The Smithfield Times June 2017

COMPLIMENTARY

JUNE 2017

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Spinning Dreams into Gold Making Kentucky Derby Trophy

By Marilyn Busch

Susanne Blackinton will tell you that the Kentucky Derby has been a part of her life for what seems like forever. “I remember as

a little girl, waking up to a little horse toy after my parents came back from the Derby,” she says, “I always recognized the grandness of the event.” As a high school student, she dreamed that one day she would be the one to make the famed Kentucky Derby trophy. For most girls growing up in rural New England that dream would simply be unobtainable. For Susanne, who now proudly stands as the fifth-generation of silversmiths carrying on the Blackinton family name, it was her destiny.

Tucked into a quiet corner of an old textile mill in Smithfield, one could almost miss the unassuming studios of S.R. Blackinton and New England Copperworks. Owners Susanne and her husband Bill Juaire seem to prefer keeping a low profile and many in the area are surprised to learn that they are the artisans responsible for creating the solid gold Kentucky Derby Trophy.

The 14 karat handmade gold cup bears the likeness of a thoroughbred horse, its jockey at the reigns and a filigree horseshoe

Bill Juaire, co-owner of S.R. Blackinton is creating the Kentucky Derby trophy cup. for good luck. While luck certainly has played a small part over the years, the couple’s reputation as a leader in the art of gold and silversmithing is due in part to their dedication to time honored crafting techniques that date back over 155 years.

Susanne’s great-grandfather established the family business

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of R. Blackinton Company in It was also at New England Sterling that she was later introNorth Attleboro in 1862. The business passed to her grandduced to Bill Juaire, the man who would someday become her husfather, who trained her father band. Bill was her father’s head who then went out on his own spinner, a talented craftsman to form New England Sterling. It whose skill in taking a simple metwas there that Susanne was introduced to the family business at al circle and working it artfully age 14. “I grew up in the factory into a trophy cup, bowl or lantern pretty much,” she says, adding was something unique. that it was a natural progression; “He has that special some“I always liked working with my thing that is innate and cannot hands and creating things.” be taught,” explains online cu The Blackinton family name rator Whisper Editions that sells has long been intertwined with his commissions; “He is able to the crafting history of the Derby feel the shape before the metal is Susanne Blackinton, co-owner of S.R. Blackinton trophy. The contract itself passed even spun.” Susanne is the first to through a few companies over agree. “You have to have the right works on the detail for the top of the the years, but once the trophy touch,” she explains, “…and Bill’s Kentucky Derby trophy. creation moved to this area and got it. He can make anything.” never left. New England Sterling remained the primary artisans Susanne herself would be a good judge, as she is a skilled mettapped to create the piece, leading to S.R. Blackinton holding the alsmith in her own right, having been taught the trade by accomplished silversmith Walter Bigos. A WWII veteran, Bigos was a Churchill Downs commission today.

Heirloom Quality, Handcrafted in Rhode Island While the S.R. Blackinton company has made quite a name for themselves with the Derby Trophy and other national awards, they also have quietly launched an online shop featuring sterling silver jewelry, baby gifts, mint julep cups and more. So, while a winner’s cup may not be in your future, owning a piece of S.R. Blackinton jewelry will award the wearer with the very same heritage and craftsmanship – at a fraction of the cost.

The quality of their work is excellent – on par with any of the highend sterling jewelry names - which is not surprising since the family has a long history of crafting for those jewelry lines. I was particularly taken with their new line of ‘Wishing You Good Luck’ sterling silver horseshoe jewelry. There are a variety of necklaces, earrings, bracelets and pins, and all of the handcrafted pieces are just impeccable. With everything in their line of “good luck” message jewelry and key rings coming in well under $200, these handcrafted pieces make an ideal personalized gift for graduations, promotions and any special celebration. A percentage of the jewelry proceeds is donated to the Rescue of Old Friends at Cabin Creek., one of the rare havens dedicated to the rescue of “retired” thoroughbreds.

The jewelry, sterling silver baby cups, and giftware, plus some fine examples of past custom work are all available on their website at www.srblackinton.com.

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June 2017

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self-taught silversmith out of necester. sity (no one would teach him their

Bill will make the actual gold “trade secrets”) and Susanne credits trophy cup, exactly as he first did him to this day for mentoring her when he spun his first Derby troin his craft. “It was the best training phy in 1990. After the first polishI could have had,” reflects Susanne, ing, Susanne then starts the detail “I love Walter, and my debt to him work. It is both delicate and dauntnever can be repaid.” Bigos, who is ing, especially in light of the pro91, has retired to North Smithfield pane torch she must use to solder and still sees Susanne at least once a the piece together at roughly 1500 week. degrees.

It takes Susanne, Bill and their

Any nerves that she might small team of craftsmen almost five have had the first few times in months to create the Derby trocrafting the trophy have passed, phies. Aside from the large solid and she absolutely beams when gold winner’s trophy, there are three asked about her work. “It’s fun, I miniature sterling silver cups prereally love what I do,” she says. sented to the winning jockey, breedAs for fulfilling her dream of maker, and trainer and the official mint ing the Kentucky Derby trophy, julep cups used by the Governor for she adds, “To actually be making The 2017 Kentucky Derby Trophy the winner’s toast. it now and the connection it has displayed at Churchill Downs.

The process is completely handsin my heart with my three favorite on for every artisan involved. Susanne does her metalsmithing men – my dad, my husband Bill and my mentor Walter – well in a modest workspace in the corner of the shop, using the same that is indescribable.” exact techniques, even the same tools, passed down from Wal Photos courtesy of Susanne Blackinton.

The Smithfield Times, Inc.

5

And furthermore

Just for the record

By Laurence J. Sasso, Jr. In the 1920s publicity seekers and fortune hunters indulged in a sideshow sort of fad called flagpole-sitting. It was pioneered by a reputed sailor named Alvin “Shipwreck” Kelly. Vying to set records and gain fame, and most of all to make money, these hardy, if slightly unhinged individuals (of both genders), made news and diverted the attention of the jazz age public. They did so by seeing who could spend the most uninterrupted time living atop high poles. Eventually, the record stretched into months and then, believe it or not, more than a year. Google it for yourself, and you will see.

The Great Depression largely brought an end to those particular stunts, but others took their place. Foremost among them were dance marathons, another kind of endurance contest promising monetary rewards and a measure of notoriety for the couple who could outlast all others on the dance floor.

Today the world around us is rife with different types of self-imposed challenges that seem intended to measure the meaning of our days. On milestone birthdays some people skydive. Others set themselves goals such as hiking the Appalachian Trail or climbing to the top of the highest nearby mountain. It’s also common for people to make so-called “bucket lists,” cataloging exotic goals they want to achieve before it’s too late.

Social media pages often chart the progress of some of these endeavors. No-one seems to sit on flag staffs anymore, and pie-eating contests aren’t taken too seriously, but enduro bicycle treks to Telluride or running a marathon backwards probably would be, and hot dog eating contests have attained the dubious status of being termed a “sport” in some venues.

Let’s play the devil’s advocate for a moment, though. Other than idle curiosity, why should we care if somebody decides to swim to Block Island wearing an overcoat?

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Admittedly, efforts to set “world records” or make it into the Guinness Book are hard to ignore, but, with the possible exception of fund-raisers for a good cause, after a while doesn’t it all begin to feel like exhibitionism and self-promotion?

Ascending the highest peak for a thousand miles around certainly is a personal accomplishment, but, unless you are the first one to do it, does it need to be a public one? After all, what does it prove to the rest of us if somebody ascends past the tree line to the pinnacle and takes a selfie? What is there to do up there in the small space at the summit but to turn around and climb back down?

It’s the same for such quests as trying to hold your breath under water longer than anyone else. After meeting the world record holder, a Navy diver with a chest like an ancient oak tree and finding that he was quite humble but justifiably proud of his achievement, the futility of attempting to successfully challenge his mark was immediately apparent. That’s no reason to give up trying, but it might be one for keeping a low profile about it.

Besides, there are also in-dwelling heights to conquer. For instance one friend has been trying to learn how to speak Italian with at least a modicum of fluency for quite a few years now.

For another friend it’s German.

A different acquaintance often carries an algebra book with him and works at mastering ever more difficult equations (a cerebral exercise that might make brutish Extreme Challenge events in deep mud almost seem attractive).

Perhaps at the root of my antipathy to high profile feats of endurance lies a powerful skepticism. There’s an old song that says “Anything you can do I can do better; I can do anything better than you.” Alas, it appears, that that attitude is the driving force behind the challenges many people take up.

Most of us have a personal kind of radar that sets off subtle alarms when we sense ulterior motives in the behavior of others. So if someone recounts their latest victory in a half-naked half-marathon through the bramble patches in a way that comes across as more than a little self-congratulatory, a light goes on and it flashes the word bragging.

Personal quests are more credible when they are about personal bests. Self-congratulatory smack downs undertaken in the guise of extreme singular feats or breast-beating accomplishments just don’t cut it.

Now – back to building that flagpole perch with a bathroom.

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June 2017

Bryant University and the Town of Smithfield invite Smithfield residents to join us for a family-oriented evening and

INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION!

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Sunday, July 2 Rain Date is Sunday, July 9, fireworks only Visit www.Bryant.edu for more information

1150 Douglas Pike, Smithfield R.I.

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Bryant University campus opens to the public at 6 p.m.

U.S. Navy Band will perform at 8 p.m.

Fireworks at 9 p.m.

Lawnchairs and blankets are encouraged!

Please do not bring personal fireworks, drones, pets or alcoholic beverages to this event.

The Smithfield Times, Inc.

7

Smithfield Senior Center Easter Egg Hunt is a Glowing Success

By Paul Lonardo For the past eight or nine years, the Smithfield Senior Center has always done a small Easter egg hunt for Break Start

Academy in Greenville. This year, they teamed up with Smithfield’s Parks and Recreation Department, and it was a staffer in the department who came up with the idea to use glow-in-thedark eggs and have the event at night. Everyone at the senior center immediately loved the idea.

Kate McAdam-Prickett, the center’s Programs and Activities Coordinator, says they weren’t sure what the capacity would be, but they sold out in just a few days.

“We had a link posted on Eventbrite, and every age group was filled up in a matter of forty-eight hours,” she says. “It was crazy. It was like a hundred and fifty kids.”

It was an overwhelming response that they did not anticipate, and was much bigger than the past years when they planned traditional Easter egg hunts. So they had to figure out how they were going to make this work logistically. It was no small endeavor.

“In the planning process we had a lot of things to consider, and a lot of questions to answer.” Kate says. “How many eggs do we get? Do we fill all the eggs? Where do we find glow-inthe-dark eggs?”

They found a website that sold phosphorescent eggs and bought seven hundred fifty, five for each kid. They placed Glow-Sticks around with eggs, which were not filled. Each child received the same goody bag filled with treats, gift certificates and toys. With the help of volunteers, which ensured that everyone got five eggs, it worked out great, according to Kate. It was fair. It wasn’t chaotic. And most of all, everyone had fun.

