East Providence News Briefs

Comfort dog Marty will retire with Sgt. Rogers but will still be around for locals to greet

Crescent Park Looff Carousel awarded a commemorative stamp by US Post Office in July ceremony

Posted Tuesday, August 6, 2024 10:08 am

City’s 2020-2040 Comprehensive Plan Public Hearing

The City's 2020-2040 Comprehensive Plan is now in its Final Draft phase and is available for viewing on the city web site (2020-2040 Final Draft). A public hearing of the Planning Board is scheduled for Monday August 19th at 7:00 pm to review the Plan, receive input from the public and provide a recommendation from the Board to the City Council for formal adoption of the Plan. “The East Providence Comprehensive Plan sets the course for our future. It expresses our aspirations as a community to protect and support what we love about living in East Providence. The Comprehensive Plan looks at where we are, where we want to go, and how we’re going to get there. It helps us be proactive and strategic about what happens in East Providence over the next 20 years. Because it outlines our future path, it will be used to guide public and private

investments. It shows what we want to preserve, what needs to be strengthened, and what could be transformed to meet current and future needs of residents and the business community,” said city planners. Questions in advance of the hearing should be directed to the Department of Planning and Economic Development at 401-654-4288. Components of the plan include:

Land Use
Recreation
Natural Resources and Conservation
Housing
Historic and Cultural Resources and the Arts
Economic Development
City Services and Facilities
Transportation and Connectivity
Natural Hazards and Climate Change
Sustainability
Waterfront District

City Receives $250K for Streetscape Improvements

In a press release, the City of East Providence announced it will see a facelift to parts of the Watchemoket and Warren Avenue Commercial Corridor after being awarded $250,000 through the Main Street Rhode Island Streetscape Improvement Fund Grant.

The funding will go towards sidewalk improvements to met ADA requirements, new crosswalks, street trees, benches, and trash receptacles on Warren Avenue from Watchemoket Square to Broadway.

Warren Avenue has become a popular destination for both local residents and out-of-town visitors with the help of the Comedy Connection, several well-known restaurants and the nearby East Bay Bike Path.

“We are grateful to RI Commerce for granting us this award,” Mayor Bob DaSilva said. “This funding is an opportunity to beautify a portion of the city that we have placed a great deal of emphasis on in a highly walkable area near our flourishing waterfront.

“The history of Watchemoket runs deep in East Providence, housing thousands of middle- and working-class families in the late 1800s, DaSilva added. “We couldn’t be more excited to continue revitalizing a major piece of East Providence’s history, and bringing it back to its former glory.”

Currently, Warren Avenue contains a diverse mix of land uses that support commercial investment and numerous small businesses. This grant funding will help to prioritize this corridor of East Providence to attract more and varied commercial uses, particularly restaurant and arts and entertainment-related businesses.

The total project cost for the improvements project will be $300,000. The City will be using $50,000 of its $500,000 ARPA placemaking allocation toward the physical improvements identified in the grant.

“The City has placed a great deal of emphasis on physical improvements to the Watchemoket Square/Warren Avenue corridor in pursuit of promoting economic investment and the beautification of one of the City’s most important commercial corridors,” East Providence Planning and Economic Development Director Keith A. Brynes said. “This is a major step in the right direction.”

Safe Streets for All - RIPTA Survey

The Rhode Island Public Transit Association (RIPTA) secured funding through the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) program to manage a statewide safety process that will result in 32 community safety action plans. The City of East Providence is a participating community. A Safety Action Plan will be developed for East Providence through this work. The Safety Action Plan will establish guidelines to implement safer streets and prepare East Providence with approaches to known and emerging safety and mobility challenges – for all modes of transportation. The plan will help identify priority projects and position East Providence for continued federal implementation funding. Engagement will be kicking off this summer with an online survey and in-person events. Please check the project webpage to complete the online survey and to track future engagement opportunities:

SS4A Project Website: https://us.planengage.com/ri_safestreets/page/home

Statewide survey (also on the website) https://us.planengage.com/ri_safestreets/page/survey_split

Harry “Hawk” Edmunds Honored with Street Naming

The city of East Providence and Mayor’s Advisory Council on Indigenous Affairs honored Harry “Hawk “ Edmonds with a street dedication ceremony on Saturday, July 13, 2024.

