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Recovery high schools provide second chance to studentsBoston fi refi ghter a champion for recoveryBy John Houle

Co-Publisher/Editor

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By the time she was 15, a teen from Gloucester, Mass. was drinking, using cocaine and taking Vicodin and Oxycontin. “One day I put a sign on my door saying send me to treatment or I’m running away. I knew I couldn’t be at home and be okay,” she recalled. Another young woman was in trouble at her Eastern Massachusetts high school and was not allowed to return for her senior year. Like so many young people, she fell in with the wrong crowd and began abusing alcohol and drugs. Fortunately for those two young people, there was a place they could turn to for recovery. One went to Northshore Recovery High School, which opened its doors four years ago in Beverly, Mass., and the other went to William J. Ostiguy Regional High School, a recovery school located at 19 Temple Place near Downtown Crossing in Boston. A year later, she graduated and attended Bridgewater State College. Michelle Levinson, a probation offi cer for Norfolk Superior Court, has seen fi rsthand the need for a student fi ghting addiction to return to a special recovery school. “The supportive environment allows for a safe place for many young men and women to achieve academic success and break the cycle of addiction that plagues our society today,” she said. The statistics for Massachusetts children between the ages of 12 and 17 with substance abuse probelms are alarming. An estimated 83,245 children have substance abuse problems, and 70,000 of them never get treatment. Of the 13,000 children who receive treatment, 90 percent relapse if sent back to their former high school. Without a high school education and with a substance abuse problem, children are doomed. To reduce the high rates of relapse associated with teens in recovery, many states have developed special recovery schools that provide a safe, sober and supportive school environment where students and their recovery efforts are understood, valued and fostered.

The concept of recovery high schools originated in Minnesota in 1989 as a response to the high rates of relapse among adolescents who returned from a treatment experience to a traditional high school. The schools have been successful in reducing rates of relapse and increasing rates of graduation. There are 18 states with recovery high schools, and the statistics validate the important role they play: a 90 percent graduation rate with 50 percent of their graduates going on to college. Located in Boston, Beverly and Springfi eld, the Massachusetts recovery schools are jointly funded by the state Department of Public Health and local school districts. Each of the schools utilizes a slightly different operational model. The Springfi eld school is operated solely by the

Springfi eld Public Schools, while Boston utilizes a partnership between the Boston Public Schools and a nonprofi t social service agency, Action for Boston Community Development. The Beverly school is operated by an educational entity, the Northshore Educational

Consortium, which includes 17 towns and cities on the Northshore. Massachusetts recovery schools were championed by William J. Ostiguy, a lieutenant in the Boston Fire Department who also runs its employee assistance program. He campaigned for recovery schools after seeing teenagers go through treatment, only to relapse when they returned to school. Ostiguy had heard about a special recovery school in Minnesota, so on his own time he researched the concept, contacted the school’s principal and fl ew out to Minnesota with state

Sen. Steven A. Tolman and friend Greg Hughes at their own expense. They discovered that three young women from Massachusetts were enrolled at the school, one of whom had paid her own way to attend. Instead of saying, “Why don’t we have a school like this in Massachusetts,” Ostiguy worked on making it happen. As a recovering alcoholic for 40 years, he viewed this as a personal mission to help young people rescue themselves from the circle of addiction. The young woman he had met in Minnesota graciously testifi ed before the Boston City Council, telling the councilors in her own words why returning to a place where she discovered drugs and alcohol – her own school – would not have fostered her recovery. Following that impressive testimony, Ostiguy made a presentation to a special Massachusetts House and Senate commission. Sen. Tolman spearheaded legislation, and Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey adopted the cause. The end result was funding to launch three charter high schools. At an estimated cost to society of $1.2 million for untreated substance abuse – when unwanted pregnancies, welfare, jail time and other societal problems are factored in – the $2.5 million to fund each of the three schools was viewed as a preventive investment. To honor the man who had brought recovery schools to light in Massachusetts, Sen. Tolman, state Rep. Brian Wallace and Hughes recommended and helped ensure that the Boston school be named for Ostiguy. The mission of William J. Ostiguy High School is to provide a safe, sober and supportive school environment in which youth in recovery can develop the skills and strengths needed for personal, academic, vocational and community success. The school integrates a high school academic curriculum with the development of supportive life skills necessary for students in recovery. All program staff members are certifi ed educators and specialists who are responsible for providing appropriate academic programming and oversight both in and out of school. “This is about giving kids a real chance. Ostiguy High provides both students and their families the support they need to maintain their recovery and get themselves and their education back on track,” said Ostiguy.

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Common Ground JULY 2010

2 Black and White

INDEX

Page 1 Recovery high schools provide

second chance to students

Page 2 Archambault challenges primary opponents

to 6 Democratic attorney general debates

Lack of enforcement of safety regulations

puts workers at risk

Page 3 Firefighter Rinaldi stands the heat in the

kitchen

Page 4 Smoking pot diminishes teens’ brain power

Page 5 Chamber: General Assembly took action to

bolster Rhode Island’s business climate

Page 6 “Safe Money” & Your Retirement

Page 7 Transit 2020 belongs in fast lane

Page 9 Making It Work reform series continues

Page 10 Web sites are essential to generating success

Page 12 Audubon Society of Rhode Island

Pages 13-14 Eye on RI - Opinion

Page 19 Make a difference in someone’s life

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John Houle - Co-Publisher/Editor

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Democratic attorney general candidate

Steve Archambault has challenged his primary

opponents, Joe Fernandez and Peter Kilmartin,

to debate six times between now and the Sept.

14 Democratic primary.

In a letter to Fernandez and Kilmartin,

Archambault said, “Debates are the best way for

primary voters to be able to take the measure of

the candidates for attorney general and make an

informed decision. Especially given the tough

challenges the next attorney general will face, it

is important that we move beyond sound bites

and television ads.”

Archambault went on to say, “I look forward

to a discussion of the important issues the next

attorney general will need to address, including

enforcing our laws, standing up for Rhode

Island consumers and working families and

taking on public corruption.”

The Archambault campaign will be reaching

out to media outlets and organizations such

as the League of Women Voters to ensure the

biggest possible audience and best formats for

the proposed debates.

Archambault, who serves as a councilman

in Smithfield, would bring a broad legal

background to the attorney general’s office. His

experience as a police officer, local prosecutor

and defense attorney gives him a firsthand

understanding of all the elements of the

criminal justice system.

To learn more about Steve Archambault

and how he will serve the people of Rhode

Island as the next attorney general, visit www.

archambaultforattorneygeneral.com.

Archambault challenges primary opponents to 6 Democratic attorney general debates

Lack of enforcement of safety regulations puts workers at riskBy James Celenza

Amid the daily scenes of the BP oil spill it is only for a moment or two that we are reminded that 11 workers died on the rig when it exploded on April 20th. Was the incident a cost of doing business?Not uncommon. Seven workers were killed in an explosion of the Tesoro refinery in Washington state. Six workers died in the Kleen Energy power plant explosion in Connecticut. Twenty-nine miners died in West Virginia’s Upper Big Branch Mine disaster. In the same week that the oil rig exploded, media outlets around the country carried dozens of stories with headlines such as; “Man Killed in Trench Collapse” or “Fall from Roof Fatal.” The toll of those routine incidents -14 deaths a day from injuries in America - is obscured because most occur one death at a time. Like those who died on the BP oil rig and in the Massey mine, the vast majority of deaths on the job are preventable. The problem is not technical but political: We know how to prevent trenches from collapsing -- by using trench boxes to shore them up. We know how to prevent falls from roofs from becoming fatal -- by properly using safety harnesses. We know how to prevent coal mine explosions -- by minimizing the buildup of coal dust and monitoring methane concentrations. Jordan Barab, the deputy assistant secretary of labor, occupational safety and health at the Labor Department, testified before the Senate Health, Education and Labor’s Subcomittee on Employment and Workplace safety. “The oil and gas industry must learn from its mistakes. Almost all of the recent catastrophic incidents and refineries were repeats of earlier mistakes, which lessons could have been learned,” he said. Barab said investigators are finding a significant lack of compliance during

inspections of refineries. “Time and again our inspectors are finding the same violations in multiple refineries, including those of common ownership and sometimes even in the same refinery,” he said. “These other incidents involving close calls, serious injuries and fatalities are clear indications that essential safety lessons are not being learned.” Why? First, it’s a problem of resources: the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) budget for enforcement is marginal, a situation that has worsened. In the late 1970s, OSHA had one inspector per 30,000 covered workers; today it is one per 60,000. Second, are obstacles to any new workplace safety rules erected by deregulation ideologues in Congress. In the last 13 years, OSHA has issued exactly one new health standard, and that under the duress of a court order. Third, OSHA’s promise that all workers have the right to speak up about unsafe or unhealthy conditions without retaliation is a cruel joke. The agency’s whistleblower protection program is totally ineffective: Non-union workers who file OSHA complaints routinely lose their jobs. The solutions to this sorry state of affairs are not complex. Congress should boost the budget for OSHA enforcement. Plus, it should protect whistleblowers and require serious penalties for egregious violators. Under current law, even the worst case of employer neglect can result in no more than a misdemeanor, punishable by a maximum six months in jail. That’s got to change. There is a bill sitting in Congress that would accomplish much of what needs to be done. But the Protecting America’s Workers Act (Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I. is a co-sponsor) is stalled in committee.