“We were fortunate enough to get volunteers from Target in

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Smithfield,” Kate says. “They were also one of our sponsors, providing gift cards to use for some of the prizes in the goody bags. They gave us a generous discount on all the Easter stuff we needed. They were so wonderful to work with.”

Target has a community group that provides volunteers for a variety of events and other action initiatives around town. The group had recently helped paint one of the banquet rooms at the Senior Center, and when approached about assisting with the Easter egg hunt this year, they were more than happy to come out and help. Besides Target, other sponsors included A&W Root Beer, which provided coupons for the goody bags.

They brought their mascot, the A&W Bear, to the joy of the little ones. Texas Roadhouse also lent their support, providing free kids’ meal coupons for their restaurant in Cranston. And State Representative Thomas Winfield donated funding for the hiring of local DJ Ray Arruda.

“He was great,” Kate says. “He played games with the kids, and had them dancing and entertained while the older kids went out hunting for eggs.”

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the event was divided up into multiple age groups, with the younger ones going first. The participants spanned a range in age from Pre-K right on up to Young At Heart, for adults of any age. Special needs children were accommodated as well, and many of the parents got involved, lending their support and dancing, though that may have been in part to try to stay warm. It was a chilly night, but it all ran very smoothly and everyone had a good time.

The event taking place this year on the week of school vacation probably had a lot to do with the overwhelming attendance. Since it took place after Easter Sunday this year, the concept was that although the Easter Bunny had gone, he left some Easter eggs at Deerfield Park, which added to the excitement by extending the Easter holiday. With the glow-in-thedark feature this year, the annual event was certainly unique, and it may have set the bar high for the event next year, which is not a problem for the event’s coordinators and support staff.

“We’ll definitely do it again next year,” Kate says. “Absolutely.

With the kind of turn out we had, we would want to give the kids the same thing next year. Only better.”

For other fun, upcoming community events, please check the Smithfield Senior Center and Park and Recreation Facebook pages https://www.facebook.com/smithfieldseniorctr and https://www.facebook.com/Smithfield-Parks-and-Recreation-165560443586846/. Photo courtesy of the Smithfield Senior Center.

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The Chief’s Corner

Pool Safety during the Summer Season

By Robert W. Seltzer, BSEE, EFO, MPA Chief Smithfield Fire Dept.

As we enter the summer months outdoor recreational activities amongst families increases due to the nice weather finally arriving. With increased outdoor recreation, increased recreational accidents are answered by emergency medical responders throughout the state. Of particular concern are pool accidents.

Why so important? Globally more than 40 people die by drowning every hour of every day. Drowning is one of the top 10 leading causes of death for children in every region of the world as reported by the World Health Organization.

Follow these tips to reduce the probability of a pool accident.

Safety Tips for Portable Pools:

Pool Electrical Safety: • If you are putting in a new pool, hot tub, or spa be sure the wiring is performed by a licensed electrician experienced in the special safety requirements for these types of installations.

• Ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) are special devices designed to protect against electric shock and electrocution. They are required for most pool equipment.

•

Empty and put away smaller portable pools after every use.

•

Once the pool is setup, ensure high levels of supervision.

•

Fence portable pools and encourage neighbors to do the same.

•

Cover larger portable pools and put access ladders away when adults are not present.

• Avoid handling electrical devices when you are wet.

General Safety Tips:

• Do not swim during a thunderstorm.

• Have a qualified electrician periodically inspect, and – when necessary – replace or upgrade the electrical devices or equipment that keep your pool electrically safe.

•

Watch kids when they are in or around water, without being distracted. Keep young children within arm’s reach of an adult. Make sure older children swim with a partner every time.

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Make sure kids learn how to swim and develop these five water survival skills:

Owner and Operator Dale Calcione

- step or jump into water over their heads and return to the surface; - float or tread water for one minute; - turn around in a full circle and find an exit; - swim 25 yards to exit the water; and - exit the water. If in a pool, be able to exit without using the ladder • Teach children that swimming in open water is not the same as swimming in a pool. They need to be aware of uneven surfaces, river currents, ocean undertow and changing weather.

• Learn and practice CPR so you can help in an emergency.

• Whether you’re swimming in a backyard pool or in a lake, teach children to swim with an adult. Older, more experienced swimmers should still swim with a partner every time. From the first time your kids swim, teach children to never go near or in water without an adult present.

• A swimming pool is a ton of fun for you and your kids.

Make sure backyard pools have four-sided fencing that’s at least 4 feet high and a self-closing, self-latching gate to prevent a child from wandering into the pool area unsupervised.

• Install alarms on doors leading from the house to the pool area that will alert you when someone enters the pool area.

• Because drowning occurs quickly and quietly, adults should not be involved in any other distracting activity (such as reading, playing cards, talking on the phone, or mowing the lawn) while supervising children, even if lifeguards are present.

• Air-Filled or Foam Toys are not safety devices. Don’t use air-filled or foam toys, such as “water wings”, “noodles”, or inner-tubes, instead of life jackets. These toys are not life jackets and are not designed to keep swimmers safe.

Plastic “water wings” or “floaties” can fall off while the child is in the water.

• Never use floatation devices in lieu of supervision.

• Avoid Alcohol. Avoid drinking alcohol before or during swimming, boating, or water skiing. Do not drink alcohol while supervising children.

Enjoy your summer and Stay Safe!

The Smithfield Times, Inc.

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How Does Your Pup Love Thee?

Let’s Count the Ways!

We asked Jules Martins, Co-Owner and Groomer at Village

Paws in Greenville about the ways in which our dogs are communicating their love for us. Here are seven things your dog is doing daily to show you their affection!

1. He loves sleeping with you.

Dogs are pack animals and are used to cuddling up with their canine families. If your dog likes sleeping with you on the couch or in your bed, it’s a sign that he sees you as part of his pack. Being close to you during his down times shows he trusts you to protect him and the pack. If you can get him to make the bed after, he truly is man’s best friend.

2. She wiggles her eyebrows at you.

Just like with humans, dogs communicate much of what they’re feeling through their facial expressions. And sometimes, their eyebrows reveal what they are thinking.

Studies show that a dog will respond with eyebrow movement when their person walks in, but not when a

stranger enters. When it comes to recognizing who she loves, the eyebrows have it.

3. They bring you their toys.

Doing this means your dog wants to play with you. That

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alone is a sure sign of affection. Better yet, it also could be confirmation that your pup thinks of you as the pack leader - the biggest canine compliment out there. He wants to share something he really values with you. Hopefully you will love his favorite slobber-covered toy as much as he does.

4. He looks you in the eyes.

Eye contact between dogs and their humans is a sign of love.

Holding that look of love releases oxytocin, the “bonding hormone,” in the brains of both dogs and owners. This hormone is also true when a human mother holds her baby.

Dogs also stare at us to get a clue about our emotional state.

So be sure to stare into your fur baby’s peepers and soak in the eye hugs.

5. She licks your face.

For dogs, licking can mean a number of things. Mother dogs lick their puppies’ faces the moment they’re born to bond. And they lick all over their bodies to keep them groomed. Some dogs lick their humans’ faces because it’s a habit, or because they like the way their owners taste.

Dogs will also kiss us as a sign of affection and acceptance.

So feel free to smooch the pooch when you want to share that love.

6. He leans against you.

A dog will lean on humans for many reasons. It could be because he is anxious, but it is also a sign of deep affection and trust. Even if your dog is leaning against you because he’s nervous about a new place or situation, it still shows that he thinks of you as someone who can protect him and keep him safe.

7. They want to cuddle after they eat.

Dogs love to eat, and they enjoy being fed by us even more.

If a dog wants to snuggle after they eat, it’s a sure sign of their love for you. Consider yourself their dessert of choice!

Be sure to return the furry favor with a visit to Village Paws where Jules and co-owner Christine Nickell will shower your pup with love at their new grooming location at 615 Putnam Pike, Greenville.

Additional Source: Swartz, Anna (2015) CLOSE TO HOME, The Dodo. Retrieved from https://www.thedodo.com/does-mydog-love-me-1194379505.html

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The Smithfield Times, Inc.

13

Smithfield Equestrian Takes the Rein All the Way To Nationals

By Kendra Gravelle

After years of dedication to the sport, Karleigh Lamoureux, a sophomore at Smithfield High School, took her skills as an equestrian all the way to Virginia, where she competed for a blue ribbon on a national scale.

The Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) features a series of competitions, with equestrians competing locally to advance to regional competitions, then to zone competitions, and finally onto the national finals.

Karleigh qualified for this year’s nationals by placing second in both the regional and zone competitions.

“It was an incredible feeling,” Karleigh said. “As soon as I heard my name in second place and knew I was making it to nationals, I cried. I worked really hard—when I get in the ring, my concentration is just on winning the blue.”

At the national championship, held April 22 at Virginia Horse Center in Lexington, Virginia, Karleigh placed seventh out of 21 competitors. Although she didn’t take home the blue ribbon, just having made it to Virginia, she said, was a proud achievement.

“I never thought I would make it to nationals,” she added.

“But, with the support of my team, my trainer and my parents I was able to make it, and it’s a really good feeling. It’s a great accomplishment.”

As a member of the Willow Brook Equestrian Team in Lincoln—Karleigh rides with fellow students from high schools throughout Rhode Island.

Karleigh speaks fondly of her teammates. “Our team spirit is amazing,” she says. “We’re always encouraging each other to do great.”

Even during their nearly 10-hour-long show days, each of the 12 team members makes sure to stick around until the last equestrian has finished her ride. And if the outcome of a show isn’t great, Chrissy & Jules

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Karleigh Lamoureaux at the National Interscholastic Equestrian Association’s competition in Virginia. Submitted photo.

as long as they have done their best, Karleigh and her teammates are proud of each other.

“All of us are there from beginning to end,” she added, “cheering each other on. To have a supportive team means a lot.”

Karleigh was introduced to equestrianism as a sixth grader, after a friend invited her to join her horseback riding.

“At first I was very nervous,” she said of that first ride, “but I hopped on and I loved it. Controlling a 1,200-pound animal is very intense, but it’s also very exciting.”

Now, four years later, Karleigh has been riding at Willow Brook—where she’s taught by Dina Patnaud—for around two

June 2017

years.

The class Karleigh competed in for the national championship was the junior-varsity beginner walk/trot/canter, on the flat— meaning on the ground with no jumping.

“It’s just going around in a circle,” she explained, “walk, trot and canter.”

Karleigh was accompanied by her mother, Michelle Lamoureux, to the championship. The two drove to Virginia, chatting eagerly about the competition the entire way.

“Then, once we got there, it was a lot to take in.”

The young riders were greeted by several colleges, each there to recruit the talented riders.

Unable to bring Dina along, Karleigh was assigned a proctor trainer for the duration of the competition weekend. Karleigh added that the members and trainers of the IEA were incredibly supportive.

“Everyone there is a team,” she said. “They’re super welcoming and everyone will help you become a better rider.”

Horses were assigned to riders at random.

“You don’t know what to expect,” Karleigh explained. “You haven’t sat on that animal—you’re giving it your all on a horse you’ve never been on before. It’s a unique experience.”

Out of 21 equestrians, eight received callbacks—those riders also received ribbons.

“I rode Friday night,” Karleigh said, “and I got a callback, so I knew I was going home with a ribbon and that was really what mattered to me—I wanted to go home with a national ribbon.”

