Mayor Dan McKee Running for Congress?
Cumberland Mayor Daniel J. McKee said he “certainly never would have run directly against the congressman, but now that that’s open I am taking a look. ... I think there is an opportunity for someone who’s not a status quo thinker.”
Rhode Island looks to expand charter schools
The Race to the Top application highlights McKee’s umbrella organization, the Rhode Island Mayoral Academies, and its hopes to expand in 2011 by contracting with two charter school operators. Achievement First would open a K-12 school serving students in Cranston and Providence, and MATCH Charter Schools would open a grade 6-12 school serving Blackstone Valley and Providence students.
Good news for bikeway users
Senator Jack Reed, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, and Congressman Patrick J. Kennedy announced in a press release last week that, "Rhode Island is receiving $575,000 in federal funding for the Blackstone River Bikeway."
This is good news for those who take advantage of the Blackstone Bikeway. The funds from this grant will go towards the section of the bikeway that extends from Manville Hill Road in Lincoln to the Woonsocket Water Treatment Plant.
Will Cumberland Bennefit from Race to the Top Grant $$ ?
Last weeks Valley Breeze article entitled, "School boards endorse reform-centered 'Race to Top' but union support iffy for multi-million-dollar grant" was interesting.
According to the 2008 RI Department of Education report, Cumberland had one of the lowest graduation rates (80.7%) for suburban schools. Bristol Warren and Burrillville were the only other communities with a lower percentage.
Elderly Couple in Crash was from Foxborough
This is a real sad story... The Boston Globe is reporting today that the couple was from Foxborough, MA.
"An elderly Massachusetts couple were killed in a two-vehicle collision Thursday in Cumberland, R.I., according to Cumberland police. Authorities identified the victims as Charles Langille, 87, and his wife, Laurette, 77, of Foxborough."
(Source: Boston Globe - Read Full Story)
Companies Moving Into Cumberland
June 24, 2009 - Coty, Inc., the personal care and cosmetics company headquartered in New York City, recently opened a satellite office in Cumberland Commerce Center, located in the Highland Corporate Park in Cumberland.
The new 5,500 square-foot office, designed by Vision 3 Architects of Providence, will service sales to CVS, also located in the Highland Corporate Park. The office is Coty's first in Rhode Island.
Read Full Story - The New England Business Bulletin
Canoe Tipped Over in Blackstone, 1 Person Missing
Sunday, 2:20pm
ScanRI Alerts is reporting that a canoe tipped over on in the Blackstone River with one person missing. Rescue teams have gathered behind Stop and Shop on Mendon Road. Dive teams have been requested.
Credit Card Fraud in Cumberland
Police arrested 21-year-old Kevin Baynes at a Stop & Shop in Cumberland on Tuesday and charged him with fraudulently using a credit card. Two other suspects escaped from the scene.
New School Committee
Voters chose to elect several new faces to the School Committee on Tuesday, while ousting a 14-year veteran member. Incumbent Robert C. Thibodeau, who has served for seven terms on the School Committee, lost his at-large seat on the board. Replacing the veteran member will be 20 year old Ryan William Pearson, who won his first political race in town Tuesday.The tally of votes for the at-large race, in which two seats were available, was 7,524 for incumbent Lisa A. Beaulieu, 5,732 for Pearson, 4,819 for Thibodeau and 3,414 for Paul DiModica.
