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Cumberland Selected Clippings
A collection of selected news clippings of potential interest to Cumberland residents. Clippings are collected from a variety of media sources with links back to full text articles.
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.
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
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.
Neurotech Pharmaceuticals opens Cumberland facility
Optical therapeutics firm Neurotech Pharmaceuticals Inc. has opened in Cumberland, R.I., a 27,000-square-foot GMP manufacturing facility for the biotech’s chronic retinal disease treatments. Neurotech received $4 million in funding from the Rhode Island Economic Development Corp. and its units, Rhode Island Industrial Facilities Corp. and Rhode Island Industrial-Recreational Building Authority.
Coyotes in Cumberland
The Valley Breeze article of 9/25/08, "Hikers report coyotes on nature trails" was a good caution for those who use the miles of nature trails in Cumberland, but Patricia Russell may have missed an opportunity to educate the community.
What would you do if you encountered a coyote on the trail system?
"At one point I was within 10 feet of it," he said, adding that while it never charged, "it did follow us for a ways."
It made a "howling and yipping type of noise," he said.
Beausoleil told his wife to take their dog and run ahead while he stayed behind. He picked up a stick to wave at it while he continued to yell at it, too.
Before retreating and cutting through the woods, the coyote gave a "threatening bark," Beausoleil said.
The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management has publish the following recommendations:
Some things you should do to avoid or eliminate problems with coyotes:
Do not leave garbage containers open or accessible to animals. Do not feed your pets outside. If you must, remove all uneaten food immediately. Never intentionally feed coyotes or other wild animals. Keep small pets, especially cats indoors, a coyote will not make a distinction between your house cat and any other small mammal. Keep your pets vaccinations and heartworm prevention up to date. Inform young children never to approach any wild animals. Protect vulnerable domestic fowl and livestock in enclosures, particularly during birthing season. Properly dispose of carcasses. Consult with the Division of Fish and Wildlife for ways to protect livestock from coyotes and other predators. Use loud noises such as whistles, air horns, shouting or whatever is available to discourage coyotes from taking shortcuts or frequenting backyards. Inform local or DEM officials of any contacts between coyotes and pets or people. Source: RIDEM Link - PDF
Annual Halloween Scare Haunted Hill
The Cumberland Recreation Department is having its 2008
Annual Halloween Scare Haunted Hill. The event is an
elaborate spook trail with 16 different acts, with the likes of
Michael Myers, Leatherface, Killer Clowns, Freddy, Jason and
more, to give people the scare of their lives. Open for 11 Nights
of horror through the month of October in Diamond Hill Park.
Starting October 3, 4, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 24, 25, 26, and October 30th.
General Admission is $12.00
(Parental Advisory) Trail NOT recommended for children
under the age of 11!
Park opens at 7:00 p.m. free Parking Parking cars stop at 10:00 p.m.
Exit 11 off 295 Rt. 114N
For more info. Call the Parks & Recreation Department at 334-9996.
Democratic Town Committee will decide council winner
Gathered because of a Town Council race that's turning on the power of a single vote, the three members of the Board of Canvassers said Monday that state law requires the Cumberland Democratic Town Committee to resolve the tie vote between two party members, Bruce Lemois and Jim McLaughlin.
According to a state Board of Elections recount, Cumberland voters on Sept. 9 gave each man 2,855 votes in their run for one of two at-large Town Council seats. The top vote-getter was Council President Jim Higgins at 3,117 and he is not involved in this dispute.
Lemois is the expected victor here.
