UP|Rhode Island

T.F. Green Airport Developments

RLucas83 — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 15:25:04 +0000

09/21/38, on 02 March 2010 - 02:56 PM, said:

I see your point but it still is officially called the TF Green Intermodal Project not the TF Green Rental Car Facility.

Don't forget busses too!

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Naval Station Newport

Dan — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 20:52:30 +0000

More than $150 million in construction at Newport Navy base

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Central Falls Public Schools

runawayjim — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 20:42:46 +0000

Dan, on 02 March 2010 - 04:03 PM, said:

Teacher unions challenged in unprecedented face-off

Jim, how much do you think public school teachers should be paid? Tenured public school teachers already make over twice as much as the average salary of private sector workers, not to mention free health care and lavish pensions. And that's not to mention the 6 hour workdays, 2 weeks off for winter break, spring break, Christmas/New Years break, and the whole summer off.

Other than that, I agree with everything you said. You seem to be way out of touch with your party, though!

I don't believe in party politics. I believe in the individual. We're stuck with the 2 party system and the party I most closely align with is the democrats.

I think $70-80k on average in the tougher school districts is fair (Central Falls is included here), while teachers in easier districts (generally those with more money, such as Barrington or East Greenwich) may not get paid quite as much (probably $60-70k on average). They do a whole lot more work than you think. I think the teachers' union was stupid in not taking the deal. They asked for way too much money. I also think that teachers need raises based on performance rather than what the union likes to call "experience". Number of years teaching only gets you so far. Teachers should absolutely NOT all be getting the same salary depending on years served. They should be getting a salary that they deserve and get fired if they aren't doing their jobs. They should NOT be protected by tenure unless they aren't meeting certain guidelines (which I don't have the expertise to list, but test scores and failure rate should be included). While I think everyone should have health insurance covered by the government if they can't afford to get it covered by themselves, I don't think teachers, or anyone in the public sector, should have it completely paid for. They should all be paying a portion of it (15% paid by the individual and 85% by the employer is generally fair).

This case is tough because many of the students are only going to school so that their families can still get welfare. The teachers can only do so much. But with a 50% failure rate you can't place all the blame on the students, even if many of them are not there to learn.

What you're calling a 6 hour workday is actually much longer. They generally go in around 7:30 and leave around 3:30. That's 8 hours. But you're not considering the amount of work they do outside of that grading assignments, writing lesson plans, etc. Many teachers also coach or help coach teams or lead student clubs. Sometimes they're paid for it, sometimes they're not. When they're paid for it, it's usually not a whole lot of money. Most people don't understand just how much teachers do and don't think they're nearly as important as they are. My life was shaped by my teachers when I was growing up. I went to private schools for a couple of reasons. When I was in public school, the students in my class were so bad, I was coming home with all the work I was supposed to be doing in school - this was 1st grade with a ton of homework. My parents put me in private school. I went to a private high school because the public one in my town was doing all sorts of weird things, like dropping class divisions, rank, etc. The honors students were taking classes with the lowest performing students, holding them back and forcing the low performers to learn at too fast a pace. Teachers at private schools (especially catholic schools) generally get paid quite a bit less than those at public schools. The ones who make a career out of it, rather than a stepping stone to public school, are extremely dedicated teachers, usually getting paid less than they are worth. They also tend to be held to higher standards.

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Central Falls Public Schools

Dan — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 20:03:43 +0000

T.F. Green Airport Developments

09/21/38 — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 19:56:42 +0000

RLucas83, on 19 February 2010 - 11:57 AM, said:

Don't forget that the consolidated rental car facility makes up the bulk of this project between the Customer Service Building, parking garage and elevated refueling platforms (first of its kind), the facility will be getting used by hundreds, if not thousands of people each day before the first train stops there.

I see your point but it still is officially called the TF Green Intermodal Project not the TF Green Rental Car Facility.

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T.F. Green Airport Developments

mental757 — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 21:08:28 +0000

From the airport's website:

"Air Service Increases
22 February 2010

There are signs of encouragement at Green Airport (PVD) as airlines are slowly increasing seat capacity or adding frequency in a number of markets.

Green, like most airports, has experienced a steady decline in both available seats and passenger activity, which began in earnest in 2008 due to rapidly rising fuel costs for the carriers. It continued as the economy further declined the past two years. However, recent additions and upgraded aircraft have signaled a positive change, which will hopefully continue as the economy rebounds.

