After reviewing the town’s operating and capital projects budgets, Town Treasurer Julie Goucher told councilors that there was no existing funding source for Phase II of the Poppasquash water line project.

“It doesn’t mean we can’t do the project now,” she said during the council’s Jan. 29 meeting. “It just means that we have one of two ways.”

Those ways, she explained, would be to fund the project through a special appropriation of funds for this current fiscal year, or add the project to the 2015 fiscal budget.

If an appropriation was needed, a public hearing is required.

The issue, Ms. Goucher explained, is whether or not the Bristol County Water Authority would require all the funds up front, or a portion of the money, with the remainder due upon completion.

The topic is one of several to be discussed during tonight’s special Town Council meeting at 7 in Town Hall. Other items on the agenda include appointing a town employee to the assistant harbormaster’s list, appointing a resident to the capital projects committee, LED lighting, bond issues for the 2014 ballot, and other town capital projects.

Three Roger Williams University students are facing felony charges after police allegedly discovered narcotics paraphernalia and marijuana in their dorm rooms.

Matthew DeSantis, 18, of Northbridge, Mass.; Samuel J. McSherry, 18, of Needham, Mass.; and Carter Moore, 18, of Dover N.H., were all charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.

Bristol police were called to the University shortly after 10 a.m. Jan. 29, to assist the University public safety officers with a possible narcotics violation. The public safety officers had searched the students’ dorm rooms after allegedly being tipped off that they might be dealing pot.

The search of Mr. DeSantis’ room allegedly revealed a grinder, a digital scale, four rolling papers, two Visine containers, two plastic caps with metal tool bits  and a Dell black laptop, and a box of plastic sandwich bags. The items were all seized by Bristol police officers, because they were known to be use in the process of distributing pot, the police report states.

They also allegedly found $370, and a brown/green leaf substance believed to be marijuana.

In Mr. Carter’s room, police allegedly found a glass jar that contained a substance that looked like pot, a metallic grinder, a lighter, two wood cigar boxes, four rolling papers, a digital scale, and $446. Those items were also seized.

Police allegedly found pot brownies in Mr. McSherry’s room, along with plastic baggies, two cigarette rolling papers, five glass-colored pipes and $106.

The following items are among the Bristol police log Jan. 27 – Feb. 3, 2014:

Monday, Jan. 27

Police received a report about a coat stolen from a lab at the Bristol County Medical Center.

Tuesday, Jan. 28

Charles John Stanley, 21, of Westport, Conn., was arrested on charges of simple assault/battery.

Police responded to Gooding Plaza for a noise complaint. The operator of a tractor-trailer truck was told to shut his vehicle down for the night.

A UPS driver informed police about an open door to a home on Michael Drive and no one was home. Police responded and found the home secure. The door was an oversight.

Wednesday, Jan. 29 

A caller reported that the driver of a snow plow was allegedly operating recklessly. A woman waiting for the RIPTA bus got all wet from the slush of the snow.

Hunter John Lane, 28, of 15 Fesser Ave., Bristol, was arrested on a Superior Bench warrant charge.

Jason W. Almeida, 37, of 171 Bradford St., Bristol, was arrested on charges of violating a no-contact order.

Police responded to the town sewer department to deal with a disorderly man.

Thursday, Jan. 30

Police were called to an area of Hope Street for a reported argument between a boyfriend and girlfriend. The girlfriend was allegedly highly intoxicated.

A caller from the Common Pub asked for police to help with removing a man who refused to leave.

Police responded to an area of Court Street for a report that a woman heard a lot of screaming and yelling on the second floor above her apartment. Officers couldn’t find anyone, and didn’t hear anything upon arrival.

Friday, Jan. 31

Zachary Nguia, 21, of New Bedford, Mass., was arrested on a 6th District Court bench warrant charge.

Jason W. Almeida, 37, of 171 Bradford St., Bristol, was arrested on charges of violating a no-contact order.

Police received a report that someone spilled gasoline in the basement of a Wood Street home.

A caller reported that someone was dumping furniture from a U-Haul truck into a dumpster at Agave Restaurant.

Police responded to a home on Monroe Avenue for a report that man was trying to break into a home. Officers determined there were no issues, and that it was a misunderstanding.