On Saturday, Karleigh was assigned large horses to compete with—that posed quite a challenge for the 5-foot-tall equestrian.

Regardless of the results, just seeing her daughter compete in a national championship was a proud moment for Karleigh’s mother.

“It’s amazing,” Michelle said. “All the effort, time and resources that we put into it really paid off.”

“She’s a well-rounded kid,” she continued, “and she worked hard for this—I’m very proud of her.”

Karleigh added that she wouldn’t have made it as far as she did if not for the unwavering support of her mother and her father, Marc Lamoureux.

“My parents are the ones who got me here,” she said. “They encourage me every time I step into that show ring to do my best.

Even if I disappoint myself, I’ll never disappoint them.”

As for the future, Karleigh said she’s considering moving south for college, where the equestrian season is year-round.

She thinks she’d like to study education.

One thing is for certain, though—as she takes the reigns on her future, horses will certainly play a role.

“I definitely want to continue riding,” Karleigh said, adding that she hopes to one day own her own horse. “I want my kids to ride, someday.”

“There’s a great connection between a rider and her horse,” she continued, “and you can never take that away.”

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15

Lanzieri’s “Little Library” Lends Students an Area to Read and Relax at Recess

Thanks to the passionate efforts of a local social worker and author, the students of Old County Road School can now enjoy an outdoor recess “oasis” aimed at providing a relaxing area for reading, playing and “resetting” before returning to classes. The creation of this outdoor therapeutic area was the brainchild of Smithfield School Department social worker Kerri Lanzieri.

Due to the generous support of the Smithfield Education Foundation, Lanzieri received a grant to begin the creation of what she envisioned to as a “rest and reset” area for Old County Road students to enjoy during recess. While many students enjoy very physical activities and games after lunchtime, Lanzieri noted that there was also a need to accommodate those students seeking a quieter place to enjoy a more thoughtful moment in the fresh air, before once again engaging in the second half of their academic day under fluorescent lights and within the brick walls.

The first component of the outdoor area was an outdoor Mancala board game, inventively crafted from an existing tree outside the school. Michael Depetrillo, husband of OCRS 5th grade teacher Christine Depetrillo, created this unique outdoor piece especially for Lanzieri’s project. This weatherized Mancala board was grooved into the side of an existing stump of a tree, along with a seating area. The game of Mancala involves problem solving in order to “sow and capture” an opponent’s pieces. Acorns, shells, or polished stones can be used to play the game either by multiple students to promote team building skills; or individually to promote mental stimulation and fine motor skill

16

development.

The second piece of the project was the purchase of a weather proof “bookhouse” library from the Little Free Library company (www.littlefreelibrary.org).

Roughly the size of a birdhouse, these little libraries have a small Plexiglas door from which children can choose from the plethora of books stocked within its handmade walls. The goal of the Little Free Library is to encourage children to “take a book, return a book” via the free book exchange. Students can now enjoy time spent reading in the area’s oversized Adirondack chairs placed comfortably in the shade of the tree.

This new area encourages and promotes reading during recess as an activity of choice for students. As a published children’s author herself, Lanzieri is very aware of the need for encouraging reading and its effects as a stress reducer.

Lanzieri’s next goal is to apply for a second grant to create a similar area at William Winsor Elementary School, where she is also employed as social worker.

Each component she would like to create for the school is aimed at providing specific assistance to her students; a Zen garden with crushed gravel in order to assist children with attentional difficulties in clearing their minds of the day’s chaos; wooden beams with built in pullup and pushup bars to allow a wide range of movement breaks; a chalkboard slate for use as a canvas for art therapy; and a mounted, large, rotating, ‘rain stick’ to provide sensory input and could comfort children when they turn it.

June 2017

The Inside Scoop

What my father didn’t teach me

By John J. Tassoni, Jr. Anyone who has ever lost a parent knows the void that it leaves in your life and your heart. I have been experiencing the gamut of these emotions with the recent passing of my father, John J. Tassoni Sr. Just about everything I learned in life, I learned from my father.

He taught me patience and perseverance. He was a softspoken man, a gentleman in every sense of the word, and I have always tried my best to emulate him.

As a master carpenter, he showed me how to have pride in workmanship, and how hard work gets results.

He taught me how to be a man, have strength in the face of adversity, and how to be a good husband, father and grandfather.

My father cherished his family and he taught me to do the same. He was present for every challenge and every celebration in his four children’s lives. He never missed our

hockey or baseball games, or my sister’s piano and figure skating lessons.

He taught us how to appreciate our Italian heritage and to be a proud American.

With him gone, I am faced with the task of living life without him. No more phone calls, watching the Yankees games together, or having him accompany me on magazine deliveries. No more Sunday family dinners or holidays together. My best friend and confidante to talk to anytime I need advice or guidance.

My father taught me everything ... except how to live without him.

That is something I must learn how to do on my own. But somehow, I know in my heart that my father will be guiding me in that effort as well.

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18

Trinity Play Sees Sheep Turn into Panthers

trinity repertory company

Review by Laurence J. Sasso, Jr. Sometimes looking backward is a good way to see where you are going. That’s the

perspective Trinity Repertory Company has taken with their final production of this season.

The play called Like Sheep to Water, or Fuente Ovejuna, written in 1615 by Lope de Vegas, a Spanish contemporary of Shakespeare, suggests strong parallels to current day issues and present day free-wheeling political machinations, says Trinity. Well, sort of.

The story contains unprincipled, reckless, and ruthless leaders and confused and fearful citizens. It also focuses on the fate of exploited, brutally abused, and repressed women, and kudos to Trinity for presenting the raw, manic fury of their uprising when it finally occurs.

Translated and adapted by Trinity’s Artistic Director Curt Columbus and directed by Mark Valdez, the production runs through June 11 onstage in the Elizabeth and Malcolm Chace Theater upstairs at the Lederer Theater Center, 201 Washington Street, Providence.

Set in turbulent times when the forces of King Ferdinand of Aragon and Queen Isabella of Castile are consolidating their power over disputed territory, the story reflects the vagaries of war and disorder.

Near the crossroads of opposing armies is Ovejuna, a community of everyday folk who are sheep-like pawns in the power struggle. To their great misfortune the overseer of their village is a bloodthirsty and vicious commander, Fernan Gomez, who has manipulated the Grand Master of his area to enter the conflict. Without a shred of benevolence, he views the town as his fiefdom.

The townspeople are a humble lot, intent on their concerns, such as tending their flocks and tilling the land. They are

BY LOPE de VEGA TRANSLATED & ADAPTED BY CURT COLUMBUS Trinity Fuente Ovejuna_2017.indd 1

4/24/17 10:07 AM

apathetic and too trusting when it comes to politics, naively believing that their leaders will do what is in their interest, when, in fact, their leaders are completely absorbed in achieving their selfish goals. As the title of the play suggests, the common folk are like sheep, and their leaders treat them as such.

Totally lacking in compassion and essential humanity, Gomez seems to believe the villagers are there to be used and manipulated for his personal ends, damn the consequences for them.

His lustful appetites take a particularly ugly and depraved form. He likes to beat and rape women. When his prime target turns out to be Laurencia, the daughter of the mayor of Ovejuna, it sets in motion the events that will eventually unite the community in a way that has been hitherto unimaginable.

Tearing Laurencia away from her beloved Frondoso at their wedding and spiriting her away to prison, where she is savagely abused, Gomez sets in motion a reign of terror that ignites a fury in the townspeople. He and his men wantonly assault women, confiscate property they desire, and demand fealty from the frightened cit-

June 2017

izenry.

Somehow Laurencia escapes her captors, though, and confronts her father and the men of the village, castigating them for their timidity and their failure to face down Gomez. Chastened, the men, take up their cudgels and pitchforks, find their courage and decide that death is better than dishonor.

They begin organizing to challenge the commander and his forces.

Laurencia, always outspoken and inherently a leader, is not to be outdone. She rallies the women of Ovejuna to find their weapons and join in the resistance. A ferocious series of reprisals by the villagers ensues which ends only when Gomez’s severed head is paraded around the village on a pike.

A key factor in the success of the revolt is the solidarity that the community achieves when the people stop thinking as individuals and band together as one. By adopting the “all for one and one for all” mindset the people find strength they didn’t know they possessed.

In an “I am Spartacus” moment, the people begin chanting “It is Ovejuna,” meaning it is the entire town that has risen against tyranny and terror, not simply individuals. They continue proclaiming this when they are tortured by the authorities in the aftermath of the rebellion.

In a somewhat shameless but largely effective gimmick at plays’ end, the actors exhort the audience to join them in chanting the slogan, thus guaranteeing a standing ovation, something Trinity almost always gets as a matter of course, anyway.

A good deal of applause is deserved for undertaking and updating this period piece, but it is not without its doubtful moments. Shakespeare presents challenges with its ornate and antique dialogue and complex situations, but is redeemed to our great good fortune by the extraordinary poetry and invention of the language and the insights of the master.

This play is saved, not so much by its writing, with lines like “Two city councilors are awaiting your audience,” and “I will punish this upstart for his excess” but by its vitality and effusiveness. An almost manic vigor pervades most scenes and the direction takes a full throttle approach. The actors certainly spare no intensity or want for energy and commitment to their roles.

Octavia Chavez-Richmond burns with passion and raw emotion as Laurencia. She commands the stage when it is her moment, offering an impressive performance. She is a second-year student in the Brown University/Trinity Rep MFA acting program.

Fred Sullivan, Jr. is immense as the evil Gomez. Rather than the broad, moustache-twirling wickedness he often invokes in similar roles, here his villainy is portrayed with clenched teeth and a coldness that is horrifying. He is closed off and impervious to all appeals for mercy. Inner-directed and immoveable, his character is made all the more shocking

The Smithfield Times, Inc.

for the coiled rage Sullivan projects. It is fine work from a versatile actor.

Timothy Crowe, a treasure for Rhode Island theater-goers, is first-rate as the war and world-weary henchman of Gomez who seems to go along with the depravity more out of habit than by choice. Crowe has been in more than 125 productions at Trinity and we are all the richer for that.

Orlando Hernandez excels as Frondoso, beloved of Laurencia. He brings a teddy-bear like charm and irrepressible ardor to his courtship and later displays his courage convincingly. He is a welcome presence.

Joe Wilson, Jr. does yeoman’s work as Laurencia’s father and mayor of Ovejuna. Janice Duclos is aunt to Laurencia and, as often, is the character who represents stability and reason. As always, she is fine.

Stephen Berenson is masterful in the role of Mengo, a sad clown of a villager who has endured torture and humiliation.

Mengo persists in his determination to find justice despite the intimidating obstacles.

Daniel Duque-Estrada as King Ferdinand and Rachel Warren as Queen Isabella are suitably imperious as royals.

Trinity veteran Angela Brazil adds her talent in support of Laurencia, as does Brown/Trinity MFA student Anita Castillo-Halvorssen, who portrays Pascula, Laurencia’s friend who is also victimized by the oppressors.

Marcel Mascaro is the Grand Master of Calatrava, the leader who Gomez compromises to further his assumption of power and authority. A foppish dandy who Gomez used to gain his domination of the village, he is putty in the commander’s hands. Mascaro does well in the role.

