Tuesday, March 5, 2013
The town had budgeted $149,000.
Despite the biggest blizzard in years and other storms, the town's snow removal costs are still under budget, Town Manager Bill Sequino told Town Councilors last this week. The town had budgeted $149,000 for snow removal, mainly for overtime costs. So far, according to Public Works Director Joe Duarte, they have spent $140,000. "We’re right on the money with the snow budget," Sequino said. Most of the budgeted money is in the form of overtime for those workers who plow the streets. They had their work cut out for them this year. "We've had some very tough storms," said Town Council President Michael Isaacs. Even Public Works Director Joe Duarte wasn't spared. He was out for 24 hours driving a plow truck during the blizzard. The only …
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Starting at around 10 p.m. Tuesday, the crew shoveled, plowed, and vacuumed up snow from both the street and the sidewalks.
Snow is so pretty as if falls. But the reality of all that heavy snow from last weekend's blizzard was anything but pretty on Main Street by Monday. Drivers struggled to find places to park, pedestrians had to navigate through or over giant snow mounds, and store owners lost business. The EG Department of Public Works made it all – most of it anyway – go away in a significant operation Tuesday night into Wednesday morning. That Main Street snow? It's now piled up in the parking lot above the town boat launch on Crompton Avenue. "We understand the importance of Main Street," said DPW director Joe Duarte. "I wish we could have done it Monday." The rain Monday interfered with those plans, as crews did yet more snow plowing and had to …
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Sarah Grillo opened up at Felicia's Saturday morning expecting to serve a few plow drivers, but got slammed.
When the blizzard hit last week, Felicia Revens was away, but she wanted to open up her coffee shop as soon as possible to be a resource for those working the storm. She arranged to have her cousin, Jamie Piscopio, who has a truck, pick up Sarah Grillo, who lives downtown, to have her open up. The idea was other workers would follow, but with road conditions so bad, it soon became clear that Grillo was going to have to handle things herself. "We didn't think it was going to be busy," Grillo said. "We opened at 7 and there were plow drivers already waiting." By 8 a.m., things started getting really busy. "Everyone that came in kept saying we were the only place open around for miles and miles," said Grillo. "It was just nonstop." Grillo…
The storm Friday to Saturday brought more snow to East Greenwich than the town had seen in decades.
If you've been on Main Street in the past two days, you know it's not at its best and the sidewalks ... well, for long stretchs of Main Street, they are impassable. "Most of the time they spent trying to widen the roads and clear drains," said Town Manager Bill Sequino Monday afternoon about the Public Works crew. He said he'd initially hoped the crew could clean up Main Street Monday night. The plan now is to clear the sidewalks Tuesday night. The DPW crew began work Friday morning and continued through the weekend, with little rest. As Sequino said, "It was a very messy storm." During the storm, the EG Fire District had 52 calls, according to Chief Peter Henrikson, but none of them serious. There were fire alarm soundings, a gas leak, …
Monday, February 11, 2013
The Blizzard of 2013 closed schools Friday and Monday.
The mini-mid-winter break is over. The good news (for some, anyway!) is the real winter break is just four days away. The Blizzard of 2013 prompted school officials in East Greenwich and across the region to cancel school last Friday, in anticipation of the storm's arrival. Classes in East Greenwich were cancelled Monday because two schools remained without power Sunday afternoon and because roads needed additional clearing to make room for buses, cars and pedestrians. Both of those issues have been resolved, so school is back in session Tuesday. Better get to that homework, everyone! To read more about the Blizzard of 2013, check out these stories: Sunday Blizzard Blog: Power Picture Improves, Still No Word On School Saturday Blizzard …
Sunday, February 10, 2013
The Blizzard of 2013 prompts a second day of no school for students in East Greenwich and most of Rhode Island.
There will be no school for East Greenwich public school students Monday, Feb. 11. Power has been restored to much of the town, but as of 4 p.m. Sunday, both Meadowbrook and East Greenwich High School remained without power. In the recorded phone message that went out to families, Supt. Victor Mercurio said, "Due to power outages associated with the storm, there will be no school Monday." Even if power had been restored, however, Town Manager Bill Sequino had said opening the schools might not have been safe, with roadways still clogged with snow. On Monday, town DPW crews will be widening the roads, making it easier for cars, buses, and pedestrians.
Life is getting back to normal, but power outages, rain tomorrow are still causing problems.
Sunday, Feb. 10 4:15 p.m. 1:45 p.m.
Pictures of the storm as it descended Friday.
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Goddard State Park
1095 Ives Rd, East Greenwich, RI
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Your guide for life in East Greenwich today, Feb 10.
Power Out? As of Saturday at 11 p.m., there were 836 customers still without power in East Greenwich. National Grid estimated power will be restored by Monday night. That’s a long time to be cold and dark. If you need help, there’s a warming shelter at Warwick Vets High School in Warwick, or, you can charge up and warm up at the Community Room at the police department. Shower & Power at the Y: The Kent County YMCA is offering free showers and battery charging to community members affected by the recent snowstorm and power outages, starting this morning – Kent County YMCA, 900 Centerville Road in Warwick, 401-828-0130. As of Saturday night, the West Bay Y, on Post Road in North Kingstown, was closed due to no power. A photo ID and signed …
Saturday, February 9, 2013
The regional warming shelter for East Greenwich is Warwick Vets, but perhaps we can help out closer to home
I've heard from a couple of readers asking about warming shelters. The warming shelter for our region is Warwick Vets High School in Warwick. And the Community Room at the EG Police Department is available, with heat and plugs. But how about helping our out-of-power neighbors with warm food, charging stations and, perhaps, a bed for the night? If you've got power and are willing to help, consider reaching out to those you know who are dark. Maybe it's an impromtu dinner invitation or slumber party. Let's see if we can help make these next hours/days easier. Any suggestions of how to organize this effort are appreciated!
Heather Larkin
2:39 pm on Tuesday, March 5, 2013
As always, DPW does a great job! more ›