The Smithfield Times January 2020 by ricommongroundnews

Local Postal Customer

PRSRT STD ECRWSS U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 55800 BOSTON MA

PHOTO: Sandra Achille

www.smithfieldtimesri.net

COMPLIMENTARY

JANUARY 2020

Review Your Trust Annually Review Your Trust Annually Your Trust Annually To Protect Your Assets To To Protect Protect Your YourAssets Assets

care, both theboth federal and state It is Itpart of my regular care, the federal and state is part of my regularpractice practice to to care, both the federal and state It isliving part ofTrusts my regular practice to governments periodically amend the theprepare governments periodically amend prepare living Truststotoboth bothavoid avoid governments periodically amend the prepare living Trusts to both avoid MedicaidMedicaid statutesstatutes and regulations in inprobate of aofclient’s estate and regulations probate a client’s estateand and protect protect statutes andeligibility regulations in their offrom a client’s estate and protect order to further limit for the assets nursing home costs order toMedicaid further limit eligibility for the their probate assets from nursing home costs order to further limit eligibility for the during their assets from nursing home costs program. their lifetime. I also review program. during their lifetime. I also review and and program. duringthose theirTrusts, lifetime. I also review and Therefore, if you have had a living update and similar Trusts Therefore, if you have had a living update those Trusts, and similar Trusts Therefore, if you have had a living update those Trusts, and similar Trusts Trust prepared to shelter your assets prepared by other attorneys upon is a state administered Trust prepared to shelter your assets prepared by other attorneys upon icaid Medicaid is aMedicaid state administered to shelter your assets prepared by other attorneys upon a state administered from prepared nursing home expenses and request. programisthat is funded to a great Trust from nursing home expenses and request. ram that is funded to a great from nursing home expenses and request. program that is funded to a great enhance your chances of qualifying If you are concerned about possible extent by the Social Security trust enhance your chances of term qualifying concerned about possible nt by the Social Security trust your long chances ofcare qualifying If are you arecare concerned about possible extent byIt the Socialfor Security trust for Medicaid benefitsIf you long term expenses and would fund. provides payment of enhance for Medicaid long term care benefits long term care expenses and would . It provides payment of for Medicaid long term care benefits like long care expenses and would after a five year look back period, to term discuss your concerns with fund. It for provides for payment of medical services and long term after look back to discuss your concerns with youyear should have thatperiod, Trust period, reviewedlike me, please call my office for an after a five year look back like to discuss your concerns with cal services and longcare term nursing home for those whoa five medical services and long term annually revised necessary to me, appointment. There no qualify. you should have that ifreviewed Trust reviewed me, please call my is office for anthe have and that Trust please call my office forfee anfor nursing care for thoseyou whoshould ing home carehome for those who be sure itand conforms toifthe current initial consultation. Because of the ever increasing revised necessary appointment. There is fee no fee annuallyannually and revised if necessary to toappointment. There is no forfor thethe ify. qualify. Medicaid statutes and regulations. cost of long term nursing home be sure it conforms to the current initial consultation. ofincreasing the ever increasing – George M. Prescott be sure it conforms to the current initial consultation. use ofBecause the ever Medicaid and regulations. cost of long termhome nursing home Medicaid statutesstatutes and regulations. – George Prescott of long term nursing – George M.M. Prescott Courtesy of:

George M. Prescott George M. Prescott

George M. Prescott ATTORNEY AT LAW ATTORNEY AT LAW

Courtesy of:Courtesy of:

ATTORNEY AT LAW

300 Front Street, Lincoln, Rhode Island, 02865-0089 (401) 726-5577

The Rhode Island Supreme Court licenses all lawyers in the general practice of law. The Court does not license or certify any lawyer as an expert or specialist in any field of practice.

300 Front Street, Lincoln, Rhode Island, 02865-0089 (401) 726-5577

The Rhode Island Supreme Court licenses all lawyers in the general practice of law. The Court does not license or certify any lawyer as an expert or specialist in any field of practice.

Rhode Island Supreme Court licenses all lawyers in the general practice of law. The Court does not license or certify any lawyer as an expert or specialist in any field of practice.

W E W I S H YO U A L L

A Happy & Safe New Year!

For over 70 years we have proudly served Smithfield, surrounding towns and states for all types of emergency Towing needs. If you need a jump start, tire fix, or a tow, we have a vehicle to get you going! We also offer Heavy Duty Towing and Recovery Service!

Dave’s Towing Service • 119 Pleasant View Ave., Smithfield, RI • 401.231.5359

The Snowy Owl — Our Wintertime Visitor By James Gass Ghostly denizens of the arctic north, snowy owls are occasional wintertime visitors to Rhode Island. At 20-27 inches tall, 3-6 pounds and a wingspan of almost 5 feet, they are the second largest owl in North America behind the great gray owl, and the fourth largest owl in the world. They are the also heaviest owl by body mass in North America. Mature males are almost pure white (hence the name), females and juveniles have dark barring or flecking on their breast and back. In the wild, snowy owls can live up to ten years. When you see one of these large raptors for the first time you won’t forget it -they are both majestic and mysterious. Snowy owls live year-round on the open tundra throughout the Arctic Circle. They do not nest in New England. When their population levels explode or favorite prey items such as lemmings or voles become scarce, they wander down into the northern United States in search of food and suitable habitat. This sometimes occurs in “irruptions,” or abnormally large numbers. When this happens they can be found in places that resemble tundra such as farm fields, coastal areas, dunes, airports and salt marshes. Most of the birds that turn up in southern New England are juveniles, which tend to move farther south and east than adults. Snowy owls are

annual visitors to New England but do not show up in Rhode Island regularly or in particularly large numbers.

Smile!

Our 3D imaging system is the safest in Rhode Island. Our i-Cat FLX 3D ImagIng SyStem uses less than 1/2 the radiation of traditional orthodontic radiographs (“x-rays”). The first and only system of its kind in Rhode Island, this breakthrough technology enables Dr. Romani to prescribe the most accurate, effective treatment plan possible, including Invisalign,® the invisible way to straighten teeth. She and her caring staff will make certain that your smile will be beautiful, healthy, and safe in every way. Call for your FREE comprehensive evaluation.

RomaniOrthodontics.com Chepachet: 568-ll 88 East Providence: 434-ll 27 RO_SmthTms_i_CAT_11.indd The Smithfield Times,1 Inc.

10/16/17 3:01 PM

Snowy owls are uniquely adapted to survive in an arctic habitat. They can withstand temperatures as low as -80 degrees Fahrenheit. Most owls are nocturnal hunters and sleep during the day, but snowy owls are diurnal hunters, especially during the summer when there is light on the tundra for almost 24 hours a day. Their preferred prey are lemmings but in the winter these owls become opportunistic feeders and will also eat voles, mice, hares, rabbits, muskrats, marmots, squirrels, rats, moles or prairie dogs. When small mammals become scarce they switch to birds including ptarmigan, ducks, geese, shorebirds, or even other smaller owls. Dan Berard, President of The Ocean State Bird Club, told me that the owls that show up at the coastal areas in Rhode Island

and Massachusetts are there “specifically to eat ducks.” The hunting style of snowy owls is to sitand-wait, usually on the ground. They will hop or even run after their prey, but on their wintering areas they often swoop from a perch to capture their meal, sometimes reaching through the snow. The catch is swallowed whole and the indigestible elements such as fur and bones are regurgitated in the form of a pellet. Unlike most other owls, snowy owls are ground nesters. On their breeding grounds, a dry, snowless mound or large rock with good visibility is selected near an area with abundant prey. The same site may be used for years. Good visibility enables the incubating female to detect predators such as arctic foxes but also facilitates easier hunting. Males conduct an

FAMILY DENTAL CENTER OF GREENVILLE

DʼAMICO • BRIDAL • CITIZENS • GIA CERTIFIED

Holiday Sale

Servicing Our Community For 21 Years Providing The Highest Quality of Dental Care For Adults, Children & Cowards

Dr. Hasan Alsawaf and Associates

STATE-OF-THE-ART STERILIZATION TECHNIQUES 0% Financing Available Zoom, Whiter Teeth In One Hour Reasonable, Affordable Pricing

FAMILY JEWELRY • GEMSTONES

Extractions (Including Wisdom Teeth) • Root Canal Therapy Same Day Dentures/Partials After Extractions • Gum Treatments Bleaching • White Fillings • TMJ Treatment • Veneers • Implants

From Start . . .

Wedding Bands • Engagement Rings Add-A-Pearl Custom Designs • Finished Jewelry Certiﬁed Loose Diamonds Repairs & Remounts

. . . To Finish Diamond Studs

ALL REPAIRS DONE ON-SITE

starting at

249

Y4CTTW

WE ACCEPT MOST INSURANCE INCLUDING RITE SMILES!

Open Monday - Thursday 8am - 6pm • Friday (Medway, Ma.) 10am-6pm

949-2590

www.smilewider.com

492 Putnam Pike • Rt. 44 (Exit 7B Off Rt. 295) Greenville, RI

CUSTOM DESIGNS • APPRAISALS

EMERGENCIES SEEN SAME DAY

thru 1/24/20

acjeweler.com Mon. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. • Tues. - Fri. 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Sat. 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

GIFT CERTIFICATES • CASH FOR GOLD & SILVER

January 2020

Happy Holidays!

Wishing You and Your Family A Blessed Holiday and A Happy New Year! FROM ALL OF US HERE AT THE MARTONE GROUP!

Karl Martone, RE/MAX Properties 696 Douglas Pike, Smithfield, RI 02917 401.232.7900 • 401.232.7909 (fax) Karl@MartoneGroup.com • www.MartoneGroup.com elaborate aerial mating display, rising and falling with a lemming in its talons. They are also very territorial and will defend their area from interlopers. Mating occurs in May or June, and the female then creates a shallow scrape on the bare ground and lays 3-11 white eggs. Incubation is just over a month and chicks hatch into little white fuzzballs. Both males and females vigorously defend the nest from predators by dive bombing or distraction displays. Owls are the subject of many myths and legends. There is an Inuit story about Raven and Snowy Owl. Raven and Owl were close friends, and one day they decided to make each other a dress. Raven made Owl a lovely dress of black and white feathers. Owl

The Smithfield Times, Inc.

decided to make Raven a beautiful white dress matched with whalebone boots. When Owl went to fit Raven’s dress, Raven got too excited and wouldn’t stop jumping up and down. Owl eventually became irritated and threw a pot of lamp oil on Raven. The oil soaked through the dress and Raven has been black ever since. In Rhode Island, snowy owls can be found at Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge in Middletown or at Misquamicut State Beach, or Moonstone Beach at the Trustom Pond National Wildlife Refuge in South Kingstown. For more information, contact the Audubon Society of Rhode Island at www.asri.org or The Ocean State Bird Club at www.oceanstatebirdclub.org. PHOTOS: Sandra Achille

