Saturday, May 4, 2013
What to love and hate about living in East Greenwich this month.
RAVE: Now that the same sex marriage has been legalized in Rhode Island, may I (I am trying to use correct grammar because I am about to talk about an English teacher) take a moment to say how surprised (in a good way) I was to read Karen Izzo’s commentary on the issue on this site the other day? In these divisive times, where those in public positions like teachers, religious leaders, town employees, sports figures and celebrities are lambasted for speaking their minds on even the most mild subject – like a preference for peanut versus chocolate M&Ms – it was refreshing to read Ms. Izzo’s remarks. Let me hasten to say that I would write the same words even if Ms. Izzo’s POV did not happen to coincide with my own. (Which is why, even …
Friday, May 3, 2013
Gov. Chafee signs the bill into law after final passage in the House; East Greenwich residents react.
In a jubilant ceremony on the steps of the Rhode Island State House Thursday afternoon, Governor Lincoln Chafee signed legislation making same-sex marriage legal in Rhode Island. It becomes the tenth state with such a law. His signature came after the state House of Representatives formally passed the legislation Thursday with a vote of 56-15. The first bill proposing same-sex marriage in Rhode Island was introduced 16 years ago. Felicia Revens, owner of Felicia's Coffee on Post Road in East Greenwich, was glad the bill had become law, but she was even just happy it was finally allowed to be voted on by both houses of the General Assembly. "At least everyone voted one way or another," she said via text. "I think it's just another step in…
Thursday, April 25, 2013
EGHS teacher Karen Izzo reacts to the vote in favor of same sex marriage by the Rhode Island Senate on Wednesday.
My husband and I were too emotional right after the Senate vote to do much of anything but cry (well, that was mostly me) and hug each other. Five years ago, I wrote to a local paper asking how thinking, decent people could deny basic rights to my son who is gay. My question certainly wasn't extraordinary – for decades, civil rights advocates had been asking the same thing regarding all of Rhode Island's gay citizens. Today, the Rhode Island Senate answered: we can't deny those rights. It was both gratifying and humbling to witness, with this afternoon's Senate approval of same gender marriage, the bipartisan recognition of the principles on which our country and state were founded. The vote today revealed crisp, logical thinking and …
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
With the Senate's approval, the bill now goes back to the House for approval, then to Gov. Lincoln Chafee for his signature.
In a 26-12 vote, the Rhode Island Senate on Wednesday approved a bill that would allow same-sex marriage in the state, the last in New England to approve such a measure. The House of Representatives voted 51-19 on Jan. 25 to approve that chamber's version of the bill. Should the House pass the Senate version, the legislation would go to Gov. Lincoln Chafee, who has pledged his support. East Greenwich senators Dawson Hodgson (R–E.G., N.K., S.K., Narragansett), an early champion of the bill, and Leo Raptakis (D–Coventry, E.G., W.W.) both voted in favor of it. The Senate also approved the House bill, 26-12, and sent its bill to the House for approval. With Senate President Teresa Paiva-Weed's announcement of the vote count at 5:45 p.m., …
Your guide for life in East Greenwich today, April 24.
EGHS PTG meeting: You can learn about the plan to offer a program of Mandarin Chinese after school as a step toward including it as a regular language offering at today’s meeting. 9:30 a.m. at the high school. Senate to vote on same sex bill: Following passage of a same sex bill in the state Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday, the full Senate is scheduled to vote on same-sex marriage legislation today at 4 p.m. at the State House. Avenger Home Action: Several home games today, including Girls JV Fastpitch Softball against Exeter/W.G. at 3:30 p.m., Unified Basketball versus Westerly at 3:30 p.m., Girls and Boys Track Meet at 3:45 p.m., and Boys Volleyball against Warwick Vets at 6:30 p.m. You can follow all the Avenger action at the EG …
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
A vote in the full Senate is scheduled for Wednesday at 4 p.m.
