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COMPLIMENTARY
COMPLIMENTARY AUGUST
MAY2021
2020
smithfieldtimesri.net
Peaceful brook that runs along the Stillwater Scenic Trail.
Photo courtesy of Elaine S. Amoriggi
BOSTON MA
55800
PERMIT NO. Our customers
are our owners.
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2 | AUGUST 2021
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Courtesy of:
Courtesy of:Courtesy of:
ATTORNEY AT LAW
ATTORNEY AT LAWATTORNEY AT LAW
300 Front Street, Lincoln, Rhode Island, 02865-0089 (401) 726-5577
The Rhode Island Supreme Court licenses all lawyers in the general practice of law. The Court does not license or certify any lawyer as an expert or specialist in any field of practice.
300 Front Street, Lincoln, Rhode Island, 02865-0089 (401) 726-5577
300 Front Street, Lincoln, Rhode Island, 02865-0089 (401) 726-5577
The Rhode Island Supreme Court licenses all lawyers in the general practice of law. The Court does not license or certify any lawyer as an expert or specialist in any field of practice.
Rhode Island Supreme Court licenses all lawyers in the general practice of law. The Court does not license or certify any lawyer as an expert or specialist in any field of practice.
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The Smithfield Times | 3
In Our Community
Smithfield Strikers
take the U-11
Superliga title!
Great job!
Standing: Coach Joe Cataldo,
Jayden Bilyj, Jack Maguire,
Owen Linsao, Coach Matt
Aubee, Brendan Aubee, Jackson
Roumelis, Coach Milton Amaral,
Charlie Campbell, Ethan Cataldo
(U-12 team), Blake Robitaille,
Billy Clift.
Front: Preston Oliver, Henry
Goodrich, Cathal Currid, Brayden
Huoth, Gabriel Breder, Maddox
Amaral.
Congratulations to Joseph
Farrar and Rocco LaGreca,
who graduated from LaPerche
Elementary School
Smithfield Rotary adopts Cemetery #61
Anthony N. Miccoli Named to President’s List at
Merrimack College
Anthony Miccoli of Smithfield, RI has been named to the President’s List at
Merrimack College for the spring semester of 2021.
He is the son of Angelo and Celeste Miccoli of Smithfield, RI.
A Business Administration major, he graduated Summa Cum Laude in the
Honors program at Merrimack in May of 2021.
(The full dean’s and president’s lists can be found at
www.merrimack.edu/deanslist.)
4 | AUGUST 2021
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The Smithfield Times | 5
Deerfield Park’s new “Victory” bench has a
story all its own
By Ron Scopelliti
Since the end of June, visitors to
Deerfield Park have been noticing a new
and genuinely unique feature. Sitting in
a shady corner of the park’s main road
is a massive, handmade wooden bench
with one word carved prominently
on the backrest: “Victory.” The bench
was donated to the town by Smithfield
resident Linda Grant in memory of her
late husband Harry, who built it from
scratch starting with a tree that he cut
Linda Grant
down on their property.
After Harry passed away in December Though the word “Victory” on the bench
Linda says the story of the bench started Linda felt it was time to find the bench a had a specific meaning for its creator,
some 20 years ago, when Harry cut new home. Smithfield Parks and Recreation Director
down a pine tree in front of the house, Robert Caine says visitors have been
and made it into a totem pole. The totem “It was right in front of my house, right coming up with their own interpretations
pole became a landmark on the street in front of my bow window, for a couple of what the bench means to them.
where the Grants live, before the base of years since he built it, but nobody
rotted away. Parts of it still survive, used it and I was afraid it was going “Even when we were putting it in,
however, as a sign outside the house. to deteriorate,” she says. “I thought it people were stopping to look and
would be nice to be at the park, where a asking,” he says. “Everybody has their
From there, the abundance of trees on few people could sit on it at a time – it’s own ideas about it.”
the property led him to keep creating, nine feet long.” “I was fortunate enough to know Harry
and to build his own sawmill so he could for many years,” he adds, “so it had a lot
process the raw lumber into planks. Due to its size and weight, she says it of meaning to me that we were asked to
took a number of workers to load it for have it.”
“He just picked it up as a hobby,” she transport. Fortunately, they were able to
says of Harry, who was an electrician by disassemble it to load it on the truck.
trade. “We had all this wood, all these
trees, and he wanted to do something “Nobody could
with the wood besides just burn it.” just pick that up,”
He came up with a variety of projects, Linda says, noting
including two-foot-high, cut-out letters that the town
and numbers for neighbors to use on “did a beautiful
name and address signs. job fixing it and
cleaning it up.” In
“That’s how it all started. He cut addition to being
the trees, he milled the wood, and cleaned, the bench
he decided he would start to make was coated with
benches.” He sold some, but kept marine-grade
a number of them on the property, polyurethane to
including the Victory bench, which had a protect it from the
particular meaning for him: Victory was weather.
the brand of motorcycle he used to ride.
