SNA Admin

Judges and other participants sample the five dishes.

Precipitation again marked the SNA fall cookoff, but at least it wasn’t snow or a hurricane.

This year about 35 adults and children attended the event on Wednesday evening, Oct. 25, at Seven Stars bakery on Hope Street, bringing five dishes whose unifying ingredient was cranberries.

A panel of three judges selected first, second and third prizes, then there was a people’s choice picked by general tasting.

First Prize, a $20 gift certificate to Hope Street merchant Stock, went to Jocivell Adames for cranberry cheesecake with jam. See recipe below.

Jocivell Adames

Second Prize, a $20 certificate to Rhody Craft, went to Charlie Seelig for apple-cranberry pie. See recipe below.

Charlie Seelig

Third Prize, a $15 certificate to Olive del Mondo, went to Laura Ramey for cranberry salsa. See recipe below.

Laura Ramsey

The People’s Choice, a $25 certificate to Seven Stars, went to Sandy Kohring for cranberry brownies. See recipe below.

Sandy Kohring

Recipes will be posted on the SNA web site as they become available.

Because this was a pre-Halloween event. some of the children came in costume, including one combination of several superheros. The venue was decorated by balloons provided by Hope Street merchant Henry Bear’s Park and flowers provided by Sherry Waldman, owner of Main Street Martial Arts studio on North Main Street.

The judges were Dean Weinberg, an SNA member, Jan Dane, owner of Stock, and Gailia Rutan, a former cookoff winner. The organizers were SNA members Emily Spitzman and Sandy Kohring.

The judges, from left, Jan Dane, Gailia Rutan and Dean Weinberg.

Jocivell’s mini white chocolate cranberry orange cheesecakes

Ingredients

3/4 cup graham crackers crumb

3 tablespoons butter melted

1 tablespoon sugar

12 ounces cream cheese softened (1 1/2 boxes)

2 tablespoons sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon orange extract

1 cup white chocolate chips

1 tablespoon orange zest

2 1/2 cup fresh cranberries

1/3 cup water

3/4 cup sugar

2 teaspoons orange juice

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Spray mini cheesecake pan with nonstick baking spray.
2. Combine graham cracker crumbs, 1 tablespoon sugar and melted butter in small bowl. Divide evenly in pan and press down to create the crust.
3. In stand mixer blend cream cheese and 2 tablespoons sugar until creamy and fluffy. Add the egg and orange extract; mix just until blended in. Stir in white chocolate chips and orange zest. Divide evenly in the cheesecake pan over the crust.
4. Bake for 20-25 minutes or just until set. Remove from oven and refrigerate cakes for 2 hours to up to overnight. Remove from pan.
5. In small saucepan combine 1 1/2 cups cranberries, water and 3/4 cup sugar . Simmer for 10-15 minutes or until the cranberries have popped. Remove from heat and stir in remaining cranberries and orange juice. Chill to thicken. Spoon over chilled cheesecakes.

Charlie’s cranberry-apple pie

Ingredients

-2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries

-1/4 cup orange juice

-1 cup granulated sugar (7 ounces) plus 1 tablespoon for top of pie

-1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

-1/2 teaspoon table salt

-1/4 cup water

-1 tablespoon cornstarch

-3 1/2 pounds sweet apples (6 to 7 medium), peeled, cored, and cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices (Use sweet, crisp apples, such as Golden Delicious, Jonagold, Fuji, or Braeburn)

– dough for two-crust pie (homemade or purchased)

