The Scoop
9 ARTS: Student interest fuels URI film professor’s latest book
12 Homeless nonprofit’s new director calls on her village for support
16 RHODY PETS: Adoptable pets of the month
18 RHODY HEALTH: Expert advice on back pain
20 RHODY GEM: Family-owned tile showroom stocked with variety and knowledge
22 THE PUBLIC’S RADIO: RI health centers raise alarm over proposed Medicaid cuts
24 CALENDAR: This month’s must-do’s
Home & Style
A19 HOME: A Colonial gets a coastal refresh in an unexpected palette
A24 A newcomer’s curiosity leads to a book of local lore
A28 INFLUENCER: Meet an interior designer with a passion for color
A30 SHOP: Gifts for readers and a trail of RI’s indie bookstores
Feature
57 Conservation orgs band together to protect South County land
Food
& Drink
67 An Exeter farmer’s vision for sustainable growing
72 IN THE KITCHEN: A family of Westerly soupy makers prepares for April festival
78 FOOD TRENDS: Mobile eateries tease spring menus
Cover Story: Spring Home & Garden
Expert advice for refreshing spaces, taking cues from nature
80 SOUTH COUNTY SCENES
Photography by Michael J. Lee and styling by Foret Design Studio courtesy of Kira David Design
Photo courtesy of RI Land Trust
Photo by Cate Brown Photography
Photo by Jenna Kaplan
ON THE COVER: A home office takes its cue from wallpaper.
Photography by Michael J. Lee and styling by Foret Design Studio courtesy of Kira David Design
JAMESTOWN
NARRAGANSETT
WATERFRONT
SPRING INTO LOVE
Debra
Debra
PUBLISHERS
Barry Fain
Richard Fleischer
John Howell
EDITOR IN CHIEF Elyse Major Elyse@HeyRhody.com
ADVERTISING DESIGN DIRECTOR
Layheang Meas
Shelley Cavoli
GENERAL
Nick DelGiudice
Nick@HeyRhody.com
MANAGING EDITOR Abbie Lahmers Abbie@HeyRhody.com
SENIOR DESIGNER
Taylor Buttie
DIGITAL MEDIA SPECIALIST Jenna Kaplan Jenna@HeyRhody.com
ACCOUNT MANAGERS
Central RI & New Business
EDITOR Ken Abrams Ken@HeyRhody.com
SENIOR
Abigail Brown
Shelley@HeyRhody.com
Louann DiMuccio-Darwich East Bay & MA Louann@HeyRhody.com
Ann Gallagher South County Ann@HeyRhody.com
Kristine Mangan Olf South County & Aquidneck Island Kristine@HeyRhody.com
Chris Revill Providence Chris@HeyRhody.com
Interested in advertising?
Email Marketing@HeyRhody.com
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Cate Brown Photography
Lisa Bruno
George Corrigan
Peter Green
Robert Isenberg
Karen Kalunian
Michael J. Lee
J Wessel Photography
Donna Normand Rhonda Woloohojian
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Lynn Arditi
Karen Kalunian
Jonah Major
Andrea E. McHugh
Hugh Minor
Emily Olson
Sarah Toatley
Ruthie Wood
Interested in writing? Email Abbie@HeyRhody.com
INTERNS
Caitlyn Bailey
Interested in an internship?
Email Elyse@HeyRhody.com
Distribution
Looking for copies?
Visit our offices at Beacon Communications: 1944 Warwick Avenue, Warwick, Mon-Fri, 9-5pm
Presented by Hey Rhody Media Co. (Formerly Providence Media), publishers of Providence Monthly, The Bay, and Hey Rhody
1944 Warwick Avenue, Warwick, RI 02889 401-305-3391 • Mail@HeyRhody.com HeyRhody.com
Copyright ©2025 by Hey Rhody Media Co. All rights reserved.
Proud member of the Rhode Island Press Association
PRINTED IN USA
EVERYONE LOVES A GOOD SMOKE
IN MEMORIAM
DICK SHAPIRO
Photographed in 2022 by Robert Isenberg, courtesy of Jewish Rhode Island
It is with heavy hearts that we share about the passing of Dick Shapiro. Owner of Special Delivery in East Greenwich, Shapiro has been a longtime and much beloved distributor of our magazines. To learn more about him, our friends at Jewish Rhode Island have a wonderful video created by our former editor and contributor, Robert Isenberg in 2022.
May his memory be a blessing.
Robert
Nancy Kate Staley
Vincent D. Criscione, MD
Katie Sliney MSPAS, PA-C
Meighan Dingle Blanco, FNP-BC
Tori Jedson MSPAS, PA-C
Jennifer Johnson, APRN, NP-BC
Lauren Volpe MSPAS, PA-C
THE SCOOP
Arts | Community | Pets | Health | Rhody Gem | News | Calendar
Open Book
Students’ connection to a film inspires URI professor’s latest treatise
By Jonah Major
Aquote that’s been on the mind of Justin Wyatt is “life is many things at once.” A professor and author who’s also worked as a qualitative market researcher and served as a department chair, his most recent book is the BFI Film Classics’ 3 Women , about Robert Altman’s dream-like 1977 film of the same name starring Shelly Duvall and Sissy Spacek. The quote in question comes from Altman’s honorary Oscar ceremony, celebrating a decades-long career that Wyatt first encountered as an 11-year-old boy living in Canada.
Wyatt in URI’s Ranger Hall screening room
It was 1975, and the encounter was with Altman’s film Nashville , a sprawling but personal epic that examines the titular country music capital of the world, and the lives (and conversations) that overlap there. “I went to see it by myself and it sort of changed my life. That seems like a cliche, but it is actually true in this case,” remembers Wyatt. “It was very much about what America is at a certain time – the pluses, the minuses, the craziness, the fun, the violence – all the stuff that’s still going on 50 years later. I became fascinated with America, and I became fascinated with this filmmaker whose vision could come across that way.”
This fascination with the foreign world next door, and the medium that delivered it, set Wyatt on a path of film studies that landed him a job teaching at the University of North Texas at only 26 years old. It was while serving as a professor there that he collided with a film that would once again change his life, Todd Haynes’s Poison , a transgressive triptych of stories inspired by the writings of French playwright Jean Genet. The film’s opening quote – “A man must dream a long time in order to act with grandeur, and dreaming is nursed in darkness” – became a call to action for Wyatt, and he keeps it close, written down and within reach at his desk over 30 years later.
“At a time when people were telling me ‘stay in the closet, don’t tell people you’re gay,’ I was like… I’ve got to, because I think an out professor in Texas in the ‘90s when people were dying of AIDS was important. It was important to represent,” says Wyatt. So moved was he by the film’s nuanced depiction of marginalization that he wrote a letter to Haynes describing its emotional impact. “I expected nothing,” admits Wyatt. Two weeks later, he received a call from Haynes, and the writer-director soon flew to Texas to talk to Wyatt’s students.
It’s this constant openness to the impact of art and a never-ending drive for his students that not only makes Wyatt a star professor, but also inspires his new book. After a period of working in marketing, Wyatt returned to teaching at the University of Rhode Island (URI), where he’s a department chair and associate professor of communication studies and film. His classes have included studies on film authorship featuring the films of Nicolas Roeg, Sofia Coppola, and of course, Robert Altman, allowing him to introduce Nashville to a new generation. “Students have been kind to Nashville ,” Wyatt says of the film-turned-origin-story’s reception, “but I wouldn’t say they necessarily embraced
it. The one film that they embraced was 3 Women. Semester after semester, I would have students talk about how meaningful 3 Women was to them as a film, and I started to think about the film again in a different way.”
This response from his URI students pushed him to write his new book, actually listing two of them in the acknowledgements: Isobel McCullough and Sunny Davis. Wyatt says he watched the film upwards of 15 times while writing the book, noticing something new each time. Readers and re-readers of his book will likely have a similar experience – from the comedic anecdotes in the footnotes to the inspired decision regarding the cover’s color – yellow, the main character’s favorite. Insights within the book include how actor
Duvall’s handling of a cigarette signals her character’s inner life, and how the film’s three locations mold the character’s actions. Perhaps the same is true for the three locations in Wyatt’s life: the changes brought on by seeing Nashville in 1970s Canada, Poison as a teacher in 1990s Texas, and 3 Women with his students in 2010s Rhode Island. Once again, life is many things at once.
