The First Baptist Church of West Warwick, 1613 Main Street, West Warwick, will hold an Autumn Harvest Dinner on Saturday, October 25 from 4:00 – 6:00 PM (continuous seating). Thanksgiving Meal with all the fixings, pumpkin pie, apple crisp, apple pie, coffee, tea, apple cider, water. Entertainment by Alan Gorton, Donna Hawkins and Liam Walsh. Activities, raffles, and homemade baked goods for sale. Adults: $20, Children: 6-10: $8, children under 5 are free. All are welcome! Please bring a canned good to help support our Food Pantry.
FAMILY EVENING STORY TIME
Families with children ages 3-8 can join us for Family Evening Story Time on Tuesday, October 21 at 6 p.m. Children will listen to stories and songs, and each child will receive a fun craft kit to complete at home. Registration is required. Coventry Public Library, 1672 Flat River Road, Coventry. Please call Youth Services to register at 822-9102.
Club Jogues will be holding a steak fry on October 18, 7:00 – 11:00 p.m., at 184 Boston Street, Coventry. Tickets: $25pp. For reservations, call: 401-486-3719. Proceeds will benefit the American Cancer Society.
ARTS & CRAFTS, BAKE SALE & RAFFLES
The Coventry Housing North Road Terrace Tenants Association (NRT) holding their Arts & Crafts, Bake Sale and Raffles event on Saturday, October 18, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at NRT, 30 Mulhearn Drive, Coventry. This event is open to the public. NRT is also looking for vendors. Vendor tables are $25.00 each. NRT is requesting that each vendor donate one item for the raffles. Deadline for table reservations is Tuesday, October 7. To reserve a table, please makes checks payable to NRT or North Road Terrace. Mail checks to: Geraldine Lane, Treasurer, 8108 Mulhearn Drive, Coventry, RI 02816. For more detailed information contact: Colleen 401-996-0191.
Lincoln Arc Welder 225ac $200.00. Used very little. Call 340-7751
MAKE YOUR CLASSIFIED POP with a splash of color! For only $1.50 extra, you can draw more attention to your ad.
USE OUR FAX SERVICE to send or receive documents... it’s fast, easy, and affordable. Great for sending Insurance Forms, Mortgage Documents, Unemployment Forms, Time Sheets and any paperwork that needs to be received fast. Cost to send: S3 for 1st page, $l each additional page (+tax). Cost to receive: $.75/page (+ tax). The Reminder, 1944 Warwick Avenue, Warwick. Phone 8212216, Fax 732-3110.
Email: patiencedogtraining. com or call/text 401862-6740 if interested.
FISHBOWL AQUARIUM: Puppies for sale, USDA Licensed breeders, shots, warrantied, vet checked. Call for more info 401-822-0075 or www.fishbowlpet.com.
By JoAnn Derson
PURE BRED SHIH-TZU puppies. Vaccinated, Vet checked, dewormed. Call: April 401-287-5782.
JAPANESE CHIN SPANIEL PUPPIES: 4 mos., completely vaccinated and dewormed. Males and females - all colors. Care package included. Ready November 22,2025. Call Michelle 401-573-4360 or David 401-523-6260
FIREWOOD FOR SALE: JW Studley & Sons. Cut & split seasoned wood. $250/ cord. Est. 1982. Not a fly by night! 641-0212.
CLEANUPS: Attics, cellars, garages, buildings, yards, leaves. Some cleanouts for content. Anything hauled away. Very reasonable. Reliable service! Free estimates. Call for your small moving needs. Lic. #37379/Insured. 30 Years of reliable service. 397-2781 or 741-2781.
WANTED: Antiques and collectibles. Moving or just cleaning out? We pay more for your old jewelry, glassware, furniture, pottery, clocks, paintings, military items, crocks, post cards, cameras, photos, old coins, etc. For prompt and courteous service call Bill, 821-0381.
105 CLYDE STREET, WEST WARWICK. Saturday, October 18th 8:00am–3:00 pm. Records, electronics, horns, jewelry, watches, household items. Must sell. Rain Date October 25th.
39 CLIFTON AVENUE, COVENTRY, Saturday, October 18. 9am–1pm. NO EARLY BIRDS!
No apron? No problem. String a dishtowel around your waist using a belt, a bungee cord or a simple ribbon.
“Want the smells of the season? Here’s a great herbal tea that doubles as a whole-house fragrance: Combine one orange cut up, a cinnamon stick, a pinch of ground cloves and nutmeg with a few fresh cranberries and enough water to cover. Boil and waft. Then cool and drink!” — A.D. in New Hampshire
“Dentists say to replace your toothbrush every two months, but they DON’T say to get rid of the old one. There are plenty of good uses for it. In the bathroom and kitchen to clean around the sink. Or for scrubbing stains after you dip it in pretreater. Just make sure you mark it well”. — V.E. in Washington
Use baking soda to clean your stainless steel sink. It is a mild abrasive and will remove gunk and make the sink shine.
