Connect with us

Rhode Island

Officials urge heating safety checks as temperatures plummet

Published

on

Officials urge heating safety checks as temperatures plummet


As early morning snowfall gave way to cold and blustery conditions, residents across Southern New England rushed to prepare for the winter season.

Shoppers at Lowe’s in Warwick were seen stocking up on essentials like salt and shovels as temperatures dipped below freezing.

“We’re getting some salt, shovels, the regular stuff,” said one shopper. “I’ve picked up salt and then I took my dog here because I can’t take him to the park, it’s too cold.”

Despite a milder fall, life-long New Englanders are bracing for a harsher winter.

Advertisement

“Last year was a little bit mild, but I think it’s going to be worse,” said another resident.

The Rhode Island State Fire Marshal’s Office is urging residents to ensure their heating sources are safe.

“Wood stoves, pellet stoves, should be cleaned and maintained by professionals. Making sure your chimneys are properly cleaned. We absolutely go to several of these fires each year,” said Deputy Chief State Fire Marshal James Given.

Additionally, the Rhode Island Coalition to End Homelessness has issued a critical call to action, emphasizing the need for seasonal warm spaces for those without homes.

“For some reason in Rhode Island we have struggled every single year to make sure we have adequate resources. It’s December and we have one seasonal shelter that’s come online,” said Jennifer Barrera with the Rhode Island Coalition to End Homelessness.

Advertisement

With the height of winter approaching, residents and advocates agree that more work is needed to prepare for the harsh conditions.

Experts also remind the public that winterizing vehicles is crucial for safety during the cold nights ahead.



Source link

Rhode Island

CRMC asks RI Superior Court to force Quidnessett Country Club to take down rock wall

Published

on

CRMC asks RI Superior Court to force Quidnessett Country Club to take down rock wall


The Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) filed a counterclaim against Quidnessett Country Club in Providence County Superior Court Tuesday. It wants a judge to force the North Kingstown country club to remove the 600-foot stone wall built without permission roughly three years ago.



Source link

Continue Reading

Rhode Island

Why a Taylor Swift wedding might shut down Westerly streets

Published

on

Why a Taylor Swift wedding might shut down Westerly streets


play

  • The potential wedding of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce in Watch Hill, Rhode Island, presents a significant logistical challenge.
  • Transporting celebrity guests would likely occur in three phases: from airports, to wedding events, and back to airports.
  • A large, out-of-state limousine company would probably be needed to handle the transportation for the high-profile event.
  • Using large coach buses would be necessary to move guests to wedding activities and ease traffic in the small village.

As Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce eye possibly getting married at her Watch Hill, Rhode Island, mansion, The Providence Journal is surveying various wedding vendors about what it would take for the Ocean State to host a wedding befitting the most popular woman in the world.

Imagine a crowd of A-list celebrities descending on the village of Watch Hill in Westerly this summer to attend the wedding of mega celebrity Taylor Swift and football star Travis Kelce.

Advertisement

To Chuck O’Koomian, who owns Airline Express Limousine and Car Service with his wife Ginny Cauley, it’s like a scene out of a horror movie.

“It’s gonna be a logistical nightmare,” O’Koomian told The Providence Journal.

How will guests arrive at Taylor Swift’s wedding in Westerly?

While Swift has not announced when or where her wedding will be, O’Koomian talked about what would be involved in getting a large celebrity crowd to the wedding, if it were held at her Bluff Avenue mansion, the nearby Ocean House resort or the Watch Hill Chapel, where Miss Universe 2012 Olivia Culpo tied the know with football player Christian McCaffrey in 2024.

O’Koomian, who has provided transportation for comedian Jay Leno, who has a home in Newport, said there would be three distinct phases of ground transportation:

Advertisement
  1. Getting people from airports to their hotels
  2. Getting people from their hotels to the wedding activities
  3. Getting them back to the airports

The middle phase, delivering people to wedding activities, very well may not be just a one-day affair. Many say Swift won’t have a wedding day; they’re expecting a wedding week.

While some guests, especially those in New York or Connecticut, would probably just have their drivers bring them to Westerly, others would fly in by private jets, probably landing at Westerly State Airport or Quonset State Airport, whose military runway is long enough to handle larger jets. From there, guests would need a ride to where they are staying.

What Westerly residents have to say

Folks in Westerly have surmised that, even if it’s not the site of the ceremony or reception, the Ocean House, along with its sister property the Weekapaug Inn, plus several rented, private mansions would be needed to accommodate guests.

O’Koomian expects that a large limousine company – such as Boston Corporate Coach or Carey Limousine, in Massachusetts, or Hy’s Limousine, in Connecticut – with more than 120 cars each, would get the contract to serve Taylor Swift’s wedding. “There’s not even 120 cars in Rhode Island, all the companies combined,” he said, adding that, as a subcontractor, he would hope to get a piece of the business.

Advertisement

Could a fleet of private cars filled with stars snarl traffic in Westerly?

This first phase of local transportation would involve many trips of smaller parties. “They may come in two, three, four at a time,” he said.

While that is suitable for limousine service, getting from hotels to the ceremony, reception and other events, would require a different strategy for that second phase. “It’s like they’re transporting a football team,” he said.

That would mean “coaches,” the upscale version of buses. They would ease the traffic burden that would be created by limousines ferrying some 300 wedding guests around the tiny village of Watch Hill.

“It’s gonna take a lot of coordination if it’s Westerly,” O’Koomian said. “They’re going to have to shut down half the city. Police would have to shut down streets.”



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Rhode Island

Rhode Island man crashes into house in Raynham after apparent medical episode

Published

on

Rhode Island man crashes into house in Raynham after apparent medical episode


A car crashed into a home in Raynham Tuesday afternoon.

Police said they responded to a report for a vehicle that crashed into a home shortly before 1 p.m. on Broadway Street.

Officers at the scene said they found a sedan that had crashed into the lower brick portion of the home.

Investigators said a man from Rhode Island appeared to suffer from a medical episode before leaving the roadway and crashing into the home.

Advertisement

Police said the driver suffered non life-threatening injuries. He was transported to Boston Medical Center – South in Brockton.

Officers said the home was empty at the time of the crash.

The Raynham Building Department responded to assess the home for structural damage.

Comment with Bubbles

BE THE FIRST TO COMMENT

Advertisement

The crash is under investigation.



Source link

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending