Preserving our history
For years Rhode Island tried to sell itself to Hollywood based on its beautiful waterfront, forgetting that Hollywood itself was virtually within walking distance of the Pacific Ocean. Then Rick Smith of the Rhode Island Film and TV Office suggested that it was not Narragansett Bay or our beautiful beaches that would attract Hollywood, but our architecture and our history. It’s a formula that appears to be working.
And it is our architecture and our history that we need to be careful we don’t forget.
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Riding south or north on Route 95 through Providence it is impossible to miss the mammoth mall, Providence Place, that is taking shape. And it is also impossible to enjoy the views of the East Side of Providence and the State House that once were easily visible from the highway.
As new buildings rise, and new ones are proposed, we need to take stock of the beautiful historic buildings in the downtown. Many are decaying as they wait for attention, but a walk along Westminster Street or any number of downtown streets reveals the remarkable architecture and the character of this city. Each building has its own story to tell.
As new buildings rise, and old vistas disappear, we must renew our efforts to restore the beautiful structures of downtown Providence, preserving our rich heritage and making it a central part of what we have dubbed the Providence Renaissance.
Play ball
It was heartwarming to watch last Wednesday evening as Pawtucket Red Sox Owner Ben Mondor officially unveiled the new McCoy Stadium.
The significance that the renovated minor league baseball stadium still resides on Columbus Avenue in Pawtucket should not be lost. When it became obvious in recent years that McCoy Stadium could no longer operate without undergoing a major facelift, Mondor’s telephone rang off the hook. They called from Fall River. They called from Worcester. They all tried to woo our PawSox away.
Thankfully, the City of Pawtucket and the state, along with Mondor, himself, stepped to the plate and recommitted to Rhode Island. The result is a sparkling stadium that will welcome hundreds of thousands of southern New Englanders through its gates for the next several months.
Make no mistake, the Pawtucket Red Sox are an integral piece of Rhode Island’s landscape. We shudder to think where Pawtucket would be without them.
But Mondor has always been true to his word. He is a businessman with integrity and class. And we wish him a wonderful season, filled with sold-out games, record-breaking concessions, and plenty of home runs.
Kids count
Given the fact that the organization is celebrating its fifth birthday, now is a fitting time to salute Rhode Island KIDS COUNT, a nonprofit organization that tracks the well- being of children in terms of health, education and family matters.
KIDS COUNT not only tracks and explores problems with kids, but through the use of detailed statistics, the organization offers concrete suggestions for bringing about solutions. The statistics provide a blueprint of sorts, outlining where we need to be investing the precious commodities of money and time.
In fact, Elizabeth Burke Bryant, executive director of Rhode Island KIDS COUNT, points out that since its inception, KIDS COUNT has worked with government and community leaders to improve child health, education, safety, and economic security. It is an effort that appears to be working.
“For many of the health indicators the gap between high-income and low-income communities is narrower than it was five years ago,” Bryant said. “In areas where we have invested we see progress – particularly in the area of children’s health.”
The annual Rhode Island KIDS COUNT Factbook provides an important diagram of where we most need to do our work.
We applaud KIDS COUNT for widely distributing the information every year – ensuring that our state’s elected leaders are privy to the valuable information contained within. If such information allows us to better care for our children – for tomorrow’s workforce — we will all benefit.
