East Greenwich Pendulum
Saugatucket shores evolving, but the river still has friends
WWAKEFIELD ith nearby Wakefield Elementary School to be demolished and Friends of the Saugatucket disbanding, it might seem like the Saugatucket River is facing tough times ahead. But some people in the community are committed to seeing it...
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RISING IN THE RANKS
The North Kingstown Police Department held a promotions, commendation and swearing-in ceremony last week. Detective J. Dylan Navakauskas (below right) was presented the Purple Heart award and Detective Ashely Depolito (below) was awarded a department...
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ALONG FOR THE SLIDE
NK residents young and old made the best of the first significant snow fall accumulations of the season. The former Wickford Elementary school hill was a favorite spot for sledding and playing in the snow this past weekend. Clockwise from top: Levi...
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‘ TIS THE SEASON
The annual tree lighting celebration in East Greenwich included a parade of vintage fire engines, a ballet performance, music by St. Luke’s choir and a visit from Santa Claus.
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NK High School recognized for commitment to Uni ed sports
NORTH KINGSTOWN — North Kingstown High School is the latest local school to be honored for its commitment to inclusion and respecting students of all abilities. Hundreds gathered in the gymnasium last Friday to witness the unveiling of a black and...
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ST. NICK IN WICKFORD
Wickford celebrated the 40th annual Festival of Lights this week as hundreds of people lined the town dock on Saturday to watch Santa’s arrival by boat. The jolly ol’ fellow was led through the harbor by his elves in canoes and kayaks. Hundreds of...
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IT’S EASY BEING GREEN
Casey Farm in Saunderstown held its annual evergreen wreath making workshops this past week. The popular event for the past seven years brings attendees to the farm to learn how to make a wreath from scratch. The group practiced together on an...
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TURKEY TIME
The newly opened Gansett Wraps in North Kingstown gave away 150 turkeys to NK residents on Saturday. The family-owned company gave away a total of 400 turkeys at its 6 locations across Rhode Island and Connecticut. The Mahmoud family has given away...
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FEST FRIENDS
The NK Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 152 recently sponsored the fifth annual Oktobervets in Wickford. The family friendly event included a 5K and kids run followed by a traditional Oktoberfest, with plenty of German food and beer as well as kids...
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HONORING VETS
Residents gathered in Wickford Village on Tuesday to honor veterans during the annual Veterans Day parade. The tradition evolved from the original Armistice Day, commemorating the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month; the end of World War I, and...
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Dozens of ‘Irreverent Warriors’ march for vets’ mental health
The inaugural Irreverent Warriors Rhode Island Ruck started and ended on the bike path at the Seabees Museum in Quonset, where dozens of veterans lined up layered in camouflage, red, white, and blue, or sometimes both. While they were at it, they...
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HOOFIN’ IT
The annual Horribles parade sponsored by the Wickford Village Association was held on Saturday. Following the parade, kids were invited to trick or treat at the village shops. Clockwise from top: the Sheldon family; the Longley family builds a pirate...
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GIL POWER
Gilbert Stuart Birthplace & Museum in North Kingstown held its annual Fall Festival on Sunday. The event included live music, demonstrations, Fall refreshments, nature walks and of course, a visit from Gilbert Stuart. Clockwise from top: Mateo...
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STEAM TEAM
Yankee Steam Up, an annual event held since 1967 at the New England Wireless and Steam Museum in East Greenwich draws thousands of engineering enthusiasts each year. This past weekend’s event included hands-on demonstrations, lectures, a car show, an...
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LIL PUMPKINS
Wildwood Nursery and Garden Center in East Greenwich held a Fall Festival this past weekend. The event included kids activities, local arts and crafts vendors, food, live music, and plenty of pumpkins, gourds and fall plants for sale. Clockwise from...
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TURNING BRIGHT
Thanks to a local maritime expert, a local family trust, and thousands of license plates, one of the most passed-by lighthouses in the Ocean State will soon look a little different. The Plum Beach Lighthouse, which is best visible while traveling over...
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NEVER FORGET
The annual 9/11 remembrance ceremony was held at the RI Memorial Veterans Cemetery in Exeter last week. The event was attended by local and state delegates. Clockwise from top: Lt. Col. Andrew C. Cairns, URI professor of Military Science speaks; North...
