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GoLocalProv | News | How Mysterious Flowers on a Grave Prompted a RI Woman to Launch a New Career

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GoLocalProv | News | How Mysterious Flowers on a Grave Prompted a RI Woman to Launch a New Career


Sunday, September 03, 2023

 

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The cover of Victoria Atamian Waterman’s news book.

Rhode Island native Victoria Atamian Waterman said she knew the exact moment she had to write a book. 

For Waterman, who grew up in Warwick and now lives in North Smithfield, it was a visit to her aunt’s grave in the North Burial Ground in Providence in 2015.

“I have the exact photo of finding flowers, old while silk flowers on her grave,” Waterman.

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What made the discovery somewhat mysterious is the fact her aunt Vicky never had children, so how they got there was puzzling to Waterman. 

“In my heart, I knew that maybe they simply blew over, and someone picked them up and thought they belonged there,” said Waterman.

But the seeds were sewn for Waterman to write a book, with the catalyst being her aunt.

“She was a maid during the Armenian Genocide,” said Waterman, who was raised in a close-knit Armenian family — and Armenian was her first language. 

“I grew up in a multi-generation house,” said Waterman.  “And I’m really the last generation to tell this story with not just my voice, but their voice.” 

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“Who She Left Behind” is the first book from Waterman, who had a career in banking and non-profits before “semi-retirement.’ 

“I’m too young to truly retire,” laughed Waterman, who soon embarked on the start of her second career. 

 

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Victoria Atamian Waterman. PHOTO: Waterman

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Intertwining Fact and Fiction 

Waterman said that while the graveside visit — and her aunt’s story — prompted her to write a book, she said she realized she could make the main character “anyone I wanted to.” 

“When the war was over, all those girls like my aunt were maids in Turkish homes,” said Waterman. “My mother would say by the grace of God, none of your aunts were raped. But from what we know of what happened there, it was pretty typical.”

So in Waterman’s book, the protagonist, a maid, is raped by the “man of the house” before the wife of the house kidnaps the child and leaves. 

“I wanted to make the character based on my aunt a bad-ass,” said Waterman. “This could have been her story. She comes to the United States but she never forgets her daughter, or the other maids.” 

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For Waterman, who serves as a trustee of the Soorp Asdvadzadzin Armenian Apostolic Church in Whitinsville, Massachusetts and was a presenter at the 2023 AGBU Women Shaping the World Conference, keeping the stories alive — particularly of what women endured during the Armenian Genocide — was particularly important to her. 

“My kids don’t know these stories. To them, this is reading about medieval times,” said Waterman. 

Waterman says the book will be available for pre-order on October 1, and she will be kicking off with an event in Worcester, which is home to the first Armenian church in the Western Hemisphere.

“There’s a lot of Worcester in the book, and there’s a lot of Providence,” said Waterman. 

And for Waterman, she is now working on her second novel.

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“There is a lot of Providence in this one,” said Waterman. 

 

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Rhode Island

RI Lottery Mega Millions, Lucky For Life winning numbers for Dec. 24, 2024

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The Rhode Island Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 24, 2024, results for each game:

Winning Mega Millions numbers from Dec. 24 drawing

11-14-38-45-46, Mega Ball: 03, Megaplier: 3

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Dec. 24 drawing

16-22-24-43-47, Lucky Ball: 11

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Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Numbers numbers from Dec. 24 drawing

Midday: 0-9-5-1

Evening: 2-0-2-3

Check Numbers payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Wild Money numbers from Dec. 24 drawing

08-21-26-33-38, Extra: 36

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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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When will Santa Claus be in RI? Follow the 2024 Santa Trackers from NORAD and Google

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When will Santa Claus be in RI? Follow the 2024 Santa Trackers from NORAD and Google


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It was the night before Christmas and all through the house, the children were wondering where’s that guy Claus?

If you’re looking to track Santa Claus’s flight over Providence and Rhode Island’s other cities and towns this Christmas Eve, there are a few ways you can track the big guy with nearly the same accuracy as a late Amazon package.

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The military is on it with the NORAD Santa Tracker, and Google, which often feels all-knowing, is also on the case with its own Santa Tracker.

Check out the trackers to see Santa’s location:

See Santa’s location with the NORAD Santa Tracker

NORAD is the most reliable name in Santa tracking. On the job since 1955, when a young child from Colorado Springs accidentally called in (he meant to call a number advertised by a local department store), they’ve been following Santa’s journey using their radar technology ever since.

Now, NORAD, the joint U.S.-Canada command responsible for protecting the skies over both nations, staffs up for the big night, with a number available for children to call for status reports and an online tracker.

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When does the NORAD Santa Tracker start?

On Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, of course.

How do I follow Santa’s journey with the NORAD tracker?

Santa is on the move, as you can see below. If it doesn’t load, it can be found at www.noradsanta.org

You can also call NORAD directly at +1 (877) HI-NORAD.

See Santa’s location on the Google Santa Tracker

In 2004, Google started tracking Santa as well, because, well, there’s a lot of interest in Old St. Nick. Google has a  website. While you’re waiting around for Santa, Google’s guide includes a family guide, quizzes and various Christmas-themed games to play.

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Why might the NORAD Santa Tracker and Google Santa Tracker disagree?

All of our tracking technology is made for mere mortals, but Santa is magic, and he likes to create a little bit of mystery. It wouldn’t do for children all over the world to be catching him as he comes down the chimney to deliver presents. He would never get any work done! So sometimes, to keep the magic alive, he throws off the trackers, just a little bit.



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Up to $5,000 reward offered for tips on who dumped emaciated dog’s body in trash bag in Rhode Island

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Up to ,000 reward offered for tips on who dumped emaciated dog’s body in trash bag in Rhode Island


Lincoln, RI – PETA is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction on cruelty charges of the person(s) responsible for dumping a dead dog at Barney’s Pond on Smithfield Avenue.

On December 14, the Lincoln Police Department responded to a report of a dead animal in a trash bag in the parking lot of the pond and discovered the body of a severely emaciated dog with visible signs of trauma. They believe the body was left between the evening of December 13 and the morning of December 14. A white Toyota RAV4 may be connected to the case and is considered a vehicle of interest.

Police are searching for this vehicle of interest, a Toyota RAV4. Photo: Lincoln Police Department

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No leads or suspects have been identified, so PETA is asking for the public’s help.

“This poor dog was apparently starved, abused, and then dumped on the side of the road like garbage,” says PETA Senior Vice President Colleen O’Brien. “There may be other animals in the perpetrator’s possession, so PETA asks anyone with information to come forward immediately—other lives may depend on it.”

Anyone with information about the deceased dog or the vehicle should contact Detective Lieutenant Brad Stewart at 401-333-8485.



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