JULY 2010 Common Ground

3 Color

On a recent Saturday night, Dan Rinaldi saw three separate car rollovers, capping off with an accident on the Point Street bridge at 2:30 am. Two people were pinned in the car, with one man’s legs coming out of the window and stuck under the car. He was quickly removed

by Providence’s Bravest and given a chance for another day. It was not an unusual night at one of the top ten busiest fi re stations in the United States; just another typical day on the job for Firefi ghter Rinaldi, who is part of a four-man team on the Special Hazards Truck at the Washington Street station. “Anything you see on the news, and say, ‘oh, that’s not good,” we’ll be there,” explains Rinaldi about his job. As a Special Hazards fi refi ghter, Rinaldi goes to every building fi re in the city of Providence. In addition, he and his team are often called upon to extract people from cars, release people, rescue workers from trenches and manholes, and execute high angle rescues from buildings. One day Rinaldi could be called upon to break into a burning building to rescue people and another day pulling a driver from the water, only to see a car plummet to the bottom of the river as the man is pulled to safety. In order to perform both the mundane and most complex rescues, Rinaldi is constantly

training. He also teaches classes to other fi refi ghters on the latest techniques to enter highly secured areas. His advanced training and on-the-job experience has enabled him to manage the most stressful situations, so a national competition is not pressure cooking for this self-taught chef. Among his culinary accomplishments, Rinaldi is the 2002-2004 winner of the “Tabasco Cooking Ladder” competition sponsored by the Food Network. Rinaldi beat out other fi refi ghters from around the country in a fi erce competition that saw his “Firehouse Fra Diavolo” win out over all other dishes. Even in the kitchen, Rinaldi is always planning and training, and he developed a strategy to assure victory. Knowing that other fi refi ghters across the country would not have access to fresh New England seafood, nor the ability to practice on food that would be diffi cult for them to acquire, he came up with a winning dish complete with fresh lobster, jumbo shrimp, and native littlenecks and muscles. Rinaldi was called back again to judge the competition, and as a Food Network competition champion was asked to compete in the 2007 “Food Network Challenge Super Seafood Grille Off.” He won best appetizer for his grilled shrimp and scallops in a spicy red pepper sauce. His red hot appetizer along with his grilled stuffed lobster earned him a Silver Medal in a competition among not only fi refi ghters, but winners of other national Food Network competitions. He continues to receive accolades for his food, recently winning the RI Firefi ghter’s Chili Cook-Off at the Convention Center. But the toughest critics of his food are his fellow fi refi ghters. “Believe me, they prepared me for any competition, hammering me all the time. Cooking in a national competition is nothing compared to what I get from them.” But he also acknowledges the importance of

cooking together as a team. The camaraderie from the continuous training, practicing, and work on the job carries over to a place many would not suspect – the kitchen. “Guys on their days off are always calling me asking me what they can bring in to prepare our next meal. I’m out shopping on my days off to make sure I can make something special. We have to deal with so much on the job, it’s important for us to sit down together and share a good meal.” And as fi refi ghters understand, but the public may not be aware, most fi re stations are not equipped with stoves and appliances. They are stocked by the fi refi ghters with items they bring from home. What Dan Rinaldi has brought from home is his family’s tradition of Italian cooking, passed on to him by his grandmother, mother and aunts. But the recipes and fi ne cuisine are not the only things his fellow fi refi ghters can depend on from Rinaldi. His teammates know that Rinaldi is continuously training to fi ne-tune his skills in Special Hazards and always passes on everything that he has learned. His cooking is just another example of his meticulous determination to be at the top of his game, no matter what he does.

Firefi ghter Rinaldi stands the heat in the kitchenBy John Houle

Co-Publisher/Editor

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Firefi ghter Rinaldi prepares a meal at the Washington Street station.

Firefi ghter Rinaldi helps rescue a woman who hit a tree and was pinned down in her car.


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Pot use by adolescents is usually not taken as seriously as the use of “heavy drugs” by people such as parents, teachers and offi cials in the legal system. Most adults don’t know that tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) compromises the ability of developing adolescent brains to “learn how to learn.” The damage is irreversible and most profound and noticeable when a teen is already struggling academically, socially and motivationally. Children already on the edge fall over the edge.

So, does pot kill brain cells? That is one of the fi rst questions I ask adolescents when they are dragged in to see me following some incident involving drugs or alcohol, and/or the police. The truth of the matter is that the main “get you high” ingredient in marijuana, THC, does not kill brain cells. THC does something worse to brains. THC, a non-water soluble chemical, builds up and accumulates in the fatty cells of the body. It loves fat, and brain neurons are a fatty substance. The buildup thickens the neurons’ walls and compromises their ability to operate and communicate, making them sluggish and slow to respond, just like the pot smoker. Because our bodies are comprised mainly of water and THC is non-water soluble, it takes a long time for THC to leave the body. It takes at least two weeks for the THC in a joint to leave the brain. The American Medical Association considers “heavy use” to be three joints a week because the body never has time to naturally detoxify. Regular pot use creates a condition in adolescents called amotivational syndrome that is regularly mistaken for attention defi cit disorder.

Warning signs of amotivational syndrome are: • Lossoftheabilitytopostponeimmediategratification. • Seekinginstantgratification. • Lossofinterestordroppingrewardingextracurricularactivities. • Lackofconcentration. • Failinggradesorpoorworkperformance. • Memoryimpairment. • Lossofmotivationtofulfilllong-termgoals.

I always ask teens where they want to be in 10 years and if they see how smoking pot will keep them from getting there. Scare tactics don’t work. Treatment, including education, does.

Reinhard Straub is a licensed clinical social worker, licensed chemical dependency clinical supervisor and full-time treatment consultant with Treatment Solutions Network. He is always available and can be reached at (401)741-1574 or [email protected].

Smoking pot diminishes teens’ brain power By Reinhard Straub


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The General Assembly took bold steps necessary to improve Rhode Island’s economic performance during the past legislative session. Against a challenging economic backdrop, both House and Senate leadership tackled important issues that will serve to strengthen our state’s overall economic situation and further diversify our state’s economic makeup. The membership of the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce has been fervent in delivering the message that we need to create a business climate where people are prepared to invest in the state and provide the jobs that are required to grow revenues and employ our residents.

Personal Income Tax Reform The Chamber was pleased to join the governor, General Assembly leaders and members of the business community to sign into law new sweeping changes to the state’s income tax structure. Most significantly, the state’s top tax rate of 9.9 percent will be reduced to 5.99 percent, bringing Rhode Island in line with neighboring states. The number of tax brackets will be reduced to three and itemized deductions will be replaced with a large standard deduction ($15,000 for those filing jointly and $7,500 for individuals). According to the Tax Foundation, Rhode Island’s tax competitiveness standing has continued to steadily improve since 2002, when the state was ranked 49th in the country. With these new reforms, the Tax Foundation ranks Rhode Island 41st.

Small Business Package The Chamber supported the General Assembly’s passage of comprehensive regulatory reforms recommended by the Senate Small Business Task Force. The eight-part package, which includes among other things the creation of an Office of Regulatory Reform at the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation; the creation of a statewide master application system; a measure to expedite the licensing process; fire code reforms; and the adoption of a simultaneous review process among state agencies, was unveiled by Gov. Carcieri, General Assembly leaders and the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation to Business EXPO 2010.

Education Funding Formula The Chamber pushed for the creation of a predictable and reliable education funding formula that is connected to students, achievement and provides built-in accountability. The Chamber supported the measure, citing that Rhode Island’s model for educational funding is insufficient to meet the many and diverse needs of our state’s school districts and the fact that our state had the distinction of being the only state nationwide to lack a clear model for educational funding distribution.

Job Creation Guaranty Program The Chamber supported this measure, which establishes a $125 million Job Creation Guaranty program for growing new and existing knowledge-based businesses in order to create and retain high-wage jobs for our residents.

