Chatter
From our Readers
June Issue
As a long-time subscriber and former Rhode Islander now living in Florida , I look forward to my magazine each month . I had to tell you that the June issue was the best I ’ ve read . It was informative and enjoyable . Thank you and keep the good stories coming .
MARIE ROSSI FORT MYERS , FLORIDA
The Real Gilded Age , June
I just read the Real Gilded Age stories , and they are well-researched and written . I was particularly impressed with the African heritage section . Oftentimes our history is written as an afterthought or page filler , but you brought the stories to life with a real sense of people and the times they lived . Thank you for your work . I really appreciate it .
KEITH STOKES NEWPORT
Made for the Movies , June
The article by Paul Kandarian regarding Steven Feinberg is spot on . Steven is all that Mr . Kandarian describes : kind , friendly , caring , intelligent , passionate and other applicable superlatives . It ’ s an honor to have known Steve since childhood and to have been mentioned in the article along with his dear friend , Jim
Pagano . We are very proud of Steven ’ s accomplishments . He ’ s come a long way since showing his movies on neighborhood garages while using his friends as actors . We are sure that our son , Jim , is cheering him on from above and that he would be standing with him if he were here . Thank you for writing such a heartwarming , well-deserved article on Steven Feinberg ’ s life and accomplishments . It was an interesting profile of one of our beloved Garden City boys and girls .
ROSE AND ANTHONY PAGANO GARDEN CITY , CRANSTON
Surviving the Stigma , May
Important piece by @ rimonthly . There is much work to be done in suicide prevention . More needed to support families who have lost loved ones . Grateful for the ways @ CRISPatBrown is reshaping the ways we understand prediction , intervention and prevention .
NICOLE NUGENT VIA TWITTER
It can happen to anyone ’ s child yet suicide should never happen . I helped establish 988 as the national suicide hotline to make it easier for people in crisis to get suicide prevention assistance and l ’ m working to enhance youth mental health care and outreach .
SENATOR JACK REED VIA TWITTER
May Issue
I ’ m a born and bred Rhode Islander , and I look forward to every issue of Rhode Island Monthly . I recently ended my subscription to Yankee magazine , [ whose ] articles now only spotlight areas that provide the biggest income from its advertisers . I realize all media , especially print media , is under extreme economic challenge . I beg of you , Rhode Island Monthly , do not lose your soul / mission to portray what makes Rhode Island so special . There ’ s so much richness from multiculturalism , its history , the creative arts and proximity to everything . I especially enjoy reading Ellen Liberman ’ s columns . Her factualism and approach to inform- ing her readers is well done . I congratulate you on thirty-five years and look forward to continuing my subscription . Suggestion : How about a reader questionnaire on how Rhode Island expresses its “ soul ?”
BARBARA BOURGETTE NORTH PROVIDENCE
Building a New Nest , May
Your May issue brought another wonderful piece of writing from Ann Hood . Her candor and willingness to share her vulnerability is so appreciated . Apparently there is a growing community of us who also have a mental disorder ( given the new guidance regarding prolonged grief ). As a child , I lost two parents over thirty years ago — I think about them and mourn them still . Maybe we ’ re not broken , but the world is . I suggest we embrace our newfound status ! How about a T-shirt collaboration from Frog & Toad , Ann Hood and Rhode Island Monthly : “ I too have a mental disorder .”? Sign me up , please .
MARK TRACY PROVIDENCE
What a wonderful article . So beautifully written . The beat goes on , we keep building new nests .
PATRICIA BIXBY WRENTHAM , MASSACHUSETTS
Top Doctors , May
I had worked at the Providence VA Medical Center for about ten years and noted that VA physicians were almost never mentioned in these publications . In this year ’ s article , five physicians have a VA affiliation , but the VA is not their primary hospital , and no physician with only a VA affiliation was honored . This would appear to be a function of the voting process . Selected physicians are highly regarded by their peers , but I suspect that those chosen also reflect access and referral patterns . It would be wonderful to acknowledge the hard work these physicians do . Thank you again for highlighting the many reasons why we call Rhode Island home .
HARLAN RICH , MD , FACP , AGAF PROVIDENCE
Get Social With Us
@ RIMonthly
Email to letters @ rimonthly . com , or via mail to Letters to the Editor , Rhode Island Monthly , 560 Mineral Spring Ave ., Unit 100B , Pawtucket , RI 02860 . Letters and comments may be edited for length and style .
16 RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY l AUGUST 2023