Benjamin Grills and Jonathan Olivera also have sizable roles and do well.

The music offered by a four person group seated onstage is an important component in the mix, and they add much to the ultimate impact of the production.

The serviceable set by Michael McGarty, even in the large upstairs theater, hardly seems big enough to contain the spectacle that is Like Sheep to Water, or Fuente Ovejuna. The spillover must find its space in the minds of the viewers.

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June 2017

UP

Keeping Kountry Kitchen’s Menu Special for Customers is Restaurant’s Key to Success

By Elizabeth Israni

With a combined 80 years of restaurant experience, Kountry Kitchen owners Lionel and Thierry Delos have focused on the word - special.

They believe in making their customers feel special by making their food special.

They go so far to say that they make food so special it can’t be found anywhere else locally, nor anywhere else in Rhode Island for that matter.

Co-Owner Lionel Delos explains, “In the last year we’ve really worked hard on making sure the word “special” actually means that what we’re offering each week is truly special and makes the customer feel special, not just an item off our menu that we are featuring as a special, like many other restaurants do.”

The two brothers start every Tuesday at the family’s 10 Smith Avenue restaurant in Greenville by making a list of items they wish to feature the following week. Visits are made to specialty markets for unique ingredients. Perusing a German food distributor in East Greenwich, a Spanish market in Providence or a local Korean market in search of kimchi are all common occurrences. Ideas start to develop and soon recipes are tested and perfected in the kitchen.

Lionel Delos is proud of their unique take on traditional menu items. “We are pretty confident that when we come up with a special - like hand rolled gnocchi pan seared with spinach and pancetta topped with two poached eggs and hollandaise or breakfast tacos made with house cured, slow-cooked pork belly, sweet corn salsa, pickled onions, fresh cilantro, pico de gallo and topped with a Srircha sour cream – well, you aren’t going to find those items on any other breakfast menu in the area or possibly anywhere in the state, for that matter.”

Lionel believes that customers really appreciate their commitment to what sounds like mouth-watering ingenuity. “I can’t tell you the number of times a customer has told us that one of our specials was the best breakfast they’ve ever had.”

“That’s what pleases us the most,” he said, “Hearing so many positive reactions to our passion for creating the best food.”

Kountry Kitchen’s impressive five-page breakfast menu boasts a wide variety of dishes certain to satisfy everyone’s cravings, from more traditional pancakes and eggs to their more “foodie” inspired

The Smithfield Times, Inc.

The three owners of Kountry Kitchen Restaurant, Lionel Delos, Pierre Delos and Thierry Delos. Photos by Elizabeth Israni.

dishes. Thierry explains “Our philosophy has been to go for the very best for our customers. If you’re going to make bread pudding, why not make it a cinnamon bun bread pudding…if you’re going to make corned beef hash, why not make it a braised short rib hash or a veggie hash or even a bratwurst hash?”

“We take the ordinary and create something special,” he says proudly. This philosophy has been an asset to the Delos clan, who recently celebrated 20 years of family ownership. Joining the brothers in co-ownership are their aunt and uncle, Pierre and Marie Delos. They are proud to mark two decades of putting their heart and soul into the Smith Avenue restaurant.

Many in the area might remember the original owners, the Meehan Family, known for serving breakfast in the early hours of the morning, eventually becoming part of the fabric of the town over the years.

Lionel and Thierry both started working in the restaurant business at a young age in their parent’s Martha’s Vineyard restaurant in the 1970s. At the age of 11, Lionel would be in the kitchen helping his father with the food prep, and Thierry would be working the dining room busing tables for such celebrities as Dan Akroyd, Jim Belushi and Woody Allen.

“Forty years later and I’m still in the kitchen and Thierry is still in the dining room,” points out Lionel, noting that together they bring a combined 80 years of experience to the table for their customers. “We wouldn’t trade any of it for the world,” he adds.

Serving breakfast, brunch and lunch seven days a week, Kountry Kitchen also offers patrons a full service bar with multiple function rooms available for meetings, luncheons or private family events.

Catering services are also available for home and office parties.

The Kountry Kitchen Restaurant is located at 10 Smith Avenue in Greenville and serves breakfast and lunch seven days a week from 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Visit the restaurant’s website at www.KountryKitchenri.com for their complete menu and be sure to “like” @KountryKitchenRI on Facebook to keep up on their inventive specials of the week.

21

Local Researchers Continue the Race Against Alzheimer’s Disease

By Patti Shaffer Did you know that every 66 seconds someone in the United States develops

Alzheimer’s disease and that more than 5 million people of all ages are living with this disease?? Unless a cure is found, more than 28 million baby boomers will have Alzheimer’s disease by 2050. Did you also know that one in 10 people age 65 and older has Alzheimer’s and that Alzheimer’s is becoming a more common cause of death?

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive brain disorder that damages brain cells leading to memory loss and changes in thinking and other brain functions. It develops slowly and gradually gets worse as brain function declines. To date there is no treatment to cure Alzheimer’s or

stop its progression, only medication to help manage the symptoms. However, they don’t work for everyone. There are also no approved drugs to stop brain damage from this disease.

Scary, isn’t it that we don’t yet have a way to stop this disease. However, there is hope.

Locally in fact, the staff at Rhode Island Mood & Memory Research Institute (RIMMRI) in East Providence, Rhode Island has been actively involved in clinical research trials for the treatment and prevention of Alzheimer’s disease for the last 25 years. During that time, they have established an international reputation within the pharmaceutical industry as being a leader in quality

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patient care, retention and data collection. They have also participated in pivotal trials that have brought all of the currently approved medications to treat Alzheimer disease symptoms to market.

Presently, they are now actively involved in cutting-edge research to slow the progression of this disease in its earliest stages and have four different types of trials ongoing looking at passive vaccines.

Dr. John A. Stoukides, is the medical director and principal investigator at RIMMRI. He also serves as the Director of Geriatrics at Roger Williams Medical Center in Providence and as the Medical Director at Roger Williams Senior Health Care Associates.

Dr. Stoukides explains, “Today, there

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are many drugs in clinical trials around the world that show progress and so research continues to evolve. The purpose of these trials is to modify and change the disease progressions so those affected by Alzheimer’s won’t continue to decline. The earlier we identify this disease; the earlier we can start them on medication.”

What can we do to help prevent getting Alzheimer’s? “Stay cognitively and physically active,” says Dr. Stoukides.

“We also need more people to get involved in clinical research trials. The only way we will ever find a cure for Alzheimer’s disease is for people to volunteer for these trials. The more people get involved, the sooner we can find a cure or a drug that slows progression of this disease. “ He adds, “Someday there will be prevention and a cure to stop Alzheimer’s from progressing—however it will take 5 to 10 years in clinical trials to find out.

Every drug on the market has had to go through the same process. We are asking Rhode Islanders to help us end Alzhei-

National Alzheimer’s Association’s List of 10 Early Signs of Alzheimer’s Disease Alzheimer’s is a progressive disease that causes a slow decline in memory, thinking and reasoning skills. While each individual may experience aging to a different degree, there are 10 warning signs and symptoms specific to the onset of this disease.

1. Memory loss that disrupts daily life 2. Challenges in planning or solving problems 3. Difficulty completing familiar tasks at home, at work or at leisure 4. Confusion with time or place 5. Trouble understanding visual images 6. New problems with words in speaking or writing 7. Misplacing things and losing the ability to retrace steps 8. Decreased or poor judgment 9. Withdrawal from work or social activities 10. Changes in mood and personality Learn more about recognizing these warning signs in yourself or a loved one at the National Alzheimer’s Association website at www.alz.org. mer’s disease.”

Rhode Island Mood & Memory Research Institute will begin a new five-year long placebo controlled study

Irene Y. Rianna Memorial Foundation Raises Alzheimer’s Awareness in Mother’s Memory It was at the young age of 62 that complications from Alzheimer’s disease took Irene Y. Rianna from her loving family. The Smithfield resident and proud mother of three was known for her “zest for life”, a love of music and her expert skills as a seamstress. Her diagnosis at the age of 56 was a complete shock to her family and friends and they spent the next 6 years watching her slowly slip away from them due to the disease.

According to their website, her family vowed “to spend the rest of our lives honoring her and the amazing woman she was.” They decided the best way to accomplish this would be to create the foundation in her name awarding an annual scholarship to deserving Smithfield High School students and to continue to raise awareness for Alzheimer’s Disease.

Two close friends to the Rianna family, Smithfield residents Paul Harrison and Jeramiah Adler will undertake the The North South Bike Ride for the Irene Y. Rianna (IYR) Memorial Foundation. Harrison and Adler aim to raise $10,000 in her name at the June 3rd event. The grueling 77-mile North South Ride begins at Buck Hill Management Area in Burriville to Blue Shutters Beach in Charlestown. If you would like to sponsor their ride, contact Paul Harrison directly at (401) 479-7220.

The Memorial Foundation will also be hosting a Masquerade Gala Nov. 4 at Kirkbrae Country Club.

More information about these events and how to contribute can be found on the Foundation website at www.ireneyriannamemorialfoundation.com or by contacting Kerri Rianna at (401) 258-4056.

The family’s website states helping others has been quite beneficial in grieving the loss of Irene “For the first time we feel as though we are doing something Mom would be proud of,” it reads, “Something that will help change the lives of others for the better, the same way she changed all of ours.”

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in June and are looking for people between the ages of 60 to 75 to participate who have a family history of Alzheimer’s disease but do not currently have a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer’s disease (AD) or exhibit any significant symptoms of memory loss.

Participants will be tested for the AD gene and also receive a PET scan during screening to determine eligibility. If eligible, they will receive study medication for five years at no cost to them.

“We need to treat early to prevent Alzheimer’s or catch it in its early stages,” emphasizes Dr. Stoukides. “Clinical research trials are the only way we can find a cure.”

For anyone interested in participating in one of the many clinical trials at The Rhode Island Mood & Memory Research Institute, visit their office at 1018 Waterman Avenue, in East Providence or call 401.435.8950 for a free memory screen to learn if you are eligible for the program. You can also check out their website at: www.RIMMRI.com or on Facebook. All studies are free of charge and health coverage is not required for participation.

23

Inside the Brown Bag

The Test

By Peg Brown Locker combination? Secret code?

No—my telephone number at the home of my youth.

The telephone was a heavy black metal base, with a round white circle on the front displaying your number (and not digitally). Attached to the base was a receiver, shaped like a banana with a listening piece on one end and speaking piece on the other—all attached to the wall—with a long cord if you were lucky so that you could conduct your conversations in private by walking into a closet or sitting on the cellar stairs with the door closed. (There was only one phone in the house—no extensions for privacy.) To place a call, you picked up the

receiver, waited for an operator to say “number please,” (picture the Saturday Night Live Lilly Tomlin character), and then waited to be connected—BUT, only if someone else was not already talking on the phone. Many had party lines in those days—lines shared by households. If you were lucky enough to pick up at just the right time, you could hear some interesting conversations—until the other party realized that their civil rights and privacy were being violated, and yelled at you to hang up!

