The Cranston Herald

Dog parks, library security explored at hearings

By JACOB MARROCCO The Cranston City Council Finance Committee heard the budget plans for the parks and recreation and public library systems on Monday night, which included discussion on potential locations for dog parks and enhanced security at the more

By Jacob Marrocco | 4/15/17

Warwick's Kim Avedisian scores with indy film

By DON FOWLER Warwick's Kim Avedisian returned to Rhode Island last week, just like the main character in his low-budget, independent film, to premiere Donald Cried at the Avon Cinema before a large and enthusiastic audience, which included many friends more

By Don Fowler | 4/15/17

What should America's role be in tragic Syria?

This past week, the President of the United States Donald Trump with the key advice of the National Security Council, changed his position 180 degrees and ordered a cruise missile attack on Syrian air power resources. This measured military response was more

By Christopher Curran | 4/15/17

THE BELKO EXPERIMENT

Movie Review by JOHN PANNOZZI *** out of five stars From the mind of writer/co-producer James Gunn (Guardians of the Galaxy, Slither) comes a darkly satirical thriller that was accurately described by Matt Donato as Office Space meets Battle Royale."" more

By John Pannozzi | 4/15/17

Cooley reads to students at Immaculate Conception

The administration and faculty at Immaculate Conception Catholic Regional School in Cranston have developed a unique way to mix academics with athletics. During reading week, for example, the well-run school had a special and famous more

By Pete Fontaine | 4/14/17

IMPORTANT ADVICE: Vail passed along a great deal of important advice to the middle school students about remembering that their experiences in middle school are part of their life's journey. She also talked to them about the writing process and about character development. She encouraged them to write, even if just for themselves, and told them that her favorite part about being an author is getting to meet students just like themselves and to really study the interactions that take place between them.

Author Vail stops by Park View on her book tour

By JEN COWART Young adult readers love reading Rachel Vail's books centering on middle school and all that goes with it. Recently, the students at Park View Middle School had the opportunity to hear Vail speak, as she made a stop at PVMS on her book tour more

By Jen Cowart | 4/14/17

DREAMING BIG: From left to right, PWCVB Executive Director Martha Sheridan, Shannon Cornicelli and R.I. Hospitality Association President and CEO and PWCVB Chairperson Dale Venturini were on hand to celebrate the occasion.

Cornicelli receives RI Ambassador's Award

Cranston's Shannon Cornicelli, owner of Dream Big Inc., recently received the Rhode Island Ambassador's Award from the Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau (PWCVB). Cornicelli, 37, was one of 23 Rhode Islanders recognized for their efforts to more

4/14/17

THE WELCOME RIBBON: Pictured cutting the ribbon at the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at BankNewport’s new branch in Chapel View are (l-r): James Wright (Board Member), Peter Capodilupo (Chairman of the Board), Sandra Pattie (President and CEO of BankNewport), Mayor Allan W. Fung and Aman Rai (Vice President and Branch Sales Manager).

BankNewport opens at Chapel View

BankNewport opened its newest branch at 4000 Chapel View and there was a Ribbon Cutting with Mayor Allan Fung to welcome the new branch to Cranston. The Chapel View location brings BankNewport's branch total to 16. The new 2,700 square foot more

4/13/17

Dr. Leonard 1 of 4 U.S. doctors headed to Beirut conference

By JACOB MARROCCO Dr. Robert Leonard has always wanted to go to Beirut, and he is finally about to get his wish. Dr. Leonard, one of the country's foremost hair transplant surgeons with a Leonard Hair Transplant branch in Cranston, was one of just four more

By Jacob Marrocco | 4/13/17

A BIG CHECK: The Verizon App Challenge winners enjoyed taking a photo with their giant award check. The team earned money for their school, their advisors and received tablets and t-shirts from Verizon as their prize. During the ceremony they were given citations from the State House and from the City of Cranston. (Herald photo by Jen Cowart) The Lexus Eco Challenge winners were given special citations from the State House during the awards ceremony and are seen here posing with Cranston's Mayor Allan Fung.

STEM groups at WHMS recognized

An awards ceremony and celebration were held last week at Western Hills Middle School to celebrate the Verizon App Challenge and the Lexus Eco Challenge winners, two groups of middle school students who won nationwide recognition for their project more

By Jen Cowart | 4/13/17

ON DISPLAY: Pictured is New Hope Co-Assistant Curator David Koukol beside his own drawing on display called Mermaid Cat and Wild Cherry.

New Hope Art Gallery rings in new season

The New Hope Art Gallery Spring Show opened on March 28 at the Cranston Senior Enrichment Center at 1070 Cranston St. There were over 200 guests who came out to join in great night of art, music, food, free portrait drawings and art raffles. The Spring more

4/13/17

Shining example

Shining example Gladstone Elementary School second-grade ESL teacher Sue Sullivan was recently honored with this year's Horace Mann Crystal Apple Award. This marks the second consecutive year that a Gladstone teacher has been the recipient after more

4/13/17

LEARNING SKILLS THAT WILL HELP OTHERS: Pictured with their machines and some current clothing projects are some of the Sew Bain club members, along with their advisor, Rachel Bousquet and club volunteer, Naraly Barrious. The members of the club are Vashani Auguste, Diana Custodio, Abrina Estrada, Abby Morales, Brianna Munrayos, Jamie O'Brien, Leslie Pineda, Luz Marie Plasencia, Stacey Rios, Claudianna Rocher and Adia Sarr.

