☕ Brackets Busted. Spring Pending.

Monday, March 23, 2026 | Edition #19

GOOD MORNING, WARWICK. I’m sure this note finds you well and your brackets busted. Only four brackets survived past Saturday, and none remain after Sunday’s action. A perfect bracket has never been verified in major competition history, and that won’t be changing this year.

Someone told me it's going to snow today. I refuse to believe that — and yet, here we are. Don't worry, it won't amount to anything more than a slushy dusting. Just pretend you spilled your Del's Lemonade on the front lawn. Red Sox Opening Day is Thursday, which means we're mentally locked in on Fenway Franks and fireworks, not snowblower cranks and driveway banks.

On that note, let’s have a week.

🏚️ Historic Home Showdown
AAA Northeast is looking to tear down the Caleb Greene House, a home built in the year 1800 on Centerville Road and the birthplace of Civil War General George Sears Greene. And let’s just say not everyone is thrilled. Critics say AAA bought the property in 2017 with renovation plans, let it quietly fall apart, and is now using its condition as the reason to demolish it, which is certainly a strategy. The Historic District Commission is reviewing the request, and a group of Sons of Union Veterans is expected to show up with opinions, so this one’s far from over.

🥪 Charity, “Mike’s Way”
Several Jersey Mike’s locations are wrapping up their annual “Month of Giving” campaign supporting Rhode Island athletes headed to the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games. Donations have been collected all month, and on March 25, participating locations will donate 100% of sales to the cause. Which means you can technically support a great cause… by eating a sandwich the size of a canoe.

🚽 Fresh Pipes
Warwick is dropping $11 million on sewer upgrades - targeting aging infrastructure, reinforcing pipes, and improving "odor control," a phrase someone apparently had to type into an official document with a straight face. The system runs nearly 400 miles and serves about 24,000 residents, silently doing its dirty work for decades without so much as a thank-you card. Well, the bill is due. Literally. The good news: most of the work happens underground, which is exactly where everyone - the city, the contractors, and especially the pipes - prefers sewer conversations to stay.

🏅 Above & Beyond the Badge
Warwick Police Officer Zachary Coyne was recently awarded the Elwood Johnson Outstanding Service Award for his work supporting Special Olympics Rhode Island, recognizing officers who go above and beyond for athletes and the community. Which, let’s be honest, is a much better headline than “wrote 37 speeding tickets this week.” Always good to see Warwick showing up for something bigger than itself.

🧗‍♂️ Hikers Rescued - A Warwick resident needed rescue last week after getting stranded on an icy trail in New Hampshire. Casey Cullinan, 30, and his hiking partner got stuck near the top of the Flume Slide when conditions turned too slick to move in either direction, prompting a late-night rescue that wrapped up around 11 PM. Everyone made it out safely, but it’s a good reminder that microspikes and crampons are not the same thing, and the mountain does not care about the difference. Full story here.

🏀 English out, Hodgson in - Providence College has officially hit the reset button, hiring Bryan Hodgson as men's basketball head coach and closing the book on the Kim English era - a chapter best described as "formative." Hodgson arrives from South Florida, where he just rattled off a 25-9 season, a conference title, and the Bulls' first NCAA Tournament appearance in over a decade. He now inherits a PC squad fresh off a 15–18 season and a fanbase with one very simple request: please, please let us feel something in March that isn't disappointment.

🐏Rams Go Down Swinging - URI women’s basketball saw its season come to an end against Alabama, but not without a fight. The Rams hung tough against the SEC opponent and made them earn it for four quarters, showing the kind of grit that defined their season. They ultimately came up short, but this was far from a quiet exit. If anything, it felt like a program that’s not too far off from making some real noise on a bigger stage.

Are you smarter than a Hoxsie School 5th Grader?

TRIVIA: True or False: Rhode Island has no natural lakes within its borders. (Answer shown below)

🚶🏼‍♀️‍➡️WPD Senior Walk - The Warwick Police Department's Community Policing Unit is hosting a Senior Walk at Warwick Mall this Tuesday, March 24 at 9 AM - because nothing says community policing like lapping Macy's at a suspiciously competitive pace together.

🏒Firefighters Hit the Ice for Local Families - The Warwick Firefighters and Warwick Junior Hockey coaches are lacing up for a good cause - a charity hockey game benefiting Ava and Colin Dorgan, the Coventry/Johnston Co-op Team, and the Blackstone Valley Co-op Team, with the National Anthem performed by Bruins anthem singer Todd Angilly, which is a genuinely impressive get for a charity game. David Monte and David Lussier will also be honored on the ice. Festivities kick off at 5 PM on Thursday, March 26, with a Touch-a-Truck before puck drop - grab your tickets here.

🐣 Conimicut Easter Egg Hunt - The Conimicut Village Association is hosting its annual Easter Egg Hunt this Saturday, March 28 at 10 AM sharp at Clegg Field. Open to kids from preschool through grade 5 - don’t be late, those eggs go fast. More info here.

🔥WaterFire Season Loading…
WaterFire Providence is back soon, with the first lightings of the 2026 season expected to kick off in May and run through the fall. These Saturday night events bring thousands downtown for music, food, and vibes that make you briefly forget you live in Rhode Island. Check out the event schedule here.

🏗️ JLC Live (Mar 26–28 | Providence Convention Center)
One of the biggest construction and trade shows in New England. Not flashy, but if you like home improvement, tools, or walking around saying “I could build that,” this is your Super Bowl. More info here.

😂 Lil Rhody Laugh Riot (Mar 26–29 | Providence)
A full-blown comedy festival taking over the city with national and local comedians across multiple venues. Basically, Providence turns into a stand-up club for four straight days. More info here.

🐣Other Easter Egg Hunts: Here's a full roundup of Easter egg hunts and Easter events happening in and around the Providence area. Find one near you here.

🤯Trivia Answer: True. Rhode Island is the only state in the country without any natural lakes - the state has reservoirs, ponds, and plenty of coastline — but not a single natural lake to its name. Smallest state, smallest lake count

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That's it for today. Have a tip or a story suggestion? Send it over - no tip too small, no grievance too petty.

Stay safe, Warwick ☕

Chris

The Warwick Wake Up | Keeping Warwick in the know in 10 minutes or less.

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