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Mask mandate lifted on RI public transit

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PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Passengers utilizing public transportation in Rhode Island are now not required to put on masks.

The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) knowledgeable passengers that efficient Tuesday, face masks are now not essential to trip.

RIPTA’s choice comes quickly after the Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) introduced it should now not implement the federal masks mandate, which has been in impact for greater than a 12 months.

Regardless of the change, RIPTA CEO Scott Avedisian stated they’re encouraging passengers to proceed sporting masks, which is in step with federal suggestions from the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC).

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RIPTA drivers are additionally now not required to put on masks whereas on the job.



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Malfunctioning steam room sets off alarm, prompts evacuation at Rhode Island YMCA

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Malfunctioning steam room sets off alarm, prompts evacuation at Rhode Island YMCA


MIDDLETOWN, R.I. (AP) — A malfunctioning steam room at a YMCA in Rhode Island pumped out so much steam that it triggered an a sprinkler system alarm on Saturday morning, prompting an evacuation.

In a statement, the Middletown Police Department said officials rushed to the Newport County YMCA in Middletown around 9 a.m. for a possible explosion but later learned an excessive amount of steam had set off the building’s emergency sprinkler system.

A 58-year-old woman was hurt but officials said it was a minor injury. The YMCA would remain closed Saturday, police said.

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North Providence shop owner, 95, still living his life to the fullest

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North Providence shop owner, 95, still living his life to the fullest


NORTH PROVIDENCE, R.I (WPRI) — George Bozigian is 95 years young.

The beloved owner of H.K.B. Market in North Providence has been in business for more than seven decades.

And he has no plans of slowing down anytime soon.

Bozigian and his father built and opened H.K.B. Market in 1951.

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Though it used to be a general store, Bozigian has changed his business model to adapt to the neighborhood over the years.

“I gave up groceries,” Bozigian said. “I’ve got a sign over there that says, ‘no food for sale.’”

Instead, HKB Market focuses solely on selling lottery tickets.

“We still get a few customers,” Bozigian said. “But I’ll tell you, they’re the best people you could meet.”

Bozigian’s answer was simple when asked why he continues to come to work every day.

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“It’s worth my while,” he explained. “I come because they’re the best customers I’ve got. I don’t care if I never get another [customer].”

To Bozigian, his longtime customers are his friends.

“They’re good to me,” Bozigian continued. “There isn’t a thing they wouldn’t do for me and there isn’t a thing I wouldn’t do for them.”

Bozigian told 12 News it’s also boring just sitting at home. He loves socializing with his regulars, most of whom swing by at least once a week to buy their tickets.

“My social life is in this building,” he said, referring to H.K.B. Market. “I don’t go to the Foxy Lady to socialize. At 95, you stay away from there.”

Bozigian’s son said his father taught him everything he knows.

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“My father instilled in me a love of life, a love of family and a solid work ethic,” Kirk Bozigian said.

H.K.B. Market is open seven days a week with Bozigian at the helm. When he’s not behind the counter, Bozigian usually sits outside and “watches the cars go by” on Smithfield Road.

“People wave to me and I wave to them,” he said. “If there was work to do here, I would do it. But at this age … I don’t work much anymore.”

Bozigian doesn’t plan on ever closing down H.K.B. Market.

“I’m going to do this until the man upstairs calls and says, ‘We need you. We’ve got problems up here,’” Bozigian said. “I’ve lived a good, clean life. I never went out messing around.”

“I was with one woman all my life and I’m proud to say it,” he continued. “We were married for 65 years. I raised two kids — they’re great kids — and they married good people.”

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Bozigian’s wife Ann passed away more than a decade ago, which is part of the reason why he had to scale back H.K.B. Market’s offerings.

He spends most of his free time with his family, which includes his two children, six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Bozigian also has a sixth great-grandchild on the way.



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Rhode Island DEM Closes Fort Wetherill Bulkhead Until Further Notice for Safety Concerns – Newport Buzz

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Rhode Island DEM Closes Fort Wetherill Bulkhead Until Further Notice for Safety Concerns – Newport Buzz


The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) has announced the temporary closure of the bulkhead behind the DEM’s Division of Marine Fisheries at Fort Wetherill State Park. Effective Friday, June 14, this closure applies to both vehicular and pedestrian traffic and will remain in effect until further notice.

The decision to close this popular fishing and viewing spot along Narragansett Bay was made due to concerns over public safety. The bulkhead’s supports have significantly degraded, and potential sinkholes have emerged, a consequence of historic infrastructure combined with damage from recent storm events.

“This closure to protect public safety is another example of challenges that Rhode Island’s coastal communities are increasingly contending with due to the impacts of climate change,” stated DEM Director Terry Gray. “While enhancing outdoor recreational opportunities and ensuring shoreline and fishing access across Rhode Island remain priorities for DEM, public safety concerns necessitated this restriction. We are working to quickly and safely restore access to this great fishing and sightseeing spot.”

Fort Wetherill State Park, located on 100-foot-high granite cliffs across the water from Fort Adams State Park, is a historical site that once served as a coastal defense battery and training camp, with structures dating back to before World War II. The park, which spans 61.5 acres, was acquired by the State of Rhode Island from the United States in 1972. The DEM’s Division of Marine Fisheries has been based at this location since the early 2000s, and the bulkhead currently serves as a berthing site for the Division’s research vessels.

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Despite the closure, parts of the area will remain accessible for authorized vehicles and personnel to continue DEM’s scientific research activities. Public parking will still be available at other locations within the park, including the upper lot near the Division.

 

 

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