Bringing Huskies to help the Huskies By Harry Anderson There was a time upon the birth of her when undergraduates, son, an autistic child. faced with final exams, “An idea hit me. went to their colleges’ I had a chocolate Lab theatres to watch carand found a trainer toons in order to ease who taught me the ins their anxieties. This and outs of animal isyear, however, Colleen sues. That Lab became Brophy’s two Siberian my first therapy dog. huskies – two-year-old It’s a miracle how she Tala and four-monthsconnected my autistic son with the world! old Freya – traveled to the campus of the UniI’ve since learned that versity of Connecticut such a dog may cost as to replace Bugs Bunny much as $25,000! I also and Elmer Fudd. And learned that I have the as her dogs roamed ability to help.” among UConn’s Hus For twenty years now Colleen has been kies to be hugged and rubbed, gaiety returned in the business of dog to the faces of the tense training as well as students. teaching others, offering classes from how “It works all the to instill obedience in time,” Colleen says, a pet to the advanced “when animals and hustatus of a service dog. mans bond.” When she graduShe explains that a dog ated from Providence falls into one of three College in 1993 with a categories: (a) companColleen (l) with Freya and Roxanne (r) with Tula. PHOTO: Albert Tavakalov double major (biology/ ion dog (a pet); (b) an pre-law), her goal was ESA (Emotion Support to go on to veterinary school, but a vet discouraged her, tell- Assistant); (c) a comfort/therapy canine. ing her that it’s a rough business, that too often she would “An example of an ESA is my son’s chocolate Lab, who is have to euthanize a beloved pet. But her deep fondness for strictly trained to assist him, whereas those Huskies I had takanimals stayed with her, a fondness that came to the fore en to UConn are comfort/therapy canines, who are trained

Snowplowing DRIVEWAYS • SMALL PARKING LOTS Smithfield, Johnston, N. Prov. Area REASONABLE RATES • FREE ESTIMATES

CALL BOB 6

401.742.1203

January 2020

Twin Rivers Hearing Health specializes in all areas of hearing, including tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and hearing aids. Schedule your appointment online at twinrivershearing.com

1000 off

a set of Opn S Hearing Devices Offer expires 1/31/20

Your best bet for hearing healthcare in Lil’ Rhody since 2001 AWARD WINNING AUDIOLOGIST

Dr. Mary Kay Uchmanowicz

151 Douglas Pike • Smithfield | 401-349-0456

to help the general public.” Along the way she has teamed up with Roxanne Jasparro, the proprietor of Bewitched of Scituate, a specialty shop directly across route 116 from the Baptist Church. In this quaint 18th century cottage in a room apart from the inventory for sale – items such as scarves, sea shells, and New Age totems – the two women ply their skills in make-over a rambunctious, tail-wagging pet into an obedient, amazingly helpful animal. Roxanne contends that a dog has unconditional love and its owner should be an extension of that. “Before Colleen trains it to perform specific tasks, my job is to tame its atavism by bringing forth its love. How? To begin, all actions produce energy waves, and a dog owner must keep this in mind to ensure her body language and even her tone of voice send positive waves to the animal. It’s my job, then, to train both owner and dog.” Last September, Colleen, whose primary career is working with the Rhode Island Department of Education, went into Scituate’s middle school to teach a course in dog handling, an addition to the school’s curriculum funded by a $25,000 grant from the Department of Education. It was so successful that in this year’s second semester she brings the course into the high school. Students who enroll in this course are on the way toward earning an Animal (K9) Assisted Interaction and Handler Certification.

The Smithfield Times, Inc.

Specializing in all areas of hearing, including tinnitus and hearing aids.

She also teaches the course at LaSalle Academy and is trying to persuade the administration of Ponaganset High School to include it in its Animal Science Pathway program. Her long-range aim is to see the day when every school district in the state offers a dog-handling course. “I must emphasize Roxanne’s point about the unconditional love of an animal and how its owner is an extension of that love. Of course, I’m teaching a dog to obey and to do certain things. Yet at the same time I’m teaching humans how to be loving and other good things. Here’s what’s printed on our flyer: the bond between humans and canines is like no other. Through canine interactions individuals connect to the world and experience joy, hope, and presence. “I’ve seen examples of what I am saying come into reality when dog-handling has helped in overcoming bad things like bullying, depression, and grief.” Sounding more like a sociologist than a dog trainer, Colleen wraps up the interview by alleging that we live in a troubled world and that such marvels as Smart Phones contribute, ironically, to the troubles. “Society has lost touch with each other, but animals do bring opportunity for us to mend our ways.” Next year she says that she will begin studying for a MSW (Masters in Social Work) at Tulane University, but she will not turn her back to dog handling. “I think UConn will be wanting Tula and Freya back.”

NAVIGATING HEALTHCARE

By Diane L. Marolla, LICSW

Being Grateful “Give yourself a gift of five minutes of contemplation in awe of everything you see around you. Go outside and turn your attention to the many miracles around you. This five-minute-a-day regimen of appreciation and gratitude will help you to focus your life in awe.” — Wayne Dyer In the beginning of the year 2015, I outreached my three best high school friends and invited them to my home to celebrate that all of us would be turning fifty that year. As the four of us gathered around my dining room table, I was brought back to the early eighties of how much fun we had in high school and what all our hopes and dreams at that time were. When they left that evening, I started to reflect on my life on where I was personally and professionally. I was not where I wanted to be. At that time, I was working for corporate America. I was making good money, but I was miserable. I was going through the motions of life but felt like a hollow shell. I was also involved in personal relationships that were negative. I decided that evening that I needed to start living and make some changes. I sought out who the spiritual leaders out there were and started reading books

Voted Best Blackstone Valley Groomer

Wishing Everyone A Happy New Year! EVERYBODY SAVES $10!

NOW ACCEPTING COUNTRY MUTT CLIENTS BEST GROOMING, GREAT PRICES & THE MOST EXPERIENCED GROOMERS IN THE AREA. NAIL TRIMS ARE ALWAYS FREE!

VILLAGE PAWS 615 PUTNAM PIKE • GREENVILLE

by Wayne Dyer, Eckhart Tolle, Joel Osteen and others. I would watch Oprah Winfrey’s Super Soul Sunday and could not get enough of the type of guests she interviewed and the topics they were discussing. There is science to back up that gratitude has a positive impact on your physical and mental health. In a recent online article at the dailyhealthpost.com the article stated that “neuroscientists have found (when you say thank you) that if you really feel it when you say it, you’ll be happier and healthier.” The article goes on to say that a study was done in 2015 by Psychologist’s Dr. Robert Emmons of the University of California and Dr. Michael McCullough of the University of Miami on gratitude. Their study compared those who practiced gratitude versus those who did not. Those in the “gratitude study group reported feeling more optimistic and positive about their lives than the other groups. In addition, the gratitude group was more physically active and reported fewer visits to a doctor than those in the negative group.” An on line article on the Harvard Medical School website (www. health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/giving-thanks-can-make-youhappier), mentions the same study by Dr. Emmons and Dr. McCullough. The Harvard article goes on to mention Dr. Martin E. P Seligman’s University of Pennsylvania research “measuring increases in happiness scores with benefits lasting for a month.” The National Institute of Health, reports in their March 2019 article “Practicing: Ways to Improve Positivity” that “one study found that gratitude was linked to fewer signs of heart disease.” In order to feel the positive effects of practicing gratitude, it is something that you need to make a conscious effort to do every day and practice it every day. Practicing gratitude as I describe can remap your brain. Things that I do every day that keep me grateful are as follows: • I journal every day and write down what I am grateful for. • I pray every day for peace, joy, good health, and prosperity for me, my friends, my family, my colleagues, and those individuals in my life who I feel have hurt me in some way. • I do random acts of kindness every day.

Open 7 Days a Week!

• I make sure I am in touch with nature every day because the wonder of nature keeps me positive.

CHECK OUT OUR 2ND LOCATION ALL 4 PAWS 1467 ATWOOD AVENUE, JOHNSTON 401.228.3434

• My professional career is now truly something I believe in. Helping others has always given me a feeling of joy

401.949.5000 8

January 2020

and purpose. My professional career is driven by purpose, not money. • I have had to walk away from negative relationships and ensure every day that my relationships are positive in nature. • I extend compliments to others any opportunity I get. Making others smile, and feel good, makes me feel good. • When I am driving, I sing my heart out in my car. I don’t care if people are looking at me. I love to sing and I do it when I am driving. This helps me not get frustrated getting stuck in traffic on 95 North every day. • I say “thank you” for the problems I have. • I look forward instead of behind. What is done, is done and I can’t change it. The mistakes I have made are lessons for me. • I live mindfully. I pay attention to what is going on in the moment. (If I find myself getting worried or anxious, it is because I am thinking ahead, or worrying about something that probably won’t happen.) • I smile at others, extend greetings, and always say thank you no matter what the situation is. • I limit my time paying attention to the news. I know enough so that I am informed, but do not get involved

The Smithfield Times, Inc.

in “doom and gloom” type of discussions. I do my best to respect others and their opinions, even when they are different from mine. • I try and be the change I want the world to be. As you start the new year, try and practice gratitude. It won’t cost you anything, and you might start to feel a little bit better about the world.

New Year’s Resolutions: A tradition with a long history By Paul Lonardo Have you ever made a promise on New Year’s Eve to bring about a beneficial change in your life, one that will improve your personal, social or professional life? Well, you are certainly not alone. Nearly half of all Americans consistently make a resolution for the new year, the most common (made by more than 1 in 3 resolution-makers) being to increase overall health and fitness with proper diet and exercise. Around 38% of people claim to never make a resolution. New Year’s resolutions are common in Western civilization, but the tradition is practiced pretty much around the globe. Whether you actively participate or not, you may be amazed to know how far back the practice extends. These annual pledges began as far back as 4,000 years,

when the Babylonians made promises to their pagan gods at the start of the new year (which for them began in midMarch when their crops were planted), that they would pay back their debts and return any items that they had borrowed. To the ancient people of Mesopotamia, there were serious implications, in that not being true to your word would put you in poor favor with the gods, while honoring your promise would bring good fortune and prosperity the following year. The Romans picked up the practice when Julius Caesar, the reform-minded emperor, altered the calendar to establish January 1 as the first day of the new year around 46 B.C. The first month of the year was named for Janus, the two-

DePetrillo’s Pizza & Bakery

Dr. Linda S. Young, DNP PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER

New Patients Welcome! 401.767.8766

All United Health Veterans Welcome 117 Eddie Dowling Highway, LLB North Smithfield, RI 02896 10

HOT PIZZA n PARTY PIZZA n CALZONES n ITALIAN BREADS ROLLS n EGG, PEPPER & WINE BISCUITS n PIZZA BITES FRESH BAKED COOKIES n AND MORE!

ROLLS Spinach,Pepperoni & Cheese: $11.99 Stromboli: $11.99 Broccoli & Cheese: $11.49 Pepperoni & Cheese: $11.49 Stromboli with hot peppers: $12.49 Eggplant: $12.49 Meatball: $12.49 105 PLEASANT VIEW AVE.

SMITHFIELD

231-4600

PARTY PIZZA Full Party Tray $17.99 Half Party Tray $9.99 HOT PIZZA Large 20 pieces Small 8 pieces Choose Your Toppings “Call for Pricing”

1755 SMITH STREET

N. PROVIDENCE

353-3100

1153 PUTNAM PIKE

CHEPACHET

568-4700

January 2020

by and against them. About the only thing that has changed over the millennia is that the promises people make at year’s end these days are to themselves, or perhaps family members. No longer pledging self-discipline or tolerance to an Almighty Being is something that is not insignificant. Without a spiritual or religious component, and no immortality repercussions, it makes it a little easier for someone to be lax on keeping their personal promise. In fact, numerous studies show that almost nine out of every ten New Year’s resolutions fail. Approximately 22% of resolutions fail after only one week, 40% after a month, 50% after 3 months, and 60% after 6 months. You get the picture. But do not despair. There is reason for hope, because it is proven that setting a goal, any time during the year, is the most important factor for success because there is 0% chance of succeeding without a resolution. Goals made in public and with support of family and friends, stand the best chance of success. So you may have nothing to lose, but you have so much to gain. Tradition says that eating more leafy greens on New Year’s Day will herald prosperity for the new year. And that is something that we can all do.

