HOT

Armando Bisceglia

A popular restaurant on Federal Hill is growing — but that’s just part of the story for owner Armando Bisceglia. 

Bisceglia, who opened Bacco Vino & Contorni in 2020, will nearly double the size of his business when he expands next month into the prime location at the corner location of Atwells Avenue and DePasquale Avenue.

For Bisceglia, however, the growth marks the latest in an incredible two-year journey -- one in which he nearly died. 

Realizing a Dream — And Hitting a Rocky Road 

In February 2020, Bisceglia, an industry veteran from the age of 12 when we worked in the coatroom at a New Jersey restaurant, was finally seeing his goal of opening his own place on Federal Hill come to fruition. 

Two weeks later, the pandemic officially hit, devastating his business and thousands across the state. 

And then, Bisceglia contracted COVID-19 — and wound up in the hospital fighting for his life. 

Read more here. 

HOT

RI Ranks 3rd for Working Moms

Overall, Rhode Island ranks third in the country for working moms in a new study - behind only top-ranked Massachusetts and Connecticut.

Life as a Working Mom in Rhode Island (1=Best; 25=Avg.):

26th – Day-Care Quality
5th – Pediatricians per Capita
10th – Gender Pay Gap (Women’s Earnings as % of Men’s)
5th – Ratio of Female Executives to Male Executives
30th – Female Unemployment Rate
4th – Parental-Leave Policy Score
9th – Avg. Length of Woman’s Work Week (in Hours)
12th – % of Single-Mom Families in Poverty

HOT

Providence Attracts the Sexiest

It’s not every day PEOPLE’s “Sexiest Man Alive” is in Providence.

On Friday, however, the entertainment publication’s 2021 titleholder was downtown. 

Actor Paul Rudd dined at NicoBella’s, just blocks from City Hall, and was gracious enough to take a photo.

Rudd, whose roles have ranged from playing "Ant Man" in the Marvel Cinematic Universe to starring in Clueless, The 40-Year Old Virgin, Knocked Up, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, and more, has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. 

Owner Dan Crenca said Rudd was “super cool, and couldn’t be nicer.”

Read more here. 

HOT

Shirley Moore

Shirley Moore started her business in 2017 and it was just beginning to grow when she was faced with lots of turbulence but also opportunity. 

Her company -- Be Moore Interpreting -- provides educational services and translating services. She was one of those early-stage companies that were beginning to get their footing when the globe flipped upside down in 2020.

Moore says, "The bulk of our clients are educational settings, so everything from school departments to adult education centers and universities and we also have medical offices, attorneys, so we're kind of everywhere."

Simple Start

Moore says she had limited resources to begin her business -- no venture capital funding for her company.

"I bootstrapped the business with $25 a month," said Moore of getting her business off the ground. 

But she soon found she needed more help to make the company successful. 

READ MORE

HOT

Innovation at the RI Department of Corrections

Give credit where credit is due.

The Department of Corrections is launching a series of new initiatives in the area of workforce programming and educational opportunities in order to increase rehabilitative opportunities as a function of public safety.

The department says the goal is to provide offenders with training and education opportunities that lead to meaningful employment upon release, “We know that meaningful employment upon release is a major contributor to recidivism reduction.” said RIDOC Director Patricia Coyne-Fague.

Three programs are noteworthy: 

•         Advanced Manufacturing Program (CNC machining) – Polaris MEP and CCRI are piloting an advanced manufacturing program at the Women’s facility.  THIS IS THE FIRST PROGRAM OF ITS KIND TO BE OFFERED TO THE WOMEN AT THE ACI. Successful participants will earn AN OSHA 10 certificate and the exam will be administered to earn a Certified Logistics Technician (CLT) certificate.

•         Bridge to Opportunity Building Futures MC3 (multi-craft core curriculum) Program – Serving 50 individuals over a three-year period.  Building Futures 120-hour pre-apprenticeship program that will give participating inmates a direct pipeline into Building Future’s Apprenticeship program post-release. Successful participants will earn a nationally recognized certification.

•         Virtual Job Fair - DLT will hold a virtual job fair for minimum security male and female inmates. These inmates will go to DLT and use their equipment to access the virtual job fair, which will include interviews with employers. A week before the job fair, job coaches will work with the inmates to help with their resumes and interview skills. DLT is also going to tailor the job fair to the interests, experiences and education of the participants.

