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Providence man preserving RI’s history brick by brick

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Providence man preserving RI’s history brick by brick


PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Andrew Grover resides proof that Legos aren’t only for children.

The lifelong Rhode Islander spends most of his days laborious at work within the depths of his Windfall house, recreating most of the state’s historic landmarks brick by brick.

“I really like the historical past [of Rhode Island] and the previous buildings we have now round right here,” Grover mentioned. “I assume I’ve taken it in a unusual course.”

“It’s quirky and it’s enjoyable, however it’s additionally critical,” he added. “I prefer it as a result of it’s a medium that may be each of these issues on the identical time … Lego [art] could be one thing anyone can like and need to have a look at, however then there’s a critical message behind it too.”

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Grover reworked right into a “quirky artist” whereas holed up throughout the pandemic.

“Folks love Legos,” he mentioned. “Who has ever mentioned they didn’t like them? Perhaps once they step on them … however other than that, I feel it’s one thing all of us universally have a connection to.”

When requested how lengthy his tasks sometimes take to finish, Grover mentioned every one requires a “good quantity of labor.”

“That’s a tough query for me to reply as a result of I by no means simply sit down and work for days till I’m performed,” he mentioned. “Some issues get labored on a number of hours right here and some hours there … you additionally must order lots of bricks, so that you get interrupted by issues like that.”

For Grover, the satan’s within the particulars.

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He makes certain to take a number of footage of the outside of the constructing lengthy earlier than he begins.

“I do know what I must search for, so getting my very own footage of the skin of the constructing is necessary,” he defined.

Whereas he wouldn’t share all of his secrets and techniques, Grover mentioned it’s most necessary to emphasise the home windows.

“You need to ensure the home windows in your mannequin carefully match the window type of the constructing,” he mentioned. “Arches, columns, corbelling … these are a few of the little issues I search for.”

However constructing historic replicas out of Legos isn’t low-cost.

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To offset the price, Grover is consistently seeking inventive methods to fund his tasks.

Up to now, Grover has acquired funding from the Rhode Island Council on the Arts, Windfall’s Division of Artwork, Tradition and Tourism and the Windfall Public Library.

Certainly one of his favourite tasks, a reproduction of Cranston Excessive Faculty East, was funded totally by alumni.

“That was enjoyable as a result of there’s lots of Thunderbolt spirit on the market,” Grover mentioned.

Grover mentioned he’s most happy with his recreation of the Windfall Public Library, which is on everlasting show contained in the constructing.

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Proper now, Grover mentioned he’s within the means of constructing the Carl Lauro Faculty on Federal Hill.

“It’s an exquisite snapshot of Windfall historical past,” he mentioned. “The constructing itself is architecturally attention-grabbing. It’s a kind of buildings that was on a submit card sooner or later.”

There are tons of of historic buildings and properties scattered throughout the state. Whereas all of them are necessary, Grover mentioned he loves specializing in those which are most missed.

“I need to make [replicas] of buildings that folks don’t essentially care about,” he mentioned. “It’s a kooky option to make a critical level … there’s message behind this work.”

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Rhode Island

An appreciation of Joe Biden; RI’s underpaid doctors | Letters

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An appreciation of Joe Biden; RI’s underpaid doctors | Letters


Thank you, Joe Biden

Trump has learned that if he tells lies often enough and loudly enough, they will be believed.  He keeps repeating that Joe Biden has been a terrible president. 

In fact, President Biden has accomplished much.  He tackled the COVID crisis by helping hospitals get supplies, getting COVID vaccines distributed, making free testing kits available, sending checks to all Americans, and helping people return to work and students return to school.

He revitalized the U.S. participation in NATO and supported Ukraine vs. Putin. 

He recognized climate change and rejoined the rest of the world in battling its effects.

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He appointed the first Black female Supreme Court justice.

He initiated projects to improve the nation’s crumbling infrastructure.

He oversaw the U.S. economy’s rebound from the pandemic.

The list goes on.

But, best of all, he stopped the daily flow of lies that had been streaming from the White House.

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Cindy Kaplan, West Warwick

Better compensation for doctors

What is happening to the health-care system in America?  The quality of care seems to be diminishing.  One of the reasons is the abysmally poor salaries we pay to our medical residents and fellows, doctors who have already spent years in medical school and are now honing their skills in hospitals throughout the country. 

The problem is especially acute in Rhode Island where these young doctors are paid an average of less than $70,000 per year at our hospitals (“Resident doctors make union bid,” News, Nov. 21).  

How can these doctors’ patients and hospital management expect them to excel while trying to survive on such meager wages for four to seven years of residency and fellowship, especially with the high cost of housing in Rhode Island and with their average quarter-million-dollar student loan debts?

The only thing that keeps at bay the hounds who are constantly calling for the nationalization of our health-care system is that our country provides the best medical care in the world.  Nationalization would destroy our system as it has done in the UK and Canada.  

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Poor pay and overly arduous working conditions foisted upon residents and fellows in the U.S. will lead to fewer quality doctors entering the profession.  Nationalization will eventually follow.

I have opposed unions in the past, but when we pay our young doctors less than what we pay electrical and plumbing apprentices, something is terribly wrong. 

If we want our citizens to continue receiving the world’s best medical care, we better start properly compensating residents and fellows and allowing them a bit of time off.  Otherwise, they will enter other professions and the quality of medical care in America will deteriorate to that provided by nationalized health systems. 

Lonnie Barham, Warwick

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Saving RI’s forests

Many environmentalists are concerned about the upcoming administration being filled with individuals who do not take climate change seriously. While, unfortunately, these next four years will probably take us backwards in the fight against climate change, we can still protect the environment here in Rhode Island.