Harry Grant
6 | AUGUST 2021
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The Smithfield Times | 7
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8 | AUGUST 2021
Local Veteran-owned and Operated Business
Continues to Thrive
By Paul Lonardo
Brothers Jim and Mike
Lape started J&M Power
Washing thirteen years
ago and have continued
to expand their reach
over the years, growing
J&M from a part-time
business. When they
first began, it was just
the two of them and one
truck. Their business was
almost entirely local then, while today homeowner or businessowner to do the low-pressure cleaning will not damage
they service all of Rhode Island and job themselves, along with any damage any surface, including vinyl, the way
southeastern Massachusetts with four that can occur, in the long run, people that traditional power washers have a
full-equipped trucks on the road all year will save a lot more money by hiring us,” tendency to do.
round. Jim says.
“Our attention to detail, our quest for
One thing that hasn’t changed is their “We see damage on a weekly basis,”
goal of providing their customers with Mike adds. “Often multiple times a See Local Business Thrives, page 11
the highest quality service of anyone in week, where the homeowner tries to
the power washing business. They have power wash their
built a solid reputation by providing their house or patio and
customers with superior quality work at end up seriously Online Instant Quote
a fair price. There is nothing they can’t damaging their
handle, commercial and residential. property.”
“We do everything,” Jim says. “From J&M Power
entire condo communities to individual Washing is fully
homes to storefronts, pool patios and licensed and
fencing, we pretty much power wash any insured, using
surface. top-of-the-line
equipment. No
In the ever-changing housing market, job is too big or
‘curb appeal’ is one reason to consider too small, and
J&M Power Washing. “If you plan on they provide free
selling your home, having the exterior estimates, which
look good with a professional soft wash can be calculated
is a sure way to increase its value,” Mike on-line quickly
says. and easily by
logging onto their
For do-it-yourselfers and those who website http://
believe it would be more cost effective to powerwashjm.
rent a machine from the local box store, com/instant_
it would be wise to give J&M Power online_quote.
Washing a call.
Their “soft
“With the time it would take a wash” service is
The Smithfield Times | 9
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10 | AUGUST 2021Tree Dedication Ceremony
The Greenville Public Library held a Tree
Dedication Ceremony for donors and families
who contributed to the library’s memorial and
honorary tree campaign. Library Director
Dorothy Swain addressed the crowd gathered
on the library grounds Sunday, June 27th
thanking them for their contributions.
Local Business Thrives, from page 9
perfection, and our belief in taking care of our customers set J&M is the right company for the job. And you can be assured
us apart from our competitors,” says Jim. “We back each and the money will be well spent. The services they provide are an
every job with a 100% satisfaction guarantee to back up our investment that will pay off.
quality work.”
Jim and Mike Lape are confident you will be amazed at the
As life-long residents of Smithfield, Jim and Mike are actively difference J&M Power Washing can make for your home or
involved in the community, particularly with Smithfield Little business.
League. They plan to be around for a long time, and to continue
to grow their business, with a goal of having ten trucks “We have a great staff, including Abby, who we would be lost
servicing Smithfield and the entire state in the next couple of without,” Jim says. “She is on our front line, the first person
years. customers talk to. She handles everything in the office. And
Anthony, one of our foremen, is trained in all aspects of soft
Whether it is an entire community of condos in need of washing. We’re fortunate to have him.”
revitalization, or if your home requires a good washing,
concrete-brightening, complete deck cleaning, or any Contact J&M Power Washing today at (401) 595-0726
restoration project, jmpowerwashing@yahoo.com.
The Smithfield Times | 11Smithfield Unites for PRIDE
Photo courtesy of Albert Tavakalov
By Joe Siegel
Supporters of the LGBTQ community gathered on the steps on hand to provide a message of love and support for a
of Smithfield Town Hall Thursday, June 17 to celebrate Gay marginalized population.
Pride Month. The Town Council had received criticism from
some residents for displaying the Rainbow Flag in front of In a letter to the Town Council, which was read at the June
the building. 15 meeting, The Reverend Dante Tavolaro wrote: “As a
queer man, an Episcopal priest, and the Priest-in-Charge
Town Council President Suzy Alba and Town Manager of St. Thomas Church, I offer my heartfelt gratitude for the
Randy Rossi organized the event to show that Smithfield is commitment you have shown to the full inclusion of all
a welcoming and diverse community. people in Smithfield. Please know that I, and St. Thomas
Church, are ready to support these efforts in any way
Members of the Smithfield Anti-Hate Coalition, which has we can.”
organized community forums to discuss prejudice, were
12 | AUGUST 2021Ask an Expert
My name is Tom Lopatosky. I’m the President of LOPCO Contracting
(www.LopcoContracting.com) and I’m honored to have the opportunity to talk to
you about home improvement on a monthly basis.
