Town's Whalerock lawyer forks over details on what he did for $44,381.22 of YOUR money

But still doesn't disclose who he actually represented

By Will Collette

At the marathon four and a half hour long October 7 Town Council meeting, former Council President Deb Carney patiently waited until the very end of the meeting to pose a challenge to the Councilors.

Deb noted that all of Charlestown’s lawyers provided detailed billings that show what they did for their fees. All except one: John O. Mancini who was hired by the CCA-controlled Council under irregular circumstances to represent Charlestown, and apparently some private citizens, for up to $50,000 in taxpayer dollars. Click here to read her statement.

Dealing with holiday weight gain

Food Fight or Exercise Attack?
Science Daily

Though the Thanksgiving feast and leftovers are behind you, the holiday eating season has just begun. On average, Americans gain one or two pounds this time of year. Though that might not sound like much, the annual weight gain adds up from year to year and can lead to significant gains as time goes by.

If the zipper on your favorite holiday outfit is threatening to burst and you're despairing at the incoming tide of buffets, cookie exchanges, family meals, toasts and eggnog, pick one of the following approaches to maintain your current weight and still enjoy the season.

Nelson Mandela has died

Inspiring world leader dies at age 95

Jacob Zuma, president of South Africa confirms that legendary leader Nelson Mandela has died. Mandela, revered by millions for his struggle for justice and equality, has been long suffering the effects of advanced age.

Rarely do great leaders like Mandela emerge and rarer still when they are so critically needed as was the case when Mandela took South Africa out of its racist apartheid state transforming it into a multi-racial democracy.

He will be missed.

Islands in the Storm

Some of Super Typhoon Haiyan's devastation was made in the USA.
By Jill Richardson

Shortly after the extent of the damage of storm known as either Super Typhoon Haiyan or Yolanda became clear, the United States got to work sending much needed aid to the Philippines. With winds up to 195 miles per hour, it left more than 5,200 people dead and four million displaced.

The Philippines is a poor nation, and it’s also the most exposed country to tropical storms in the world. That’s hardly surprising, since it’s made up of over 7,000 islands.

On a good day, that makes it a nice vacation spot. On a bad day, it’s a sitting duck for typhoons, tsunamis, earthquakes, and anything else nature throws its way.

URI Graduate School Of Oceanography secures funds to help communities make smart ocean resources choices

URI Coastal Resources Center awarded ocean planning grant 

Jennifer McCann talks with a participant at a
marine spatial planning training held by the
URI Coastal Resources Center and the Rhode Island
Sea Grant College Program at the URI Graduate
School of Oceanography.

NARRAGANSETT, R.I. — A center at the University of Rhode Island’s Graduate School of Oceanography (GSO) that helps coastal communities, both locally and worldwide, plan for the wise use of sea-based resources, such as fish stocks and offshore wind power, has secured $659,238 in grant funds for its programs. 

The URI Coastal Resources Center (CRC) will use the money from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation for a two-year project to educate coastal and ocean professionals at home and abroad about the newest management techniques for planning the allocation of uses and resources in increasingly busy and crowded oceans. 

Not all biofuel comes from corn

Does Biodiesel Suffer From Ethanol’s Bad Rap?

From: CleanTechies Guest Author in ENN.com, Clean Techies, More from this Affiliate

Biodiesel and ethanol both fall under the category of "biofuels," which describes any fuel synthesized from plant or animal matter. But that’s pretty much where the similarities end.

Biodiesel offers a significantly improved environmental impact compared to both ethanol and standard petroleum-derived diesel. It can be used in standard diesel engines with little or not negative impact on engine health. 

Just splash-blend it in the tank of your Volkswagen or Mercedes diesel vehicle. Meanwhile, ethanol deserves scrutiny for its relatively high emissions, and the way it can damage engines that aren't specifically designed to burn the fuel.

In recent years, ethanol has been the target of a backlash from environmentalists and critics of government waste, who argue that the limited benefits of the fuel don’t justify the federal support it received over the last few decades. 

We’re Not Broke — We’ve Been Robbed

Slashing government spending now is just going to make our nation poorer.

By Richard Kirsch

With the Friday the 13^th December deadline for a federal budget deal, the cries of “we’re broke,” and “we can’t afford to keep spending,” are ringing again. But we’re not broke and acting like we are is making us poorer.

One of the biggest common misunderstandings is that governments are like households, which need to tighten their spending when times are tough. Actually, governments and households work in opposite ways.

