5 Big Stories in Rhode Island This Week - October 21, 2023

#5

EDITORIAL: One of the Best in the World

It is rare, well, maybe never, that something in Rhode Island makes a top 10 list in the world.

We all know that a little too often, we get a lot of "worst in the U.S." designations — see any ranking of roads and bridges or the annual CNBC list for worst states to do business.

But, this week, Rhode Island International Airport was ranked in the top 10 airports in the world.

Not the top 10 airports in New England or the northeast, but in the whole world.

Kudos need to be given to the team at the airport, including Chair Jonathan Savage and President and CEO Iftikhar Ahmad, but it goes far deeper.

To visit the airport, you get a different vibe than most domestic airports as the staff is nice, polite, and engaged.

Now, the team has some more hardware to strut. This is now more than a dozen national awards in the past few years.

But, knowing the team, they won’t let it go to their head, they will add another great direct route, add a therapy dog, or do something else, once again, to make the experience better.

Give it up for the team at Rhode Island International Airport — they are literally, one of the best in the world.

#4

Prov School Board Member Says Investigation Is in Motion, Criticizes Infante-Green Leadership

Providence School Board member Ty’Relle Stephens said that since he and fellow Board member Night Jean Muhingabo filed complaints with the Rhode Island Attorney General's office into questions about the bid process on the $72 million facilities management contract awarded to ABM and the secret $3.2 million payment to outgoing vendor Aramark, he has been told that the Attorney General’s office is investigating.

An ongoing GoLocal series unveiled significant issues relating to the award of the $72 million contract to ABM and uncovered the secret $3.2 million payment to Aramark.

Stephens, in comments during Thursday’s Providence School Board meeting, discussed the investigation. 

“I’ve been instructed not to provide any additional comments on this matter after tonight, as the Rhode Island Attorney General's Office is treating these allegations with the utmost seriousness,” said Stephens. “If anyone has further questions regarding these allegations, I encourage you to directly reach out to the Attorney General's office for more information."

Regarding the secret payment to Aramark of $3.2 million, Stephens said, “First, I'd like to mention that I was not presented with any concrete termination fee agreement. After reviewing both the Finance [Committee] meeting and School Board meeting, it's evident that $3.2 million was not a topic of discussion.”

READ MORE HERE

#3

RI DEM Notifies Neighbors of Hazardous Contamination on Allens Ave After Decade of Delay

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) has written to abutters, informing them that the agency is conducting an investigation and that the Rhode Island Recycled Metals site was contaminated with hazardous materials - some probable carcinogens.

"The current Responsible Party of the subject Property (AARE, LLC) is providing notice to abutters of a plan to conduct an environmental Site Investigation at the above-mentioned property. The goal of the investigation is to determine if any current or historical activities at the property have resulted in releases of oil or hazardous materials to soil or groundwater.”

AARE, LLC is the related company to Rhode Island Recycled Metals.

The DEM notification also states that the site is a known source of hazardous materials, including PCBS -- known probable carcinogens.

READ MORE

#2

Celebrity Chef David Burke’s Name Removed From Restaurant at The Preserve

Just nine months ago, The Preserve Sporting Club and Residences in Richmond pushed out a public relations announcement touting the arrival of a celebrity chef.

David Burke was taking over and the restaurant was being renamed for him. 

Paul Mihailides, the CEO and founder of The Preserve, made the big reveal  -- just months before he was hit by a federal lawsuit alleging sexual harrassment, which GoLocal was the first to report. 

“David Burke is one of the best known and most respected chefs in modern American cuisine with his signature whimsical, boundlessly creative approach to food,” according to Burke's own website.

According to The Preserve’s announcement last February, “Chef Burke has signed a fifteen-year partnership with the four-season sporting club situated on 3,500 acres, and is overhauling the culinary operations of the Preserve through his restaurant operating and consultant company, David Burke Hospitality Management (DBHM).”

Burke and Mihailides exchanged compliments at the time of the announcement. 

"The Preserve is an intriguing new partnership for us, because, in addition to Double Barrel Steak, we'll be in charge of two of the most extraordinary private dining venues I have ever seen," said Burke. "The Maker's Mark Hobbit Houses an enchanting space where a memorable meal becomes a once-in-a-lifetime bourbon-infused experience. And the Cohiba & Laphroaig Safari Tasting Tent, highlighting a scotch and cigar pairing with intriguing finger food. Another bonus of the partnership is my longstanding relationship with Chairman of The Preserve, Paul Mihailides. I am looking forward to working with him to further enhance The Preserve's status as a world-class sporting club."

"The Preserve is honored to welcome David Burke and his team, there is no greater compliment than chef Burke's willingness to lead our culinary programs," said Mihailides. "We look forward to welcoming our members and guests of The Preserve to enjoy the renowned stylings of Chef Burke."

Photos of Mihailides and Burke were distributed to the media and on social media.

The Double Barrel Kitchen, the main restaurant at The Preserve, was rebranded into the "Double Barrel Steak by Chef David Burke," and Burke was splashed all over social media promoting The Preserve and the restaurant.

On his social media, the bigger-than-life Burke can be seen hobnobbing with celebrities and giving talks all over the world. In recent months, he has had social media posts with actor Kelsey Grammer, cooking on Fox & Friends, and with Martha Stewart and receiving an honorary degree from Johnson & Wales University's Charlotte campus.

Burke today lists 17 restaurants on his website, including one and Saudi Arabia, but no longer one in Rhode Island -- that has been removed from the website. He is also associated with a restaurant under his name at Foxwoods.

Now, his name is off the restaurant at the Preserve, and no one is talking.

GoLocal reached out repeatedly to Burke and his public relations team for comment. And, GoLocal reached out to Mihailides. No one responded to questions.

#1

Barrington Couple Now Facing 11 Charges, 2 Felonies for Role in Newport Wedding Melee

As GoLocal was first to report, the well-connected Barrington couple, David and Rachael Onik, have been rearraigned and hit with additional charges related to the wedding melee which occurred on September 10 on Bowen’s Wharf.

According to Newport Police, the ongoing investigation sparked the need to file more charges against the couple.

On Tuesday, October 17, Rachael Onik -- who had been previously charged on five misdemeanor courts -- was rearraigned on two additional charges of "Felony Larceny from Person" -- because she allegedly tried to disarm Newport Patrol Officer White and Newport Police Patrol Officer Cole.

During the incident, Rachael Onik went to grab Officer White's holstered gun and Rachael actively tried to pull Officer White's gun out of the holster but she did not have any success, according to Newport Police. 

Rachael Onik then moved onto Officer Cole as Rachael grabbed his holstered gun. Rachael actively tried to pull his gun out of the holster but Rachael did not have any success.

SEE THAT VIDEO HERE

The two additional charges are felonies.

David Onik was rearraigned on October 13 on four additional charges. He had previously only been arraigned on one charge - disorderly conduct. 

The new charges include simple assault because he assaulted two Landing Restaurant employees, according to Newport Police. 

As GoLocal previously reported, he is a business partner in a pet food company with Marc and David Perlman, the owners of Ocean State Job Lot. The company is named Priority Pet Products. Marc Perlman, the CEO of Job Lot, also serves as President of Priority Food Products. David Onik is the Treasurer of the pet company.

A body cam video secured by GoLocal through an Access to Public Records Act request recorded the Oniks telling the police that they were going to call David Onik's father — a prominent businessman — as well as call former Congressman David Cicilline.