A Wilson Street resident asked to speak with police about possible bruising on her child’s leg.

A woman called police about her mom not handing over the keys to her car.

A Washington Street caller told police that she could hear a male screaming at his children at 8:37 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 1

A caller reported seeing a suspicious man wandering in the woods behind the Bristol Sewer Department.

Margaret J. Diluglio, 51, of 58 St. Elizabeth St., Bristol,  was arrested on charges of DUI first offense, .15 or higher.

A Wood Street resident asked to speak to police about some mail he received.

Police received a complaint about several cars blocking the roadway of State and Wood streets. The funeral director advised that the Mass would be ending soon, and the cars would then disperse.

Police received a call about a USPS worker who was chased by a dog near Annawamscutt Drive.

A caller on Primrose Drive reported hearing arguing between a mother, son and her daughter.

Police responded to a home on Hamlet Drive for a report of a possible underage party.

Sunday, Feb. 2

Ian Peckham, 23, of Tiverton, was arrested on charges of vandalism, resisting arrest and obstructing an officer in execution of duty.

A High Street resident called police to report that her brother was in an altered mental state.

Jason Alexander Foley, 23, of S. Burlington, Vt., was arrest on charges of DUI first offense, and refusal to submit to a drug test.

A Baker Street resident requested police presence in order to keep the peace while the person moved out.

A Wood Street caller reported that children were playing football in the street.

Paul E. Ott, 53, of 11 Stephen Drive, Bristol, was arrested on charges of DUI first offense, and failure to submit to a chemical test.

Jaci Clark, far right, helps Bristol couple Leigh Montecalvo and Mike Machado pick out jewelry.

“We’d been paying the bills on the business to keep the doors open without a profit being made for a few years,” said Mr. Frye, who has an ownership in the Hope Street jewelry store. “But the biggest tipping point was when they remodeled the downtown streets two years ago.”

Mr. Frye’s frustration began to mount. He and his wife, Claire, retired from over 30 years of teaching – each – to help their son-in-law start his own jewelry business nine years ago.

“Manny (Canario) was a well-respected jeweler in Barrington,” Mrs. Frye said of her son-in-law. “And we had an opportunity to open our own store.”

For the first few years, they were successful. They dealt in antique and estate jewelry, silver, and collections such as Survival Straps, bracelets made out of paratroopers’ parachute cords. A portion of those proceeds benefits organizations that support military members.

Like most jewelry stores, they also sold diamond rings, bracelets, and studded earrings.

And when Coggeshall Jewelers learned that there would no longer be a token toll for crossing the Mt. Hope Bridge, the owners were quick to react. They took several of those tokens and turned them into pendants.

“Those sold really fast,” said Jaci Clark, the Fryes’ daughter. “We had the Mt. Hope Collection patten.”

Still, all their efforts weren’t enough to pull the store through the downtown renovation, Mr. Frye said.

“People don’t get it. The money you make over the summer gets you through the winter,” he explained. “And the money you make over Christmas, gets you through ’til the summer. There’s no catch-up in this business. Once you miss a season, it’s gone.”

The Hope Street Improvement Project was several years in the making before a shovel ever touched the ground. Town officials, and representatives from the Department of Transportation knew that the project would be an impediment on businesses downtown. In an effort to coordinate the project to best serve the merchants, the DOT solicited their input throughout the process, said Rose Amoros, Chief Public Affairs Office for the DOT.

“Field walks were held for members of our project team to talk with merchants affected along the road, and two public workshops were held to gather input on the best schedule,” said Ms. Amoros. “Alterations to that schedule, such as limiting the contractor’s work in the peak summer months, would have lengthened the project by another construction season and increased the overall cost.

“At the town’s request, we shut down operations for two weeks so the work didn’t interfere with the Bristol Fourth of July Parade festivities.”

But when shoppers have to walk across wooden planks to get into a store, it’s an automatic turn-off, said Mrs. Frye.

“When people see construction going on, they just don’t want to be around it, so they turn away,” she said.

Many measures were taken throughout the life of the project to lessen the impact, said Ms. Amoros. Weekly notifications of work taking place were emailed and posted on the town’s website, and hard copies were posted at Town Hall, the post office and the library.

