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Thursday, May 17, 2012

EDC Head Resigns, Ehrhardt Calls For Loan Caps Following 38 Studios Controversy

The head of the state's Economic Development Corporation has stepped down following the controversy of Curt Schilling's 38 Studios.

Keith Stokes has stepped down as the head of the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation amid the controversy surrounding Curt Schilling’s videogame company 38 Studios, according to the Providence Journal. The company, headed by the former Red Sox pitcher, defaulted on a $1.125-million payment to the state on May 1. On Wednesday, Schilling and members of 38 Studios met with state and EDC officials in an emergency meeting that was closed to the public. In 2010, EDC approved a $75-million guaranteed loan to the videogame company following 38 Studios’ promise to bring 450 jobs to the state by the end of 2012 and moved its business from Massachusetts to Providence. Stokes, a longtime board member of the EDC, was appointed by former Gov…

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

HEALTH: Shellfish From Korea Shouldn’t Be Eaten

Citing contamination risks, the Rhode Island Department of Health and the Federal Food and Drug Administration is recommending no consumption of Korean shellfish.

The Rhode Island Department of Health is advising consumers not to eat any fresh or frozen shellfish that comes from Korea. So far, nobody has been sickened. The federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has reported that all fresh and frozen shellfish, and many products made from these shellfish, shipped from Korea to the United States may be contaminated. This includes frozen breaded shellfish products from Korea. Effective immediately, FDA has removed all certified dealers in the Korean Shellfish Sanitation Program from its Interstate Certified Shellfish Shippers List. This stops the shipment of fresh and frozen molluscan shellfish from Korea to the U.S. Molluscan shellfish include oysters, clams, mussels and scallops. States have been…

Monday, May 14, 2012

Readers' Choice: Best Liquor Store In Cranston

Vote on which local liquor store is your go-to for all your beer, wine and liquor needs.

You might not know it from the March-like weather Rhode Island experienced last week, but the unofficial start of summer — Memorial Day — is only a couple weeks away. That means it's time to break out the BBQ pit, stock the freezer with grillable meats and — of course — fill the fridge with your favorite adult beverages. Maybe you want to cool down with an ice-cold beer, relax on the deck with a refreshing vodka-tonic, or fill your glass with your favorite red or white varietal. Whether it's beer, wine or liquor you crave, there is no shortage of package stores in the area to supply you with your favorite spirit. Just about any liquor store will carry plenty of Jack Daniels, Absolut, Sam Adams and a typical assortment of table wines. But …

Jonathan Keith

9:18 am on Thursday, May 17, 2012

I like Atwood Wine but the people that work there seem so unpleasant... There is no quick conversation at the counter, and a smile may come around every blue moon. I wish they were more friendly because it is closer, but I take the extra drive for the customer service.   more ›

Friday, May 11, 2012

Readers' Choice: St. Anne's Best Place For A Staycation

Patch readers name St. Ann Art and Cultural Center best staycation spot in this week's poll.

We asked Cranston Patch readers where they'd prefer to go for a staycation destination and the results are in. After five days of voting, St. Ann Art and Cultural Center has been named the Readers' Choice for Best Staycation Spot in the area. St. Ann Art and Cultural Center received an overwhelming 84 percent of 135 total votes on the poll, with 114 votes. "I have to admit that I was brought to tears when I saw the two War memorial Frescoes dedicated to World War II," commented one reader, Peter, about a recent visit to the former church. "One painting dedicated to the Army and the other dedicated to the Navy. This beautiful building, I learned, was built during World War I and the frescoes were painted during World War II. I was also …

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

After One Year, Details Barbershop is as Sharp as Ever [VIDEO]

Details Barbershop on Dyer Ave. celebrates one year in business and continues to grow.

"It's all about the detail work and the sharp edges," said Manny Garcia, or Manny Fresh, owner of Details Barbershop on Dyer Avenue. And that's what keeps the customers coming to the barbershop, which combines the best of old-school cut and shave shops of yore with the modern vibe sought after by today's stylish men. "I was introduced to him by a friend, I tried him out and I liked him," said Justin Perry of Cranston who was getting a cut yesterday. "I've been coming here ever since — about one-and-a-half years." It's the only barbershop that has Providence College basketball players as regulars. Come in for a quick cut, or get the deluxe treatment with hot towels, a straight razor shave in a chair that reclines. "It's something a lot of …

Perry A. Caruso

11:00 am on Wednesday, May 9, 2012

I have been going to Alfredo who works at Details for about a year an a half,I followed him from another shop he and Manny worked at. I am 52 and in business for myself and sometimes don't have time to waite for a hair cut.Whats great about Details is I can either walk in or call him on his cell and he always accomodates me. The place is great!! Check it out.   more ›

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Utility to Inspect Power Lines with Low-Flying Helicopters

Be on the lookout for low-flying helicopters on Monday, May 14.

