Dear Chris,

I just wanted to take a moment to thank you and your colleagues, especially including Paul Williamson and Kevin Dunphy, who served as moderator, for inviting me to take part in the Social Studies Department’s mayoral forum Monday in the Tolman High School auditorium.

The questions posed by the students were so well thought out, and covered such wide ground, I think the local media could have probably learned a thing or two from them!

Hopefully the students themselves learned not only something about where I and my opponent, Mr. Kinch, stand on nuts and bolts issues like economic development and school funding as well as the core issue of leadership itself, but also will be inspired to personally take part in the political process, whoever their preferred candidate may be.

My favorite part was the opportunity to engage with the students during the rounds of questions as well as interacting with them one-on-one after the forum. It is truly an inspiration to be around young people who are excited about learning and who want to be involved in the future of their community.

Their courtesy, sincere interest and knowledge of the important issues facing the city are a fine tribute to what you and your colleagues are able to accomplish in class every day. While I recognize that confidentiality issues prevent sending each student a thank-you note, I trust that you will be able to communicate my sentiments to them.

Once again, thanks for the invitation, and hopefully we can look forward to similar events in the future, which I would certainly welcome.

Sincerely,
Don Grebien

             In 2008 there were 29 alcohol related traffic fatalities in Rhode Island. And while this statistic is sad and unnecessary, there is hope in Rhode Island. My name is Kellie Knight and I am a Senior at EPHS. I would like to take this opportunity to provide you all with some hope by shedding some light on the efforts that are taking place in RI and right here in East Providence to help end this horrible epidemic. As part of the East Providence Prevention Coalition’s “Townies Putting the Brakes on Underage Drinking” campaign, the youth led leadership group DICE sent seven teens to the MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) TeamSpirit Summer Conference.

            MADD started in 1980 after a teenage girl was killed by a repeat drunk driving offender. The girl’s mother and sister decided to take action, and MADD was formed. In just under 30 years, national drunk driving deaths have plummeted from 30,000 deaths a year to 15,000. Though this number is still high, it is because of the efforts of MADD that the deaths per year have been cut in half.

            TeamSpirit took place this past summer at Bryant University where RI teens spent 4 days and 3 nights learning about the facts and dangerous effects of drinking and driving, as well as, underage drinking. A recent questionnaire was given to those of us that attended the conference. Here are a few of the questions and responses we gave: When Katie Westgate, a sophomore at EPHS was asked why she personally chooses not to drink, she said, “With all of the parties I go to, it’s hard not to drink. I personally don’t drink because I want to do well in life; I don’t need alcohol ruining that.” Humberto Rodrigues, a freshman at EPHS was asked; why he thinks it’s important for teens to attend MADD TeamSpirit. “I feel that the more teens that attend MADD TeamSpirit, the more educated RI and the US become about drinking. When I grow up and can drive, I want to feel safe on the road. So the more teens there are that attend, the safer I feel.” These responses show just how much of an impact TeamSpirit can have on young people’s lives.

      Schools and Community Groups from all over Rhode Island were given the opportunity to attend TeamSpirit. We did and learned a lot in the four days we were there. We attended workshops where we heard from victim’s families, we did team building exercises and worked on our Youth Action Plans. What’s an Action Plan you ask? The Action Plans are created by the youth within their school or community group they come to the conference with. We came up with activities and events to hold within our own communities. This is a way to keep everyone involved with MADD beyond the TeamSpirit conference. While TeamSpirit may be fun and rewarding, the most important part of the conference is what the youth bring home.

      DICE’s Action Plan consists of sponsoring a victim throughout the year, having prom pledges at the High School, asking teens to pledge not to drink and drive on Prom night, Safe and Sober Tuxedo pockets which is much like prom pledges except an antidrinking and driving message will be placed in tuxedo pockets at local tuxedo rental shops, a post prom party for the high school, Project Sticker Shock and compliance checks. We attended MADD’s Candlelight Vigil and represented DICE in this year’s MADD’s Mocktail Competition which honored Jeff Monica with our drink Jeff’s Peachful Gratitude.