I love answering your questions! Please send them to tom@LopcoContracting.com
or call 401-270-2664. Thanks in advance for taking the time to read this column!
The BIGGEST painting mistake I ever made ...
As a business owner, I do understand when coaching an What was determined to be the best
employee through things, sometimes thoughts may cross their way to fix it, was to, literally, dig
mind as if I am one that doesn’t make mistakes. out the caulk from every single nail
hole, spot prime the nail holes, fill
Every now and then I have one of them mention this to me all the nail holes with the proper
as I am walking through something and I usually cannot help putty, spot prime the putty that was
myself but to chuckle. put in, completely prime all of the
siding, and then apply 2 coats of
Whether they believe it or not, I tell them (and I REALLY finish.
mean it!) that I make more mistakes on a daily basis than
probably all of our employees combined! As one might imagine, this was a VERY expensive problem to
properly correct.
If I were to be asked what my biggest mistake in my actual
painting days was, there would be several VERY good To this day, I really don’t think the homeowner ever caught the
candidates! mistake as the crew jumped right on fixing things and the home
looked beautiful in the end. My guess is the client just thought
My biggest mistake as a painter, however, I would have to say we had an EXTREMELY extensive prep process!
occurred way back in the year 1995 ...
In the course of my travels, I happen to pass by the home every
I was just starting out in business and we were doing a new once in a while and I always seem to just shake my head – this
construction home. The home was sided in cedar clapboard. was CERTAINLY an experience I will NEVER forget!
There were a ton of nail holes that had to
be filled throughout the home.
For some reason, I thought it would be About Tom Lopatosky
a good idea to fill all the nail holes with
caulk. The home was painted Tom Lopatosky has run his own RI-based carpentry and painting
with a medium-tone olive color on business since 1995; LOPCO Contracting – the “Personable,
the body. Particular Professionals” – specializes in carpentry and exterior &
interior painting. Recently LOPCO Contracting was named ‘RI’s
When the painting process was complete Finest Painting Contracting Company’ by ShopInRI Magazine. In
and I stepped back to admire our work, 2013, Tom was named “Humanitarian of the Year” by the Painting
the house was covered in dark-colored and Decorating Contractors of America (PDCA) and a “40 Under
dots as EVERY nail hole that was filled 40” award winner by Providence Business News. He is a member
was MUCH darker than the color all
of both PCA (Painting Contractors Association) and RIBA (Rhode
around it!
Island Builders Association). Tom has often had weekly ‘Home
Improvement Tips’ that have aired on the radio on 630 WPRO AM
UGHHH!
and on television on WPRI 12.
The Smithfield Times | 13Jersey Mike’s Opens in Smithfield
By Joe Siegel
The town’s first Jersey Mike’s Subs
shop opened July 7 at 473 Putnam Pike
where the old Benny’s used to be.
The menu features hot and cold subs,
including the Original Italian, made
with provolone, ham, prosciuttini,
cappacuolo, salami, and pepperoni.
Another favorite is Mike’s Famous
Philly cheesesteak made with grilled
onions, peppers, and white American
cheese.
Snacks include Lay’s potato chips,
cookies, brownies, and Tastykakes.
Beverages include various Pepsi
products, bottle water, orange juice,
and Pure Leaf Tea.
Jersey Mike’s also provides catering
services to businesses and other social The ribbon cutting ceremony included Town Manager Randy Rossi, employees
gatherings. Matt Silvia, Alyssa Massey and Dave Stebbings, and Council President Suzy Alba
The chain launched in 1956 with a “It’s been a fun ride,” Silvia said. “Our “A lot of people responded to it. It’s a
single shop in the sea-side town of product speaks for itself, everything’s really good way to help the community
Point Pleasant, New Jersey. fresh, nothing’s pre-sliced, pre-cut, too,” Silvia added.
pre-grilled. We’re here at seven in
"The Town of Smithfield welcome's the morning, baking all that bread, For more information, go to: https://
Jersey Mike's with open arms,” said cutting all the veggies – onions, lettuce, www.jerseymikes.com/14006/
Town Manager Randy Rossi. “They tomatoes, cutting our steaks, our smithfield-ri
have the ingredients to be a successful chickens, so it’s always nice and fresh.”
business and partner in Smithfield."
