Issue No. 267  l   November 20, 2008   l   Providence, Rhode Island

 

Mayor Announces Steps to Improve Services to Youth Through Merger of Parks and Recreation Departments
Francisco Ramirez tapped to lead consolidation efforts with an eye towards bolstering city programs on limited budget.  Former Coventry Public Works Director appointed to lead Inspection and Standards

Mayor David N. Cicilline today announced an important step towards maximizing City resources through the consolidation of the Parks and Recreation departments.  Director of Inspection and Standards and former Deputy Director of Operations, Francisco Ramirez, has been appointed to lead the City’s efforts to strengthen programs and services through the merger of the two departments.

“During these challenging economic times when our budgets are already cut to the max, we have to think more strategically about how we deliver high-quality city services with fewer resources,” said Mayor Cicilline.  “By taking advantage of the synergies between these two important departments we will be able to offer even more recreational programs and services to Providence families.

“During his tenure as director of Inspection and Standards, Ramirez developed an effective reorganization plan designed to strengthen that department and streamline the permitting process,” said Mayor Cicilline.  “Ramirez’s strong analytical and operational skills make him the right person to take on this new challenge.”

As the new Deputy Director of Parks, Ramirez will work closely with Parks Superintendent Robert McMahon and Recreation Director Frank Santos to ensure a smooth merger of the two departments.  The Recreation Department serves children throughout the city with 10 recreation centers, six pools, seven water parks and a host of recreational programs and activities.

The Parks Department includes more than 100 neighborhood parks, Bank of America City Center, Roger Williams Park Botanical Center, Morsilli Tennis Center and the Museum of Natural History.

Inspection and Standards

Former Director of Coventry Public Works, Sheila M. Barrett, has been appointed Providence’s new director of Inspection and Standards.  Barrett, a civil engineer, led the administration and operation of an eight-division department in Coventry with 50 employees and an annual operating budget of $5.5 million.  In addition to maintaining all infrastructure for Coventry and over 200 miles of roads, she also provided professional engineering design for all Town projects, design review for all subdivisions and State DOT projects as well as site review for all commercial construction.

Barrett holds a master’s degree in Public Administration from Walden University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Rhode Island. 

Barrett and Ramirez begin their new duties January 5, 2008.

 

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Mayor, Superintendent to Celebrate Progress of New Career & Technical Academy With Topping-Out Ceremony
Media tour of work-in-progress to follow ceremonial placement of last beam signed by students and officials on Friday, November 21st at 10:30 a.m.

Mayor David N. Cicilline and Superintendent Tom Brady will join students who will attend the new Providence Career & Technical Academy for a topping-out ceremony and media tour of the renovation and expansion project of the former Hanley School on Friday, November 21 at 10:30 a.m. at 58 Cranston Street.

The Providence Career and Technical Academy and adjacent athletic field house are part of Mayor Cicilline’s Building a Legacy initiative designed to transform Providence schools into 21st-Century learning environments. Upon completion, the newly restored facility will feature: high efficiency mechanical and electrical systems designed to reduce energy consumption 40% below code standards; 9 career tech laboratories and associated theory learning rooms -- theory spaces include commercial spaces such as a restaurant, automotive service garage, and cosmetology salon; and a 60,000-square-foot gymnasium with a regulation interscholastic indoor competition running track for use as a central competition venue for the entire school district.

Note: Please wear closed-toed, flat shoes as this is an active construction site. 

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Bank of America City Center Skating Rink Ready for 2008/2009 Season

Skating rink opens to the public on Friday, November 21 at 6pm with admission & rental prices at the same rate for the last four years
 

The cocoa is hot and the skates are sharp at the Bank of America City Center skating rink - one of New England’s most popular destinations for winter fun. As the rink prepares to open for the new season, it offers 2004 prices in the 2008 economy for families looking for fun without breaking the bank.

 

The 14,000-square-foot facility, which is twice the size of Rockefeller Plaza’s ice rink in New York City, will offer a variety of programs this season, including an invitation for City of Providence residents, with valid identification, to skate for free on the first Saturday of each month with a $2 charge for skate rental. 

 

General admission is $6 for adults and $3 for seniors and children (under 12).  Skates can be rented for $4.   The Bank of America City Center offers discounted prices for school groups.  The hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. until 10 p.m. and Saturdays and Sundays 11 a.m. until 10 p.m.  The skating rink is open on all winter holidays.

 

The following are just some of the scheduled events at the Bank of America City Center for the 2008-2009 season:

· Downtown Holiday Celebration with a professional figure skating demonstration on December 6th following the Mayor’s tree lighting at City Hall.
· Learn-To-Skate four-week session begins December 6th.
· Skate with Santa, Sunday, December 14th and Sunday, December 21st from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m.
· Disney on Ice (mini performance) followed by an opportunity to skate with Disney characters, Friday, December 26th 10 a.m.
· Providence Bruins practice, Saturday, December 27th 10 a.m. – 11 a.m.
· Bright Night, December 31st. Check our website for special deals and performances.
· College Night, every Wednesday from 6 p.m. until 10 p.m.  Admission for college students is $3 with a valid college photo ID.
· Lunchtime Special, every weekday from noon until 2 p.m.  Admission is $3 and skate rentals are $3.
· Afterwork Special, every weekday from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m.  Admission is $3 and skate rentals are $3.
 
