English Bulldog Puppies for Sale in Providence, RI

Firm Management

Withum, a nationally recognized CPA and advisory firm with 23 offices and annual revenue of $578M, recently hosted a new-office open house event at the Gateway Center complex in the heart of downtown Providence. Located at 15 Park Row West with scenic city skyline views, the firm’s newly designed office marks a new workspace era that prioritizes a modern, collaborative and innovative environment for team members and clients alike. A ribbon cutting marked the official renovation completion and opening of the new office, which features an open-concept floorplan, workspaces and conference rooms designed to foster teamwork and face-to-face and virtual communication. Sit/stand desks promote employee well-being, while nautical accents throughout the space pay homage to Rhode Island's rich maritime heritage. Large windows provide ample natural light and stunning views of the city, including the Rhode Island State House. Withum Partner in Charge Kevin Hundley expressed his gratitude for the team's hard work in making a smooth transition to the new office a success. "We are absolutely thrilled to ‘officially’ open our new office doors and welcome our clients and friends of the firm to our ‘new home,’" Hundley said. "This new space reflects our commitment to exceptional client service and creating a dynamic, amenity-rich environment for our hard-working team members. We are excited to continue growing our presence in the region and contributing to the local community at large." As part of the open house, guests enjoyed tours of the new space, networking opportunities and delicious local summertime delicacies, including clam cakes and chowder, stuffed quahogs, fish and chips, doughboys and hamburger and chicken parm sliders. Summer Swag bags filled with beach towels, koozies and sunscreen rounded out the summer-themed event. Withum’s move to the four-story Gateway Center complex marks the creation of an innovation hub-like setting for the firm in the city’s thriving downtown district, offering ease of highway and mass transit access. Withum, which has maintained an active presence in the region for many years through its involvement in various community and business organizations, relocated its office as part of an ongoing expansion within New England. In addition to providing a wide range of accounting, tax and consulting services to clients of all sizes, Withum’s Providence office areas of specialization include real estate, cannabis, law firms, construction and not-for-profit organizations. Established in 1974, Withum is a national top-ranking public accounting firm providing advisory, tax and audit services to businesses and individuals on a local-to-global scale. Headquartered in Princeton, NJ, Withum has a presence in major financial centers across the country. Withum is an independent member of HLB, the global advisory and accounting network.

Withum, a nationally recognized CPA and advisory firm with 23 offices and annual revenue of $578M, recently hosted a new-office open house event at the Gateway Center complex in the heart of downtown Providence. Located at 15 Park Row West with scenic city skyline views, the firm’s newly designed office marks a new workspace era that prioritizes a modern, collaborative and innovative environment for team members and clients alike.

A ribbon cutting marked the official renovation completion and opening of the new office, which features an open-concept floorplan, workspaces and conference rooms designed to foster teamwork and face-to-face and virtual communication. Sit/stand desks promote employee well-being, while nautical accents throughout the space pay homage to Rhode Island’s rich maritime heritage. Large windows provide ample natural light and stunning views of the city, including the Rhode Island State House.

Withum Partner in Charge Kevin Hundley expressed his gratitude for the team’s hard work in making a smooth transition to the new office a success. “We are absolutely thrilled to ‘officially’ open our new office doors and welcome our clients and friends of the firm to our ‘new home,’” Hundley said. “This new space reflects our commitment to exceptional client service and creating a dynamic, amenity-rich environment for our hard-working team members. We are excited to continue growing our presence in the region and contributing to the local community at large.”

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As part of the open house, guests enjoyed tours of the new space, networking opportunities and delicious local summertime delicacies, including clam cakes and chowder, stuffed quahogs, fish and chips, doughboys and hamburger and chicken parm sliders. Summer Swag bags filled with beach towels, koozies and sunscreen rounded out the summer-themed event.

Withum’s move to the four-story Gateway Center complex marks the creation of an innovation hub-like setting for the firm in the city’s thriving downtown district, offering ease of highway and mass transit access. Withum, which has maintained an active presence in the region for many years through its involvement in various community and business organizations, relocated its office as part of an ongoing expansion within New England.

In addition to providing a wide range of accounting, tax and consulting services to clients of all sizes, Withum’s Providence office areas of specialization include real estate, cannabis, law firms, construction and not-for-profit organizations.