Delta Airlines, which reinstituted large jet service to Atlanta for a short period in November, restarted that mainline MD-88 service on February 11. The other two departures are on 76-seat, two-class cabin, CRJ-900 aircraft. All three flights are on larger aircraft than those used the same period last year.

The one 76-seat, two-class cabin, CRJ-900 Minneapolis flight on Northwest (now Delta) is being operated year-round, which is a change from last year’s schedule, when it was not offered January through March.

Southwest Airlines will increase its daily departures to Baltimore/Washington from nine to ten and to Tampa from two to three on March 14.

United Airlines (UA) will be adding a total of 122 weekday seats (in each direction) on April 6. The present daily departures to Chicago O’Hare on one mainline aircraft and two CRJ’s will be upgraded to two mainline jets (one A320 and one A319) and one CRJ-700. On that same day a fifth frequency will be added to Washington Dulles. It has been nearly three years since UA last offered five flights to Dulles. This will mark a 24% increase in total seats over the March 2010 schedule.
US Airways returned B-757-200 passenger service (193 seats) from PVD to Charlotte on February 11 for the winter peak. The airline has been, and will continue to be, increasing seat capacity by more than 7.6% when comparing May 2009 to May 2010. Year-end total seats for 2009 were 1,977 and are projected to increase to 2,107, mostly on service to Charlotte and Philadelphia.

Cape Air will be returning to PVD on June 4, offering the popular seasonal service to Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket.

Kevin Dillon, Rhode Island Airport Corporation President and CEO, said, "The recent positive changes to our schedule illustrate the strength of our market, which our airline partners recognize. We remain cautiously optimistic the increases signal a slow, steady recovery to air service at Green. We will continue to meet with all our carriers to ensure they are well informed on the status of airport projects, business and tourism development in the state and anything tangential to support our argument for more flights at PVD. This is all, however, contingent on an improved economy to support the service."

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IN-PROGRESS: "Iway" 195 Relocation/Wash. Bridge

Frankie811 — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 16:30:30 +0000

The City Plan Commission voted on Tuesday evening to recommend excluding residential development -- such as a hotel or condominium complex -- on the former Shooter's Waterfront Cafe property.

http://newsblog.projo.com/2010/02/new-providence-plan-commission-4.html

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North Main St.

frymasterspeck — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 15:22:53 +0000

HopeTunnel, on 30 November 2009 - 12:54 PM, said:

The Anderson-Little and Hospital Trust buildings (between Sears and the bowling alley) are being demolished.

I think the Sears may go next. They put a big hole in the wall and a set of dumpsters where A-L used to be. Their either stripping it of copper (can't believe there's any left in there) or prepping for rehab. Either way, something is going on.

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>> Providence South Neighborhoods

FjmArch — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 05:49:29 +0000

Tonights episode of Diners, Drive Ins and Dives with Guy Fieri, highlighted the Johnny Cakes and Chowder at the Liberty Elm. Congrats to the Liberty Elm, if you have not been you need to go today.

Frankie811, on 05 February 2010 - 12:30 PM, said:

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IN PROGRESS: The Box Office

Cotuit — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 02:06:36 +0000

Rendering:

I don't know what the date is for completion, but it is coming up quickly. I may be taking a tour next week, so it is done enough to bring people in.

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T.F. Green Airport Developments

RLucas83 — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 17:57:05 +0000

09/21/38, on 19 February 2010 - 09:37 AM, said:

I hope someone told the MBTA that. It would be silly to have the ribbon cutting ceremony on 9/23 and the first train arriving in November.

T.F. Green Airport Developments

09/21/38 — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 14:37:18 +0000

I hope someone told the MBTA that. It would be silly to have the ribbon cutting ceremony on 9/23 and the first train arriving in November.

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Provi-wood

Frankie811 — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 19:18:02 +0000

ABC Studios TV pilot to begin shooting in R.I. in March

A TV pilot is to begin production in Rhode Island in March. "Body of Evidence" is about a medical examiner named Megan Hunt who uses her expertise to help solve crimes. The actors and actresses for the show have not been announced.

http://newsblog.projo.com/2010/02/abc-studios-tv-pilot-to-begin.html

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Central Falls Public Schools

vinylsideitall — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 19:09:31 +0000

The newpaper reported that the average salary for a CF teacher is $72-75,000. Ammortized over a year that is close to $100,000. Not to mention benefits that are far superior to those in the private sector.

