Vice President, Training and Development Officer, a role he held until 2020, when he was promoted to Vice President, Human Resources Training and Development Officer. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Post University and went on to achieve his Master’s degree in Human Resources from Cambridge College.

“It is a pleasure to announce Scott’s promotion,” said Jim Wallace, Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer at BayCoast Bank. “His proven leadership skills and commitment to our BayCoast community make him the ideal individual to fill this pivotal role. We congratulate Scott on his noteworthy achievement.”

In addition to his professional accomplishments, Lopes has a passion for music. He is in his eighth year as Conductor and Musical Director for the Our Lady of Light Band of Fall River.

About BayCoast Bank

BayCoast Bank is a long-standing community bank providing financial products and services to the people and businesses of Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island through 25 branches and loan production offices, with more coming soon. The Bank offers a family of complete financial services through its subsidiaries: BayCoast Mortgage, BayCoast Financial Services, BayCoast Insurance, Plimoth Investment Advisors, and Priority Funding. For more information, visit baycoast.bank or call 508-678-7641

Spring into a New or Used Vehicle at Toyota of Smithfield

By Mark Berger

Located on George Washington Highway (Rte. 116) on the Smithfield/Lincoln line, the dealership has new and certified, preowned vehicles available to own right now.

Regardless of what type of car or truck you want, Toyota of Smithfield has the experience to make car-purchasing easy.

General Manager John Durrani hopes anyone looking for their next vehicle should partner with their award-winning Sales Department to uncover numerous dealer incentives.

“Anyone who trades in either their used or certified, pre-owned cars, will receive an additional $1,000 over book value,” he said. “There won’t be a better time for anyone to trade in their cars. Your trade is worth more than it ever has before, and it’s worth more now than it’s ever going to be worth.”

For those who already have a car or truck, customers should visit their award-winning Service Department to keep their them running efficiently. Their highly-trained staff are adept at diagnosing the small problems before they become major situations.

With lower-than-normal inventory, Durrani said they are seeking all available used cars. He said there are several incentives designed to get someone from their older car into a newer model.

“We are appealing to the public to come in with their used vehicles. Right now, we do not have available inventory to sufficiently fulfill orders,” Durrani said.

To help facilitate their need for additional certified, pre-owned vehicles, Toyota of Smithfield also offers 115% of the book value for any used cars. It does not matter whether customers decide on purchasing a car from their lot.

“We will purchase your trade-in, even if you don’t buy a vehicle from us,” he added.

The dealership holds a monthly private sale. This month’s event is scheduled for Friday, March 29, and Saturday, March 30, from 10:00 AM until 6:00 PM, by appointment only. Attendees will have access to their inventory. 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 also offered 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 visit their website at www.toyotaofsmithfield.com.

Creating Easter Traditions

By Julia Romano

Easter Sunday is one of the most festive and important events among Christians worldwide, as it commemorates Jesus Christ’s resurrection from death, as is written in the Christian bible.

As such, we must acknowledge and give praise to what the Easter holiday truly represents. By not doing so, we are ignoring our one and only Savior, Jesus Christ, and overlooking that He was sacrificed for the sake of all of us and our sins.

As Easter is a Christian holiday that celebrates the belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, in the New Testament of the Bible, the event is said to have occurred three days after Jesus was crucified by the Romans, and He died in roughly A.D. 30.

The resurrection of Jesus, as described in the New Testament, is essentially the foundation upon which the Christian religions are built. Therefore, Easter is a very significant date on the Christian calendar.

According to the New Testament, Jesus was arrested by the Roman authorities because he claimed to be the “Son of God.” He was sentenced to death by Pontius Pilate, the Roman officer in the province of Judea. From A.D. 26 to 36 Jesus’ death by crucifixion marked by the Christian holiday Good Friday (the Friday before Easter), and subsequent resurrection three days later is said, by the authors of the gospels, to prove that he was the living son of God.

The Easter holiday concludes the “Passion of Christ,” a series of events and holidays that begins with Lent—a 40-day period of fasting, prayer, and sacrifice—and ends with Holy Week, which includes Holy Thursday (the celebration of Jesus’ Last Supper with his 12 Apostles, also known as “Maundy Thursday”), Good Friday, and Easter Sunday.

A significant part to remember is that all four of the gospels in the New Testament (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) state that those who believe in Jesus’ death and resurrection are given “the gift of eternal life,” meaning that those of faith will be welcomed into the “Kingdom of Heaven,” upon their earthly death.

Many Christians worldwide celebrate Easter with special church services, music, candlelight, flowers, and the ringing of church bells. Easter processions are held in some countries such as the Philippines and Spain. Many Christians view Easter as the greatest feast of the Church year. It is a day of joy and celebration to commemorate that Jesus Christ is risen, according to Christian belief.

Although Easter maintains great religious significance, many children in countries such as Australia, Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom, think of it as a time

to get new spring clothes, to decorate eggs, and to participate in Easter egg hunts, where eggs are hidden by the Easter Bunny. Many children also receive Easter baskets full of candy, snacks, and presents at this time of the year.

In addition, families gather and commonly share Easter brunch or Easter dinner together, while feasting on foods such as Easter bread, hot cross buns, with main dishes including baked ham or lamb, and specialty traditions, such as Pizza Gaina (also known as Pizza Rustica), a traditional Italian dish with a doublecrust that’s loaded with an egg custard, an Italian cured meats and cheeses. Desserts, such rice pie, ricotta pie, and cheesecake, are also commonly served at Easter dinners.

Many restaurants are open on Easter Sunday, typically offering a special menu for the holiday. Check online to see which RI restaurants are open, and be sure to make reservations early. And if you are ordering your Easter desserts, call ahead to any one of the amazing bakeries across our state for the popular rice and/or ricotta pies, or any other dessert of your liking .

Many RI cities and towns hold annual Easter egg hunts to entertain and excite the young ones…

At the time of this article, information about these activities for 2024, is not yet updated. Check online to see if your town is participating this year…Here are two popular events that are likely to offer an Easter egg hunt and other fun activities in 2024, as they have in the past.

Roger Williams Park Zoo, 1000 Elmwood Avenue, Providence, RI 02907. Phone: 401-941-4998. Event date and time: No update yet for 2024; if they DO hold it, based on past years, it would likely be on Saturday and Sunday a week before Easter, and also Good Friday and Saturday right before Easter. Hop along the bunny trail to the Carousel Village in Roger Williams Park to enjoy a special moment with our friend, the Easter Bunny! Bring your own camera to capture the magic, ride the carousel, and enjoy fun activities. Visits take place from 10am to 12pm & 1pm - 3pm.

Wilcox Park, Providence RI Easter Egg Hunt

Wilcox Park, 45 Broad Street, Westerly, RI 02891. Phone: 401-596-7761. Event date and time: No update yet for 2024; if they DO hold it, based on past years, it would likely be on a Saturday, either March 23, 2024 or March 30, 2024, from 1pm to 2pm. Price: Free. Children ages 1-8 will enjoy hunting for Easter eggs and meeting with the Easter Bunny and Lucky the Duck in Wilcox Park, in downtown Westerly, RI. Event begins at 1pm with the youngest age group first. This event is free to all!

Happy Easter to all!

Roger Williams Park Zoo Egg Safari Scavenger Hunt

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