For use when camping: Mix together your dry spices and carefully pour into a straw. You must fold over the end and secure it with tape. Do the same to the other side to seal and you can stick it right in a plastic bag for use at the campsite. You can have many spices without having to bring a bunch of jars. Steaks taste terrific, or maybe you like cinnamon sugar for oatmeal or on baked apple.
Send your tips to Now Here’s a Tip, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803. (c) 2025 King Features Synd., Inc.
AARP Chapter 2210 is sponsoring a trip Salem Cross Inn, Tuesday, December 9th. Enjoy a New England Winter Experience with cider reception, horse-drawn wagon ride and Fireplace Feast at Salem Cross Inn in MA. Afterward, enjoy shopping at Yankee Candle Village in Deerfield, MA.
Sit back and relax on a luxury motor coach operated by DATTCO Coach & Tour. Pick up at 9:15 a.m. from Park & Ride, Hopkins Hill Rd. (Exit 19 off I-95), West Greenwich. Approximate return: 7:30 p.m. $154/person. Final payment due: Tuesday, November 11th. Contact: Maureen Murphy 401-828-5188 or Anne Brien 401-263-4274.
Quaker Transmissions
Quaker Transmissions
By JENNIFER COATES
When you have been in business for over thirty-four years, you know what it means to have “staying power”. You know that shoddy workmanship, poor customer service, and a general lack of professionalism just don’t cut it in the competitive world of auto repair work. You know it takes honesty, integrity, knowledge, experience, reliability, hard work, and a commitment to excellence to survive.
These are the very attributes that have been associated with Rob George and
his crew at Quaker Transmissions, a repair shop in West Warwick that has withstood the test of time and history since it first opened in 1990.
Rob George, the owner of Quaker Transmissions, is known for his technical expertise as well as the loyalty he has shown his customers for over three decades. With all the other repair shops on the map, these qualities matter.
It is not uncommon to hear glowing reviews about the work here from Quaker Transmissions customers, in-
cluding this comment from Paul R.: “I would like to express my appreciation for the job well done on my transmission. I appreciate your professionalism and high standard of work in this industry. If I ever know someone who needs transmission work done, I will be sure to give my highest recommendation to all the employees at Quaker Transmissions.”
Rob also regularly receives “five-star reviews” for their work. Rob T. writes: “Quaker Transmissions rebuilt the dying transmission in my new/used Suburban. The result was a better-thannew, internally upgraded transmission that functions flawlessly. Very satisfied customer!”
When you are looking for honest, knowledgeable service for your vehicle, specializing in transmission, clutch, and drive train repair, Quaker Transmissions should be your first call. The talented team of technicians here will tack-
le most any job on most any vehicle, from your vintage automobiles to the high-tech vehicles on the market today. They handle all automatic and manual transmissions and provide the ever-important preventive maintenance work to extend the life of your transmission.
Many who need the vital upkeep and repairs on their transmissions often postpone the necessary work on their vehicles because of the perceived expense. Quaker Transmissions offers financing. Do not wait until you are facing a crisis, call office manager Barbara George to explore your options.
Quaker Transmissions is located at 67 Tiogue Avenue, Route 3, in West Warwick. Hours are Monday to Friday, 8:00a.m.–5:00p.m., closed on Saturdays. Quaker Transmissions can be reached at 401826-2800. To learn more, visit their informative website at www.quakertransmissions.com.
LIVING YOUR BEST IN THE PRIME OF YOUR LIFE
Walking assessments help to improve accessibility
By HERB WEISS
As part of AARP Rhode Island’s ongoing Livable Communities initiatives, the state’s largest aging organization recently hosted a series “Walktober” events in collaboration with America Walks, local elected officials, volunteers, and community groups. The effort featured neighborhood walks and walk audits across Providence.
According to AARP Rhode Island, walking through neighborhoods allows volunteers to document and report infrastructure issues such as missing or uneven sidewalks, unsafe crosswalks, inadequate lighting, and the lack of benches, shade, and green space. These findings help shape proposals for community improvements. The goal is to raise public awareness and highlight the importance of well-designed, well-maintained, and inclusive
sidewalks, curb cuts, bump outs, and pedestrian-friendly spaces that contribute to a thriving community.
AARP Rhode Island noted that Walktober is a collaboration between the nonprofit and America Walks has organized nearly a dozen free, engaging community events aimed at helping residents appreciate walking as an enjoyable and healthy alternative to other means of getting around.
Walking Audits in Providence Neighborhoods
As part of Walktober, AARP Rhode Island scheduled additional walks and audits throughout October.
Other Walktober walks were hosted by Village Common Walking Group, Providence Preservation Society and Ocean State Center for Independent Living.
Through AARP’s 2025 Com-
munity Challenge grants, Providence’s Age-Friendly PVD initiative is funding four walk audits in neighborhoods with high concentrations of older adults to identify pedestrian safety challenges.