At some point in my junior year of high school, rotary dials were introduced in Ogdensburg. I remember

clearly a full assembly of students and teachers in the auditorium receiving instructions from “Ma Bell” representatives on how to use the new system. I also remember Dad coming home that evening and lamenting—“if you’re not careful you could dial California!”

Pay phones that were activated by depositing a dime were the communication tools of the street and most public places including our dormitories when we went to school. At my college we had one phone on the entire floor. If it rang, we hoped someone answered it and tracked us down—we were always convinced that we had missed a possible date night because of that system.

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It was the same phone we used to call our family—collect.

The operator would ask the party on the other end if they would accept the charges. Family accepted those calls—well, almost always. The only hint we might have had at the future was comic strip hero Dick Tracey’s wrist watch radio/ phone. There was some talk about future phones having screens where you could see the caller—our biggest worry?

How could we answer the phone in our pajamas! The biggest innovation of our youth with phones? The slim-line princess phone that actually came in colors and was found in only the most affluent homes.

I have already mentioned in previous columns that electric typewriters were just appearing on the scene. Again, if your family could afford it, you might get one as a graduation present for all of the upcoming term papers. I took Dad’s old manual typewriter to college and then graduate school. I would put the case on the floor, place the typewriter on top, surround myself with books and papers and bang away—and bang away was the operative word—if you typed just a little bit fast, the keys jammed, and it took several minutes to unhook the mess—all the while trying to avoid the black ribbon that left big smudges on your latest brilliant copy.

We also mentioned televisions—small, attached to an antenna on the roof that never really quite lined up with the signal—three stations—no remote—black and white—you get the idea. I do remember some early discussions about “pay T.V.”. I am going to admit to a pure lack of imagination on my part as I spent more than a few minutes trying to figure out how they would mount a coin box on the television that would require you to input quarters much like a parking meter. I was technologically challenged even then.

And video games? Are you kidding? There was no Xbox, Play Station, Party Up or any other gaming system anywhere.

When you played games, there were on a board, with dice, cards, and pieces—no lights flashing unless during the game Operation you touched the sides while removing a body part and a red light flashed. However, lest you think our generation was completely backward, it should be noted that the first video game console was developed by a Ralph Baer in 1967. He played the first two-player video game in 1967— and lost.

And if it hadn’t been for a Douglas Engelbart who invented and patented the first computer mouse in 1964, our communication systems might be very different. When he first demoed the device, he said he had no idea why he called it a mouse. Other less noteworthy inventions of our day?— audio-cassette, silicone breast implants, AstroTurf and—hold onto your hat—Valium! Who said we weren’t creative and thinking about the future?

Author’s note: Today there are still 500,000 pay phones in use in the United States.

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IMHO

Automation on the horizon

By Ron Scopelliti I’m a complete sellout. I’ve utterly abandoned a principle I’ve held dear for many years, and I’ve done it not once, but several times over the past couple of weeks: I finally started using automated cashier stations.

It started a couple of weeks ago in Target, where I spend an inordinate amount of my waking hours. I’m probably in there at least three times a week buying milk or cereal or some such thing. I visit the place the way people used to visit Mr. Coombs’ Esmond Market when I was a kid. Target has become my corner store.

The cashiers have become so famil-

iar with my Target card, it wouldn’t surprise me if they’ve given it a nickname and become Facebook friends with it.

I imagine there being an Instagram account with group shots of my Target card pulling a duck face with the staff of the Smithfield Target, or making a peace sign while raising a Moscow Mule with them at a gastro pub.

So I recently made one of my typical Target runs at around 6:30 p.m. on a weekday, and there was only one actual cashier, tending to a line from hell. I was trying to wait patiently, but watching the shelf life of my milk diminish, and feeling my pseudo-Greek yogurt

lose its chill was trying my patience.

I’m not sure what happens when yogurt goes bad, but being that you’re starting out with bacteria, I’m pretty sure I don’t want to find out.

The paranoia over my dairy products congealing got to me, and that’s when I finally broke bad and gave in to automation, leaving the line and resorting to the store’s cluster of robo-cashiers.

Or maybe that isn’t when I first gave in to automation. Maybe it was two years ago when I bought my first vehicle with an automatic transmission. The car’s served me quite well so far, but I’m still getting used to it shifting itself, and

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all the other stuff it does without asking.

For instance every now and then the Bluetooth system will randomly play an audio clip of Richard Simmons that a friend sent me in a text message. So as much as I like the car and appreciate the way automotive reliability has improved over the years, every now and then I can’t help yearning for the simplicity of a 1981 Plymouth Horizon with a fourspeed manual and a cassette player.

It’s no coincidence that my thoughts turned from cashiers to cars, because so many big companies seem determined to build autonomous cars. And I’m sure auto-driving cars aren’t being developed for the convenience of consumers who’d rather play Candy Crush Saga than look at the road. They’re being developed so that Uber won’t have to pay actual drivers, and so that Amazon can get packages to your door without the expense of truckers.

Every time I use an automated checkout system, I feel like I’m putting a cashier out of work, and I probably

am. All this automation is clearly aimed at bypassing the expense of paying people a living wage, and channeling more money directly to CEOs and corporate vice presidents and other people whose job titles don’t reflect any particular function that they perform.

And nobody’s safe from automation – not even writers. There are already programs to read news briefs and aggregate them into news articles, and others that gather scores and statistics, then use an algorithm to write a reasonable facsimile of a sports article.

I’ve toyed with the idea of automating my column. I’m sure with a bit of work I could create an algorithm where I type in a general subject, a few somewhat-witty observations, and a couple of obscure pop-culture references, and then leave it to some collection of subroutines to tie them all together into a cohesive piece of writing.

So we’re headed towards a day when all the cabs, buses, and trucks will drive themselves (having undoubtedly been

built by robots instead of factory workers) and packages will travel from truck to mailbox via pre-programmed autonomous drones. Stores, if they even continue to exist, won’t need cashiers, and newspapers, if they continue to exist, won’t need writers.

Soon we’ll have showrooms (probably virtual) full of self-driving cars. But with so many of us unemployed due to automation, who’s going to be able to buy them?

Maybe I should look on the bright side of all this automation. The real automotive breakthrough won’t be when we eliminate the need for drivers, but when we eliminate the need for car salesmen. No more obnoxious sales pitches or fictitious conferences with the sales manager – just a kiosk asking how much it will take to put me into the passenger seat of a car that I don’t have to drive.

I wonder if the robo-dealer will set me up with an ’81 Horizon. At least it will ensure the continued employment of auto mechanics.

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27

Take a Step Back to a Simpler Time at Spring Lake Beach and Arcade

By Marilyn Busch

When it comes to summer in Rhode Island, many of us dutifully make the

hour-long trek down Route 95S to join the tourists that have gathered en mass at the crowded Newport and Narragansett beaches. I have been part of this pilgrimage out of the city for years – and lived through countless hours of bumper to bumper traffic our beach “adventures.” For years I thought this trek was our family’s only option for sun & fun in the sand. Lo and behold after moving to Greenville a few years ago, I was tipped off to the wonders of Spring Lake Beach and Arcade. And located right next door in Burrillville, of all places.

With everything you would ask for in a summer outing here to be had at reason-

able prices and within 20 minutes of my doorstep, It’s no wonder that tried and true area residents want to keep this little slice of summer to themselves.

Originally known as Herring Pond, Spring Lake Beach has been a getaway destination for Rhode Islanders for over 100 years. Originally privately owned, the Town of Burrillville purchased the land in 1989, and over the years completed renovations of the beach and its surrounding buildings. The Town’s years of restoration and renovation have made Spring Lake Beach into a hidden gem in this area. The beach is a family (and budget) friendly getaway offering a day’s worth of swimming and amenities for only $5 per person and free admis-

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On our recent family visit, there was no issue with fighting traffic or finding parking. As we unpacked our car and headed down the short walk to the rec-

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reation area, my young boys, ages 7 and 9 excitedly said that it felt like they were now “on vacation.” And truly, their description was spot on. Located just off the beaten track, the rustic wooded area that leads to the lake itself feels like a quiet respite away from the daily hustle and bustle. With 750 feet of well-maintained lakefront beach, we found ample space to lay out our blanket and stake our claim. Since my children are new swimmers, I was very pleased to see that there were 2 nearby lifeguards on duty, with a third out on the floating dock a few yards out on the lake – a very popular destination for teen and adult swimmers alike.

Open daily (weather permitting) from Memorial Day to Labor Day, Spring Lake beach and recreation area seems to appeal to beachgoers of all ages. The lake itself is quite expansive with a beautiful view, and once we stepped into the clear freshwater we immediately spotted some minnows at our feet – much to the delight of my sons. With not a weed in sight, it was easy for us to spot the lake’s tiny fish and the boys immediately busied themselves trying to catch one (an impossible but entertaining – task.) The lake itself has a gradual slope into the deeper waters that gave my beginning swimmers plenty of room to take a dip without my worrying for their safety. Scattered along the beach waterline there are children’s slides that seemed to be popular with the elementary school set. It was remarkable how idyllic a setting this was on a sunny day, as I sat watching a family of half a dozen ducklings make their way across the beach to the nearby food concessions, hoping for a stray snack to fall their way.

No sooner did the parade of ducks pass, my youngsters appeared (hungry as well) and we soon followed the siren scent of freshly made French fries up to the concession window.

Tucked into a shaded picnic table in the outdoor gazebo area, we watched as half a dozen teen and adult adventurous beachgoers paddled out to the center of the lake, taking advantage of the Beach Shoppe’s kayak and paddleboard rentals. The beach also features a modern playground nestled in the sand, complete with a child-size rock climbing wall, slides and monkey bars.

After the kids had exhausted themselves exploring the

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beach and swimming, chasing ducks (and one very elusive butterfly) I showed them the surprise that I had intentionally saved for last. Along the small boardwalk deck, past the snack bar and the boat rentals lies the heart of Spring Lake exactly where it has stood since 1931 – the Spring Lake Arcade. Home to some of the oldest penny arcade games in the country, this is a one of a kind treat for all ages and a must-see for anyone visiting this area of Rhode Island. The recent addition of new modern video and ticket redemption games make the building a literal tour of the evolution of arcade gaming. From the oldest penny arcade games – each ranging from an actual penny up to a dime – through to the carnival mainstay of Skeeball to a variety of vintage pinball machines, a black and white photo booth, the classic 80s Ms. Pac Man, and ending with the Dance Dance Revolution game in the corner there is a classic childhood memory waiting to be rediscovered.

It is no wonder that so many local families have been coming to this area generation after generation. Under the management of the Burrillville Parks & Recreation, the Spring Lake Beach and Arcade has been attentively restored to a timeless, tranquil and family-friendly summer treat that we can share with our children for generations to come.

For seasonal hours and more information about Spring Lake Beach and Arcade, visit www.burrillville.org or call (401) 5689474.

