Side of the Rhode: Who’s Hot and Who’s Not? - September 13, 2019

HOT

Vin Mor and Brown University

Biggest federal grant ever!

Brown University and Boston-based Hebrew SeniorLife (HSL) this week were awarded a five-year, $53.4 million grant to lead a nationwide effort to improve healthcare and quality of life for those living with Alzheimer’s disease.

“Alzheimer’s and dementia remain among the most vexing neurodegenerative diseases both to researchers searching for solutions and to patients and family members. This grant will harness the collective power of leading-edge scholars at Brown, Hebrew SeniorLife and across the nation to advance care and make a positive real-world impact on the individuals most directly affected by these illnesses,” said Brown President Christina Paxson.

The grant was issued by the National Institute on Aging (NIA) and is the largest federal award in the university's history.

“This grant will revolutionize the national infrastructure for research into how care is delivered to people living with dementia and their caregivers. The key is figuring out how to take an idea that worked in an ideal situation and adapt it so it can be piloted in the messy real-world system of care providers that exists across the U.S,” said Vincent Mor, co-leader of the collaboration and a professor of health services, policy and practice at Brown’s School of Public Health.

HOT

Jim Martin

Boston Bruins PA announcer Jim Martin announced that he is retiring after 26 seasons.

Martin made the announcement in a Facebook post on Wednesday.

“There comes a time when we all have to make tough decisions with our head and not our heart. It’s time for the next person to have the same privilege to sit int eh chair and to be the voice of the Boston Bruins,” wrote Martin.

His fulltime job is head of communications for the United States Attorney's office in Providence.

Martin, a Coventry resident, started his career in 1993 with the Providence Bruins before moving up to Boston.

In his career, Martin has seen three Stanley Cup Finals, a Stanley Cup victory, two Winter Classics, an NHL All-Star Game and more.

“In April 1993 the Boston Bruins called and asked if I was available to finish out the season as PA announcer at the old Boston Garden. It was the second round of playoffs against the New Jersey Devils. A few hours later, I was sitting center ice in a building I often snuck into as a kid. The first in-game announcement - a penalty to Ray Bourque,” Martin writes.

Martin concludes, “With that, I say thank you to my family, particularly my wife and biggest fan Lisa Kilby, who supported me every step of this incredible journey. My 26 season run has been a privilege for which I will be forever grateful.”

PHOTO: Dan4th Nicholas/Flickr Commons https://www.flickr.com/photos/dan4th/2193513879/in/photostream/

HOT

Narragansett Beer

Narragansett Beer has officially acquired a new brewery location in Providence along the India Point Park waterfront. 

"We could not be more excited about bringing brewing operations back to Rhode Island in such a perfect location. Since 1890, Narragansett has been Rhode Island’s beer. To have a brewery right at the top of Narragansett Bay, that’s easy to get to in Providence, and is connected to the picturesque India Point Park and the East Bay bike path is really a dream come true," said Narragansett Beer president Mark Hellendrung. 

As GoLocalProv reported back in May, the location 271 Tockwotten Street & 230 India Street was controlled by Brown and was used by the University for storage.

The brewery is set to begin operation in the spring of 2020. 

HOT

MassChallenge RI

For the past three months, 24 startups have been competing in Rhode Island’s MassChallenge accelerator program.

The companies range from the training regiment created by former convict Coss Marte which is featured in the reality show “The Real Housewives of New York City” to goTeff which is a company using Teff—a super-food from Ethiopia which will be marketed in the United States and create a market for Ethiopian farmers.

Of the 24 companies, 13 are from Rhode Island and one is from as far away as Ukraine -- AirAdvisor.

Hope Hopkins is the program director of MassChallenge in Rhode Island which is located at the new Wexford Innovation Center. She joined GoLocal LIVE’s Business Monday to discuss how this cohort of 24 companies are progressing through the acceleration program.

One of the highest-profile startups in the class is Marte’s Conbody, which is looking to develop a franchise structure. Marte is a former convict, and his training regiment and unique business model has been featured on "The Real Housewives of NewYork City.”

“Running a marathon was an incredible achievement for Carole Radziwill, but that's not what she's crediting for completely transforming her body and fitness level. The Real Housewives of New York City alum just called out another workout seen on an episode of RHONY: that would be ConBody, the intense "prison-style" bootcamp that founder Coss Marte devised while incarcerated for 4 years on drug charges,” writes Bravo.

"'From scrawny to strong in six months. I'd say my body is back to 21 but it's better than 21. If I can work out so can you,' Carole wrote along with a snap from the gym. She might be tough, but she's got her hair pulled in to two sweet pigtails," said the network.

Conbody is just one of the big ideas competing for $100,000 and the attention of venture capitalists and private equity funders.

HOT

Liz Catucci

The Northern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce has named Elizabeth “Liz” Catucci as its next President and CEO.