“We worked at night and on weekends and altered the traffic patterns on Hope Street and Thames Street downtown to take nine months off the schedule,” she said. “This also increased the overall number of parking spaces for downtown businesses during construction.”

Coggeshall Jewelers has discounted just about everything in their store, 20 to 75 percent off. The store will likely close its doors just after Valentine’s Day, Mr. Frye said.

“And after that, we’re just going to retire,” said Mrs. Frye. “And just enjoy that.”

“Hooray.”

It was news Cliff Woods had waited over a year to hear, and now he and his neighbors are all smiles.

The Town Council reach a resolution Wednesday night to fund Phase II of the Poppasquash water line project, which would make the fire hydrants usable in the event of a fire.

“We’ve felt very insecure about the hydrants not working,” he said.

“And that’s not a good feeling,” added his wife, Patricia.

Councilors met Feb. 5 to discuss the town’s capital projects over the next five years; and providing assurance to those residents on Poppasquash Road was a priority.

“This is an important need to satisfy the safety need of these residents,” said Councilor Halsey Herreshoff.

For months, councilors vacillated on whether to spend an additional $300,000 to fund a second phase that would upgrade the water lines along Poppasquash Road. The town had already spent $400,000 installing a 12-inch line connecting Clifton Street and Duffield Road to Harbor View Avenue. That project enabled the fire hydrant at the end of Harbor View Avenue to be used.

The second phased called for a new, 8-inch plastic pipe with fused joints, that would replace the existing 100-year-old 6-inch cast iron pipe. This would deliver about 1,148 gallons per minute, enough to provide fire suppression to the area’s two fire hydrants. Currently, residents tapping into the system are only drawing about 364 gallons per minute.

The Bristol County Water Authority agreed to a cost-share for the project, putting $469,000 toward the project, which is what it would cost the utility to clean and line the current main. However, that option would not have provided adequate water flow for fire suppression.

The route for the Phase II is sited along a proposed upgrade to the bike path through Colt State Park.

“Right now, we need to draw out immediately $100,000 from our capital reserves,” said Town Administrator Tony Teixeira. “Going forward, how we fund the balance, remains to be seen.”

Since the project is expected to be completed before July 1, which is when the town’s new budget cycle begins, Mr. Teixeira said the town may draw upon that budget to pay the remaining balance. Out of which fund, he’s unsure of right now.

“We need to see how the budget works out for the remainder of the year,” he said. If there’s additional money left in the current budget, the town will opt to use those funds.

The BCWA is on board with the proposed payment plan, Mr. Teixeira said, and the project is slated to start this spring.

The new line will connect back with a 600-foot, 8-inch line was added in 1966, which provides water to the Bristol Yacht Club area; and another 8-inch line that was added in 1990, which supplies water to the West Harbor View plat – about five residential homes.

Water flow in those areas is also expected to increase following the project’s completion.

David Allen Campopiano, 58, of Johnston, went to heaven Feb. 3, 2014.

He was the son of Hazel (Reedy) Campopiano and the late Remo N. Campopiano.

Besides his mother, he is survived by his brothers Steven (Remo) Campopiano of Minneapolis, Minn., and Michael F. Campopiano and his wife, Claudia of Bristol; his nephew Adam Campopiano and his wife Stephanie of Johnston,  and Alyssa Williams and her children, Victoria Williams and Sean Williams of Lincoln, and Sofie Campopiano of Austin, Texas; and his Aunt Shirley Hurd of Johnston.

He was preceded in death by his long-time friend and buddy Alan Tucker of Chepachet.

David was a really good guy who enjoyed restoring his 1978 Chevy El Camino.  He was a talented carpenter who helped build Ramble Woods in Gloucester, Mass., with his father and brothers back in the early 70s.

He was known to everyone at the Salvation Army ARC Facility in Providence as MacGuyver where he lived and thrived for several years.  He loved to tinker with boats and remote-controlled helicopters. He built windmills in the yard of his Scituate, Mass., home where he lived with his beloved mom.

He will be sorely missed.

Funeral services were held Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2014, in the Winfield and Son’s Funeral Home, 571 West Greenville Rd., in Scituate.