“AARP Rhode Island is
pleased to work with so many community partners and with America Walks to promote access and safety for walkers and rollers of all ages and abilities,” said AARP Rhode Island State Director Catherine Taylor. “Walktober is truly a celebration, and we hope, at times, an inspiration as well as a wake-up call, as walk audits throughout the city reveal barriers and unsafe conditions that need to be addressed.
Added Taylor, “Walking is great exercise, and as walking groups become more and more popular, they serve as an opportunity for socialization that is very important to many people as they age.”
According to AARP Rhode Island, walk audits involve participants walking through neighborhoods and noting infrastructure issues: missing or uneven sidewalks, unsafe crosswalks, poor lighting, or lack of benches and shade. Par-
ticipants then document and report their findings so changes can be proposed and considered.
To learn how to assess and report on the safety and walkability of a street, intersection, or neighborhood, visit the AARP Walk Audit Tool Kit at https:// www.aarp.org/livable-communities/getting-around/aarpwalk-audit-tool-kit.html.
AARP Walk Audit Tool Kit is available online at www.aarp.org.
Records should be part of emergency preparations
While National Preparedness Month ended in September, people should continue to plan for a future, potential emergency or disaster. Preparedness starts at home and whether it’s for personal or business, emergency preparedness plans are crucial and can give a head start to recovery should they be affected by an event.
Here are some things taxpayers can do to help protect their financial records.
Update emergency preparedness plan annually
Taxpayers should review
their emergency preparedness plan, at least annually. Ready. gov has resources and checklists to help people put together their emergency preparedness plan.
Create electronic copies of documents
Taxpayers should keep important documents and storage devices in a safe place. If original documents are available only on paper, taxpayers should consider converting them to electronic versions and storing them on a USB flash drive or in the cloud. Many financial
institutions provide statements electronically.
Document valuables
Take pictures or video of valuables before disaster strikes. It makes it easier to claim insurance and tax benefits. IRS.gov has a disaster loss workbook that can help taxpayers compile a room-by-room list of belongings.
Understand tax relief available for disaster situations
Information on disaster assistance and emergency relief for individuals and businesses is
available at IRS.gov. Taxpayers should also review Publication 547, Casualties, Disasters and Thefts.
Taxpayers who live in a federally declared disaster area can visit Around the nation on IRS.gov and click on their state to review the available disaster tax relief. Those who live in designated areas for disaster relief receive automatic filing and payment postponements for many currently due tax returns and don’t need to contact the agency to get relief. People with disaster-related
questions can call the IRS Special Services Hotline at 866562-5227 to speak with an IRS specialist.
If people have lost their tax documents, they can order tax transcripts or request copies of previously filed tax returns and attachments through Get Transcript on IRS.gov, by filing Form 4506 or by calling 800-908-9946.
For additional information please visit irs.gov and Publication 584-B, Business Casualty, Disaster, and Theft Loss Workbook.
The
State Director Catherine Taylor and Jonathon Stalls on a Walk Audit in Providence on October 8. Photo courtesy of AARP Rhode Island
October
Summer’s freedom gives
to the beginnings of hunkering down as those glorious and endless sunshiny days start to fade away. The beginning of summer always leaves me feeling somewhat giddy, and at its end, there’s sometimes a sense of wistfulness — another summer has passed.
But I’m reminded of an October day a few years ago. I visited my Aunt Edna in a nursing home. She was living alone at age 92 and had landed in the hospital with a swollen foot. From the hospital, she was sent to a nursing home for a rehab stay.
I thought I’d fi nd her kicking and screaming, being still so independent at 92 — even still driving — something she and her daughter had been arguing about for several years. But I found my aunt resting comfortably on her bed, stylishly dressed in a colorfully printed two-piece velour set. She smiled as I sat down beside her. We chatted about her foot, which was improving, and then Edna went on to describe the
nursing home. She thought she might, at her age, run into someone she knew. She hadn’t, so she quickly made new friends. She talked about how she’d gotten bored and wandered into the gym and asked the physical therapists if she could exercise on her own. Apparently, that was a fi rst for the PT staff.
While I was there, a representative from a home health agency stopped in. Edna didn’t need health care but needed help with household tasks and transportation. She told me she had recently made peace with her daughter and had fi nally agreed to give up the car keys.
The representative asked questions and took notes while Edna talked about her life. Edna glowed when she described her childhood, her young adult years, and her years as an actress — she’d been in many commercials and even had a small role in a movie. She’d also written two books about her life and had plans for a third.
The representative smiled and said, “I have just the person for you. One of our aides is an aspiring actress and you two
MY MEMOIRS
by SUSAN DEAN
would be perfect together!”
Aunt Edna’s eyes sparkled. After the representative left, I stayed awhile to chat. I listened as Edna told me how excited she was to have a new “student” — someone she could share her acting knowledge with.
“I can’t wait to dig up my notes! And my book — I can’t wait to get that going. It’ll be the third — a trilogy, you know!” she said.
