☕Pothole Problems

Friday, March 6, 2026 | Edition #14

GOOD MORNING, WARWICK. You made it to Friday, which means the group chat is currently deciding between $2 margaritas at Chelo’s or staying home to watch sneak peeks of Real Housewives of Rhode Island.

Whatever you end up doing this weekend, try to get outside for a bit. Sunday’s high is expected to push close to 60 degrees — which in early March basically qualifies as beach weather by Rhode Island standards. Grab your SPF60 and your swim trunks.

Here’s what’s going on in your city.

Nearly two weeks removed from the Blizzard of ’26, Warwick is still very much in cleanup mode. The snow and ice finally clearing from city roads has been a relief in many ways — but a nightmare in others. Welcome to pothole season. As the snow melts and temperatures bounce above and below freezing, the constant expansion and contraction of pavement has already begun turning some Warwick streets into something closer to a lunar surface. The freeze–thaw cycle after major storms is notorious for tearing apart pavement, creating craters that can damage tires, suspension, and occasionally a driver’s will to live.

Drivers across the city are already reporting holes big enough to make you wonder whether you hit a pothole or briefly crossed into another municipality.

City crews will continue tackling snowbanks and rough road conditions in the days ahead, but until things smooth out, Warwick motorists may want to keep both hands on the wheel and their eyes peeled. Spring may be around the corner — but first we have to survive the annual Warwick Pothole Invitational. 🕳️🚗

If you’re interested in supporting the Blizzard of ’26 Industrial Complex — or simply want proof you survived it — a Warwick resident has already turned the storm into merch. The site, Blizzard26ri.com, is selling t-shirts commemorating the storm that buried the city under 3 feet of snow and briefly turned every driveway into a CrossFit workout. If you spent three days digging out your car only to have the plow come back five minutes later, you’ve probably earned one.

A longtime Warwick resident and environmental advocate has died after being struck by a car following last week’s blizzard. Michael Zarum, 71, was hit while crossing Warwick Avenue on Feb. 25, according to police. As reported by the Warwick Beacon, Zarum was taken to Rhode Island Hospital and initially listed in stable condition, but later died from his injuries on March 3.

Officials say large snowbanks left behind from the storm may have contributed to poor visibility at intersections around the city. Warwick Mayor Frank Picozzi noted that plows often push snow to the sides of roads, creating high piles that can make it difficult for drivers and pedestrians to see each other when crossing.

Zarum was widely known in Warwick for his environmental advocacy and civic involvement. He served for years on the city’s Land Trust and with the Buckeye Brook Coalition, helping lead efforts to protect local waterways and environmental resources. Friends and colleagues remembered him as a thoughtful community member and passionate advocate for the city’s natural spaces.

Struggling to find a preschool that teaches your little one more than just how not to eat the crayons — without requiring a second mortgage?

Tucked into Warwick’s Buttonwoods neighborhood, Buttonwoods Preschool for Young Children has been helping little learners take their first classroom steps for decades. As a Christian school, it blends early academics with faith-based values — teaching children kindness, gratitude, and how to share their toys without filing a formal complaint to HR. For many local families, it’s a warm, close-knit introduction to school rooted in both learning and character.

Inside, the days are filled with finger paint, story time, early literacy, playground fun, and plenty of singalongs. Small class sizes allow teachers to give individualized attention, guiding students through those big early milestones — from sounding out their first words to mastering the art of standing in line. Structured but joyful, the environment prepares children for what’s next without rushing them through childhood.

The school also offers a full kindergarten program, allowing families to continue in the same nurturing, Christ-centered setting. That continuity keeps families coming back year after year — often with younger siblings in tow — making Buttonwoods Preschool a steady starting point for children in Warwick and across the state beginning their educational journey (and creating at least one glitter-covered masterpiece for your fridge along the way). Visit them at 311 Buttonwoods Avenue or learn more about BSFYC at buttonwoodsschool.com.

⚡️Super-charged — If your electric bill feels personally offensive lately, it’s not just you: Rhode Island saw the second-highest electricity price increase in the country over the past year, according to new analysis from Aklan Investment Research. Retail prices here jumped 16.3% year over year — the largest increase in New England and second only to Pennsylvania (+18.9%) — outpacing states like New Jersey, Maine, and New York, while neighboring Connecticut actually saw prices decline. Analysts point to winter demand, grid pressures, and growing usage from large energy consumers like data centers as key drivers, with electricity costs rising faster than overall inflation nationwide. Translation: Ocean State households are getting hit with some of the steepest power bill increases in America right now. Woof.

☕ Latte Lovers Line Up! — Warwick’s caffeine lineup grows by one today as Latte Love officially opens on Bald Hill Road, serving up specialty lattes, coffee drinks, and quick bites. Considering Bald Hill is already home to roughly 47 places to spend money you didn’t plan on spending, adding one more spot to grab a coffee feels about right. ☕

🚓 THC Ya Later, Pal — What started as a routine traffic stop by a Warwick Police second-shift officer quickly turned into something closer to a mobile smoke shop inspection. According to the department, the stop led to two arrests and the seizure of a large quantity of illegal THC products, unstamped nicotine items, cash, and distribution materials. Safe to say this wasn’t exactly a “license and registration” situation — more like the officer accidentally discovering Warwick’s least official pop-up dispensary. What a time to be alive.

⏰ REMINDER: Springing Forward — This weekend we turn the clocks ahead one hour. Prepare to spend Monday telling coworkers “I’m exhausted” like you just returned from a transatlantic flight instead of losing 60 minutes. Sunday night, the sun will set at 6:44 PM — meaning the post-work daylight comeback tour has officially begun.

Warwick isn’t really one city — it’s more like a collection of villages connected by Dunkins and the occasional rotary.

Question: Roughly how many historic villages and neighborhoods make up the City of Warwick?

A) 12
B) 18
C) 30+
D) 50+

Proliferation (noun) — A rapid increase in numbers.

Used in a sentence: The proliferation of car washes throughout town is starting to make Warwick feel like the unofficial set of Ozark season 5.

Trivia Answer: More than 30 villages/distinct neighborhoods. Which explains why two Warwick residents can live five minutes apart and still argue about what part of the city they’re “really” from.

That's it for today. Have a tip, a story suggestion, or think you know who will be PC’s next men’s basketball coach? Hit reply.

Stay safe, Warwick ☕

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