      It is unfortunate that there is still drinking and driving in Rhode Island, and that groups like Mothers Against Drunk Driving have to exist. I believe strongly that MADD’s efforts, conferences like TeamSpirit and groups like DICE provide hope for the future.  

      DICE is a youth led program that empowers young people to make change in the community through leadership development, peer education and service to the community. DICE welcomes youth in the 7^th to 12^th grades who are interested in becoming youth leaders/advocates to empower others to make positive change in the community. Year round DICE meetings are held Wednesday nights from 5-7pm, currently at the East Providence Rec Center. If you or any other potential youth leader you know are interested in becoming an advocate for change, please contact the East Providence Prevention Coalition (EPPC) office at 401.435.1923 or eppc@cityofeastprov.com.

Kellie Knight/Senior at EPHS.

The 7Th Annual Edd Pedro’s “Fight for a Cure” Mega Raffle and Wiffle Ball Tournament to benefit the Arthritis Foundation on August 8, 2010 9AM – 5PM. at Slater Park in Pawtucket RI. There are three tournament  divisions: Youth (up to 12), Adult Competitive and a Fun Tournament spots filling up so sign up today! Prizes for best funny team uniforms. Prizes for the top two raffle ticket sellers (let me know if you would be interested in selling tickets) Looking for sponsors and volunteers, do you need to do community service? Free tournament t-shirt for all players. Does your company match donations? Please forward this on to anyone who might be interested in playing, sponsoring or volunteering! If you can’t make this event but would like to donate, you can either go to www.wiffleman.com or send a check to Arthritis Foundation Wiffleball 30 Brookdale Blvd Pawtucket RI 02861
 
Any questions drop me an email or give me a ring.
 
Edd
401-447-4486
www.wiffleman.com

 I write to you out of concern that the city is seriously considering putting an added burden on our already over-burdened taxpayers in the form of mandatory charges for expensive trash bags through a so-called recycling company based in South Carolina.

 While at first appearance it may seem that what this company is proposing would bring a quick financial windfall to the city, I believe it could potentially come more under the heading of, “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.”

 Too many questions remain unanswered or unaddressed about this proposal, which also appears to be taking on the shape of a sole source contract without competitive bidding, nor even any requests for proposals that might elicit competitors and cut the price. Why?

 It is my recommendation that, minimally, much more study is required and a wider search for other possible vendors must be done before we even begin to think of socking the taxpayers for $2 a trash bag, 52 weeks a year, which at a modest two weekly bags per household would dump $208 a year on taxpayers’ shoulders, for a service their regular taxes have always paid for in full. Especially in times like these, that’s way out of line.

 Key questions I have yet to see addressed in the public forums or elsewhere include:

 What are the percentage distributions of revenue that the city and Waste Zero would respectively receive? Without knowing this share-to-share basis, it remains impossible to even begin evaluating if this is a good deal for the city or a bad one, or how bad or good, or whether the city’s end should be higher and by how much.

Even if such a program does, at some point, become necessary to reduce the city’s waste stream tonnage and tipping fees to the landfill, as well as boost recycling by residents, everything possible should be done to minimize costs to residents. It is not at all clear that outsourcing this service to a for-profit company assures that.

Has the city examined whether it can provide the same, or better, service by  keeping the program in house, thus cutting the cost to taxpayers and residents? 

Other questions I have include: Why was this proposal not put out to bid or an RFP process to minimally get more competitive pricing? What was the $1.7 million in estimated annual revenue for the city based on? How much would the vendor make on that basis? How has that worked out in other communities where this program is already running? What has been the reaction of those residents? Is there any federal “green” stimulus money that could help the city defray costs of a city-run program to increase recycling? How does money spent on a vendor for bookkeeping costs save the city any money, since the city itself for budget purposes must run all those numbers anyway? Will the city be hiring yet more outside lawyers to monitor this sole source contract? 