29

CROSSWORD PUZZLE 53. Middle Eastern country 54. Compass point that is one point north of due east 55. Thus 56. Covered 58. Brew 59. Enter hostilely 60. Type of bulb

CLUES ACROSS 1. Neither 4. Edema (archaic) 10. Geological time 11. Confidence 12. Cerium 14. Virtual audio cable 15. World’s longest river 16. A way to inform 18. Agents of one’s downfall 22. Secretly follow

30

23. Put into a position 24. Of the desert 26. And (Latin) 27. Spanish city 28. Over there (archaic) 30. Regard 31. Midway between south and southeast 34. Entrap 36. Married woman

37. A place to explore 39. Assist, usually in some wrongdoing 40. Arab ruler 41. Centiliter 42. To which 48. “The Friendly Island” 50. Inspire with love 51. Being cheeky to 52. Up

CLUES DOWN 1. American state 2. Speaker 3. Courses for cars 4. Deutschmark 5. Beloved “Dubliner” 6. Countries of Asia 7. Hands have them 8. Came down as ice pellets 9. Thou 12. Utter obscenities 13. Hebrew unit of measurement 17. Morse code term 19. Home to the witch trials 20. One who is older 21. Closes violently 25. Unaffiliated 29. Tag the runner 31. Trickeries 32. Polynesian island group 33. Immoralities 35. Extremely delicate 38. Gradual destruction 41. North American country 43. Provide the means to do 44. Fell down on 45. Emergency medical services 46. __ the line 47. Church booklet 49. Russian ballet 56. Hello 57. Delaware

June 2017

POETRY

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Its violaceous might would halt Our descent to the ground.

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sudoku

Dear Emba, I am new to the neighborhood and have three little ones and a puppy. Can you tell me the sites and activities that are happening over summer months that we should know about?!

Sincerely, The Preservati Family Hello!

Welcome to Smithfield! Check out our issue every month for some new and upcoming community events. We are also including Smithfield’s Recreation Center’s calendar, which has some highlights for the summer as well. Don’t forget the 4th of July fireworks display at Bryant University, which will be on Sunday, July 2! Thanks for writing in!

Emba :)

Write to: The Smithfield Times c/o Emba 543 Putnam Pike, Smithfield, RI 02828 embasmithfieldtimes@gmail.com

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The more numbers you name, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle!

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The Smithfield Times is directly mailed to every home and business in Smithfield!

It is also available at many locations in town and the surrounding communities.

31

Esmond Blankets

By Shannon McLoud

During the month of June, The Smith-Appleby House will be hosting the “History of the Esmond Mills Display”, a

personal collection of local resident Sandra Achille. Achille became interested in all things Esmond Mills for almost 18 years now after she moved into one of the original mill homes. A postcard with her home in it sparked her interest and the rest as the saying goes, was history. Achille started scouring antique shops, yard sales, online auctions, for anything Esmond Mills related. How does one take a glimpse into history? Sure, there’s a History network on cable, and there are websites, and as helpful as they are, they don’t specifically go into local history as much. To capture the local eccentricities and more day-to-day activities of those of the past, we need local people for the job. The volunteers, the ones so passionate about their corner of the world that they delve right in and get to work. The searching, researching, making connections, cataloging. This is all done by volunteers, residents curious enough to learn about their community, and excited to pass that info on to everyone. Luckily we have people like that in our corner of the world at the Smith-Appleby House. The house, built (circa 1696) by a descendent of Roger Williams’s original group who left Massachusetts to start the colony of Providence, Rhode Island, began as a one room stone-ender. Centuries later it stands as a beautiful museum, an homage to the past nestled on some of the most beautiful acres in the area.

Archille’s collection focuses on the Esmond Blanket, a popular style from 1906 to 1948. From bunny blankets to Jacquad blankets, paperweights, manuals, trademarks, Skookum Dolls, advertisements and even employee pins, (where employees would be recognized, similar to today’s badges) this exhibit has it all! Achille also has a staff photograph that the Library of Congress has dated at 1920 complete with a magnifying glass for anyone interested in searching for their ancestors. Stepping into the interactive display makes you

Sandra Archille (right) shows Julia Mendonca and Lorenzo Garcia one of the Esmond blankets. feel like you’ve stepped into time. From an entirely different time, the blankets were sold in pairs, and customers could cut and hem them. However, as Achille pointed out, not everyone did that as to not mar the prestige of owning an Esmond Blanket.

Achille feels that this display is an important one as Esmond Blankets is what “put Esmond onto the map. You can see what these mills made and how beautiful they were, keeping the history of Smithfield and Esmond.” Achille makes an important point. Certainly with the industrial revolution here in RI, we have quite a few mills left. Few still manufacture goods, most have been turned into high level apartments, or in the case of Esmond Mills, the Benny’s distribution center. As Rhode Islanders we are rarely offered a glimpse into the past to see what specifically was made in these mills, and in many cases in this display museum goers are encouraged to feel history as well.

Keeping the museum running is President Deborah Cote, and Vice President Julia Mendonca. These women, along with other volunteers like Achille, volunteer their time Dr. Steven D’Antonio Dr. Jennifer D’Antonio

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to keep not only the museum beautiful, but to keep our history alive. Achille’s collection adds an additional layer of history to the Smith Appleby House that you can only get with someone who is invested in their community. If every town had volunteers such as these women, we would never lose our history.

There was one giant takeaway I had after leaving the museum. And that was love. Love for the past, for the future of the museum, for Smithfield in general. It’s highly probable that you’ve been to the Smith-Appleby House, maybe as a student on a field trip, and if you’re looking for an excuse to go back, this could be it. Besides the exhibit, the grounds themselves are stunning this time of year. It’s worth it to bring your own blanket for a picnic lunch, and then learn about the what was once considered a premier blanket, made right here in Esmond. The Smith-Appleby House is located at 220 Stillwater Drive in Smithfield. To walk down memory lane for this exhibit, the museum is only charging $3, the proceeds of which will directly benefit the museum.

The dates for the exhibit are Saturday, June 17th from 114, Wednesday, June 21st from 5-8, and Saturday, June 24th from 11-4. This collection is uniquely Rhode Island, so don’t miss it! For more information, about this exhibit, or their upcoming summer exhibits, please visit their website at www. smithapplebyhouse.org.

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33

Al Bruno’s Smithfield Remembered – The Textile Mill on Austin Avenue

By Laurence J. Sasso, Jr.

This is the fifth article in an occasional series about Smithfield locations that have either been forgotten by time or are no longer remembered for what they once represented. The locations are selected from a list compiled by former Smithfield Building Official Al Bruno. Bruno was originally featured in the January edition of The Smithfield Times, and the first installment of this series ran in February.

Know by various names through the years, the textile mill at 20 Austin Avenue was long an important part of the fabric of community life in the Greenville section of town. Originally the location was the site of a woolen mill built by Pooke and Steere in 1845-46. Later in 1891 it became the Whipple Woolen Mill and later still in 1909, under the auspices of Austin T. Levy, it became The Stillwater Worsted Mill.

Levy, an innovative modern industrialist and a pioneer of enlightened treatment of employees, instituted reforms that were heralded in the press of his day, earning him a measure of

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fame as a manufacturer. It is the Levy name that was associated with the property for much of the 20th century, even after it was no longer a site for textile production.

For a while it was known as Sparling’s Mill, and housed a company that made sandbags. After that the facility housed a variety of small manufacturing businesses. Al Bruno recalls

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“They were in and out of there like jack rabbits,” he says, adding, “It was impossible to keep track of them and properly tax and regulate them before the ordinance.”

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(Old photo courtesy of the Historical Society of Smithfield.

Current photo by Albert Tavakalov/The Smithfield Times.

References include Historic and Architectural Resources of Smithfield, Rhode Island compiled and published by the Rhode Island Historical Preservation Commission in 1992, and Smithfield by Ken Brown Sr., Jim Ignasher, and Bill Pilkington, published in the Images of America series by Arcadia Press in 2008)

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Smithfield’s Luke Thompson Selected for Prestigious Fulbright Scholarship

By Harry Anderson

What does 22-year

old in political science and Chinese.

Smithfield resident Luke Cashman was frank, telling him, Thompson have in common “The odds aren’t very high.” Not with Aaron Copland (the “dean deterred, however, he began the of American music” and reciplengthy application process preient of the Congressional Gold scribed by the Federal Bureau of Medal and Pulitzer Prize), Ruth Educational and Cultural Affairs.

Simmons (former president of With guidance from three faculty Brown University), and Joseph members, he coped with the most Stiglitz (Nobel Prize econochallenging part of the process: the writing of two essays. mist)? He, like all three, stands He met the October deadline, in the rank of the world’s more hoping that he would convince eminent men and women: Fulthose in Washington who sit in bright scholars, of whom 54 are judgment of the prestigious proNobelists, and 82 have earned gram that he fits the profile of a the Pulitzer Prize.

Fulbrighter that is given on their When Luke learned of the Luke Thompson of Smithfield. website: “All Fulbrighters share a Fulbright program, he muttered strong academic background, leadto himself, “Umm…sounds interesting” and sought out the advice of Anthony Cashman, ership potential, a passion for increasing mutual understandthe director of the Fellowship Office at College of the Holy ing among nations and cultures, and the adaptability and flexCross from where Luke is about to graduate, having majored ibility to pursue their Fulbright project successfully.”

36

June 2017

In 1946, soon after the end of WWII, J. William Fulbright, the senator from Arkansas, introduced to Congress a bill to establish a program that would increase mutual understanding between the people of America and people of other countries.

His bill passed and was signed into law on Aug. 1, 1946, by President Truman. At its signing, the senator said the program’s aim was “to bring a little more knowledge, a little more reason, and a little more compassion into world affairs and thereby increase the chance that nations will learn at last to live in peace and friendship.”

At the outset, Luke knew his intention. For three summers while a student at Smithfield High School he visited China under the aegis of Bryant University’s Confucius Institute and then returned to China in his junior year at Holy Cross for a semester’s study. Now he wanted to investigate the culture of Taiwan and to try to unravel the complex political status of this island’s identity. The final act in his unfolding Fulbright drama was to get permission from the Taiwanese government to settle there for one year.

Although quite knowledgeable of how and why his situation would be precarious if he were to receive the grant and stay a year on this populous island (about 25 million Chinese), Luke submitted his application. He reasoned that Taiwan is the ideal place to merge his two interests: political dynamics and China, the ever-present possibility of war notwithstanding. Since 1949, when Chiang Kai-Shek lost the Civil War and fled to what was then called Formosa and set up a government, creating two separate states (mainland China’s Communist-ruled People’s Republic of China or PRC and his Democratic Republic of China or ROC), both sides adamantly hold to their perspectives: reunify or legally acknowledge the autonomy of ROC. In March, not many minutes after receiving word from Washington, Luke shouted into the phone to his mother, “I got it! I got it!”

He admits that he is nervous, yet excited. “I hope this Fulbright helps me to accomplish my three goals in life. One is to go to grad school to study international relations. I’ve been accepted by George Washington University, BU, and John Hopkins. Another is to be happy, and the third is to do something good for the world. You know, all people everywhere are people. I want everyone in every country to understand this.”

Following in the footsteps of Copland, Ruth Simmons, and Joseph Stiglitz, come August Luke Thompson will wear the mantle of a Fulbright scholar. He will fly off to the Kinman archipelago – a chain of small islands that dot the Taiwan Strait and stretch to about a mile off the coast of China’s mainland.

