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Rhode Island woman, 70, finds pearl while eating clams during date night -and turns stone into her engagement ring

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Rhode Island woman, 70, finds pearl while eating clams during date night -and turns stone into her engagement ring


A Rhode Island woman found a pearl while slurping clams during a date-night years ago and is now using the giant stone in her engagement ring.

Sandra ‘Sandy’ Sikorski, 70, and her ‘soulmate’ Ken Steinkamp, 75, were enjoying some hard clams at the Bridge Restaurant and Oyster Bar in Westerly, Rhode Island, during Christmas 2021 when they discovered the spotless stone.

Steinkamp offered her the last one on the platter, and ‘That’s when I tasted this big, round thing in my mouth, and I’m thinking, “What the heck is this?”‘ Sikorski recounted to WJAR.

‘So I take it, spit it down in my hand and put it on the table.’ 

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The couple was stunned when they realized it was a shiny pearl she had spit out, and when Steinkamp went to propose two years later, he knew he wanted to use the stone in an engagement ring.

Sandra ‘Sandy’ Sikorski, 70, and her ‘soulmate’ Ken Steinkamp, 75, found a pearl when they were shucking clams at a restaurant on Christmas 2021 

Sikorski said Steinkamp offered her the last hard clam, and when she shucked it she felt 'this big, round thing in my mouth'

Sikorski said Steinkamp offered her the last hard clam, and when she shucked it she felt ‘this big, round thing in my mouth’

They were eating at the Bridge Restaurant and Oyster Bar in Westerly, Rhode Island

They were eating at the Bridge Restaurant and Oyster Bar in Westerly, Rhode Island

The Mercenaria pearl the couple had stumbled upon was flawless, measuring 9.8 millimeters — which would qualify as six karats if it were a diamond — and is a perfect oval shape.

Experts say the clam would have had to go untouched for nearly half a century to create a pearl that size, which is uncommon for Narragansett Bay, where the clam is believed to have originated.

Along the New England coast, only one in 5,000 hard-water clams produce a pearl, most of which are ‘poor quality or damaged.’

But not the one Sikorski spit out.

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‘This has a really nice luster,’ Steinkamp told the Boston Globe. ‘That’s what caught my eye. It’s rare to get one.’

The couple immediately knew they wanted to use the pearl in an engagement ring one day

The couple immediately knew they wanted to use the pearl in an engagement ring one day

The couple immediately knew they wanted to use the pearl in an engagement ring one day, and decided to have the ring made last month.

They sent it to Marc Fishbone, a renowned goldsmith in Connecticut.

Sikorski spent about three hours talking to Fishbone about what she wanted for her ring, she said, and the couple were willing to wait a year for it to be completed.

But Fishbone finished the metalwork in just two weeks.

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He cast the gold, making it sturdy, so that the pearl did not have to be cut at all and added two diamonds from Sikorski’s personal collection. 

‘I started looking at it, and I was going in some of my drawers to see what I had to play with,’ Fishbone said. ‘I found a piece, I re-modified it, and I was able to take eight prongs and add it to the piece to make the pearl stand up.’

‘The piece came out beautiful, far better than what I ever thought,’ he said, adding that there were no blemishes on the pearl.

‘When she came to pick it up, she was almost crying and wanted to give me a big hug.’

Steinkamp also said he could hear his bride-to-be crying when he picked up the ring, which worried him at first and he pulled over his car.

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But his worry soon turned to joy when he realized Sikorski was stunned at how it came out.

‘I think it’s the way it was wrapped,’ she said. ‘It’s wrapped in 18-karat gold, and very elegant; a little vintage. Because of the luster of the pearl, the gold matched it. 

‘The yellow-gold makes it appear more special,’ she explained. ‘The filigree [metal carvings] made it look richer.’

Steinkamp eventually proposed on July 8, and the couple decided to return to the restaurant to tell the staff '

Steinkamp eventually proposed on July 8, and the couple decided to return to the restaurant to tell the staff ‘

Sikorski wants to pass the ring onto her granddaughter in the future

Sikorski wants to pass the ring off to her granddaughter in the future

Steinkamp eventually proposed on July 8, and the couple decided to return to the restaurant to tell the staff ‘and they were excited about it. They posted it on their website,’ he said.

Bridge Restaurant hostess Myra Dionisio said the eatery was thrilled to be the backdrop of their love story.

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‘I can’t even tell you of the thousands and thousands of oysters and cherrystone [clams] everyone shucks each day,’ she said. ‘Not once in five years has anyone mentioned anything about finding a pearl. 

‘We need to hear more stories like this.’ 

Sikorski now wants to one day pass on the ring to her granddaughter.

‘It’s a great feeling honestly,’ she said. ‘It’s a vision, and seeing a vision come true.’

Steinkamp added they had rings early on in their relationship ‘just as a token of our commitment, but this [pearl ring] amps up the promise. 

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‘I think it’s the making of a Hallmark movie,’ he said.

Some people have since told the couple they’ve been searching their entire life for a pearl from a hard shell, considered to be one of the rarest gemstones.

‘I’m humbled,’ Sikorski said. ‘It is possible to make something beautiful from something you take for granted — a little thing you found in a clam.’ 