GREENVILLE AND

RT H

RHOD N E R ISL

faced deity, who symbolically looked backward in the old year and forward into the new one, and as the calendar turned over each year faithful Romans would offer sacrifices and pledged good conduct to this god. In the Medieval Europe, knights vowed to re-affirm their allegiance to chivalry at the end of the year while followers of early Christianity spent the first day of the new year reflecting on past transgressions and vowing to make amends. Near the middle of the 18th century, John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, created the Covenant Renewal Service, also known as Watch Night Services. Typically held on New Year’s Eve or on January 1, it provided the opportunity for Christians to review the year that had passed and make confessions, and then make resolutions for the coming year. The services, which often include singing, praying, and preaching, became quite popular with evangelical Protestant churches, especially African-American denominations and congregations. In Judaism, beginning with their New Year, Rosh Hashanah, through the High Holidays and culminating in Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement), worshippers are expected to both seek and offer forgiveness for wrongdoings perpetrated

One Garnett Lane 949-0380

Mon-Thurs 7am-7pm Fri 7am-1pm

LINCOLN

652 George Washington Highway 333-3211 Mon-Thurs 7am-7pm Fri 7am-3pm

PHYSICAL THERAPY

A Team You Can Trust

Founded by sisters Andrea Ross and Amanda Keegan, Northern Rhode Island Physical therapy has been providing Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine Services to Rhode Islanders since 1991. Our primary goal is to minimize your pain and improve your function and quality of life. Northern Rhode Island Physical Therapy offers the following services: • • • • • •

Sports Medicine Orthopedic Physical Therapy Vestibular Physical Therapy Neurological Physical Therapy Pre & Post Operative Rehab. Sports Conditioning

• • • • •

Performance Enhancement Post Concussion Rehab. Neck and Back Care Dry Needling Pelvic Floor Dysfunction (Inc. Urinary Incontinence)

www.nriphysicaltherapy.com The Smithfield Times, Inc.

We accept a wide range of health insurance programs.

IMHO

By Ron Scopelliti

One of these things is not like the other I try to shy away from controversy in these columns. I try to stay away from hot-button topics that send people into fits of rage and cause families to become divided. But every now and then I have an opinion that’s too strong to keep to myself. So regardless of how many friends I might lose by saying this, it has to be said: I really like the Tesla Cybertruck. For those of you who haven’t seen it, Tesla’s pickup truck is an oddly-proportioned, angular, four-door pickup truck with a small bed and a stainless-steel body that falls somewhere between Blade Runner and Mad Max styling, with some DeLorean-esque stainless steel bodywork thrown in. When they rolled out the prototype, I thought they were presenting it as a joke, especially after they unexpectedly broke two of its windows. I figured they would soon roll out a sleek, white, plasticky-looking truck more in keeping with their established style. But they didn’t, and I’m glad they didn’t. Whether you like it or not, you have to admit that there’s nothing currently on the road that looks like it. Sure there are a few distinctive vehicles out there, but there’s nothing quite as distinctive as

the Cybertruck. For me, it injects a much-needed dose of variety into our over-homogenized world. I’ll admit that in some ways we have more variety than ever. Back when I was in high school, for instance, there were basically two kinds of coffee you could get in Smithfield – regular or decaf. If you wanted an espresso or a cappuccino, you needed to drive to Federal Hill, or the East Side. Now, between Starbucks, Panera, and the ever-present Dunkin’s, the selection of lattes, macchiatos, and what-haveyou is downright mind-boggling. But the problem is, the vast majority of these choices are from strip malls filled with national chains which are so pervasive that if I were to receive a call from a friend who said, “I’m on a four-lane road, near a Target, a Panera, a Home Depot, and a Chipotle,” I’d have a hard time saying if they were in Seekonk, Smithfield, Attleboro, or Dartmouth. Or, for that matter, if they were even still in New England or still on the east coast. I know I can’t fight corporate America (especially since

ACCIDENT/PERSONAL INJURY LAW CRIMINAL • CIVIL • FAMILY • TRAFFIC COURTS

“Celebrating 30 years in business”

Asphalt paving and sealcoating Residential/Commercial/Municipal Installation/Repairs/Maintenance

(401) 232-0795 David Harris, President

RHODE ISLAND / MASSACHUSETTS STATE AND FEDERAL COURTS

Priscilla Facha DiMaio, Attorney

Easily request an estimate online 24/7 at

www.nulookinc.com R.I. Contractor’s License #13445

High Quality Work at Reasonable Rates 12

Office: 401.272.3900 x15 Fax: 401.453.1230 Residence: 401.934.1066

215 Broadway Providence, RI 02903

January 2020

the Citizens United Supreme Court decision), so I’ve been trying to disrupt this pervasive sameness in whatever smallscale ways I can. Case in point: A few months ago I wrote a column about doorknobs, and how all the doorknobs in my house seem to be wearing out at the same time. What I didn’t mention is that, as I gradually replace them, I’ve been trying to buy a slightly different knob for every door. I figure if every room has a different purpose, maybe they should each have their own distinctive doorknob. For years I’ve been pursuing a similar agenda with coffee cups. While some people like to have matched sets of coffee cups, I prefer mine to all be different. If you look in my cupboard you’ll find a Star Trek mug, a Dunkin Donuts mug, a dark blue “Maryland” mug with a white crab on it, and a mug advertising a marketing company on one side and a Vermont wood stove company on the other. Unfortunately I can’t find the Ohio Department of Corrections mug I used to keep at the Your Smithfield Magazine office, which was notable for the heat-sensitive image of an electric chair that showed up when you filled it with coffee. I once tried the opposite path. I tried to get as many pairs of identical socks as possible, that way when one of my socks disappeared into a clothes-dryer vortex, I could still keep its orphaned partner in my sock rotation. But I found that, over time, pairs of socks develop distinctive personalities depending on how much they’ve been worn or washed. So just because I had all those socks that started out identical, they didn’t remain identical, and I could genuinely feel the difference when I’d mistakenly wear two socks that weren’t from the same pair. So now I try to make each pair of socks I buy as distinctive as my coffee cups or doorknobs. I hope Tesla will follow through and sell a truck that resembles a stainless steel stealth fighter more than it does a Silverado or an F-150. I’m sure I won’t be in a position to own one, unless it magically appears from a vortex along with a long-lost sock. But at least they’ll be out there creating a welcome ripple in the stagnant sea of sameness that now seems to be our home.

All Emerson Fans on

Sale

Mon., Tues., Fri. & Sat. 8am-5pm, Wed. & Thurs. 8am-8pm

1253 Hartford Avenue, Johnston, RI 02919

(401) 453-0002

The Smithfield Times, Inc.

www.jkelectric.com

一䔀圀倀刀䤀䌀䔀℀

㌀䈀䔀䐀簀㌀䈀䄀吀䠀簀䘀唀䰀䰀䤀一ⴀ䰀䄀圀

㌀㄀㘀圀愀琀攀爀洀愀渀䄀瘀攀Ⰰ 匀洀椀琀栀昀椀攀氀搀 ⴀ ␀㌀㐀㤀Ⰰ

吀栀椀猀椀洀瀀攀挀挀愀戀氀攀㄀Ⰰ㘀㘀㈀猀焀昀琀䌀愀瀀攀漀昀昀攀爀猀㌀戀攀搀爀漀漀洀猀Ⰰ ㌀戀愀琀栀爀漀漀洀猀Ⰰ 栀愀爀搀眀漀漀搀昀氀漀漀爀猀Ⰰ 挀攀渀琀爀愀氀愀⼀挀眀椀琀栀愀最愀爀愀最攀愀渀搀昀甀氀氀椀渀ⴀ氀愀眀⸀ 伀瘀攀爀猀椀稀攀搀搀攀渀氀攀愀搀猀琀漀愀戀爀椀最栀琀愀氀氀猀攀愀猀漀渀猀爀漀漀洀愀渀搀猀瀀愀挀椀漀甀猀欀椀琀挀栀攀渀⼀搀椀渀椀渀最愀爀攀愀⸀ 䠀甀最攀氀椀瘀椀渀最爀漀漀洀眀椀琀栀昀椀爀攀瀀氀愀挀攀愀渀搀挀甀猀琀漀洀洀愀渀琀氀攀 ⬀ 戀甀椀氀琀ⴀ椀渀猀⸀ 䘀椀爀猀琀昀氀漀漀爀戀愀琀栀爀漀漀洀 ⬀ 漀昀昀椀挀攀琀漀漀℀ 䰀漀眀攀爀氀攀瘀攀氀栀愀猀昀甀氀氀椀渀ⴀ氀愀眀眀椀琀栀欀椀琀挀栀攀渀Ⰰ 戀愀琀栀爀漀漀洀Ⰰ 氀椀瘀椀渀最爀漀漀洀Ⰰ 戀攀搀爀漀漀洀愀渀搀愀猀氀椀搀攀爀氀攀愀搀椀渀最琀漀琀栀攀最漀爀最攀漀甀猀戀愀挀欀礀愀爀搀⸀ 匀攀攀洀漀爀攀愀琀㨀眀眀眀⸀愀氀氀琀漀眀渀爀椀⸀挀漀洀⼀眀愀琀攀爀洀愀渀

䔀搀䐀甀昀昀礀䈀爀漀欀攀爀⼀伀眀渀攀爀

攀㨀攀搀䀀愀氀氀琀漀眀渀爀椀⸀挀漀洀挀㨀 ⠀㐀㄀⤀ 㤀㐀㤀ⴀ㔀㐀

ᰠ吀爀甀猀琀攀搀椀渀刀䤀匀椀渀挀攀㄀㤀㤀㌀⸀ᴠ 13

SENIOR SCENE

By Paul V. Palange

During a long newspaper journalism career, I worked for several years at The Times in Pawtucket; first as the managing editor then as the publisher. After resigning from the company that owned the paper, I started the Senior Digest, which was initially based in Pawtucket. My wife, Andria, is from that city and we made our home there for a little bit. My current job with the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council is based in the community that is home to Slater Mill and McCoy Stadium, and my ties to the city also include serving on the Pawtucket Hall of Fame Committee. Sitting on the board for the past couple of years has reinforced my opinion that despite its problems, Pawtucket is rich with human resources. One of the most extraordinary individuals inducted into the Hall of Fame during my tenure on the committee is Dr. Joseph J. Box, who was honored in November as a member of the Class of 2019 at the tender age of 96. I knew Joseph would be entering the hall this year soon after I started reading the first letter for his nomination. Some of you might know Dr. Box because, if you can believe it, he is still working, giving dental care to senior citizens in 45 Rhode Island-based long-term care facilities through the Wisdom Tooth program administered by Care-Link. After serving in the Navy, Joseph went to Providence College (PC), graduating cum laude with a degree in biology. In 1955, he received his doctor of dental surgery degree from St. Louis University in Missouri, and he worked for a year at the dental college as a clinical instructor in prosthetics. In 1956, he and his wife, the late Janice Drake Box, bought a home at Smithfield and Mineral Spring avenues in Pawtucket, which is where Joseph operated a thriving dental practice for more than 55 years. Dr. Box employed more than 30 people over the years, and he was known for treating his staff like family. He was also known for opening his office to administer emergency

28 Years ~ Same Location

C.A.R.S

AUTO INC.