Renewable Energy Recognizing that there needs to be a role for the Public Utilities Commission in wind projects long term, the Chamber supported this proposal, which gives Rhode Island the opportunity to be the first state in the country to develop clean, sustainable renewable offshore wind energy and have Quonset Business Park serve as a staging area for the creation of a wind farm.

Rhode Island Industrial Recreational Building Authority (IRBA) The Chamber supported this proposal, which was signed into law in March and allows the state to guarantee up to $60 million in loans to help companies get the credit they need from financial institutions for expansion proposals.

Small Business Jobs Growth Tax Credit The Chamber testified in support of this measure, which had been proposed by Gov. Carcieri. The proposal would have provided, for a limited time, a $2,000 state tax credit for every new hire by an eligible small business. It did not pass.

Estate Tax The Chamber testified in support of this proposal, which would have raised the exemption amounts to $1.5 million and would have repealed the estate tax for deaths occurring on or after Jan. 1, 2013. The measure was passed by the Senate but was not considered by the House by the end of the session.

Chamber: General Assembly took action to bolster Rhode Island’s business climate The members of the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce would like to thank our partners in the labor community for joining with us to improve the jobs-producing environment in Rhode Island during the 2010 legislative session. Here is our summary of the highlights:

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What is significant and most important to you is how you feel about the safety of your retirement money. Is enough of your retirement money safely tucked away in a place where you won’t lose value if the stock market goes down? Are you concerned about the next time the stock market decides to nose dive and take away value from your account, again? If you are concerned about the long-term safety of your money, especially your retirement money, read on. I will be discussing the importance of safe money,* relating to your retirement money and the importance of not paying ridiculous fees on your brokerage accounts, mutual funds and variable annuities. When people generalize, it’s not usually very accurate. It’s like saying all dogs are bad just because, like me, you got bitten by a dog once when you were a kid. Some dogs are bad, but most dogs are good pets. It’s the same with investments. Saying that all stocks or bonds are bad wouldn’t be accurate either. I do not think all stocks or bonds are bad. However, I have a bias toward the safety of my clients’ money and do not want my clients to risk their retirement nest egg on risky investments. Because, as we all clearly know, the stock market can wreak havoc on your account balance and your retirement peace of mind. Having an adviser that only offers stock market investing is holding back from you one of the best places to have your money so that you can take advantage of the upside of the stock market while protecting yourself from the downside risk associated with the stock market. In my opinion, those safety products

should be a part of your overall portfolio if you are within 10 years of retirement or already retired. The main reason for that statement is due to risk. Not once, but twice in the last decade investment accounts were decimated by the sharp decline in the stock market. It took more than five years for the market to regain its previous high from the low point in 2002. We are still well below the high mark in October 2007. Nearly three years have passed since that high point. How long will it take the stock market to recover back to that level? Your guess is as good as anyone’s. I’m not into that kind of projection. Sadly, I do think it’s going to take a long while before we see that Dow back up over 14,000 points, which is where it was in October 2007, but I don’t have any specific projection as to when it will happen. As I write the column, it is just over 10,200 points. That’s about 4,000 points less than the high. That’s almost 29 percent below the high point from nearly three years ago in October 2007. That’s what I call a pretty bad rollercoaster ride. No one knows how long it will take to recover that last 29 percent. Maybe now is the time to look at safe alternatives for some of your retirement money. And what if the stock market has another jolt? Terrorism is still a major concern. The radicals don’t like us and our beliefs, and their mentality isn’t going away. Terrorism is just one thing to be concerned with when you think of the stock market. There are many other issues such as the collapse of the dollar that we have been experiencing and massive debt around the globe.

So, the safe money* programs that I specialize in have nearly a million people that love them and have safely placed some of their bank money and/or retirement money into them. People just like you have placed more than $150 billion dollars into those safe money* programs. There is a three-year study conducted by six Ph.D.s from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania that clearly shows those safe money* programs are very viable. In my opinion, they deserve a place in most portfolios that are being built up for retirement. To receive a free safe money* report, call (401) 333-8000 or (800) 417-2381 and request a free copy. Union members may also request a free consultation with this column.

*Guarantees are subject to the claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company.

Jeffrey H. Massey is a certified financial planner™, and professional and financial radio show host. You can see Jeff on “The Rhode Show” on Fox TV on Wednesday mornings between 8 and 9 a.m.

“Safe Money” & Your RetirementBy Jeffrey H. Massey, CFP®


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Have you heard of Transit 2020? If so, it was probably about a proposed “streetcar” (tracked trolley) in Providence on a route between the hospital district and College Hill, hence “meds to eds.” Actually that is only one of 10 recommendations for this decade that came out of a “metropolitan transit enhancement study” usually called Transit 2020 for short. The basic idea is that the study provides a vision of how to develop a first-class transit system that can promote “overall mobility, environmental stewardship and economic vitality.” The study consultants estimated implementing the recommendations (whose construction costs would total about $126 million) would result in about $54 million in annual benefits to our region and 300 to 355 jobs from construction and operations. Some recommendations are quite straightforward: more frequent bus service; expanded park-and-rides; an improved transit experience through better shelters, bus stop signage, Web-information and real-time schedule information; better intermodal connections at the train stations and airport, with coordination of fare products among the various agencies, including the commuter rail; development and marketing of enhanced transit passes (such as the “Upass”) for commuters. Other good ideas: introduce new transit hubs (presumably at Brown University, Amtrak, the hospitals and the West Side) so that the bus lines do not end at Kennedy Plaza but continue on to one of the hubs. That should reduce the need to transfer and thus reduce congestion around the plaza; encouragement of “transit oriented development” that can attract high-density development around key stations that can take advantage of good transit access; and the start of “bus rapid transit” on the Broad Street--North Main Street route, speeding up buses with faster boarding and signal prioritization, ideas that might later be expanded to Cranston lines. I think there may be two problematic recommendations. One is to

“reinvent” Kennedy Plaza in hopes that the area becomes more attractive to nearby businesses and visitors, especially as the Kennedy Plaza Partnership has a regular program of music, farmers markets and other events intended to develop a lively public square just as many historic cities have done. However, it may come at the expense of passengers, who if bus stops are dispersed, may lose easy access to transfers, the waiting room with its bathroom, schedule distribution, an information booth, coffee shop and the presence of security. There have been other instances where passenger interests have been neglected, so that bears watching. Then there is the streetcar, by far the most expensive component, costing about $80 million and duplicating existing bus service on the Hope Street-Eddy Street lines. But elsewhere streetcars have indeed spurred economic development (Portland, Ore., being the most famous example), and here, too, it might provide a boost and sense of excitement that our struggling downtown needs. It can also help with the redevelopment of the “Jewelry District,” especially after the old I-195 viaduct comes down. Officials at Brown University, Rhode Island Hospital and other institutions hope the streetcar will reduce the need for their expensive shuttles. If so, the officials are reportedly willing to help with operating expenses. Our world is likely soon to see constraints on carbon and increasingly expensive oil. Fortunately, Rhode Island is well-positioned to generate electricity from wind power, and an electric streetcar can be a start on the necessary electrification of our transportation systems. The next step needed to make that happen is an “alternatives analysis” study required by the federal government, which will surely have public input. So stay tuned and think about making your comments on what should be done. Barry Schiller is a member of the Transit 2020 Action Committee and the State Planning Council’s Transportation Advisory Committee.

Transit 2020 belongs in fast laneBy Barry Schiller

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One of the most spirited debates in recent months involves the national health reform law and how Rhode Island can implement the reform to the maximum benefit of its residents. At the most recent public forum in the Making it Work: Health Reform in R.I. series co-hosted by Lt. Gov. Elizabeth Roberts and the Rhode Island Foundation, Dr. Ron Paulus shared insights to the success of the nationally acclaimed Geisinger Health System, the foremost rural health care provider in the United States. Dr. Paulus is the executive vice president and chief technology and innovation officer at Geisinger Health System. Founded in 1915, the system has evolved into one of the nation’s leading fully-integrated health care providers. Serving more than 2 million residents throughout central and northeastern Pennsylvania, the physician-led organization is at the forefront of

the country’s rapidly emerging electronic health records movement. With three major regional medical centers and a 650-member group practice, the pioneering system is home to the industry’s preeminent not-for-profit rural health maintenance organization and the renowned Center for Health Research and Rural Advocacy, dedicated to creating innovative new models for patient care, satisfaction and clinical outcomes. Dr. Paulus is sought after nationally and internationally, traveling extensively to share how cutting-edge systems can change the way that health care is purchased and delivered. In his presentation, The Best Health Care Delivery System for Rhode Island: A Look at What has Worked Elsewhere in the Country,” Dr. Paulus spoke for an hour on topics ranging from payment and insurance coverage reform to preventive medical

care practices implemented with Geisinger. The presentation was well-attended and enthusiastically received by physicians, nurses, other health care providers and hospital staff members, business leaders, insurers, policy leaders and health care advocates. The Making It Work series was created to bring experts in the health care industry to Rhode Island for important public policy community discussions, centered on the direction Rhode Island’s health care system should take in the years ahead. The discussions also will help to inform the state’s health care community as it prepares for implementation of the national health reform law. Lt. Gov. Roberts announced last month the formation of the Healthy R.I.: National Health Reform Implementation Task Force to ensure that the state realizes maximum benefits from the recently enacted health reform law. Task force

work groups involve dozens of stakeholders from the health care community who are meeting to discuss topics such as payment reform, delivery system and provider issues; insurance market reform and health insurance expansion; reform initiatives and federal grant opportunities; prevention, wellness and public health; long-term care; and health care workforce development. For more information, call Lt. Gov. Roberts’ office at (401) 222-2371. The next health care expert in the Making It Work series is Harold Miller from the Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform. He will talk about how to transition from the current system to a reformed system on July 15th at 5:30 pm at the Rhode Island Foundation, 1 Union Station in Providence. For more information, call the foundation at (401) 427-4029 or e-mail [email protected].