Silvia said the shop has eight full-time
"I'm happy to see new businesses employees and 14 part-time employees.
moving into Smithfield, especially as
we resume normal life post-pandemic,” Jersey Mike’s is open every day from
said Town Council Vice-President Sean 10 am until 9 pm.
Kilduff.
Jersey Mike’s was offering coupons
The rapidly expanding chain also has for a free regular sub with a minimum
locations in North Providence and three dollar donation to the Smithfield
Johnston. Manager Matt Silvia has High School athletic department.
been working for the company for
11 years.
14 | AUGUST 2021Winner of Best Groomer in Blackstone Valley
by Rhode Island Monthly – 3rd Year in a Row!
VILLAGE PAWS
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The Smithfield Times | 15News Release
For Immediate Release For More Information
July 9, 2021, Contact: John Tassoni
(401) 451-1305
‘Recovery TV’ Debuts on Local Channels in September
John Tassoni, president of The Sentinel Group, announced his company is launching a new television program,
“Recovery TV,” which will air on local channels on Sunday mornings. “Recovery TV” will be a pre-recorded
30-minute show that features host John Tassoni discussing the issues pertaining to the addiction epidemic, along
with information and guidance on services that are available.
Recovery TV will air on Sundays at 11:30 a.m. on Providence’s CW Channel 9 and 9:30 a.m. on MY RI TV on
Channel 15. Both are affiliates of WPRI TV Media group in Rhode Island.
Recovery TV comes at a time of a deepening crisis in Addiction crisis, Behavioral Health crisis and the Pandemic.
Opioid overdose deaths along with suicides have continued to steadily rise over the last several years. Last year,
amid the COVID-19 pandemic, opioid-related deaths are estimated to have increased to nearly 90,000, almost
double the previous year, according to a Washington Post report. In Rhode Island, accidental drug overdose deaths
went up by 25 percent, according to official state estimates.
“’Recovery TV’ will shed light on the ongoing epidemic of drug and alcohol addiction, along with mental health
issues, which continues to have a profound impact on//our
Pantone 301 485 local communities,” Tassoni said. “This show will
discuss the issues surrounding this crisis and provide real information and meaningful guidance to help those
seeking recovery.”
In addition to “Recovery TV,” Tassoni is the publisher of Common Ground newspaper, which focuses on issues
that affect the labor community. He also is the past host of “Common Ground Radio” and “Recovery Radio,”
which won a national award from the mental health community. Tassoni has partnered with The Substance Use
Mental Health Leadership Council of RI to ensure that critical issues adversely affect community members are
brought to the forefront. Tassoni has over 30
years of experience in the private sector and labor
community. He served as a senator in the Rhode
Island General Assembly from 2001 to 2012.
THE VOICE OF HOPE
16 | AUGUST 2021Endless Summers That Were Too Short
By Jim Ignasher
Recently a friend of mine related a story over”. “Okay, then it’s a ‘do-over’” “Fine!” kinds of possibilities from catching
about his grandson. It was a beautiful snakes and turtles to digging for treasures
day, but the kid was on the couch playing We also played “kick-the-can”, and in old trash dumps. We’d disappear for
video games. He suggested that he go “cops-n-robbers”, which involved hours. Nobody knew where we were,
outdoors and enjoy the day, but the boy strategic thinking and adept stealth skills. yet they didn’t worry, just as long as we
replied that it was “too hot”. got home for dinner, or before the street
Overall we learned good sportsmanship lights came on, which in the summer
Too hot! Really? – how to be humble winners and graceful meant between eight to nine o’clock.
losers.
When I was a kid, if we hung around the By a show of hands, how many
house our parents found things for us Perhaps our favorite time of the summer remember lying in the grass looking up
to do. The garage and basement always was around the Fourth of July. Although at the sky and discerning animals and
needed straightening, windows needed fireworks were illegal, there was always other things from the shape of the clouds?
washing, the lawn mowed, etc. etc. etc. some resourceful entrepreneur classmate I’ll bet that activity has gone the way of
Who wanted to be doing chores? who somehow had them for sale. These catching fireflies and running through
generally included fire crackers, bottle sprinklers.