We Repair ALL Makes & Models Foreign & Domestic 8 LARCH STREET, SMITHFIELD

401-231-2130 14

care at any hour of the day or night and even on holidays, including Christmas; and he treated patients even if they lacked the means to pay for his services. To honor Joseph, the Rhode Island Dental Association created the Dr. Joseph J. Box Everyday Leadership Award in 2017, which is given to a dentist who exemplifies the highest standards of the profession and provides services to those in need while not expecting accolades for such conduct. For Dr. Box, those in need included the Maya Indians in the Guatemalan highlands. He traveled there for 17 years, most recently in 2016, to provide dental care and train three dental technicians that staff a clinic in San Lucas. To better communicate with the Guatemalan population, he started learning Spanish at the age of 72. Dr. Box is known to family members, friends and professors and administrators at PC as a lifelong learner. He is taking courses in Western civilization at PC’s School of Continuing Education and participates in a poetry workshop conducted by former Rhode Island poet laureate Rick Benjamin. In addition, he has read at least one biography of every U.S. president. He practices yoga and plays the clarinet and saxophone. Joseph, who recently became a citizen of Italy, continues to participate in many professional activities and organizations. He was a member and chairman of the Pawtucket Water Supply Board, and president of the Renaissance-Alliance Lodge Order Sons of Italy in America. He has been in the Order Sons of Italy in America since 1979 and in the Knights of Columbus Dillon Council since 1958. He has served on committees for the St. Maria Goretti Church and is the recipient of several awards, including a citation of accomplishment in 2011 from Pawtucket Mayor Donald Grebien. A mentor to youth from his neighborhood, Dr. Box is definitely someone to emulate. The criteria for being inducted into the Hall of Fame include making a lasting impact on the quality of life of the citizens of the City of Pawtucket. Check that box and add an exclamation mark. American civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness.” Joseph J. Box chose the light, and he has made it shine so ever bright throughout the world. He’s an inspiration and someone who exemplifies that it’s never, ever too late to expand our horizons and make a difference – big or small. Happy New Year!

January 2020

Town of Smithfield Recycling & Trash Calendar 2020 For missed collection, please call 1-866-420-6342 x302

January 2020 Sun Mon

Tue

Wed Thurs

Fri

Sat

February 2020 Sun Mon

Tue

Wed Thurs

Fri

Sat

For appointments and recycling information, Please visit the Town’s webpage: http:// smithfieldri.com/ recycling/ Appointments are made on-line for special pick-ups. Please sign up and match your item with the correct collection date. Pick-ups are available on a first come, first serve basis. USABLE ITEMS? Please DONATE to those in need before sending to the landfill. Visit the Town’s website for our Donation Database.

March 2020 Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed Thurs

Fri

Sat

REDUCE 1st REUSE 2nd RECYCLE 3rd TRASH ONLY if no other option. Got Compost? This is a great way to reduce your waste by almost 20% - bins available at DPW & RIRRC.

SPECIAL COLLECTION-BY APPOINTMENT ONLY

Appointments are limited and are available on a first come, first serve basis. Limit of 4 Items per pick-up. *Please note, Mattress and Box Springs are no longer collected curbside*

Metal & Appliance, by appointment only Bulky Items, by appointment only Lawn & Leaf– on trash and recycling collection day H

Holiday Holiday week, one day delay in collection for week Christmas tree– on trash and recycling collection day

Special Events (3/14, 4/25)

The Smithfield Times, Inc.

April 2020 Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed Thurs

Fri

Sat

May 2020 Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed Thurs

Fri

Sat

June 2020 Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed Thurs

Fri

RTD

Sat

Special Events (SE) coming up! Call: (401) 233-1034 x105 or Email: recycle@smithfieldri.com

1) Electronics Recycling, Sensitive Document Shredding, Large Rigid Plastics Recycling and Mattress/ Box Spring Recycling

Appointment required for mattress/box spring Saturday, March 14th at Smithfield DPW 9:00AM-12:00PM

2) Earth Day Celebration and Clean-up

Saturday, April 25th at Deerfield Park Pavilion 9:00AM-12:00PM

***In case of inclement weather on event dates, please check the Town of Smithfield website for updates: http://www.smithfieldri.com

RISPCA speaks for those who cannot speak for themselves By Jane Fusco We’ve all seen the heart wrenching television commercials and disturbing images on social media of animals starved, suffering and tortured, which are “unfortunately, an accurate reflection of what we see,” said Joe Warzycha, president of the Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RISPCA). Now in its 150th year of operation, the RISPCA is the oldest animal welfare organization and shelter in the state, and the third oldest in the country, serving the state to advocate, strengthen, and enforce animal cruelty laws under the mantra of “speaking for those who cannot speak for themselves.” A new bill that makes intentional acts of animal cruelty a federal crime was signed into law by President Trump on Nov. 25, 2019. The bill, entitled “Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture Act,” makes these offenses punishable with fines and up to seven years in prison. “This law adds another level of enforcement and is a step in the right direction,” said Joe Warzycha The RISPCA is the only animal welfare organization in the state authorized to conduct investigations into the acts of animal cruelty, and is making major strides with some new preventative initiatives and services to improve animal well-being and combat animal cruelty. Access to affordable veterinary care for all pet owners and

pet retention programs to keep pets at home instead of being surrendered to a facility head the RISPCA agenda for 2020, as well as proposing more comprehensive laws that are vital to their cause. Financial assistance from legislative grants and an animal friendly, commemorative license plate are in the works to help generate revenue for the RISPCA. The organization receives no local, state or federal funding or financial compensation of any kind for services provided. To assist in these efforts, John J. Tassoni, Jr. was recently tapped to represent the organization’s interests in business legislation and regulations, and government actions, within the state for the 2020 legislative session. “As a former senator, John Tassoni worked tirelessly to support the mission of the RISPCA and played a critical role in the passage of several key bills to improve the health and well-being of the animals in the state,” said Warzycha. Warzycha said that Tassoni is expected to lead the organization in legislation advocacy since both sides of the general assembly “listen to us” and have good relations with the RISPCA. “We’re well respected in the State House,” he said. Additionally, Tassoni will be instrumental in raising the

Hunter Insurance Represents 25 Insurance Companies

Including Mapfre Insurance Company

Switching to Hunter Insurance couldn’t be easier. Call us today at (401)769-9500. www.hunterinsurance.net 389 Old River Road, Lincoln

January 2020

RISPCA’s profile by the Animal League Defense Fund, which ranks the best (and worse) states for animal protection laws in all STEPHEN ROY POWER EQUIPMENT 50 states. Rhode Island currently ranks sixth as of the 2018 ratings. 1217 EDDIE DOWLING HWY The top 10 states in order are Illinois, Oregon, Maine, Colorado, STEPHENRI ROY POWER EQUIPMENT Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Louisiana, California, Washington, NORTH SMITHFIELD 02896 1217 EDDIE DOWLING HWY STEPHEN ROY POWER EQUIPMENT Indiana. Maine at number three is the only other New England 401-231-8210 STEPHEN ROY POWER EQUIPMENT NORTH SMITHFIELD RI 02896 1217 EDDIE DOWLING HWY state to outrank Rhode Island. 401-231-8210 1217 EDDIE DOWLING HWY NORTH SMITHFIELD RI 02896 Stephenroypower.com Warzycha said that, “John Tassoni needs to get us to number Stephenroypower.com 401-231-8210 NORTH SMITHFIELD RI 02896 one. And beat Maine.” Stephenroypower.com 401-231-8210 On average, the RISPCA receives over 1,000 complaints a year Stephenroypower.com with more than 150 of them criminal complaints that they handle. STEPHEN ROY POWER POWER EQUIPMENT EQUIPMENT The RISPCA began in the time when people becameSTEPHEN outraged ROY POWER STEPHEN ROY EQUIPMENT 1217 EDDIE DOWLING HWY over the mistreatment of cart horses or work horses forced to1217 carry EDDIE DOWLING 1217 EDDIE HWY HWY STEPHEN ROYDOWLING POWER EQUIPMENT NORTH SMITHFIELD RI 02896 SMITHFIELD RI 02896 NORTH SMITHFIELD NORTH RI 1217 02896 oversized loads, resulting in the first successful attempts to prevent EDDIE DOWLING HWY 401-231-8210 STEPHEN ROY POWER EQUIPMENT 401-231-8210 STEPHENNORTH ROY POWER EQUIPMENT SMITHFIELD RI 02896 animal cruelty. How people regard their pets and the significance 401-231-8210 Stephenroypower.com 1217 EDDIE DOWLING HWY Stephenroypower.com 1217 EDDIE DOWLING HWY Stephenroypower.com 401-231-8210 of animal welfare protection has changed considerably throughout NORTH SMITHFIELD RI 02896 NORTH SMITHFIELD RI 02896 Stephenroypower.com P3000 the last century and a half, Warzycha said. 401-231-8210 401-231-8210 8000 W PORTABLE Q6500INVERTER Perfect for r P3000 POWER INVERTE According to 2019/2020 National Pet Owners Survey, 67 per$1,549.99 $1,349.99 Stephenroypower.com PR 8000 Stephenroypower.com W PORTABLEPRICE Q6500INVERTER PRICE Perfect for recreation and RV cent of households in the United State own pets, which translates PRICE $1,549.99 SALE $1349.99 PRICE $1,349.99 SALE $1200.00PRICE $1,299.99 S SALE $1349.99 SAVE $200.00 into about 85 million families, a sharp increase from 56 percent SALE $1200.00 SAVE $149.99P3000 SALE $1200.00 POWER SAVE $200.00 SAVE $149.99 SAVE  $99.99 8000 W PORTABLE in 1988 when the American Pet ProductsQ6500INVERTER Association first started Perfect for recreat P3000 POWER I   tracking this data. PRICE Q6500INVERTER $1,549.99 PRICE 8000 W$1,349.99 PORTABLE PRICE $ Perfect for recreation Warzycha cited some reasons for thisSALE rise in pet ownership. PRICE $1,549.99 $1349.99 PRICE $1,349.99 SALE $1200.00 PRICE $1,29 SALE $1 P3000 POWER POWER INVERTER INVERTER He said that in addition to more laws to protect and$1349.99 preSALE SALE $1200.00 P3000 P3000 POWER INVERTER SAVEanimals $200.00 SALE $120 SAVE $149.99 8000 W W PORTABLE PORTABLE Q6500INVERTER SAVE Perfect for recreation recreation and and RV nee nee$ 8000 Q6500INVERTER 8000 W PORTABLE Q6500INVERTER for RV Perfect for recreation and RV P3000 needs vent cruelty, nearly ninety-five percent of pets come SAVE from shelters $200.00 SAVE $149.99 Perfect POWER INVERTER PRICE $1,549.99 PRICE $1,349.99 SAVE $99 PRICE $1,299.99 PRICE $1,549.99 PRICE $1,349.99 PRICE $1,549.99 PRICE $1,349.99 PRICE $1,299.99 8000 W PORTABLE   for Q6500INVERTER PRICE $1,299.99 Perfect recreation SALE $1349.99 these days, leading to a substantial SALE decrease in the euthanasia rate, SALE $1200.00 $1200.00 SALE $1200.00and RV ne SALE $1349.99 SALE $1349.99   SALE SALE $1200.00 $1200.00 PRICE $1,549.99 PRICE $1,349.99 SALE $1200.00 PRICE $1,299.99 P3000 POWER INVER SAVE $200.00 SAVE $149.99 P3000 POWER INVERTER SAVE $99.99 and shelter animals are no longer perceived as unwanted and disreSAVE $200.00 $149.99 SAVE $200.00 SAVE $149.99 8000 W SAVE SAVE SALE $1349.99 8000 W PORTABLE SALE $1200.00 SAVE $99.99 Q6500INVERTER SINGLE STAGE PORTABLE SALE $1200.00 Q6500INVERTER Perfect for $99.99 recreation and Perfect for recreation and RV needs   SEV PRICE $1,549.99 PRICE   SAVE $200.00 garded. “People view their pets as members of the family,” said. PRICE $1,349.99 SAVE $149.99   SEVERAL MODELS DUAL STAGE PRICEhe $1,549.99 $1,349.99 SAVE $99.99 PRICE $1,299.99 SINGLE STAGE PRICE $1,299.99 STAR SALE $1349.99 SALE $1200.00 STARTING AT $399.00 SEVERAL MODELS SALE $1349.99 SALE $1200.00 SALE $1200.00   The strangest complaint Warzycha has encountered has ocSEVERAL MODELS SALE $1200.00 SAVESTARTING $200.00 AT AT $999.00 SAVE $149.99 SAVE $200.00 $99.99 SAVE $149.99 $399.00 SAVESTARTING $99.99SAVE curred at least five times. “Alligators living in people’s bathtubs,”     he said. People buy them when they are small then they grow too large to be living in a residential home. To support the work of the RISPCA, donation cans be made by sending to Rhode Island SPCA, 186 Amaral Street, Riverside, SINGLE STAGE DUAL STAGE STAGE DUAL STA DUAL DUAL STAGE SINGLE STAGE SINGLE D SINGLE STAGE STAGE SINGLE STAGE SEVERAL MODELS RI 02915 or by visiting rispca.com and click the “donate” butDUAL S SEVERAL MODELS SEVERAL MODELS SEVERAL MODELS SEVERAL MO SEVERAL MODELS SEVE SEVERAL MODELS DUAL STAGE SINGLE STAGE SEVERAL MODELS SEVERAL MODELS SINGLE STAGE SINGLE STAGE DUAL STAGE STARTING AT $999.00 STARTING AT $399.00 STARTING AT $999.00 STARTING AT $999.00 ton. Tax deductible donations allow the RISPCA to give shelterSTARTING toSTARTING PRICES STARTING AT PRICE AT MODELS $399.00 SEVERAL MODELS SEVERAL STARTING AT $ STARTING AT SEVERAL $399.00 SEVERAL MODELS SEVERAL SEVERAL MODELS AT $399.00 MODELS $649.00 STARTING AT $999.00 DUAL STAGE PRICES STARTING AT homeless animals, prosecute cases of animal cruelty, offer assistance DUAL STAGE STARTING AT $399.00 PRICES STARTING AT SINGLE STAGE STARTING A$ SINGLE STARTING ATSTAGE $399.00 SEVERAL MODELS $649.00 SEVERAL MODELS $899.00 SEVERAL MODELS MODELS to pet owners who cannot afford to keep a pet, and implement SEVERAL free STARTING AVAILABLE ATSTARTING $999.00 AT $999.0 STARTING AT $399.00 STARTING AT $399.00 FINANCING humane education programs in the state.