Let’s end the scourge of humorous dyscognition once and for all!

Progressive Charlestown seeks suggestions on how to raise money for research on a cure

By Will Collette

Have you ever seen Ruth Platner or Dan Slattery smile? If they did, would it be something that normal human beings would recognize as a smile? Ron Areglado is almost always smiling, but is he smiling because he’s thinking about something funny or is he just trying to sell you something?

Recent complaints by CCA Party pundit Mike Chambers got me thinking more about how sad Charlestown has become during the past five years under CCA Party control. Even before that, when the CCA Party stalwarts devoted themselves to fighting with former Council President Jim Mageau, the thing that seemed consistent throughout was a complete lack of humor, not to mention a total lack of joy.

Second Amendment - love it or leave it

After Newtown
By Tom Tomorrow

Click here to see how the Sandy Hook slaughter changed everything.

December 9 hearing on changes to how businesses manage hazardous wastes

Proposed Changes Would Allow for More Flexibility for Small Businesses in Managing Their Hazardous Waste and Unused Paint

PROVIDENCE -The Department of Environmental Management will hold an informational workshop and a public hearing on proposed amendments to the Rules and Regulations for Hazardous Waste Management on Monday, December 9.

The proposed amendments reflect a significant change in state regulations governing hazardous waste generated by businesses. The rules reflect the same tiered regulatory structure as that of the federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Regulations, and will provide relief to small businesses operating in Rhode Island. The proposed amendments primarily affect businesses that generate less than 2,200 pounds per month of hazardous waste and provide regulatory relief to those businesses by allowing them more flexibility in managing and disposing of their hazardous waste. An estimated 2,300 small businesses would be affected by the proposed regulations.

The Retirement Deficit

Many of America's CEOs don't think we're "entitled" to a secure retirement.
By Sam Pizzigati

Deck the halls, this holiday season, with scenes of hunger.

Struggling families all across America now have less food on their tables. Budget cuts that kicked into effect November 1 have lowered the nation’s average federal food stamp benefit to less than $1.40 per person per meal.

Austerity American-style is squeezing elsewhere as well, from Head Start for kids to Meals on Wheels for seniors, and more cuts are looming, as lawmakers on Capitol Hill near still another budget deliberation deadline, this one midway through December.

The next federal program in the crosshairs? Maybe the biggest of them all: Social Security.

Narragansett didn’t get memo: “Whale Rock” is a dirty word

Whale Rock Trail Opens Shoreline to Public
Text and photos by TYSON BOTTENUS/ecoRI.org News contributor

Two attendees who hiked the official opening of Whale Rock
Trail on Nov. 30 eventually made their way to Cobble Beach.

NARRAGANSETT — Whale Rock Trail cuts through the dense shrubbery and wetlands of the 112-acre Whale Rock property. Two years ago, The Nature Conservancy bought 66 acres of the parcel to protect it from further shoreline development. Last Saturday, the conservancy celebrated the official opening of the half-mile trail off Old Boston Neck Road. A few dozen people broken in the new trail, which had been in construction since the beginning of last summer.

What does Gist have to hide?

Gist won’t share dissertation with legislative leaders
By Bob Plain in Rhode Island’s Future

Deborah Gist declined share her dissertation with legislative leaders, after North Kingstown Senator Jim Sheehan, a teacher, asked her to do so in a letter last month.

Gist replied to Sheehan, saying, “I hope you will read my work with interest with the embargo is lifted in June 2014.”

She also said, in fact, her dissertation did not speak to policy issues in Rhode Island, as Sheehan suggested in his letter.

You can read Gist’s letter to Sen. Sheehan here. And his Nov. 13 letter is below:

Charlestown being sued by Chariho School District over new charter school

School departments of Lincoln, Cranston and Chariho challenge payment system for post-high school training at nursing charter school 

Providence Mayor Angel Tavares posed with students of the charter school

By Will Collette

A new charter school just opened in downtown Providence called the Rhode Island Nurses Institute Middle College Charter School. 

With enthusiastic support from Providence Mayor Angel Taveras, the school is the first to specialize in training students to go into nursing. But the Chariho, Lincoln and Cranston School Departments have filed suit over the school’s unusual grade set-up that establishes the school as providing education for Grades 10, 11, 12 and 12-plus [emphasis added].

Reasons for Blocking Judges

Deranged GOP

By Pat Begley

Click here for a full explanation