Photo courtesy of URI
3 WOMEN Justin Wyatt BFI FILM CLASSICS
Justin Wyatt
It Takes a Village
Wickford merchants rally community to support friend’s new leadership role at mission-based nonprofit
By Hugh Minor
Tuni Schartner, newly appointed executive director of MAE Organization for the Homeless, knows who she can call on when it comes to serving those in need – friends and helpers ready to roll up their sleeves and spring into action. Founded in 2008 by Martinha Javid, the Cranston-based nonprofit whose name comes from the Portuguese word for mother, mãe, provides an array of services to the homeless population in Rhode Island, from hot meal service and basic needs to long-term placement in permanent homes, and employment.
Schartner, a business growth strategist, praises the corps of dedicated volunteers who make the work of the mission-based organization possible. She knows she couldn’t do it without them, and they feel the same way. Lori Lyons, owner of Beauty and the Bath on Main Street in Wickford, beams about her involvement, saying, “How lucky am I to have the opportunity to serve our community and put our energy into something that instantly makes an impact, either through a warm meal, basic necessities, or most importantly, a caring gesture when they need it most.” In February, Lyons hosted a Galentine’s Day event at her shop, collecting hundreds of pairs of hats, gloves, mittens, socks and scarves which were distributed through MAE.
Tuni Schartner receives a generous donation from the Trader Joe’s food share program, which provided goods for weekend hot meals in multiple cities, plus deliveries to food pantries, homeless shelters, and an elderly housing facility
Photos courtesy of MAE Organization
Lori Lyons (left), Julie Beebe, and Joann Seddon (background) serve hot meals on a frigid morning in Kennedy Plaza
MAURA’S HAIR SALON
Specializing in CUTTING & COLORING for men & women
“When I knew I needed help serving meals in Kennedy Plaza, I reached out to these amazing women and of course, they said ‘of course,’” gushes Schartner. On a recent Saturday, a group of volunteers including Lyons and Julie Beebe, owner of Yes! Gallery/JW Graham in Wickford, cooked and served hot meals to about 75 people at Kennedy Plaza in Providence, along with distributing basic necessities. Beebe says of her own experience, “I did not expect the level of connection I would have with the people that came by. It wasn’t just about making sure their bellies were filled with great food. We shared conversation, laughs, handshakes, and hugs – true human connection. We need more of that in this world.”
Lyons and Beebe are just two of the dozens of volunteers who pitch in on a regular basis, making a huge impact. In 2024 alone, the MAE organization served close to 17,000 hot meals to people in unhoused communities throughout the state. MAE’s helpers are critical to the success of the organization
well beyond serving meals; they give their all on a daily basis with tasks including picking up food donations from generous local businesses like Seven Stars Bakery, Trader Joe’s, and BJ’s, and nonprofit partners like Feed RI. Volunteers also take on administrative tasks, from answering office phones to sorting and distributing donated items like clothes, housewares, and amenities.
“I call them the ‘closet queens,’” explains Schartner. “These women manage the intake room, organizing and bagging donated clothes for all ages, separated by size and type. We couldn’t do this work without them.”
Recently, Schartner rallied the troops to help a family in crisis from West Warwick who were forced out of their home after a carbon monoxide leak that could have killed them. “I put the call out to our supporters and we were able to provide this family – who left their home with nothing – food, clothes, and other basic essentials. Of course, they’re still in need, but we were able to offer them assistance and show them that there are people who care.”
Beebe distributes goods with a smile at Kennedy Plaza
Photos courtesy of MAE Organization
Saddle Up for Derby Day
Come out to Harbor Lights in Warwick Neck on Saturday, May 3 from 5-10pm to support the critical work of the MAE Organization. Experience the fun of watching the derby while supporting a great cause.
How MAE I Help?
Like most nonprofits, the MAE Organization relies on support from the community. Here are some ways you help them make an impact.
DONATE FUNDS: Make a donation online or send a check. Every bit makes a difference.
VOLUNTEER: From meal prep and serving food to sorting donated items, you can pitch in wherever it’s needed most.
SPONSOR: Attend and sponsor events that raise funds and awareness of MAE’s mission.
DONATE ITEMS: Contribute items from your home or hold a drive to collect even more essentials from socks to blankets. Learn more at MAEOrganization.org and find events and more on Instagram at @maeorganization.
South County service made simple, local, and reliable.
Lori Lyons, surrounded by donations collected at the Beauty and the Bath Galentine’s drive
Rhody Pets of the Month
By Karen Kalunian
LLooking to welcome a new furry friend into your home? Adopt, don’t shop! Shelters across South County have dogs and cats ready to find their forever homes. Here are some sweet faces ready to meet you, or reach out to the shelters to learn about even more adoptees.
Hazel
BREED: Mixed breed
AGE: 8 months
GENDER: Male
Cody is a medium-sized pup with a beautiful tri-color coat and chocolate eyes that will steal your heart. He’s a little shy when you first meet him, but he opens up quickly. Cody loves to romp around and play, he likes other puppies, and he’s super smart. How can you not fall in love with that face? Cody is waiting to light up your life!
RHODE HOME RESCUE
RhodeHomeRescue.org
BREED: Catahoula Mixed
AGE: 4 years
GENDER: Female
With her coat of many colors, Hazel is a stunner. You have to meet her in person to see how special she truly is. Hazel loves walks on the leash in areas where she can sniff until her heart’s content. If you have yummy treats, she sits like a perfect lady, too. Her best home would be one where she’s your one and only princess, with a big fenced-in yard to run and play.
CHARLESTOWN ANIMAL SHELTER
401-364-1211
If you have been thinking of adopting or if you know of an animal in need, contact Karen Kalunian directly at animaltalk1920@gmail.com.
Parker
BREED: Domestic short hair
AGE: 6 months
GENDER: Male
If you’ve been looking for a playful kitten, look no further because Parker is your boy! He likes other playful kitties, too, so if you have been looking to add another kitten to your home, Parker might be the one. He is black with one white spot right in the middle of his chest and his coat is accented by his bright green sparkling eyes. Fun is Parker’s middle name so make plans to visit him today.
EXETER ANIMAL SHELTER
401-294-2754
Cody
Cody Hazel
Photo (left) by Donna Normand, (center and right) by Karen Kalunian
Parker
Rhody Health
A spine surgeon answers nagging questions about back pain
In partnership with South County Health
By Sarah Toatley
Back pain is one of the most common health concerns, affecting millions of people and impacting daily life, work, and mobility. Whether caused by injury, aging, or chronic conditions, spine health is essential for overall well-being. “Spinal issues can have a major impact on quality of life,” explains Diana Douleh, MD, a fellowship-trained orthopedic spine surgeon at Ortho Rhode Island. Dr. Douleh specializes in treating a wide range of spinal conditions, including herniated discs, spinal stenosis, radiculopathy, and scoliosis. Her approach combines the latest surgical techniques with a focus on minimally invasive procedures, motion-preserving treatments, and personalized patient care.
When it comes to spine health, Dr. Douleh stresses that early intervention is key, especially for anyone experiencing chronic back or neck pain, numbness, or reduced mobility. A consultation with a specialist can help determine the best course of action, whether non-surgical treatments or, when necessary, surgery to restore function and relieve pain. “There are many options available today, from physical therapy and pain management to advanced surgical solutions,” she says. “My goal is to work with patients to find the best approach for their unique needs.”
FAQS WITH THE MD
What are some common signs that someone should see a spine specialist?
Dr. Douleh: If you’re experiencing persistent back or neck pain that doesn’t improve with rest, pain that radiates down your arms or legs, numbness, tingling, or weakness, it’s time to see a specialist. These could be signs of a spinal condition that requires medical attention.
Are there non-surgical options for treating back pain?
Dr. Douleh: Absolutely. Many patients benefit from physical therapy, targeted exercise programs, lifestyle modifications, and pain management techniques like injections. Surgery is typically considered only after conservative treatments have been explored.
What advancements in spine surgery are improving outcomes for patients?
Dr. Douleh: Minimally invasive techniques allow for smaller incisions, reduced recovery time, and less postoperative pain. Additionally, motionpreserving surgeries, such as disc replacements, help maintain mobility compared to traditional spinal fusions.
How can people take better care of their spine?
Dr. Douleh: A strong core, good posture, and an active lifestyle are key to maintaining spine health. Proper lifting techniques, avoiding prolonged sitting, and maintaining a healthy weight can also help protect your spine over time.
Bannon Tile
Tile Showroom
What it is:
A family-owned business dedicated to all things tile – from selection to installation.
Where to find it:
Along Route 1 / Post Road in North Kingstown, look for Bannon Tile inside a plaza with other businesses.
What makes it a Rhody Gem?
