REC VERY M DE:
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FROM THE PUBLISHER
Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness
“ I’ m on a seafood diet. I see food and I eat it.”
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OK, IT’ S A TIRED OLD VAUDEVILLIAN JOKE. Cue the rimshot: ba-dum-tss!
This month’ s cover story,“ The Ultimate Guide to Seafood,” is another standout effort from Editor-in- Chief Jamie Coelho and her team, who take on the ambitious task of celebrating every aspect of seafood in the Ocean State.
We conducted in-depth research with our subscribers earlier this year and found that food packages with lots of information in a short-read format are one of your favorite parts of the magazine. I’ m sure this one will be no exception and a keeper you’ ll refer to all summer long.
“ Immigration on Ice,” written by award-winning contributing editor Ellen Liberman, is an eye-opening look at the morass of fear and trepidation felt by fellow Rhode Islanders during their everyday lives. Federal funding cuts and stepped-up( and in some cases, questionable) enforcement efforts are creating fear and anxiety for immigrants, even those who followed a legal path to residency.
I thought of my paternal grandfather, who came here at age twelve, probably with a simple satchel filled with his worldly possessions. He came to America for work, for a better life. He married my grandmother and they had six children; my father was the fifth. I can’ t fathom the simple bravery it took back then to start a new life in an unfamiliar country. And now it requires so much more.
We also have our annual survey of Top Dentists in this issue. Let’ s face it: No one likes going to the dentist, but it helps when you like the team providing your care.
This month we have a few big dates to mark. Our thirty-third annual Best of Rhode Island bash takes place July 23 at the WaterFire Arts Center in Providence. If you’ ve been in the past, you know there is plenty of food and drink for the winners and attendees. Tickets are available at RIMonthly. com. It is THE celebration about this crazy state we call home.
We’ ve added some surprises this year to commemorate the country’ s 250th anniversary and Little Rhody’ s role in helping achieve independence. It’ s a great place to people watch and rub elbows with local celebs.
Speaking of independence, July 28, 2009, was the date Rhode Island Monthly once again became a locally owned publication. Local journalism and local ownership for the past seventeen years— that’ s something worth celebrating.
To the Rhode ahead.— J. J. P.
ILLUSTRATION: CHERYL CHALMERS.
14 RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY I JULY 2026