Opponents say they have been getting stonewalled by Weygand and Co. and are not being allow-ed to sit on the new committee designed to examine the situation, an edict evidently issued from on high. And the claim by URI officials that it will only take up 20 acres of the 325-acre old forest, vernal pools, and high-end ecological haven appears to P+J to be a beard for the fact that once the door is open, it won't be long before the entire area is developed, nature be damned.
Meanwhile, the ball will eventually be in outgoing President Bob Carothers's court. We wouldn't want the desecration of the woods to be part of our legacy.
THE OBITUARY CENTER
In recent years, your superior correspondents have been accused of turning the "Cool, Cool World" column into one giant obituary. This week, that accusation is sadly true, as a number of good friends, acquaintances, and people we admire have passed on. So far, April has been a very cruel month indeed.
Elaine Davis died last week just after the Phoenix went to press. Bad health dogged Elaine and her late husband Stan. For many years, she owned and operated Rivers Edge Flowers, a wonderful store in Pawtuxet Village. Elaine was a knowledgeable fan and devotee of roots and R&B music, and whenever there was a good band in town playing the authentic stuff, you could depend on seeing her at the gig.
The sadness continued over the weekend when we were startled to hearthat Michael Bedrosian had suddenly died at 58. It is a sad irony that Michael's popular bakery and coffee shop, Baked Expectations, was located just a few doors down from Rivers Edge Flowers.
The ever-gregarious owner was host to an endless crew of Pawtuxet/Edgewood area fixtures, as Baked Expectations was a hangout for legendary pundits like Tony DiBiasio, Richard Walton, and the late John Hackett — quite a crew, and Mike would oversee them all with utter graciousness and a big smile. Michael sold his place, but ensured that the new owners would retain the comfortable and homey atmosphere. He succeeded and it is still a mainstay of Pawtuxet Village life.
P & J were also saddened to see that Ivory Snow model-turned-porn star Marilyn Chambers was evidently so appalled to see the mention of her having dated Phillipe in high school in last week's column that she died — doubtless of embarrassment. Such a sweet, charming, shy, mysterious girl, who banged like a screen door in a hurricane and went off like an alarm clock.
Your superior correspondents were likewise shattered to see that legendary baseball eccentric Mark "The Bird" Fidrych passed away. Phillipe had the opportunity to interview him at length for a NewPaper article many years ago, and there was not a more open, happy, and unassuming person in the world. A good old New England boy, he was every fan's favorite during his spell in The Show (and in his memorable duel with Dave Righetti in McCoy Stadium), and one of the National Pastime's true originals. He'll be bouncing around shaking hands and slapping asses all over heaven.
