Veterans Day Celebration - November 9, 2023

This year’s annual Veterans Day Celebration, co-sponsored by the Association and the Warwick Neck Elementary School, featured the school’s 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students. Noah Smith and Marina Godbout from the 5th grade were the hosts for the Celebration, their responsibilities including reading the 136 names of veterans currently serving or having previously served. 5th grade students Tyler Mooney and Abigail McCluskey read poems they had written for the occasion, and the entire 3rd, 4th and 5th grades gave choral performances under the direction of Kristy Procaccianti.

Remarks were given by Frank Galligan, Principal of the school, Captain Clint Pringle, United States Coast Guard, and retired  Army Lt. Colonel and Warwick Neck resident Gregg Langevin. The military invocation and benediction were offered by Rev. Robert Marciano, United States Military Chaplain.

Joining in the celebration were families and friends of veterans present and past, Warwick Mayor Frank Picozzi, and representatives of the city’s police and fire departments.

In one respect, the Veterans Day Celebration this year was unique. For the first time in the many years that the Elementary School students have been part of the celebration, originally at the Warwick Neck Lighthouse and now at the school itself, the event was held indoors. The move to inside was prompted by cool fall weather.

The warmth of the building was more than matched by the shared sense of all those present of what we owe to the men and women of our nation’s armed forces.         

WNIA 2023 Annual Meeting

The Association’s 70th annual meeting, held on September 27 at the Warwick Country Club, featured a Q&A with Warwick’s Mayor Frank Picozzi. The mayor announced, to the great pleasure of those at the meeting, that the city is partnering with the WNIA to own and operate the Warwick Lighthouse, which, along with five other lighthouses, is being given free by the federal government to eligible non-profit organizations and municipalities. The mayor spoke of the long-standing relationship between the city and the “good” people of the WNIA, and expressed confidence that the city and the Association will be successful in obtaining the lighthouse. He also stressed the importance of the lighthouse property being used by the public but the need for controlling access to it, given its very limited parking.
The mayor responded to questions about a range of issues: financing the maintenance of the lighthouse property, sewers on Warwick Neck, the continuing problem of speeding cars along Warwick Neck Avenue and other streets in the community, plans to build an outdoor ice-skating rink behind city hall, and plans for a U-Haul facility at the former Ann & Hope building on Post Road.
Next up on the Association’s calendar, the Veterans and Day Celebration, Thursday, November 9, 10:00am, at the Warwick Neck Elementary School

2023 WNIA JULY 4 PARADE CANCELLED

Someone was happy that it was raining but the rest of us were disappointed that the parade had to be cancelled. The evening of July 3, multiple weather forecasts were uncertain about the possibility of rain the next morning. The parade was scheduled to start at 10:00. Early that morning, the forecasts were now  all aligned: rain was expected in the morning and it had started to drizzle. Nature had made the decision for us, so much so that a few minutes before 10:00 the rain started to come down in buckets for the next hour.

This was first time that the July 4 parade was cancelled. We shall bend every effort to ensure that next year the parade will happen, and every one will be happy.

New Year, New Beginnings

After closing down for two years because of Covid, the Association's annual Chili Dinner came back on January 21st at St. Elizabeth's Adult Day Care Center.

Some 50 delighted guests chose from 8 different chilis, a large variety of appetizers, an abundance of desserts -- all prepared and supplied by Neck residents -- and coffee offered by Presto StrangeO.

Our guest speaker, John Howell, President of Beacon Communications, shared stories about the origins of Rocky Point State Park, and the evening concluded with everyone vying for more than 20 raffle items!

GOING FORWARD

As a non-profit organization, the Association relies on the support of members to help achieve its mission. Your dues make possible acclaimed Association events like the Annual Chili Dinner and much more.

You may easily join the Association or renew your membership on this membership page.

2022 Veterans Day Celebration

On a warm fall day, veterans, their relatives and friends, Coast Guard service members, and representatives of the Warwick police and fire departments, gathered at the Warwick Neck Elementary School on November 10 to celebrate the men and women who serve and have served in our nation’s armed forces.

Cub Scouts Pack 1 and Girl Scouts Troop 79 presented the colors and led the pledge of allegiance. Reverend Robert Marciano, a United States military chaplain, gave the opening prayer, and Monsignor Mark Rowan, , also a military chaplain, gave the closing prayer.

There were brief remarks from Coast Guard Petty Officer Aristia McLaughlin, Coast Guard Lieutenant Natalie Cordes, Warwick Mayor Frank Picozzi, former Warwick Mayor Francis Flaherty, and school principal Frank Galligan.

The school children took a commanding role of the celebration. 5th graders Tanner Wakeman and Aundrea Gemma were the presiding hosts, 5th graders Robert DeFusco and Hailey Hayes read their poems honoring our veterans, and Kristy Procaccianti led the 3rd grade, 4th grade, and 5th grade classes in choral performances.

The warmth of the sun-filled day was the perfect complement to the warmth expressed for all our veterans.

2022 July 4 Parade

On a perfect summer day, the Association’s July 4 parade, starting and ending on grounds of the Aldrich Mansion, overflowed with decorated cars, bicycles, carts, tractors, and patriotically dressed riders and walkers. Free iced coffee, lemonade, watermelon, and cookies completed the celebration of our country’s independence. 

Electronic recycling 2022

The Association teamed up again with Indie Cycle LLC to sponsor recycling electronics that had been accumulating in garages and basements over the past year. Drivers in 54 cars left computers, toasters, radios and more with India Cycle staff at Kevin’s Warwick Neck Garage, with the prospect that in two years’ time more aging electronics will once more be sensibly recycled.

