EG News: The Podcast: Recent Episodes
East Greenwich News
East Greenwich News is a community-funded local news website about East Greenwich, Rhode Island. On EG News Director's Cut, we offer some behind-the-scenes conversation about what's happening in town, why something is reported the way it is and other tidbits that might not make it onto the website. EG News Editor Elizabeth McNamara is joined by Joannie Edwardsen Hinman, an EG News board member but also half of the long-time radio duo Jones & Joan on WSNE Providence. Behind the scenes is Nova Pro Media head Jesse Tolppa. Check out our website at eastgreenwichnews.com.
Co-hosts Elizabeth McNamara and Joannie Hinman talk through some of the big stories of May – the LowKey hearing, part 2! new tax rate! departure of Asst. Supt. Michael Podraza! Then, we talk with EG Harbormaster John Parker and learn what life is like on the water right off our shore.
Produced by Jesse Tolppa
Joannie and Elizabeth talk about:
- The $15 probable tax rate – this year’s is $21.85, so a $15 rate is a 31.35 percent or $6.85 drop.
- Developments around town
- That block for sale at 176 Main St. – I haven’t written anything about it but got some intel today that will be fun to preview.
- Seven Stars opened today
Elizabeth McNamara and Joannie Hinman talk with Linda Welters, URI professor of textiles, fashion merchandising and design, about the history of fabrics printed at the Green Dale Bleachery – from which Bleachery Pond got its name. Turns out, in the mid-1800s, Green Dale was producing wool-cotton designs so elegant (Delaines), they had to pretend they were imported from France to get Americans to buy them.
We also talk about the eclipse and the EG couple survived after their small plane when into Narragansett Bay off Quonset, as well as the $900K+ for waterfront improvements from the feds.
Cohosts Joannie Hinman and Elizabeth McNamara talk about the fire at Finn's Harborside and the recent revaluation with its big property assessment jumps, then sit down with Bob Beausoleil of the East Greenwich Tree Council.
Remarkably, East Greenwich was home to the nation's first Black regiment, which fought in the Revolutionary War in return for their freedom. John Dower from Smith's Castle in N.K. has researched every member of the regiment – nearly 200 men – and shares his findings with hosts Elizabeth McNamara and Joannie Hinman during this February podcast. Elizabeth and Joannie start the podcast with a review of some recent top stories, including the power kerfuffle over the school construction project, the recent break ins west of Route 2 and liquor licenses.
Produced by Jesse Tolppa at Nova Pro Media
Joannie Hinman and Elizabeth McNamara talk about some of the top stories from December – including school construction, problems at the high school, and the very untimely death of Bob Houghtaling. Then, Adrienne Girard joins them to talk about what's happening at the EG Free Library.
Clouds Hill Museum President Anne Holst and Director Paul F. Miller sit down with hosts Elizabeth McNamara and Joannie Hinman to talk about the Victorian Clouds Hill Museum, and to hear how the house celebrated the holidays in days of yore and how the house celebrates them today. The podcast was recorded by Jesse Tolppa at Nova Pro Media.
It's October so we looked around for someone to talk Rhode Island spooky stuff and of course it had to be Christopher Rondina, who happens to be THE guy to talk to when it comes to supernatural happenings in the Ocean State. You can check out his books at www.ghostboypress.com.
The EG News Podcast is hosted by Elizabeth McNamara and Joannie Hinman and recorded at Nova Pro Media, with Jesse Tolppa at the controls. Thanks, Jesse!
Len Iannuccilli had a vision: a "shark tank" like event in East Greenwich featuring innovative ideas in need of some seed money. That was more than 18 months ago. Now, we are just weeks away from the first-ever Pitch RI event, on Wednesday, Sept. 20, at the Greenwich Odeum in downtown East Greenwich. Four contestants will present their "pitches" to our four judges. The winner will get $10,000! Hosts are Will Gilbert (of the Rhode Show) and Jess Schiano (of 92 Pro FM) and the judges are Heather Provino-Scanoln, Greg Dantas, Stephen Hardy and Holly Ferrara. Everyone's invited – get ticket info here: https://www.greenwichodeum.com/2022/09/20/pitch-ri/
PitchRI is partnering with the children's nonprofit organization Friends of Jack on Sept. 20 – eat at any of five EG restaurants that day (Finn's, Raise the Bar, Union & Main, Greenwich Bay Oyster Bar and Scotti's Salumaria) and proceeds will benefit Friends of Jack. Read more about them here: https://www.friendsofjack.org/.
And learn more about PitchRI here: https://pitchri.com/.
For the first two thirds of the conversation, Elizabeth McNamara and Joannie Hinman sit down with Patrick Donovan, president of the Varnum Armory Museum, to talk about the collection and how he got so involved. Then, we moved to another topic Patrick knows a lot about: Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP). It's interesting and a bit mind-bending. Well worth a listen!