Burial was in Highland Memorial Park Cemetery, Johnston.

Evelyn (Motta) Pimental, 82, of Hope Street, passed away on Feb. 4, 2014, at Orchard View Manor.  She was the wife of the late Alfred Pimental.

Born in Bristol, she was the daughter of the late Joseph Perry Motta and Anna (Moitoso) Motta.

She attended Colt Memorial High School and worked as a machine operator at American Tourister for 28 years before retiring.

She is survived by her sisters Elsie Goulart and Alice Silva of Bristol, and her brother Joseph Motta, Jr., of Barrington.

Her funeral services were held Feb. 7, from the George Lima Funeral Home with a Mass of Christian Burial celebrated by Rev. Richard Narciso at St. Elizabeth Church.

Burial followed in St. Mary’s Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made to the Bristol Animal Shelter, 11 Broad Common Road,  Unit #155, Bristol, RI  02809.

The Navy Band Northeast Pops Ensemble will perform with Mt. Hope High School students this Thursday, Feb. 13.

The Vocal Ensemble, under the direction of Vicki Boyle, will perform songs depicting village life including Three Hungarian Folk Songs by Matyas Seibe, Song for the Mira arranged by Stuart Calvert, and Can You Hear by Jim Papoulis.

The Symphonic Band, under the direction of Christopher Lambert, will perform The Liberty Bell and King Cotton by John Philip Sousa and Air for Band by Frank Erickson, as well as Life Dances by William Himes.

The Mt. Hope High School Vocal Ensemble will join The Navy Band Northeast in performing The Last Full Measure of Devotion. The concert will end with God Bless America.

If Town Councilor Tim Sweeney decides to seek a second term this November, he may be doing so without an endorsement by the Bristol Democrat Town Committee.

In a move Committee President John Faria said “will not bode well for his endorsement this June,” the Bristol Democrat Town Committee voted to reject Mr. Sweeney’s application for membership Jan. 27, calling him a party “pretender.”

The reason, states Mr. Faria, is because Mr. Sweeney nominated Republican Councilor Mary Parella as chairperson of the Town Council in December 2012.

“That upset many members of the (Committee) and local Democrats” Mr. Faria wrote in a letter to the Bristol Phoenix. “While many local Democrats have supported Mary Parella through the years for elected office, we also believe that if you run as part of a team, and the Democrats are a team, when it is time to elect the team captain, you need to elect the captain for your team.”

Mr. Sweeney ran for Bristol Town Council as an unendorsed Democrat in the 2012 elections and won. He, along with newcomers Ed Stuart and Nathan Calouro, are the three sitting Democrats on the Town Council. During a December council meeting, Mr. Stuart nominated party mate Mr. Calouro to the chairman’s seat. However, they were the only two to support that nomination.

Ms. Parella was then nominated as the chairperson by Mr. Sweeney, and seconded by Councilor Halsey Herreshoff, also a Republican.

In a letter to the editor shortly after that meeting, Mr. Sweeney responded to critics of his vote:

“I’ve been asked why I, as a newly elected Democratic councilman, would support Republican Mary Parella for chair of the council. On Nov. 6, Mary Parella won more votes, the confidence of more Bristolians, than any other candidate for council. Mary Parella’s years of experience on the Bristol Town Council and representing Bristol in the RI Senate have prepared her well to lead the council. I nominated my party mate, Edward P. Stuart Jr., to be the vice chair.”

Historically, Mr. Faria said, when the dominant party controls the council, they always choose the chairman from that party, which Mr. Sweeney did not do.

“The people voted and clamored for new blood,” Mr. Faria states. “Instead, they got the same-old, same-old.”

The Committee informed Mr. Sweeney of their decision in a brief letter, without explanation, finally “wishing (him) the best in all (his) future endeavors.”

“It is interesting that the Bristol Democrat Town Committee (BDTC) chose to inform me of their reasons to reject my application for membership through our local newspaper,” Mr. Sweeney said in a statement. “I am disappointed that the criteria they cite for membership are voting for the town council chairman of the (Committee’s) choice; and voting for a budget that the (Committee) approves.”