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EASY PICKINGS
The sweet smell of fall was in the air this week at North Kingstown’s Narrow Lane Orchard. Owned and operated by NK residents Sharon and Stephen Grenier since 2004, the orchard is currently ripe for the picking with more than 20 varieties of apples and...
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BACK TO THE BOOKS
Local students are back to hitting the books. East Greenwich started school on August 27 while North Kingstown kids had a little extra break with the start of school this week. Clockwise from top: the first graders in Megan Klok’s class at Quidnessett...
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NK community hails the arrival of a new troll statue to Ryan Park
They’re larger than life, they’re multiplying rapidly across the ocean state, and the community absolutely loves them. A fifth 20-foot-tall giant troll has appeared in the woods of Rhode Island, this time in Ryan Park in North Kingstown. This one sits...
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Quonset Air National Guard moves into new headquarters
A local military base just received one of the most dramatic facility upgrades you’ll ever see. The last time the 143rd Airlift Wing of the Air National Guard moved into a newly built headquarters, World War II was still in progress, and would be for...
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NK officials, residents praise Food Pantry expansion
NORTH KINGSTOWN — Ted Holmes is a single father of three teenage boys and knows better than most how much the North Kingstown Food Pantry means to this community — and how much the organization’s upcoming expansion, which was marked last week with a...
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Annual Leapfest event promises thrills this weekend in Southern RI
EXETER — The skies above Southern Rhode Island are set to fill with whirling rotors, soaring canopies, and precision landings as Leapfest returns this Saturday, August 2, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at Adams Farm in Exeter. Now in its 41st year, the Rhode...
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Historic Preservation Garden is sprouting at Varnum House
EAST GREENWICH – A new Historic Preservation Garden at Varnum House Museum is paying homage to East Greenwich history and Colonial life. Following in the footsteps of the Varnum Continentals and Revolutionary War soldiers, history enthusiasts at the...
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Funerary care is not just black and white at NK family business
NORTH KINGSTOWN — When plans called for a vintage VW bug to accent a Grateful Dead fan’s life, weather didn’t cooperate, so the car came right into the Quinn Funeral Home for the wake and services there. For others, it might be something...
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WHAT A SITE TO SEE
EAST GREENWICH — East Greenwich is responding to Rhode Island’s housing crisis with the grand opening of Soria Apartments, a 63-unit development providing affordable housing for middleincome and workforce families, older adults and disabled...
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KEEPING IT 100
Longtime North Kingstown resident, George Silva celebrated his 100th birthday on Sunday with nearly 300 guests in attendance. The event was coordinated by volunteers from the NK VFW Post 152 and St. Bernard’s Catholic Church. Numerous commendations and...
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IT’S A HEAT WAVE nd
Feet danced on the scorching sand like water drops on a hot skillet. Even the normally bracing 64-degree Atlantic felt like relief as crowds dove in to escape the week’s brutal heat and humidity. Summer had arrived and in a flame-throwing 2025...
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North Kingstown High School salutes a memorable 2025 class
KINGSTON — No pandemic could get in the way of the North Kingstown High School class of 2025. From arts to athletics, they succeeded in just about everything they did. Superintendent Dr. Kenneth Duva highlighted this and more at last week’s graduation...
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East Greenwich High celebrates Class of 2025 at commencement
East Greenwich High School once again graduated in style this year at one of the most breathtaking stages in Rhode Island. Students, teachers, family and friends made the trip up to the Veterans Memorial Auditorium in Providence, with the State House...
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EG Chamber membership grows with new local businesses
EAST GREENWICH – In the span of five months since the start of 2025, the East Greenwich Chamber of Commerce has added 17 new businesses to its membership. These businesses, while not all in full-swing yet, span a wide array of activity and contribute...
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Community pitches in to help Matunuck Oyster Bar
SOUTH KINGSTOWN — A community of friends — from near and far — is rallying around the Matunuck Oyster Bar to help owner Perry Raso and over 300 employees with financial losses following last week’s fire at the culinary landmark. Collections of money,...