For more information about the skating rink, including birthday parties and group rates, visit the Bank of America City Center website at www.providenceskating.com or call (401) 331-5544.    

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Apply for Neighborhood Street Trees by December 1st
And don’t forget that the Trees 2020 Campaign is still accepting applications for trees on private property

 

The Providence Neighborhood Planting Program (PNPP), the street tree planting and maintenance partnership between the Mary Elizabeth Sharpe Street Endowment, the City of Providence and the residents of Providence, is extending their deadline to Monday, December 1st for applications to plant neighborhood trees in the Spring of 2009.  
To receive street trees through the Neighborhood Street Tree Planting Award, neighborhoods should have:
- A volunteer to organize a Neighborhood Street Tree Planting Award application.
- At least five properties that each need at least one tree (minimum request is 5 trees) within an area of one to three city blocks.
- Permission from each property owner to plant each tree requested.
- A promise from each property owner or tenant to help plant their tree on planting day, water weekly and weed regularly.

PNPP especially encourages the following neighborhoods that are most in need of street trees to apply: Elmwood, Smith Hill, Federal Hill, Valley, Olneyville, Washington Park
Reservoir, West End, and Upper and Lower South Providence.

Applications can be downloaded at: www.pnpp.org.  For more information, email street_trees at pnpp.org or call 401-351-6440 x13.

In addition, the Trees 2020 campaign is still accepting applications for their Homeowner Tree Purchase Program geared towards private property owners who want trees planted in their property.  Individuals can also make a tax-deductible donation to a gift a tree.  The application and more information can be found at http://trees2020.org/get-involved.php.

Since 1988, The Mary Elizabeth Sharpe Street Tree Endowment has matched Providence Parks Department funds to provide sidewalk preparation, new soil, trees, and tree delivery at no cost to Providence residents who apply and receive a Neighborhood Street Tree Planting Award.  Trees 2020 is an initiative launched by Mayor Cicilline and the Parks Department’s Forestry Division with the goal to plant and care for 40,000 new trees across Providence's 25 neighborhoods over the next 12 years. 

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Mayor Cicilline Launches 6th Annual Coat Drive
Clean, warm clothing, boots & blankets urgently needed; collection bins in public buildings beginning November 3rd
 

Mayor David N. Cicilline called upon all city workers, residents and businesses to take part in the Mayor’s Annual Coat Drive, to help Rhode Islanders in need.   

“Our community shows its greatness in times of crisis,” said Mayor Cicilline.  “This year will be a particularly difficult time for our families and homeless.  Now, as we face the bitter cold winter months, we need to look out for our neighbors.”

People are asked to donate new or gently used and clean winter clothing, in marked collection bins in city buildings.  The garments collected will be given to Crossroads Rhode Island and the Homeless People's Action Committee, for distribution to those whom they serve.

The Mayor said the organizations expressed a particularly urgent need for new or clean, gently used (oversized) winter coats, hats, gloves/ mittens, boots, heavy socks and blankets for adults and children.  There is also a critical need for personal care items such as shampoo, toothpaste and toothbrushes, shaving goods and feminine hygiene products.  As of November 3, the items may be dropped in the marked bins at the following City buildings:  Department of Public Works, Department of Planning & Development, City Hall, Building Inspector’s office, Public Safety Complex and the Providence School Department.   Collections will continue to take place throughout the winter months.

Mayor Cicilline initiated the annual coat drive in January 2003, in response to a cold snap that left many low-income and homeless families and individuals in distress.  For more information, contact 401.351.4300 extension 627.

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Feature: My Business

Providence is Home to A New, Dandy Idea

If you are an avid online social networker, and you can no longer keep up with the handful of sites, like Facebook or MySpace, in which you’ve entered your personal profile and kept tabs on your friends, then DandyId.org might be the cyberplace for you! In a growing arena of social networking sites, DandyId aims to be the one that connects them all to you, the user.   

Now headquartered in Providence, this promising new startup company with origins in Colorado was co-founded by Sara Czyzewicz, Arron Kallenberg, and Anthony Dimitre under the firm Olive Interactive. 

 

City News caught up with two of the founders of DandyId at their new office on North Main Street, to get in on the ground floor of their dandy idea.

 

How long have you been living and doing business in Providence?

Sara: Since about August.  This particular company was founded in April in Boulder, Colorado, since I was living there.  Between August and September, the entire company – four of us total (me, Arron, Anthony Dimitre, and now Dan Perron) – moved to Providence and we are all working here now.  Personally, I was born and raised in Rhode Island.  I was gone for a few years and couldn’t wait to get back, and bring home my new business.  The main reason why we moved too is because Boulder is sort of very loosely referred to as ‘the next Silicon Valley.’  There are a lot of start-ups and talent is very hard to find there because there’s so much work going around but not a lot of developers particularly.  So we were hoping that it would be a little easier here, which it absolutely is.  We’re happy with our move.