Mr. Sweeney was a registered Republican for more than 10 years and voted as a Republican in the 2006 and 2010 primaries. He later changed his party affiliation to Democrat just before the 2012 elections.

“If he believes in the Republican philosophy, which his history and actions demonstrate he does, then more power to him,” states Mr. Faria. “We encourage him to run as a Republican.”

Joseph Trindade, 72, of Bristol, died Thursday, Jan. 23, 2014 in Bristol.

He was the husband of the late Merces (DaSilva) Trindade.

He was born in St Michael, Portugal, son of the late Antonio and Maria (Borges) Trindade.

Joseph was a lab technician for T.P.I. Boat Manufacturing. He was a member of St Thomas the Apostle Church.

He was the father of Michael A. Trindade of Bristol and Maryann Carlos of Dartmouth, Mass., and Maria Luis Prates of Portugal; grandfather of three grandsons and two great-grandchildren.

Arrangements were with Smith Funeral & Memorial Services, 8 Schoolhouse Road, Warren, where family received friends on Friday, Jan. 24. His funeral was held on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2014, at St Thomas the Church in Warren.

Burial was private.

The following items are among the Bristol police log Feb. 3 – 9, 2014:

Monday, Feb. 3

The animal control officer was called to four different locations for reports of loose dogs.

Police responded to a home on Poli Street to deal with a child custody dispute.

A Dolly Drive resident reported that their mailbox was damaged.

Tuesday, Feb. 4

A Charles Street resident reported that their property was damaged as a result of a snow plow.

Firefighter put out a chimney fire on Etelvina Court.

A Siegel Street resident reported that their mail was stolen.

Police responded to a home on Sheraton Road because the resident was concerned about suspicious footprints coming from the woods and around her property. The officer advised that the impressions in the snow were from a deer.

Wednesday, Feb. 5

Police were called to a Wood Street home regarding a landlord-tenant dispute.

An Alma Avenue resident called police over concerns about her neighbor.

Thursday, Feb. 6

Police responded to Mt. Hope High School for a report that students were threatening each other.

A caller reported seeing an elderly man wearing a baseball cap and slippers, walking near Metacom Avenue and Chestnut Street. Police transported the man to his destination, Eddie’s Auto.

Police were called to keep the peace at a Bay View Avenue home. A woman was trying to remove her items from the home, and her aunt was allegedly harassing her.

Jason D. Salinger, 39, of 15 Burton St., Bristol, was arrested on a 6th District Court bench warrant charge.

A Sousa Street resident called police for a noise complaint at 10:12 p.m.

Friday, Feb. 7

Police were called to East Bay Laundromat for a report of a suspicious man that was wandering around, not doing any laundry. He told police that he was just drying his gloves, and would wait outside for the restaurant next door to open.

Ryan Joseph Czelatka, 22, of Southampton, N.Y., was arrested on charges of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

Police were called to a Catherine Street home to keep the peace between the caller and his ex-girlfriend, while he picks up his son for a visitation.

Saturday, Feb. 8

A caller reported seeing three men running and screaming in the area of Hope Street and Poppasquash Road. The caller wasn’t sure if one of them was being chased.

Matthew Capozza, 22, of Bedford, Mass., was arrested on charges of DUI first offense, and refusal to submit to a chemical test.

Police were called to a home on Union Street for a neighbor dispute over parking.

Sunday, Feb. 9

A caller reported seeing a woman in a red coat allegedly yell at cars as they drove by Gooding Plaza.

Police responded to the same home on Wood Street twice for a report of a landlord-tenant argument.

A High Street resident reported hearing a car in the area whose driver was beeping the horn and yelling at 10:34 p.m.

Charlotte Agatha (Sousa) Pacheco, age 89, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2014, at Rhode Island Hospital, surrounded by her loving family.

Born in Bristol on Sept. 15, 1924, and a lifelong resident, she was a daughter of the late Rudolph E. and Mary V. (Maciel) Sousa.

Charlotte was the wife of the late Henry W. Pacheco and is survived by a son, Richard H. Pacheco and pre-deceased by a son Henry W. “Butch” Pacheco, II.

