Winner – Best Liquor Store in North Kingstown

Where does North Kingstown go for its liquor needs?

North Kingstown residents have four choices of liquor stores in town – Wickford Package Store, Kingstown Liquor Mart, Colonial Wine & Spirits and Quake Lane Liquor Store. But, who reigns supreme when it comes to our town's liquor needs? With a commanding 63 percent of the vote, voters have chosen Wickford Package Store as their place to go. As if the votes didn't speak for themselves, the "Packy's" proud patrons praised their favorite liquor store with a bounty of comments.  "It has that local neighborhood vibe that can't be beat and a perfect location to walk to while you're waiting for your pizza from The Place," said user Jen Scranton. Echoing, those sentiments Midlife Momma said, "Great stuff, staff knows what they are doing, and they …

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EDC Head Resigns, Ehrhardt Calls For Loan Caps Following 38 Studios Controversy

The head of the state's Economic Development Corporation has stepped down following the controversy of Curt Schilling's 38 Studios.

Keith Stokes has stepped down as the head of the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation amid the controversy surrounding Curt Schilling’s videogame company 38 Studios, according to the Providence Journal. The company, headed by the former Red Sox pitcher, defaulted on a $1.125-million payment to the state on May 1. On Wednesday, Schilling and members of 38 Studios met with state and EDC officials in an emergency meeting that was closed to the public. In 2010, EDC approved a $75-million guaranteed loan to the videogame company following 38 Studios’ promise to bring 450 jobs to the state by the end of 2012 and moved its business from Massachusetts to Providence. Stokes, a longtime board member of the EDC, was appointed by former Gov. …

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Govstench

8:07 am on Monday, May 21, 2012

Dave - Ehrhardt was ticked off at the way the Deep Water process was bypassing the PUC oversight - he fought against that bill. That will be another major disaster facing this state once that gets going. Why would anyone go along with a generator that will charge close to 30 cents a kwh? The existing rate now is only 12.5 cents. Ehrhardt also straightened out the net-metering game that was being …   more ›

NK Chamber Names New Executive Director

Starting next month, the North Kingstown Chamber of Commerce will have a new executive director at the helm.

The North Kingstown Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors has named Martha Pughe as its next executive director. Pughe, 48, brings 15 years of experience in working for and leading non-profit organizations. She has served on the chamber’s board of directors since 2008 and was instrumental in crafting its new strategic plan. “This is going to be a new chapter going forward with the North Kingstown Chamber and I’m excited to be at the helm to bring that chapter to fruition,” said Pughe. Pughe will take the reins following the departure of longtime executive director Karla Driscoll, who retired in March after 24 years with the chamber. Though Pughe has only called North Kingstown home for six years, she has been active in the community and …

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CBA

8:38 am on Friday, May 18, 2012

I like this response...a sensible, well-thought out approach/idea.   more ›

Military's Budget May Cut EB's Submarine Production in Half

Electric Boat's submarine production may be cut in half under new military spending plan.

  Two congressmen are working to prevent cuts that would diminish funding for Virginia-class submarines built by General Dynamics Electric Boat. Congressmen James Lanvegin (D-RI) and Joe Courtney (D-CT) submitted draft legislation that would allow the company, with locations in both Groton, CT and North Kingstown, RI, to continue its two-boats-per-year production level in 2014. The military’s recently released Future Years Defense Program would cut submarine production from two to one for the U.S.Navy in fiscal 2014. In March, Langevin and Courtney wrote to the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee to appeal the military’s plan and seek alternatives that “would sustain submarine construction at two a year in 2014 and through [the …

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Concerned Resident

8:05 am on Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Agreed as just as much as we have numbers, we also have technology second to none.   more ›

House Hunt

House Hunt

Check out these open houses in North Kingstown this weekend.

Itching to do some house hunting? Want to know what open houses are going on this weekend? Check North Kingstown Patch each week for our roundup of select open houses every weekend. Check here for a full look at local houses for sale in North Kingstown. If you're a local real estate agent and have open houses in North Kingstown, we'd love to feature your listings. Email Samantha Turner at Samantha.Turner@patch.com for more details. Also, feel free to add your own listing by clicking the "upload" button above!

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Utility to Inspect Power Lines with Low-Flying Helicopters

Be on the lookout for low-flying helicopters early next week.

If you see a low-flying helicopter next Tuesday, don't worry: it's not a rogue helicopter pilot. It's actually a National Grid crew inspecting overhead power lines. In a job that seems to take the term "workplace hazards" to new heights, these helicopters fly close to the lines to "spot potential problems with equipment structures or lines so that they can be addressed before service interruptions occur," according to a National Grid press release. Many of the lines are in remote areas, making travel with vehicles difficult. The birds-eye perspective also makes it easier to spot problems or impending issues with tree limbs getting too close to lines. The inspectors also use infra-red cameras to spot infrastructure wear and tear.  “These …

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Govstench

11:33 am on Thursday, May 10, 2012

They are looking for "hot spots", insulators that have cracked or are sparking, loose insulator stacks, and the overall conditions of the structures. These "patrols" usually take place each year or two but there has been cutbacks. These transmission lines are vital to keeping the network running. It's too bad they don't spend more of the assets on the distribution side, where most of the aging …   more ›