-1 egg white, beaten lightly

Directions

1. Bring cranberries, juice, 1/2 cup sugar, 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, and 1/4 teaspoon salt to boil in medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring occasionally and pressing berries against side of pot, until berries have completely broken down and juices have thickened to jamlike consistency (wooden spoon scraped across bottom should leave clear trail that doesn’t fill in), 10 to 12 minutes.
2. Remove from heat, stir in water, and cool to room temperature, about 30 minutes. 3. Meanwhile, mix 1/2 cup sugar, remaining 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, and cornstarch in large microwave-safe bowl; add apples and toss to combine.
3. Microwave on high power, stirring with rubber spatula every 3 minutes, until apples are just starting to turn translucent around edges and liquid is thick and glossy, 10 to 14 minutes. Cool to room temperature, about 30 minutes.
4. While fillings cool, adjust oven rack to lowest position, place rimmed baking sheet on oven rack, and heat oven to 425 degrees.
5. Remove 1 disk of dough from refrigerator and roll out on generously floured (up to 1/4 cup) work surface to 12-inch circle about 1/8 inch thick. Roll dough loosely around rolling pin and unroll into pie plate, leaving at least 1-inch overhang. Ease dough into plate by gently lifting edge of dough with one hand while pressing into plate bottom with other hand. Leave dough that overhangs plate in place; refrigerate until dough is firm, about 30 minutes.
6. Transfer cooled cranberry mixture to dough-lined pie plate and spread into even layer. Place apple mixture on top of cranberries, mounding slightly in center; push down any sharp apple edges.
7. Roll second disk of dough on generously floured work surface (up to 1/4 cup) to 12-inch circle about 1/8 inch thick. Roll dough loosely around rolling pin and unroll over pie, leaving at least 1-inch overhang on each side.
8. Using kitchen shears, cut evenly through both layers of overhanging dough, leaving 1/2- inch overhang. Fold dough under itself so that edge of fold is flush with outer rim of pie plate. Flute edges using thumb and forefinger or press with tines of fork to seal. Brush top and edges of pie with egg white and sprinkle with remaining tablespoon sugar. Using sharp paring knife, cut four 1 1/2-inch slits in top of dough in cross pattern.
9. Place pie on preheated baking sheet and bake until top is light golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 375 degrees, rotate baking sheet, and continue to bake until crust is deep golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes longer. Transfer pie to wire rack to cool at least 2 hours. Cut into wedges and serve.

Laura’s cranberry salsa

Ingredients

-1 bag cranberries
-1bundle cilantro
-1 bundle green onions
-2 tablespoons lemon (or lime) juice
-2-3 jalapenos
-3/4 C sugar
-1 8oz package cream cheese
-dipping stuff- crackers, tortilla chips, etc.

Directions

Chop and mix everything up with sugar, refrigerate for a couple of hours or longer. Pour over cream cheese and serve.

Sandy’s cranberry brownies

 Ingredients

-6 oz. semi-sweet chocolate

-½ cup (4 oz.) unsalted butter

-¾ cup (5¼ oz.) granulated sugar

-¼ cup (2 oz.) light brown sugar

-2 eggs

-1 teaspoon vanilla extract

-½ teaspoon salt

-1 tablespoon cocoa powder

-⅔ cup (2¾ oz.) all-purpose flour

-¼ cup dried cranberries

-1 cup chocolate covered cranberries

-1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Line with parchment and lightly grease an 8×8” baking pan.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, salt, and cocoa powder together.
3. Put the chocolate and butter in a large glass bowl and microwave for 30 seconds. Stir, and repeat until the chocolate and butter are completely melted and smooth. Add the sugars. Whisk until completely combined. The mixture should be room temperature.
4. Add 2 eggs to the chocolate mixture and whisk until combined. Add the vanilla and stir. Do not overbeat the batter at this stage or your brownies will be cakey.
5. Sprinkle the flour mixture over the chocolate mixture. Using a rubber spatula (not a whisk), fold the flour mixture into the chocolate until just a bit of the flour mixture is visible. Fold in the dried cranberries, chocolate covered cranberries and fresh cranberries.
6. Bake in preheated oven for about 30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out with moist crumbs attached.
7. Cool brownies completely before cutting into 16 equal squares with a very sharp knife.

An unending supply of popcorn was available

At nightfall on Friday, Oct. 20, more than 325 people cozied up for “Fright Night lite”, a family movie night of nine shorts that got the audience in a snuggly mood.

The event was a collaboration among the Providence Children’s Film Festival, Celebrate Providence and the Summit Neighborhood Association.

The Providence Children’s Film Festival organized the festive selection of films, many of which had both adults and children giggling – and goose-bumping at times. To top it off, the movie night included bottomless freshly popped popcorn.

