☕ More Than Miles

Friday, April 24, 2026 | Edition #28

GOOD MORNING, WARWICK. I just finished liking all of my friends' Earth Day Instagram photos of Narragansett Bay, a cup of Del's Lemonade in front of a sunset, and a blurry beach selfie that was apparently meant to be blurry because that's a thing now.

Earth Day is the annual wake up call we need more often. The truth is, we live in a state with 39 miles of coastline right outside our door, and the average human spends 7 hours a day staring at a screen. I am the clown you're spending the first few minutes with.

So go outside today. Get some fresh air. Look at the actual ocean instead of the version your friend posted with a Valencia filter. Happy Friday.

⏱️Sunset Time: 7:36PM

🌓 Moon Phase: First Quarter

⛽ Avg. Gas Price: $3.93 (click here to find the cheapest gas near you)

💧 Chance of Rain: 10%

📅 Happy National Pigs-in-a-blanket Day. I don't make the holidays, I just report on them. Go grab the Grey Poupon and do somethin’ about it.

On Monday, while most of us were tracking finish times and split paces from the couch, one Warwick native was running for something a lot bigger than a PR.

Local Bishop Hendricken grad and now practicing dentist Matt Wilks took on the Boston Marathon with a purpose rooted right here in our community.

Growing up in Warwick, Wilks was close with Andrew Martin, a beloved member of the community who was diagnosed with A-T, short for Ataxia-Telangiectasia, a rare genetic disease that affects muscle control, weakens the immune system, and significantly shortens life expectancy.

“I remember playing catch on the lawn with Andrew and his brother Brendan,” Wilks said. When he learned Andrew would be transitioning to a wheelchair, it hit hard.

But Andrew never let that define him.

He kept golfing, playing tennis, and swimming, doing it all with a smile on his face.

Andrew played a huge role on both Vets and Pilgrim sports teams, encouraging teammates, showing up even when he didn’t feel well, and inspiring an entire community. Teachers and coaches described him as a joy to be around. Players looked to him when things got tough on the field. He later went on to take courses at CCRI, and even received a personal phone call from Alabama head coach Nick Saban, a nod to his lifelong devotion to the Crimson Tide.

"We might not have seen eye to eye during college football season," Wilks, an avid Notre Dame fan, playfully added in his announcement, "but I always respected his passion."

Andrew Martin passed away from A-T at just 19 years old. But who he was endures today, living on through the many people he impacted. On Monday, it showed up on the streets of Boston. Matt’s relentless drive to fight for an end to A-T, cross the finish line, and show up for this community reflects Andrew’s life, his impact, and his relentless strength in the face of hardship.

26.2 miles for a friend. Not for the medal. Not for the Instagram post.

For Andrew.

Wilks crossed the finish line in 2:41:21, placing him in the top 4.3% of more than 30,000 runners. If you'd like to support Matt's fundraiser and help put an end to A-T, click here.

Read more about Andrew’s life and his impact here.

If you haven't made your way down to Main Street in East Greenwich lately, here's your reason.

Sombra is a Mexican-inspired eatery and lounge that quickly became a neighborhood favorite since opening on East Greenwich's Main Street. The name means "shadow" in Spanish, and the sleek, moody, upscale decor delivers exactly that energy. It's the kind of place that feels like a night out, even if you're just stopping in for lunch.

Start with a margarita flight, work your way through the guacamole flights and soft corn tortilla tacos, and let the table figure out the rest. The elote, the birria tacos with consommé, the crispy buffalo chicken taquitos. There's a reason people keep coming back. They're open Monday through Wednesday 11:30 AM to 10 PM, Thursday and Friday until 11:30 PM, and they do brunch on weekends too.

Whether you're planning a date night, a group dinner, or just need somewhere that isn't another bowl of pasta, Sombra is the answer. The same team behind Wickford on the Water, JB's on the Water, and River Falls runs this place, so they know what they're doing.

Make a reservation at sombralounge.com or call (401) 398-0623.

A big thank you to Sombra for making this edition of The Warwick Wake Up possible!

Back by popular demand. This section is sticking around.

If one thing’s for sure, I won’t be running out of this content anytime soon… what we are running out of is closet space in our bedroom.

*Insert obnoxious Ring chime sounds here* (use your imagination)

👉 See what showed up here.

🦇 The Gothic Market | 📍 Warwick | [Link] | Grimoire Academy's traveling gothic market sets up at the Crowne Plaza Garden Pavilion on Sunday at noon. Crystals, candles, hand-made goods, dark fairytale wares, and vendors who have way more interesting hobbies than you and definitely me. Gothic attire encouraged, not required. Tickets are $15.

😂 Tracy Morgan | 📍 Providence | [Link] | The 30 Rock legend hits Uptown Theater on Saturday night at 7 PM. He just signed on to reunite with Tina Fey for a new NBC series, so if you've been waiting for an excuse to see him live, this is it. Tickets from $65.

🎹 John Legend | 📍 Providence | [Link] | An intimate evening of hits and stories at The VETS on Sunday at 7 PM. "All of Me," "Ordinary People," the whole catalog, plus the kind of behind-the-scenes career stories you'd actually want to hear.

Trivia question: Every year, Americans throw away enough plastic bottles to circle the Earth how many times?

Answer below.

Ephemeral (ih-FEM-er-ul) | adjective | lasting for only a short time; transitory.

The enthusiasm for Warwick's road construction projects is ephemeral. The actual construction, somehow, is not.

Thanks to Linda G. for submitting today’s word of the day! You can submit one yourself, here. I’ll be sure to include it in the next edition!

That's it for today. Have a story suggestion, a tip, or just feeling chivalrous and want to come assemble the thousand-piece Wayfair desk currently loitering in my living room? Hit reply.

Enjoy the weekend. Keep smiling.

Thanks for reading!