I can recall sitting in my elementary rockets, and roman candles – items
school classroom perspiring from the considered tame by today’s standards, Unfortunately like the old saying, “all
heat, for classrooms of the 1960s weren’t but still fun, and nobody lost a finger or good things must end”, so it is with
air-conditioned, waiting for the final bell an eye. summer. The approach of Labor Day
of the last day of school to ring. Minutes signaled the start of “back to school
hung like hours as the hands on the clock When it came to climbing trees we shopping”. We’d try to pretend that the
crept at a glacial pace as we eagerly “invented” something we called “an first day of school was still a long way
anticipated summer vacation. “No elevator”. It involved tying a rope around off, but we were only kidding ourselves
more pencils, no more books, no more a sturdy stick, then tossing the stick over for summer always ended too soon.
teacher’s dirty looks!” a limb we were unable to reach from
the ground, then hauling ourselves up And who can forget those essay
And we had plans to fill those carefree into the tree. We let ourselves down the assignments – “How I spent my summer
days. There were trees to climb, bikes to same way, never considering what might vacation”.
ride, forts to build, woods to explore, and happen if the rope broke.
fireflies to catch. By the time we passed from childhood
Our bicycles were our steeds, and we to adolescence summer vacation took on
Do kids today still catch fireflies in a jar? rode them everywhere, and without safety a different tone. We no longer climbed
helmets. It was a time when many places trees, but looked for a summer job,
There were no computer games and like libraries, the YMCA, and schools began dating, and hoped for that elusive
smart phones to distract us, and organized still had bike racks out front. (Yes, kids first kiss. Eventually we graduated
sports leagues as we know them today actually rode bikes to school!) from school and entered the real world,
consisted mainly of Little League where that endless summer vacation was
baseball. In my neighborhood we painted Building a fort or clubhouse developed shortened to two weeks.
the bases of an elongated diamond on the our engineering skills. If it didn’t fall over
street and played kickball. Little did we in a day or so then we knew we’d done The echoes of those long ago summers
know we were learning some important it right. Building materials consisted of still linger in my memory and I treasure
life lessons along the way, such as whatever was on hand; usually scraps of them as I recall childhood friends whom
planning, and problem solving skills. wood liberated from house construction I haven’t seen in more than forty years,
sites. The only thing better than a fort was and it’s sad to think that today’s youth
“He’s out!” “No, he’s Safe!” “Out!” a tree house. will never experience many of the simple
“Safe!” And if we couldn’t reach a pleasures of my generation, one of them
consensus, there was always the “do And exploring the woods offered all being my friend’s grandson.
The Smithfield Times | 17Citizen Scientists Help Conserve
Rhode Island’s Rarest Turtle
By James Gass
This past June and July, I was
fortunate to be a part of an ongoing
study conducted by the Rhode
Island Department of Environmental
Management (RIDEM) that is
documenting diamondback terrapin
populations throughout the state. Led
by State Herpetologist Scott Buchanan,
the Rhode Island Diamondback
Terrapin Volunteer Monitoring
Program enlists volunteer “citizen
scientists” to visit select sites along the
coast to search for these rare reptiles.
The ultimate goal is to get a better
understanding of where they occur and
to monitor trends in populations over
Diamondback Terrapin
time.
The program was launched in spring
mollusks, carrion, fish, marine worms, the predation rates can be very high.
2020. Four volunteers visited up to
and some plants. They reach sexual But the majority of threats to terrapin
four sites twice a week from late
maturity at about 6 years old. Females populations come from humans.
May through mid-July, and another
lay a clutch of 4 to 18 eggs which hatch
volunteer surveyed a dozen more. They
in late August. The young spend their I found out about the project last May
discovered terrapins in 15 previously
early years hiding under seaweed and through RIDEM’s online newsletter
undocumented areas along mid and
are rarely seen. and immediately signed up. I thought it
upper Narragansett Bay. Encouraged
would be a great way for my daughter,
by the findings, Buchanan added
According to Buchanan, the current who will be majoring in Wildlife
additional sites for the 2021 survey.
population of terrapins in Rhode Island Ecology at the University of Maine this
There are now a total of 50 survey sites
is “probably a shadow of their former coming fall, to do some real science for
with 33 volunteers.
distribution and abundance.” They a meaningful study.
are listed as State Endangered and are
Found in estuaries, coves, barrier
the state’s only endangered reptile. We were allowed to choose which sites
beaches, tidal flats and coastal marshes,
They are also considered a Species we wanted to survey. I chose a spot
diamondback terrapins are the only
of Greatest Conservation Need in the in the East Bay because I had seen a
brackish water turtle in Rhode Island.
northeast. Poaching, overharvest (turtle terrapin there while on a walk the year
They regulate their internal salinity
soup was a delicacy), illegal collection before. It has three separate survey
by excreting salt from glands located
for the pet trade, road mortality and points along a large tidal river.
behind their eyes and drink fresh water
habitat loss has drastically reduced
when it’s available. During the day,
their numbers. Nests and hatchlings Per RIDEM monitoring protocol, we
they feed and bask in the sun, and then
are also routinely predated by coyotes,
bury themselves in the mud at night.
raccoons, foxes, skunks and birds, and
Their diet consists of crustaceans, See Citizen Scientists, page 19
18 | AUGUST 2021Citizen Scientists, from page 18
conducted our surveys between 6:30 survey point, as well as the current we sent the data off to RIDEM.
