HOT

KNOCKOUT

Elizabeth Warren took Michael Bloomberg to the woodshed in Wednesday's Democratic Presidential debate in Las Vegas.

HOT

YUM

Social Enterprise Greenhouse (SEG) announced that eight Rhode Island food ventures will take part in the 2020 Food Accelerator program.

The purpose of the three-month program is to boost innovation in RI’s food and farming sector and help create more successful, and sustainable businesses.

See the winners here.

The program culminates with a Pitch Night on Thursday, April 30, held at SEG’s co-working space at 10 Davol Square in Providence.

HOT

HOME PRICES

The Rhode Island Association of Realtors is reporting that the median price of a single-family home sold in January jumped to a sales price of $296,750 — a 17 percent hike year-over-year.

Sales activity also increased by more than 14 percent since January 2018.

Realtors also reported a  slowdown in pending sales.

“Inventory continues to be a problem. We saw a huge jump in sales in December and January.  Now that those properties are off the market, our supply of homes is near an all-time low. With less than three months of inventory, our supply is half of what it should be,” said Shannon Buss, president of the Rhode Island Association of Realtors.

HOT

DIAMONDS

AAA Northeast has announced the Rhode Island recipients of the 2020 Five and Four Diamond Awards, honoring the best in dining and lodging. 

The Ocean House in Watch Hill and COAST restaurant in the Ocean House are the only two Rhode Island locations to achieve Five Diamonds.

“AAA’s Five and Four Diamond establishments consistently exceed expectations by providing their guests highly personalized, memorable experiences. They truly represent the best of the hospitality industry,” said Lloyd Albert, AAA Northeast Senior Vice President of Public and Government Affairs.

Only 2,400 properties in North America receive the AAA Four Diamond designation. 

The Rhode Island properties will receive their awards at a luncheon at the Ocean House on March 26. 

Five Diamond Award Winners 

The Ocean House, Watch Hill, 2011 
COAST Restaraunt, Watch Hill, 2018

Four Diamond Award Winners

Restaurants

Cara, Newport, first recognized in 2004
The Dining Room at Castle Hill, Newport, 2016
The Vanderbilt Grill, Newport, 2012
Gracie’s, Providence, 2011

Hotels

Point Pleasant Inn & Resort, Bristol, 2003
Cliffside Inn, Newport, 2003
Forty 1 North, Newport, 2017
Gurney’s Newport Resort & Marina, Newport, 2018
Hydrangea House Inn, Newport, 2005
Newport Marriott, Newport, 2017
The Chanler at Cliff Walk, Newport, 2004
The Vanderbilt Auberge Resorts Collection, Newport, 2011
Hotel Providence, Providence, 2005
Renaissance Providence Downtown Hotel, Providence, 2008
Watch Hill Inn, Watch Hill, 2016
The Weekapaug Inn, Westerly, 2013

HOT

DOCUMENTARYMANIA

Former RDW Group partner Dante Bellini, Jr. has announced his next venture -- and its first project. Bellini has formed Hooligan Film Productions to produce films and short-story-telling content about "some of the inspiring people he has crossed paths with as well as issues he cares deeply about." 

Bellini just finished his first endeavor - a 60-minute documentary on the film icon, Ken Burns. It’s titled, Ken Burns. Here & There.  

He has long been involved in film and video projects for his clients. The decision to “officially” retire from the agency was a “tough one” according to Bellini -- a 40 year veteran of the advertising industry.

 “I certainly miss my clients, partners, and colleagues. What I loved most about RDW is how committed they are to creating positive change and being a part of that,” Bellini said of the Providence, Rhode Island advertising and PR agency.  “But to do this more personal story-telling work, you have to fully immerse.”

HOT

MILL LIFE

One of the largest mill complexes in Central Falls -- the historic Hemphill Mill complex on Clay Street -- has been sold. The selling price, $4.2 million, is one of the top prices for a Central Falls mill complex.

“It shows the confidence outside buyers have in the Conant Mill District zone,” said long-time owner Jerauld Adams who purchased the Mill from his brother more than a decade ago and transformed the complex into space for 85 tenants — art studios, offices, maker spaces.

The Conant District is the focal point of the effort to revitalize Central Falls and Pawtucket. The centerpiece is the new train station now being developed.

“Conant Thread is a 150-acre Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) District conveniently located between Providence and Boston; connected to both via Interstate 95 and soon a new train station and bus hub. A mixed-use urban village, Conant Thread is attracting trendy restaurants, start-ups, art innovators, makers and creators. It offers residents a complete urban experience with a diverse and exciting mix of cuisine, culture, economic opportunity and public amenities,” according to the district.

For Adams, the redevelopment of the mill was a labor of love. “There were a few times when finding a nickel to pay off the material expenses was hard to come by. I tell you I won’t miss the late-night calls or changing the burned-out light bulbs or replacing the toilet paper in the common area bathrooms,” said Adams.

NOT

LOVE

Rhode Island Speaker of the House Nick Mattiello was seen dining on Valentine’s Day at the Capital Grille with close political allies and lobbyists George Caroulo and Mark Ryan. Presently, Mattiello's actions tied to an audit of the Rhode Island Convention Center Authority are the subject of a grand jury.

Ryan -- the lobbyist for the Providence Journal and other high profile clients -- has been a political lightning rod.

Due to Ryan’s relationship with Mattiello and Ryan's business relationship with the Providence Journal, some business leaders and members of the media have criticized the influence Mattiello has had over both news coverage and the editorial page.

One of Rhode Island’s most successful business leaders has been a constant critic of the Mattiello-Ryan-Providence Journal triad.

NOT

PARKING

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management has selected an out of state corporation with a checkered background to run the parking lots at the State beaches.

The company LAZ Parking has been battling a number of labor and racial discrimination charges across the country. In Massachusetts, the company settled with the MBTA and was forced to pay millions for allowing skimming.

LAZ Parking executives have been strong donors to Governor Gina Raimondo and the Rhode Island Democratic Party. Company executives have donated nearly $10,000 of which Raimondo has collected $6,000 and the Rhode Island Democratic State Party received $3,500.

Raimondo received one of the donations for $1,000 after her last election from Andrew Tucchler of LAZ Parking. Raimondo is term-limited and cannot run for re-election.

General Treasurer Seth Magaziner received $250 and House Majority Leader Joseph Shakarchi received $85.

Janet Coit said DEM’s selection of LAZ Parking is in keeping with the vision of Raimondo’s Parks Initiative, now in its second year, of celebrating the state park system by investing in it.

NOT

BUDGET-BUSTER

Care New England Health System (CNE) announced today that in Fiscal Year 2020, first quarter (October-December) the company lost $4.5 million -- 50% higher than than the company's projected loss of $3.0 million. 

Remove the performance of investments and Care New England ended the first quarter with more than $5.5 million in losses.

"The greatest financial challenges facing the System this year are patient volumes at Women & Infants Hospital and Kent Hospital.  However, Butler Hospital and the entire behavioral health service line are experiencing substantial increases in demand for services," the company claimed in its press release.

“We know we have work to do,” said James E. Fanale, MD, President and CEO. “We are diligently working with leadership across the System on various process and operations improvement initiatives, implementing action plans, and targeting areas for growth opportunities to help build a healthy financial future. Additionally, we are working hard to provide better, timely access to our programs and services.”

Fanale and Care New England had blocked an effort to merge CNE with Lifespan in partnership with Brown University to create a comprehensive group that could compete with Boston healthcare giants.

NOT

BEING CREEPY

Michael Bloomberg -- just creepy.