Rhode Island

Providence City Council accepts settlement to evict Skyline at Waterplace – The Boston Globe

Published

1 year ago

September 9, 2024

Providence City Council accepts settlement to evict Skyline at Waterplace – The Boston Globe

“It can and should be a great venue for events and for special occasions,” Smiley said. “This operator was not the person to help realize that vision, which is why I pushed so hard to get rid of them.”

Skyline’s lawyer Michael Lepizzera said the company will work with the city to formally memorialize the settlement and voluntarily turn over possession of the premises.

“While Skyline is disappointed that this will mark the close of its operations, the owner is satisfied that a settlement has been reached,” Lepizzera said in a statement. “The original plan was to operate a top scale event facility on the city’s skyline for a minimum of 20 years, which was the term of the lease. Unfortunately, a confluence of unforeseeable and uncontrollable events (especially the pandemic) prevented my client from achieving its business goal.”

Skyline was headed by Rhode Island entrepreneur Michael A. Mota, and the company included his father-in-law, Joseph Ricci, and wife Jodi Mota. Louis Delpidio, a Boston nightclub operator, and David Pontarelli, a former city employee, were also involved when the company began leasing the building in 2016.

At the time, the Skyline at Waterplace group promised then-Mayor Jorge O. Elorza that they had big plans for the venue, which is perched at the edge of the Waterplace Basin.

But the company struggled almost from the beginning, citing issues with construction renovations. So, with Elorza as the chairman, the parks commissioners granted Skyline three abatements that totaled more than three and a half years of rent, in exchange for repairs to the facility. Mota also has claimed, without evidence, that Elorza granted a fourth abatement.

Skyline also received more than $1.8 million in federal COVID relief funds during the pandemic, money that was intended to help keep the business running. Around the same time, Mota launched and sponsored events at Skyline for his Hollywood mobster-themed entertainment and events company, VirtualCons, and his cryptocurrency, VirtualCoin, which was never operable.

Smiley has been trying to evict Skyline since April 2023, citing problems with late rent payments, unpaid taxes, fire code violations, friction with city officials — and recently, a bounced rent check in July and the discovery of the decomposed body of a former employee in August.

According to the police report, the owner of Skyline told officers that the man was homeless and had been given permission to stay at the venue, which had been closed since late July. A statement posted to social media on behalf of the Skyline, the Mota family, and the Ricci family denied that the man was living at the venue. A spokesperson for the mayor’s office told the Globe that the mayor’s office it never would have approved letting someone live there.

Before the settlement was reached, Skyline had been heading for a trial in Superior Court this fall.

“This will enable us to close the chapter with this operator who I’ve been trying to evict now for some time,” Smiley said. “This business and venue has effectively been shuttered and only been doing a handful of events. It is a black hole on Waterplace Park and Basin.”

Committee Chairman John Goncalves and city councilmembers Juan Pichardo, Ana Vargas, Shelley Peterson, and Pedro Espinal voted unanimously to adopt the settlement. The terms were not released Monday. Representatives for Skyline could not immediately be reached for comment on Monday.

“The Skyline space and Waterplace Park are important assets to the city,” Goncalves said in a statement. “With the Providence Parks Department taking over management of the property, we are looking forward to using the future of the space to enhance our city’s downtown.”

Steph Machado of the Globe staff contributed to this report.

Amanda Milkovits can be reached at amanda.milkovits@globe.com. Follow her @AmandaMilkovits.

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Related Topics:Featured Mayor Brett Smiley Michael Mota Skyline at Waterplace Skyline black hole Skyline eviction VirtualCons

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Rhode Island

RI Lottery Lucky For Life, Numbers Midday winning numbers for Dec. 21, 2025

Published

9 hours ago

December 22, 2025

Press Room

The Rhode Island Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 21, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Dec. 21 drawing

11-24-27-38-46, Lucky Ball: 15

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Numbers numbers from Dec. 21 drawing

Midday: 8-0-7-6

Evening: 5-8-6-7

Check Numbers payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Wild Money numbers from Dec. 21 drawing

13-30-34-35-38, Extra: 17

Check Wild Money payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize

Prizes less than $600 can be claimed at any Rhode Island Lottery Retailer. Prizes of $600 and above must be claimed at Lottery Headquarters, 1425 Pontiac Ave., Cranston, Rhode Island 02920.
Mega Millions and Powerball jackpot winners can decide on cash or annuity payment within 60 days after becoming entitled to the prize. The annuitized prize shall be paid in 30 graduated annual installments.
Winners of the Lucky for Life top prize of $1,000 a day for life and second prize of $25,000 a year for life can decide to collect the prize for a minimum of 20 years or take a lump sum cash payment.