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What are they building there?

Griswald — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 15:36:26 +0000

I too am surprised that there's already a building where that Italian social club was.

This may not be of much significance, but I was driving down Bridgham from Broad St towards Cranston St last night, and noticed large piles of dirt from a recent excavation. It was across the street from Wiggins Village. Maybe I should post this in West End happenings, but does anyone know what's going on here?

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What are they building there?

morlium — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 06:37:40 +0000

Cotuit, on 13 February 2010 - 10:38 PM, said:

I have no idea what it is, but it looked like it would be open by last spring/summer. Admittedly, the pace has picked up of late. It was an Italian Social Club which was torn down. I'm shocked, SHOCKED I tells ya, that it is not now a parking lot and that a building is actually be erected there.

yeah, me too. hopefully we'll know something soon enough.
(and i'm not quite sure why i wrote Slocum. I mean Spruce, of course.)

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Providence Politics

runawayjim — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 03:15:18 +0000

Dan, on 17 February 2010 - 10:23 PM, said:

John J. Lombardi, City Council - Ward 13 (Federal Hill), to run for Mayor of Providence.

Projo article

Anyone (from Federal Hill especially) have any thoughts? Is Cicilline making a mistake bailing to run for Patrick Kennedy's seat?

Frankly, I'm happy Cicilline is no longer running for mayor. We need a new one. The city has gone nowhere during the course of his last term, and I voted for him. Lombardi seems like the real deal, even though he's kind of a career politician, Italian, and from Federal Hill. I think he could do a good job.

I don't know who I'll be voting for when it comes to Pat Kennedy's seat, but I'm not sure it'd be Cicilline. I just haven't been happy with him, but maybe he's better suited for federal office than local government.

I'll keep going. I'm also not voting to re-elect Joanne Giannini because of her sponsorship of the anti-prostitution bill. That was the biggest mistake the General Assembly could have made. There was so much potential for more tax money for the state and they just threw it all out the window. But at least they thought of the children and the property values. Because you know brothels were popping up everywhere! Heck, one could've been next door to you.

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Central Falls Public Schools

runawayjim — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 03:10:10 +0000

Dan, on 17 February 2010 - 09:22 PM, said:

Me too. Bravo to Frances Gallo for sticking to her guns and not backing down to the union. Now the school department administration can actually start managing the schools (Wow, what a concept!). Under this plan, 50% of the teachers (many of them bad apples who the union had been protecting from being fired) will now be gone. For good! The top 50 can come back and lead the way.

If this plan works, it can serve as a great example of how we can save our failing inner city public schools, start actually getting value for our hard-earned tax money, and provide our children with a quality education. The cost of public education is totally unsustainable, and we as taxpayers must not let the public employee unions continue to stick it to us in the middle of a recession. This is a small step in the right direction.

Well... I think teachers do deserve to be paid more, but they also need to be held to higher standards. I also don't believe publicly funded jobs should be unionized (and yes, I am a democrat).

This plan is a great way to get rid of the dead weight and let the rising stars shine. The biggest issue I have with unions, especially the teacher's union, is that it protects the dead weight and prevents the good ones from really pushing forward. What you see in private schools is teachers staying late after school to help students out. You don't see that quite as often in public schools, unless they're forced to. Even the ones who want to don't because of the union. My other issue with unions is once a position is unionized you don't have a choice to join the union or not. You either join it or find a new job. I couldn't become a public school teacher without being part of the teacher's union. The "progressives" call for the Employee Free Choice Act, allowing them to unionize. But isn't "free choice" really allowing people to decide they don't want to be part of the union, but keep their job? It's all or nothing with unions. That's not cool. I won't even touch upon the questionable behavior some of the other unions engage in... not to mention the big lame rat thing.

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Rustic Tri-View Drive-In

runawayjim — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 03:05:47 +0000

Dan, on 17 February 2010 - 08:58 PM, said:

They were open in 2009. I'm just wondering if that was the end.

I see no reason why they won't keep going. I think the sign says "see you in may" or something like that.