Rhode Island took one step closer to the legalization of same-sex marriage on Tuesday following Judiciary Committee passage of a bill that would allow gay couples to marry in the state. With little debate, the 10-member Senate committee, which includes Sen. Lou Raptakis (D-Coventry, East Greenwich, West Warwick) and Sen. Dawson Hodgson (R-E.G., N.K., S.K. and Narragansett) voted 7-4 to pass the amended Senate Bill 38 (S38), sponsored by Sen. Donna Nesselbush (D-Pawtucket). The bill defines marriage as "the legally recognized union" of two people, regardless of gender. The seven Committee members who voted in favor of the bill include Sens. Stephen Archambault, William Conley, Paul Jabour, Erin Lynch, Nesselbush, Hodgson and Raptakis. …
More than 70 people from Coventry and EG gathered Monday evening in support of marriage equality legislation.
On Monday evening, more than 70 people from Coventry and East Greenwich gathered in the park at the Sandy Bottom Road/Tiogue Avenue intersection in Coventry to show their support for marriage equality. With the Senate Judiciary Committee due to vote on a bill today, the crowd gathered last night to call on Senator Lou Raptakis (D-Coventry, East Greenwich, West Warwick) to "support all loving and committed couples' right to marry the person they love," according to Kyle Megrath, Field Organizer for Rhode Islanders United for Marriage (RIUM). Senate Bill 38, sponsored by Sen. Donna M. Nesselbush (D-Pawtucket), would define marriage as "the legally recognized union" of two people, regardless of gender. According to Ray Sullivan, executive …
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
The EG senator says he hasn’t made a “firm decision” yet on voting to allow SSM legislation to be voted on by the full Senate.
State Sen. Lou Raptakis (D-Coventry, E.G., W.W.) has removed his name as a sponsor of legislation to hold a referendum on same sex marriage, but he’s stopped short of saying he will definitely support allowing a bill legalizing same sex marriage to be voted on by the full Senate. Raptakis is one of ten members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, the panel in control of the legislation right now. Senate Bill 708, sponsored by Sen. Frank A. Ciccone III (D-Providence), would put a referendum before voters, asking if they want to legalize same-sex marriage by adding language to the state Constitution that defines marriage as "the legally-recognized union of two people." Senate Bill 38, sponsored by Sen. Donna M. Nesselbush (D-Pawtucket), would…
Friday, March 22, 2013
EG's Sen. Hodgson speaks out in favor of same-sex marriage while Fr. Healey of OLM came out against.
By midnight Thursday, people were still testifying for and against the same-sex marriage legislation (S-38) before the state Senate Judiciary Committee. More than 600 people signed up to testify and in groups of four they were called up. Both of East Greenwich's state senators sit on the Judiciary Committee. Sen. Dawson Hodgson (R-E.G., N.K., S.K., Narr.), early on spoke out in favor of the legislation: "If Rhode Islanders truly believe in family values, we need to value all families." To the comments from some that the legislation harms marriage, Hodgson said, "No matter what this committee does, it won't touch your marriage. That's one of the nice things about the separation of church and state." Sen. Lou Raptakis (D-Coventry, E.G., W.…
Sunday, February 3, 2013
He decries the Senate's "lack of urgency"; Rep. Giarrusso says these early days are for getting bills written and, in general, tackling smaller issues.
One month into the General Assembly's 2013 session, things haven't changed very much from this point two years ago, according to Sen. Dawson Hodgson (R-Dist. 35). "We’re about a month in, we’ve only had one or two calendars since inauguration day," Hodgson said, referring to days in which there's formal action on a bill. "This is the time of year when we show up and there’s no bill pending, there’s no votes ... on state business." Hodgson said inaction on same-sex marriage is one reason for the Senate's seeming "lack of urgency." "Whether you support same sex marriage or oppose it … these are deeply held motiviations and they are profound on both sides. For my colleagues who are deeply engaged on this issue on both sides, they deserve to…
Jeff Cianciolo
7:53 am on Saturday, May 4, 2013
The letter was not ignored. The Town Manager went to Wakefield to look at the flags in use. DPW continues to look at this and other alternatives to improve crosswalk safety on Main Street. This has received attention in Patch and (I believe) the Pendulum. I do not respond to every e-mail and letter that I receive but I do read them all and forward them to the Town Manager when appropriate. The … more ›