Archive - News Article
March 28th, 2011
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 26th
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:
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.
WOONSOCKET – For six weeks, the metal statue was hidden in the janitor's broom closet.
“It was a big secret,” say Robert Pilkington, principal of the Beacon Charter High School for the Arts. “Very few people knew about it.”
But the secret's out now, and soon Hachiko – or at least a life-size bronze likeness of the famous dog – will be appearing at a train station near you, the mirror image of the original on the other side of the globe.
March 24th
WOONSOCKET – The bid deadline for parties interested in buying Landmark Medical Center was supposed to be tomorrow, but a Superior Court judge has agreed to give the hospital a few more days to sort through competing offers.
The new cutoff is Wednesday, said Bill Fischer, a spokesman for the hospital. But the original date of April 1 for the special master in charge of the hospital to submit to the court all bids, with a recommended winner, remains in force, he said.
March 23rd
WOONSOCKET — A campaign that began with the Beacon Charter High School for the Arts has prompted the City Council to pass a new law prohibiting the sale of crack pipes, bongs, rolling papers and other drug paraphernalia near schools.
It all started a few weeks ago, when Ahmad Alhanawi opened the “In and Out Mart” next door to the alternative high school, located at 320 Main St. Principal Robert Pilkington said teachers and students were looking forward to having a convenience store next door to the school so they could make quick pits stops for snacks.
March 22nd
WOONSOCKET — Since it opened in 1997, the Museum of Work and Culture has related the story of the immigration of workers to the city’s thriving textile industry in the 1800s and early 1900s.
But like any good museum, the local historical resource has had to grow and change from time to time to keep drawing visitors through its doors.
Such an improvement was celebrated on Tuesday by one of the local groups playing a major role in the city’s textile manufacturing heyday, French Canadians.
March 21st
WOONSOCKET — In a move that is likely to trigger another round of litigation with union firefighters, the City Council last night unanimously approved Mayor Leo T. Fontaine's plan to impose a shift restructuring of the fire department that would all but wipe out its $1.2 million overtime budget.