When are the Rhode Island Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 10:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 11:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday and Friday.
Lucky for Life: 10:30 p.m. ET daily.
Numbers (Midday): 1:30 p.m. ET daily.
Numbers (Evening): 7:29 p.m. ET daily.
Wild Money: 7:29 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Rhode Island editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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Rhode Island

Two Years Later, Police Renew Call for Help in Unsolved North Providence Murder – Newport Buzz

Published

21 hours ago

December 21, 2025

Press Room

Two Years Later, Police Renew Call for Help in Unsolved North Providence Murder – Newport Buzz

NORTH PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Two years after the killing of 61-year-old Claire Grady Flynn, police in North Providence are again asking the public for help, saying the case remains active and solvable.

North Providence Police Department renewed its call for information on Friday, marking the second anniversary of Flynn’s death and urging anyone with even the smallest detail to come forward.

Flynn, a retired nurse with the Rhode Island Department of Corrections, was found dead inside her Centerdale Avenue home on Dec. 20, 2023. Police said her brother discovered her body after becoming concerned when he couldn’t reach her.

Despite an extensive investigation that has included assistance from outside agencies and specialized resources, no arrests have been made.

Detectives say public cooperation remains critical.

Investigators are particularly interested in hearing from anyone who knew Flynn or had contact with her during 2023 — especially in November — and anyone with insight into her daily routines, personal relationships, or places she regularly visited.

Police stress that even information that may seem insignificant could help move the case forward. Tips can be provided anonymously.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Jason Burlingame at 401-231-4533, ext. 1115, or the anonymous tip line at 401-437-6418. Non-emergency calls to police can be made at 401-231-4533.

In a previous statement, Chief Alfredo Ruggiero emphasized the department’s commitment to solving the case, saying detectives remain determined to bring those responsible to justice and provide closure for Flynn’s family.

“Anyone who knew Ms. Flynn or had recent contact with her is urged to call,” Ruggiero said. “The cooperation of the community is vital to ensuring justice is served.”

Portrait of Brown University student Ella Cook, identified as first victim in campus shooting

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Rhode Island

RI Lottery Powerball, Lucky For Life winning numbers for Dec. 20, 2025

Published

1 day ago

December 21, 2025

Press Room

The Rhode Island Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 20, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from Dec. 20 drawing

04-05-28-52-69, Powerball: 20, Power Play: 3

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Dec. 20 drawing

08-21-30-41-47, Lucky Ball: 15

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Numbers numbers from Dec. 20 drawing

Midday: 3-3-0-8

Evening: 3-5-8-4

Check Numbers payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Wild Money numbers from Dec. 20 drawing

06-09-13-14-32, Extra: 27

Check Wild Money payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your prize

Prizes less than $600 can be claimed at any Rhode Island Lottery Retailer. Prizes of $600 and above must be claimed at Lottery Headquarters, 1425 Pontiac Ave., Cranston, Rhode Island 02920.
Mega Millions and Powerball jackpot winners can decide on cash or annuity payment within 60 days after becoming entitled to the prize. The annuitized prize shall be paid in 30 graduated annual installments.
Winners of the Lucky for Life top prize of $1,000 a day for life and second prize of $25,000 a year for life can decide to collect the prize for a minimum of 20 years or take a lump sum cash payment.

When are the Rhode Island Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 10:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 11:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday and Friday.
Lucky for Life: 10:30 p.m. ET daily.
Numbers (Midday): 1:30 p.m. ET daily.
Numbers (Evening): 7:29 p.m. ET daily.
Wild Money: 7:29 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Rhode Island editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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