No sensible person these days can deny the importance of recycling, and statistics show the city can and should do better, and in fact must improve its recycling rate to meet the state’s rising standards to avoid hefty financial penalties for not doing so. I’m sure we all agree that recycling what waste we have and reducing what’s dumped at the landfill is the only environmentally and fiscally responsible way to go.

I’m also sure that city officials tasked with this responsibility, particularly Director Carney, spend many thankless hours seeking solutions to boost recycling and cut costs.

But surely this vendor, which was basically a bag supply and reprocessing company before changing its name and focus a year ago this month, cannot be the sole supplier of biodegradable bags (which it has only moved to in recent weeks) in this country. And even if it is decided that pay-as-you-throw is the only way to go – which for my part, I remain far from convinced – then much more must be done to reduce costs to taxpayers, many of whom already separate out all their recyclables yet would also take a hit.

Further, the city needs to look at other areas where related savings may be made, such as the large goods disposal that currently costs taxpayers approximately $150,000 a year.

At a time where the city continues to struggle to pay for the basics like fire, police and schools, and taxpayers are weighed down by a continued bad economy, any program that would put more weight on taxpayers’ shoulders should be much more heavily scrutinized and scrupulously examined than this proposal has been thus far.

I call on both the Mayor and City Council to slow down the runaway freight train of this proposal until it is more thoroughly looked at to assure whatever action is taken is in the best interests of all taxpayers, and not just another quick fix we may all live to regret.

Sincerely, 

Donald R. Grebien

Pawtucket, Rhode Island

Via United States Postal Service:

December 29, 2009

Mr. Steven Wright
206 Shippee Plat Road
Coventry, RI 02816

Dear Mr. Wright,

I write to you today in my capacity as chairman of the Democratic Party of Rhode Island with regards to the gubernatorial “debate” or “forum” you have attempted to organized and schedule for next month. After personally consulting with both Democratic candidates for governor and reviewing the Providence Journal’s reporting of your efforts, I have advised and encouraged both Democratic campaigns to refrain from attending what clearly appears to be an orchestrated event designed to benefit another potential candidate.

Both the general treasurer and attorney general are ready and eager to engage in a public discussion of the important issues facing our state. However, I would respectfully suggest that any event which includes a “mystery guest” and another declared candidate seated in the audience creates what can only be described as a sideshow atmosphere. These variables combined with dramatic changes to the format after the two Democratic campaigns agreed to participate indicate that this event would be anything but fair and impartial.

It is my opinion that you systematically misrepresented both the purpose and specific arrangements of the aforementioned “debate.” The people of Rhode Island deserve to hear an honest exchange of ideas between candidates brought together by well-respected and non-partisan organizations.  I am well aware of ongoing discussions between both Democratic candidates and other reputable, non-partisan groups interested in sponsoring or hosting candidate debates. The voters of Rhode Island deserve more than politically crafted events disguised as good government forums.

Rhode Island will face significant challenges in the coming years and this a time for real leadership and serious, meaningful debate. I would proudly put either of our fine Democratic candidates up against any of the other rumored gubernatorial candidate as both are capable of leading this state in a new and better direction.

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at my office, (401) 721-9900.

Sincerely,

William J. Lynch, chairman
The Democratic Party of Rhode Island

To make your secure tax-deductible donation, please click here . To make a pledge by phone, please call Brian Platt at (401)723-4266, ext. 16. Thank you so much for your generous contribution.

You were terrific again with all your coat and warm stuff November donations. You helped make our annual NAP Warm Hearts Coats n’ Buy Nothing Day a Brighter Winter Holiday for all our neighbors to select warm things on Black Friday-November 27th .

Thank you and we know that you and yours will share a wonderful holiday season knowing your donated warmth was shared with the thousands in need on the 27^th at the Pawtucket Visitors Ctr.

We know many went to provide even extra support knowing that past supporters might be hurting now.