Kudos for getting folks ready for the workforce.

HOT

Miss Rhode Island

Miss Rhode Island 2022 was crowned on Sunday.

According to the Miss Rhode Island Scholarship Organization, Abby Mansillo is the winner of this year's competition. 

"The Miss America organization is one of the nation's leading achievement programs and the world's largest provider of scholarships for young women," says the nonprofit. 

HOT

Matty in the Morning

Radio's "Matty in the Morning" -- Matt Siegel -- has retired after a 41-year career on the radio at Kiss 108. 

Kiss 108 -- an iHeartRadio station -- posted his message on Tuesday to family, friends, colleagues, and fans on his last day.

Matty's Message:

"Hi, radio buddies, thanks for tuning in. I know, I know what you're thinking.

'Wait a minute, wait a minute, you're acting like everything is normal. Everything isn't normal, Matty. One thing: we're proud of you, as your listeners, that you're always honest with us. Sometimes you say... well, too honest things, and get yourself in trouble.'

I know, and I have been honest for the 41 years I've been with you, and so that will continue now.

This past year has been a little rough for me. I had brain surgery. I had a broken foot. I started getting a little grumpy on the radio, which I hate because all I want to do is make people laugh. That's my job, just to make people laugh, and I got off target, I guess you would say.

I'm a lucky guy for a million reasons, but five of them are a great wife and four great kids, and my great wife and my great kids talked with me over the last several weeks and helped me come to a decision and the decision is this: as of now, I am retired. I'm leaving Kiss 108 and starting my new life as a mediocre golfer.

Okay, that's being kind. Let me rephrase: I'm starting my new retired life as a lousy golfer, but we decided it was time. I started at Kiss 41 years ago, and it wasn't my first radio job. So, you know, added up I, you know, I turned 72 years old, this year. I mean, it's time. 

It's time.

A couple things I want to say, most importantly, that it's been such a glorious run. I'm so appreciative, I can't tell you. When I think back to when I started in radio, making $2.00 an hour, I never thought I would mount to this. I never thought I would win two Marconi Awards, which are given out to the top radio announcer in the country. I won it twice. I'm so proud of that.

I'm so proud of... I put the laughs away on 9/11 and did a serious show, where I stayed on for eight straight hours, to try to be there for you guys...

But most of it was the silly stuff, you know? At the Kiss Concert, in a Spider-Man outfit, being lowered from the ceiling and all these silly things that I did, over the years, with my team, just to make people laugh. That's all - that was my job and I feel as though, with a couple of blips here and there, that's what I did.

I just, I don't know, man. I think it's very possible that I could cry, right now, and I - I know it doesn't feel very manly to cry over a radio show but, yeah, it's been a wonderful run."

HOT

Dr. Ed Iannuccilli

GoLocal's columnist has been inducted into the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame.

A fitting honor for an honorable man who exudes greatness.

NOT

So Much for Transparency

GoLocal has learned that Council President John Igliozzi is looking into a new tax structure that potentially would create a higher tax rate for those who live in more affluent areas of the city— specifically, those who live in wards 1, 2, and 3 versus the rest of Providence. 

Igliozzi engaged the Providence law firm Adler, Pollock and Sheehan to develop an advisory opinion for a new tax structure — a structure that would hit East Side residents the hardest — not based on income or wealth, but on geography.

GoLocal has repeatedly requested copies of the letter from the firm -- and the Igliozzi council administration has repeatedly refused to provide a copy of it.

GoLocal has also requested the cost of the outside legal services.

On Friday night after repeated refusal by Igliozzi’s press secretary Parker Gavigan to release the letter and the cost of the advisory, Igliozzi’s office issued the following statement.

"We have engaged outside counsel for guidance. The City Council administration believes any product received is subject to the Attorney-Client Privilege which has not been waived and therefore cannot be disclosed. The agreement is not to exceed $5,000. To date, no bill has been provided,” James Lombardi, Acting Chief of Staff to the Providence City Council.

Gavigan added, “No further comment at this time.”

Igliozzi is term-limited and will be leaving the council at the end of this term. He represents Ward 7 -- the Silver Lake area of the city.