☕ Lettuce, Garbage, and Grenades

Monday, July 20, 2026 | Edition #47

GOOD MORNING, WARWICK. Or should I say, buenos dias and felicidades to my Spanish amigos. Spain took down Lionel Messi and Argentina on the pitch yesterday 1-0, likely ending Messi's miraculous World Cup career at the age of 39. The match concluded right around midnight local time in Spain, and we can only imagine the chaos that ensued on the streets of Madrid, where flags are draped over shoulders, horns are honking nonstop, and Plaza de Cibeles is probably still standing room only. The team lands back home today for a full day of celebration, including a reception with the actual King before parading through the city on an open-top bus. Not a bad way to start your semana.

In today's newsletter, we'll look at:

⏱️ Sunset Time: 8:14 PM

🌊 Daytime High Tide: 1:37 PM

⛽ Avg. Gas Price: $4.00 (click here to find the cheapest gas near you)

☀️ UV Index: 9.0

☔ Chance of Rain: 0%

📅 On This Day: In 1969, Apollo 11's lunar module touched down and Neil Armstrong became the first person to walk on the moon, uttering "one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind." NASA could send a spacecraft to the moon and back in 1969, and nearly 60 years of innovation later, I still struggle to cast the Red Sox from my phone to my "smart" TV. Neil would call me a baby-stepper.

By now, I'm sure you've heard of the Cyclospora hysteria sweeping the nation, and we finally have a partial answer for what's behind it: Taylor Farms is recalling iceberg lettuce shipped to states across the country after FDA testing confirmed contamination with the parasite. The outbreak has now grown to 31 states, and the FDA is separately warning people to avoid shredded lettuce at Taco Bell locations in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, and West Virginia, worth knowing since Rhode Island has 12 Taco Bell locations of its own, though none are currently flagged. Rhode Island has had a handful of confirmed cases this year, but health officials say they're unrelated to the outbreak and not abnormal for the state. We're still not on the recall list, but Connecticut, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire, our neighbors on every single side, all are. They've got us completely surrounded... maybe switch to romaine this week just to play it safe, or skip the salad entirely and grab a roni slice. You deserve it. Learn more here.

Tuesday morning, one of Warwick's sanitation trucks caught fire while out on its route, and the driver was taken to the hospital as a precaution after inhaling some smoke while trying to put the fire out himself with an extinguisher. Warwick Fire Department arrived and knocked it down quickly, and the driver is okay. Mayor Frank Picozzi shared the story on Facebook, explaining the truck was a 2014 model with an enormous number of miles and hours on it. Luckily, no one was hurt and there were no delays to trash pickup for the week, so your garbage still made its great escape on schedule. As for the truck, I think it's safe to say that it’s cooked. At least it didn't go out like a Michael Bay explosion in the middle of Post Road. Learn more here.

Magnet fisherman Gerard Perreault went out to Rocky Point pier this past Sunday expecting the usual haul, maybe a rusty bike frame or a shopping cart wheel. Instead, his magnet snagged something with a lot more history and a lot less charm: a World War II-era hand grenade. Perreault posted photos of the catch online, and the bomb squad came out to safely dispose of it before anyone found out the hard way whether it still had some kick left. It's the kind of story that makes you look twice at every quiet little fishing spot in the city, since apparently Rocky Point's been holding onto some secrets since the 1940s. Magnet fishing has become a bit of a cult hobby around Rhode Island's coastline, with people pulling up everything from safes to shopping carts, but this one's a reminder that not everything buried in the bay is harmless. No injuries, no scares beyond a very surprised fisherman, and one very unusual Sunday afternoon in Warwick. Learn more here.

If you looked outside this past week and thought you were dreaming about your cameo in the next Dune movie, you weren't alone. Canadian wildfire smoke didn't just make for a strange-looking sunset, it genuinely messed with our air. The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management issued air quality alerts for several days running as bands of heavy smoke drifted in, first from Canada, then from wildfires burning in northern Minnesota. Fine particle levels hit "unhealthy for sensitive groups" territory, with officials urging kids, older adults, and anyone with asthma or heart conditions to stay indoors, keep windows closed, and skip the strenuous outdoor workouts. Providence saw a genuine yellow haze hang over downtown, and plenty of people swore the sun looked downright red at points. It finally started clearing up by the weekend, but DEM kept half an eye on another round drifting back in early this week. Learn more here.