Charlotte is also survived by two grandsons, Richard H. Pacheco, II and Jason D. Pacheco and a sister Lorraine T. Morton and several nieces and nephews. She was the sister of the late Margaret “Margie” Sartini and Virginia “Gena” Securo, and two brothers Rudy Sousa and Ernest “Babe” Sousa.

She was a Deputy-Sheriff in Bristol County from 1970 until she retired in 1986.

A communicant of St. Mary’s Church and graduated from St. Mary’s Parochial School in 1938 and later attended public schools.

She enjoyed gardening, doing puzzles, collecting angels, decorating her home for all the holidays and had several Pen Pals throughout the states and met three of them.

She served on numerous committees and she and her husband were co-chairpersons of the Social and Fund Raising Committee during the 125th Anniversary of St. Mary’s Church. Between her and her husband they located 150 Shipmates of his, that served on the USS BARON DE-166. They organized the ships reunions in several states and attended most of them.

She was also a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Destroyer-Escort-Sailors-Association, AARP, Associate member of RI Chapter of DESA and was a past member of the Democrat Town Committee.

Her funeral services were held on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2014, from the Sansone Funeral Home, 192 Wood St., in Bristol, with a Concelebrated Mass of Christian Burial in St. Mary’s Church, 330 Wood St., Bristol.  The Rev. Barry J. Gamache was the Principal Celebrant and Homilist and The Rev. John T. McNulty Concelebrated the Mass.

David E. Barboza was the Lector, Master of Ceremony and Eucharistic Minister and Stephen Romano was the Organist-Soloist.

Burial followed in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Chestnut Street, Bristol where Fr. Gamache read the Committal Prayers.

Memorial contributions may be made to American Heart Association, RI Chapter, 1 State St., Suite 200, Providence, RI 02908.

Lawrence G LePage, Jr., 51, of Boynton Beach, Fla., and formerly of Bristol, R.I., passed away on Feb. 3, 2014, unexpectedly at his home.

Larry worked for the City of Boynton Beach and was an avid sports fan.

He was born July 7, 1962 in Providence, to parents Lawrence G LePage, Sr. and Angela D LePage (Topzaio).

Along with his parents, he is survived by his sisters Deana LePage, Michele LePage and Nicola LePage Bohannon; nephews Addison Bohannon and Zachary Bohnannon; nieces, Torri and Kayleigh Viera; as well as close family relative, Uncle Mike Topazio.

He graduated from the former Bristol High School in 1980.

He was a communicant of Trinity Church International, Lake Worth, Fla.

Services were held on Feb. 6, 2014 at Trinity Church International, with Pastor Bryan Rosenbarger officiating.

A caller claiming to be a resident of a home where a house party was in full swing, allegedly called police to complain about it Saturday night.

After arriving at the Primrose Drive home just after midnight Feb. 8, police quickly encountered a raucous scene. According to the police report, loud voices and shouting could be heard coming from inside the home.

As police approached the front door, several people could be seen running from the home. Their presence apparently wasn’t welcome, as one officer nearly had the front door slammed shut on him, the report states.

The police found the residents, those who were renting the property, who were all from Massachusetts and are students at Roger Williams University: Patrick Cramer, 22, E. Bridgewater; Francis D. McCarthy, 22, Burlington; David D. Miller, 22, Lexington; and John T. Durkin, 23, Peabody.

Among the party-goers with alcohol, police found a person who was under 21, and cited him for possession of alcoholic beverage as a minor.

Both Mr. McCarthy and Mr. Miller allegedly told police that the party grew out of control and someone called the police to disperse the crowd. However, after speaking to all four of them, each denied having called the police asking for help, adding that it might have been possible that someone made a false report for the call for help, the report states.

All four were arrested on charges of procuring alcohol for underage persons.

The LadyBots, from left: Jenna Longo, Amanda Crawley, and Annelise Boylan celebrate having just hung their robot. Their alliance raised the flag, gaining the maximum points in the last 30 seconds of the match.

Thirty-two teams from high schools throughout Rhode Island competed in the event, which was held at the New England Tech Automotive Campus in Warwick Feb. 8.

The First Tech Challenge is a robotics competition for high school students based on a sports model. Teams are responsible for designing, building and programming their robots to compete as alliances against other teams.Teams advance from local qualifying tournaments to state championship tournaments, before advancing to the World Championship Tournament, held each year in St. Louis, Mo.