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Providence Politics

Dan — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 02:23:39 +0000

Central Falls Public Schools

Dan — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 01:22:54 +0000

runawayjim, on 17 February 2010 - 05:37 PM, said:

I hate to see people lose jobs, but I like when people stand up to unions like this.

Rustic Tri-View Drive-In

Dan — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 00:58:46 +0000

runawayjim, on 17 February 2010 - 05:37 PM, said:

I'm pretty sure they were open this past summer. My wife and I were gonna go, but they never had a double feature that we wanted to see both movies (the problem with double features).

They were open in 2009. I'm just wondering if that was the end.

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Central Falls Public Schools

runawayjim — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 22:37:39 +0000

Dan, on 17 February 2010 - 06:02 PM, said:

Central Falls to fire every high school teacher

"Under threat of losing their jobs if they didn’t go along with extra work for not a lot of extra pay, the Central Falls Teachers’ Union refused Friday morning to accept a reform plan for one of the worst-performing high schools in the state."

I hate to see people lose jobs, but I like when people stand up to unions like this.

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Rustic Tri-View Drive-In

runawayjim — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 22:37:03 +0000

Dan, on 17 February 2010 - 06:19 PM, said:

I'm wondering if this business is closed and/or for sale. I called back in October to see if they were still open weekends and the number was disconnected. I know there was a fire in the projector booth and concessions building in 2008 or 2009. Maybe the sudden closing and loss of business, renovations expense, and the slowing economy put them under?

Anyone in the Lincoln area know anything about the Rustic's plans for 2010?

I'm pretty sure they were open this past summer. My wife and I were gonna go, but they never had a double feature that we wanted to see both movies (the problem with double features).

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Rustic Tri-View Drive-In

Dan — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 22:19:06 +0000

Central Falls Public Schools

Dan — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 22:02:40 +0000

T.F. Green Airport Developments

mental757 — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 18:42:03 +0000

An airport official told me that it is scheduled to open on 9/23/10.

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IN PROGRESS: The Box Office

Dan — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 16:27:14 +0000

Anyone know how long it will be to finish this "thing?" I hope they have plans to paint the whole thing one solid color and landscape the perimeter. This thing had better be LEED certified as a tradeoff for its... (how do I put this...) architectural insignificance. But it isn't done yet so I have hope it will come out looking ten times better than the tin can with the American flag graffiti which it replaces.

Looking forward to summer!

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T.F. Green Airport Developments

09/21/38 — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 16:07:33 +0000

Does anyone know if this project is on time and still scheduled to open in November, 2010?

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Is there any truth to a Bank being built on Smith St and Gentian Ave?

Mrs. Smith 1209 — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 22:45:21 +0000

I am a resident of smith street, and I have been told that there is a bank going up where Rainones liquor is currently. Apparently the owner is signing a purchase and sale on Friday and no one in the city planning department knows anything about... any comments??

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Arcade Evacuation

09/21/38 — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 16:34:42 +0000

The Arcade is a local landmark as is the State House, City Hall, Propect Park, the Biltmore, Etc.

Landmarks give identity to a city and should be preserved for future generations to admire.

But if a change to the function of the landmark has to be made in order to save the building, than I vote to save the building.

You are right that there have been many examples of local landmarks that now have different uses. Maybe we need to keep an open mind when exploring the future of the Arcade.

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What are they building there?

Cotuit — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 04:38:54 +0000

morlium, on 13 February 2010 - 04:45 PM, said:

anyone know what's going in the new structure between Atwells and Slocum? It looks like whatever it is will be open by spring/summer.

What are they building there?

morlium — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 21:45:45 +0000

anyone know what's going in the new structure between Atwells and Slocum? It looks like whatever it is will be open by spring/summer.