a.m. and 11:30 a.m. which took about site conditions, which included air The survey was very rewarding and in
20 minutes at each point, including temperature, cloud cover and water a beautiful spot. The only downside
walking time. The surveys could be condition (calm, etc.). We then was that we were constantly harassed
done any day of the week, but had to conducted three five-minute surveys, by a pair of agitated willets, who flew
be once a week from June through separated by a one-minute break. around us the entire time chattering
July and separated by at least 72 hours. angrily. There must have been a nest
They were also not to be conducted We scanned as much of the water as nearby.
an hour before or after peak high tide. we could with our naked eye and also
The majority of terrapins we saw were with binoculars, which turned out to be Only a few coastline areas in the state
on an incoming tide, about midway handy because most of the turtles we are known to contain populations
between high and low tide. saw were 100 feet or more offshore. We of diamondback terrapins, but an
counted the total number of emerged increasing number of observations in
At each survey point we waited three heads we spotted during each survey recent years suggest that they could
minutes before beginning, allowing period and recorded it in the survey be more widespread than previously
any terrapins that were startled by app. Turtles sometimes submerged and thought. This important study will aid
us to resurface. Next, we opened the re-emerged, but we were instructed to in the conservation and management of
Survey123 app (provided by RIDEM) count each emerged head as a distinct this rare and beautiful reptile.
on my Smartphone and entered our record. In one 5-minute period we
names, date, time, visit number and counted seven heads! Once finished,
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The Smithfield Times | 19A Smithfield Lad’s Letters from the Front ...
By Peg Brown
For every generation, the words – “The on the weapons we were issued ...” By May of 1865, Lewis was set to be
War” – mark a turning point. For my discharged. Although he had initially said
generation, that war was either Korea or Food and Entertainment: would never return to Providence, he
Vietnam; for my father’s – World War II; changed his mind. Perhaps most poignant
for my grandparents– World War I. And “I turned fifteen today and sorry I did of all were his thoughts on the next stage
for my great-great grandfather, perhaps not have some good bourbon whiskey of his life.
the Civil War. During a recent Civil War to celebrate with but then I remembered
reenactment at Smith Appleby house, a the last day I left Providence and prayed “My education is not such as I wish it
participant referenced a collection of 31 with Rev. Pratt about the vices I should was and as it might have been if I had
letters, dated between April 1864 and encounter.” not acted as I did while I had the chance.
December 1865, largely unknown, that I am only 16 yet and there is chance for
had been written by Second Class Private “As for entertainment, I read newspapers, improvement. A year’s hard study will be
Lewis Anthony Waterman, the 14th child play dominos and checkers.” the best thing for me yet.”
and 15-year-old son of George Waterman,
owner of a cotton mill in Manville. “The Army rations are the best we have Author’s notes:
had in a long time. Had myself Fried Beef
Originally published by a fellow Army Steak, potatoes, gravy, Bread, Coffe (sic) Lewis returned to Providence in
Signal Corps officer after his Lewis’ and Tea ... also beans, hominy ... some December, 1868. When he knew
untimely death at age 19 of Scarlet Fever, boiled ham ... and vegetables and rice.” he was dying of Scarlet Fever, he
these letters paint a picture of war and contacted his best friend, Sidney
the battlefield that cannot be captured By September, 1864, rations were getting Greene, and entrusted him to finish
by simply walking the long-abandoned poorer, with no vegetables of any kind the memoir he intended to write. Mr.
sites and viewing the graves of those and little salted bacon and bread. Many Greene forward those notes and $250
who fought these battles. Only through solders were taking their meals in private for expenses to J. Willard Brown,
survivor accounts can we capture the homes for 5 cents a meal. The soldiers who published his book in 1869.
concerns and drudgery of life of those also heard the rumor that some recruits Portions of the profits were donated
who actually served. were being paid up to $1,600 to enlist. to the YMCA of Providence to help
further young men’s education.
While space prohibits including most of Battle:
Lewis’ text, the few selected do offer a 2nd Class Private Lewis Anthony
glimpse of the war time experience of a “Some bushwackers raided some places Waterman is buried in the family
very young enlistee. near the fort ... some 700 chased after plot in Swan Point Cemetery, age 19
them causing them to lose about 150 years, 7 months and 17 days.
