5 Things To Know Today

Today: A World-Famous Dog Trainer Offers Advice

Here's a look at happenings in and around Middletown today.

World-famous dog trainer Brian Kilcommons offers tips and advice at the Potter League for Animals today.  Catch a free screening today of the 1994 Academy Award-winning documentary, "A Strong Clear Vision: Maya Lin." The film follows the creation of the Vietnam War Memorial, designed by a young Chinese-American woman.   Volunteers are needed to help make Middletown’s First Annual Celebration of the Arts a success on Aug. 20. The Town Council meets tonight at 6:30 p.m. On this date in history in 1969, the Woodstock Music Festival opened on a farm in White Lake in the upstate New York town of Bethel.

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What's On Channel 18 This Week?

Home-grown television from throughout Newport County for the week beginning Monday, June 27.

The Middletown Town Council's most recent meeting, Aquidneck School's Sweet Treats Variety Show, The Millers' country music television show and the Gaudet Spring Concert are among the Channel 18 scheduled programs for the week beginning Monday, June 27. Check out the recent Patch video for a sneak preview of the Gaudet Concert!

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5 Things To Know Today

Today: Town Council Votes on Budget, Shake With Zumba

Yes, it's happened again. Monday. Here's a look at what makes this one different from those that have come before it in Middletown.

The Town Council meets tonight at 6 p.m. for the final budget vote. Read more about the proposed budget. Zumba Latin dance classes are held at 6 p.m. every Monday and Wednesday night at the Middletown Senior Center and are open to all ages. Got a case of the Mondays? Affordable, gentle yoga classes take place at 6 p.m. every Monday at the Norman Bird Sanctuary. Do you know a good student, neighbor, athlete, scout or relative who deserves recognition? Nominate him or her as a Middletown Patch Whiz Kid! Today’s weather? Find out here.

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This Week on Channel 18: Lois Vaughan Jazz, Town Council and Sweet Treats

The following shows are among the scheduled lineup on Channel 18 for the week of Monday, June 6 to Sunday, June 12, according to Channel 18 producers.

Channel 18 offers several programs of interest to Middletowners this week, including the Middletown High School Chorus Concert, "Sweet Treats," the Aquidneck Elementary School Variety Show, The Millers' regular weekly country music program, the latest Middletown Town Council meeting, and more: MONDAY  - JUNE 6 TUESDAY – JUNE 7 WEDNESDAY – JUNE 8 THURSDAY – JUNE 9 FRIDAY – JUNE 10 SATURDAY – JUNE 11 SUNDAY – JUNE 12

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Monday's Final Budget Vote Seeks to Cap Tax Hike

The Middletown Town Council is scheduled to vote on final passage on the Fiscal Year 2012 budget at 6 p.m. Monday, June 6.

Heading into the final budget vote Monday night, Middletown officials have further reduced their overall proposed FY2012 spending plan by about $80,900 in hopes of keeping the proposed tax increase below 3 percent this year. Under the latest $63,453,738 proposal that now calls for a 2.99 percent increase, the average single-family home in Middletown with a median value of $420,000 would see tax bills go up by about $167.83 in 2012, instead of the $176.23 per year as previously proposed with a 3.14 percent hike. The Middletown Public School Department, which had requested an additional $899,046 this year to balance its books, instead would receive a limited increase of about $550,000, according to Town Administrator Shawn Brown following …

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Ask the Candidates: What's Your Campaign Promise?

In the last of the four-part series for the Nov. 2, 2010 Election, the Town Council's 13 at-large partisan candidates shared their key campaign promises and what they'd like to accomplish within the next two years, if elected.

Prior to the Nov. 2 Election, Patch is looking at where the Town Council candidates stand on important issues facing the town. In previous weeks, we looked at the candidates' views on commercial development and the use of navy surplus land in Middletown, school regionalization and the future of wind turbine construction. For the final installment in the Meet the Candidates series, the candidates shared their goals and campaign promises for the upcoming term.     RICHARD "DICK" ADAMS "We need to look at some long term budgetary planning. It needs to be a very formal process. We're facing serious problems with reductions in state aid to education that have to be dealt with. The problem is that we push problems off into the future. I'm not …

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Meet the Candidates: "Independent Democrat" Silveira Seeks Fourth Term

Thirteen candidates are running for Town Council Nov. 2, 2010. Today's profile reveals the viewpoints of Edward J. Silveira Jr., an unendorsed Democrat seeking re-election to a fourth term. Read about all the candidates under the Election '10 Homepage tab

"It's been an interesting six years," stated Edward J. Silveira Jr., when asked about his last three terms as a Middletown Town Council member. Seeking his fourth, he added, "I am happy to say I am an independent Democrat, an unendorsed Democrat who has pulled away from the Democratic Party." Citing leadership as a necessary qualification for his re-election, particularly in areas of town zoning and planning, Silveira, 38, and a master marketing associate with Sysco for 16 years, stated, "You need experience to move the town forward." The day after the interview, Silveira was traveling to Washington, D.C., to meet with a consultant that works on behalf of Middletown. On the table for discussion were various fund seeking activities in the …

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Ask the Candidates: What's Your Position on Regionalization?

Here's where Middletown's 13 candidates for Town Council stand on the issue of regionalization.

This year's Town Council candidates have revealed that a majority support regionalization in some form. Most said they believe benefits would outweigh disadvantages by combining resources either within the towns or schools on Aquidneck Island. Town and school officials continue to gather research on potential benefits from Middletown schools joining a regionalized model, how much money it could save taxpayers, and whether the quality of education would remain at its current high standard. Candidates appear to mostly support regionalization in some form. However, the method and areas of jurisdiction to be regionalized still remains divisive. CHERYL FOSTER Candidate Cheryl Foster attended a regionalized high school in Providence with a …

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Round Table Spotlights Issues in Town Council Race

The 13 candidates running for Town Council took part in a live round table forum held by the Newport Daily News Tuesday night. Topics included school regionalization, alternative energy and budget deficits.

Middletown's 13 remaining Town Council candidates addressed important issues facing voters this election year at a live televised roundtable forum on Cox Channel 18 Tuesday night, moderated and sponsored by the Newport Daily News editorial board. In this year's council race, Democrats Richard Cambra, Christopher Semonelli, Frank Boyzan and Edward Silveira, and Independent Barbara VonVillas are running to hold on to one of the seven at-large partisan council seats, which have two-year terms. Councilors Robert Sylvia and Theresa Santos are not seeking re-election. Eight challengers this year include: Democrats Richard P. Adams, and Ellrony Williams, who ran for council in 2008; Independents Alan G. Kerr, former District 74 state …

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