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QUONSET POINT DAVISVILLE

QDC — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 16:49:55 +0000

The Quonset Development Corp. has an e-mail newsletter about the business park that it sends out to over 3,800 readers. We've included the text of the latest version below. We hope you find it useful and informative. If you would like to sign up to receive the e-news, please let us know. The e-Newsletter can also be viewed online, click here.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Quonset Points

e-Newsletter

Construction Surges at Quonset
February 2010

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Quonset Construction = Economic Growth = Job Creation

With eight new building projects recently completed or underway there's a bit of a construction surge at the Quonset Business Park. The construction is just the latest indicator of $142 million in private investment at the Park in the last five years. The building projects include:

40,000 square foot building in Kiefer Park;
10,000 square foot Commerce Park building;
Two small business buildings;
Retrofit of existing building for Electric Boat;
Air National Guard Building;
Army National Guard Building, and;
National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration research and office building.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Senator Reed: "Quonset Realizing Potential"

U.S. Sen. Jack Reed recently joined QDC's Managing Director Steven King and RIEDC Executive Director Keith Stokes for a tour of the Quonset Business Park. After viewing extensive rail and road improvements as well as new construction Reed said the business park is well on the way to becoming an important economic engine for the state.

Sen. Reed was also supportive of efforts to position the Business Park for the future. Possibilities include the potential for short sea shipping, port improvements and the emerging energy initiatives. The offshore wind industry, Reed said, could eventually be an important part of the state's economy. "This is a way for us to be at the forefront of a new energy future," he said.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Galaxy Nutritional Foods Relocates from Florida to Quonset
---
Governor Carcieri Welcomes New Firm and Jobs

Governor Carcieri, EDC Executive Director Keith Stokes and QDC Managing Director Steven J. King welcomed Galaxy Nutritional Foods to the Business Park at a ribbon cutting ceremony on February 9, 2010. Galaxy is the maker of the Veggie, Rice and Vegan brands of cheese alternatives and other organic products.

Galaxy's relocation from its Orlando, Florida headquarters will bring 20-25 new jobs to the Business Park. The company is located is in the newly constructed Falvey Building. With 30 employees of its own at the Business Park, Falvey Cargo Underwriting has grown to a worldwide company from its beginnings 15 years ago as a small business housed in an office above a Wakefield donut shop.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Quonset Development Corporation | 95 Cripe Street | North Kingstown | RI | 02852
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Sign up to receive Quonset Points monthly e-Newsletter.

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Grand Openings & project Completion Dates

09/21/38 — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 14:33:14 +0000

When do the Cancelled Projects get cancelled off this list? How about a fourth color. Blue. For those announced projects that still have some realistic hope of breaking ground in the next twelve months.

The doubtful projects should be left in red.

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Rhode Island Commuter Rail Proposals

09/21/38 — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 14:22:04 +0000

mental757, on 01 February 2010 - 10:44 AM, said:

NK Standard Times 1/Commuter rail service development is still on track "

10/10: "http://www.ricentral.com/content/view/205284/237/

Looks like construction at Wickford Junction is scheduled to start in May.

It would seem to make sense that when the Warwick station is opened next November, the Wickford Station would be ready soon after.

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Pawtucket building to be RE-USED: 50 Division Steet

mental757 — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 16:04:53 +0000

Valley Breeze: "Controversy surrounds Division St. redevelopment
Carpet restoration business may also be hitting roadblock"

http://www.valleybreeze.com/Free/MAIN-PAW-Division-Street-development-headshot-of-Cassidy

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IN PROGRESS: The Residences at The Westin

Frankie811 — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 22:15:51 +0000

Luxury Westin condo owners irked by cut in prices

Three owners at The Residences Providence, the luxury condos connected to The Westin Providence hotel downtown, say that the developer, The Procaccianti Group, has broken promises by leasing and then cutting prices on the condos.

http://www.projo.com/news/content/Residences_Owners_02-08-10_UOHAGIG_v39.3a61942.html

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PROPOSED: RI Offshore Wind Farm

Frankie811 — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 21:46:18 +0000

Consultant urges R.I. wind-farm developer to reduce kilowatt-hour rate

An energy consultant hired by state regulators says the price of power from a proposed offshore wind farm near Block Island is high compared with other renewable energy projects.

http://www.projo.com/economy/DEEPWATER_PRICING_02-06-10_PSHB6QI_v55.398b5f7.html

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>> Providence South Neighborhoods

Frankie811 — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 17:30:20 +0000

The Liberty Elm Diner, a vintage 1947 diner in Elmwood was placed in the National Register of Historic Places for its contributions to the history of commerce and architecture.

http://www.projo.com/ri/providence/content/LIBERTY_ELM_02-05-10_2HHBLCT_v20.37cee9e.html

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