Edmonds is a Sachem and an esteemed member of the Pokanoket Tribal Nation, whose family has lived in the Leonard Avenue portion of East Providence for nearly 200 years. The Edmonds family legacy has strong roots in the area, encompassing Grosvenor Avenue, North Hull Street and Leonard Avenue, locally known as “Edmondsville.”

Harry “Hawk” Edmonds comes from a lineage of distinguished athletes, excelling in athletics and becoming a Rhode Island All-State first-team selection in basketball, while also being a standout in football and expanding his sports prowess in 1993 when he won the Boston Open Golf Championship at the age of 57. Edmonds is also an inductee of the East Providence High School Hall of Fame.

Edmonds is an outspoken leader and advocate for the Indigenous People of Southern New England, he is a proud member and honoree of the Massachusetts Center for Native American Awareness and also displays his passion and connection to his Indigenous heritage at Powwows held throughout Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut.

It is for all of these reasons and more that the City of East Providence has proclaimed that Leonard Avenue shall also be known as Harry “Hawk” Edmonds Way.

EP Weaver Library receives $205K in funding

In another grant received by the City of East Providence, it was announced in late July that the Weaver Public Library has received a $185,000 grant award from the Champlin Foundation, and $20,000 from book sales hosted by the Friends of the East Providence Public Library group. The Champlin Foundation is one of the oldest philanthropic nonprofit organizations in Rhode Island. The Friends group, founded in the 1980s, is a member supported, nonprofit organization that advocates for and contributes to the services provided by the library.

The funding is to support interior improvements at Weaver Library, including new service desks and seating for patrons. Library staff have identified and requested modifications to the existing service desks to enhance their ability to offer timely and welcoming customer service and allow for more interdepartmental collaboration in providing library services.

“We are so thankful for the generosity shown by the Champlin Foundation and the Friends of the East Providence Public Library, both organizations which have always been so responsive to the capital needs of so many communities including ours,” Mayor Bob DaSilva said. “These funds will go a long way towards helping the Weaver Library enhance its abilities to bring the best possible services to the people of our city.”

“On behalf of the Friends of the East Providence Public Library, we were happy to contribute to the funding for the interior upgrades through the proceeds of our book sales,” Friends of the East Providence Public Library President, Cheryl Muth said.

“The interior improvement project is the culmination of more than a year's worth of work by a library staff team who are passionate about transforming the library to improve our ability to best serve the community,” East Providence Library Director Meredith Bonds-Harmon said. “This project will provide improvements needed for the library to fulfill its mission of being a welcoming space to facilitate self-education and promote lifelong learning.”

Since 1932, a total of 1,210 individual organizations have received funding from The Champlin Foundation. Each year their grants provide funding for a diverse range of needs and capital projects with the goal always being to improve the lives of Rhode Islanders.

EP Police Enforce Compliance & Confiscates $22,000 in ‘ENDS’ Devices

The East Providence Prevention Coalition (EPPC) and the East Providence Police Department (EPPD) release a joint statement after recently conducted compliance checks for Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) retailers. During these checks, one retailer was found in violation, selling ENDS products, commonly referred to as vapes or e-cigarettes, to a minor and possessing over $22,000 worth of prohibited flavored devices, including the popular Elf Bars, which were subsequently confiscated.

This compliance check and confiscation are in addition to previous compliance checks during which the EPPD seized and destroyed over $13,000 worth of illegal ENDS products.