Thanks again to you & our many volunteers & collectors* and we will be back again with your help for November 26^th 2010.

Sincerely,

Arthur M. Plitt, President- Neighborhood Alliance of Pawtucket

http://www.neighborhoodlink.com/NAP-_Neighborhood_Alliance_of_Pawtucket/home

*City of Pawtucket, Home & Hospice Care of RI, Pawtucket Library, Oakhill Rehab & Nursing Home, St Paul’s Church, Jewish Family Services, Pawtucket Credit Union, American Insulated Wire, Brown University & Men’s Lacrosse Team, Holy Cross Church, Woodlawn Community Center, Ahlers Designs & Providence Metalizing. 

May all your ‘journeys have the spirits of our roundtable with you!!
           ><../’/_/ KingArthur/_//<>

Even though the federal government has yet to take serious action to address our growing energy and climate change problems, it is heartening to see that some of our local leaders aren’t waiting around for someone else to tell them what to do. 

The U.S. Conference of Mayors announced that 1,000 mayors across the nation have agreed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Among those are the mayors James Doyle of Pawtucket, Dennis Canario of Portsmouth, David Cicilline of Providence, and Scott Avedisian of Warwick. The residents of these cities should applaud their leaders for their commitment a cleaner future and a reduced dependence on foreign fossil fuels.

We can’t forget however, that there are 39 towns and cities in Rhode Island. We wonder why the mayors of these other towns didn’t sign on to also reduce their carbon emissions. It’s hard to fathom why a local leader wouldn’t want reduced utility bills for his or her residents, cleaner energy, and more green jobs.

-Bailey McRae, Fellow

Environment Rode Island

 Holly Near is a unique combination of entertainer, teacher and activist. An immense vocal talent, Near’s career as a singer has been profoundly defined by an unwillingness to separate her passion for music from her passion for human dignity. She is a skilled performer and an outspoken ambassador for peace who brings to the stage an integration of world consciousness, spiritual discovery, and theatricality.

A peace activist and advocate for human and civil rights, Holly has linked the multitude of issues that are our lives, refusing the idea of separate “causes.”  Amidst all her work for peace and human rights, Holly is a consummate singer and entertainer. When she sings show tunes or songs from the 30s, her audience knows that Ms. Near could have chosen to be a Broadway musical star or a cabaret artist. And yet, these great songs come through Holly’s unique world experience and we hear them as if for the first time. Out of this gentle, vibrant woman comes a huge voice, a unique sense of humor, an unexpected theatricality and a startling power. The moment she feels trapped in a genre, she breaks into a song that challenges the boxes and stereotypes.

 n her new CD (2009), “We Came To Sing,” Holly Near and emma’s revolution (Pat Humphries and Sandy O.) put their unique stamp on songs from Holly’s repertoire. Introducing this CD, Holly has said, “… Artists often accept the consequences of a broken heart so that we might heal a wounded soul. Some paint, some dance, some write. We came to sing.”  Pat and Sandy describe the collaboration with, “… On this recording, the three of us have delved into these songs, each venturing back into her musical beginnings, passions and influences to create arrangements that sometimes even surprised us!  We hope you enjoy the ride.”

Near will be joined by John Bucchino, a singer, songwriter, and composer, with whom she has worked for 25 years Among the numerous awards honoring his music include his musical “It’s Only Life” winning the Los Angeles Ovation Award, and his work for the Dreamworks animated film “Joseph, King of Dreams” with the DVD Premiere Award. He wrote the music for the Broadway musical “A Catered Affair,” with Harvey Fierstein writing the book (winner of the Drama League Award for Best Musical). His song “Grateful” was used in an award winning children’s book, a part of the Julie Andrews Collection.

Using Holly Near’s words from Listen To The Voices, come to Stone Soup on Sunday, October 11, to “Listen to the voices …?Calling out the messages?…Telling us what we need to know?….”

Holly Near’s website is http://www.hollynear.com/.