Making It Work reform series continuesDr. Ron Paulus presents “The Best Health Care Delivery System for Rhode Island”



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My father is an incredible woodworker. He carves basketballs,

baseballs, sports jerseys, sneakers and baseball caps out of solid blocks of

wood, and laymen cannot distinguish between the art and the real thing.

There are many talented woodworking students who may never master

such talent. Like my father’s talent, it is an art more than a science to

create a great Web site, and not everyone can master that art.

A poor Web site reflects poorly on a business. It is as detrimental to

a business as a business having no Web site at all. Picture two eateries

side-by-side; one eatery is new, clean and upscale while the other is

old, dirty and broken down. At which eatery would you have lunch?

Do you think the thought process is different in the virtual world? It’s

not. A great Web site can be the difference between exponential growth

and lost potential. It is an investment to leverage the largest customer

portal in the world – the Internet, to create new business, retain existing

customers and provide exceptional 24/7 service, including self-service –

the “I want it now” expectation.

With such a large pool of potential, why is a Web site still not

perceived as an asset by many small businesses? It is looked upon as

an expense out of bare necessity. Due to that stereotype, many small

businesses are using cheap “do-it-yourself ” Web site startup kits or a

friend who “took a couple classes” or once set up a Facebook account.

What amazes me is the amount of respectable effort and money that

a small business owner puts into the brick and mortar aspect of the

business and circumvents that same passion entirely in the virtual arena.

It is not just about having a Web presence; it is about leveraging that

Web presence. That is the key point still being missed by many small

businesses and so then, other avenues of revenue are also being missed.

A great Web site is not just about looks either. The word “great” here

encapsulates all aspects of Web design, development and marketing

that together make it a success. To truly succeed you need a team to

back you and work with you. A great Web site does take time, as most

good things do. The reality is a great Web site is an iterative process;

each phase building on the latter. Whether through feedback, changing

trends or expectations, a great Web site is an ongoing effort. Treat your

Web site as a part of doing business, not as an expense of your business

and the return on investment will speak for itself. Remember that your

Web site is your business interface to the world. Make it a good one.

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Enjoy Evenings on the Water or Saunters on the Trails…Saunter on the cool morning trails, join a gentle kayak paddle, search for fireflies in the evening, or head out on the Bay for a fascinating lighthouse tour. July can be hot and muggy, but Audubon offers plenty of nature activities to keep you cool and connected with the great outdoors.

Children and Families Explore Field, Forest and Shore…Explore from the wetlands to the shore, discover life in summer meadows, or hike the wooded trails. Bring the kids to Audubon this summer and discover those special places that are only accessible by foot!

A complete listing of activities and programs are detailed in the Audubon Nature Tours and Program Guide, a free guide to connecting with the natural world. Visit www.asri.org to download a copy. Unless noted, registration is required for all programs. Call (401) 949-5454 ext. 3041 or email [email protected].

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Caprio offi cially announces campaign Candidate releases plan to boost employment

PROVIDENCE -- From the same pier on the Providence waterfront where his grandparents immigrated to America more than 90 years ago, Frank Caprio

recently delivered his offi cial announcement for his candidacy for governor of Rhode Island. Caprio, the state’s general treasurer, released a detailed plan aimed at creating jobs and growing the state’s economy in a forum with Rhode Island small business owners. The plan is a result of the 100 small business forums Caprio has held over the past six months, where he has listened to more than

1,000 small business owners and workers. “Our plan is rooted in the lives of real people and real businesses and addresses the biggest challenges facing small businesses in our state,” said Caprio. “We listened to over a thousand small business owners and employees in forums just like this and the message was clear -- we need to make government the advocate for small businesses, not the adversary.” There are more than 35,000 small businesses in Rhode Island that produce 60 percent of the jobs in the state. Caprio’s jobs plan redirects tax incentives to small businesses to create jobs, increases access to capital for small businesses and streamlines the licensing and permit process. “We need to put wind at the back of small

businesses so that they have the confi dence to add the new employees they need and jobs for Rhode Islanders,” said Caprio. “If every small business in our state, on average, was able to create one new job, we would cut our unemployment rate in half and go from one of the highest in the country to one of the lowest.” Caprio remains the top contender in recent polls, and he also leads with momentum on the ground, having received the endorsement of the Association of Democratic City and Town Chairs and almost a dozen city and town committees. Additionally, he has been endorsed by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 99 and Local 2323 and Teamsters Local 251.

OPINIONOPINIONOPINIONOPINIONOPINIONOPINIONOPINIONOPINIONOPINIONOPINIONOPINIONOPINIONEye On Rhode IslandEye On Rhode IslandEye On Rhode IslandEye On Rhode IslandEye On Rhode IslandEye On Rhode IslandEye On Rhode IslandEye On Rhode IslandEye On Rhode IslandEye On Rhode IslandEye On Rhode IslandEye On Rhode IslandJULY 2010

Creating jobs gets a “Quick Start “By A. Ralph Mollis

Making it easier to start companies in the Ocean State will create more jobs for Rhode Islanders. That is one reason why I am so proud to announce that the General Assembly has given us the green

light to begin work on our Quick Start master application for start-up businesses. We worked closely with House Speaker Gordon Fox, Majority Leader Nick Mattiello and Finance Committee Chair Steven Costantino in the House and President Theresa Paiva Weed, Majority Leader Dan Connors, Finance Committee Chair Dan DaPonte and Small Business Task Force Chair Erin Lynch in developing the program. Helping business grow has never been more crucial. New business creation has fallen dramatically since Rhode Island’s economy began to slide. In 2007, we helped more than 7,800 companies get started. By last year, starts had fallen 11 percent to just 6,900. Every

new company that opens its door will create temporary and long-term jobs for the printers who publish their brochures, the electricians who wire their offi ces and the people who work behind the counter or behind the desk.Quick Start will enable Rhode Islanders who dream of running their own company to complete all the paperwork state agencies require in one place by computer. No more writing their name and business information on 10, 20 or even 30 forms that state agencies can require. The system will even tell entrepreneurs what forms they need. We will be doing market research all summer by demonstrating Quick Start at Chamber and Rotary functions. At the same time, the governor’s offi ce will bring all the state agencies to the table. Our goal is to get the fi nished product online as soon as possible. But our innovation didn’t stop there. Earlier this year, we posted every one of the 307 forms that state agencies can require new businesses to submit on our Web site at sos.ri.gov. We created a simple alpha search tool that enables someone who wants to open a diner, for example, to fi nd a PDF of every form he needs. The state forms

library was popular right out of the gate, with 9,700 visits in just three months. Of course, entrepreneurs still need to fi ll out those forms one-by-one by hand, but – thanks to Quick Start – not for long.Quick Start and the online state forms library are just the two most recent examples of how my offi ce is using technology to get the economy moving again and create jobs. Since taking offi ce in 2007, we have added e-commerce tools to our Web site to make it easier for business owners to fi le, retrieve and search for offi cial business documents such as annual reports and articles of incorporation. No more driving to Providence to submit paper forms.In just two years, 55 percent of our customers are using the Web-based option for all their paperwork. Every time we save a company time and money, that frees the owners to do what they do best -- innovate and grow their business. As those companies grow, so will the job opportunities for Rhode Islanders. Through his Business Services Division, Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis has helped more than 22,000 companies get started in Rhode Island since taking offi ce in 2007.

Implementing motor vehicle excise tax is not the way to ease economic woes By Elizabeth H. Roberts

Last month I called on General Assembly leaders to reverse course on the rollback of the motor vehicle tax phase-out that subsequently passed with the budget for the next fi scal year.

