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MAY 1-MAY 7, 2014
Students from
Gallagher Middle
School were
rehearsing for
their produc-
tion of "Beauty
and the Beast,"
which debuts
on May 16 and
17 at the school.
Jules Pereira,
as "Babette,"
left, watches as
the"Book seller"
Devin O'brien
jumps after get-
ting a hot seat
from DaviD
alexanDer,
as Lumiere. See
more photos on
page 8.
Valley Breeze &
oBserVer Photo
By DaViD Wuerth
Students act up at Gallagher Middle School
by Gerry GOlDstein
Valley Breeze & observer
correspondent
gerryg76@verizon.net
SMITHFIELD – A local
development firm and
Cumberland Farms Inc. have
sued the town's Zoning Board
of Review over its refusal
to allow construction of a
Cumberland Farms gas sta-
tion and convenience store in
front of the Hampton Inn on
Douglas Pike.
In its written decision the
board cited two major reasons
for the denial: That the .92-
acre site owned by the Clyde
Development Co. is smaller
than required by the town's
zoning ordinance, and that the
business would pose a safety
risk because some customers
at peak commuter times would
make left turns into heavy
oncoming traffic.
Both contentions were dis-
puted at a January public hear-
ing by one of the developers,
Alfred Costantino, who says
Cumberland Farms was will-
ing to invest $3.5 million in
the project and that the town's
Planning Board recommended
approval.
He argued that the property
is divided into condominium
parcels, and that taken as
a whole, the 17-plus acres
there more than meets zoning
by Denise Perreault
Valley Breeze & observer
correspondent
SMITHFIELD – The School
Committee wants to hear from
parents before deciding if the
February vacation week should
be eliminated next year, an
idea that has won unanimous
support from the leaders of
the Rhode Island School
Superintendents Association.
The local committee made
no decision at its meeting April
28, choosing instead to wait for
feedback from parents before
taking up the matter again in
the future. No date was set for
the continued discussion.
To obtain that feedback, Supt.
Robert M. O'Brien said he and
the district's technical director,
Paul Barrette, will prepare an
online survey for parents in the
coming weeks. He could not
say when the survey will be
ready, but noted it will take a
while to get it ready.
O'Brien raised the issue
after the executive board of
the RISSA voted unanimously
in favor of eliminating the
February vacation for the 2015-
16 school year. The association
vote is non-binding and is a
recommendation rather than a
mandate.
O'Brien, who is treasurer of
the association, said it was "the
first time" the executive board
had a unanimous vote. Other
local members of the executive
Local developer,
Cumberland Farms
sue Zoning Board
over Douglas Pike site
Smithfield school officials seek parent input on fate of February vacation
see zOninG, Page 10
see vaCatiOn, Page 11
City in Bloom
Check out Pawtucket's Cherry
Blossom Festival this weekend.
PaGe 7
A stAte trAdition
Rhode Islanders and foodies
rediscover johnnycakes.
livinG
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