“The work the Chamber performs is invaluable for local businesses on various levels, and I am humbled to be given the opportunity to serve the community in this new capacity. Chamber members can be assured that I will continue to advocate on their behalf, and will work to help grow their business through networking and marketing opportunities,” said Catucci.

The appointment comes after current president John Gregory announced his retirement in February.

“Having worked with Liz as a board member, I understand and appreciate the passion and commitment she has for the Northern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce. It is exciting to know that she will be leading the Chamber and helping take it to the next level,” said Gregory.

Catucci will take over the role on September 30.

HOT

Danielle North

20 years ago this week marked the beginning of Danielle North’s career at WPRI 12.

On September 10, 1999, North began her run as a reporter.

Since then, she’s covered some of the area’s biggest stories – from Super Bowl wins to the Pope’s visit to America.

Today, she is the co-anchor of Eyewitness News This Morning,

Congrats to North -- happy anniversary. 

PHOTO: WPRI

NOT

Dylan Conley

The head of the Providence Board of Licenses proposed designating a 24-hour club zone.

Do we really need to write much more?

NOT

Sabina Matos

GoLocal News Editor Kate Nagle was blocked from attending a “working group” meeting at Providence City Hall to discuss and set policy on the regulation of the club industry. A meeting by state law that should have been accessible to the public and the media.

Council President Sabina Matos scheduled the meeting — which was not publicly noticed. While the press and the public were blocked from attending Matos’ “working group” meeting, two controversial political Providence players were going into Matos' office suite behind closed doors — one of Matos’ campaign donors who was tied to the ethics violation of former Council President Luis Aponte and the other a major club owner. His establishment has been linked to multiple stabbings in or just outside his club.

“It’s a working group. It's not a commission. It's not a committee that requires a notice to be posted," said Matos. "It's just a working group of internal, mostly internal members of the staff, trying to figure out and hear from them what can we do to make improvements in the process.

When Matos was asked if the group would be open to the public in the future Matos said, “No, not right now."

"It's going to be an internal working group right now, we don't have any intention of doing an open process," said Matos. "Recommendations will be made public, and there will be an opportunity for the community...to come give feedback."

When asked if working groups were under the open meeting law, Matos said they are not.

But, according to state law, a “'Meeting’ means the convening of a public body to discuss and/or act upon a matter over which the public body has supervision, control, jurisdiction, or advisory power. As used herein, the term ‘meeting’ expressly includes, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, so-called ‘workshop,’ ‘working,’ or ‘work" sessions.’”

NOT

New England Patriots

This is not going to end well. Actually, it did not start well.

On Tuesday night, news broke that a former trainer of Patriots new wide receiver Antonio Brown is alleging that he sexually assaulted her. The federal lawsuit was filed in Florida.

“In June 2017, Brown sexually assaulted Ms. Taylor twice while they were together for training sessions. First, Brown exposed himself and kissed Ms. Taylor without her consent. Later that month, Brown, while positioned behind Ms. Taylor, began masturbating near her without her knowledge and ejaculated on her back. Ms. Taylor realized what occurred when she felt a wet spot soak through her clothing. Later, in astonishingly profane and angry text messages, Brown bragged about the incident to her,” states the lawsuit.

The suit goes on, “Shocked and deeply embarrassed by this assault and his degrading messages, Ms. Taylor cut off her working relationship with Brown. However, several months later, Brown reached out to Ms. Taylor, expressing contrition, begging forgiveness and pleading with her to train him again. Ms. Taylor was hesitant but eventually agreed, swayed by his assurance that he would cease any sexual advances.”

NOT

Boston Red Sox

It is hard to believe that the Red Sox won the World Series last year.

The Boston Red Sox this week fired President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski.

The move took place late Sunday night shortly after the Red Sox lost to the Yankees 10-5 at Fenway Park.

“This is a guy that gave me a chance to come here and be a big-league manager. It’s one of those that it caught me. They just told me. So I’m not ready to talk about it,” said manager Alex Cora in his post-game press conference.

Boston is eight games back of the second wild-card spot in the American League and 17 1/2 behind the Yankees for first place in the AL East.

HOT

Dr. Tad and the State of RI

How is the state monitoring these guys?

The Rhode Island State Police arrested former WPRO and WPRI show host Dr. Tadeusz Sztykowski, known as "Dr. Tad,” for practicing acupuncture without a license on Wednesday.

Sztykowski, 62, is the owner of the Center of Integrative Medicine and Healing in Providence. 

The arrest comes two years after RI Health forced Sztykowski to surrender his medical license for multiple violations, as GoLocalProv reported in June of 2017. 

In a consent agreement, Sztykowski agreed to stop practicing medicine for a range of charges including practicing medicine without a license. 

“This is an on-going investigation with regards to a practitioner practicing without a license and how patients were billed at this establishment,” said State Police Detective Commander Major Timothy Sanzi.