Veterans Day , 2021

A bright fall day was the perfect setting for the 2021 Veterans Day Celebration sponsored by the WNIA and held for the first time at the Warwick Neck Elementary School on Tuesday, November 9. In previous years, the celebration took place at the Warwick Neck Lighthouse, and included the participation of the school’s 5th grade chorus. The pandemic forced the cancellation of last year’s event, and this year curtailed busing students to the lighthouse. School principal Frank Galligan and the staff and faculty of the school enthusiastically supported having the celebration occur at the school, and the result was an unprecedented outdoor gathering of all 3rd, 4th and 5th grade students, families, veterans, firefighters, and special guests. Kindergarten through grade 2 students stayed inside but made cards or drawings that were presented to everyone attending the celebration with the program booklet in mini bundles with a bow.

This year’s Veterans Day Celebration was a ray of warmth and hope in this time of the pandemic, and perhaps a new tradition will have been created by honoring our veterans at the Warwick Neck Elementary School

PUMPKIN WALK SUCCESS!

The rain sometimes stopped and sometimes was heavy, but the number of people who enjoyed the 2021 Pumpkin Walk did not flag. Just over 3,000 tickets were sold for the four-day event, and more than 1,000 children walked the lighted pathway encountering ghoulish figures and intricately carved pumpkins. The Pumpkin Walk was brought back to the community by the Cornish family-Stephen, Sonya and Nancy-and the enthusiasm for this year’s walk points to a repeat in 2022.

The July 4, 2021, Warwick Neck parade, postponed to July 5 because of the weather, for the first time started and finished on the grounds of the Aldrich Mansion. Sponsored by the Warwick Neck Improvement Association, the parade drew large numbers of decorated cars, golf carts, bicycles, a modified “steam engine”, and many walkers. It was watched and admired by numerous Neck residents and friends.

Bus Stop Clean Up

Nine Warwick Neck Garden Club volunteers gave the Bus Stop garden a spring clean up on Sunday. With rakes, pruners, loppers, and trowels; trash cans and garden bags; and keeping a good 6 foot social distance apart the work was accomplished with the usual conversation and good cheer. Thanks to everyone. 

Chili and More

There are 28 beer breweries in Rhode Island. A  decade ago  there was only one. These and other facts about micro brewing,  accompanied with samples of four different kinds of local beers, were  recounted by Jay Pike, a professor of chemistry at Providence  College, to Warwick Neck residents attending the 12th annual chili  dinner on January 25, 2020 at Cornerstone Adult Services sponsored  by the Warwick Neck Improvement Association. Eleven chili chefs  prepared an array of  dishes to please the palates of the nearly 60   people at the dinner. The evening ended with  a raffle of 25 items  donated by local businesses.  Not everyone could be a raffle  winner,but everyone could and did enjoy the excellent food and the warm company of old and new friends. 

Indie Cycle 2019

The Indie Cycle electronics drop-off, co-sponsored with the Warwick Neck Improvement Association and held on Saturday August 31 at Kevin's Warwick Neck Garage, was a big success. Close to 70 cars came through with hundreds of electronic items for recycling. We had gorgeous weather, appreciative recyclers, and excellent organization provided by Indiecycle.com.

It was a good day for the environment, keeping pounds and pounds of property out of the landfill, and a good day for all the participants. And a large shout out to Fred Parker for organizing the event and to the helpers who made it run smoothly.

June 2019 WNIA Annual Meeting

Neither rain during the day nor the forecast of more at night stopped Warwick Neck residents from attending the 69th annual meeting of the Warwick Neck Improvement Association held at the Warwick Country Club. After paying their $25 annual membership dues, people were greeted by two special visitors from Providence’s Roger Williams Park Zoo, Riley the sloth and Edwin the boa-constrictor. The sloth and the snake were seemingly unmoved by the fuss made over them and the meeting soon came to order. Association business items—details about the upcoming July 4th parade, election of board members, financial report, and Garden Club news--were first on the agenda. Then followed the main speakers for the evening. Warwick Mayor Joseph J. Solomon spoke of his strong personal connection to Warwick Neck and to the Association, and went on to discuss the initiatives his administration is taking for the Neck and for all the residents of the city. Diane Nahabedian, the zoo’s Director of Marketing and Public Relations, drew attention to the multiple arenas in which zoo staff are active along with the care of animals, including environmental and conservation work done locally and world-wide. The meeting ended with a raffle of 18 items donated by local businesses. And as people left the country club they were pleased to find that it was not raining.

Warwick Neck Cove Overlook Park

The Association conceived the creation of the park, and along with the city of Warwick established and maintains it.

Veterans Day Ceremony

Veterans Day is celebrated at the Warwick Neck Lighthouse with armed forces personnel and the Warwick Neck Elementary School.

The 2018 celebration took place on November 7. Read more.

Warwick Neck Garden Club

Financial support is given to the Garden Club for projects on the Neck that includes maintenance of the garden areas at the bus stop on Warwick Neck Avenue and at the triangle entrance to the avenue.

July 4 Parade

For more than 25 years, the Association has sponsored this quintessential American event. The three-street parade is followed by an after-parade reception at the home of Madeline and Bill Nixon.

Chili Cook-Off

Each January, neighbors on Warwick Neck share their chili creations at this neighborhood pot luck to bring heat to a cold winter night.

Read more about the 2019 cook-off.