An early letter to his brother sets the stage men. We lost two men who could not
for his service: “Camp was overwhelming control their horses.” 29 of the unpublished letters reside
for me being only fourteen but I began in the Kenneth Spencer Research
to acclimate to a soldier’s life of early Camp Life: Library, University of Kansas; the
rising, drill, poor food etc. I had a hard Rhode Island Historical Society
time staying away from the vices of the Exciting news today, I got myself a holds two. The letters have been
army. Money was the worse vice for men wooden frame bunk off the ground.” copied, transcribed and published by
as they would borrow from each other Civil War reenactor Ted Urbanski,
and have none to send home.” “I have new boots (but have been) told Stones River Publishing Inc,
if I am not careful, they will be stolen Willington, CT, May, 2021, and
Travel to the West: by unodorax (sic) solders, so I will be are available for those interested in
sending them home until fall when learning more.
“... an incidence of importance was the Mother can send them to me.”
firing on the boat by bushwhackers near “Books here are expensive 15 to 25 (All apparent misspellings and
Jefferson City ...” Fire was not returned dollars each, so hold on to mine and send punctuation marks reflect those made
as Lewis reported, “we were not trained me some in the fall ...” in the actual letters.)
20 | AUGUST 202188
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The Smithfield Times | 2122 | AUGUST 2021
50 years Ago – August, 1971 | by Jim Ignasher
Navy Petty Officer First Class Albert R. Almon was serving Meanwhile the college petitioned the town to abandon that
aboard the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Wasp. portion of John Mowry Road which crossed the campus. Local
residents were split on the issue, as were the police and fire
Major Russell W. Turner of Greenville graduated from departments, but history has shown the request was granted.
Command and General Staff school and was stationed in
Augusta, Georgia. A muscular dystrophy fund raising carnival was held at 34
Second Street in Esmond, by Meridee Goodwin and Rene
Boy Scout Troops 3 and 64, both of Greenville, spent a week Buteau, which raised $56.64 for the Muscular Dystrophy
camping at Camp Yawgoog. Association.
On August 1st, the crew of the Apollo 15 moon mission left a On August 21, the Balfour – Cole American Legion Post on
plaque on the surface of the moon honoring the 14 American Pleasant View Avenue held a mortgage burning ceremony. The
astronauts and Russian cosmonauts who had lost their lives public was invited and refreshments were served.
in the service of their country while working to further space
exploration. Hit songs heard on the radio in August of ’71 included “You’ve
Got A Friend” by James Taylor, “How Can You Mend A
Apollo 15 returned to Earth on the 7th. Broken Heart?” by the Bee Gees, and “I Feel The Earth
Move” by Carole King.
The Circus Wagon Theatre Company arrived at Whipple Field
to give a performance of a play called “Shirley, Shirley”, the On August 25th the Apple Valley Cinema expanded by opening
story of a spoiled brat who leaves the circus and experiences a fourth movie theatre making it the second cinema complex in
a series of life altering adventures before returning with a new Rhode Island to contain four theatres. If one went to the movies
attitude. The play was performed in pantomime from the rear they might have seen “Plaza Suite”, a comedy by playwright
deck of a red, white, and blue, flatbed truck equipped with Neil Simon that takes place in New York City’s Plaza Hotel, or
a trampoline, a small swimming pool, a slide, and a jungle “Summer of ‘42”, a coming of age film set in Nantucket during
gym. The actors were all theatre majors from the University of WWII, or “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory”, the story
Rhode Island. The next scheduled performance was at Burgess of a boy who finds a golden ticket in a chocolate bar and visits
Field in Greenville. The troupe was slated to perform at 120 Wonka’s candy factory, or “Who Is Harry Kellerman And Why
playgrounds throughout the state during the summer. Is He Saying Those Terrible Things About Me?”, which was
about a music composer trying to track down Kellerman.
John B. Tessaglia A. I. A. of North Providence, was chosen
as the architect to design Smithfield’s new police station Also on August 25th the Greenville Senior Sunshiners took a
on Pleasant View Avenue. The land for the new station was one-day trip to New Hampshire.
donated by Smithfield residents Burton and Mary Mowry.
On August 28th an “old fashioned” square dance, sponsored by
On August 12, the newly constructed Bryant College (now the Citizens for the Preservation of Waterman Lake, was held at
university) campus was nearing completion and getting ready the Waterman’s Lake Beach Club.
to receive students for the fall semester. A bar which once
existed on the campus known as “The Rathskeller” was granted It was also on August 28th that a severe thunderstorm blew
a liquor license by the town. through the Greenville area knocking down trees and causing
power outages.
The Smithfield Times | 23Kara and Rocco Petrillo
Sienna and Guiliana Hall Andew and Phoenix Barber
24 | AUGUST 2021Olivia Sutcliff Tom and Becky Winfield
The Smithfield Senior Center held its “Welcome Back” Party on June 23.