GENERATORS GENERATORS GENERATORS

GENERATORS

GENERATORS GENERATORS GENERATORS GENERATORS GENERATORS

SNOWBLOWERS SNOWBLOWERS

SNOWBLOWERS SNOWBLOWERS SNOWBLOWERS

SNOWBLOWERS SNOWBLOWERS SNOWBLOWERS SNOWBLOWERS SNOWBLOWERS

FINANCING AVAILABLE

SINGLE STAGE STAGE Timothy F. KaneSINGLE STAGE SEVERAL SINGLE DUAL STAGE MODELS SEVERAL MODELS SEVERAL MODELS SEVERAL MODELS SINGLE STAGE PRICES STARTING STARTING AT AT PRICES STARTING AT PRICES SEVERAL MODELS PRICES STARTING AT SINGLE STAGE $649.00 Nichole Carroll-Barnes $649.00 $649.00 $899.00 PRICES STARTING AT SINGLE STAGE SINGLE STAGE

Estate

DUAL STAGE STAGE DUAL SEVERAL MODELS MODELS SEVERAL STAGEAT PRICESDUAL STARTING PRICES STARTING AT STAG SEVERAL MODELS DUAL $899.00 $899.00 PRICES STARTING AT MOD DUAL STAGE SEVERAL MODELS DUAL STAGE SEVERAL $649.00 $899.00 SEVERAL MODELS SEVERAL MODELS - Attorneys At LAw SEVERAL MODELS SEVERAL MODELS PRICES STARTING AT AT AVAILABLE PRICES STARTIN FINANCING PRICES PRICESATSTARTING SINGLE STAGE DUAL AT ST PRICES STARTING ATSTARTING FINANCING AVAILABLE PRICES STARTING FINANCING AVAILABLE $649.00 $899.00 Planning made Simple & Affordable $649.00 $899.00 $649.00 $899.00 SEVERAL MODELS FINANCING AVAILABLE SEVERAL M

(401) 949-2228

PRICES STARTING AT FINANCING AVAILABLE AVAILABLE FINANCING AVAILABLE $649.00 FINANCING

PRICES STAR $899.0

STEPHEN ROY POWER EQUIP STEPHEN ROY POWER EQUIPMENT 1217 EDDIE DOWLING HW 1217 EDDIE DOWLING HWY 627 Putnam Pike, Greenville, Rhode Island 02828 NORTH SMITHFIELD FINANCING AVAILABLE RI 02896 NORTH SMITHFIELD RI 028 401-231-8210 401-231-8210 Stephenroypower.com The Smithfield Times, Inc. 17 Stephenroypower.com kanelawoffice@aol.com

INSIDE THE BROWN BAG

By Peg Brown

The Chisels and Hieroglyphs (of the 21st Century) A new year…a new decade…an opportunity to record history, both globally and personally. And thanks to digital technology, personal computers, texts and blogs, our greatgreat grandchildren will likely be able to read and understand our records and reflections. But can the same be said of our current school-age students? Can they read the letters, chronicles and records of their ancestors? The answer is increasingly probably, “no”. Believe it or not… students of the 1950s… the use of pen, pencil and cursive writing is dying. Will our descendants need a Rosetta Stone? Maybe. A year ago, I was (I think the word was floored) when a college student told me he couldn’t participate in a research project involving World War II letters because he couldn’t read cursive. I didn’t believe him. I was wrong. On a recent visit to the Smithfield Public Library, I overheard a grandmother ask the reference librarian for a book on handwriting…the grandson didn’t know how to make a cursive “g”. Both incidents spurred my quest to discover if indeed my letters, cards, diaries and notes would be indecipherable in a few years. The evidence indicates I had better rely on texting in the future. Cursive is any style of handwriting (and I found that there are many) where at least some of the individual letters and characters are linked together. The theory that drove the development of any number of cursive styles was that the joining of letters made writing faster, and as technology evolved, allowed individuals to keep up with inventions like typewriters. I know that my mother, trained in a commercial course in high school, spent many hours laboring over worksheets, with solid and dotted lines, making her circles, as she perfected the Palmer Method. The Palmer Method, pioneered in the late 19th and 20th centuries, was introduced in Palmer’s Guide

Owner and Operator Dale Calcione

Family Owned and Operated

• Affordable Prices • Automatic, Prompt, Service and Delivery (24 Hours)

• Everyday LOW prices! • 24 Hour Service • Heating Assistance

949-0252 18

to Business Writing (1894), where more “muscle motion” was required to form the perfect letter. As with all things new, the method was not unanimously embraced, but its plainness and speed secured its place in our curricula well into the 1950’s. (What classroom didn’t have the cursive alphabet prominently displayed on cards with those solid and dotted lines somewhere in their elementary classroom?) What really convinced educators to use this method of teaching handwriting for almost a century was it was a method that “emphasized regimentation…would thus be useful to increase discipline and character, and could even reform delinquents.” Cursive had evolved over several hundred years, and was not globally uniform. Our most important historic documents confirm variations---for example, not all of the characters of the Declaration of Independence penned by Thomas Jefferson are joined, and in the early document of our first settlers, characters are not often consistently linked. But the concept of what was considered a “fair hand” persisted and, in the early days of the postal service, allowed more text to be squeezed on one sheet of paper than block letters would have allowed. Advancements in writing instruments ironically contributed to the decline of an emphasis on careful handwriting. When the ball point pen was introduced in the late nineteenth century, ink dried quickly, would not smudge, and the handwriting required by the use of a fountain pen and ink became less rigorous. Then…the typewriter, phone, computers, keyboards… contributed to the death spiral. Where are we now? Are we truly raising a generation that only prints with block letters? The short answer is “yes” … and “no”. The Common Core State Standards, crafted by President

A Child Enrichment Center 1 Church Street, Greenville, RI Now accepting applications for Summer and Fall 2020

R.I. Petro Lic. 138

www.greenvillenurseryschool.com

949 -3051 January 2020

Barack Obama in 2009, and implemented in 2010, omitted cursive writing from the detailed educational objectives in the curricula. The guidelines indicated that children in kindergarten and first grade should learn to print before moving directly to a keyboard. And the debate begins…The argument over the value of cursive writing has occupied prime space in publications like the New York Times and the Saturday Evening Post. More importantly the debate has echoed in the chambers of many state legislatures that struggle with the yin and yang of advocates on both sides. Indiana, one of the original eight states to opt out of the Common Core Standards, regularly considers a Senate bill to require cursive in all its elementary schools. Yet, the discussion of whether or not cursive is a necessary skill for the 21st century is challenged by the Indiana governor who writes his own signature in print. Sometimes the debate turns ugly. Case in point: A 2015 Facebook post showed a teacher’s reprimand of a 7-year old’s cursive signature on a homework assignment: “Stop writing your name in cursive. You have had several warnings.” Advocates FOR cursive took to their computers saying that the teacher’s comment was a “clear indicator of everything wrong with education and, perhaps society in general.” Other arguments on both sides: • Graduate students can’t read historic documents. • Cursive is important for security reasons. Shouldn’t children be able to write their own signature?” (at least on credit card receipts!!) • Cursive develops small motor skills. • “Children learn to read more quickly…and are better able to generate ideas and retain information.” • Cursive ISN’T faster. A 2013 study actually found that the fastest of all writing was a combination of cursive and print. If cursive isn’t more efficient, why keep it? • “Cursive writing has been replaced by technology. Educators are having to make choices about what they teach with a limited amount of time and little or no flexibility. Much of their instructional time is consumed teaching to a standardized test.” (Michael Hairston, President Fairfax,

Virginia Education Association as quoted in the Washington Post) And a last comment, but certainly not the last word on this topic: • “Cursive is an important tool for cognitive development, particularly in training the brain to learn ‘functional specialization,’ that is capacity for optimal efficiency…There is a spill over benefit for thinking skills used in reading and writing…Brain images show that cursive activates areas of the brain that do not participate in keyboarding.” (Wm. Klemm, neuroscientist at Texas A&M in Psychology Today, 2016) Where are we today on the subject? Still in debate. In 2016 Louisiana joined a minority of states that have brought back cursive requirements. Others include Tennessee, Arkansas, Florida, California, Georgia and Kansas. Before deadline I was unable to determine where Rhode Island stood on the issue. Author’s confessions on the topic: • Mother, taught the Palmer Method, had beautiful handwriting well into her 90s. • I carried an ink bottle and fountain pen to all of my undergraduate college classes as did most of my fellow students. • My father, a teacher for 35 years, ruined many sport coats by leaving his foundation pen in his breast pocket. • I write many handwritten notes…but, the truth is, I can only write something longer than a note on the computer. When I worked at URI in the mid-1980s I requested a computer. When my VP asked “why?” I confessed that I could only think on a computer. He ordered one that day. And for those so inclined, there are hundreds of books, worksheets and guides on teaching cursive writing available for purchase. After all, “cursive is pretty and makes fancy writing.”—But, then there are those cursive fonts developed by Steve Jobs based on his love of illuminated manuscripts…… And, there are those serious calligraphers out there who will be happy to address your wedding invitations…. Honestly, I still prefer a fountain pen.

