What’s in…

1. The vaping crisis.  I said weeks ago in an article I wrote that this would start to be a crisis.  In the midst of an opioid crisis, we now have a vaping crisis.  The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) have issued strong warnings about vaping. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is investigating over 436 cases of respiratory illnesses across the country due to “vaping.”  When will we learn?

Vaping has been around for several years now, and all of a sudden there are reports of serious respiratory illnesses.  How can the EPA and the CDC identify when they don’t know what people are vaping? Proponents of vaping say they have been doing it for years with no side effects.  But that doesn’t mean that there aren’t long term effects.  The thing is that everyone vaping is vaping something different, and we don’t know how much or what they put in their vaping pen.

This is a sad state of affairs, as young people, as young as fourteen, are vaping.  The EPA has to be proactive instead of reactive.  Everyone knew this was coming down the road, but things are ignored until they reach a crisis level. We have the technology, we have the best doctors in the world, but we cannot control people’s behavior or legislate it.  It’s up to them to change the crisis of vaping in this country. Education, education, and information is needed now, before it’s too late.

2. WaterFire for Recovery.  Saturday night  be a full WaterFire event.  All the basins  will be lit in Waterplace Park, Providence, for the arts and Health series. This WaterFire for Recovery celebrates the 30 year anniversary of the National Recovery Month.  It’s sponsored in part by Alkermes, the RI Department of Behavioral Health Developmental Disabilities and Hospitals (BHDDH), and Rally 4 Recovery RI in partnership with RI Department of Health and the Department of Correction.  The Rally 4 Recovery celebrations begin in the Turks Head Plaza at 4:00 p.m. WaterFires will be lit at sunset and remain lit till 12:30 a.m.  For more info go to www.waterfire.org.

3. WPRO 630AM Radio. WPRO has scheduled a full day of guests on the station on Friday to talk about the opioid crisis.  Opioid awareness day will feature guests such as  Governor Gina Raimondo, her husband Andy Moffit, and former Boston Celtics player Chris Herron. The focus is on bringing awareness to all about the opioid crisis.

4. Pawtucket City Hall. The city will kick off a major event on Thursday, September 19, 2019. Pawtucket City Hall will be hosting a special event. The unveiling of a special exhibit by Mihail Simeonov will kick off at 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The exhibit will run from September 19, 2019, through December 31, 2019.

What’s out…

1. EEE. The Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) scare has really hit home this week.  A Rhode Island man has died.  Spraying was done this week in various parts of Rhode Island.  But one has to wonder if that is enough.  Shouldn’t other areas that have swampy ponds be sprayed as well? This time of year, many are wishing for that first frost to kill the germ-carrying mosquitoes.  We had a very wet spring and maybe the state should have prepared for this.  Just saying.

2. Providence nightclub district. The Board of License chairman, Dylan Conley has come up with a new idea concerning the nightclubs in Providence.  His proposal is that the city create a nightclub district down the Allen’s Avenue area.  I don’t know whether to laugh or cry about this one.  I can’t imagine dumping this on the South Side area.  They have enough of problems there, and they don’t need this.  When did we become a nightclub city? Providence has always been known for its restaurants, shops, performing arts, Trinity Repertory theater, colleges, universities, and diverse neighborhoods.  Who wants to be known for having a nightclub strip?

This will attract more trouble and does nothing to help the problems that already exist.

 

Featured image by Dave Amadio.