Not sure of the difference between ceramic, glass, marble, slate, or porcelain tile? Since 1953, Rhode Islanders have trusted the Bannon family for their quality service at affordable prices. Owen “Mike” Bannon founded the business, now owned and operated by his son David O. Bannon and his wife Donna. David started working in the family business in 1974, and says, “while tiles and styles vary throughout the years, one thing is consistent at Bannon Tile and that is the attention to detail, quality products, and providing one-on-one service to every client and customer.” Bannon Tile offers design services, private appointments, installation, and wholesale pricing to registered contractors. “Whether you are building a new home, renovating an old home, or just adding a new look to your kitchen with a new backsplash, Donna and I will make the process fun, easy, and affordable,” says David.
Bannon Tile Distributors, Inc.
6196 Post Road, North Kingstown 401-885-1533
BannonTile.com
Every neighborhood has that secret, hidden, cool and unusual, or hole-in-the-wall spot that locals love. We’re on the hunt for Rhody Gems! Email Marketing@HeyRhody.com to suggest yours and we just might feature it!
P hoto courtesy of Bannon Tile
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 16TH –FRIDAY, APRIL 18TH
It’s Seeqan (Spring)! Come and join us in Mashantucket at the Pequot Museum during the week for Native crafts, family-friendly fun and edu-tainment. For more details, visit pequotmuseum.org.
Rhode Island Health Centers Raise Alarm Over Proposed Medicaid Cuts
US Rep. Seth Magaziner vowed to push back on Republican plans during a visit to a South County health center
In partnership with The Public’s Radio • ThePublicsRadio.org
•
By Lynn Arditi
Famous homeowners like Taylor Swift have helped polish the image of Westerly, but the tony image belies a harsher reality for the year-round folks in this beach town. More than one in five of the town’s roughly 23,100 residents – close to 5,000 people – are enrolled in Medicaid, the government insurance program for people with low-incomes or disabilities, according to the latest monthly report released by the Rhode Island Executive Office of Health and Human Services.
Now, many of those residents who work in the restaurants, hotels, bars and beach clubs which have made Westerly a vacation destination are at risk of losing their Medicaid coverage under a proposed plan by House Republicans, according to local health advocates and US Democratic Rep. Seth Magaziner.
The House Budget Committee voted on Feb. 13 to seek at least $880 billion in mandated spending cuts on programs overseen by the House Energy and Commerce Committee. The committee oversees Medicaid, which is expected to bear the brunt of those cuts.
House Republicans, who have a narrow majority in Congress, are expected to vote on the budget proposal this week.
Magaziner said he plans to “try to convince at least a handful of House Republicans not to gut the health care of millions of people in order to pay for tax cuts for rich people.” The proposed cuts, Magaziner and local health advocates said, would especially hurt nonprofit federally qualified health centers, the safety net of last resort for the uninsured, the underinsured, and other vulnerable people. “But it’s not just low-income people,’’ Magaziner said in an interview [Monday]. “Many people who are solidly middle class qualify for Medicaid, and this would pull the rug out from under them as well.”
If the cuts go through, Rhode Island stands to lose more than $242 Million in federal funding for its Medicaid program, according to a report released [Tuesday] by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Urban Institute. If state
leaders can’t find a way to absorb the loss, the report said, they’ll need to remove some 39,000 Rhode Islanders from the Medicaid rolls.
On [Monday], Magaziner talked about the proposed cuts during a visit to the Wood River Health Services, a nonprofit community health center with offices in Westerly and Hope Valley. About 40 percent of Wood River Health’s patients are covered by Medicaid, said Alison L. Croke,
the center’s president and CEO.
During the last five years, Wood River Health’s patient population has grown by nearly 50 percent, from 6,700 patients in 2019 to more than 10,000 patients last year, according to Croke.
This article was originally posted on February 24, 2025. Lynn Arditi can be reached at larditi@thepublicsradio.org
Photo courtesy of Wood River Health Services
/ The Public’s Radio
US Rep. Seth Magaziner tours Wood River Health Services in Hope Valley with Wood River CEO Alison L. Croke
The Must List
April 24: Join Hey Rhody Media Co. at the newly opened Track 15 as we celebrate Who to Watch , our annual gathering that honors leading members of our community featured in the January 2025 issue. Providence, HeyRhody.com
April 4-13: The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife is a compelling story about a woman facing a midlife crisis who meets a flamboyant childhood friend who helps to draw her away from darkness. Westerly, GraniteTheatre.org
April 5: All aboard the Audubon van for Birds and Brews , a day of adventure at birding locations on Aquidneck Island, plus a stop at a craft brewery. Bring a lunch, binoculars and dress for the weather. Exeter, ASRI.org
April 5: Young children can meet the Easter Bunny and revel in the search for hidden eggs at the Easter Egg Hunt at Wilcox Park beginning at 1pm, with the youngest age group kicking things off. Westerly, OceanChamber.org
April 10-13: Daffodil Days returns to Wickford Village for an extended weekend of activities that include the annual Sip and Stroll, Daffy Dog Parade, horse-drawn carriages, pony rides, a petting zoo, chalk art, and more. North Kingstown, WickfordVillage.org
April 11: Music and film come together at the URI Fine Arts Center for Alfred Hitchcock’s silent classic The Lodger , with live music performed by the Great Necks Guitar Trio, classical guitarist Mickey Jones, and cellist Michal Shein. Kingston, RIGuitarGuild.org
April 11: Don’t miss a special evening of music and storytelling from RI native Cheryl Wheeler , whose songs have been recorded by artists including Garth Brooks, Bette Midler, and Kenny Loggins, playing with longtime partner Kenny White. West Kingston, CourthouseArts.org
April 26: The fun returns to the state border when over 20,000 rubber ducks are released into the Pawcatuck River along the CT/RI line when the 25th Annual Pawcatuck River Duck Race gets underway. PawcatuckRiverDuckRace.org
April 26: Visit the baby animals nursery at the Wildlife Clinic Baby Shower , a busy day of free-admission family fun with face painting, balloon animals, educational activities, an ice cream social and more. North Kingstown, RIWildlifeRehab.org
April 26: Celebrate Spring at Sheep Shearing Day , an annual event held at Watson Farm. Meet baby lambs, watch local shearers, visit with artisans, enjoy local food, and view the herd of heritage Red Devon cattle. A farm treasure hunt for kids, too. Jamestown, My.HistoricNewEngland.org
Rendering of Who to Watch party site Track 15
Ideas, inspiration, and expert advice for refreshing spaces indoors and out
BotanicalLiving
BY ELYSE MAJOR
Craving green? You’re not alone. After a frigid winter, even temperatures climbing into the 40s has us opening windows wide to welcome a cleansing breeze inside. Similar to January, when we might trade dense stews for fresh salads, think of April as the home edition of “new year, new you,” and suddenly green is the new black. We’ve rounded up ways to bring this feeling to your surroundings, with local experts sharing how to do everything from furnishing your home with prints and plants to selecting paint colors and finishes. You’ll find a spotlight on a local furniture maker, expert advice for lawn prep, and so much more. And while the threat of snow may linger for a bit longer, this issue is sure to have you trading that mug of hot cocoa for a green smoothie. Spring forward!
HOME TOUR
Branching Out
Botanical wallpaper sets the color story for a Colonial home renovation
The desk offers a perfect workfrom-home setup, complete with a Zoom-friendly background
Pro-Tip: Wallpaper
“Commit! Better to go all in and paper the entire room instead of choosing to paper just one wall which can feel dated or worse, cut-rate. If committing to the entire room keeps you up at night, try introducing a paper onto the ceiling instead,” says Obermeier.
BY ELYSE MAJOR
“Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful” is a famous quote by Victorian designer and founder of the Arts and Crafts movement, William Morris. Celebrated for drawing from nature in wallpaper and textile designs, his patterns continue to be in production nearly 160 years since he started his original company, and are as popular as ever. Morris & Co. Pimpernel wallcovering recently served as the jumping-off point for a refresh rooted in botanical style given to a 1928 Colonial on Providence’s East Side by Kira David Design.
“Knowing my client’s deep love of the color green, I wanted to utilize the color in a space they’d enter every day,” begins Kira Obermeier, owner and principal designer at Kira David Design. She explains that the mudroom was chosen for the wallpaper because like so many Rhode Island homes, the back door serves as the family’s main entrance. “This gorgeous green color and cheerful wallcovering would be the last thing they saw as they left for the day, and the first thing they’d see upon returning home. I wanted it to signal, ‘Hey! You’re home now, you can relax!’” says Obermeier, who relocated to Providence with her young family from the Midwest during the pandemic. Once that selection was made, the next steps were all about balancing the rest of the spaces against that vivid statement by way of soft creams with accents of gentle sages and blues, and incorporating warmth with rich wood tones of walnut and white oak.
