Archive - Mar 2011
March 29th
WOONSOCKET - Doris Desplechin Dalpe 96, of 30 Sayles Hill Rd. Lincoln, died Friday at the Holiday. She was the wife of the late Fulgence Desplechin and Rene Dalpe. Born in Woonsocket she was a daughter of the late Anatole and Mariange (Simard) Debigare. Mrs. Dalpe was a homemaker. An avid bingo player she was affectionately known to her grandchildren as "Memere Bingo".
March 28th
CUMBERLAND – Dan O’Brien has several memories of retired Cumberland High swim coach Bruce Calvert.
His first three years for the Clippers, O’Brien recalled a person that was not only dedicated to his craft, but a person that knew how to motivate with his unique style of dealing with student-athletes.
“You could go out and drop ten seconds and he would still have something to tell you that would improve it,” he said. “I guess some people would say that he had a negative outlook on your swim, but in a way it motivated us to try harder and drop our times more.”
WOONSOCKET – Local firefighters have had their say on Mayor Leo T. Fontaine’s recent efforts to cut fire department spending, taking a vote of no confidence in Fire Chief Gary Lataille at regular meeting of Local #732 of the International Association of Fire Fighters.
Local President Christopher J. Oakland announced the vote on Monday, a week after the City Council approved the Fontaine administration’s proposed rescheduling of the firefighter work shifts to eliminate $1.2 million in department overtime costs.
His father was Italian-American, his mother African-American. And even if he was the best catcher in baseball that was enough to keep Roy Campanella out of the major leagues.
But in 1956, things were changing fast. A savvy general manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers named Branch Rickey had the audacity to challenge the gentlemen's agreement among big league powerbrokers that had kept black talent relegated to the Negro Leagues.
Within three years, Rickey would make Campanella part of a seminal group of African-American pioneers in major league baseball, changing the game forever.
March 27th
At what point in Tiger Woods’s golf career will the media stop trailing the guy around like he’s still the No. 1 player in golf?
Even though Woods has been a non-factor in most tournaments since Thanksgiving of 2009, the long-time No. 1 player in the world still gets an inordinate amount of face time on television as he struggles to regain his old form. I guess the guy is news, no matter what he shoots each day. Or maybe we all just like to watch the golfing version of a train wreck unfold each time he plays.
BLACKSTONE - If there was ever a life-changing moment during Robert Fournier Jr.'s two-year mission in West Africa as a Peace Corps volunteer, it was his new-found understanding of what he says are the most important things in life: family and friends.
March 26th
PAWTUCKET – Henry Stad is eager to spread the news about “Honor Flight New England” to his fellow World War II veterans.
“They treated us like royalty when we went to Washington, D.C. last October 24th,” Stad was saying recently. “World War II veterans are becoming a smaller group every day. I want all of the guys who are still alive to know about Honor Flight New England, which takes groups of World War II veterans to Washington, D.C. several times a year, for free.
The CALL is seeking photos of Blackstone Valley military veterans, whether they served in war zones or not. Please send photos to our email box: veterans@woonsocketcall.com or drop them off in the Veterans mail basket located on the front desk of The CALL's office at 75 Main St., Woonsocket.
Please include the following information with your photos:
Name of soldier:
Hometown:
Service branch: Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard.
Years served:
Location of tours:
Highlights:
SMITHFIELD --- The Woonsocket North Stars Mite B Blue Team defeated a very strong Northern Rhode Island Vikings squad 3-0 this past Tuesday evening at the Smithfield Ice Rink to complete an impressive season and capture the Gold bracket Mite B State Championship.
The WNS Mite B Blue entered the round robin format playing their best hockey of the season fresh off impressive tournament wins as well as some fierce state league competition.
March 25th
NORTH SMITHFIELD - U.S. Census figures released Wednesday show that North Smithfield gained 1,349 people, or 12.7 percent, in the last decade, making it the town with the second highest percentage of population growth in the state.
Overall, the state's population grew slightly by 0.4 percent to 1,052,567. There were population declines in 16 municipalities.