The LadyBots, a team of four girls — Daisy Alves, Jenna Longo, Amanda Crawley, and Annelise Boylan, was awarded second for the Inspire Award. The award is given to a team that “truly embodied the challenge of the program…an inspiration to other teams, acting with Gracious Professionalism, both on and off the playing field.”

From left, Daisy Alves, Amanda Crawley and Annelise Boylan have their robot transfer blocks it had picked up in a conveyor belt-fashion, to place them in the farthest left, pendulum goal. This means that the LadyBots got three points for each block scored. By placing these blocks in the goal, the team is also balancing the pendulum.

The LadyBots will have to fund-raise in order to get to the Pennsylvania event, said coach Ryan Garrity.

Mt. Hope’s Underdogs won the Motivate Award, which celebrates the team that exemplifies the essence of the competition through team building, team spirit and enthusiasm.

The TaterBots and the Looney Tunes Robotics teams also did well, said Mr. Garrity. Those teams, along with the Underdogs, will have one more chance to qualify for the Super-Regional Championship, as they attend another state championship within the next few weeks.

To the editor:

Mr. Faria’s letter to the Bristol Phoenix is further evidence of the thug politics and old boy network agenda pursued by the Bristol Democrat Town Committee (BDTC).  To be fair, not all of the Town’s Democrats belong to this elite club, and some who do, do not agree with the elders of the BDTC.  But, the BDTC’s mantra, as shown in Mr. Faria’s letter, is “do what I tell you to do or you are out.”

Thinking that favors the BDTC, and not what is in the best interest of Bristol, are what BDTC demands.  Witness the reason for not allowing Mr. Sweeney, a Democrat, and a duly elected Town Councilor, into their club. Mr. Sweeney nominated and voted for Ms. Mary Parella, a Republican, to be the Town Council Chairperson.

Let’s examine the facts.  In the last election all five of the present Town Councilors were elected.  Two, Ms. Parella and Mr. Halsey Herreshoff were incumbents.  Both are Republicans.  And, both have extensive elected office experience and leadership experience.

The other three councilors, Mr. Sweeney, Mr. Ed Stuart, and Mr. Nathan Calouro had no prior elected office experience.  Thus, a reasonable person would conclude that the natural choice for leadership of the Town Council should be someone who knows how the Town Council runs, knows how the Town runs, has had prior leadership and elected office experience; in short, the ideal candidates were Ms. Parella and Mr. Herreshoff.

Mr. Sweeney put party politics aside for the betterment of the Town of Bristol and nominated and voted for Ms. Parella.  As all of us know, Ms. Parella has done an exemplary job in leading the Town Council.  So, Mr. Sweeney should be commended and not damned for choosing Ms. Parella.

The irony in Mr. Faria’s letter is that he and his BDTC have all but assured Mr. Sweeney’s reelection because by Mr. Faria’s own words he is suggesting that anyone “endorsed” by the BDTC is beholden to the BDTC.  In short, their endorsed candidates can and should be viewed as persons seeking office not necessarily with the best interests of Bristol but with the best interests of the BDTC.

Mr. Sweeney is a Democrat, notwithstanding Mr. Faria’s illusory position.  And, Mr. Sweeney votes his conscious for the betterment of Bristol.  General Douglas MacArthur  opined that “a true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. He does not set out to be a leader, but becomes one by the equality of his actions and the integrity of his intent.”  Mr. Sweeney, thank you for your leadership and for considering Bristol first above party politics.

Stephen P. Katz

42 River S.

Photos by Rich Dionne
WWII Army veteran George E. Kingston reacts to a Valentine’s Day card sent in by school children during a program called Valentine’s for Vets at the Bristol Veteran’s Home on Monday. The cards were made by school children within the 1st Congressional District, including Bristol Warren students.

Ernie St. Jean’s eyes searched his memory. At 91, he had decades of heart-warming recollections to call upon. The most vivid, however, was about the day he met his wife, Gloria — his one and only Valentine.

“We had never seen each other before, and we hit it off pretty well,” said the World War II Navy veteran. “I knew it then that we’d get married.”