There he will teach English and illuminate for his pupils the essence of the United States of America.

If all goes well, Luke will “bring a little more knowledge, a little more reason, and a little more compassion into world affairs” – Senator Fulbright’s aim – so that “nations will learn at last to live in peace and friendship.”

The Smithfield Times, Inc.

37

Stargazing

Summer is for Saturn

By David Huestis, Historian, Skyscrapers, Inc. Just about everyone’s favorite planet has been in the news lately.

I’m talking about that beautiful ringed world Saturn. The Cassini spacecraft, launched in 1997, has been orbiting Saturn since 2004, making a multitude of passes of the planet and some of his moons.

Thousands of detailed images have been taken, as well as a wide variety of scientific measurements.

However, the end is near for Cassini. On September 15 the craft will descend into Saturn’s cloud tops and disintegrate. This dramatic end to a very successful exploration of the Saturnian system was developed many years ago by NASA JPL mission planners.

But wait. There’s more!

Beginning on April 26 the spacecraft made the first of a total of 22 passes through the 1500-mile gap between Saturn and his innermost known ring. It performed this maneuver at around 77,000 mph. Check out the video on this web site: https://www. theverge.com/2017/5/4/15550338/nasa-cassini-spacecraft-saturn-rings-grand-finale-video-photos. The spacecraft was oriented so its 13 foot in diameter antenna was pointed in the direction of motion, acting as a “deflector,” in anticipation of running into any

dust particles along the trajectory. At Cassini’s speed colliding with even a small speck could compromise the integrity of the spacecraft.

As luck would have it, not much dust was detected, prompting Project Manager Earl Maize of NASA’s JPL to say, “The region between the rings and Saturn is ‘the big empty,’ apparently.”

Your exploration of Saturn can begin immediately. However, on June 15 this exquisite world will be at its closest distance to the Earth for 2017—still a distant 840,320,000 miles. When the Sun sets Saturn will be rising. This phenomenon is called an opposition, since the planet will be opposite the Sun in our sky. This event will herald a summer of Saturn observing.

Saturn can be found in the constellation of Ophiuchus, a rather obscure sky pattern between Scorpius and Sagittarius. Though Ophiuchus is actually a zodiacal constellation (which means the sun passes through it), it is not one of the twelve official zodiacal constellations. That’s a story for another column. Bright Saturn is to the left of the scorpion and to the right of the archer, sitting amongst the pale haze of stars that is our Milky Way Galaxy. This milky haze rises like steam from the “teapot” asterism of Sagittarius.

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June 2017

To observe as much detail as possible you should wait until Saturn, or any astronomical object, rises well enough above the horizon to minimize atmospheric turbulence. Depending upon your observing location you may also have to wait until later in the evening for Saturn to clear your local tree-line or neighbor’s house.

If you don’t consider the latter, the police may pay you a visit.

When you first acquire Saturn with a telescope its rings will initially take your breath away. They are really an impressive sight to behold. The ring system is tilted 26-plus degrees toward the Earth providing us with a view of the north face of the ring plane. With the rings so “wide open,” this configuration allows much detail to be seen. You’ll understand what I mean as soon as you gaze at this splendid sight. The rings will continue to open until October when they will be at their maximum “openness” or tilt of about 27 degrees.

It is really amazing that Saturn’s rings are even visible at all, considering the planet’s great distance from the Earth and the fact that the main rings are only about 32 feet thick, with other portions of the ring system up to about two-thirds of a mile thick. The rings are composed of irregularly shaped dirty snowballs, ranging in size from grains of dust to the size of pebbles. There are also some “boulders” as large as several feet across. They all orbit Saturn along the planet’s equatorial plane. Look for gaps within the ring system.

Though Saturn is a gas giant a little smaller than Jupiter, it does not exhibit the prominent bands and zones in its cloud tops as its larger cousin does. Not much detail can be observed at all on Saturn’s disk. In fact, if it weren’t for Saturn’s ring system, this planet would be quite a boring destination for most amateur astronomers and the public alike.

A keen-eyed observer can look for the shadow of the rings upon Saturn’s cloud tops. The configuration of the rings provides a stunning 3-D effect of the Saturnian system. One can also detect up to eight of its brightest moons in a dark moonless sky with the telescopes available locally. So now through about mid-November treat yourself and your family and friends to wonderful views of Saturn.

And while you do so, imagine you’re a stowaway aboard Cassini as it traverses that 1500-mile gap between Saturn and his rings. Your view from here on Earth won’t be as spectacular, but Saturn will still knock your socks off. You won’t be disappointed.

And finally, the Summer Solstice arrives at 12: 24 a.m. EDT (Eastern Daylight Time) on June 21.

Spend some quality time this summer exploring the many astronomical pleasures provided by the local observatories throughout Rhode Island. Marvel at Saturn’s rings and moons from any of the following facilities. Seagrave Memorial Observatory (http:// www.theskyscrapers.org) in North Scituate is open every clear Saturday night. Ladd Observatory (http://www.brown.edu/Departments/Physics/Ladd/) in Providence is open every clear Tuesday night. The Margaret M. Jacoby Observatory at the CCRI Knight Campus in Warwick (http://www.ccri.edu/physics/observatory. htm) is open every clear Wednesday night. Frosty Drew Observatory (http://www.frostydrew.org/) in Charlestown is open every clear Friday night. Check the respective websites for open times.

Great American Total Solar Eclipse on August 21, 2017. Countdown: 82 days as of June 1, 2017.

Keep your eyes to the skies.

The Smithfield Times, Inc.

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TECHNOLOGY REVIEW - Knots 3D by Nynix

By Ron Scopelliti

Spring never fails to bring out the Boy Scout in me. As

soon as the equinox hits, I start having thoughts of camping, kayaking, and maybe even getting back into rock climbing.

So when a friend alerted me to the existence of Knots 3D

by Nynix, the timing was perfect.

Knots 3D is an app for Android and iOS devices that shows you how to tie 120 knots, including knots for camping, boating, and climbing. It offers animated demonstrations of how to tie each knot, which can be sped up, slowed down, and paused. You can also rotate the knot to see it at different angles.

In addition, the app gives you descriptions of the knots noting their common uses, their advantages or disadvantages over similar knots, and other background information.

Though there aren’t a lot of apps I’m willing to pay for if I can find a free alternative, at $1.99, this one seemed worth trying out. An additional $6 investment at Job Lot resulted in two 20-foot lengths of rope used to put the app to the test.

Pretty soon I was accessing the climbing category and re-acquainting myself with the Blake’s hitch, which I used years ago climbing in the Quincy Quarries. Flipping to the camping section, I found a nice alternative to the taut-line hitch for securing tent lines. In the boating section I found a handy and easy-to-release knot for tying-off at a dock.

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knot I’ve tried so far falls under the latter category – a diagonal lashing knot used to secure two poles together at right angles.

Using the app on a 7-inch Samsung Galaxy tablet, I found the animations to be clear and easy to follow, and the interface to be very intuitive. Being able to pause and examine the knot at different stages gives the app a distinct advantage over the reference books that I learned most of my knots from. One issue I had with the controls is that there is no rewind button.

I discovered, however, that you can actually rewind by swiping your finger across the animation itself, moving the progress of the knot forward or backward at will.

One of the best features of the app is that you don’t need internet access to use it, which makes it a great thing to have on your phone when you’re out in the wilderness. Whether you need to find a convenient knot to tie down cargo or a way to lash together a makeshift tripod at your campsite, it’s at your fingertips.

One caution – if you decide to download the app, make sure it’s the version by Nynix, as there are other less highly-rated apps with similar titles by other developers.

Knots 3D is $1.99 at Apple’s App Store, Google Play, or the Amazon Appstore. There’s also a free-to-use web version of the program that requires internet access and lacks some of the features of the mobile app. It can be found at: http:// knots3d.com/knots/en_us/ALL

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COMMUNITY EVENTS Smithfield Recreational Activities Town Summer Programs Summer Recreation Program – Camper ages: Grades Entering K through 6th. Camp is held Monday thru Friday starting June 26 – August 5th at Old County Road School starting each day from 9:00am to 3:00pm. Programming includes: Team Building, Sports, Water Activities, Arts & Crafts, Gymnasium Games, Field Trips, Special Events, Tie Dye, Playground and Painting. A registration fee of $75 per week is charged for this program. Field trips and special events are additional. Please contact the Smithfield YMCA to register 401-949-2480.

Tennis Lessons – All Ages. Tennis lessons are taught for boys, girls and adults and all sessions are held Monday thru Friday starting at the end of June for 7 weeks. All ages and levels of ability are welcome to participate. A registration fee is charged for this program.

Adult Men’s and Women’s Tennis League – Ages 18 and Older. For Men and Women who are residents of the Town of Smithfield. Players are grouped according to ability. League play will begin the first week of June and will end with a tournament on the last weekend of July.

A registration fee is charged for this program.

Men’s Recreational Softball League – Ages 35 and Older.

Adult men’s softball is open to individuals from age 35 and up. League play is Sunday mornings from end of May to early Sept. Six teams of 18 individuals play two games each Sunday. Individuals are at own risk for injury. A registration fee is charged for this program.

— Greenville Public Library The Mystery Book Club will meet on Tuesday, June 6th at 1:30 pm. The Cesareo’s Circle Book Club meet on Thursday, June 8th at 6:30 pm. The Picnic Table Reads Book Club will meet on Thursday, June 15th at 1:00 pm.

The Dish & Dine Book Club will be meeting on Monday, June 12th at 2:00 pm. This group meets at the Smithfield Senior Center. Monday Matinee for Grownups, Monday,

The Smithfield Times, Inc.

June 5th at 1:00 pm Mermaid Masterpieces Painting Party for Adults, Saturday, June 17th at 1:00 pm — The Greenville Manor Residential Association will hold their annual yard sale on Saturday, June 3rd from 9am to 3pm at 7 Church Street in Smithfield. Elaine Shirley 949 2986 — The Mt. Pleasant High School, Class of June, 1957, will hold their 60th REUNION on September 14th from 12:30 to 4:30 pm at Twelve Acres Restaurant, 445 Douglas Pike, Smithfield, R.I. Please respond to this event by September 1. Contacts: Joan (Cinquegrano) Hoard 401.949.2413, Shirley (Pisilini) Fairbank 401.274.6536, Lenora (Mancini) Alexander 401.231.4920 — The Gentian Garden Cub is having a Pot Luck Supper on Tuesday, June 20th 6PM at a members beautiful garden!

Please contact our new 1st Vice President, Nancy Laurie if you are interested in attending this meeting. Her contact information is email: Gentryway@cox.net and her phone # is 401-647-5966.

— Preschool Story Time at Powder Mill Ledges, Audubon Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge June 14, 2017; 10:00 – 11:00 am and 1:00 – 2:00 pm: I Wish I Were a Butterfly by James Howe Powder Mill Ledges Wildlife Refuge, 12 Sanderson Road, Smithfield, RI; Program Fee: $5/member child; $7/nonmember child. Ages: 3-5. Register online through the events calendar at www.asri.org.