The proposal, developed in an amendment late in the evening as the legislature’s session wrapped up, allows for signifi cant increases in the amount of motor vehicle excise tax paid by Rhode Islanders.I expressed outrage that we are going backward as a state by opening the door to the return of the most regressive tax in Rhode Island history. More than a decade ago while in the state Senate, I served as vice chair of the

Finance Committee and was a leader in budget negotiations to begin the phase-out of the vehicle tax, which truly hurt hardworking families. It is shocking that in 2010, Rhode Islanders will again face paying a tax that they can afford even less in this tenuous economic climate. Under the current motor vehicle tax exemption, any vehicle that is assessed at $6,000 or less is not taxed, and the locality is reimbursed by the state for that lost tax revenue. Vehicles assessed at more than $6,000 are taxed at rates ranging from $9.75 to $76.78 per $1,000 of assessed value. With the passage of the budget, cities and towns will be allowed to reduce the exemption amount to just the fi rst $500, leaving the remainder of the vehicle’s assessed value to be taxed. However, the General Assembly claimed it did not pass a tax increase and gave cities and towns a “tool” to

aid them in recouping the funds they will lose in reimbursements from the state for the vehicle tax. Clearly, many communities across the state will show in their local budgets that they have little choice but to resurrect the motor vehicle excise tax. In tough economic times like these, it is regrettable that the state government will strap communities with the burden of making up for the reimbursement shortfall. The cities and towns, in turn, will have to pass that burden along to their residents to reach further into their pockets. In 1998, we told the citizens of our state that we were going to rid them of this tax. In 2010, we must not go backward but instead work toward more sustainable solutions to our ongoing budget problems such as growing the economy and creating jobs. Elizabeth H. Roberts is lieutenant governor of Rhode Island.

Common Ground OPINION CONTINUED JULY 2010

Lynch’s jobs plan edges out Caprio’s proposalBy Brian Hull

The major concern of Rhode Islanders is the economy. And if it’s not, it should be. With an unemployment rate of more than 12 percent, far too many of the state’s residents are out of work. That means the state’s tax revenues are down and the state is experiencing a severe budget crunch. Now that Frank Caprio has finally released his small business and jobs plan, I thought it wise to offer a progressive side-by-side analysis of his blueprint and Patrick Lynch’s Back to Work proposal. Which plan is best for the state’s unemployed workers? Which plan

is best for the state’s economy? Which plan is best for the state’s small businesses? Read on. I’m going to start with Lynch’s proposal because he released his plan first back in March. Lynch’s plan is extensive; listing almost 20 separate items that he hopes will create jobs in the state by supporting small businesses and improving the skills of the state’s work force. Lynch’s plan is good and is full of some very intriguing proposals that unfortunately seem more like a wish-list than they probably should. I attribute that to the complicated nature of the state’s economic troubles and to the variety of initiatives that all help in small ways. While the plan doesn’t seem to be as focused and streamlined as it should be, here is an overview of some of the more significant and beneficial proposals.

• ThefirstitemonLynch’splanisexpandingaccesstocapitalbytransformingtheRhode Island Economic Development Corporation’s (RIEDC) Revolving Loan Fund into the Rhode Island Growth Fund, increasing its funding and the number of loans made and allowing for infusions of private capital from investors interested in Rhode Island small businesses, which is something I would do if the option were available. Lynch’s plan recognizes that the lack of credit in the state available to businesses that need it does in fact have a depressive affect on the economy.

• Lynchalsowantstocreatethepositionofsmallbusinessombudsmanwhowillserve as the small business advocate, ensuring that “small businesses have an input in the regulation making process so they are not burdened by future regulations.” That may or may not be beneficial, depending on who the ombudsman is and how independent that individual is from people in nice suits who are full of bad ideas. Reforming the state’s regulatory system can be good or bad, depending on who is in charge.

• Anothercomponentistocreateanetworkofsmallbusinesspartnersthatwould offer suggestions for improvement in the short and long term. Relying on the expertise and advice of other business owners in the state is actually a really good idea, especially for new businesses that may lack financial understanding and the marketing acumen cultivated over years by long-standing companies. My question for Lynch, isn’t this what business networking meetings are all about?

• OneofLynch’sbestideasistodesignateallofRhodeIslandasaHubZone.That would allow for more opportunities for Rhode Island companies to secure federal contracts. If we know anything about the federal government, it’s that they like to spend money. It is the biggest single consumer, spending billions and billions of dollars every year. If the state can increase its portion even by a small fraction, it would have a huge positive impact on the state’s economy.

• AsmuchasI’dliketoseeincreasedpurchasingatallofthestate’slocallyownedand operated businesses, Lynch’s Buy RI discount card campaign will probably be ineffectual. Though some well-to-do East Side folk will find it quaint that they can support local businesses in Wayland Square, thousands of poor Providence residents will still flock to Wal-Mart. If the state really wants to support local businesses, then it should stop granting tax giveaways to out-of-state and multi-state corporations who exact whatever concessions they can from states, cities and towns while the local shops struggle. How much was the tax subsidy given to the Home Depot? And we wonder why there aren’t as many small hardware stores.

• Lynch’sRetoolRhodeIslandinitiativeisanimpressiveapproachtobuildingawork force in the state that will meet the growth needs of the state’s small businesses. Work force development is a critically important component in the discussion about how to grow the state’s economy that is all too often forgotten. Yes, we want to make the state “business friendly,” whatever that actually means, but if the work force doesn’t have the skills to meet those needs, we’ll still have 12.5 percent unemployment and all the workers will be imported from Massachusetts and Connecticut. Without going into all the various components of Lynch’s retool idea, it seeks to solve the problem of skills mismatch by providing free limited educational training to grow the skills of the state’s work force. I greatly commend him for an idea that would probably have more benefit to the state’s economy than any tax credit or incentive scheme lawmakers could dream up.

Now let’s look at Treasurer Caprio’s Small Business Plan for Rhode Island. Caprio’s main campaign theme is about helping the state’s small businesses community. I’m sure everyone reading this article has heard Caprio talk about how if every small business in the state can create just one job, the state will go from one of the highest unemployment rates to one of the lowest, cutting unemployment in half.

• That would actually be really good, and is an admirable goal. Can Caprio do it? Does Caprio’s plan move the state in the right direction? If it does, what will it cost? Caprio’s plan is a much more streamlined plan than Lynch’s – it has five job creation proposals that focus almost entirely on helping employers in the state.

• Caprio’sBusinessFinderTaxCreditprogramdoesthreethings.First,itgivesa $1,000 tax credit to any Rhode Island business that recruits a company to locate in the state. It also splits a $10,000 tax credit between the two companies if more than 20 jobs are created. Finally, the $500 minimum corporate filing fee would be waived for any business adding a new job. The goal, obviously, would be to grow jobs in the state. My concern, obviously, is that the tax credits are actually subsidies of growth that would have occurred anyway, which is the way tax credits typically work. Because business owners weigh an assortment of issues and concerns when making any decision, a $10,000 credit won’t be all that influential. But, I suppose if a $10,000 credit will create at least 20 jobs in the state, I’m all for it so long as the $10,000 doesn’t come from another equally important program such as education funding - which it will.

• CapriowantstoenhancetheRIEDC’ssmallbusinessloanprograminorderto increase access to capital. An additional $50 million increase in available capital (bringing the total to $65 million), changing the lending guidelines to ensure eligibility of loans from $25,000 to $500,000, streamlining the application process to attract more borrowers and committing to a 10-day loan approval timeline are all key components. Similar to Lynch, growing access to capital is a good thing.

• Caprio’splanalsoaimstoprovidemoreopportunitiesforthestate’ssmallbusinesses to receive government purchasing contracts. It seeks to revise state purchasing guidelines by promoting “significant local purchasing from small, women owned and minority owned businesses based in Rhode Island.” Sounds good to me. The state spends a lot of tax dollars, and that spending should benefit local businesses to as great a degree as possible. Dollars spent at locally owned businesses will typically stay in Rhode Island.

• CaprioalsowantstocreateanOfficeoftheSmallBusinessAdvocatethatwouldreport directly to the governor. The advocate would be in direct communication with each of the 45 state departments in order to facilitate approval of state and local licensing requirements. There is also a commitment that all government documentation and filings can be found and completed online. That will follow closely with the efforts of Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis’ Online Master Application.

