Middletown Gets Second Helping of Buddy Cianci

The meeting room was filled to capacity Tuesday night for the special guest lecture with former Providence Mayor-turned-media-personality-turned-author Vincent "Buddy" Cianci Jr.

This was Cianci's second visit to Middletown in recent weeks. , Cianci spoke and autographed memoir at , so his return appearance made many people who missed that event pretty happy Tuesday night.

Newport resident Maureen Goodrich said she's been "a fan of Buddy's for years." Even through his infamous ups-and-downs in years past, she said she remained a loyal fan. It was a thrill for her to hear some of his stories first-hand, she said.

Like the Island Books event, Tuesday night's guests came from all over Rhode Island and throughout Newport County to attend.

For more than an hour, Cianci shared entertaining tales that served as the basis for his best-selling political memoir, “Politics and Pasta: How I prosecuted mobsters, rebuilt a dying city, dined with Sinatra, spent five years in a federally funded gated community, and lived to tell the tale.”

Afterwards, the author answered questions from the audience and signed copies of his book, which were made available for sale on site by a representative of the book store from across the street. A portion of proceeds from the book sales, as well as from the special ticketed lecture, will help support the Middletown Public Library.

Library Director Theresa Coish and her staff ensured the event would be a memorable and welcoming event.

The special "After Hours" reception that followed the lecture was open to the public and included a dessert buffet that featured Italian pastries such as cannolis, biscuits and cookies, and coffee and punch.

Fresh-cut daffodils and the occasional whimsical placement of Buddy's jarred marinara sauce around the room added playful, personal touches to help make Cianci feel right at home.

Coish said she organized the event as one of the library's celebrations this week to coincide with National Library Week.

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