Mount St. Charles hockey; dentist shortage; RI movie extras: Top stories this week
Here are some of The Providence Journal's most-read stories for the week of Feb. 18, supported by your subscriptions.
A century ago, when jobs at Rhode Island factories sparked an influx of immigrant workers, city neighborhoods of sturdy, affordable triple-decker apartments sprang up to provide shelter and community to the newcomers, including the family of a future Providence mayor. With the state now facing another housing crisis, it's time to ask: Why did we ever stop building them? And could they be part of the solution now? The story of two such houses on Providence's Potters Avenue shows how triple-deckers were an incubator of opportunity for generations of Rhode Island's working class.
If you could sum up Rhode Island's charms in one buzzy slogan, what would it be? It's harder than you'd think, considering the spectacular misfire of 2016's "Cooler & Warmer" campaign, accompanied by a video of a skateboarder that was actually shot in Reykjavik, spawning the phrase "Rhode Iceland." Now, the folks who are promoting Rhode Island with giant sculptures of stuffed clams in airports around the country have a brand new tourism slogan.
The Friars men's basketball team burnished its NCAA résumé on Wednesday with a key win at Xavier. How can Providence make its best case for an eighth March Madness appearance since 2013-14? Sportswriter Bill Koch offers a roadmap. You'll find that and more college and high school sports news at providencejournal.com/sports.
Here are the week's top reads on providencejournal.com:
End of an era for legendary Mount St. Charles hockey program
Woonsocket's Adelard Arena always seemed like a place where nothing changed. Not anymore.
Mount St. Charles Academy, one of the founding members of the Rhode Island Interscholastic League, is a step closer to beginning the next chapter of its sporting existence, including its legendary hockey program.
Mount will transition to a prep school model in all sports beginning with the 2024-25 campaign, an attempt to secure the survival of its school at large.
It's a once unthinkable development for a hockey program that won 46 state championships and produced a steady stream of professional and college talent, bringing national attention to the school, and Rhode Island. Read more to see what the future holds for the Mounties.
One thing hasn't changed, however: hockey players' devotion to the meticulous skate sharpeners who give them their edge. The Journal's Tom Mooney, who plays in a pickup hockey group himself, talks with some of the best to learn the finer points of their craft.
High school sports: End of an era for legendary Mount St. Charles hockey program
RI dentists warn of looming shortage 'superstorm.' Here's what's driving it.
When David Mastrostefano's daughter asked him for career advice, he told her not to become a dentist like him.
That's because his industry has descended into what he's calling a "superstorm."
He was describing a dentist shortage that has affected the entire nation, including Rhode Island, where patients face a dizzying obstacle course, from an aging workforce to insurance plans that leave them with crippling out-of-pocket costs, causing them to forgo badly needed care.
Could Mastrostefano's dire forecast come true? We take a look at the worrisome trends in the profession and what it means for patients.
Health care: RI dentists warn of looming shortage 'superstorm.' Here's what's driving it.
RI will ultimately pay $132M to build a Pawtucket soccer stadium. Why is it so expensive?
The Tidewater Landing stadium in Pawtucket is on track to open early next year and, when it does, the 10,500-seat building is expected to be the most expensive minor league soccer stadium in the country.
That's not a shock, given the spiraling cost of construction, but even the state economic development officials who signed off on the project didn't know how steeply the price of publicly financing the stadium would climb.
To channel $27 million to stadium developer Fortuitous Partners, Pawtucket earlier this month sold a $54.3-million tax-free bond. Under the terms of the bond, the state is projected to pay $132 million in total debt service over the next 30 years.
How did we get here, and did the state's financing strategy – influenced by the failed effort to build a new PawSox ballpark – add to the costs?
Development: RI will ultimately pay $132M to build a Pawtucket soccer stadium. Why is it so expensive?
Retired Warwick couple don't go to the movies as a hobby. They're IN the movies.
It's pretty normal for retirees to go for long walks, take up pickleball, travel.
While Mike and Maria Sanda do all those, they have also found an unusual way to fill their days: The Warwick couple have become movie extras, taking advantage of productions filming here in Rhode Island or traveling to New York for parts.
"We're not doing it for the money," said Mike. Extras – often called "background actors" – are paid just $15 an hour.
But there are intangible benefits.
Find out what shows and films they've been in already, and what's next for them.
Film industry: Retired Warwick couple don't go to the movies as a hobby. They're IN the movies.
Weathering the storm takes on new meaning for Stacy Rae Seminick's houseboat living
Dealing with winter weather can be a real slog, but for one Rhode Islander, the challenges are on a whole different level.
After the last snowstorm, columnist Mark Patinkin decided to check in with his favorite urban pioneer, Stacy Rae Seminick, who lives year-round on a houseboat docked at the Providence Marina.
While the water views are stunning, Stacy Rae has to make do without running water or central heating during the winter months. And when the snow piles up, she has to wield more than a shovel to keep her boat afloat.
Is it worth the hassle to have the Providence River as your backyard? Read on to find out.
Mark Patinkin: Weathering the storm takes on new meaning for Stacy Rae Seminick's houseboat living
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This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Journal's top stories: Mount St. Charles hockey; RI dentist shortage