• AninterestingcomponentofCaprio’splanistoofferbusinesseswith2to 25 employees a tax credit between 20 percent and 40 percent of the employer contribution of health insurance coverage. The credit would be available to businesses that have not provided health insurance in the past 24 months and people earning less than 300 percent of the federal poverty limit. Caprio also wants to encourage “access and use of health savings accounts and high-deductible health plans.” I still need to see how the federal health insurance reform legislation works with Caprio’s plan, so I cannot offer an insightful comment at this time.

So, let’s look at the plans comparatively:

• BothLynchandCaprioareproposingincreasingaccesstocapital,albeitin slightly different ways.

• BothLynchandCaprioareproposinganadvocatewhowillassistsmallbusiness owners in running the gamut of business regulations and licensing, albeit in different ways.

• BothLynchandCaprioareproposingassistingsmallbusinessownersin securing government contracts: Lynch at the federal level, Caprio and the state level.

• Lynchwantstohelpthestate’sworkforcebyenhancingjobtrainingprograms– a very good proposal.

• LynchwantstoincreaselocalconsumerpurchasingwithaBuyRIprogram, which I think will ultimately be ineffective.

• Lynchwantstofacilitatesmallbusinessnetworkingandinformationsharing.

• Capriowantstoprovidetaxcreditsforhiring,whichIthinkwillsimply subsidize hiring and growth that would have occurred.

• Capriowantstogivetaxcreditstosubsidizeemployerpurchasingofhealth insurance.

Ultimately, what the state’s economy needs more than anything else, and what neither plan really addresses, is how to get more money into the hands of more people who are willing to spend it. If people aren’t buying anything, businesses aren’t selling anything – no matter how much credit is available, how well-trained the state’s work force is or how large the tax credit hiring subsidy is. Businesses will not invest in growth if they do not have customers. No one seems to understand that steps such as gutting pension benefits, cutting salaries and laying off workers all depress the economy and keep the state in a recession longer than it has to.

Brian Hull is the owner and editor of the progressive news and social justice blog Rhode Island’s Future (www.rifuture.org). He can be reached at [email protected].


ADVERTISE IN COMMON GROUND call 831-6123 or visit commongroundnews.net

STM ERAE ST

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Marcia B. Reback President

356 Smith Street (401) 273-9800 Providence, RI 02908-3761 FAX (401) 331-8815 [email protected] www.rifthp.org

Joseph M. O’Connor Vice President

GRAPHIC COMMUNICATIONS CONFERENCE INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF TEAMSTERS

25 Louisiana Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20001

E mail [email protected] 202/624-8145Cell 202/297-2945

A UNION REPRESENTING PROUD UNION PROFESSIONALS SINCE 1918

685 Warren Avenue 401.438-5450East Providence, RI 02914 www.ifpte400.org

LOCAL 400International Federation of

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A progressive labor union representing more than80,000 men and women in professional, technical,

administrative and associated occupations.

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DISTRICT 4 - LOCAL 12431

172 Longfellow SreetProvidence, Rhode Island 02907p. 401.527.6792 f. 401.284.3677

Joseph A. MontanaroPresident

Gary GlittoneVice President

Steven KirbyFinancial Secretary

Gordon HuffmanTreasurer

Mark BoyajianRecording Secretary

Looking for some good news for a change?

View past issues at www.commongroundnews.net.Rhode Island's only newspaper for unions, and about unions.

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LOCAL 12NBUY LOCAL

BUSINESS TRAVELCRUISES, HOTELS, AIRLINE RESERVATIONS

WEDDING DESTINATION TRAVELCUSTOMIZED TOURS

Call us to see if we can do better for you. (401) 725-1234 (800) 633-2985

[email protected] • www.taitrips.com

Moe, Jeannine and Dan Rondeau, Local 328, retired

204 Front Street, Lincoln, Rhode Island

Travel AdvisorsInternational

Full Service Travel Agency

(401) 946-9940/946-3710Fax: (401) 946-5060

E-mail: [email protected]

PAUL R. ENOSVice President

INTERNATIONAL UNION OF

BRICKLAYERS & ALLIEDCRAFTWORKERS

LOCAL # 3 R.I.

POSTOFFICEPLAZA150 MIDWAY ROAD

SUITE 153CRANSTON, RI 02920-5743

PLACE YOUR AD HERE

Call 451.1305


DIRECTORY OF UNION SERVICES

Bristol Branch390 Metacom AvenueBristol, RI 02809(401) 253-1313

URI BranchURI Memorial UnionKingston, RI 02881(401) 789-0253

Dexter Credit Unionwww.dextercu.org1 Village Plaza WayNorth Scituate, RI 02857(401) 934-7600

934 Dexter StreetCentral Falls, RI 02863(401) 724-6200

Woodlawn FederalCredit Union744 Main StreetPawtucket, RI 02860(401) 728-8300

The Carpenters’ Unionrepresents:

First Trade Union Bankwww.ftubhb.com14 Jefferson Park RoadWarwick, RI 028881-800-242-0272

FUNCTION FACILITIES

Biltmore Hotel11 Dorrance StreetProvidence, RI 02903(401) 455-3027Scott Connery, Director ofCatering

Brown University45 Prospect St.Providence, RI 02912(401) 863-1075Cynthia Schwartz, Director ofUniversity Event

Bryant University1150 Douglas PikeSmithfield, RI 02917(401) 232-6921Sheila Guay, Director of Events

BARBERS &HAIRDRESSERS

Some barbers and hairdressersare organized by UFCW Local328. For a list of union barbershops and hairdressers, pleasecontact Local 328 at(401) 861-0300 orwww.ufcw328.org

BUILDING TRADES

For home and businessconstruction, repairs, oradditions please contact oneof the following unions for areputable contractor in yourarea. For general questions orhelp please call Build RI at(401) 553-2100 orwww.BuildRI.org

BoilermakersLocal No. 29(617) 328-8400

BricklayersLocal No.1(401) 946-9940

CarpentersLocal No. 94(401) 467-7070

Elevator ConstructorsLocal No. 39(401) 423-2293

GlaziersLocal No. 1333(401) 781-4736

Heat and Frost InsulatorsLocal No. 6(617) 436-4666

International Brotherhoodof Electrical WorkersLocal No. 99(401) 946-9900

International Unionof Operating EngineersLocal No. 57(401) 421-6678

Iron Workers LocalLocal No. 37(401) 438-1111

LaborersLocal No. 271(401) 331-9682

Painters & Allied TradesDistrict Council 11(401) 467-7010

Plaster & MasonsLocal No. 40(401) 943-1185

Plumbers & PipefittersLocal No. 51(401) 943-3033

Rhode Island Building Trades(401) 438-1111

Roofers & WaterproofersLocal No. 33(781) 341-9192

Sheet Metal WorkersLocal No. 17(401) 831-7150

Sprinkler FittersLocal No. 676(860) 666-4447

TeamstersLocal No. 251(401) 434-0454

BUS SERVICES

RIPTARhode Island Public TransitAuthority265 Melrose StreetProvidence, RI 02907(401) 781-9400www.ripta.com

Peter Pan Bus LinesCorporate HeadquartersP.O. Box 1776Springfield, MA 01102-17761-800-237-8747 ext. 1209www.peterpanbus.com

CHILD CAREPROVIDERS

To arrange on-site child carecoverage for your meetings orconferences, or to locate aDCYF-licensed home-basedchild care provider in yourneighborhood or near yourworkplace, contact the unionof home-based child careproviders, District 1199 SEIU,at (401) 457-5099 orwww. seiu1199ne.org

DELIVERY SERVICES

United Parcel ServiceThe Teamsters Local 251represent Rhode Island’s UPSworkers. For the outlet nearestyou, or to schedule a homepick up, please contact UPS atwww.ups.com or1-800-PICK-UPS.

United States Postal ServiceYour local post office isrepresented by the NationalAssociation of Letter Carriers,the American Postal WorkersUnion and the National PostalMail Handlers Union (a divisionof the Laborers Union.)www.usps.com

FINANCIALINSTITUTIONS

Credit union employees areorganized by UFCW Local328.