Yankee Tree Service, Inc. Lincoln, RI

24/7 Emergency Service

Robert Choiniere, Licensed Arborist #785

RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL Celebrating Our 10th Year in Business • Tree Removal and Pruning • Stump Grinding • Brush Removal • Bucket Truck • Bobcat Work Fully Insured/Free Estimates

The Smithfield Times, Inc.

401.439.6028 19

Local, State, and Federal Resources Teaming Up to Solve Slack’s Pond Algae Issues By Ron Scopelliti Blooms of harmful algae in Smithfield ponds have expanded what had been a state and local monitoring effort to include the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In November of last year, Rhode Island’s Department of Health (DOH) issued a news release along with the state’s Department of Environmental Management (DEM) advising people and their pets to avoid contact with the water in the Slack Reservoir, more commonly known around town as Slack’s Pond. It followed a similar July advisory at Georgiaville Pond that was lifted in August. Both advisories were due to the threat caused by cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae. The November advisory, posted on the Town of Smithfield web site, cites the presence of blue-green algae blooms, which can produce toxins that include microcystins. It goes on to say that high levels of microcystins were found in the “Little Beach” area near Terrace Drive. According to a DEM fact sheet on cyanobacteria, peo-

$5.99 Sliders Monday Nights

ple who have skin contact with the toxins can develop rashes, blisters, hives, and eye and nose irritations. People who ingest the toxins may experience diarrhea, vomiting, or neurotoxicity. Symptoms of neurotoxicity may include numb lips, tingling in fingers and toes, and dizziness. For pets, livestock, and waterfowl that ingest the toxins, it may result in sickness, paralysis, or death. Neurotoxicity in animals is characterized by salivation, weakness, staggering, difficulty breathing, and convulsions. According to the DEM web site, this is the sixth time an advisory has been issued for the Slack Reservoir since 2011, and the second time an advisory has been issued for Georgiaville Pond. In an e-mail exchange with The Smithfield Times, Gail Mastrati, Assistant to the Director of Rhode Island DEM, explained the department’s involvement with the ponds, and their particular concern over the Slack Reservoir, which strad-

$6 Martinis

Wednesday Nights

50¢ Wings

Thursday Nights

Sunday Brunch 9-12 Large Groups Welcome!

BAR & GRILL

945 Douglas Pike, Smithfield (401) 349-2842

www.laurasbarandgrill.com 1 Check 20

Out Our New WINTER DRINK Menu 1

Private function rooms, perfect for your special event! Seats up to 40, no rental fee and just a $150 minimum.

January 2020

dles the Smithfield/Johnston town line. “Slack Reservoir came to DEM’s attention through citizen complaints and has been evaluated for cyanobacteria seasonally by DEM for several years,” she said, noting that for many years local volunteers have partnered with URI’s Watershed Watch to monitor water quality related to the pond’s algae. According to their web site, Watershed Watch is a statewide volunteer program that currently monitors water quality in 29 of Rhode Island’s 39 cities and towns, as well as several communities in nearby Connecticut. “Due to previous years of very high toxin results,” she said, “this past year (2019) DEM requested assistance from the U.S. EPA to further understand the dynamics of the cyanobacteria and the nutrients and other elements that fuel the cyanobacteria in Slack Reservoir. The towns and local residents were receptive to this assistance and have been engaged in providing resources and logistics to this enhanced monitoring.” Solving the problem isn’t as simple as using an algaecide to kill the bloom, because killing it will immediately release the toxins contained in the algae, and won’t prevent the problem from recurring. “In the long-term,” Mastrati said, “good housekeeping efforts like creating and maintaining shoreline buffers, reducing pet waste, not feeding waterfowl, only using fertilizers for soils where nutrient addition is needed, and maintaining septic systems in non-sewered areas will keep the nutrients that fuel the cyanobacteria blooms out of Slack Reservoir.” She said that the cyanobacteria typically thrive during sunny months, and die off as the days get shorter and colder, so the blooms typically don’t survive the winter. She noted, however, that there have been cases where they have bloomed in the winter, including under ice cover. “Also,” she said, “as the climate warms, cyanobacteria blooms are getting extended further into months we typically would consider cold winter months. Nationally and globally there is an increasing occurrence and longer duration of cyanobacteria blooms.” Mastrati said that DEM had connected with local officials in Smithfield and Johnston, along with concerned citizens in the towns, to help address the algae issues. “The feedback and monitoring that the public helped us with, especially around Georgiaville Pond, was an enormous help and a great example of the kind of partnership that makes for successful public health,” she said. The Department of Health’s November. 4 advisory is available in its entirety on the Town of Smithfield website’s Bulletin Board, www.smithfieldri.com/community-bulletin-board. For more information on harmful algae blooms, visit www.epa.gov/ cyanohabs.

The Smithfield Times, Inc.

The Toppi Group By Joe Siegel Skilled job seekers can find plenty of assistance at the Toppi Group. The firm, located at 592 Putnam Pike in Greenville, matches the right applicant to the right job. Founder and president Joe Toppi notes the relatively strong economy poses a unique set of challenges. “The market is flooded,” Toppi explained. “We have tons of job orders and not enough people to fill them.”

For the past 12 years, the Toppi Group has specialized in placing candidates in full-time jobs in construction, warehouse management, and food production. Most of the jobs are in Massachusetts though he does deal with many RI companies. “We give (candidates) realistic goals,” Toppi said, noting employees leave companies for various reasons. “People want to leave certain jobs because they’re working too many hours, they’re not making enough money, the shift is wrong, it could be anything.” Toppi said a job applicant may have multiple job offers and will typically return to their original employer and request they make a counter-offer to entice him or her to stay. Toppi notes longevity is a quality valued in job seekers, as well as reasonable salary expectations. The Toppi Group gets referrals from candidates they have placed with jobs in the past and from companies they have dealt with before. “It ebbs and flows,” Toppi said. “In 2009, there was a big correction to the economy. It was tough for awhile but since then it’s grown.” The state’s unemployment rate was 3.6 percent in September. That figure was the same as the national unemployment rate. In May 2010, the unemployment rate in Rhode Island was 11.3 percent. Toppi encourages job seekers to think outside the box and not to rely on job boards or online postings.“80 percent of the jobs are not advertised,” he said. “Network with people, send your resume out to people even if you think they’re not looking. Don’t be afraid to get out there. Another thing is: tailor your resume to the job. Some people have a goal on their resume which is completely different from what the job is, so they should change it every time it is sent out.” For more information, visit their website at toppigroup.com.

January 2020

Dream Line Apparel supports Dare to Dream Ranch By Joe Baxter Over the course of this semester at Bryant University, I have been working with a group of students for a Non-Profit Organization as part of one of my classes. The major component of this class is a semester long service-learning project. My group has been working with Dare to Dream Ranch. This organization, located in nearby Foster, is a Non-Profit that serves veterans and their families. The ranch helps veterans with PTSD, trauma, anxiety, depression, job placement issues, and other struggles in adjusting to civilian life. The ranch is home to several horses and other livestock. They use equine therapy, nutrition education, group therapy and many other techniques to serve those who have served us in the ultimate way. The ranch also hosts retreats for service members and their families as a time for them to be with other veterans, to reflect, and to work on themselves. For

BIG H Monday - Saturday 6am-10pm H H Sunday 6am-6pm H

many veterans, the ranch is a safe haven and a place where they can go to get the attention that they need. Countless clients of the ranch have shared that the programs at Dare to Dream Ranch offered them the help that they needed to refocus themselves, to find their passion, and to learn valuable and healthy life skills. Dare to Dream Ranch offers all of these programs at absolutely no charge to veterans and their families. The ranch relies on the financial assistance of donors to do their great work. One way that you can be a part of this great mission is to make a purchase from the ranchâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own clothing line: Dream Line Apparel. This can be found on the ranchâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website: www. daretodreamranch.org Working with this organization has been so inspiring because I have seen firsthand how important it is to give back to those who have given us so much as members of the armed forces. You can help Dare to Dream Ranch make a difference too, by looking at the Dream Line Apparel, and by spreading the word!

401.618.7130

's variety 200 Pleasant View Avenue Smithfield, Rhode Island

H not your typical variety store H

H Under New Ownership H Remodeled, Fresh, Clean New Look! Bryant Students Always Welcome!

10% Discount

For All Active Duty, Veterans and First Responders!

New KENO Sitting Area! The Smithfield Times, Inc.

LOCAL FAMILY OWNED & OPERATED!

Arthur Martins, Smithfield Resident and Veteran Pawtucket Officer and Administrator to lead North Providence Police Department By Joe Siegel On January 1, 2020, when North Providence Police Chief, David Tikoian retired, he handed the reins over to his second in command on the department, Arthur Martins, who had been the deputy chief for the past two years. Martins retired as the number two man in the Pawtucket Police Department in 2015. A twenty-eight year veteran, he rose through the ranks reaching the level of Major. From 2015 through 2018 he worked with the State of Rhode Island Department of Attorney General’s Office, assigned to a task force with the Office of Inspector General for the Social Security Administration Cooperative Disability Investigative Unit (CDI). A veteran officer, Martins knows that police work and community involvement go hand in glove. He is an advocate of community policing, and when he was with Pawtucket PD, they established many neighborhood watch groups together, which were very successful. “It isn’t just watching out for crime,” Martins says. “It was also about engaging with one another, getting to know your neighbors, being more involved in the community, doing civic events, charity work, investing, and giving back.” He stresses that the watch groups belong to the community members and that the police department is a vehicle to provide information, to collaborate with the community and help steer it in the right direction.

“If they are looking for crime statistics, we can provide that,” Martins says. “If they’re looking for crime prevention matter, we can do that. If they’re looking for input on traffic issues, how to make their communities safer, the best use of lighting, fencing, shrubbery, we can provide input on how they can protect their property.” Martins is referring to what is known as Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED). It is an agenda for manipulating the environment to create safer neighborhoods. It originated in the early1960, when urban renewal strategies were felt to be destroying the social framework needed for self-policing. Architect Oscar Newman created the concept of ‘defensible space’, developed further by criminologist C. Ray Jeffery who coined the term CPTED. Growing interest in environmental criminology led to detailed study of specific topics such as natural surveillance, access control and territoriality. The “broken window” principle demonstrated how neglected zones invite crime, and reinforced the need for good property maintenance to assert visible ownership of space. Appropriate environmental design can also increase the perceived likelihood of detection and apprehension, known to be the biggest single deterrent to crime.

