Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not? - September 7, 2018

HOT

Recognizing Heroes 

On September 16, the Bristol Post Office will officially be dedicated to 1st Sergeant P. Andrew McKenna. 

McKenna, Jr., a proud son of Bristol, earned a Silver Star, a Purple Heart, and five Bronze Stars (one with V for Valor) during his 17 years in the military. He completed five tours of duty in Afghanistan and one in Iraq.  

He was killed in action on August 7, 2015 in Afghanistan while fighting to defend Camp Integrity, as leader of a quick reaction force. It was his sixth deployment overseas. His heroic actions ensured the safety of 300 people in the Camp.  

To learn more about Andrew, click here.

HOT

Salisbury Farm

It's always hot when a good time teams up with a great cause -- everyone wins. 

Salisbury Farm in Johnston is raising money for the New England Hemophilia Association (NEHA) through the proceeds from their annual corn maze.

Wayne Salisbury, one of the owners of the farm, joined GoLocal LIVE, where he spoke to how each year, the farm chooses an organization to feature with the maze.

 

HOT

Bob Woodward

He's got the most talked-about book in Washington coming out -- and he's coming to Rhode Island. 

Bob Woodward, the legendary journalist, and author, will be the keynote speaker at the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council’s (RIPEC) 75th annual meeting.

The meeting will be held on Monday, October 1, 2018, at the Rhode Island Convention Center.

HOT

New Look 

In case you missed it, GoLocal has revamped the site. 

We're adding more features, enabling better performance, and providing more content. The new layout is designed to be faster, allowing for more comprehensive search functions, and offering a more responsive mobile experience.

“We have worked for the past year to develop a structure to provide a better experience and to be flexible for the addition of an increasing number of features on the site. We are committed to continuing to expand our content and coverage of southern New England,” said Josh Fenton, CEO and Co-Founder of GoLocal24.
 

HOT

Safe Driving

It's hot to drive safely -- especially in certain intersections in Providence.

Ray Rickman, one of Rhode Island's leaders in government, human rights, and issues of equality for more than 30 years, spoke to the issue in his weekly video opinion broadcast on GoLocal LIVE -- Rickman's Big View. 

Having witnessed an accident in which a car clipped a pedestrian at the bottom of College Hill while taking a short turn onto Memorial Boulevard, Rickman entreated viewers to be more careful while behind the wheel.

 

NOT

Gun Violence

It was one of Providence's darkest hours.  An innocent 15-year-old, who attended Central High School, was shot and killed on Wednesday. 

Whether you support gun rights or gun control, everyone can agree that something needs to be done to address gun violence.  The safety of our community -- and our children -- depends on it. 
 

NOT

New England Heat

The recent heat end-of-summer heat has certainly been not-hot -- especially for schools and students. 

Following multiple school closures and early dismissals due to heat since some Rhode Island school districts went back last week, Senator Leonidas Raptakis joined GoLocal News Editor Kate Nagle on GoLocal LIVE to make the case for his legislation to have all Rhode Island schools start after Labor Day. 

NOT

Retail Newspaper Sales

What was once a golden goose for print newspapers might have just seen the canary in the coal mine in Rhode Island. 

The Providence Journal was dropped from a leading East Side shop for lack of sales.

The East Side Mart is the convenience store located in the Elmgrove Avenue retail strip in one of Rhode Island's most affluent and highly educated neighborhoods.
The shop has now stopped carrying the Providence Journal — it has carried the paper for more than 40 years since the 1970s.

 

NOT

South County Water

It could not have hit at a worse time -- Labor Day weekend and the return of thousands of URI students to the area. Since August 31, a boil water advisory has remained in place for customers of five public water systems serving parts of Narragansett and South Kingstown because E. coli bacteria was found in the water supply.

There is no change to the advisory, and all customers should continue to boil water until the advisory is lifted.