Established in 1974, Withum is a national top-ranking public accounting firm providing advisory, tax and audit services to businesses and individuals on a local-to-global scale. Headquartered in Princeton, NJ, Withum has a presence in major financial centers across the country. Withum is an independent member of HLB, the global advisory and accounting network.

MIDDLETOWN – Fourteen dogs from a rescue in South Carolina damaged by Hurricane Helene will arrive at a Middletown rescue Thursday morning.

The Potter League for Animals, which will take the dogs, is also asking for donations of pet food and other supplies that it can send to its longtime partner in South Carolina, the Aiken County Animal Shelter.

The shelter lost power when Hurricane Helene hit the area and is likely to be without power for "the foreseeable future," the Potter League said in a press release. Aiken is about 55 miles southwest of Charleston.

When will the rescued dogs be available for adoption?

The dogs are expected to arrive at the Middletown rescue agency around 8 a.m. Thursday. The dogs arriving in Rhode Island will receive necessary medical care, vaccinations and behavioral assessments before becoming available for adoption, the Potter League said.

How to help pet owners affected by Hurricane Helene

"While the transport of these dogs to safety is crucial, the Potter League is also asking the community to step up and assist by donating essential supplies to be sent back with the transport to South Carolina," the Potter League said.

Many residents of the area can't get "much-needed resources, including those for their pets" because of gas shortages, the Potter League said.

“The devastation from Hurricane Helene has hit the Aiken County Animal Shelter especially hard, and we’re doing everything we can to support them during this challenging time. These 14 dogs are just a part of the story – many more animals and people still need our help,” Brad Shear, Potter League CEO, said. “We’re incredibly proud of our long-standing partnership with Aiken County Animal Shelter, and now more than ever, they need our support.”

The shelter is in "dire need" of dog beds, food for adult dogs and puppies, as well as dog toys, according to the Potter League.

The dogs are being brought to Rhode Island by a nonprofit group called the Friends of the Animal Shelter. The group is also delivering pet food and other supplies to local residents affected by the storm, the Potter League said.

"These efforts are critical in providing relief to both animals and their caretakers during this challenging time," the Potter League said.

Donations can be dropped off at 87 Oliphant Lane, Middletown, no later than Thursday morning, to be included in the shipment back to Aiken County. For more information, please contact the Potter League for Animals at (401) 846-8276.

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PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WJAR) — A long-time custodian at a Providence elementary school goes above and beyond to make Friday's special for students.

In 1998, Freddy Bucci became employed at the Vartan Gregorian Elementary School.

His mom worked in the kitchen while he went into janitorial services.

“Everyone here, they’re very nice and kind to me, they're like a family here," said Bucci. “I enjoy doing my work. I enjoy doing my job. You know I come in and take pride in my work.”

Besides being the head custodian, PrincipalMatthew Brown said Bucci is their go-to guy for almostanything.

“He goes really goes above what his job requires every single day. He is the school handyman. He is the individual who if a kid is upset or sad, he will go and cheer him up. So yes, he's the lead custodian but he really does it all," said Brown. “When I came to Vartan the first person I heard about was Mr. Freddy."

“He’s not one of the custodians who sitsin a building and is just a fly on the wall, he interacts with the people in the building," said Stacey DeMello, a third grade teacher at Vartan. “Freddy really loves the school he works for; he puts his heart and soul into everything he does here.”

Five years ago, Bucci said he had an idea during lunch.

“The cafeteria gets boring in here, it does, it gets boring. You’re in here, and you wait for a spill or something so I threw a couple bags up in the air all of a sudden like the kids got like 'oh wow.”' said Bucci.

From there- 'Freddy Friday's' were born.

In the mornings, he tells a joke during theirannouncementsand then each week, he uses his custodial equipment, including his leaf blower, to put on a performance for kids during the school's two lunch periods.

To make it happen, Bucci purchases other props for his shows too , and does research on fun things to do for the kids.

“I create stuff or I get the ideas in my head of what can I use," said Bucci. 'I usually have a theme. Like for Halloween, I get stuff for that. “I keep changing things and I’ll buy certain stuff from the stores.”

Each Friday, Bucci sets up his stage in the cafeteria.

There's a large blow-up dragon that reads 'Freddy Friday's' and kids even wear a shirt that says the same.

“When the t-shirts started being made that’s when I knew he was making it big," said DeMello. “He all of a sudden rose to fame in the past few years and the kids definitely look forward to Friday's to see what Freddy has up his sleeve."