Deron Murphy, chair of the East Greenwich Historic Cemetery Commission, talks about the EG's 97 historic cemeteries – some large, some small, some tiny and in someone's backyard. It's a fascinating look unto what lies below us! Find out more about the EGHCC on their Facebook page HERE.
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EG News columnist George Christie joins hosts Elizabeth McNamara and Joannie Hinman in a timely discussion of native plants and their importance to sustaining our native ecology. George is an entomologist – entomology is the study of insects – and it's through his work with bugs that he developed his passion for native plants. That's because without native plants, native insects don't have what they need to survive. And we need the native insects to feed the birds and animals of a particular area, and so on goes the circle of life! Don't worry, though – George is no scold. You can start by adding one native plant, he says. He also tells us about the annual Rhode Island BioBlitz which happens in June.
George mentions the website Homegrown National Park: https://homegrownnationalpark.org/
And you can learn more about RI BioBlitz here: https://rinhs.org/events/ri-bioblitz/
Elizabeth McNamara and Joannie Hinman sit down with EGSD Supt. Brian Ricca and talk about his early years as an elementary school teacher, school safety in the era of swatting calls and actual school shootings, and the school building master plan.
Elizabeth and Joannie talk about the schedule for community forums on the school construction plans; the newly unveiled waterfront master plan, the opening of the first Crumbl in Rhode Island, and doing donuts and burnouts in the On Semiconductor parking lot. Recorded with Jesse Tolppa of Nova Pro Media.
Joannie and Elizabeth talk about the biggest stories of the past month, including "My Coyote Mistake" (hint: be careful what you put in your compost, especially if it is not secured), as well as news this past week about an investigation into potentially "inappropriate behavior" by a teacher at Cole Middle School.
Stephen Susi, EG News's social media manager, joins Editor Elizabeth McNamara in this ninth episode of EG News, the Podcast. We talk about the success of our yearend fundraiser (it's over!!!), high tides on Water Street just before Christmas; Stephen's Portuguese connection; the man who went missing in December; Pitch Rhode Island and the $10,000 prize for an entrepreneur with a great business idea; what's coming up in early 2023 in the town and the school district; and what Stephen's social media role has become at EG News.
Editor Elizabeth McNamara talks with Joannie Hinman about the recent EG Holiday Extravaganza (formerly known as the Holiday Parade but now with LASERS) and inauguration of the new Town Council and School Committee members. They also talk about Pitch EG, the new shark tank-like program offering $`10,000 to a winning new business idea, just for the 02818 area. As well as the enduring popularity of the Police Log. Produced by Jesse Tolppa of Nova Pro Media.
Joannie Hinman talks with Editor Elizabeth McNamara about the recent town, school and state elections; the elected official charged with disorderly conduct over speeding on his street, and we get an update on the progress of a developer trying to make the old jail into a boutique hotel. Produced in East Greenwich by Nova Pro Media
The EG News October roundup podcast looks at the School Building Committee's quasi-reset, the first candidate forums (School Committee and Town Council), more municipal staffing shifts, EG Historic Preservation Society signs for downtown, and another instance of fraud in the police log – be aware!
Give it a listen and let us know what you think. Suggestions welcome, including who we might interview in coming episodes.
Hosted by Elizabeth McNamara and Joannie Hinman, this is an East Greenwich News production, made possible by Nova Pro Media and Jesse Tolppa. Find EG News at eastgreenwichnews.com and Nova Pro Media HERE. Let us know what you think!
EG News Editor Elizabeth McNamara and Asst. Editor Kate Glass talk with Robin Kall, who lives in East Greenwich and happens to be a very influential book influencer, which started 20 years ago with her radio program, Reading with Robin. These days, she brings authors and readers together on social media, podcasts and special author events. On August 24, she's pairing with Ashley Erling of the The Rhode Show for “Biggest Book Club, Smallest State," a literary happening at the Greenwich Odeum with NY Times bestselling authors Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig and Karen White, authors of The Lost Summer of Newport. Tickets benefit the the Izzy Foundation. Find out more HERE.
Kall will also be writing a monthly column for EG News starting in September!
EG News Editor Elizabeth McNamara talks with Joannie Hinman about the happenings in East Greenwich in July.
East Greenwich News is a 501 c-3 nonprofit and we rely on community support. You can contribute by clicking HERE. Sign up for our free newsletter HERE. Let us know what you think about our podcast at editor@eastgreenwichnews. Thanks for listening!
Joannie and Elizabeth talk about new candidates for political office, the proposed 410-unit housing development planned for Division Road, indictments in the traffic death of Olivia Passaretti, and remember former town and state elected official Mark Gee. As always, we end with something quirky from the EG News police log.
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Introducing our new podcast! This month Elizabeth and Joannie talk about dog parks, the town's new ACO, $500,000 in state grants for park upgrades, and we end with a couple of funny things from the police log. Tell us what you think!