Edna talked about her music, too. She held up her hands; her fi ngers bent with arthritis.
“I can’t play the piano anymore, but, oh, how I loved to play when I could,” she said.
“My voice, too,” she added, “not as good as it used to be, but I’m going to work on it!”
And this reminded me of the family sing-alongs from my childhood days, with cousins, aunts, and uncles playing piano, violin, and trombone — and singing.
As Edna talked, I noticed
an empty bird feeder outside her window — looking old and abandoned. No birds this time of year. Around it, leaves fell — silently, slowly — having lived their summer lives, having served their unique purpose. It made me think of the passage of time, the journey we all make from beginning to end.
Edna, at 92, was clearly not fi nished. I thought about my own journey. Every day is really a gift with newness and possibility, and even if nothing spectacular happens, it’s still part of the adventure, each day like a falling leaf. Here for a time, and when fi nished, drifting quietly away.
I thought about my own love for music and about Edna’s wish that she could still play her piano. Sitting with her that day, I vowed to make time to play my piano, if not daily, then as often as possible, before my days drifted away like the autumn leaves.
Hearing Edna’s excitement at 92 about getting on with her life — a new chapter — a new experience — excited about continuing her journey — opened
my eyes to the fragile passing of time.
Edna passed away in 2022 at almost 95. My cousin found her mother’s typewritten obituary among her papers — Edna had written it herself the previous year and had tucked it away for when her time came. There was one part that my cousin edited out so that it wouldn’t appear in the paper, but she shared that part with all of us.
Edna stated that she was an author who had written and published books about her life (and she included the titles), and she had added the line: “And all are available for purchase from Amazon or from your local bookstore.”
We laughed till we cried over that — it was so Edna — who still seemed to be continuing her journey even beyond death — still a part of things, still vocal, still sharing herself with the world.
The waning days of October remind me of that long ago October day — when I learned that it’s never too late to chase your dreams, and you’re never too old to embrace the journey of life.
At the risk of offending my reading public (as small as it is), I have to be honest. Fall is my least favorite season. Though I am fortunate enough to escape frosty New England for sunnier climes from January through April, fall inevitably surrenders to the chills of winter. And the way-toosoon mention of pumpkin spice, in all its culinary variations, carries with it a sense of impending weather doom. Fall also obliterates the ever-shortening beach season. Summer (yes, climate change is real) in Rhode Island stretches only from the Fourth of July through August.
Fall ushers in the inevitable chores of raking the dead leaves, cleaning up the garden and flower beds, and cleaning out the gutters. Although now assign these chores to outside contractors, the tasks still vacuum up a generous slice of my Social Security and pension allotments. It’s time to pull out the air conditioners, (in olden times you put up the storm windows and got the car’s snow tires and chains out of the cellar), got your heating system tuned up, and put away the lawn furniture.
The dearth of Octoberfests, masquerading as fundraisers for the benefit of churches and civic organizations, does nothing to lift my spirits. These extravaganzas, however, do elevate my mood when they honor the litany of Italian saints imbedded in my ancestry. (Sorry St. Patrick).
I recall autumn as the “open busy” season for my father and uncles to hunt down mushrooms hidden in the piles of wet leaves and or ringing dead trees in rural secretive expanses. The exact locations of their coveted mushroom patches went with them when they passed into the next life. Consequently,
I’ll never know where these sacred gathering grounds were located. In addition, we must figure out the time change by remembering that olds adage, “Spring ahead and fall back.” Many of us struggle to adjust our digital clocks. In the past, our family would drive to New Hampshire for the sport known as leaf-peeping. However, since the hordes of humans, numbering at least five times the population of New York City, began observing this annual ritual, we have abandoned the journey. Despite my seasonal resistance, I enjoy the annual Fryeburg Fair in Maine that begins in late September. The fair is a monument to a life that passed into our memories. It comes equipped with all the traditional county fair attractions, including a midway filled with food and rides, horse and ox pulling, 4H barns, arts and crafts, wood
MY SIDE OF THINGS by LARRY GRIMALDI
know sacred grounds In must time remembering “Spring back.” to adfamNew sport leaf-peeping. hordes numbering at popuCity, anabanseasonthe Fair in late is a that memories. with county includwith and arts carving,
Choosing the long-term care that’s right for you
When choosing long-term care, families sometimes wait until they experience a crisis and then are forced to make a decision during less than ideal circumstances. Although moving into a skilled nursing home is a wonderful option, it’s not the only one, and it doesn’t always need to be the fi rst step.
You can decide what is best for you with the assistance of an Aging Life Care Specialist like Sheri Ferola with Saint Elizabeth Community, who explains, “We work with our clients to fi nd the best fit for them at this moment in time, while planning out their longterm options. We take a holistic approach in assessing their needs then we help guide them through the process. And we’ll be there with them for the duration, adapting with them as changes occur.”
Here are some options in the continuum of care that an Aging Life Care Specialist can evaluate with you.
