Motif previously reported (“Unemployment insurance runs out for hundreds in RI”, by Michael Bilow, Mar 1, 2021) that 213 beneficiaries had exhausted their available Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA), but further information emerged on Wednesday, March 3, from the RI Department of Labor and Training (DLT), which administers the program, that many more were notified in […]
I’m going to be honest, the inspiration for this piece came to me while I was rummaging through my refrigerator. I grabbed a handful of strawberries, and an enthusiastic thought popped into my head: “Those leafy bits at the top will be a great treat for the chickens later.” Yup, I have a flock of […]
Out of the hundreds of bills submitted to the General Assembly, there’s a package of three bills squarely aimed at affordable housing, local food and green justice zones. They’re called the Rescue Rhode Island Act, and the legislation was drafted by a new progressive alliance, the Renew Rhode Island Coalition. The Coalition is composed of […]
There are a couple of things you should consider and plan in order to set your garden up for success. Where will you be gardening? If you have a yard or access to a shared yard, consider using that. If not, planter boxes can be affixed to a balcony or window sill, and they are […]
This is the gluten-free “Four Cheesy” pasta at Bettola, located in Cranston’s Rolfe Square. The smoked gouda, mozzarella, pecorino and fior de latte blend perfectly to create a unique and creamy flavor that does not overpower the penne. The grilled chicken was the perfect complement to this hearty dish. Their entire menu of pizzas, pastas […]
Teens, poetry and excitement seem like an unlikely combination – but therein lies the magic of Poetry Out Loud. Since 2005, the program has been engaging new generations of students to not only read, but to embrace the rich legacy of this art form by competing to recite a poem, thereby making it their own. […]
In 2015, Kevin Kennedy of West Warwick had bees on the brain. Introduced to the practice of beekeeping by his son, who was managing some hives, Kennedy found a new calling. He dove into the mass of available literature and built beekeeping from a hobby to a full honey farm called K Dog’s Apiary Services. […]
Big News If the pandemic hasn’t worn you down and depressed you entirely by now — and what did happen to winter? — perhaps looking at what news is attracting attention will be further numbing. As Phillipe and Jorge went to press on February 26, the top news story was Mr. Potatohead succumbing to political correctness of the lamest […]
Last month I had the honor of writing a piece for Motif that focused on the role of Black womxn in activist movements throughout our nation’s history. But the push for social change is a constant one that doesn’t just manifest itself in popular hashtags and flashy marches. Real social justice MOVEMENTS grow and take […]
Okee dokee folks… It has been about 8 months (I know, time flies) since I last checked in with my control group of local musicians, who MAKE THEIR LIVING from music, about their music careers and the pandemic. I wanted to know how they were doing since my last check in. The pandemic is FAR […]