Photography by Michael
J. Lee and styling by Foret Design Studio, courtesy of Kira David Design
The spring market in Rhode Island doesn’t wait, and neither should you. Whether you’re prepping to sell or searching for your next home, now is the time to get ahead. With local expertise and a strategic approach, I’ll help you navigate every step—so when the market moves, you’re ready to move with it.
Let’s start the conversation today.
PHOTO CREDIT: Stephanie Ewens Photography.
Obermeier shares that while the house didn’t require tearing down walls, a long list of issues –both cosmetic and code-related – necessitated a complete gut. With a color story in place, Obermeier and team worked on introducing furnishings and lighting. Adhering to a neutral palette, various textures were brought in to keep things from feeling one dimensional, and brass pendants and chandeliers helped balance the mix between new and old. “Referencing historic precedent as you outfit your home with modern-day amenities will ensure your updates feel appropriate to the style of the home. Find period-style images to better understand why things were built the way they were so that the decisions you make about your home in 2025 feel timeless,” she says.
Photography by Michael J. Lee and styling by Foret
Design Studio, courtesy of Kira David Design
Since the radiators couldn’t move, Obermeier fashioned a solution that includes detachable magnetic panels topped with a daybed cushion
A custom island crafted from reclaimed wood makes use of extra space in the kitchen
Brass light fixtures through the home balance the mix between new and old
A range of textures keep the neutral palette interesting
When it comes to making switches for spring, Obermeier says that the simplest tip of all is right outside.
“Grab a pair of pruning shears and start snipping!” Clip fallen branches to fit vessels like jars and vases, and place in cold water. “It’s an easy and free update and the best vase-filler for the season.”
GET RHODY STYLE
Ideas and resources for making the most of living in the Ocean State.
Creative Capital
“Rhode Island is home to so many wonderful artisans. I feel fortunate to have access to such gifted craftspeople,” says Obermeier. Some of her favorites around the state include Hwang Bishop for lighting, Giossi & Kuhn and O&G Studio for bespoke furniture, and Loominous for rugs.
Sense of Place
For the primary artwork visible from the foyer, Obermeier shares that she chose work by Carol Benson Cobb because, “it feels reminiscent of the sunrise at Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge.”
Local Talent
The following businesses were part of this project: Calyx Builds for the second-floor hall bath renovation; DiStefano Brothers Construction, first-floor renovation; Factory Carpet Outlet, stair runner; and Kitchen & Countertop Center of New England, fireplace surround and radiator top stone. Kira David Design specializes in preserving and restoring the unique character of historic New England homes, while also bringing charm and personality to new construction projects throughout the region. Learn more at KiraDavidDesign.com.
Custom artwork from Trowbridge Gallery in London serves as the perfect connection to the botanical wallcovering in the adjacent mudroom
Custom built-ins add stylish storage without sacrificing space
Photography by Michael J. Lee and styling by
Foret Design Studio, courtesy of Kira David Design
Presented by Bryant University
The 28th annual Women’s Summit continued the tradition of empowering, supporting, and encouraging women to excel professionally, personally, and financially. Thank you to our esteemed speakers and all who attended for your participation and perspective.
A Special Thanks to our Loyal and Valued Sponsors:
is the Presenting Sponsor
Diamond Sponsors: Bank of America, Fidelity Investments
Gold Sponsors: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island, Jordan’s Furniture, PwC
Silver Sponsors: Brown Medicine, Citizens Bank, FM, IGT, Navigant Credit Union, Neurotech, New England Construction, Robinzon+Cole, Taco Comfort Solutions, TIAA, TJX
Bronze Sponsors: AAA Northeast, AIPSO, BankNewport, BankRI, Beacon Mutual Insurance, Bristol County Savings Bank, Centreville Bank, Connecticut Sun, EY, Gilbane Building Company, Hope Global, JF Moran, Massage Envy, Meeting Street, Milton CAT, Providence College, Santander Bank, N.A., Southcoast Health, Target, Teknor Apex, Toyota, USI Insurance Services, Washington Trust
Media Sponsors: Boston Globe Rhode Island, Hey Rhody Media Co., Providence Business News, Rhode Island Monthly, RI PBS & The Public’s Radio
Sponsor list as of February 25, 2025. | Women’s Summit® is a registered trademark of Bryant University.
Rhody Resources
DECOR
Aardvark Antiques
Newport
Balè Providence
Beaucoup Maison
Newport
Cory Farms Past & Presents Portsmouth
Crestar.art
East Greenwich
Daisy Dig’ins
Barrington
Estate Services
West Warwick
Fenwick & Oliver
Bristol
Groundswell
Garden + Home
Tiverton
Homestyle
Providence
OMO Jewels & Gifts
Westerly
Peter Pots Pottery
West Kingston
Picture This
Narragansett
Seefari
North Kingstown
Store Four
Wakefield
Simple Pleasures
Charlestown
Windie’s Westerly
Young Designs
Floral Studio
Newport
Maker Spotlight
Surrounded by curled wood shavings and commissioned designs sketched out on paper, the two-man duo of Matt Giossi and Ron Kuhn, Jr. behind Giossi & Kuhn Design can be found hard at work in their Pawtucket studio where leaned up against the wall, beams of wood in all hues await their transformation into dining tables, cabinets, and all variety of furniture meant to stand the test of time. Their business came together after meeting during an apprenticeship with local master Hank Gilpin and a shared passion for the process –an assemblage of tricks, techniques, and materials that goes into furniture making. For both, the satisfaction is in cracking the code that each new design challenge
presents. “Even a simple piece requires a long list of decisions to make, problems to solve, and creative solutions to ponder,” says Kuhn of their process. Giossi and Kuhn build with a method called mortise and tenon joinery, known for its durability and elegance. Strong joints are fit into place and glued grain-to-grain to create a lasting bond even as the wood naturally expands and retracts. Part of the finished product’s visual interest comes from smooth details that can’t be replicated by a machine. Custom commissions are welcomed, whether it’s a table that will be a fixture in someone’s home or a larger scale kitchen build. Pawtucket, GiossiAndKuhn.com – Abbie Lahmers
Photo courtesy of Giossi & Kuhn
Matt Giossi & Ron Kuhn Jr. (right), at work in their Pawtucket studio
“It is no surprise that Stephen exceeded my expectations on the recent sale of my investment property. Stephen is great to work with and I often looked to him for his recommendations given the extensive knowledge he has gained as a trusted real estate professional.
When it came time for negotiating with the prospect, it was a seamless and painless process which resulted quite favorably for me. I look forward to working with Stephen on my next transaction and would certainly recommend him for either personal or business related transactions.”