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Providence man arrested in connection to narcotics and firearms investigation | ABC6

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Providence man arrested in connection to narcotics and firearms investigation | ABC6


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PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Rhode Island State Police said a Providence man was arrested after police allegedly discovered multiple narcotics and a gun inside two residences on Sept. 23.

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47-year-old Joel Garcia was charged with possession with the intent to deliver over 1 kilogram of fentanyl, possession with the intent to deliver over 1 kilogram of cocaine, possession with the intent to deliver one ounce to one kilogram of methamphetamine, possession with the intent to deliver fentanyl, possession with the intent to deliver cocaine, possession with the intent to deliver methamphetamine, possession of a firearm while committing a controlled substance violation, unlawful possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, and distribution of a controlled substance in a school zone.

According to RISP, police received court-authorized search warrants for two residences in Providence in connection to a narcotics and firearms investigation.

Inside an apartment on Dresser Street, police allegedly seized 1.7 kilograms of fentanyl, 2.3 kilograms of cocaine, and 147 grams of methamphetamine.

Police also searched Garcia’s residence on Portland Street and allegedly seized one fully loaded pistol.

According to police, Garcia had allegedly used the apartment on Dresser Street to “store, package, and distribute large amounts of fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine.”

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Garcia was arrested and charged.

RISP, Providence police, Cranston police, North Providence police, Johnston police, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Rhode Island National Guard Counterdrug Program assisted in the investigation.





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The Ocean State’s Bond With Robert Redford

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The Ocean State’s Bond With Robert Redford


Millions have been mourning the death of a cinematic icon over the last week with the passing of Robert Redford at age 89.

The award-winning actor is arguably one of the most famous of all time. With over 70 films to his credit on screen and nine he directed throughout his career, Redford’s work in cinema stands out as some of the greatest.

Though only two of Redford’s movies were ever filmed in Rhode Island, the Oscar-winning actor has a deep connection with the Ocean State.

Redford’s Family Roots Near Rhode Island

Though no Redfords actually lived in Rhode Island, Robert’s family was longtime residents of Stonington, CT and several members were born in nearby Westerly, RI.

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READ MORE: ‘Sopranos’ Star Officially Becomes a Rhode Island Resident

Throughout Robert Redford’s childhood there were visits to his grandparents in Stonington, where his grandfather worked as a milkman.

Presumably this time in Stonington meant crossing the state line into Westerly on more than one occasion in his youth and perhaps led to his love of the Rhode Island seaside in later years.

Filming The Great Gatsby in Newport

During his career, Redford came to Newport in the 1970s to film The Great Gatsby at the historic Rosecliff Mansion. Decades later he returned to Rhode Island with the science fiction film The Discovery and even wrote a thank you letter to Newport,  praising their preservation efforts in the city.

READ MORE: HGTV Says You Need to Drive This Road in Newport

Though when he did ultimately settle in New England, Redford chose Weston, CT as his home for almost two decades. He purchased a home not too far from his close friend and fellow actor, Paul Newman.

Evan Agostini/Getty Images

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Rhode Island Honors Robert Redford

Rhode Island never forgot its ties to the beloved actor however. In 2002 Redford was asked to be the commencement speaker at Brown University and that same year Trinity Repertory Company awarded him a Pell Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Arts.

Just one of the many lifetime achievement awards Robert Redford would go on to accumulate during his illustrious career.

20 Stars Who Hail From Rhode Island

Rhode Island may be the smallest state in the nation, but it has been home to many celebrities. Though some have moved here, filmed here or attended school here, only a handful were actually born here. These are those celebrities.

Gallery Credit: Nancy Hall

Academy Award and Golden Globe Winners from Massachusetts

These Massachusetts natives have taken home some of Hollywood’s top honors.

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Gallery Credit: Michaela Johnson

30 Things To Do in Newport Any Time of Year

Newport has always been seen as a summer destination. Wealthy New Yorkers used to escape the city in the hotter months for this picturesque seaside spot and the label as a summer vacation destination began.

There are, however, plenty of things to do in this historic town in any season and we’ve found a few that you may want to try the next time you head to Newport.

Gallery Credit: Nancy Hall





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GoLocalProv | Sports | VIDEO: Providence’s Lassiter Scores 44-Yard TD in Vanderbilt’s Upset Over #11 South Carolina

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GoLocalProv | Sports | VIDEO: Providence’s Lassiter Scores 44-Yard TD in Vanderbilt’s Upset Over #11 South Carolina


Sunday, September 14, 2025

 

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Zell Lassiter
PHOTO: Via Vanderbilt

Providence’s Jamezell Lassiter had a big play on a huge stage on Saturday when Vanderbilt football upset #11 South Carolina. SEE 7:25 MARK.

Lassiter, who played for the Edgewood Eagles and the Mount Hope Cowboys and attended the San Miguel School in Providence, smoked the Gamecocks on a 44-yard touchdown score.

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Vanderbilt won 31-7 over No. 11 South Carolina, snapping a 16-game losing streak between the two programs. 

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Zell Lassiter PHOTO: Vanderbilt Athletics

In 2024, GoLocal sports columnist Robert McMahon wrote about Lassiter’s journey to the top Division I program:

His athletic skills impressed his San Miguel classmates. Flag football, soccer, basketball—Jamezell could do it all. He was a natural athlete.

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But the transformation of Zell, as he likes to be called, happened in the San Miguel classroom. 

READ MORE HERE

 

 

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