“The EPPD is intensifying its enforcement efforts to ensure illegal products are not sold to minors. In Rhode Island, retailers must hold an ENDS license to sell such devices. Furthermore, they are required to sign an attestation acknowledging that flavored ENDS products are prohibited in the state and agreeing not to sell them,” said the statement.

Governor McKee recently signed legislation that permanently codifies the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) ruling from 2020, reinforcing the ban on flavored ENDS products. This law is a critical step in protecting the health of youth and limiting their access to these appealing products.

“The public health threat posed by the youth vaping epidemic cannot be overstated. The rise in e-cigarette use among teens has led to significant health concerns, including nicotine addiction, respiratory issues, and potential long-term impacts on brain development. Flavored ENDS products, such as Elf Bars, are particularly appealing to young people due to their sweet and fruity flavors, making them a gateway to nicotine dependence.”

“Additionally, it is important to note that these flavored devices are not only illegal in Rhode Island but also not authorized for sale in the United States by the FDA. The FDA has only authorized 23 e-cigarette products for sale in the U.S., and all of these are tobacco-flavored. In December 2023, the FDA seized 1.4 million illegal e-cigarettes valued at over $18 million, underscoring the widespread issue of unlawful ENDS products.”

Sergeant Kelvin Cabrera of the EPPD stated, "The East Providence Police Department is honored to team up with the EPPC to conduct compliance checks. This type of proactive enforcement is crucial in order to ensure that businesses within East Providence are compliant with the regulations, which in turn ensures the health and safety of our youth. Our goal is to eliminate the availability of these harmful products in our community.”

“In my opinion, we’re seeing a blatant disregard for the regulations,” said Madeline Marlow, the Coordinator for the EPPC. “This is directly impacting the health and well-being of our youth and community. We deeply appreciate the EPPD’s enforcement actions taken to protect our youth and reduce access to these illegal and harmful products.”

Marlow also stated, “We’re finding that the value of the flavored tobacco products being confiscated is significantly higher than the fines.”

The EPPD warns that any prohibited products will be confiscated in future inspections. This ongoing effort aims to reduce the availability of flavored ENDS devices that are particularly attractive to teens, thereby addressing the public health concern.

For more information, please contact: Bethanie Rado, Youth & Media Relations Coordinator

East Providence Prevention Coalition, brado@eastprovidenceri.gov.

EP Police Arrest Three after Armed Robbery

In a statement from the East Providence Police Department, police said they were alerted to a robbery where shots were fired at the victim around 9:00 am in the area of James Street last month. “The victim approached an officer working a traffic detail and gave a description of the suspects and the vehicle they were in. Several officers and detectives responded to the area and located a red Honda CRV that had crashed at the intersection of James Street and Blanding Avenue. Neighbors confirmed hearing gunfire and directed officers to the vicinity of where the three suspects fled on foot. Reports are centered on a social media type sale gone bad.

Officers set up a perimeter and focused on the Central Avenue playground area where they located the three suspects hiding behind the skate ramp. All three were taken into custody without incident. A loaded firearm was also located in the immediate area of the three suspects. All three were positively identified by the victim and brought to the police station to be processed. The suspects have been identified as;

Abel Nolasco (dob:02/09/1986) of Bronx, New York
David Ramos (dob:11/07/1990) of Bronx, New York
Alex Manuel Jesus Marte (dob:02/14/1996) of Providence, RI

All three suspects have been charged with the following criminal offenses;

1st Degree Robbery
Conspiracy
License Required to Carry a Firearm
Discharging a Firearm While Committing a Crime
Discharging a Firearm from a Motor Vehicle
Possession of Large Capacity Feeding Device
Receiving Stolen Goods
Firing in a Compact Area
Disorderly Conduct

Additionally, both Ramos and Jesus Marte are being held on ICE detainers due to illegal reentry into the United States.

Local Crash is Fatal for Warwick Woman

At approximately 2:00 pm on Thursday July 18th, East Providence Police Officers were dispatched to a motor vehicle crash that involved a vehicle from our DPW Highway Division. Apparently a black Jeep suv crossed the double yellow line into the path of the DPW vehicle striking it head on.