Rhode Island Credit Unionwww.ricreditunion.orgProvidence Branch160 Francis StreetProvidence, RI 02903(401) 751-7440

Cranston Branch570 Pontiac AvenueCranston, RI 02910(401) 941-8770

Community Collegeof Rhode IslandKnight Campus, WarwickFlanagan Campus, LincolnListon Campus, ProvidenceNewport CampusCCRI Downcity(401) 825-2015Edna Mattson

Dunkin Donuts Center1 LaSalle SquareProvidence, RI 02903(401) 331-0700 ext. 150Robert Sturm, Event Manager

Newport Grand150 Admiral Kalbfus RoadNewport, RI 02840(401) 849-5000 ext. 157David Rollin

Providence College549 River AvenueProvidence, RI 02918(401) 865-1000 ext. 2070Victoria Mocshu

Rhode Island College600 Mount Pleasant AvenueProvidence, RI 02908(401)456-8022Kathy Sasso

RI Convention Center1 Sabin StreetProvidence, RI 02903(401)-458-6002Antonia Anthony, Director ofEvent Services

Roger Williams Park Casino1000 Elmwood AvenueProvidence, RI 02905(401) 785-9450 ext. 240Lisa Gonzales, Casino EventPlanner

Roger Williams University1 Old Ferry RoadBristol, RI 02809(401) 253-1040 ext. 3793Allison Chase-Padula

Twin River1600 Louisquisset PikeLincoln, RI 02865(401) 723-3200 ext. 8497Alana Barts

University of Rhode IslandKingston, Alton Jones CampusProvidence Campus(401) 874-2214Sherry DavisThe Westin Providence1 Exchange StreetProvidence, RI 02903(401) 598-8245Alan Swerdolff, Director ofSales and Marketing

HOSPITALS

UNAP members work atthe following locations:

• Fatima Hospital• Greater RI Visiting

Nurse Service• Homestead Group• Kent Hospital• Landmark Medical Center• Memorial Hospital• Rehabilitation Hospital

of RI• Rhode Island Hospital• RI Community Living &

Support Services• RI Dept of Human Services• RI Veterans’ Home• URI, CCRI, RIC Health

Services• Westerly Hospital

(Professional & Technical)• Westerly Hospital (Service

& Maintenance)• Zambarano Hospital

SEIU 1199 members work atthe following locations:

• Butler Hospital• Women & Infants

Hospital

JANITORIAL SERVICES

Some janitorial companies areorganized by SEIU Local 615.For a list of unionized janitorialservices, contact the Local 615office at (401) 521-6150 orvisit their website atwww.seiu615.org.

NEWSPAPERS

Common Ground Newswww.commongroundnews.netSubscribe401.451.1305

Providence Journalwww.projo.comSubscribe(401) 277-7600

Pawtucket Timeswww.pawtuckettimes.comSubscribe(401) 722-4000

Woonsocket Callwww.woonsocketcall.comSubscribe(401) 767-8522

NURSING HOMES

SEIU 1199 members work atthe following locations:

• Bannister House• Charlesgate Nursing

Center• Country Gardens

Skilled Nursing• Crawford Skilled Nursing• Greenville Skilled

Nursing• Hopkins Manor• Pawtucket Skilled Nursing• Parkview Associates• United Methodist Health

Care Center

PRINTERS, BANNERS& SIGNS

American Speedy Printing635 Arnold RoadCoventry, RI 02816Phone: (401) 823-0090Fax: (401) 823-0092

B Sign Graphics27 Libera StreetCranston, RI 02920Phone: (401) 943-6941Fax: (401) 943-2287

Checkmate ConsultingGroup & Printing461 Main StreetEast Greenwich, RI 02818Phone: (401) 885-0666Fax: (401) 885-0775

Cogens, Inc.1 Virginia AvenueProvidence, RI 02905Phone: (401) 421-4436Fax: (401) 331-9032

Crownmark109 Fletcher AvenueCranston, RI 02920Phone: (401) 943-1112Fax: (401) 943-1113

Dorrance Engraving635 Prospect StreetPawtucket, RI 02860Phone: (401) 725-0504Fax: (401) 725-0504

East Coast Screen Printing22 Partridge StreetProvidence, RI 02908Phone: (401) 272-1166Fax: (401) 272-1167

Federal Signs135 Dean StreetProvidence, RI 02903Phone: (401) 421-3400Fax: (401) 351-2233

Financial Innovations1 Weingeroff Blvd.Cranston, RI 02919Phone: (401) 467-3170Fax: (401) 467-3570

JB Foley Printing1469 Broad StreetProvidence, RI 02905Phone: (401) 467-3616Fax: (401) 467-8309

Lamar Outdoor Advertising360 Warren AvenueE. Providence, RI 02914Phone: (401) 421-4504,Fax: (401) 421-4757

Mandeville Sign Co.676 George Wash. Hwy.Lincoln, RI 02865Phone: (401) 334-9100Fax: (401) 334-7799

Regine Printing Co., Inc.208 Laurel Hill AvenueProvidence, RI 02909Phone: (401) 943-3404Fax (401) 944-1228

R.I. Litho Printing, Inc.1395 Atwood AvenueJohnston, RI 02919Phone: (401) 275-0760Fax: (401) 464-6002

Screen Works, LLC62 South Main StreetWoonsocket, RI 02895Phone: (401) 692-0304

Sheahan Printing Corp.1 Front StreetWoonsocket, RI 02895Phone: (401) 273-7272Fax: (401) 769-9206

Sign Lite, Inc.6 Corporate DriveN. Haven, CT 06473Phone: 1-800-544-0854Fax: (203) 234-8344

The Sign ShoppeP.O. Box 2296Westerly, RI 02891Phone: (401) 364-7442

Tarvis Graphics Inc.21 Sabin StreetPawtucket, RI 02860Phone: (401) 726-5530Fax: (401) 723-6420

SUPERMARKETS

Supermarket employees at thestores listed below aremembers of UFCW Local 328or UFCW Local 791.

Super Stop and Shop• Bristol• Coventry• Cumberland• Johnston• Lincoln• Middletown• Narragansett• Newport• North Kingstown• North Providence• North Smithfield• Pawtucket• Providence• Richmond• Smithfield• Warwick• Westerly

Shaw’s Supermarket• Barrington• Garden City• Cranston• East Providence• Riverside• Johnston• Middletown• North Providence• Pawtucket• Providence• Wakefield• Warwick• Lakewood• Westerly• Woonsocket

Eastside Marketplace• Providence

Brigidos IGA• Pascoag• North Scituate

Grand Union Family Markets• South Yarmouth• Provincetown• Buzzards Bay• South Yarmouth

C-Town Supermarket• Pawtucket

PUBLIC RELATIONS

Checkmate ConsultingGroup & Printing461 Main StreetEast Greenwich, RI 02818Phone: (401) 885-0666Fax: (401) 885-0775

PUBLIC SCHOOLS

All public school employees areorganized by the Rhode IslandFederation of Teachers andHealth Professionals or theNational Education Associationof Rhode Island.

The following Charter Schoolsare also unionized:

• Laborers Charter School• Textron Charter School• Times 2 Charter School

RECYCLING AND TRASHREMOVAL SERVICES

Waste Management ofRhode Island(800) 972-4545

TELEPHONE, INTERNET& CABLE SERVICES

AT&T Wireless1 (800) 897-7046www.wireless.att.comUnion members recieve specialdiscounts on AT&T wirelessservice plans. For moreinfomation to towww.unionplus.org

VerizonVerizon, whose employees aremembers of the InternationalBrotherhood of ElectricalWorkers Local 2323, canprovide for all of your homeand office internet, telephoneand cable TV needs throughVerizon’s new FiOS (Fiber OpticService) network.

Simply call 1-888-Get FiOSor 1-888-591-6076.

Or contact IBEW 2323 at(401) 732-IBEW (4239).

IBEW 23231150 New London AvenueCranston, RI 02920



(401) 751-7100

Don’t Miss




working families.

TUESDAY 7 P.M.

THURSDAY 8 P.M.

SATURDAY 5 P.M.

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(401) 751-7100

Don’t Miss




working families.

TUESDAY 7 P.M.

THURSDAY 8 P.M.

SATURDAY 5 P.M.

COX CHANNEL 14



Affiliated with the INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF TEAMSTERS

121 BRIGHTRIDGE AVENUE, EAST PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND 02914www.teamsterslocal251.org

EXECUTIVE BOARD BUSINESS AGENTS Joseph J. Bairos Brian Carroll Secretary-Treasurer Principal Executive Officer Kevin Reddy Kevin Reddy Steven Labrie President Joseph Boyajian James Croce Vice President Douglas Teoli David Demuth Daniel Manocchio Recording Secretary Asst. Business Agents Dennis Mello Linda Russolino Trustee Susan Folan Trustee Janet O’Grady Trustee

MAFFE FINANCIAL GROUP INC875 Centerville Road

Warwick, Rhode Island

Office: 401-828-2090x305Cell: 401-529-5110

www.maffefinancialgroup.com

Put John’s 25 years of experience along with Maffe’s Tax, Estate & Retirement Planning services to work for you today.

John C. Edes, LUTCF

105 Railroad Avenue, Johnston, Rhode Island401-232-1660 l 800-427-1660

To See How This Stimulus Package Works Visitwww.hillviewautobody.com

Stimulus Package H Reduce your Deductible

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H Complete Service Check

You have the legal right to choose your repair facility in RI, so don’t let the insurance industry direct you to their preferred shop.