Many audience members praised the Cricket Cinema’s multisensory, all-around enjoyable experience.  The youngest members of the audience were buzzing with excitement and ideas for making their own movies after watching “the Scared is scared” by Biance Giaever, available for free here: https://vimeo.com/58659769.  Giaever made a movie from a six-year-old’s narrated story.  A child’s words guided the viewers on a journey about how to overcome fears at any age.

Most organizers agreed that Lippitt Park was an ideal venue for an outdoor movie night, and are already talking about bringing more such nights to the neighborhood.

On a bright, chilly October morning, the Henry Bowen Anthony Fountain, the centerpiece of Lippitt Park for 77 years, got a new “west” plaque. The bronze plaque, one of four with unique art deco-style designs inlaid in granite at the four points of the compass around the fountain, is thought to have been missing since the 1980s.

The Summit Neighborhood Association commissioned the design and fabrication of a replacement plaque. The original design was lost to time, but local artist Maret Bondorew created a new one that keeps with the themes of the surviving three. The “north” plaque evokes the dark, starry night; the “east” includes a sunrise and industrial gears suggesting the start of the working day; the “south” conveys warm mid-day sunshine.

     Bondorew drew inspiration from the sunset and the relaxing end of a working day for the new “west” plaque. Healy Plaques of Manville used Bondorew’s design to cast the bronze and provide it to SNA, after which Providence Parks Department staff members provided installation labor, materials and expertise.

The bright, new bronze will match the dark, greenish patina of the other plaques with time.

Sincere thanks go to Maret Bondorew, Healy Plaques, the City of Providence Parks Department, and State Senator Gayle Goldin for the provision of a state senate grant for neighborhood beautification.

The fountain was built in 1940 in honor of Henry Bowen Anthony, a mid-19th century U.S. senator and governor of Rhode Island, but had been deactivated in 1982. With the support of the City of Providence and The Champlin Foundation, the Summit Neighborhood Association spearheaded the restoration of the fountain in 2011, with a modern re-circulation system.

Celebrating the new plaque are, from left, Ethan Gyles (SNA). Marcello and Giovanni (Parks Department, Anneliese Greenier (SNA), Roger (Parks Department) and Maret Bondorew (artist).

Our friends at The Miriam Hospital alert their neighbor to the following:

*On Wednesday, October 11, the hospital will be conducting a decontamination drill, which will involve the erecting of the decon tent outside of the emergency department.  Personnel will drill using “decon” suits and other emergency equipment.

Please do not be alarmed. The hospital regularly drills for emergencies such as building  evacuations, active shooter, and more so that in an emergency we are prepared to help the patients and the community we serve.

*On Saturday, October 14 we will be adding humidification equipment to the Fain Building roof.  The work will begin at 8 am with an anticipated completion at 4pm.  We can only do this work with minimum patient activity in the building therefore we must complete the work on a Saturday.

As usual, if you have any questions or concerns please call The Neighborhood Hotline at (401)-793-4040 or email Monica Anderson, Director of Community Relations and Corporate Citizenship at TMHneighbors@lifespan.org

One of the event’s goals was the exchange of pleasantries.

About 500 shoppers picked up maps Sunday from SNA in what one participant called “the best yard sale I ever had.”

“I’m almost wiped out,” said one seller on Colonial Road about noon, midway between the 10 a.m.-to-2 p.m. limits. She added that she would definitely “do it again.”

But the main ideas was to exchange treasures.

She was talking about SNA’s annual neighborhood-wide yard sale. Sellers paid a fee to get on the organization’s list and map, then put out their treasures on their own front lawns, although one operated out of a garage that faced the street. There were 19 locations plus several who chose to bring their goods to the parking lot of Citizens Bank on Hope Street where SNA had a booth to hand out the maps. Sellers could also stop by to get balloons supplied by the Hope Street toy store Henry Bear’s Park.

Prospective buyers picked up maps at the SNA booth at Citizens Bank parking lot.

Buyers with maps in hand then proceeded around the neighborhood to find the promised bargains. Some stores on Hope Street also put out merchandise in sidewalk sales.

But besides the exchange of household treasures, the exchange of neighbor-to-neighbor pleasantries was a major goal of the yard-sale system. It aimed to promote face-to-face meetings of people in Summit, and according to Anne Holland, the member of the SNA board of directors who organized this year’s event, even people from outside the neighborhood, including Congressman David Cicilline and City Councilor Nirva LaFortune, seized the opportunity.