Home Care
We hear a lot of talk about aging in place where we have the oppor-
tunity to grow older in the comfort of our own home. Home care is a great way to make that happen. Let caring qualified staff come to your home to provide services that include skilled nursing, rehabilitation, physical therapy, CNA care, personal assistance and more.
Adult Day
One of the key ingredients of aging well is remaining active, physically and mentally. Adult Day Centers provide engaging and supportive activities all day long under the supervision of health care staff who offer assistance with everything from personal care to medication management. Many programs offer specialized care for elders affected by conditions like memory loss or motion and mobility disorders.
Senior Apartments
For older adults who live independently but wish to be in a community of their peers, senior apartments are a great alternative. Many housing complexes offer safe and affordable spaces that include re-
•Certified specialists • Crisis management &
sources like security and onsite resident services.
Assisted Living
Assisted living provides independent living much like senior apartments but with additional support and attention. Nursing and CNA staff help residents with their daily care. Dining, laundry and other personal services are available as well. And there are always fun social activities to keep everyone active and engaged.
Skilled Nursing Home
Whether for short-term rehabilitation or as a long-term resident, skilled nursing homes offer the ultimate in quality care. Staff build relationships with the members of the community and are able to monitor and assess their health on a daily basis. Specialized units may focus on memory care or physical activity, depending on the needs of each resident.
Before you decide on your longterm care, consider the wide range of options available to you.
tents selling items you never use but feel compelled to purchase, and a horse racing card comprised of steeds that would have difficulty competing at the Double A level. And we all know that sunlight hours become shorter by the day.
Despite my personal objections, fall does have some redeeming qualities. Kids have returned to school, and we are no longer terrified by the sound of Formula One bicycles or dirt bikes roaring towards us. Adults can clean out their stashes of Snickers bars on Halloween and save thousands of calories (for pumpkin spice concoctions of their choice). The village of Salem puts on its annual fright fest. And you’ll have plenty of time to plan for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years Day celebrations (or the Winter Solstice if you are a Druid).
In any case, disregard my negative attitude about
fall. Try to enjoy October before it snows and the ground transforms into a frozen tundra. After all, winter eventually morphs into spring!
Zen question of the month: How can they grow more watermelons if they harvest seedless watermelons?
Larry Grimaldi is a freelance writer from North Providence. Larry and his wife Kathy are co-authors of “Wandering Across America,” a chronicle of their cross-country road trip, and “Cooking with Mammie,” a collection of family recipes prepared with their grandchildren. He has also written the anthologies, “50 Shades of Life, Love, and Laughter, Volumes I & II. The anthologies are a collection of previously published columns, used with the permission of Beacon Communications. For more information, or comments, e-mail lvgrimaldi49@ gmail.com or visit fruithillpublishing.my.canva.site/.
Therapy services
Scan the QR code to visit our website or email info@stelizabethcommunity.org
Belle, Vanessa Lillie and Cate Holahan, read by Ariel Blake, Dina Pearlman, Karissa Vacker, Barrie Kreinik, Kevin T. Collins, Helen Laser and Neil Hellegers. Audible Original, 9 hours, $29.95 or free with Audible Plus membership, $7.95 a month.
The hit series about four Providence lawyers’ feisty widows in the 1980s continues with a slambang story that includes principled Irish criminals, mobsters around New England, and, however improbably, an adventure that places the heroines inside Boston’s Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum at the time of its infamous 13-masterpiece art heist (though the story places the 1990 theft in 1986).
There’s much more, too: a kidnapped widow, a love story with one of the Irish, a search for buried treasure, and an evil grandmother who not only disapproves of the way one of the widows is raising her young son but tries to take legal custody of him.
There’s so much action, in fact, that there’s not much room for the characters to shine through with their own motivations and worries. Camille, the Southern belle who’s now an investigator, barely has a moment of introspec-
tion, and Meredith, the stripper turned strip-club owner, provides the impetus for a lot of the plot but spends little time on stage. Justine, the halfBlack, half-Jewish legal intern facing off against her wicked old-money mother-in-law, fares better, though. And Krystle, the Federal Hill Italian American who’s now the girlfriend of imprisoned Providence mob boss Sal Pontarelli, is such a strong character that she’s wonderful in the limited moments she gets, particularly as voiced by the terrific Dina Pearlman.
The acting is strong throughout. Each chapter is narrated by one of the women, and though each of them has her own distinctive accent, it’s pretty seamless when they’re reading dialogue for other characters. Irish, Southern, flat American and distinctive Rhode Island tones are all used at the right moments.
As for the writing team, Layne Fargo is no longer part of it, as she was for the series’ first two books, but Providence’s Vanessa Lillie is still aboard, and this time there’s none of the inaccuracy about the city that sometimes marred the series’ first two books, 2022’s “Young Rich Widows” and last year’s “Desperate Deadly Widows.”
(Disclosure: I was The Providence Journal’s top editor when Lillie wrote a freelance column for the paper during the pandemic and occasionally edited her work.)