Rhody Resources DESIGN
Bob Frances Interiors North Providence
Dzyna Signature Kitchen & Bath, Portsmouth
East Coast Designs East Greenwich
Inside Style, Wakefield
Lou Lou’s Decor , Tiverton
Maloney Interiors Newport
Michelle Lee Designs Johnston
Perfect Touch Interiors Cranston
RJL Furniture Gallery Providence
Sayles Livingston Design Tiverton
GARDEN CENTERS
Clark Farms , Wakefield
Confreda Farms Hope/Scituate
DeCastro Farms Portsmouth
The Farmer’s Daughter South Kingstown
Grandscapes & Grandin Farms, Wakefield
Hilltop Nursery Smithfield
Rhode Island Mulch Narragansett
Wildwood Nursery East Greenwich
Paint Trends
When deciding what color to paint a room, the vast array of choices can be overwhelming. Categorized sets like Color Trends 2025 Palette by Benjamin Moore can be a great place to start. Available at The Color House , it features 10 colors in natural shades like Sea Salt, Rosepine, and Ashwood Moss. Jean Hauser, president and owner of The Color House, carries a host of brands, including Benjamin Moore, and says their peel-and-stick color samples are highly useful. “We stock 140 of the most popular Benjamin Moore
finishes at each location, but if we do not have the color you are looking for in the store, you can order any of the 3,800 colors on our website, and they will ship directly to your home,” says Hauser, adding, “unlike other peel-and-stick options, ours are made with Benjamin Moore paint.” For indoor finishes, Hauser recommends Aura Matte or Eggshell. “They’re beautiful washable finishes that also have great coverage.” Cranston, Middletown, North Kingstown, Smithfield & Wakefield, TheColorHouse.com
Glacier White
Ashwood Moss
Cinnamon Slate
Tissue Pink
Sea Salt Leather Saddle Brown
Paris Rain
Stained Glass
Rosepine
Rhody Resources HOME IMPROVEMENT
Adler’s Design Center & Hardware, Providence
Bannon Tile, North Kingstown
Budget Blinds, Westerly
Cole Cabinets, Cranston
Closet Tec, North Smithfield
Custom Contracting, Wakefield
Douglas Lumber, Smithfield
Fabric Gallery North Kingstown
Fine Home Details Providence
Frezza Painting North Providence
Hawkins Hardwood Flooring, Greenville
Heritage Kitchen Design Center, North Kingstown
Inspired Closets Rhode Island, East Greenwich
KMR Blinds Drapes Carpet Westerly
McCormick Home Improvement, Warwick
Ocean State Air Solutions Portsmouth
RIKB Design Build Warwick
RoofMasters, Smithfield
Salk’s Ace Hardware Warwick
Tile Craft Design Center Wakefield
Weaver Hill Woodworks West Greenwich
Wickford Kitchen & Bath North Kingstown
“Plants are meant to be outside, but when we bring them indoors or out of their usual environment, we’ve got to make sure they get everything they need to thrive,” says Bridget Tierney, owner and florist of The Greenery . When it comes to easy care, she recommends Dracaena trifasciata, commonly known as the snake plant. “They’re easy to care for because they don’t mind if you forget to water them or place them in inefficient lighting. They can handle a little bit of tough love and still thrive, making them perfect for anyone with an ‘I’ll water you when I remember’ schedule!” The snake plant is also on NASA’s short-list of detoxifying plants as published in their Clean Air Study. Her personal favorite is the ZZ plant, AKA Zamioculcas zamiifolia. “I love their dark glossy arching branches. It’s easy to grow, tolerant of neglect, and an air purifier!” Warren, TheGreeneryRI.com
House Plants Spring Lawn Prep
While the calendar may say spring, Alex DaPonte of DaPonte’s Landscaping Services urges patience. “While it’s great to prune shrubs and plants, it’s very important that you are aware of the weather forecast in the future. If you do it too soon, and we have another freeze, you could jeopardize your blooms for that coming season,” says the third-generation East Bay landscaper. DaPonte is a certified Rhode Island Horticulturist and project manager for landscaping installations at the family business. “Examine the beds and remove debris from winter like sticks and trash,” he adds. “Determine the soil of the beds. You might want to amend with some compost, which helps the soil structure with water drainage to the roots and past the roots so that water doesn’t pool in your garden,” DaPonte offers. “Compost helps provide nitrogen and phosphorus for plants. It degrades over time, so it’s like a slow release of natural fertilizer for your plant material.” He also advises aerating the lawn. “Aeration allows for an easier transportation of fertilizers, water, and any sort of pesticide to travel through the lawn and not just sit on top and get closer to the roots to fully absorb all the good nutrients.” Bristol, DaPontesLandscaping. com – Nina Murphy
Photos courtesy of Adobe Stock
Rhody Resources HOUSE PLANTS
Hidden Gardens Barrington
Hilltop Garden Center, Smithfield
Jordan’s Jungle Pawtucket
Let It Grow, Johnston
Pothos Plant Shop
Providence
Thea Plant Co.
Providence
OUTDOOR
Allens Seed Exeter
All Outdoor Power Equipment
South Kingstown
AllScapes Exeter
Howard Johnson South Kingstown
Ideal Concrete Block Co. Westford, MA
Pat’s Power Equipment Charlestown
Rhode Island Harvesting Company
Ashaway
Rhode Island Mulch Narragansett
Riverhead
Building Supply
Middletown
Surv RI
Newport
Collected Wisdom
“We’re so lucky to be in the best place to find amazing art, furniture, and decor,” says Britt Machado, owner of JohnnyCakes Design & Vintage , a retail shop in Providence that offers interior styling and staging. Machado shares what went into creating an alluring office space in a circa-1810 house. Learn more on Instagram @johnnycakesdesign.
GO GREEN:
Plants bring personality and living color. If you’re intimidated by plant care, look for faux options.
BRIGHT IDEA:
Task lighting, a mirror reflection, and a window all draw in light.
COLORFUL ATTITUDE:
Set a limited palette and then play freely within it. Shown is a palette of blue, brown, and cream, with various hues creating harmonious layers.
MIX MASTER:
Furnishings from three centuries work together by adhering to a similar palette.
Photo by J Wessel Photography
HOME & STYLE
Home | Fairy Book | Influencer | Shop
Relaxed Coastal
Surrounding trees and shoreline set a palette of ebony, stone, and turquoise in a home refresh
By Andrea E. McHugh
uring the early part of the pandemic, David and Wendy Greenfield spent time in the Ocean State, closer to their adult children. Because of pandemic restrictions, their daughter Laurel postponed her Newport wedding by a year, but she and her fiance Jeff were determined to marry. The Greenfields rented a house in Portsmouth and hosted a 20-person backyard wedding. “After spending six weeks in Rhode Island that summer, we decided that this was where we wanted to retire,” says Wendy.
The two bought a weekend getaway home just a stone’s throw from the serene Sakonnet River in October of 2020. The three-bedroom, three-bath single-family Colonial, built in 1976, was admittedly dated but the location sold them. “Tucked away in a small quiet neighborhood close to the water, we were able to see the potential of what we could do with the house,” explains Wendy. Two years later, when the Greenfields had retirement in their sights, they decided to keep the original footprint of the house and embark on a comprehensive renovation.
To execute their vision of a home that was “sophisticated while also being comfortable and welcoming to our guests,” the couple turned to all local talent: Newport-based Maloney Interiors, an interior architecture and design firm led by Ally Maloney Winzer, and Hurd Construction in Portsmouth. “Managing the complexities of a full-home gut remodel, along with all of the design decisions, from afar was too much for them to do on their own,” Maloney Winzer explains, as the Greenfields were still living full time in the Hudson Valley. Maloney Winzer managed
ABOVE: Light seafoam tile installed vertically sets the backdrop for the natural white oak vanity, lending a coastal feel without being literal
HOME & STYLE
the logistics, budgets, and installations, allowing the Greenfields to take a breath while their vision came to life further north. The result is a completely reinvented home with a generous open kitchen and a newly added screened-in porch with a fireplace and heaters, enabling the Greenfields to enjoy it most of the year.
The home’s modern seaside farmhouse aesthetic blends complementary styles and colors throughout. “We knew we
The kitchen was a collaboration with Shannon Raposa from Riverhead Building Supply in neighboring Middletown, and features a contemporary twist on traditional farmhouse elements
didn’t want the house to feel too beachy, so we went with ‘coastal chic,’ using turquoise, beige, and white to evoke the feeling of water and sand,” explains Wendy.
“We love living so close to the beach and exploring Newport, Jamestown, and Bristol, as well as having easy access to Boston where our daughters and grandson live,” says Wendy. “There is so much to do and see in Rhode Island and on Aquidneck Island.”
Wooden acoustic slat panels frame the television and hearth in contemporary fashion
Get Rhody Style
Ideas and resources for making the most of living in the Ocean State.
Local Accents
The Greenfields describe their home as a “modern coastal cottage,” and while they wanted to embrace the feel of a beach house, they also wanted a “year-round cozy feel” to the home. They found decor with a nautical nod at Yes! Gallery in Wickford and Ben’s Furniture in Newport, plus fashionable finds at Stalise, a boutique in Portsmouth.
Food Scene
The couple enjoys seeking out new food adventures together, and count Ida’s Restaurant and Pasta Vino in Middletown, Jax Diner in Portsmouth, and Venda Ravioli in Providence among their favorites. When cooking at home, they turn to local purveyors, including Aquidneck Meat Market in Middletown.
Anchors Away
“Coastal design doesn’t have to be preppy, blue and white, or like anything you’ve ever seen before,” says Maloney Winzer. Learn more about her services and style at MaloneyInteriors.com.
Photography by Cate Brown Photography, courtesy of Maloney Interiors
Collected Tales
Cranston author launches a book series on fairy stories and legends
By Hugh Minor
My interest in fairies came from the stories my parents used to tell me about pixies on our family vacations to Cornwall when I was a child,” recalls Andrew Warburton of visits to the picturesque coastline. When he came to the United States in 2007 from Bristol, England for graduate school, he noticed a lack of lore, but knew that legends must exist so he sought to uncover these stories. In his book New England Fairies: A History
of the Little People of the Hills and Forests , Warburton presents tales about fairies from the six New England states, going back 400 years. In the section on Rhode Island, these legends stem primarily from Irish and Native American culture. In Harrisville, for example, Irish-American Ellen Carson claims to have had a frightening encounter on the old mill bridge that crosses Clear River with a banshee, a type of floating fairy who wails for the dead, identified by a white gown and striking long white hair.