One seller said it was the best yard sale she had ever had.

One of the participating sites in the 2016 sale.

Register below to participate in the giant Summit/Hope yard sale on Sunday Sept 24th, 10am-2pm. You can sell from your home (you’ll be included on our official maps & get balloons to mark your location) or sell from your own table at the Citizens Bank parking lot.

Registration is $10 per household. Limited to Summit/Hope area residents, and items from your own household unless you are a member of the Hope St Merchants Assn. Sign-up deadline Thursday Sept 21st! Questions, contact SNA yard sale coordinator Anne at aholland@gmail.com

Registration is closed

As of Tuesday, city workers had added the bench around the news shade tree and installed fencing to protect areas of new grass.

A city Parks Department worker Friday floats the concrete on one of the sidewalks leading to the new bridge

A backhoe early in the week moves sand around in the Summit Avenue Park playground.

Construction has begun on the next phase of the renovation of the Summit Avenue Park.

A backhoe and piles of sand have taken up residence to do initial site work for concrete walks, logs, a bridge, boulders, a log tunnel, bench and sandbox. Also coming are a Little Library, a tree, playground mulch and painting, according to Wendy Nilsson, city parks superintendent.

The original schedule was for the park to be closed until Aug. 21, when the preliminary work was supposed to be finished, but obviously things happened. New equipment is on the way and was scheduled to be installed by mid-September. Then new grass will be planted.

The Parks Department apologized for having to close the facility while work is in progress, but the tight space raises serious safety concerns.

Nirva LaFortune, left, hugs a supporter outside a polling place on election day

Nirva LaFortune won the opportunity to represent Ward Three on the Providence City Council in an election Wednesday characterized by low voter turnout.

Democrat LaFortune took 94 percent of the vote, or 1,261. Republican David Lallier Jr. got 55 votes and Independent Chris Reynolds got 22 votes, according to figures in The Providence Journal.

LaFortune told Journal reporter Jacqueline Tempera she’s focused on connecting the people in her ward. “Everyone really wants to come together, to get to know each other and to figure out how we can help one another,” she said. “We want to know how we can be stronger advocates and collectively be a strong voice not only for the ward, but also for the city.”

In the primary-election campaign, there were two “un-debates” cosponsored by the Summit and Mount Hope Neighborhood Associations. In the first, the candidates only listened to the issues raised by Ward Three residents. In the second, the political hopefuls offered their approaches to solving those issues. The discussions made clear that there is a wide divide between the two neighborhoods.

On election day, LaFortune told The Journal, “This is one of the most diverse wards in the city. I think concerns vary from neighborhood to neighborhood and street to street.”

LaFortune, 34, is manager and advisor of the Presidential Scholars Program at Brown University. She oversees and coordinates all elements of the program plus planning programs in the District of Columbia to support students from historically under-represented groups and students with the greatest financial need.

She moved to Providence from Haiti when she was 3 years old and now lives in the Mount Hope neighborhood with her children. During her campaign, she focused on immigrant rights, often drawing on her own experience, and her support of the Providence Community-Police Relations Act. She has not run for public office before.

Turnout for the special election was low — with just 1,341 of the ward’s more than 10,000 voters casting a ballot. By midafternoon at the Summit Commons polling place only about 250 residents had voted.

This special election came after Kevin Jackson, a longtime city councilman, was recalled in May after being indicted on embezzlement charges. Jackson, who held a council seat for 22 years, was arrested and indicted on charges that he embezzled from a youth sports program he founded in the 1970s. He has pleaded not guilty. He was forced out of office by a voter petition drive and a recall vote.

The Journal reported that as of Aug. 8, when the latest campaign finance report was due, LaFortune had more than $5,000 left in her account. This is more than four times the amount her Republican opponent Lallier had left. Reynolds reported that he had no money in his account as of July 19. LaFortune received donations from Sen. Harold Metts, D-Providence, Darlene Allen of Adoption Rhode Island, Stephen Hug from Family Service of Rhode Island, and former Providence mayor Joseph Paolino, The Journal said.

At midafternoon, there were plenty of voting booths available at Summit Commons.