Once on scene, the officers began treating the female operator of the black Jeep who had serious injuries. The female was transported to Rhode Island Hospital by East Providence rescue where she was later pronounced dead.

A passenger in the city vehicle was also transported to the hospital to receive treatment for minor injuries. The operator of the DPW truck was not transported to the hospital. I did speak with both of our DPW employees to check on them and they are doing well. The East Providence Police Traffic Division and accident reconstructionists are investigating the crash. The female's identity is not being released until notification to family has been made.

EP Fire Deals with a couple of House Fires in July

Several companies and vehicles responded to a vacant 1 1/2 story wood frame house located at Juniper Steet, fully involved in fire, with a neighboring garage exposure on the right side of the structure. The Fire was quickly put in check and brought under control with first due companies deploying large hand lines. The garage exposure was preserved and no injuries were reported. Neighboring structures were saved from any spreading danger.

Annual Police Night Out on August 6th

East Providence Police: “Mark your calendars! This year's National Night Out will be held on August 6th from 5pm to 8pm at the city Senior Center on Waterman Avenue. “Stop by and see what our community has to offer. Police K9 demonstration, activities for kids, face painting, local business showcase, karate demonstrations, and much more! A special thanks to East Providence Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association for their continued support.”

The EPPD announced the retirement of Sergeant Jayson Rogers last month. Sergeant Rogers has spent most of his career in the Patrol Division and most recently in the Community Policing Unit (CPU). While in CPU he served several years as the school resource officer at Martin Middle School and ultimately the supervisor of the unit. Most notably, Sergeant Rogers was responsible for developing the comfort dog program and bringing EPPD Marty to the agency. Sergeant Rogers and Marty played an important role in the city, especially the schools. “Unfortunately, with Sergeant Rogers' retirement, Marty will also retire. Sergeant Rogers assured us that Marty will still be visible in the community and will continue to spread joy with his presence,” said a police spokesperson.

To Block or Not to Block

In May of 2017, the city enacted a traffic change on a busy Pleasant Street in Rumford. Vehicles could no longer travel north on to Pleasant Street from Pawtucket Avenue. A lot of motorists would use Pleasant Street as a cut through on their way to Newman Avenue and on to Seekonk, Mass. The action at the time was said to be in response to neighborhood complaints about the traffic pattern. A neighborhood meeting was at the source of the complaints, leading to Do Not Enter signs being erected by the Department of Public Works. Former DPW Director Steve Coutu reported in 2017 that the issue was long upsetting to residents on Pleasant Street. However, a different group of residents - those on nearby Miller Street and others - began complaining that people were now cutting through their small side streets to access Pleasant Street. The DPW said it would monitor.

Fast forward to July of 2024 and the area in question is still raising concerns. Reportedly, some Pleasant Street residents are upset that the Do Not Enter signs are not keeping drivers from turning north on their street and have complained to city officials. Large cement “jersey barriers” have been placed at the entrance to Pleasant street, physically stopping vehicles from entering. A social media post from Mayor Bob DaSilva stated, “The City of East Providence Highway Division has installed temporary blocks at Pleasant St and Pawtucket Ave to prevent traffic entering Pleasant St from Pawtucket Ave. Although Pleasant St is posted as a ‘Do Not Enter’, people routinely ignore the signs. We placed these in place after receiving complaints from residents that motorist are routinely ignoring the do not enter signs, entering at a high speed and driving the wrong way on Pleasant St. I myself have seen people ignore the posted do not enter signs,” said the Mayor.

After hearing competing complaints from both sides of the issue, the Mayor replied further that, “The city will be putting together a physical alteration permit application to submit to R.I. DOT to install permanent curbing. We had considered placing orange construction barrels to block the road but went with these blocks as they are safer for pedestrians using the crosswalk and look better than those unsightly orange barrels.” To be continued…