Similarly, he investigates legends surrounding the Little People of Matunuck Hills, a long-held oral tradition of the Narragansett Tribe.
A resident of Cranston since 2022, Warburton’s research began partly because of a longing for connection back to his homeland. He missed the charm of these tales and decided to dig for similar experiences here. He also credits favorite fantasy authors from childhood like J.R.R. Tolkien and others for inspiration, saying, “I read about elves and fairies
Photos courtesy of Andrew Warburton
The cover is by British children’s book illustrator Arthur Rackham, published by William Heinemann, 1921 and now in the public domain
in fiction but I never realized that many of those ideas were based on folklore.”
The book has been well-received, particularly among those raised with the folklore of fairies. “I love meeting people at readings who tell me about the stories that have been handed down to them. There is always at least one person who fully believes, and I enjoy hearing that. They have such strong links to these myths,” says Warburton. While he believes in these stories as cultural traditions, he wishes he could say he was
Harrisville Fairy Bridge is the location of an alleged banshee sighting
a believer in fairies. “I kind of wish that I was there with them, that I really believe in fairies. I’ve been to all of the places where they live, but I’ve never seen one.”
Warburton hopes the book will bring some of the enchantment from the UK over to his new homeland. “I wanted to point out where the fairy legends lie in New England with the hope that people will use their imagination to get out and explore. It’s important to have that sense of magic in our surroundings.” Currently, Warburton is working on a book about fairies of the Empire State, investigating the folklore buried deep within the culture of the upper West Side, Brooklyn, and Queens. But those are tales for another time ( New York Fairies , July 8). Learn more at FairiesOfNewEngland.com.
Andrew Warburton at a recent book signing
Meet Michelle Parenteau
Acclaimed Johnston-based interior designer on color combos and supporting small
By Elyse Major
With your firm Michelle Lee Designs, you have built a solid career as a residential and commercial interior designer. For someone new to hiring these services, what are some things to know?
References are very important. You want to know about the quality of their work – do they work with trusted contractors and vendors? Will they work with you to achieve your vision and not impose their views on your home or business?
As an artist, you infuse bold color into all you do. What are some favorite shades and why?
My favorite color combination is blue and green. Blue is a timeless color; it’s joyful with so many hues. Navy blue is classic and intimate, while turquoise can make you forget the world outside with its boldness! Green is part of nature; it allows you to bring the outside in. Deep greens can feel dark and moody with a historic feel. Bright green feels like an ocean breeze.
You are known for sourcing local for home and personal accents. Please share some top spots. Yes! Gallery in North Kingstown is a place I’ve been shopping at for so many years. I love jewelry, and they sell so many unique designs. Grasmere in Bristol has beautiful things for your garden and inside your home, including vintage and antique objects, clothing, jewelry, handcrafted gifts, and so many eclectic items. I just purchased a peace sign made of grapevines for my barn there.
When you’re not busy working, where do you like to grab a bite and relax?
JA PATTY is a favorite for a quick meal! They serve delicious authentic Jamaican food in a colorful atmosphere. If I’m looking for upscale, definitely Ten Prime Steak & Sushi in Providence. L’Artisan Cafe & Bakery, also in the city, makes the best cafe mochas and blueberry muffins. Breakfast –without a doubt – is Mesa Cafe in Cranston for authentic Mexican dishes that are so tasty in a warm and inviting atmosphere.
What is the least expensive way to make an impact in the design of your home?
Paint or adding wallpaper can completely transform a space without breaking the budget. Learn more at MichelleLeeDesigns.com.
Best Sellers
By Elyse Major
In celebration of Independent Bookstore Day 2025, we’ve rounded up swag for the bibliophiles in your life. Aside from the mug, goods are carried by various stockists around the state, so check websites for shops near you. As for the tote bag, follow your favorite Rhode Island indies online to see if they have plans and merch for the big day: Saturday, April 26! With or without fanfare, it’s always a great day to shop small and local for books and gifts.
2025 INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE DAY TOTE BAG
FEATURE
Connecting Plots
Conservation agencies band together to protect wild spaces for generations to come
By Emily Olson
gainst a backdrop of uncertain federal funding that leaves planned projects in limbo, local conservation organizations face significant hurdles, including everything from land fragmentation threatening habitats to nature-deprived areas disproportionately affecting marginalized communities. However, a few small-but-mighty groups are up to the challenge. Land trusts and conservation organizations are dedicated to conserving and protecting natural areas that are not only vital to plant and animal life but also key in providing people opportunities to commune with nature. One of the ways they do this is by acquiring, protecting, and connecting parcels of land to create large swaths of green space.
Visitors explore George B. Parker Woodland Wildlife Refuge, an area managed by Audubon
Kate Sayles is the director of the Rhode Island Land Trust Council (RILTC), a statewide coalition dedicated to supporting more than 50 land trusts, which are essentially entities that manage property, in this case for conservation. Sayles describes her organization as a “onestop-shop of resources” for those land trusts.
“We support them through our advocacy work at the State House, by providing land trusts with the field tools and acquisition support necessary to do their work successfully, and by offering public engagement opportunities,” she explains, noting that 73 percent of the organization’s work is done by volunteers. In addition to supporting land managers, the
organization advocates for good land use policies and helps land trusts access funding, but the work is daunting and the RILTC is trying to double its impact.
One way they do this is through the Campaign for Conservation, a four-year effort to raise $1 million, now entering its third year. Funds raised will go to support advocacy, volunteer efforts, technical assistance, and engagement activities, like the organization’s RI Walks Challenge, a scavenger hunt and nature walk activity designed to encourage locals to get outside and enjoy the environment. Hidden along 30 trails in Rhode Island are 34 creatures with associated QR codes. Participants can scan
the codes and those who find all of the creatures win a prize. “Having these engagement programs to facilitate people getting out and exploring nature, particularly as we head into whatever this federal landscape is, will be very important,” Sayles says. “Being outside and connected to nature is vital to our mental health.”
The organization also aims to increase its impact by building its land protection grant program, which offers small, $3,000 grants to support land acquisition. “Sometimes appraisals, surveys, or consultants are required to help land acquisitions go through,” Sayles explains. “Our grant program helps offset those associated costs.”
The RI Walks Challenge encourages all ages to get out and explore conservation land
Photo courtesy of RI Land Trust Council
Many species of birds, like the barred owl, require large swaths of conserved forest to thrive
Sayles says that Rhode Island holds a unique spot in the conservation movement. “We are the second most densely populated state in the country, but we are more than half forested,” she says, “and because we’re such a small state, all of our conservation partners know each other. We can access each other in ways other states can’t, and that allows us to get really creative in our conservation efforts.”
One such partner is the Audubon Society of Rhode Island, and their senior director of conservation, Scott Ruhren, agrees with Sayles’ assertion that the state’s small size allows for efficient collaboration. “Even though we’re going after the same money, we try to collaborate rather than compete,” he says. “The different
groups work well together. You see the same people every time at a meeting, so sometimes when a landowner comes to me with a donation, I might refer some of those smaller pieces to a different organization that would be a better fit.” Even when it comes to conservation, Ruhren says that Rhode Island is Rhode Islanding. “For such a small state, we have a huge number of land trusts,” he says affectionately. “Rhode Islanders like their fiefdoms!”
Like other conservation organizations in the state, one of Audubon’s goals is protecting and connecting pieces of land, often through acquisition or easement, which occurs when a landowner retains ownership rights, but works with a conservation organization to protect
that land. Recently, Audubon received a huge acquisition from a family that donated 67 acres to establish the Eleanor & Maurice H. Gordon Wildlife Refuge in South Kingstown.
“A family of four siblings owned the property. They wanted it to be protected and thought that Audubon would be a willing landlord,” Ruhren explains. “One sibling is still living on the property as a resident caregiver.” One of the things that makes this swath of land so exciting is that it connects to the Great Swamp Wildlife Refuge, state land that is home to forested wetlands, which are an important habitat for a variety of local flora and fauna. “When it comes to wildlife, bigger is always better,” Ruhren says.
Photo by Peter Green, courtesy of Audubon
Ruhren wants to deliver the message that donation is not the only way to protect land. “People can talk to me anytime to ask about options,” Ruhren offers. “People who are worried about their land and its future can protect it using a variety of strategies.”
Scott Comings, associate state director of The Nature Conservancy (TNC), says that his organization owns and protects about 15,000 acres of land throughout Rhode Island. TNC is a global organization that is represented in 80 countries, with chapters in all 50 US states. The Rhode Island chapter has been operating since the late 1960s. “Our mission,” Comings explains, “is to
conserve the land and waters on which all life depends, and support clean air, clean water, resilient systems, and resilient communities.”