“When I first saw it, my first thought was, I wish I had this in elementary school and that’s typically when people come and see that’s their first reaction as well," said Brown. “It really gives you this sense of welcoming. This is feeling of joy and excitement and it really is one big factor on why kids want to come to school because 'I want to see Mr. Freddy' and they want to see what the show was all about on Friday.”

The performances last a few minutes.

Sometimes, Bucci asks for students to volunteer during them.

“I have kids who come in on Friday because they don’t want to take a sick day they want to come in. They don’t want to miss a day," said Bucci.“It’s a great feeling. I’ve got my fan club. You can’t ask for anything else, it’s priceless. If I can make someone else’s day better I feel even better you know?”

“It’s really special everyone’s face glows up when they hear, 'Oh it’s Freddy Friday time," said 5th grader, Inde Crevier. “He’s definitely a very special janitor. He’s not like everyone else. I think we are really lucky to have him as a janitor.”

“I love seeing Freddy being so joyful with the other kids it just makes me so happy," said Luca Venezia, who is also in the 5th grade.“Freddy is the best janitor in the whole wide world.”

Not only does Freddy put on performances on Fridays, if a classroom at his school wins a competition or something of that nature, he's asked to do special performances for them too.

He even dresses up as the school's mascot, as needed.

“There’s not one person more important than the other here and Mr. Freddy truly embodies that," said Brown. “but it's really what he does every single day that makes the biggest impact and he’s really been doing it for so many years."

Landlords have until Tuesday to register their apartments with the state and, if the homes are in older buildings, produce proof that they are lead-free.

The state Department of Health has been working to build Rhode Island's first statewide rental registry, a priority for tenants' advocates and Attorney General Peter Neronha, since it was approved by the General Assembly in summer 2023.

All rented living spaces, including short-term rentals, are supposed to be registered under the law, with $50-per-month penalties for landlords who fail to do so. Apartments in buildings constructed before lead was banned in 1978 also have to provide a "lead certificate," proof that they were deemed safe by a certified lead inspector.

The state, however, is not going to be issuing any fines for failure to register at this time.

The Department of Health "is currently focused on educating landlords about this new requirement and allowing landlords enough time to schedule [and receive] an inspection from a licensed lead inspector," agency spokeswoman Annemarie Beardsworth wrote in an email that explains why fines are not being issued.

Is there any consequence of not registering?

While landlords, for now, won't be cited for ignoring the registration deadline, they could still be fined eventually.

The law requires properties to be registered and in lead compliance for their owners to evict a tenant for not paying rent.

The Department of Health has not given any indication of when it might start issuing fines for noncompliance.

How many landlords have registered so far?

As of Sept. 26, 2,923 properties had been registered and another 3,648 had begun the process but had not completed it, Beardsworth said.

There is no fee to register but obtaining a lead certificate for a building built before 1978 isn't always easy.

Although the Department of Health won't state it publicly, the delay in issuing fines appears to stem in large part from a shortage of personnel to do the required inspections and lead remediation.

At a meeting of the state House study commission on housing affordability, commission chairwoman June Speakman relayed information a Department of Health official gave to a webinar, which suggested professional licensing requirements are getting in the way of lead remediation.

"It is a solvable problem, but we impose a requirement and there aren't enough lead inspectors," Speakman said. "To get a a lead inspectors' license, you need not only 40 hours of training, but you need to be an apprentice and the lead inspectors are too busy doing all these lead inspections that we have required them to do that they can't be mentoring new lead inspectors.

"So, it is an impossible situation, which is why they are not imposing fines on the Oct. 1 deadline."

Last year, Gov. Dan McKee proposed delaying the registration deadline until fall 2025 but lawmakers didn't go for it.

McKee also wanted to remove requirements that landlords provide a current address, email address and telephone number on the registry but that didn't happen.

What is next?

The owners of rental properties have been required to remediate lead and obtain lead certificates since 2002, but without knowing where all apartments are and who is renting them, enforcement has been lax.

In Rhode Island, lead is estimated to harm as many as 1,000 children per year and the registry is seen as a key tool for pushing landlords toward cleaning up old units.

But, when the registry bill was passed, opponents and proponents noted that having a database of all apartments could also be used in the future to enforce other tenant protections.