If you see a low-flying helicopter next Monday, don't worry — the police aren't conducting a manhunt. It's actually a National Grid crew inspecting overhead power lines. In a job that seems to take the term "workplace hazards" to new heights, these helicopters fly close to the lines to "spot potential problems with equipment structures or lines so that they can be addressed before service interruptions occur," according to a National Grid press release. Many of the lines are in remote areas, making travel with vehicles difficult. The birds-eye perspective also makes it easier to spot problems or impending issues with tree limbs getting too close to lines. The inspectors also use infra-red cameras to spot infrastructure wear and tear.  “…

Saturday, April 28, 2012

Readers' Choice: Best Florists in RI

For Mother's Day, a get well gift or for a romantic gesture for that special someone, nothing says it like flowers. Patch readers choose their favorite places to pick up a floral arrangement.

It's the classic romantic gesture ... showing up on her doorstep with a bouquet of her favorite flowers. But if you truly want to make an impression, no ordinary convenience store bouquet will do. You need an artistic arrangement from the people who know the trade best. So where do you go to find the best blooms? Patch wanted to help readers decide which florists create the best arrangements in town. We asked readers throughout the state which shop in their town is their favorite. After five days of voting, the winners are in. Check out which florists readers think are the best of the best and support your favorite in the comments section below. Even better, check out the winners, buy that special someone a special gift, and upload a …

Friday, April 27, 2012

Readers Pick Arrow Florist as Best in Cranston

They started in 1963 and have been going strong ever since. Patch readers recongized Arrow Florist as the best florist in Cranston in this week's Readers' Choice poll.

"That's wonderful!" Thos were the words of Joyce Pagliarini, founder of the business, when she heard that Patch readers overwhelmingly voted Arrow Florist and Park Ave. Greenhouses as the best florist in Cranston in this week's Readers' Choice poll. "I knew that when I joined Patch when you were first coming around it was the right thing to do," she said. And according to readers of this site, getting your flowers from Arrow Florist, which opened in 1963 and has been going strong ever since, is the right thing to do. Business is much slower than it was about 10 years ago due to the bad economy and high unemployment. Flowers are often considered a luxury purchase and when families are cutting back, fresh cut flowers end up on the table less…

Golden

9:12 am on Saturday, April 28, 2012

I vote for Twigs great designs,quality and overall pricing!   more ›

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Report: Population Changes Make Cranston Unemployment Look Worse than Warwick

The Ocean State Current analyzed unemployment and census data.

Cranston's unemployment rate for March is 1.4 percent higher than its neighbor Warwick, but, according to an analysis by the Ocean State Current, population changes between 2000 and 2010 seem to slightly exaggerate the difference. The reality? Warwick isn't doing all that much better than Cranston during this painful period of sustained high unemployment, the Current's analysis suggests. Both cities, which are often compared together because of population and economic similarities, are doing better than the state average. But it's hard to say anyone is doing that great when the state average is about four points higher than the national average. According to the OSC report, Warwick lost population and its labor force increased by a mere .6…

Joe Richer

5:56 am on Friday, April 27, 2012

Sounds like more unemployed left Warwick for greener pastures than left Cranston. The trend will continue as our state legislature and governor fiddle while Rome burns.   more ›

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Cafe Luna Gets Full Liquor License

The City Council approved a change of Cafe Luna's liquor license from class B to BV. That means the restaurant can stock a full bar and serve spirits.

Now you can get a gin and tonic with your veal saltimboca at Cafe Luna. The popular Garden City Center restaurant got the OK from the Cranston City Council for an upgrade to its class B liquor license last night. The establishment now has a class BV license, thanks to the unanimous council vote. That gives it permission to stock a full bar and serve cocktails and spirits in addition to the the beer and wine it could serve before the liquor license upgrade. The matter came to the council with unanimous support from the Safety Services and Licensing Committee.

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