Blackstone River Twilight Cruise Aboard the Explorer, June 15, 2017; 7:30 – 8:30 pm Departs from Central Falls Landing, 20 Madeira Ave, Central Falls, RI; Program Fee: $15/adult; $12/child. Ages: 7+. Register online through the events calendar at www. asri.org.

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OPINION: In Appreciation of Father TJ Varghese, 2017 Citizen of the Year Honoree Firefighters, police and first responders filled the pews of St. Eugene’s Church in Chepachet on Sunday morning, September 11, 2016, to mark the 15th anniversary of 911. Father TJ Varghese, had invited everyone to attend mass regardless of faith and his words were a comfort to all. “Fifteen years ago, in the shadow of the dark smoke that framed the Pentagon, the World Trade Center and in the field in Pennsylvania where our heroes had perished, I realized the difference between those who attacked us and you and me, is that we are here today in peace and love.”

interrupted by a need for his presence at an accident or fire as he also acts as Chaplain for RI State Police Chaplain, area fire districts and the Glocester Police Department. He also serves as Chaplain at the VA Hospital counseling patients and celebrating mass. He also regularly visits the elderly residents of the Greenville Health Care Facility and Overlook Nursing Home to offer prayers and give mass. He says treating the veterans and the police are the most time consuming and emotionally draining duties he has undertaken.

Four years earlier, Father Varghese gathered the community together for a similar service to pray for the families affected by the unthinkable events at Sandy Hook Elementary school in nearby Connecticut.

I know I speak for many when I say that Father Varghese is a man of sterling character, excellent ability and of the highest integrity. In his 21 years in the priesthood he has earned an impeccable reputation, and was honored with the Bishop Louis E. Gelineau Award in 2011.

Father Varghese is well known as the the Pastor of the fast growing and very active St. Eugene’s Parish. He also generously gives his time and expertise freely to numerous civic causes. Most of the times Father Varghese volunteers privately, looking to the words of Matthew, Chapter 6:2-3 for guidance “When you give alms do not blow a horn, like the hypocrites, looking for applause.”

His presence is felt at local Special Olympics and Muscular Dystrophy events, at clothing drives, blood drives, as part of the Burrillville Prevention Action Coalition and offers grief counseling when a community loses one of their own.

Some nights a deep, well-earned sleep is

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In addition to his volunteer work, Father is also a Dean of the Diocese of Providence and was recently appointed administrator for two local parishes. The increase in his duties as of late is due to his fellow clergy entering retirement and an overall shortage of priests. He serves on the Advisory Board for Ongoing Formation of Priests, Catholic Charity Fund Appeal and Diocesan insurance policies.

While this might seem like an overwhelming amount of responsibility for one person, Father Varghese believes in working industriously. In keeping his eyes and efforts constantly focused towards his goal, he has won the respect and confidence of

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May the happiest days of your past be the saddest days of your future!

Congratulations, Father Varghese.

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June 2017

Payne’s Picks

By Sarah Payne MOVIES COMING OUT

It Comes at Night – June 9th - Lately I love nothing more than a movie that can give me a good scare, which is why I’m pretty excited for this month’s psychological thriller It Comes at Night, starring Joel Edgerton. A family hides away in their remote cabin in the woods as the outside world falls apart, when another family seeks refuge at their cabin. Owen Gleiberman from Variety reviewed the film last month, writing that it, “succeeds in conjuring a tense survivalist atmosphere redolent of the walking dead and the desperate living. The film uses the pitch black of night, lit by flash lights (no cheating!), and does so with a nightmare finesse that’s reminiscent, at times, of The Blair Witch Project.”

REDBOX REVIEWS

The Founder - Warning: do not watch this movie if you’re on a diet.

The Founder is based on the true story of how McDonald’s became one of the biggest fast food chains in the world. I’m not even a fast food junkie (I indulge maybe twice a year), and all I could think about was French fries dipped in ketchup for the full hour and fifty-five minutes. So just make sure you have a plan for how you will satisfy your cravings once the movie ends. And that’s the beauty of living in 2017 – you can get a burger and fries within five minutes at almost any time of day. The Founder reminds us that wasn’t always the case. Before McDonald’s, people would to go to carhops where girls on roller skates would serve them meals on plates with utensils. Michael Keaton plays the slightly sleazy salesman Ray Kroc, who stumbles upon a super successful drive-in in San Bernardino, owned by brothers Maurice “Mac” McDonald and Richard “Dick” McDonald. The brothers meticulously designed the most efficient kitchen possible to cook burgers in just 30 seconds. They even got rid of dishes by wrapping burgers in paper – a totally new idea at that time. Kroc convinces the brothers to let him franchise the business, which he grows quickly, adjusting the design and business model to be more efficient and less like the original McDonald’s along the way. The Founder is a fascinating lesson in the cutthroat world of business and how the McDonald’s empire came to be.

Hunt for the Wilder People - If you like quirky independent films that tug at your heartstrings, then Hunt for the Wilder People is right up your alley. Set in the gorgeous New Zealand, it follows the story of Ricky Baker, a troublemaking kid from the city who is taken by child welfare services to live on a remote farm with his new foster parents, Bella and Hec. The first part of the movie is so sweet, because you witness the bond that forms between Bella and Ricky as she welcomes him into their home. But when Hec and Ricky are The Smithfield Times, Inc.

suddenly left on their own, they are forced to run from the law on a wild adventure in the New Zealand bush. Sam Neill and Julian Dennison (Hec and Ricky) have great chemistry, and it’s fun watching their relationship evolve as the film progresses.

SONG OF THE MONTH

“Malibu” by Miley Cyrus - Those of you who’ve been following my column for a while know that I have a love/hate relationship with Miley Cyrus. She’s had some jaw-dropping moments over the past few years (what Disney kid hasn’t?), but underneath all the noise, she’s a super talented singer with a positive message. That’s why I’m jazzed about her new breezy love song, “Malibu.” It’s the perfect song to kick off the summer season, and the first new song Miley Cyrus has released in two years. In last month’s Billboard cover story, Miley said she wrote the song about her on-again fiancé Liam Hemsworth while in a cab on her way to The Voice. It’s a taste of what’s to come on her new album, which is her most “DIY to date” – she wrote all the lyrics herself.

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Jeroen and Keriann Koeman of Wicked Tulips Flower Farm in Johnston.

Photo by Albert Tavakalov/The Smithfield Times The Rhode Island Press Association presented three writers from The Smithfield Times with awards in its editorial contest for 2016. During the organization’s annual banquet, held April 28 at the Quonset “O” Club, the Press Association honored Lawrence J. Sasso, Jr for his outstanding news & features columnist work at The Smithfield Times and writers Jane Fusco and Peg Brown received honorable mention for their coauthored sports story for The Smithfield Times. Photo courtesy of RIPA.

Skylar Blackinton and Dan Fogarty attend the Kentucky Derby.

44

Announcing the opening of the newest Piezoni’s Restaurant located at 259 Putnam Pike, Smithfield. Pictured here are Nate Algiere/ Andrea Canning/ Nick Brown.

Photo by Albert Tavakalov/The Smithfield Times

Congratulations to Dennis G. Finlay, Smithfield Town Manager, on his Retirement after over 29 years of services to the Town of Smithfield!

Congratulations to Robert O’Brien on his Retirement! His services include 42 years in the RI School System, 24 of which were served in the Smithfield School Department!

June 2017

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR May 12, 2017 Dear Editor, About a year ago I wrote to the Fire Chief of Smithfield and asked that the names of the villages of town be put on the fire stations (Georgiaville, Greenville and Spragueville) for the Log Road station.

It appears to me that THIS generation has little respect for history and the way things used to be. As an 86-year-old senior citizen who grew up as a little boy in this town, I feel rather offended that people who did not grow up here and have no idea of how this town was years ago, have little respect for the past. The names of the villages on the stations will help restore the history of the communities and would please many senior citizens like myself. Perhaps this generation could care less about the past… but so many of us do.

Smithfield student Alexander Brown Receives State’s Young Leader Award Smithfield High School junior Alexander Brown was recently honored with the Rhode Island General Treasurer’s Young Leader Award. The award was presented to Brown by General Treasurer Seth Magaziner at a ceremony held Monday, May 15, at the Rhode Island State House.

Photo courtesy of Daniel Cabral, Office of the RI General Treasurer

I note in this week’s OBSERVER, the police department is including three blacksmith hammers in the new police arm shield. They say that the hammers represent the three villages of Esmond, Georgiaville, and Greenville. I say they are right and if it is that important to have it part of our arm patch, it is important enough to re-identify the villages as it was years ago.. and place it on the stations as it was years ago.

Some residents have lived in this town 30, 40, 50 years, and have no idea what the village name was other than Smithfield! I think that is terrible. In fact, some residents have never heard of Spragueville, Georgiaville or Esmond.

Let’s make our community stand out from the rest and do the right thing. So far it has been a “one man war”. We need this and I would like to see the names restored before I go to another world.

I thank you in advance for any assistance you can give me in this very critical and important matter. So long and GOD BLESS!!!

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Respectfully submitted, Albert F. Bruno Dear Editor, I’ve enjoyed Al Bruno’s reminiscences, and I particularly enjoyed his recollection of the Nathaniel Latham Funeral Home, aka St. Philip Rectory, as it was my childhood home. The article stated that the building was built in 1950; actually, it was built in 1939. Those were hard times, and it was a pretty big project in a little village, as you can see from the attached photos. My grandfather, dumbstruck at the cost estimates, became his own general contractor, buying lumber by the boxcar and hiring local craftsmen. According to my grandfather, one of those craftsman, a pipefitter, was quite memorable. “He had a foot on him about yay big” my grandfather would exclaim, spreading his hands apart as if telling a “fish story.” He walked the perimeter of every room toe-to-heel and left without saying a word. When he returned several days later he delivered all the pipes cut to precise lengths and all fit together perfectly. Evidently, the gentleman could neither read nor write, but he had a fantastic memory.

Thanks, Joe St. Pierre Author’s note: The date cited for the construction of the Nathaniel Latham Funeral Home (later the St. Philip Church rectory) in the April issue of the magazine was based on town tax records. I am grateful to Mr. St. Pierre for correcting the information and providing the proper date.

Laurence J. Sasso, Jr.

The Smithfield Times, Inc.

45

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NICHOLSON & COMPANY

543 Putnam Pike Smithfield, RI 02828 401.232.9600 • www.smithfieldtimesri.com John J. Tassoni, Jr., Publisher john@smithfieldtimesri.com Ann Marie Donahue, Executive Editor editor@smithfieldtimesri.com Kerryn Azevedo, Creative Director kerryn@cox.net — ADVERTISING AND SALES Camilla Spliid - cspliid@smithfieldtimesri.com Rick Laurito - ricksmithfieldtimes@gmail.com — WRITERS Harry Anderson Kendra Gravelle Peg Brown Paul Lonardo Marilyn Busch Shannon McLoud Brittni Henderson Sarah Payne David Huestis Laurence J. Sasso, Jr. Jane Fusco Ron Scopelliti Patricia Shaffer — Albert Tavakalov, Photographer — The Smithfield Times, Inc. does not assume any financial responsibility for typographical errors in advertisements, but will reprint that portion of an advertisement in which the typographical error occurs.

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June 2017

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