Within the last 18 months, TNC was able to permanently conserve 11 acres of coastal wildlife habitat. In partnership with the Block Island Land Trust, the organization purchased five acres of land on the island that contains salt marsh, one of the most imperiled habitats in the state. “It has some pretty key marshy areas that are important to shore birds and wading birds, as well as coastal shrub,” Comings explains. “The land also abuts the most threatened part of Corn Neck Road, which regularly floods.
Some models suggest that that road will disappear at some point, so owning that property helps us address some of the threats.”
The other piece of land is six beachfront acres in South Kingstown next to the Trustom Pond National Wildlife Refuge. “The owners chose to prevent future development on the land by giving the development rights away. It’s a wonderful gift for the property to stay in its natural state,” Comings says. This is an easement acquisition, which means the landowner retains property rights, but negotiates with TNC about prohibited uses. “For example,” Comings explains, “you can walk on it, but you can’t cut things down.
Photo courtesy of The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy protects several acres of coastal habitat on Block Island
You can’t alter the terrain, but you can hunt on it. After negotiations are complete, we meet with the owner once a year to ensure those rules and regulations are being followed.” Like Ruhren, Comings notes that bigger is better when it comes to wildlife. “The bigger and more connected the protected spaces,” he says, “the more resilient they are to storms and climate change.”
Rhody Resources
Learn more about ways to get involved in conservation initiatives, make a donation, or follow along for updates by finding these organizations online.
Audubon Society of Rhode Island: ASRI.org
The Nature Conservancy: Nature.org (search Rhode Island for volunteer opportunities and more)
Rhode Island Land Trust Council: RILandTrusts.org
All three organizations recognize that the Ocean State is facing multiple land use issues that might seem at odds, such as land conservation and the state’s housing crisis, but Sayles believes that people can have safe, affordable places to live as well as local healthy food and open spaces. “These things are not mutually exclusive, but it’s important that conservation
organizations work with community developers in land use planning,” she says. “People in conservation are working through the lens of keeping people healthy in mind and body. We just want to make sure our communities have what they need to be successful and the conservation organizations like Rhode Island Land Trust Council are part of the larger conversations.”
Photo (L) courtesy of Audubon, (R) courtesy of The Nature Conservancy
The Eleanor & Maurice H. Gordon Wildlife Refuge protected by Audubon includes critical wetlands habitat
Beachfront land in South Kingstown protected by TNC
FOOD & DRINK
Farm Fresh | In the Kitchen | Food Trends
The Good Life
An Exeter farmer dedicated to creating a growing legacy of chemical-free produce
By Abbie Lahmers
Though it’s easy to be tempted by the notion of perfection, Eric Lachance’s vision for farming in Rhode Island doesn’t succumb to the folly of utopia, but rather his sights are on a more realistic, attainable prize. Eutopia Homesteads, he explains, refers to the Greek version of the word, meaning simply a “good place.” “At the end of the day,” he says, “we just want to create a good place where people can enjoy getting back to nature. That’s really the goal in terms of how human beings should be living.”
For now, Lachance runs his small operation from his home in Exeter, with a focus on low square-footage, high-value crops, but he’s currently in the process of seeking funding and land to expand the business. The dream is to have the acreage to diversify his offerings and grow enough produce to have a CSA (community-supported agriculture) subscription service. In the meantime, five-gallon buckets burgeon with a wide variety of oyster mushrooms, and flats of microgreens fill tables at farmstands where he makes appearances.
FOOD & DRINK
Lachance was a mechanic before he was a farmer, and also holds a degree in accounting. When he met his wife Rachel Pelisson, a nutritionist and herbalist, she opened his eyes to some of the toxic impacts of chemical-based farming practices, and he set out to learn more by getting his hands in the dirt. “I worked on other farms for about four years,” he says, including Little River Farms in Exeter, Little Bit Farm in North Kingstown, and others. He decided to start his own business last January. Along with the humble homebase, he also rents an eighth of an acre from his former boss and mentor Bob Payne at Little River.
A key component of Eutopia Homesteads is employing chemical-free, environmentally friendly practices. When asked why this is important to him, he says simply, “I have kids” – a daughter and stepdaughter who often accompany him at markets. “I want to be able to pass down my farm, but also the planet, to the next generation someday and leave it trending in the right direction, and be able to have the peace of mind that I was part of the solution instead of the destruction.”
But Lachance has also learned through trial and error along the way that there’s no easy solution, especially for farmers just getting started, to achieve perfect sustainability in an economically feasible way. Plastic use is a big concern, but even many produce storage bags marketed as compostable won’t break down in backyard compost bins, only in facilities that use fossil fuels. To work around this, he says, “I’ve experimented with giving people big discounts to bring their own containers, and I sell my mushrooms in brown paper products. It’s a battle – trying to succeed and be profitable at the same time so that I can reach that end vision.”
The mushroom buckets are an alternative to the single-use plastic bags commercial growers often use, and he prepares inoculated buckets for customers to grow at home, too. “It’s already colonized and you just stick it outside in the spring or fall.” During winter or summer, the bucket fungi can be supported inside with the right humidity. “You can hang it in the bathroom, and the humidity will actually help trigger them to fruit.”
But your home need not become a science project to enjoy Lachance’s harvests. Spring also yields plenty of microgreens, along with salad greens like spinach, medicinal and culinary
Oyster mushrooms growing from buckets
Eric Lachance and his wife Rachel, with daughters Sophia and Gwen
P hotos
courtesy of Eutopia Homestead
Farmers markets are a family affair for Eutopia Homesteads
OYSTERS FOR VEGANS
There are slight flavor and texture variations in the types of oyster mushrooms Eutopia Homesteads grows, but all are great battered and fried – Lachance’s favorite method. “I’m a vegan, so it brings me back to going to Iggy’s and getting a fried clam platter.”
FRIED OYSTER MUSHROOMS
• 1 lb. any oyster mushroom variety
• 1 cup any flour
• 1 cup water
• ½ tsp. onion powder
• ½ tsp. garlic powder
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 lemon, cut in wedges
• 4 Tbsp. neutral-flavor oil
Mix dry ingredients in a bowl and then add water. Cut the tips of the mushroom stems off and break apart the clusters. Place the prepped mushrooms in batter and toss. Heat oil in a frying pan on medium-high heat, and cook the mushrooms until brown. Serve with lemon wedges, and enjoy!
herbs, and limited quantities of produce like cherry tomatoes and summer squash.
Looking ahead to the future of his budding farm, in Lachance’s definition of eutopia there exists a crop you may not expect to find, if you’ve even heard of it: the kiwi berry. “It’s a fruit that would be ideal for organic growing because you don’t have to spray pesticides or fungicides, and I think it would bode well for my real vision,” he says, describing an experience that would let visitors stay on the farm.
“We need to bring people back to knowing the seasonality of our local foods,” he emphasizes. “The best thing for everybody is to try our best to shop local because it’s better for the planet and also our local economy.” Follow @eutopia.homesteads on Instagram for farmers market appearances, workshops, and more.
Photo courtesy of Eutopia Homestead
Pass the Soupy
A tradition born from Italian immigrants has evolved into a culinary festival and Westerly cultural touchstone
By Ruthie Wood
The state of Rhode Island is already known for being tightknit, but in Westerly, the community bond is especially close. If you’re Italian-American, it’s not hard to rattle off a few surnames and nicknames and find a relation in common; mention making soupy in your basement, and suddenly everyone is your friend.
Also known as soppressata, soupy is “a cured pork sausage, like a spicier version of pepperoni,” describes Lou Toscano, a member of Westerly’s Italian-American community. Originally from Southern Italy, soppressata was traditionally prepared during the winter. When Italians immigrated to Westerly to work in the quarries nearby, they brought their recipes and traditions with them. The sausage takes about seven weeks to cure, and many families would eat their first cured sticks of soupy as part of their Easter meal, with eggs and frittata. Toscano, like many others in Westerly, carries on this legacy –mixing the meat, stuffing the sausages, and hanging the links right in his basement.
Making soppressata is a link to the Old World and to family members left behind; now it’s deeply embedded in the town’s culture, too. “This has been going on forever and ever in Westerly. I’ve never heard of any other place in New England that keeps up this tradition,” Toscano explains. This is what motivated Tony Nunes, artistic director of The United Theatre in Westerly, to start hosting a soupy event.