All Photos courtesy of Albert Tavakalov
The Smithfield Times | 2526 | AUGUST 2021
Women’s Guild
Straw Draw Booth
Hundreds of Prizes Lisa’s Bakery
Sweet Treat’s for All
Religious Article Booth
Nightly Entertainment
Thursday – Christiana & Derek
Friday – 2nd to None
Saturday – Ambrosiani
Sunday
Fresh Italian Delicacies
Afternoon – Starzz Entt. / R&J Review
Ice Cold Beer & Wine
Evening - Gemini
Religious Events
Triduum of Mass
August 9th – 11th 7:00PM
Candlelight Procession Aug. 11th
St. Rocco Feast Mass
August 15th at 11:00AM
➢ Procession Following Mass
➢ w/the RI Veterans Band
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The Smithfield Times | 27A View From the Cheap Seats
The Ugly Motivation Behind Fan Behavior | Dan Pieroni
Towards Athletes
By Dan Pieroni
It is unfortunate for me to have to admit job as a sports columnist to try to make greatness over the Celtics and their fans
this, but we are living in a very dark sense of this troubling phenomenon. I by performing a silly dance on their
reality regarding the relationship between feel this paradigm shift in fan behavior famed logo.
fans and athletes. from somewhat playful and innocent to
cruel and deplorable can be explained in Most fans would probably ignore Irving’s
Within the last month we have seen am one word. Jealousy. Jealously is the chief buffoonery and see it for what it is, a
unprecedented run of stupidity by fans at motivator in driving some fans to make ridiculously sophomoric and childish
live sporting events that can be classified morons of themselves. display of hubris from a spoiled, entitled
as ignorant, classless, and racist. Take athlete.
for instance all that transpired during Cole Buckley, the young URI student
the NBA Playoffs during the week of who made the unwise choice to fling his Cole Buckley probably saw it as an
May 24. Atlanta Hawks star Trae Young container of liquid refreshment towards attack on the Celtics honor and chose
was spat on by a New York Knicks fan a star basketball player probably did not to deal with the situation by unwisely
for simply being good at basketball. intend to do it when he went to the game assaulting Irving. In essence, Buckley
Likewise, a Philadelphia 76ers fans felt that afternoon. action’s allowed Irving to assume a role
the urge to buy a big bucket of popcorn that he doesn’t deserve based on his
and throw most of it at the Washington Yes, it is well documented Kyrie Irving behavior, victim.
Wizards Russell Westbrook for the same was miserable as a Boston Celtic and
reason. has gone on record as saying so. Irving Irving crossed the line and may be
choosing to dance all over the Celtics logo punished for his actions with a fine, but
Locally, a young URI student objected to was a petulant assertion of the perceived if that’s all, how impactful can it really
current Brooklyn Net and former Celtic power he wields over Celtics fans and be towards atonement of his ways. Irving
Kyrie Irving mocking his former team’s a poor attempt to rob the Celtics of the still has a boatload of cash, a level of
tradition by dancing on the team’s famous dignity and tradition they have amassed talent we can only dream of, and access
leprechaun logo, whereupon the fan throughout their storied history. In other to the spoils of fame most of us will
chose to throw his water bottle at Irving words, Kyrie Irving is reveling in the fact never see in our lifetimes.
in anger. His prize? A lifetime ban from that he is despised by Celtics fans.
any Celtic home game for the rest of his Buckley’s poor decision making could
life and an arrest for assault and battery Cole Buckley among others has allowed cost him a prison sentence and jeopardize
with a dangerous weapon. Kyrie Irving to live rent free in his his future.
head. It is understood that Irving was
What these examples underscore is that miserable in Boston and fled to sanctuary Is it unfair? You bet, but then, again who
some of the hard-working, leather lunged, of Brooklyn, where he has found himself helped give Kyrie Irving the right to
passionate fans of American sports are no placed on a better team, with better speak his mind with antagonistic rhetoric,
longer satisfied with booing and playfully teammates, and a bigger paycheck to and behave the way he does with
insulting professional athletes for a cheap boot. Sadly, Irving is not content with seemingly no repercussions?
thrill. Now they must prove how much leaving his past behind, and has taken
they detest these athletes by crossing the almost every opportunity to speak out You did, and because you did, you must
line and getting personal with athletes against the perceived shabby treatment he cope with jealously you feel by taking the
by doing everything from shouting racist got in Boston. high road and not letting these player’s
remarks to physically assaulting them. talent attitudes, or beliefs get to you. It is
This sort of behavior begs one highly It is clearly not enough for him to use too risky a proposition to let anger get the
important question, why? his frustration to dominate the Celtics best of you at a sporting event.
on the court. Thus, he felt the need to
I am no social scientist, by I feel it is my assert his perceived self-importance and Next time, stay home.
28 | AUGUST 2021You can also read