Best of Luck and Continued Success from the Drivers, Maintenance and

Supervisory Personnel ofATU Local 618 & 618A

in Providence & Newport

STEPHEN S. FARRELL THOMAS CUTE KEVIN M. MILLEA

President – Business Agent Vice President Secretary-Treasurer

EXECUTIVE BOARDBob Davis • Bob Doyle • Paul Harrington • Jim Murphy

Frank Plutzner • Peter Ritchie • Vincent Rowan

SCHOOL BUS DIVISIONS

WARWICK-JAMESTOWN

Sherri Cirelli • Laurie Paul • Mary Tarbox

JOHNSTON

Dennis Jarvis • John D’Alo • Wendy LaCombe

ER Card is an electronic personal health record (ePHR) service

providing individuals, doctors and other caregivers with anytime,

anywhere access to personal medical information in a secure and

confi dential manner. With the ER Card, medical professionals

have instant access by web, phone or fax to:

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• current medications

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• emergency contacts

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CENTRAL FALLS OFFICE WOONSOCKET OFFICE 401-723-8035 401-762-5518 [email protected] [email protected]

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451.1305

111 Wayland Avenue, Providence

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e-mail [email protected] or call 451.1305


ADVOCACY H REPRESENTATION H RESULTS

IN PROVIDENCE:

408 BroadwayProvidence, Rhode Island 02902

401•331•1300

IN WASHINGTON:

601 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W.Suite 900, South Building

Washington, DC 20004

202•220•3013

Rhode Island Brotherhoodof Correctional Officers

“Representing Those Who Work the Toughest Beat in the State”

-OFFICERS-

Dave Mellon …….……….………………..President

Bob Miller ………….……………1st Vice President

Bob Lantagne ..…………………..2nd Vice President

Michael Hogan.……………………..…….Treasurer

John Meehan………………………………Secretary

Mike McKenna...……….……….Financial Secretary

-EXECUTIVE BOARD-

Ken Rivard Manny Leander

Bill Bove Alan Depalo

John Bray Jeff Golding

Joe Lopes David Pezza

Mark Vierra Letizia Signore

Adam Klaus Carlos Oviedo

Justin Pelissey

Keeping Your Community Safe

BOOK YOUR PARTY NOWGraduations • First Communion • Anniversary • or other Function • GROUPS WELCOME AT OUR BRUNCH

1537 NEWPORT AVE., PAWTUCKET, RI (EXIT 2A FROM ROUTE 95 N/Swww.spumonisrestaurant.com • 401-726-4449

EVERYSUNDAY9:30-1:30

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445 DOUGLAS PIKE, SMITHFIELD, RI (From I-295 North or South, Exit 8-A)www.twelveacresbanquet.com • 401-231-7799

NOW IS THE TIME TO BOOKYOUR FAVORITE OUTDOOR EVENT

• PIG ROASTS • BBQ OUTINGS• CLAMBAKESSPECIALIZING IN

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We provide horseshoes, volleyball, bocce and serve you inour full covered pavilion that seats up to 400 people.

SUNDAY BRUNCH EVERY SUNDAY

MOTHER’S DAY BRUNCHMake Your Reservations Now.

10am-2pm • Adult $12.99 • Children (2-10) $6.99

CHICKEN MILANESE . .$1250

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OUR INDOOR FACILITY SPECIALIZES IN CORPORATE AND PRIVATE EVENTS & FUNCTIONSWEDDINGS, GRADUATIONS • BRIDAL & BABY SHOWERS • ANNIVERSARY & BIRTHDAYS

• TESTIMONIALS • RETIREMENT PARTIES • BUSINESS FUNCTIONS & EVENTS

Not available Mother’s Day

*FOR MOM ONLY

Mother’s DayLUNCH & DINNERMON-FRI MON-THUR

BUY ONE, GET ONE FREE

RESERVATIONS FOR PARTIES OF 7 OR MORE CALL TODAY

LUNCHMon.-Fri.

Exp. June 25, 2010

BUY ONEGET ONE FREE!

Customer pays for higher or same priced meal.Only 1 Per Party

18% gratuity added to check before discount is taken.NOT VALID On Lobster. NOT VALID with any other offer.

DINNERMon.-Thurs.Exp. June 24, 2010

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Customer pays for higher or same priced meal.Only 1 Per Party

18% gratuity added to check before discount is taken.NOT VALID On Lobster. NOT VALID with any other offer.

FRI. SAT. SUN. MON.MAY 7 MAY8 MAY9 MAY10

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Sunday BrunchEvery Sunday - 10am-2pm

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Make a difference in someone’s lifeBecome a Trained Befriender for our Crisis Hotline

One of the risk factors for suicide is the lack of connectedness with family and friends. The Samaritans receive calls from Rhode Islanders of all ages and life situations, according to Denise Panichas, executive director of the agency. Callers include the hopeless, alone and depressed, or people who

just need to talk. Other callers include individuals concerned about a hopeless, suicidal loved one. In this poor economic climate, people struggle to afford food, shelter and necessary medical care. The Samaritans can be the gateway to care for someone in need, for those who no longer qualify for care or for those who will never be eligible for professional care. Established in 1977, The Samaritans remain the state’s most trusted suicide prevention organization, and you can be part of a caring community of Rhode Islanders by volunteering with the agency. Volunteers must be age 18 or older; out of high school; participate in 21 hours of classroom training and mentoring; and pass a criminal

background check. Additionally, volunteers must commit to four hours of community service per week; agree to a professional reference check; and sign volunteer agreement forms. As a result of the increase in Spanish speaking callers, we are encouraging people who speak Spanish to be a part of our volunteer group. Retirees are also a valuable asset to our organization. The next round of training starts on Aug. 3, with the introduction session from 6 to 7 p.m. and continues on Aug. 5, 10, 12, 17, 19 and 24 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the First Unitarian Church Community Center, Benefit and Benevolent streets, Providence. For more information and a complete list of training dates, go to The Samaritans’ Web site at www.samaritansri.org or call (401) 272-4243.


PUBLIC EMPLOYEES’ LOCAL UNION 1033

Representing the Public Servantswho make government work!

PUBLIC EMPLOYEES = PUBLIC SERVICE Cranston Crossing Guards Town of North Kingstown Lincoln Highway Department Providence Community Action Program Providence School Department Lincoln Public Library Narragansett Bay Commission Town of North Providence City of Providence Narragansett Town Hall North Providence Crossing Guards Lincoln Water Commission Providence Civic Center Authority R.I. Department of Transportation Warwick Crossing Guards North Providence School Department Lincoln Town Hall

DONALD S. IANNAZZI, ESQ. VICKI A. VIRGILIO Business Manager President

Partnering withRhode Island’s Municipalities toProvide the Most Effective and

Cost-efficient Public Employee Benefits

The Rhode Island Public The Rhode Island PublicEmployees’ Health Services Fund Employees’ Legal Services Fund

The Rhode Island Public Employees’ Education,Training and Apprenticeship Fund

Donald S. Iannazzi, Esq., Chairman

Vicki A. Virgilio Pasquale T. D’Amico Trustee Trustee

Sharen Gleckman Joseph F. Kenney Trustee Trustee

Betty Jackson Chris Lombardi Liaison Coordinator

Rhode Island’s Union Built, Operated and Staffed FacilitiesROGER WILLIAMS PARK CASINOACCOMMODATING 50 - 300(401) 941-5640 (401) 785-9450

CITY CENTER SKATING RINK ACCOMMODATING GROUPS FROM 10 - 400

(401) 331-5544 EXT. 5

NEW ENGLAND REGIONAL COUNCIL OF CARPENTERS

William Holmes

David Palmisciano

Paul Lander

Thomas Savoie

14 Jefferson Boulevard

Warwick, RI 02888

401.467.7070 Petrarca & Petrarca

Do you own a vehicle with a model year of 2006 to the present?

• Was the vehicle involved in an accident caused by someone else?

• Was the vehicle repaired?

Then you may be entitled to money for diminished value to your vehicle.

If we agree to handle your matter

we guarantee you willreceive at least $500.00.

Call Us Now!401.273.1111

Ronnie is a shy 3-year-old Jack Russell terrier (Parson Russell terrier), Chihuahua mix. He is in need of a family with patience that would be willing to take their time to earn Ronnie’s trust. You will need to meet with Ronnie several times before he’s able to leave. Once Ronnie attaches himself to you, he will need training to build his confidence. He is a sweet boy that loves to cuddle. Ronnie weighs about 20 pounds. He does like to be held once he’s comfortable with you. Ronnie is up to date with routine shots, house trained and neutered. Please call Defenders of Animals at (401) 461-1922.

Common Ground July

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