John Howell

3 weeks ago | warwickonline.com | John Howell

Gloria was outrageous in a good way. She was colorful and commanded attention no matter where she was. That was her trademark, but as I learned, not her defining attribute. Gloria Walker was a foster grandparent who for many years was known as Grandma Gloria to kids at Wickes School. She and school principal Roy Costa were well matched. Both stood out as live, high-energy wires. Roy, who loves anything Disney but especially Mickey Mouse, wore ties featuring Disney cartoon characters.

3 weeks ago | warwickonline.com | John Howell

Janice Ruggieri has worked at Norwood School for years. She knows the parents, the kids and what to expect. Last Thursday, however, she was in for a surprise. Since last October, school Principal Sabrina Antonelli , five teachers, a number of parents and, of course, the students had been working on the Disney Aladdin Kids production as part of the Disney Musicals in Schools, outreach program in partnership with the Providence Performance Arts Center.

3 weeks ago | warwickonline.com | John Howell

Imagine that the Department of Transportation decided to remove selected road numbers on the basis they are no longer needed because motorists have access to GPS. One could argue that’s akin to what the US Coast Guard is proposing to do by removing 350 navigational aids from a total of 5,640 – mostly buoys – between New Jersey and Maine on the basis that they no longer serve a useful purpose. In Narragansett Bay, 32 buoys are considered to be potentially no longer essential.

3 weeks ago | warwickonline.com | John Howell

Santa was dressed for the occasion. He’d put aside his heavy coat trimmed with fur for something lighter. His beard was fluffy white. He was jaunty, quick to laugh and delighted to see the kids, a leather-bound book of Santa’s list of who’s naughty and nice at his side. One thing was missing. What had happened to Santa’s rotund figure? He looked trim in his vest, even svelte. Had he been on a New Year’s resolution diet?

3 weeks ago | warwickonline.com | John Howell

On Nov. 5, 2022, a total of 58.8%of 33,045 Warwick voters casting ballots approved a $350-million bond issue to build new Toll Gate and Pilgrim high schools.Next week, two groundbreakings will be held – the first on Monday, June 9 at 1 p.m. at Toll Gate and the second on Tuesday, June 10 at noon at Pilgrim – in a symbolic start to a process that has the schools openingin 2027. Symbolic, because the planning, design, site borings and bidding on construction materials started more than a year ago.