January 2020

Wide-ranging recommendations to architects include the planting of trees and shrubs, the elimination of escape routes, the correct use of lighting, and the encouragement of pedestrian and bicycle traffic in streets. Tests show that the application of CPTED measures overwhelmingly reduces criminal activity. Taken even further, there has been new interest in the interior design of prisons as an environment that significantly affects decisions to offend. “We have to rely on people in the community, at that grass roots level, that’s what makes it all work,” Martins says. “The police officers need to be invested, they need to be committed, but the community has to buy into it as well. Over time, when everyone starts to see the progress of these community policing concepts, it gets easier to get more people to jump on board.” Martins maintains a great working relationship with the men and women in the department. They understand what his expectations are and it’s nothing new, as it’s all very similar to what his predecessor, Chief Tikoian, had established when he was leading the department. Martins is a graduate of Bryant University with a degree in criminal justice and holds a master’s degree from Anna Maria College in the Administration of Justice. He graduated from the 186th Session of the FBI National Academy. He has been living in Smithfield since 1994 when he got married. He and his wife, Paula, have two daughters. He grew up in Pawtucket, but when he was a student attending Bryant, back when it was a college, he would commute from his home, which gave him a close look at the town. “I remember commuting to the campus every day and driving through Smithfield, and I would say to myself, ‘Someday, when I buy a house, I want to buy a house in this community.’” Sure enough, that’s just what he did. “But policing is the same no matter where you go,” Martins says. “It’s all about the people, and communicating with them. “That’s the bottom line.”

SMITHFIELD FITNESS - NOW OPEN ABOUT THE OWNERS

970 Douglas Pike, Smithfield (401) 618-5900 www.smithfieldfitness.com The Smithfield Times, Inc.

Smithfield Fitness is family owned and operated by Melissa and Bob Sevigny. We have been in the Fitness & Nutrition industry for over 7 years. Bob is a Captain on the Woonsocket Fire Department & Melissa is the General Manager of SF. We have two beautiful children Aiden & Ava. Our mission is to create a quality fitness center that is tailored toward our members & their goals. With an integrated approach to fitness, committed to offering a full-service unparalleled wellness experience, and world class programming. A space for everyone: all kinds of people with all kinds of goals, and with no judgments! No matter your workout of choice, we want you to feel good while reaching your goals. Our goal is to be more than a gym; and be a community.

The Restaurant at

Crystal Lake OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

We are keeping the Restaurant Open this Year! Our Current Hours are: Thurs., Fri. & Sat. 11am – 9pm Sunday 11am – 7pm.

Give the golfer what they really want! A CRYSTAL LAKE GOLF COURSE GIFT CERTIFICATE! Gift Certificates are good for golf or merchandise. The Restaurant also has Gift Certificates available for those who do not golf.

Book your special occasion and outing for 2020 now! (401) 567-4500 100 Bronco Highway, Mapleville, RI

www.crystallakegolfclub.com

SMITHFIELD HIGH SCHOOL

By Sophia DeJesus

How to “Sleigh” at SHS Winter Ball As the holiday season rolls in, students all over Smithfield High School are getting ready for their winter break. The excitement and holiday energy is apparent in all classrooms as the teachers try calming students and prepare them for new material. Of course, there are many things to be done, new topics to be learned, projects and essays to be turned in, and final tests to be taken. However, there is one other daunting task that juniors and seniors within the school must do...find a date for the upcoming winter ball. For some, finding a date can be easy, whether it’s going with a friend, or taking their boyfriend/girlfriend, but there’s still work to be done, even after securing a date. Students need to buy tickets, coordinate rides, figure out pictures, seating arrangements, etc, and the most important task of all, deciding on what to wear. Now for the gentlemen at SHS, this may not seem like a big deal. Sure, rent a suit, buy a new tie to match his date’s dress, no big deal. But for the ladies? It’s a top priority. The topic of conversation is always about what color dress, what style, and of course, where it’s from. Hairstyles, makeup, shoes, accessories, you name it, the girls are talking

about it. Based on conversations with a few girls, it seems there’s a good mix between online dress shopping and going to the mall. Surprisingly though, more girls are starting to look for dresses online, as it is more convenient. Brooke Basile, who is a junior at SHS, says she is shopping at Windsor, looking for a light pink dress. Sydney Mabray, also a junior will be going for either red or blue, and will be looking for her dress at Macy’s. Victoria Richard, junior, is a step ahead, and has already purchased her dark emerald green dress from David’s Bridal! As for boys, after talking to junior, Jack Sacco, and seniors, Cameron Pezzullo, and Harper Nelson, they concluded that finding a suit is easy, “besides matching with the girl,” says Jack. As for the color, that’s left up to their date as well. Simple and very straightforward! Smithfield High School’s 2020 winter ball will be held at Rhodes on the Pawtuxet in Cranston, RI, on Friday, January 17th. Tickets are $50 per person and must be purchased prior to the dance in January.

hether you’re looking for long term care or short term rehabilitation, Bayberry Commons can answer your needs. • • • • • •

Private, Sub Acute Rehabilitation Rooms Phones, WIFI and Extended Cable Spa with Therapeutic Tub Long Term, Semi-private Rooms Secured Dementia Unit with secured courtyard Palliative Care Program for Pain and Symptom Management with a Holistic Approach • Accept Most Insurance

OUR MISSION

To bring joy and compassion to everyone we encounter. OUR VISION

To become the provider, partner and employer of choice by providing a culture of C.A.R.E and services that meets or exceeds customer expectation.

Bayberry Commons Nursing and Rehabilitation 181 Davis Drive, Pascoag, RI 02859 • 401-568-0600 www.HealthConceptsLtd.com

January 2020

PAYNE’S PICKS

By Sarah Payne

MOVIE RELEASES

British race car driver Ken Miles (Bale) teaming up with Ford Motor Co. to build the first American car to beat the race cars of Enzo Ferarrai at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France in 1966. I’ll admit I’m not the biggest car aficionado, but it was so interesting to learn about the innovation coming out of Ford in the 60s and to feel that sense of American pride. Damon and Bale have real chemistry and the banter between the two provides consistent comic relief. The only downside is the film is a bit long – two hours and 32 minutes.

The Rhythm Section – January 31 - Speaking of children, Blake Lively has also taken a bit of a hiatus this year while she had her third child in five years. Her last film, A Simple Favor, was an indie hit in early 2018 and she’s back this month with a fun, new action flick called The Rhythm Section. She plays Stephanie Patrick, a woman seeking revenge for those responsible for a plane crash that killed her family. Having been a fan of Lively since her first role in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants in 2005, it’s been great to see her mature and find her niche with mysterious, enigmatic characters (including the character in The Age of Adaline).

TV REVIEW

Like a Boss – January 10 - From the moment she played Kristen Wiig’s nemesis in Bridesmaids, Rose Byrne has quickly become one of my favorite comedic actors. She took a couple of years off while having kids, but I’m so glad to see she’s back in Like a Boss, starring opposite Tiffany Haddish. The two play best friends who go into business together, while Salma Hayek plays a benefactor who attempts to steal their business. I’m not too familiar with Haddish, but I watched a quick clip of her interview with Jimmy Fallon last month and I can confirm – she is hilarious.

MOVIE REVIEWS

Ford v Ferarri - Looking back at my last few columns, I realize that it was a serious miss for me not to preview this movie, starring Christian Bale and Matt Damon. With the way our TV-viewing habits have transitioned away from cable and toward streaming services, I think these hidden gems don’t necessarily get the exposure or buzz that they deserve. Regardless, I’m so happy I was able to see this one in theaters because it’s all about racing, and seeing it on the big screen makes it feel like you’re right there in the car. Ford v Ferrari tells the true story of automobile designer Carroll Shelby (Damon) and

Moe’s Mower repair Servicing All Makes and Models

Catastrophe - Here’s another hidden gem I discovered just last month. Catastrophe is a British sitcom that first premiered in 2015 and subsequently became available on Amazon Prime in 2017 (I blame buying a house and having a baby in the same year for missing the boat on this one). The fourth and final season of the show premiered earlier this year. Catastrophe is entirely co-written, co-created, and co-starred by Rob Delaney and Sharon Horgan. They play two single people (he is American and she is Irish) who become pregnant after a quick fling and decide to become a couple. In researching this month’s column, I realized where I first saw Horgan – as a hilarious secondary character in 2018’s Game Night. In Catastrophe, her and Delaney quickly establish a comfortable banter that pokes fun at the predicament they find themselves in – two people living in separate countries who barely know each other but are trying to become a family. At its core, the show’s raw take on commitment and marital partnership is refreshing in a culture that seems to favor surface over substance. But don’t just take my word for it. Horgan and Delaney won the BAFTA TV award for Best Writer: Comedy and the show has received other BAFTRA and Emmy nominations.

BACON N BEANZ

d Snowblower Tune-Up Time d

residential & CoMMerCial 20yr CraftsMan speCialist i Buy & sell used equipMent

401-651-9053

35B lark industrial pkwy. • Greenville, ri 02828 The Smithfield Times, Inc.

Serving Breakfast Wednesday - Sunday 6:00am - 1:00pm

347 Waterman Avenue, Smithfield (401) 757-6945

STARGAZING

By David Huestis, Historian, Skyscrapers, Inc.

Astronomical Highlights for 2020 Happy New Year everyone. Yet another year has passed into the history books, and I am once again presenting some of the astronomical highlights upcoming in 2020. While there are a couple of impressive upcoming events, any time the skies are clear and transparent many stargazers are enticed out under the vault of the heavens to explore our beautiful universe. The winter months around Southern New England can be quite cold, and I for one need some incentive to spend much time outdoors observing the sky. Fortunately, the sky gods provide the Quadrantid meteor shower which peaks on the night of January 3-4. While this shooting star display can produce up to 100 meteors per hour during peak, a more modest 60 meteors per hour is likely under a moon-less sky. This shower also sports a very narrow peak of activity, only several hours in duration, that can easily be missed. However, if you have the time and can tolerate the usual cold temperatures, the Quadrantids don’t disappoint the well-prepared observer. The fast-moving Quadrantids blaze across the sky at 25.5 miles per second. These blue meteors can appear anywhere in the sky, but their radiant point (the area of sky from where the meteors appear to originate) is not far from the end star,

Alkaid, of the Big Dipper’s handle. From midnight till dawn, this area of sky will rise higher and higher above the northeast horizon. By 4:00 a.m. the radiant will be almost at zenith (directly overhead). You’ll know you’ve spotted a Quadrantid meteor if its dust train through the sky points back to the radiant point. A First Quarter Moon will set just after midnight, so it will not interfere with observing as many shooting stars as possible between then and dawn’s early light. Despite being wintertime, I still recommend that you get comfortable in a lounge chair to conduct your observing session. Snuggle up in a well-insulated sleeping bag and keep your head and hands warm. Just don’t get too comfortable and fall asleep like I did many moons ago! Speaking of moons. There are four supermoons in 2020. While the term supermoon is not an astronomical term, it has been widely used in recent years to describe a Full Moon’s closest approach (perigee) to the Earth. However, the caveat is, to be called a supermoon the moon has to be within 90 percent of its closest distance to the Earth. Following this arbitrarily

Elliott M. Robbins FunERal HoME www.robbinsfuneralhome.com Elliott Robbins Funeral Home is family owned and operated. People in the Northern Rhode Island area have known the Robbins family since 1948 as providers of friendly, personal, and sensitive service.