Thursday night off Buttonwoods Beach, a boat carrying six people started rapidly taking on water, and things could've gone very differently if not for a good Samaritan boater nearby. That stranger pulled up, got all six people safely transferred onto their own vessel, and radioed it in before the Warwick Harbormaster and Marine 1 even arrived on scene. Sea Tow handled the salvage operation on the sinking boat afterward. No injuries, no drama beyond a genuinely scary few minutes on the water, just one Rhode Islander doing exactly what you'd hope your fellow boater would do when things go sideways. Learn more here.

This week, my father-in-law surprised me with potentially the most underrated kitchen gadget of all time. You know he doesn't mess around, the man researches a purchase like he's buying a boat. But this one's different. This one might actually change your life, or at least your healthy snack game. Check it out, because once you see it, you're going to wonder how you ever lived without one.

👉 See what showed up here.

At this point, I’m starting to think that most of my subscribers are out-of-towners… Two Thirds of you thought that the image of Belmont Park was City Park. Only 1 out of 5 subscribers got last week’s Where in Warwick correct. Let’s see if I can stump you guys again. Another chance for redemption lays below:

🧐 Where was the above photo taken? Click the location you think is correct below. No cheating! Answer revealed at the end.

📸 Have a photo you want featured in next week's edition? Reply to this email with the image attached!

Wed, 7/22: ☀️Summer Sunshine at City Hall Plaza | More Info | Roller skating, vendors, a live band, and sweets trucks take over Greenwood Credit Union City Hall Plaza from 5 to 8 PM. Warwick's version of a beach day, minus the sand in your shoes.

Wed, 7/22: 🍺Pottery with a Purpose | More Info | Apponaug Brewing Company | 7 to 9 PM | A beginner-friendly pottery workshop where you'll hand-build a pinch pot and turn it into a vase, planter, candle holder, or one of their "smiley planter pals." Beer in one hand, wet clay in the other, what could go wrong.

Sat, 7/25: 👮‍♂️Roller Skate with a Cop | More Info | Two free sessions (10 AM to 12 PM and 12:30 to 2:30 PM) at City Hall Plaza, with free skate rentals for kids 12 and under, plus food trucks and sweets trucks. Nothing builds community trust quite like watching an officer try not to eat pavement on eight wheels.

Sat, 7/25: 👟Kicks and Tricks | More Info | A sneaker and pop culture pop-up hits the Double Tree by Hilton located at 2081 Post Rd from 12 to 6 PM, hosted by Anthony Gorton and crew. Expect sneakers, art, and entertainment all under one roof. If your Jordans have never seen the light of day outside your closet, this is their moment to shine.

Sun, 7/26: Shuck Yeah! | More Info | Apponaug Brewing Company | 1 to 4 PM | Fresh oysters from 401 Oyster Co., cold beers, and live music from saxophone-and-piano duo Winelight. What’s better than that?

🥬 Conimicut Village Community Market | Saturdays, 9 AM-12 PM through Sept 26. Free. Local vendors and a waterfront village to wander on a Saturday morning. Info

🌽 Goddard Park Farmers Market | Fridays, 9 AM-1 PM through October. Fresh local produce in a waterfront park. A solid excuse to be outside before noon. Info

📚 Warwick Public Library | Ongoing events each and every day of the week across all locations. Tell your kids to put the Fortnite down. Time for a story and a Capri Sun. Info

🏛️ City Council Meetings | Select Mondays, 6:30 PM, City Hall Chambers. Ordinances, budgets, and the occasional spicy public hearing. Check the calendar first. Calendar

✅ Where in Warwick Answer: That photo was taken in Pawtuxet Neck, out at the end of Seaview Ave. Yes, technically right on the Warwick/Cranston line, but the water doesn't check municipal boundaries and neither do we. This little peninsula has been a longtime hideaway for anyone wanting a quiet water view without the crowds, tucked away enough that most people driving through Pawtuxet Village have no idea it's back there. Fun fact for the Real Housewives fans: this stretch is a stone's throw from where Liz from Real Housewives of Rhode Island lives, though word is she won't be back for season 2, which just started filming. On a clear day, you can see straight out toward the bay, and if you time it right around sunset, it's one of the best-kept photo spots in either city.

That's it for today. Have a story suggestion, a tip, or just want to talk Sox? I'm here for it. Just hit reply. Thanks for reading!

Keep smiling!