The only things about Rhode Island that land oddly on the ear are a cou-
by ALAN ROSENBERG
ple of mispronunciations of Gano Street as “Ganno” instead of “Gay-no.”
But that’s a tiny drop in the sea of fun that is “Wicked Wanted Widows.”
“Little Movements: A Novel”
By
Lauren Morrow, read by Ashley J. Hobbs. Random House Audio, 8 1/3 hours, $22.
The personal and political blend seamlessly in this strong debut novel about a 30ish Black choreographer who moves from multiracial Brooklyn to snowwhite rural Vermont for a nine-month residency at an arts colony.
Layla Smart has been working as a theater publicist since her graduation from Connecticut College, waiting for the break that will let her make the dances she knows she can, full of flowing movement.
But soon she realizes that Briar House’s white executive director and board view her not as an artist, but as a Black Artist. They’ve given her an all-Black troupe of dancers she hadn’t asked for and expect her to create dance with a racial edge that doesn’t interest her. There’s more going on behind the scenes, too, that will lead to a racial reckoning sooner rather than later.
Meanwhile, Layla is facing a personal reckoning, as her husband, Eli, has stayed behind in Brooklyn for his own work. Their relationship is far more fragile than she’d realized, and
before long her life is upended in all directions — especially when she discovers that she’s pregnant.
This isn’t the kind of book that makes much use of its New England setting, though there’s an amusing discussion of whether Ethan Allen was a furniture store or a patriot during the American Revolution. (He was both.) But the sense of Vermont as a place alien to Layla comes through powerfully.
Author Morrow studied both dance and creative writing at Conn College, and her knowledge of both fields shows in this meticulously observed character study. Hobbs reads with a light voice and just the hint of a Southern accent, perfect for St. Louis-born Layla.
“Dead Outlaw”
Music and lyrics by David Yazbek and Erik Della Penna, book by Itamar Moses, performed by Andrew Durand, Dashiell Eaves, Eddie Cooper, Jeb Brown, Julia Knitel, Ken Marks, Thomas Sesma and Trent Saunders. Audible Original, 1¾ hours, $7.95 or free with Audible Plus membership, $7.95 a month.
This unusual recording of the original cast of a Tony-nominated 2025 musical isn’t just the music — it’s the entire show. And a strange show it is.
Based on a true story, it tells the tale of Elmer McCurdy, a drifter, drunk, and low-level criminal who died in a 1911 shootout, and whose mummified corpse was discovered dangling in
a California amusement park in 1977. It’s both the story of McCurdy’s sad life and of his body’s many travels after his death.
Horrific stuff. But most of the show’s music is wildly cheerful, with upbeat country rhythms behind such lyrics as, “Your mama’s dead! Your daddy’s dead! Your brother’s dead! And so are you!”
There’s even a jazzy tune for 1970s Los Angeles County coroner Thomas Noguchi, “coroner to the stars,” who joyfully namechecks everyone from Marilyn Monroe to Elvis Presley as having ended up on his autopsy table, then gives his verdict on what killed McCurdy. (A gunshot wound did the deed; then lots of arsenic in addition to the usual embalming fluid kept him from decomposing.)
The talented actors give it their all, and the music is infectious; it’s easy to see why the show earned seven Tony nods (though no awards) before it closed in June after a three-month run. Still, its incongruities are hard to ignore, even in a snappy hour and three-quarters.
“Alchemy
of Secrets: A Novel”
By Stephanie Garber, read by Sutton Foster. Macmillan Audio, 10 hours, $26.99
Holland St. James has a secret. “St. James” wasn’t her original last name — she’s the daughter of a noted movie director whose actress wife murdered him, then killed herself, 15 years ago. Holland and her twin sister, January, changed their names while they were children to avoid tabloid gossip,
and never tell a soul about their true origins.
There are lots of other secrets around Holland, too. There’s a college professor of mystical subjects whose students are devoted, and who teaches about urban myths that may just be true. There’s a pair of good-looking men who each claim to have Holland’s best interests at heart, but who are deadly enemies of one another. And there’s a missing magical object called the Alchemical Heart that Holland must find before midnight on Halloween — or die.
This is the debut adult novel for Garber, bestselling Young Adult author of “Once Upon a Broken Heart,” “The Ballad of Never After” and the Caraval trilogy. Listeners to those, though, should feel right at home, since there’s no profanity, and the short love scenes don’t go beyond a little nibbling on a lip.
But the plot is intricate, and twists in a satisfying way. Garber keeps us guessing on both the nature of the Alchemical Heart and the question of who the good and bad guys are. And Holland is smart and strong, though far from invincible.
Oddly, the weakest thing here is narrator Foster, a Tony-winning actress who has legions of fans, too, for such TV work as “Younger” and “Bunheads.” It’s not that she’s bad; it’s just that she’s not particularly good. She reads pleasantly, but there’s little to distinguish Holland from any of the other characters in the story. As a longtime Foster fan, I was hoping for, and expecting, more.
