A look back on the year that was

Posted 12/30/15

As 2016 arrives, we’ve taken a look back at the most significant stories of the last 12 months.

And it’s clear that what took place in our communities in 2015 won’t be forgotten anytime …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in

A look back on the year that was

Posted

As 2016 arrives, we’ve taken a look back at the most significant stories of the last 12 months.

And it’s clear that what took place in our communities in 2015 won’t be forgotten anytime soon.

Weather has, perhaps, been the top story of the year, which began with a brutally cold winter. The snowfall broke records, pushed plow trucks and public works crews to the limit, and strained municipal coffers. It was a weeks-long mess, one that seemed to last far longer and tested the resolve of Rhode Islanders. A thrilling Super Bowl victory by the New England Patriots provided a moment of joy for many amid the bleak backdrop.

Then, in August, the area was battered by an early-morning macroburst storm, with intense winds and rain downing trees, damaging homes and property, and leaving thousands without power for extended periods. The storm arrived suddenly, with virtually no warning – and, thankfully, at a time when most Rhode Islanders weren’t yet awake or on the roads. But its impact was devastating for many, particularly in Warwick and Cranston.

We’re wrapping up the year with a week that embodies the unusual, shifting, and often extreme weather that seems more and more frequent in our corner of the country – spring-like conditions on Christmas, followed by a cold blast and projections of a storm bringing a dangerous mix of snow and ice just days later.

In Warwick, significant developments surrounding schools have dominated headlines this year. Faced with declining enrollment – and after years of discussion – the district has approved a consolidation plan. An ongoing contract dispute with teachers has raised tensions, and led many educators to take a “work to rule” approach to their jobs.

There have also been ongoing controversies surrounding teacher Mario Atoyan – who faces allegations of inappropriate conduct involving two students, along with unrelated criminal charges in North Kingstown – and the so-called Ragosta report detailing how district officials handled the matter.

Warwick’s schools have also seen changes in leadership. A new superintendent, Philip Thornton, took the reins from interim schools chief William Holland, who had filled the post following the retirement of Richard D’Agostino.

In Johnston, the year’s top story was also school-related. The community has been shaken and divided by the arrest of a well-known teacher and student advisor, Greg Russo, who is alleged to have misused school funds.

Cranston, too, has seen major developments with its schools. Jeannine Nota-Masse, a longtime local educator, succeeded Judith Lundsten as superintendent. Ambitious plans are in the works for the establishment of a district-wide all-day kindergarten program starting next year, along with a shift of sixth-graders back to the middle school level and the conversion of Hope Highlands Elementary into a fourth middle school. The restoration of extracurricular programming has also been celebrated following years of financial difficulties.

In Cranston, however, the top story has almost certainly been the continued saga surrounding the city’s police department, which culminated in August with the public release of a Rhode Island State Police assessment report. The document served as a stunning indictment of both Mayor Allan Fung and the department’s former leadership, and led to some calls for the mayor’s resignation.

Fung, for his part, pushed back strongly – and seems poised to seek re-election to his job in City Hall next year. The campaign has already gotten under way, with Democrat Michael Sepe having announced his own mayoral bid.

Elsewhere on the political scene, former Gov. Lincoln Chafee’s brief bid for the Democratic presidential nomination drew a mix of fascination and ridicule here at home and across the nation. Warwick’s Richard Corrente made an extremely early announcement of his plans to challenge longtime Mayor Scott Avedisian in 2016. As the calendar turns, others in Warwick, Cranston, and Johnston will begin moving more seriously toward their own bids for local office.

Gina Raimondo was sworn in as the state’s first female governor, and she has seen her share of major developments in her first year on the job.

Plans to construct a new stadium for the Pawtucket Red Sox on the Providence waterfront were torpedoed, with public sentiment strongly against the use of public money for such a project.

The sad saga of 38 Studios has continued to cast a long shadow over the state. A new HPV vaccine mandate, and the adoption of PARCC testing for schools, produced significant debate and opposition.

And the governor’s proposal to establish tolls for large trucks as part of an enormous road and bridge repair plan met resistance from lawmakers – with additional complications resulting from the sudden closure of the Park Avenue railroad bridge, near the law office of House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello, for emergency repairs.

The status of Level III sex offenders – those deemed most likely to re-offend – has been drawing attention following the General Assembly’s approval of new rules expanding the zone around schools in which such offenders are prohibited from residing. While an ACLU legal challenge has halted implementation of the measure, the uncertainty of the situation has led to a surge in the population at Cranston’s Harrington Hall.

There have been too many stories of tragedy in 2015, including the murder of “Captain Fredy” in Warwick, the killing of a pregnant Cranston woman, and a March fire that destroyed a building at the Westgate Condominium complex in Warwick.

Many of those have also brought tales of heroism and generosity, as seen through the life-saving response of police and fire personnel to a Christmas morning fire in Cranston and the subsequent rallying of the community in support of those displaced.

There have, too, been countless stories of achievement and celebration, such as through the 50th anniversary of Gaspee Days and the addition of international service at T.F. Green Airport.

It’s been quite a year, and we thank you for sharing it with us. We look forward to keeping you informed in 2016.

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here