The two were married for over 50 years when she died 10 years ago. At his children’s urging, he moved into the R.I. Veterans Home.

“She was a lot of fun, and worked very hard,” he said. “She kept a sparkling home, beautiful.”

Gloria came to his mind as U.S. Congressman David Cicilline (D-RI) passed out thousands of Valentine’s Day cards on Monday, to veterans living at the home. The gesture was made possible by the “Valentines for Veterans” project, which launched in 1996 and coincides with National Salute to Hospitalized Veterans week (Feb. 9 – 14, 2014). The cards were made by school children within the 1st Congressional District, including Bristol Warren students. This is the third year Rep. Cicilline has organized the “Valentines for Veterans.”

Veterans Mario Dellarosa (left) and James Peters check out Valentine’s Day cards delivered by U.S. Congressman David Cicilline (right).

“You are my hero. Hope you come back to your family,” wrote another, on a lace doily glued to a pink heart.

“We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to our veterans who have served with honor and sacrificed so much to protect our country,” said Rep. Cicilline. “This is one small way to say thank you and I am pleased so many student volunteers showed their support for our veterans and participated in this year’s ‘Valentines for Veterans.’”

The veterans poured over the cards, smiling at the innocent words.

“This is very beautiful, and nice,” said Louis Wagner, 91, also a World War II Navy veteran.

Joe Berretto, Jr., has his family’s gas station at 756 Hope St., back on the market for $575,000.

Earlier in January, he listed the former Berretto’s Service Station for sale, a business that’s been in his family for generations.

“I grew up there, worked there in high school and college,” Mr. Berretto said. “But now, I just don’t want it. I don’t want to be in the business anymore.”

The property, situated at 756 Hope St. — the entrance to Bristol’s downtown historic district, is zoned general business and assessed at $387,820 by the town.

However, Ryan Fonseca, Mr. Berretto’s real estate agent, has the property listed for $575,000. A fair price, Mr. Berretto says, given its location.

“It’s a great location, overlooking the waterfront,” he said. “And (the property) could be just about anything. It doesn’t have to be a gas station.”

Should a potential buyer express interest in the property as a gas station, they’ll have to have very strong financial backing.

“In order to get it up and running, they’ll have to invest a lot of money,” Mr. Berretto said. “The (gas) tanks are good until 2017.”

The state changed its law regarding underground storage tanks in 2007. By 2017, all single-walled tanks must be replaced with double-walled tanks. The gas station has six tanks — three for gasoline, one for diesel, another for waste oil, and a sixth for heating oil.

The tanks are currently temporarily closed, a status required by the Department of Environmental Management. To reinstate those tanks, there’s a long list of testing that DEM would have to do before they could be operable again.

Mr. Berretto closed the station down a little more than three years ago. He was met with little success at selling the property, though one buyer did come forward.

“We couldn’t come to an agreement on a selling price,” he said.

While the market is beginning to make a rebound, there aren’t many buyers looking for used gas stations, said Mr. Fonseca.

“It’s going to be a tough sell, but for the right investor, it could be anything and that’s how we’re marketing it,” he said.

Robert A. Riopel, 65, passed away Sunday, Feb. 16, 2014, at Silver Creek Manor, Bristol.

Born in Fall River, he was a son of the late Arthur and Florida (Gamelin) Riopel.

He was the loving husband of Linda (Costa) Jackson of Bristol.

Bob was employed as a machinist for UVEC in Smithfield before retiring in 1999. He was an avid fly-fisherman and was skilled at making his own flies.

Besides his wife, he leaves a son, Robert A. Riopel Jr of Waterville, Maine; a step-son, Ryan Jackson of Bristol; siblings Vivien and her husband Frank Gomes of East Providence, Norman Riopel of Compton, Maine, Lorraine Viveiros of Fall River, Mass., and Richard Riopel of Florida; a grandson, Michael J Riopel II; and several nieces, nephews, cousins and friends whom he retained close relationships.

Family will receive friends on Saturday, Feb. 22, from 11 a.m. – noon at Smith Funeral & Memorial Services, 8 Schoolhouse Road, Warren, followed by a brief service at noon.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Save the Bay, 100 Save The Bay Dr, Cranston, RI 02905.