Centrally Located - Preplanning Available 2251 Mineral Spring Avenue, North Providence • 231-9307

R O B B I N S SINCE 1948

Geoffrey D. Greene • Jennifer L. (Greene) Fagan, Directors 28

January 2020

assigned criteria there are supermoons on February 9, March 9, April 7 and May 7. The April 7 Full Moon is the closest one for the year and may appear slightly larger and brighter than usual. The most interesting highlight for 2020 will be a close encounter with Mars. Every 26 months the “Red Planet” is in opposition. That means when the Sun sets Mars will rise. October 13 is the date of opposition. The close approach of our two worlds occurs a week earlier on October 6 when our planetary neighbor will be only 38.6 million miles away. That distance is just a little farther away than Mars was at its last close approach on July 31, 2018. Also, in 2020 Mars will rise much higher into our much less hazy October sky. A telescope should reveal much detail on the Martian surface. However, just before the July 2018 close approach a global dust storm completely enshrouded Mars making it impossible to view any surface details. And it could happen again, since circumstances will once again favor the formation of dust storms. Should observing conditions on Mars evolve in our favor, the local observatories will certainly focus their attention on this fascinating world. Barring any major dust storms, I will present an observing guide to help identify large-scale features with a telescope. An interesting celestial dance of Jupiter and Saturn will commence for most casual stargazers on May 12 when both planets will sit just above the eastern horizon around midnight. A waning gibbous Moon will also join the pair. From this date forward these two worlds will appear to move closer to one another from our perspective. On December 21 they will be so close that they will appear as one object to the naked-eye just after sunset 15 degrees above the horizon. This “Great Conjunction” will be the closest these two worlds have been since 1623. To observe this event, you’ll need to find an observing location that commands an unobstructed view towards the southwest. If you have a telescope by all means use it to focus in on this beautiful sight. Use medium to high-power and you’ll observe both worlds in their glory in the same field of view. Hopefully the weather will cooperate, as the next Jupiter/Saturn conjunction on November 5, 2040 won’t be as “Great.” This December 21st event is really something special to note on your calendar. In addition, 2020 provides two penumbral lunar eclipses for our location Unfortunately, the Moon does not move into the Earth’s dark shadow. In fact, for the July 5 event only about one-third of the lunar surface will slide into the lighter penumbral shadow. Even at its maximum I doubt whether any shadow will be detectable. For the November 30 penumbral lunar eclipse roughly three-quarters of the lunar surface will pass through the lighter shadow, but will still not be close to the dark umbra. A keen-eyed observer knowing what to look for may detect a slight shading of the top portion of the lunar disk. Good luck.

The Smithfield Times, Inc.

“Your Local Tree Professional Since 1986”

STANLEY TREE SERVICE INC 275 George Washington Highway Smithfield, RI 02917

HIGH QUALITY WORK AT REASONABLE RATES RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL • MUNICIPAL

Tree Removal Specialist • All Sizes & Types Stump Grinding • Pruning • Spraying Plant Health Care • Lawn Care Services

FREE ESTIMATE by a licensed arborist Fully Insured

24 HOUR EMERGENCY SERVICE

765-4677

231-TREE (8733) stanleytree.com

Illuminator Maya Izzo headed the fourth annual All Lit Up Christmas Parade which took place on Saturday, December 7. Despite the cold temperatures, it was a great success! PHOTOS: Albert Tavakalov

January 2020

LINCOLN l NORTH PROVIDENCE l CUMBERLAND SLATERSVILLE l SMITHFIELD

Full Service Dry Cleaners Same Day Dry Cleaning Wedding Gown Preservation UGG Cleaning Bedding & Household Items Fire, Smoke, and Water Damage Restoration Leather and Suede Cleaning Alterations Available 285 George Washington Highway, Smithfield, RI 02917 1950 TOWER HILL ROAD NORTH KINGSTON 401.292.6460 AdCare.com I

(401) 232-9888 Monday-Friday 7am-6pm | Saturday 8am-5pm Drive-Thru l Gift Certificates l Major Credit Cards Accepted

Family Owned and Operated Since 1857 Traditional Funerals to Simple Cremation Services • Pre-Arrangements & Pre-Financing Available FUNERAL DIRECTORS:

Michael F. Quinn, Patrick J. Quinn, Jerome D. Quinn, Christopher P. Quinn, John H. Grover, Paul A. Falso Jr.

643 Putnam Avenue, Route 44, Greenville • 401-949-1370 • www.QuinnFuneralHomes.com The Smithfield Times, Inc.

50 YEARS AGO

JANUARY,1970

New Years Day of 1970 ushered in a new decade which America hoped would leave the political unrest of the ‘60s behind. Unfortunately history proved otherwise. Yet in many ways the ‘70s were a time of positive change and technological advancement despite hair styles and clothing fashions. Those of us old enough to remember mood rings, pet rocks, disco dancing, mussel cars, bell bottoms, puka beads, 8-track tapes, leisure suits, platform shoes, pong, black light posters, head shops, fondue pots, bean bag chairs, mini bikes, custom vans, waterbeds, and avocado green, copper-tone, and harvest gold kitchen appliances, do so with nostalgia of simpler times. — Cpl. Robert A. Gurney, Jr., of Greenville was serving with the 1st Marines Aircraft Wing in Vietnam. CW/4 Arthur E. Arcand of Georgiaville was serving at the 5th Field Hospital in Thailand. Airman Gary H. Seward of Esmond was serving in the U. S. Air Force. Army Sgt. Thomas St. Jean of Stillwater was stationed in Germany. MM 3/c Wesley Wyatt of Esmond was serving in the navy RESIDENTIAL

COMMERCIAL

Stan Waskiel, Jr.

Preserving memories, one piece at a time. What sets us apart from the rest? Our expert craftsmanship and over 60 years experience.

By Jim Ignasher

aboard the USS Samuel Gompers. PFC George J. Schenck was serving in the U. S. Army 82nd Airborne Division. — The Greenville Baptist Church celebrated its 150th year. The Anniversary Committee consisted of Rev. W. Stanley Pratt, Rev. George Daniels, Fred Potter, Elizabeth Vaughn, Lloyd Stevens, Shelly Parker, Donald Brush, Andrew Winsor, Forrest Marty, Joseph Lopez, Glenn Rawlin, L. Dexter Aldrich, Dorothy Drowne, Robert Turner, and George Leach. — On January 5, the soap opera “All My Children” aired for the first time on ABC. The show continued for 41 years before ending in 2011. — On January 9, the Redwood Witches 4-H Club of Greenville, headquartered at Redwood Farm, elected new officers. President: Erin McQuiddy, V.P.: Debbie Winsor, Treasurer: Robin McQuiddy, Secretary: Kris Rylander, News Reporter: Cathy Carroll, and Refreshment Coordinator: Dianne McLaren. — On January 25, the movie “M*A*S*H”, based on the novel by Richard Hooker, premiered in New York City. The television show of the same name ran from 1972 to 1983. — On January 26, musicians Simon and Garfunkel released their song, “Bridge Over Troubled Water”. — On January 30 the Smithfield Historical Society called a special meeting at the Town Hall to bring awareness to help save three historic buildings that once stood where the dome of Bryant University’s Unistructure is located today. The buildings were saved, and relocated elsewhere on the campus.

FRED L. MASON JR. REFINISHING AND RESTORATION EXPERT

Counselor At Law Personal Injury - Civil & Insurance Litigation

Refinishing • Restoration • Touch-up • Painting

Furniture Pianos Antiques

624 Putnam Pike (Route 44), Greenville, Rhode Island 02828

www.waskielfurniture.com • 401.949.8094 32

Office: 232-2277 MASON ASSOCIATES P.C. Facsimile: 232-7744 20 Cedar Swamp Road fmasonjr@masonassociatespc.com Smithfield, RI 02917 www.masonassociatespc.com

January 2020

COMMUNITY EVENT — ESMOND BUNNY BLANKETS PRESENTATION – Saturday, January 18th at 1:00 p.m. (snow date January 25th) Sandra Achille will be at the library to talk about the world famous Esmond Bunny blankets. Come learn how Esmond got its name and see some beautiful blankets that helped make Smithfield famous. Sandra has quite an extensive collection and will be offering some blankets for sale following her talk. This event is being hosted by the Friends of the Library.

Max is a 1 year old 65lb handsome hunk. Since he still has some puppy antics so he’s not quite ready for a home with small kids. We’re not sure about other animals, so staying in a separate area of a house where he doesn’t see any resident pets would be best, at least for a couple of weeks. Max is currently staying at ADRI Adoption Center & Pet Services, awaiting a family to come and adopt him! Email abandoneddogsofri@gmail.com for more info!

YOUR COMPLETE COMFORT PROVIDER

OIL • GAS • HEATING • COOLING • FULL SERVICE Family Owned & Operated for Over 25 Years

Easy Online Orders for Delivery Service • 12 Month Budget Plans Online Payments • HVAC Installations • Customer Loyalty Incentives 24 Hour Emergency Service • Gold and Platinum Service Plans

Schedule a Cleaning Today!

Your system has been working hard all winter, an annual cleaning is the best way to an efficient running heating system.

A/C INSTALLATIONS (ductless mini splits)

New England summers can be as hot and humid as the winters are cold and long. Our qualified technicians have knowledge of the latest technologies and products to install the right system for your needs.

POOL WATER DELIVERY AVAILABLE

401-231-3681 www.beewarm.com The Smithfield Times, Inc.

Obituaries Michael T. DiBenedetto December 14, 2019 www.robbinsfuneralhome.com

Maureen D. Nicholson December 9, 2019 www.thequinnfuneralhome.com

Stanley A. Waskiel December 16, 2019 www.andersonwinfield.net

543 Putnam Pike Smithfield, RI 02828 401.232.9600 • www.smithfieldtimesri.net John J. Tassoni, Jr., Publisher john@jtsentinelgroup.com Ann Marie Donahue, Executive Editor amdonahue@smithfieldtimesri.net Kerryn Azevedo, Design/Production kerryn@cox.net — ADVERTISING AND SALES Camilla Spliid - cspliid@smithfieldtimesri.net

Robert M. Graham Sr. December 10, 2019 www.andersonfuneral.com

Carolyn M. (Campbell) Carlton November 10, 2019 www.robbinsfuneralhome.com

Joseph Lewis Mansolillo, D.D.S. November 17, 2019 murphyfuneralhomes.org

Jon Volatile November 15, 2019 www.nardolillofh.com

John F. Cunningham, Sr. Veteran December 02, 2019 www.andersonwinfield.net

Lillian E. Antonelli December 07, 2019 www.andersonwinfield.net

Grace Genereux - grace@smithfieldtimesri.net Mary Fague McGarry - mmsmithfieldtimes@gmail.com — WRITERS Harry Anderson Peg Brown Sophia DeJesus Brittni Henderson Robert Houghtaling David Huestis Jim Ignasher Bea Lanzi Paul Lonardo Diane L. Marolla Paul Palange Sarah Payne Ron Scopelliti Joe Siegel — Albert Tavakalov, Photographer Sandra Achille, Photo & Creative Contributer — The Smithfield Times, Inc. does not assume any financial responsibility for typographical errors in advertisements that have received final approval or are submitted camera ready.

January 2020

Your business is about to take off. Quest Business Suite

You deserve your very own dedicated team here for you every step of the way. Call for an appointment with a branch manager, or stop by any location. • Quest Business Checking • Quest Money Market • Merchant Services

navigantcu.org 401.233.4700

• Payroll Services • Remote Deposit Capture

Member NCUA

Smithfield

1 Garnett Lane Suite 8 Greenville, RI 02828

(401) 349-4355 Cranston

95 Sockanosset Cross Rd Suite 301 Cranston, RI 02920

(401) 942-0300

North Smithfield

947 Victory Highway North Smithfield, RI 02896

(401) 762-2830