 

Welcome back.  And are you from Providence, too, Arron?

Arron: No I’m from Alaska.  Anthony, our other founder, is from Seattle, so we’re really from all over the place and came together.  We met in Denver.  We still have a lot of connections there – I was there a few days ago and Anthony’s there right now.  But now we’re based here in Providence.

 

I’ve been really intrigued by the east coast.  The first start-up that I had was in Seattle, which Anthony co-founded with me.  We went to Boulder, where we met Sara, and I think the decision to move really came down to Silicon Valley or the east coast.  We were really attracted to Providence.  Sara’s from here and she knows a lot about it.  But I like the location because of the host of options it offers – it’s a tight-knit community, it’s centrally-located from Boston and New York, and it’s a lot more affordable than either of those cities.  We’re still just 5 hours away from Boulder and so location, proximity, and affordability made Providence a great place to locate our start-up.

 

Do you think that Providence can be a place where an industry like yours can be nurtured?

Sara: Yeah.  I was only gone for two years but it’s changed so much.  Open coffees weren’t here, Providence Geeks wasn’t here, and RI Nexus wasn’t around.  The thing that I was afraid of with leaving Boulder was losing the community of entrepreneurs, technologists, and designers I had who got together on a casual basis and talked about what each other was doing.  But I think Providence is looking really good, you know, basically what the Providence Geeks does is similar to those open coffees we enjoyed in Boulder.  And now, with the addition of the FabLab (at AS220), there just seems to be new things popping up every week. 

Ok, so tell us about DandyId.

Sara:  Our company and product is called DandyId.  Our LLC is Olive Interactive.  DandyId is basically an online identity management and portability.  In essence, we’re trying to make it easier for people to exist online, in particular, among social networks.  For example, someone goes online, visits a handful of social networks that they visit, signs up their profiles repeatedly, and so on and so forth.  Basically, with DandyId, you can sort of fill out your profile in one place and manage with us and we’ll port it to the social networks and they can port back to us, so that as a result, everything is being managed in one place. 

 

What got you interested in this medium?

Sara: We’re all social network users.  In Boulder, again, there were all these start-ups but everyone sort of had this problem where they were building the same infrastructure to collect people’s data and users had to enter in the same data repeatedly.  It was a big problem and so we set out to fix it.

 

Arron: Yeah, this problem that we’re solving didn’t exist when the internet started.  Web usage is reaching critical mass.  It used to be that everyone that was on the internet knew each other.  It was a very esoteric place and there was only a few computers connected to each other.  But it grew and grew to the point where people didn’t know each other and it existed in different places but there was no real way to get connected.  We’re basically doing what all social networks do, but we’re making it so that they can share that information.  We’re building a centralized location that basically propagates out to all the other social networks.  That doesn’t happen in the internet right now.

 

In your opinion, why do you think social networking online is so widely successful?

Sara: It just adds so much more opportunity to make vast amounts of connections in a short amount of time.  It makes finding people and expressing yourself easier. This medium has allowed communicating and self-expression to become faster and easier, and it’s connected us in vast amounts of ways.

 

Arron: I guess you also have to define successful.  Less than a quarter of the world has access to the internet.  Even with all of these social networking opportunities online, I think that we still have a long way to go before we can say that we’re truly successful.  When there are places that still need basic things - like electricity, technology, and education – in order to be on the internet, it’s obvious that there are still issues to be resolved.  But I think that what it is doing is making communication more efficient for those who are using it now. 

Where do you see the largest potential for growth in this industry?

Sara:  I think that live video streaming is one of those areas that seems to be growing.  There’s a service for example called Quik that allows you to stream live online from your phone.  And while you’re streaming, people can make comments and you can get comments back.  It’s real time video.  Right now, it’s just text and photos that you can post online.  I see this as being the next level. 

 

Arron: I believe that we will continue to see businesses (like DandyId) that are built around creating reusable back-end infrastructure that helps consumer facing web services solve the types of problems that everyone has but that each web services is currently forced to deal with on their own... without the benefit of shared infrastructure and/or data.
 
What do you want users to get out of the experience of using DandyId?

Sara:  The feeling of ease.  I want people to trust us because we’re housing their data and we’re porting it to other social networks.  It’s all based on user permission and so we don’t do any of that without the user saying so.  Hopefully a lot of users will have an easier time logging online, signing up for new networks, managing their data, and finding their connections.

 

Arron: When DandyId is successful, users will take for granted the fact that information that they authorize about who they are and who their friends are travels with them to the places on the internet that they visit -- no more redefining yourself on every new social network and/or re-friending the same people. In the physical world who you are and who your friends are travels with you, it should be no different in the virtual world.

 

To start managing your social networks now, go to www.dandyid.org.  The company is also looking to hire its own part-time community blogger to promote their site.  Among the qualifications, you have to have excellent written communication skills (above all else), and also a healthy enthusiasm for social media.  To apply, email Sara at sara6633@gmail.com.
 

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