Nunes recalls that when he first pitched the idea of an event centered around soupy about five years ago, he was laughed out of the office. Last year, Nunes brought it up again, connecting it to an even grander idea of “food-related entertainment” (which has a massive market), and this time he was taken seriously. Thus, SoupyFest was born in 2024, with the goal of “elevating regional food while acknowledging the family traditions and heritage,” Nunes says.
by Jenna Kaplan
Photo
Soupy links curing in the basement
The festival brings together a dozen local vendors in The United’s black box auditorium, all of whom prepare a soupy-related dish to serve attendees (tickets are required, and this year, they sold out within seconds).
There are also open bars and live traditional folk music to create the “atmosphere of an Italian market.” Because of the mass appeal, Nunes and his team worked this year to create lead-up events to this month’s festival. The jewel of SoupyFest, however, stems from
good-natured competition between the Westerly families who partake in the tradition of making soppressata. Recipes passed down over generations are put to the taste test. Leading up to the main event, a large panel of judges samples nearly 70 sticks of soupy and must narrow them down to the top 10. The judging follows a strict, “scientific” rubric created by lead judge, chef, and lauded culinary instructor David Miguel that establishes rigorous guidelines to define what makes the best soupy. “People take it
very seriously,” Nunes explains, so he ensured there was a process to eliminate as much personal taste bias as possible.
During the festival itself, a panel of celebrity judges samples and votes to name the top three soupy winners, a point of hotly contested Italian pride. Last year, Toscano and his family placed in the top 10. He thinks he can do even better this year, and has set his eyes on the prize – mostly bragging rights, but there is also a golden soupy trophy for the winner.
by
Lou Toscano with friend and fellow soupy maker Peter Stenhouse
Photo
Jenna Kaplan
Regardless of the competition, Toscano finds a quiet joy and pride in carrying on his family’s tradition. “I remember making it with my grandmother and father when I was probably seven, eight, nine years old. When my father died, I took it over. That’s the whole point of soupy. It’s a family tradition. I hope when I go, my son or nephew will continue.”
Toscano is generous enough to invite me to witness the process, which includes the family – his wife and son, a nephew, and a friend – gathering in the kitchen to prepare and stuff sausages during the all-morning affair. He starts with his favorite part: frying up the soupy meat and eating it with “good Italian bread” to check
the spices – does it need more paprika, black pepper, or something else? In fried patty form, it tastes salty because salt is the main curing agent, but as it cures, the salt dissipates and leaves behind a glorious-tasting hard sausage.
With experience, Italians and chefs know, comes the “feel” for spices. Toscano’s grandmother and father had it, but in his first year leading the process, Toscano tried to be a “big shot” by swearing he could “feel” the recipe, he joked. He used far too much salt and ruined the batch. Since then, Toscano follows his grandmother’s handwritten recipe card, though from years of mastery, he has probably developed the coveted sense for it, just like she and his father had.
“This used to be literally a strictly Italian tradition,” Toscano says over the grinding of the meat machine, hands deftly filling casing after casing. “But as time goes on, a lot of people are making it themselves; it’s become a community tradition,” not just for Italians, but for everyone – Westerlians and beyond.
Making soupy is like a dance in the kitchen – a wordless affair of sharp elbows, nods, and good-natured glares as the family works and tells stories, sharing laughter, frustration, memories, and, of course, food. It’s what makes soupy more than just a dish, and this camaraderie is the secret ingredient that makes the act synonymous with community in Westerly.
Steve Schirripa of The Sopranos and Blue Bloods holds up a soupy trophy from last year’s SoupyFest
P hoto by George Corrigan, courtesy of SoupyFest
Dr. Salvatore Rizzuto, DMD
Dr. Jennifer A. Torbett, DMD
Food Trends: What’s Truckin’?
From smoked meats to shrimp tacos, food trucks hit the spring circuit with something for everyone
By Ken Abrams
Food Vibes RI is all about catering to families. Owners Franco Miccoli and Jennifer Noriega, themselves parents of a blended family of five, park their rig at over 70 events during prime food truck season, including regular gigs at Mulligan’s Island in Cranston, Rocky Point State Park in Warwick, and the North Kingstown Town Beach. “We want to have something to offer the parents and the kids,” says Miccoli, with a focus on truck-made comfort food.
“Our egg rolls and our Bang-Bang
Shrimp Tacos are absolute hits,” he continues. “We also do a Slider Flight that is popular, and we make homemade Mac and Cheese bowls with three different cheeses.” They also serve up Pulled Pork, Tenders and Tots, and more. Miccoli likes to think of Food Vibes as a no-hassle spot for groups of all ages to find what they’re craving – an ideal choice on hot summer days when lines are long. “We’re like a onestop shop where everybody wins!” Follow @FoodVibesRI on Instagram for events.
Wafting aromas of smoke signal mouthwatering, slow-cooked meats at Binge BBQ, which was featured on the Cooking Channel’s Burgers, Brew, & ‘Que in 2018. “Chopped Beef Brisket and Pulled Pork sandwiches are the most popular,” says owner Mark Bryson. “The house-made BBQ sauce, slaw, and pickles on a Martin’s potato roll really sets them off.”
Trending this season are loaded fries, says Bryson. “We blanch the fries first, then fry them a second time to order, season with red salt, and top with your choice of meat, vegan chili, white BBQ sauce, house BBQ sauce and scallions.” The Chile-Garlic-Ginger Fried Chicken with sweet soy, cilantro, fried shallots is also popular, along with the Shrimp Toast Sliders with spicy aioli and sesame.
Binge can be found around the region this spring and summer. “We travel all over, including Ninigret Park for the Seaside Soccer Tournament, the Blessing of the Fleet in Narragansett, Fort Adams in Newport, music festivals, beer festivals, and a few breweries,” says Bryson. The truck also caters weddings, birthdays, and other events. Wakefield, BingeBBQRI.com
West Greenwich’s food truck for meat lovers
If you’re looking for the biggest steak and cheese sub in town, Meat Sweats RI is known for their take on the classic. Matthew Cowell eagerly anticipates the 2025 season, stating, “I’ve already booked over 75 events for the season and will be adding many more.”
The new menu was still in development at press time, but Cowell shares, “We’ll have several new additions.”
The Meat Sweats is a half-pound Chuck and Ribeye Cheeseburger combined with a half-pound Steak and Cheese, stacked with thick-cut bacon slices, lettuce, tomato, and special sauce – a must-try for meat lovers. He’ll also be adding the Chopped Cheese – a burger with spices and cheese melted into the meat, finished with special sauce, lettuce, and tomato.
Meat Sweats also features traditional subs, such as the Surf and Turf, Lobster BLT, Chorizo and Peppers, and grilled cheese for the kids. For dessert, you can indulge in G’s Homemade Gooey Chocolate Chip Cookies and Whoopie Pies available in peanut butter and marshmallow. West Greenwich, MeatSweatsRI.com
Comfort food for the whole family
Binge on Wakefield’s award-winning barbecue
P hoto courtesy of Food Vibes
Tacos from Food Vibes
SOUTH COUNTY SCENES SOUTH COUNTY
Tulips in full bloom in Exeter!
ABOUT RHONDA
@classicallynewengland
A mom living life forever passionate about noticing all the little things, from the trees dancing in a breeze and sounds of birds singing in the rain to the beautiful colors of a summer sky. It’s these moments that bring her a sense of gratitude, peace, and joy.
WHO Celebrating Our at TO WATCH
Thursday, April 24th
Join us at Track 15 for an exciting event celebrating Rhode Island’s rising stars! Get ready to be inspired by talented individuals making waves in their industries. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to network and connect with like-minded individuals.
MEET the 2025 honorees
EXPLORE Providence’s newest food hall
LIVE MUSIC to entertain through the night
TRY a selection of food from the Track 15 restaurants
40 EXCHANGE TERRACE, PROVIDENCE PURCHASE TICKETS
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
A Better Place to Shop.
As a true Ocean State essential,
For over 75 years, our commitment to freshness extends to the adjacent seafood section, conveniently located beside our expert butcher. Both departments pride themselves on providing high quality, expertly cut meats available on-demand for our valued customers.
we strive to create a holistic shopping experience at Belmont Market. From health-focused prepared meals to go, to locally sourced soaps & sprays, we aim to cater to your needs while offering great prices & ensuring your pantry is always well-stocked. Beyond our commitment to quality,
Belmont Market has been an enduring cornerstone in Southern Rhode Island. Central to our store is a beacon of freshness—the best produce section in the entire state. Here, you’ll discover a diverse array of fresh and nutritious options, curated to meet the highest standards.
Every Morning the exciting scent of freshly baked goods envelops our store as the skilled hands in our bakery craft a selection of the day’s breads, pastries, and delectable treats. Come explore the richness of our store, where freshness, variety, and affordability intersect to elevate your shopping experience.