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Local legislators seek fixes to state’s health care woes
PROVIDENCE – It may have been Rhode Island Health Care Day during National Hospital Week and a time for celebration, but numerous state legislators congregated with health care leaders at the State House library on Thursday afternoon to discuss a...
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Health
It’s a problem that nearly every Rhode Islander has faced, is facing now, or will face in the near future. Access to health care, and even more acutely, access to primary care providers, is at a crisis point in Rhode Island, according to hospital...
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Thomas admits he ‘was wrong’ to conduct naked fat tests
NORTH KINGSTOWN — Former high school coach Aaron Thomas called it “wrong” in testimony this week to have conducted so-called naked fat tests for 28 years on school athletes and said doing it was an “old habit” that prevented him from stopping when...
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NK native seeks to help college students entering dorm life
A local teenager has set out to solve a problem that can crush the mental health of a concerning amount of college students: Dorm room living. Sofia Torrado, a North Kingstown High School graduate, said her freshman year at Salve Regina University...
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Local lawmakers react to death of Senate leader Ruggerio
Words of condolences and tributes have echoed around the state for state Senate President Dominick Ruggerio, 76, who died Monday from cancer. He fought the disease for the last year and had frequent absences from the Capitol as he tried to regain his...
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Charlie Baker to speak at NEIT commencement May 4
EAST GREENWICH – Charlie Baker, president of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and former Governor of Massachusetts will deliver New England Institute of Technology’s commencement address on Sunday, May 4, 2025, at the Amica Mutual...
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PARK AND RIDE
Mountain bikers from around the state gathered at Ryan Park in North Kingstown on Sunday for the first race of its kind since 2017. The event was organized by NKHS senior, Maida Talancy as her senior project. Proceeds from the event benefit the New...
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Colonial crew
The Varnum House Museum in East Greenwich held its inaugural Colonial Market and Encampment on Saturday. The event was free to the public and included museum tours, historic demonstrations and cannon drills performed by Col. Steven’s Independent...
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‘Super plungers’ raise over $140K for Special Olympics
Some would call it insane, jumping into the icy Atlantic at Salty Brine State Beach every time the clock reached 12 for 24 hours straight. Not to these folks, though. These people revel in participating in the annual Special Olympics Rhode Island...
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St. Pat-wick
It was a lucky day for those who visited Wickford Village on Saturday. St. Patrick cruised Wickford Harbor then greeted visitors at the town dock, giving golden coins to children who stopped to say hello to him. Local merchants set up side walk sales...
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QUEEN IN HER COURT
NORTH KINGSTOWN — Abby Kilday is finding that “Legally Blonde — The Musical” is more than just a play, but perhaps an anthem to her own desires. “I was very interested in working toward the role of Elle Woods, mainly because I loved her as a character...
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Pump House Music Works seeks community support to keep its doors open
SOUTH KINGSTOWN — The Pump House Music Works is facing serious financial difficulties that could wipe out summer 2025 and more of its programming without a $30,000 cash infusion, according to owner Dan Collins. A Gofundme page at...
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SAVE ME A BOX
Girl Scouts around the United States celebrated National Cookie Weekend February 16-18. The event encouraged consumers to support local girl entrepreneurs as they unbox a brighter future, one cookie box at a time. In Rhode Island, local troops sold...
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BEARING ARMS
This past weekend, the Varnum Memorial Armory Museum in East Greenwich held an event to honor the 1st Rhode Island Black Regiment of the American Revolution. Several artifacts were on display along with a ceremony that paid tribute to free black and...
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GAL PALS
February 13 is quickly making itself known globally as the day to celebrate female friendships. South County Choppers and Local 401 Artists encouraged women to grab their gal pals for an evening of platonic love this past week. The 2nd annual...
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South County chocolatiers gearing up for Valentine’s Day
SOUTH KINGSTOWN — If you’ve started your window shopping for Valentine’s Day, you may have walked right past some award-winning chocolate with a Rhode Island twist. Gansett Craft Chocolate just opened their first storefront at 227 Robinson Street in...
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JUST SAY ‘MO’
The James H. Eldredge Elementary School presented their rendition of the Disney classic, Moana Jr. this past weekend. The musical was the largest in school history with more than 90 children performing on stage. Pictured above, Mischa Brickman stars as...