Sew Bain club sends handmade clothing to Nicaragua

By JEN COWART Three times a week, in the after-school hours, nearly a dozen students are hard at work at Hugh B. Bain Middle School, hand-sewing clothing to be sent to children in Latin American countries where brand-new clothing is scarce. Rachel more

By Jen Cowart | 4/13/17

CLOSE TO HOME: Speaker Nicholas Mattiello stopped by Glen Hills Elementary on Saturday to help address citizen concerns.

Mattiello, Lancia seek to amend sex offender bill

By JACOB MARROCCO In an effort to address the issue of a concentration of sex offenders in Harrington Hall, Speaker of the House Nicholas Mattiello and State Rep. Robert Lancia (R - District 16) were both open to an amendment to the latter's 10-percent more

By Jacob Marrocco | 4/12/17

PALM SUNDAY PROCESSION: The Holy Week began on Sunday at St. David’s on the Hill Episcopal Church with the entire parish processing through, out and around the church grounds with their palms, which were blessed during the Passion Sunday services.

Lent and Easter traditions: Connecting the past and present

By JEN COWART As Christians worldwide begin the final leg of their Lenten journey, heading into Holy Week this week, local churches have had many offerings throughout the past weeks and into the coming week that connect the traditions from Lent and more

By Jen Cowart | 4/12/17

Police Log

HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION According to a Cranston Police Department (CPD) press release, Colonel Michael Winquist, Chief of the CPD, recently announced that the department initiated a homicide investigation on April 5 that led to the arrest of a local man more

4/12/17

Police Log

On 1/9/17 at 08:18 am, Officers Merry Detroia arrested Giuseppe Pirri (32) of 20 Russell Ave Apt 2 East Providence for a CPD warrant for Felony Assault, Vandalism, and Disorderly Conduct as a result of a warrant pickup. Disposition of Arrestee: more

4/11/17

April CEAB meeting focuses on new assessments, report cards

By JEN COWART The April meeting of the Cranston Education Advisory Board (CEAB) took place on Monday, April 3 in the Cranston East Media Center. The focus of this month's forum was on understanding the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section more

By Jen Cowart | 4/10/17

Brandon Whitehead, Karen Gail Kessler and Tom Gleadow (left to right) portray Matthew Harrison Brady, Mrs. Sarah Brady and Henry Drummond in Jerome Lawrence and Robert Edwin Lee's Tony Award-winning play, Inherit the Wind, which is on stage at Ocean State Theatre in Warwick through April 16. For tickets call 921-6800 or visit www.OceanStateTheatre.org.

Absorbing ‘Inherit the Wind’ at OSTC

If you like thought-provoking, absorbing theatre, then Ocean State Theatre Company’s production of “Inherit the Wind” is the play you should see. Director Fred Sullivan Jr., a mainstay at … more

By Don Fowler | 4/9/17

FUN RUN: Students and some adults took part in the 4th Annual Woodridge Elementary PTO Certified 5K Road Race/Walk this past Saturday. Pictured is the start of the run.

Running in the rain

By MERI R. KENNEDY The Woodridge Elementary PTO held their 4th annual family friendly, Certified 5K Road Race/Walk. Despite the rain on Saturday, spirits were not dampened. The course included rolling hills in the Dean Estates area of Cranston and for more

By Meri R. Kennedy | 4/9/17

IN COMMAND: Steve Rocchio earned the Cy Young award for Division I-A last season after posting an ERA of 1.50.

East-West rivalry matchup pushed back

Cranston East and Cranston West were set to meet on Tuesday to launch the baseball season, but heavy rain pushed the get-together between the rivals to Friday at 3:45 p.m. at Cranston Stadium. With the postponement, both more

By Matt Metcalf | 4/8/17

FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS: Greg and Taylor Flynn outside the home they bought last year.

Advice of first-time home buyers

For newlyweds Taylor and Greg Flynn, the initial steps on the journey to owning their first home came rather naturally. “Not sure I ever had a dream,” Taylor said. “I just kind of always … more

By Dawn Anderson | 4/7/17

Cranston hosts R.I. National Geographic Bee

By OLIVIA PERREAULT & JACOB MARROCCO Fifty students competed in the annual Rhode Island National Geographic Bee on Saturday at the Scottish Rite Masonic Center, where one Providence student was crowned champion and a Cranston resident finished in the top more

By Olivia Perreault & Jacob Marrocco | 4/7/17

SURPRISE GUESTS: Reidel poses with fifth-grade teacher Jim Gemma, Sophia Appel and her parents, Carrie and Jason, who were hiding behind the curtains during the event.

Surprise announcement at Rhodes

By JEN COWART On Friday afternoon as fifth-grader Sophie Appel and a fellow student spoke to their peers about an upcoming Pennies for Patients fundraiser that would soon be starting, she had absolutely no idea that she was about to have the surprise of more

By Jen Cowart | 4/7/17

THANK YOU FOR COMING: Kevin Ascoli, school social worker at Cranston West, Principal Tom Barbieri, and members of the school’s SADD club, pose with representatives from the Sandy Hook Promise organization after the event. The school’s SADD club presented them with flowers and a donation was made to the organization as a thank you for their time.

CPS schools host Sandy Hook Promise program

By JEN COWART Last week, all seven Cranston Public Schools middle and high schools hosted speakers from the Sandy Hook Promise organization, presenting the Say Something violence prevention program to students there. In a collaboration initiated by Kevin more

By Jen Cowart | 4/6/17