SNA Event: Neighborhood Night on Hope St.
Please save the date…
Thursday, March 19th
for our neighborhood night at
Nanda Interiors and luxe boutique
From 6-7:30 Nanda Head, from Nanda Interiors
will be hosting
“Do’s and Don’ts of Decorating”.
Come learn the insider tricks to decorating your home and
browse the store for new ideas. Refreshments will be served.
Her store is located 782 Hope Street.
Please RSVP to events@sna.providence.ri.us.
Jewish Family Service moving to North Main St
In another sign of life on long-dormant North Main Street, Jewish Family Services shared the following announcement:
On December 27, 2007, Jewish Family Service is moving from its Waterman Street location to 959 North Main Street. The Jewish Family Service programs which will be housed at the new location include Adoption Options, Home Care, the Counseling Center, Lifeline RI and AgeWell, the senior information and referral service.
This new location will make it easier to provide a comfortable space for both clients and staff, as well as being conveniently located with easy highway and public transportation access. Erin Minior, Interim Executive Director, says that, “The professionals at JFS are so pleased to be moving to a location that will enable us to better serve our clients. This space will also be more conducive to community programs and family life education.”
All contact information for JFS will remain the same. The phone number is 401-331-1244 and the email is info@jfsri.org. The move will not cause any stoppage in services.
Jewish Family Service is an organization whose mission is to sustain, nurture and strengthen the emotional and general well-being and stability of families and individuals throughout the life cycle. JFS offers counseling, Family Life Education, Home care Services for sick, elderly or disabled individuals, Lifeline Rhode Island, Adoption Options, a Kosher Congregate Mealsite, Meals on Wheels and Nutrition programs.
Blaze takes neighborhood restaurant honors
Congratulations to Phyllis Arffa and Christine Edmonds of Blaze East Side on Hope Street, winners of Rhode Island Monthly’s 2007 award for “Best East Side Neighborhood Restaurant.”
New Hillside owners meet neighbors
Executives of Radius Management Group met with residents of Hillside and Chace Avenues on August 21 to clarify the present status of the property and share their future plans for working with neighbors. Briefly, Radius won the auction for the bankrupt property, but will not formally close until they are assured of approval to re-open the facility as a nursing home, their main business. They expect a decision by October. We will pass on any future meeting dates as we learn of them.
John Smithers, the point person for neighbors on this matter over the last year or more, provided these notes on the meeting from Radius executive Chritine Bassett. Read more
Hillside bought for nursing home use
On June 13, Radius Management Services purchased the former Hillside Nursing Center at 99 Hillside Avenue at a bankruptcy auction held by the court. Their offer is conditional on reviving the facility’s license to operate as a nursing home. The former nursing home was closed by the RI Dept of Health in early 2005. There were informal indications that the DOH would approve the re-licensing as a nursing home, according to neighbors who attended the auction.
This development is cautiously welcomed by neighbors who have been monitoring the complicated and drawn-out disposal of the property. Most people living nearby would prefer a re-opened nursing home to the most likely alternatives such as residential development or assisted living.
A small group of neighbors coordinated by John Smithers has been in touch with Radius and hopes to meet with executives in August. At this stage, the neighbors’ group wants to learn more about Radius’ plans for renovation or construction. They are also looking ahead to how operations will affect surrounding homes and streets. If you have questions or concerns you would like John to convey to Radius, or if you would like to be kept informed, please e-mail John Smithers at John.Smither@jwu.edu.
Carriage House offers dance, theater for your kids
Everett Dance Theatre’s Carriage House School announces its class offerings for the 2006-2007 season, for youth aged 6 and above. Classes range from improvisational acting, hip hop dance, ballet, and Polynesian dance. We also offer a performing arts mentorship program, with training in writing, film making, acting, and special projects. Classes are taught by the professional artists of Everett Dance Theatre, a nationally acclaimed multimedia performing arts company now celebrating it’s twentieth anniversary in Providence.
Admission is on an ongoing basis, with classes beginning September 11. All classes are $10 a piece, with reduced prices available for low-income families. No serious student is turned away for lack of funds. The Carriage House is located at 7 Duncan Avenue, Providence RI, just off North Main Street.
NOTE: The Carriage House is a lovely and surprising little theater tucked behind some North Main businesses. Please support this neighborhood arts resource!
Please follow the link for schedule information: Read more
Providence Center acquires Brick Manor
Citywide planning kickoff meetings approach next week
June 15 - Although we haven’t seen specifics, the city is planning to hold three major meetings to share and begin the new citywide planning process. We’ll post more information - but watch the news. These could be very important.
Over the summer, you should be seeing new surveys from the Department of Planning and Development, a new website and information pamphlets about the city and its neighborhoods, according to Linda Painter, Deputy Director of DPD. These are the first steps toward a citywide planning process described as “open and inclusive” by the Mayor and his staff at a preview for neighborhood activists on May 30. The full city presentation lays out concepts and key dates. Providence Tomorrow, June 06, Dept. of Planning and Development
We like the way Roanoke, VA, has included all neighborhoods in its planning process for the last 20 years with great success. Check out what Roanoke’s neighborhood plans look like.
Indian Restaurant Not Just Snacks gets Phoenix “Thumbs Up”
The Providence Phoenix recently did a full review of local Summit restaurant Not Just Snacks. Read their rave review here.
Hillside’s legal fate deferred
A court hearing that may influence the future of the now-empty Hillside Health Center has been delayed for at least a month, according to the receiver for the bankrupt nursing home. The case centers around whether the mortgage holder, Suburban Mortgage, will be allowed to buy the property back. Suburban, which is closely linked to Hillside’s former owner, Anthony Giordano, wants to ensure that the property does not sell for less than the $12.5 million still owed on the mortgage.
According to one of the other bidders, Hillside’s nursing home license has lapsed. If so, it is probably unlikely that the facility can re-open as a nursing home again, although that seems to be the first preference of most neighbors we have talked to. Failing that, some form of residential apartments, perhaps age-restricted, is most likely.