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Two men found guilty in Carbuncle Pond murder case
PROVIDENCE – Attorney General Peter F. Neronha announced last week that two Rhode Island men were found guilty in Kent County Superior Court for the murder of Leila Duarte Daluz, whose body was recovered from Carbuncle Pond in Coventry on Dec. 21,...
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CRAFTER HOURS
The Crafted Hope Brewery in East Greenwich offered more than just food and drinks this past weekend. A pop up Bonsai Bar workshop offered participants a chance to learn the ancient art of bonsai care, styling and maintenance, creating their own tree to...
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Area vape shop owners say law could end their businesses
SOUTH KINGSTOWN — A ban on selling flavored vape products could lead to a local store closing its doors, according to court papers in a federal suit brought by Sunshine Vape in the South County Commons in South Kingstown. “We will continue to do...
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LET THERE BE LIGHT
On Christmas night, a new light appeared on the coast of Wickford Harbor. No, it wasn’t the famed Christmas star of Bethlehem, but rather a little-known lighthouse that was rekindled for the first time in nearly 150 years. The Poplar Point Lighthouse...
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WINTER WONDERLAND
In Apponaug stands a contemporary display of holiday lights. Leonardo Romano has been decorating his home for the past three years with a computer-controlled show where the lights dance in time to the music. The show runs nightly until January 4,...
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REMEMBER WHEN
This past weekend, students with East Greenwich High School’s Avenger Theater presented their rendition the musical production Back To the 80’s. The show is a jukebox musical which tells the story of a high school senior class, as remembered through...
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PRANCERS & DANCERS
East Greenwich held its annual tree lighting event on Saturday night complete with dance and musical performances, the arrival of Santa on an East Greenwich fire engine and the lighting of the town Christmas tree and menorah. Clockwise from top:...
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SHOPPING SMALL
This past weekend, Main street, East Greenwich was a busy sight as shoppers vowed to support their neighborhood shops. Since its creation in 2010, the annual Small Business Saturday has served to encourage people to shop locally. Shoppers choose to...
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BOXING DAY
It has been said that “Many hands make light work.” Nothing could have been more true this past weekend as volunteers with the NK Food Pantry gathered to prepare Thanksgiving food boxes for more than 500 North Kingstown families facing food insecurity....
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‘ Tis the (shopping) season
With the holidays just around the corner, Heritage Gifts and Glass Studio in East Greenwich invited residents to their 13th annual Sip and Shop. The business provided a cozy shopping experience with complimentary drinks to sip while shoppers browsed...
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All Saints
OLM students, faculty and families celebrated the Feast of All Saints with a beautiful mass hosted by our fifth graders... all part of their journey to become Saints and Scholars.
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Decision day for West Bay
Sheldon Whitehouse and Seth Magaziner stand with East Greenwich town council members and EG constituents outside the Hanaford school in EG on Tuesday. Right: Sheldon Whitehouse shakes hands with East Greenwich youngster, Luna Caldwell.
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SAMPLE BALLOT
Local food and products were center stage this weekend as Daves Marketplace in East Greenwich held its annual “Local Weekend” event. With over 30 local vendors setting up displays in the store, customers had the opportunity to taste new products, meet...
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CORN TO RUN
Sweet Peas Village in East Greenwich opened their doors to the public this past weekend with their free annual fall festival. The event included a corn maze designed for young children, hay rides, petting zoo, vendor market and food trucks. Clockwise...
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LIGHT SHOW
Sky watchers stood in awe on Thursday night as the northern lights put on a dazzling show. While the phenomenon is most commonly visible in regions closer to the North Pole such as Iceland, Russia, Norway, Sweeden and Alaska. This past week millions...
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Blessing of the animals
EAST GREENWICH – Dismissal on Friday afternoon in the OLM School Parking was anything but typical. Some might say it literally went to the dogs. While some parents bring their dogs to greet their kids on any given afternoon, this gathering took things...
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EG laughs for Olivia
A comedy show was held last Saturday at EGHS. The event raised close to $16,000 for improvements to the school’s softball field which has been named in honor of Olivia Rose Passaretti. The event included performances by three local stand-up comedians,...
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