Currently, Rhode Island is the only state in New England with no protected forests on state-owned land. Rare and endangered species are threatened due to their habitats being destroyed by DEM and solar developers through forest clear-cutting.

By joining the Save Rhode Island’s Forests Campaign, you can help in the effort to get legislation passed to create laws to finally protect our state forests and endangered species. In Rhode Island, you can save the environment.

Nathan Cornell, Warwick

The writer is president of the Rhode Island Old Growth Tree Society.

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Police recover watch belonging to Travis Kelce in Rhode Island following break-in of his mansion: report

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Police recover watch belonging to Travis Kelce in Rhode Island following break-in of his mansion: report


A watch belonging to Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce was reportedly found over 1,000 miles away from his Kansas mansion that was broken into last month.

The homes of Kelce and teammate Patrick Mahomes were burglarized last month shortly before one of their games — Kelce’s house is in Leawood, Kansas, while Mahomes’ residence is in nearby Belton, Missouri.

The watch was recovered in Providence, Rhode Island, where Kelce’s girlfriend, pop star Taylor Swift, also owns a home.

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Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce looks on during the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, on Oct. 20. (Michael Owens/Getty Images)

NFL players were cautioned by the league to be on high alert after the homes were broken into last month in a wave of burglaries reportedly tied to international organized crime. It was eventually revealed that $20,000 in cash was taken from Kelce’s home.

In a memo obtained by The Associated Press, the NFL issued a security alert to teams and the NFL Players Association, warning that professional athletes in different sports have become “increasingly targeted for burglaries by organized and skilled groups.”

Law enforcement officials say the suspects conduct extensive surveillance on their targets’ homes and have even posed as groundskeepers or joggers. Some have even attempted home deliveries. 

Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, left, and quarterback Patrick Mahomes, right, wait to lead their team onto the field before the preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida, on Aug. 10. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

49ERS’ BROCK PURDY, NICK BOSA RULED OUT FOR POTENTIAL SEASON-DEFINING GAME VS. PACKERS

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The memo urged players to take special precautions, including installing home security systems. They were also encouraged not to post live updates of their comings and goings on social media or showcase their expensive items online. 

“Obviously, it’s frustrating, disappointing. I can’t get into too many of the details because the investigation is still ongoing, but, obviously, it’s something that you don’t want to happen to really anybody, but obviously yourself,” Mahomes said last week.

Travis Kelce vs Saints

Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs looks on before kickoff of the game against the New Orleans Saints at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, on Oct. 7.  (Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

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The Chiefs suffered their first loss of the season on Sunday, falling to the Buffalo Bills after winning their first nine games.

Fox News’ Paulina Dedaj contributed to this report.

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Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.





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Travis Kelce’s watch found in Rhode Island after Kansas City mansion was burglarized of $20K in cash: report

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Travis Kelce’s watch found in Rhode Island after Kansas City mansion was burglarized of K in cash: report


Travis Kelce’s stolen watch was reportedly found in Providence, RI, this week after the NFL star’s mansion in Leawood, Kan., was burglarized last month.

Sources familiar with the investigation told ABC News Friday that a watch taken from Kelce’s residence — and not previously disclosed to the public — was recovered.

Details have yet to be revealed on what type of timepiece was stolen or how much it was worth.

Authorities reportedly recovered Travis Kelce’s stolen watch in Providence, RI. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
The Kansas City Chiefs tight end’s home in Leawood, Kan., was burglarized on Oct. 7. BACKGRID

Authorities previously shared that the unidentified criminals stole $20,000 cash from Kelce’s home. They did not specify whether any other items were taken at the time.

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Sources told ABC News that they think the athlete’s home was specifically targeted — and thoroughly surveyed — before the Oct. 7 burglary.

Just two days before Kelce’s pad was broken into, burglars also raided the home of his Kansas City Chiefs teammate Patrick Mahomes.

The criminals reportedly stole $20,000 from the mansion. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
Kelce’s teammate Patrick Mahomes’ house was also broken into just 48 hours before. Getty Images

Authorities have theorized the burglars may have targeted the athletes as their public football schedule reveals when they will be away from their residences.

“There is a concern about what happens if the athlete or his/her family members are present,” a security source told the outlet.

The insider shared that the burglars have gained access to Kelce and Mahomes’ houses by “posing as delivery men, maintenance workers or joggers to learn about residences, neighborhoods and security systems.”

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Kelce was playing against the New Orleans Saints, as pictured here, at the time of the burglary. Getty Images
Authorities did not previously reveal a watch had been stolen from Kelce’s pad. AP

Captain Jason Ahring from the Leawood, Kan., Police Department told Page Six that they are not releasing any information pertaining to an open investigation and maintained they will not be commenting.

Meanwhile, a Providence Police Department Public Information Officer told Page Six that they do “not have any record or involvement related to this incident.”

Kelce, 35, has yet to address the crime, but Mahomes, 29, previously expressed how “disappointing” the violation was.

“I can’t get into too many details because the investigation is still ongoing, but it’s obviously something you don’t want to happen to anybody — and obviously yourself,” Mahomes said during a press conference earlier this month.

Mahomes previously called the crimes “disappointing.” Getty Images
Meanwhile, a source told Page Six that Kelce’s girlfriend, Taylor Swift, was “thankful that no one was hurt.” Starface Photo/INSTARimages

Meanwhile, a source told Page Six that Kelce’s girlfriend, Taylor Swift, was “thankful that no one was hurt and that neither of them were home during the robberies.”

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Kelce’s home was broken into around 7:30 p.m. local time on Oct. 7 – just 15 minutes before his team kicked off against the New Orleans Saints.

Meanwhile, Mahomes’ mansion was burglarized while he was celebrating Kelce’s 35th birthday on Oct. 5.



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