Alan Rosenberg, of Warwick, is a retired executive editor of The Providence Journal and has been reviewing audiobooks for more than two decades. Reach him at AlanRosenbergRI@gmail.com.
RICHARD J. PIZZI Electrical Contractor: 550 Providence Street, West Warwick. Residential Wiring (home repairs). No job too small. A145, insured. 580-8803.
FACSIMILE SERVICE
THE REMINDER’S FAX SERVICE. Now you can send or receive letters, statements, invoices, etc. in seconds by using The Reminder Fax Service. Want more details? Call The Reminder and ask about our fax: 821-2216. Fax Number: 732-3110. To Send: $3.00 (+tax) for the first page, $1.00 for every additional page. To receive: 75¢ ea. page (+tax).
FENCE INSTALLATION & REPAIR
VENTURA FENCE CO., INC.: Serving Rhode Island since 1975 for all your fencing needs. Insured. RI Reg #7260. Call anytime 821-7200.
K.C. FENCE CO.: There’s no job too big or too small... We do them all! Specializing in all types of fencing. In business for over 40 years. RI Reg. #15748. Insured. 397-5076.
FINANCIAL SERVICES
MOFFITT & ASSOCIATES, LLC.: Financial Services and Investments, Retirement Planning and 401K rollovers. www.moffittassociates.com 1260 Main St. (Rte. 117), Coventry (401) 828-0097.
HOME IMPROVEMENTS
LEWIS & CLARKE ENTERPRISES, INC.: New homes, additions, garages, kitchens, bathrooms, family rooms, roofs, and repairs. 345-3227. RI Reg. #5646.
LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE AND CONSTRUCTION
ALL SEASONS LAWNCARE, INC.: Full Service Landscape Maintenance Company. Offering Fall & Spring clean ups. Shrubs, trimming, aerating, overseeding. Call 732-7993. RI Reg. #43492.
PEST CONTROL
WINFIELD TERMITE & PEST CONTROL: All your pest needs. 821-7800.
KENT COUNTY PEST CONTROL, LLC: Residential and Commercial. Certified in Industrial, Structural and Health Related Pest Control. 100% Guaranteed. 401-569-0212.
PLUMBING & HEATING
JOHN P. KEOGH PLUMBING & DRAIN CLEANING: Electric sewer rooter service. Master Plumber Lic. #1881. 401-862-8810.
$8.00 PER WEEK for 10 words (25¢ each add. word) Min. 1 Month. Deadline: Last Thursday of each month for ads starting the following month.
Home Improvement Home Improvement Fall Fall
Home Improvement Home Improvement Fall Fall
SELBY TREE SERVICE: Tree removal, tree trimming, yard clean up. Expert Climber. Free estimates. Contact 401286-1407.
Free estimates. Call Ken: 401-215-0152. HOME REPAIR:
JUNK REMOVAL
Looking for EXTRA CASH?
SUPPORT OUR VETERANS
The banquet hall at VFW Coventry Memorial Post #9404, is available to rent for all occasions: birthdays, weddings, meetings, memorials, etc. Hall rentals help support local Veterans, Post Operations and Veteran Programs. The hall can accommodate up to 125 people. Call: 401-575-8546 for information or visit our hall rental link on our website at www.vfw9404.org.
Check the attic… Look in the garage… Don’t forget the basement & closets. Find your no longer used or needed stuff and SELL IT.
See page 4 for details on how to place a fast acting classified in…
See page 4 for details on how to place a fast acting classified ad in...
The
REMIN DER
Call 821-2216 for more info.
Call 821-2216 or visit www.rireminder.com
FUN FACT:
When you wake up in the morning you’re about 1/2 inch taller than you were when you went to bed at night! This is because the cartilage in your spine decompresses slightly while you’re lying down.
The Coventry Cares Community Care Clinic Nurses Hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday & Friday from 8:30AM-12:30PM with Nurse Jane or Nurse Carolyn. The Clinic is set up at the Coventry Resource & Senior Center, 50 Wood Street, Coventry.
AARP CHAPTER 2210
ATLANTIC CITY RESORTS TRIP
AARP Chapter 2210 is sponsoring a trip to Resorts Atlantic City, Sun-Tues, January 4-6, 2026. Enjoy Resorts vibrant casino and diverse dining options. Bonus Package includes $20 slot play and 2 Meal Credits (up to $20 value each) per person (must be 21 or older). Sit back and relax on a luxury motor coach operated by DATTCO Coach & Tour. Pick-up at 7:00a.m. on Sunday, January 4, 2026, from Park & Ride, Hopkins Hill Rd. (Exit 19 off I-95), West Greenwich. Approximate return: 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 6, 2026. $399/person with Single Occupancy, $299/person with Double Occupancy, $289/per person with Triple Occupancy. Final payment due: Tuesday, November 13. Contact: Maureen Murphy 401-828-5188 or Anne Brien 401-263-4274.
Real Estate
I BUY HOUSES FAST CASH!!! QUICK CLOSING No Hassle. No Agent. Any Price. Any Condition. CALL 595-8703
MAKE YOUR CLASSIFIED AD pop with a splash of color!
Only $1.50 extra.
Josh’s Garage LLC I BUY JUNK VEHICLES
$ $ $ $ $ 401-499-8601
JUNK CARS WANTED: Up to $500 paid. Call 401-895-7351 for quote.
WEST WARWICK: Spacious 1bd., 2nd floor. No pets/no smokers. Off street parking. $1350/mo. plus security. 401-3596731.
COVENTRY: NICE, UPSCALE 1-BEDROOM with granite, S/S appliances, laundry, off-street parking. Great location. No pets/no smoking. Must have good credit. $1495/month. Tenant pays utilities. 401-5802947.
2011 FORD RANGER. 19,000mi. 4-cylinder. Good condition. $9,500. 401-4293809.
2001 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE inspected. Leather power seats. Runs great. 6-cylinder. Almost antique. 401-536-0697.
2008 TOYOTA COROLLA. Engine replaced 2 years ago, muffler replaced 3 mos. ago. Inspected through October. $1500. Call: 401-397-8468.
Job Market
HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (HEAP)
Having trouble paying your heating bill? The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) helps income eligible families pay their heating bills. The HEAP is a Primary Grant that is sent directly to your utility company or fuel provider, and it will be credited on your bill. You don’t need to have an unpaid bill, you can either rent or own your home, and must meet current gross income guidelines. Please call 732-4660, Ext. 175 for more information.
DISTRIBUTION OF COATS, BLANKETS & CLOTHES
Sts. John & James Parish, 17 St. John Street, West Warwick in the school cafeteria will be distributing free coats, blankets and clothes on Saturday, November 1, from 8 a.m. to 12:00 noon. Public invited.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED AT GEN. NATHANAEL GREENE HOMESTEAD
The Gen. Nathanael Greene Homestead in Coventry is looking for individuals interested in becoming Tour Guides for the season. The Homestead, also known as “Spell Hall”, was built by Nathanael Greene in 1770 and has been authentically restored as a Museum dedicated to his memory. Tour Guides will learn about Gen. Greene, his family, and life in the 18th Century. Experience is not necessary. All information will be provided, and scheduling is flexible. For more information, please email nathanaelgreenehmst@gmail.com Visit us at nathanaelgreenehomestead.org.
CUSTOMER FURNITURE ESTIMATOR: unofficial estimate of the value of 5-pieces of household furniture. Will pay. Art: 401263-4732.
Wicked Woods Pumpkin Walk
VFW GOLF TOURNAMENT
VFW Memorial Post #9404, Coventry, is having a golf tournament at the Elmridge Golf Course, 229 Elmridge Road, Pawcatuck, CT on October 25. It will be a 1:00 p.m. shotgun tee-off with a scramble format followed by a steak fry at the VFW Post #9404, 29 South Main Street, Coventry. Members of the public are invited and welcomed. $150 per player. For more information: 401-575-8546 or 401-828-9705.
ST. FRANCIS EPISCOPAL CHURCH
TURKEY SUPPER
St. Francis Episcopal Church annual all-you-can-eat Turkey Supper, 132 Peckham Lane, Coventry. Saturday, October 25, at 6 pm. Adults $15; Children $7; 5 years and under are guests of the church. To make reservations call Cindy: 401-397-4337.
AN EVENING WITH HENRY DAVID THOREAU
Join us for a beautifully produced film that pairs gorgeous New England landscapes with a thoughtful reading of the 2nd chapter of Walden, seemingly voiced by Thoreau himself. Compiled by Coventry’s own Dave Bennett, this program offers a moment of calm reflection and natural beauty. Thursday, Oct. 16 from 6 – 7:45 p.m. at the Coventry Public Library, 1672 Flat River Road, Coventry. Free and open to the public. For questions, call 401-822-9104.
HOLIDAY BAZAAR
Our Lady of Czestochowa Parish, 222 MacArthur Blvd., Coventry, will hold its Holiday Bazaar on Sunday, October 26 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Breakfast is served from 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Polish & American food served from 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. (or as long as it lasts). Raffles, children’s booth, crafts, theme baskets, bake shop, “Cookie Bingo” and more. Frozen Polish food will also be available from 9:00 a.m. until it’s gone. Admission is free. For more information, please call 401-821-7991 or visit olcsvp.org.
FREE CAR SEAT SAFETY CHECK
On Wednesday, October 22, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., have an official safety check for any type of infant/child car seat for free by a police officer at the Coventry, Public Library, 1672 Flat River Road, Coventry. Go to the Bike Path Park Lot next to the library. Parents, grandparents, babysitters, and other caregivers are welcome drop. Safety check includes infant, front-facing, and rear-facing car seats, booster seats, and seat belts. A joint collaboration of the Coventry Police Department, Coventry Parks and Recreation and Coventry Public Library.
