>> EVERY PATIENT I CARE FOR A STICKY CARE MY OWN CHILD.

I AM A NURSING ASSISTANT ON LIFESPAN.

I HAVE BEEN WORKING FOR 10 YEARS.

I LOVE THE MIRACLES WE SEE.

IT IS SO REWARDING, THE FAMILIES WE GET TO HELP, THEY PUT THEIR CHILDS IN OUR HANDS.

WE HAVE TO BE THERE TO SUPPORT THEM AND TAKE CARE OF THEM.

♪ >> TONIGHT ON RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

>> WEATHER AT THE COUNTER OR BOOTH, OR EVEN OUTSIDE, SINCE COVID, SEEMS EVERYONE LIKES A QUICK RIGHT -- BITE.

BEFORE FAST FOOD FRANCHISES SUCH AS DONALD'S OR MAINSTAY IN OUR CULTURE, THERE WERE PLACES LIKE THIS ONE.

>> PEOPLE COME AND IT MESMERIZED WITH THE SURROUNDINGS AND HISTORY OF IT ALL.

>>IN 2012 WIT HURRICANE SANDY.

EVERYONE WAS LOOKING AT SOUTHERN RHODE ISLAND AND THE SEVERE DAMAGE THEIR.

BUT THIS AREA HAD ALSO ENCOUNTERED A STORM SURGE.

INSTEAD OF HAVING A SLOPED SHORELINE, WE ENDED UP WITH A VERTICAL CUT, BECAUSE THE WAVE ENERGY JUST HIT THE SHORE AND PULLED THE SOIL AWAY.

>> I WENT TO MY SON'S LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL GAME, BOARDS I WOULD LIKE TO CALL IT, SOMEBODY THROW STRIKE!

[LAUGHTER] ♪ >> GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

I'M PAMELA WATTS.

>> AND I'M DAVID WRIGHT.

THE 20 ATLANTIC HURRICANE SEASON SCIENTISTS ARE PREDICTING THAT BECAUSE OF CLIMATE CHANGE THERE WILL BE MORE STORMS AND THEY ARE LIKELY TO BE MORE SEVERE THAN PAST YEARS.

WITH ITS 400 MILES OF COASTLINE, RHODE ISLAND IS ONE ABOUT TO EROSION.

THEIR MAIN CULPRIT, AND INFRASTRUCTURE FAILURES IN THE OCEAN STATES EACH AREAS.

OUR CONTINUING GREEN SEEKER SERIES, DOROTHY DICKEY EXPLORES THE ISSUE AND INTRODUCES US TO THOSE WHO ARE WORKING TO CHANGE THE DEVASTATING TIDE.

>> BREAKING NEWS IN NEWPORT, CREW STILL ON SCENE AFTER A PORTION OF THE CLIFF WALK COLLAPSED.

>> 18 FEET JUST TO LET GO AND CRUMBLED.

CITY OFFICIALS SAY EROSION IS LIKELY TO BLAME FOR THIS.

>> WE ARE EXPERIENCING RAPID CHANGES IN THE SHORELINE ACROSS RHODE ISLAND.

I WAS NOT SURPRISED TO SEE AREAS OF THE CLIFF WALK COLLAPSE OR ANY AREAS OF RHODE ISLAND'S COASTLINE COLLAPSE GIVEN WE ARE SEEING SUCH FREQUENT AND AN INTENSE -- INTENSE COASTAL STORMS.

WE ARE SEEING INCREASE RATES OF COASTAL EROSION.

WE ARE SEEING COASTAL WETLANDS BEING INUNDATED BY HIGHER TIDES.

WE ARE SEEING THE EFFECTS OF INCREASED STORMS, THE INTENSITY OF COASTAL STORMS, NOT JUST HURRICANES BUT WINTER STORMS.

>> WE ARE GOING TO FEEL SOME IMPACT FROM SANDY, GENERATING A HUGE WAVES .

>> CLIMATE CHANGES THE MAJOR FORCING EVENT IN SEEING THESE PATTERNS OF INCREASED EROSION, INCREASED INTENSITY AND FREQUENCY OF STORMS.

AND SEA LEVEL RISE AND INUNDATION OF COASTAL HABITAT AS A RESULT OF SEA LEVEL RISE.

THE CLIFF WALK THE COLLAPSED IS ANOTHER SYMPTOM OF THE LARGER PROBLEM.

WE DO NOT KNOW THAT THAT SPECIFIC EVENT WAS RELATED TO STORM OR SEA LEVEL RISES.

BUT IN RHODE ISLAND, THIS IS THE HEART OF OUR QUALITY OF LIFE, TO BE ABLE TO COME TO THE SHORELINE AND PLACES LIKE THE NEWPORT CLIFF WALK AND TO ENJOY THE WATER.

WHEN WE SEE THAT THESE THINGS HAPPEN TO CLIFF ROCK -- WALK, IT IS AN ILLUSTRATION OF SOME OF THE CHALLENGES WE ARE FACING ACROSS COASTAL RHODE ISLAND THAT THEM TO BE ONLY GETTING WORSE.

>> WE ARE SEEING THE IMPACTS OF ACCELERATED SEA LEVEL RISE ON OUR SHORELINE AND SOME OF THE SMALLER COASTS.

WE KNOW HERE AT STILLHOUSE COVE, THE SHORELINE HAS BEEN ERODING.

SO, I'M STANDING IN LIST SALTMARSH.

THIS IS WHAT I WOULD CALL THE MARSH PLATFORM OR THE MARSH MEADOW.

THIS ONLY GETS FLOODED WHERE I AM STANDING A FEW TIMES A MONTH, DURING THE MOON TIDE.

THIS ENTIRE MARSH IS IMPORTANT FOR PROTECTING THE SHORELINE FROM WAVE ENERGY.

THE WAVES COME IN FROM THE BAY DURING THE STORM.

A LARGE NOR'EASTER OR A COASTAL HURRICANE.

THIS MARSH I AM STANDING ON, ACTS AS A SPONGE.

IT ABSORBS WATER.

AND HELPS BREAK UP THE WAVE ENERGY.

IT IS IMPORTANT FOR PROTECTING OUR SHORELINE.

YOU CAN SEE BEHIND ME, THERE IS SOME SAND IN THE MARSH.

THAT WAS NOT PLACED THERE BY HUMANS.

THAT WAS ACTUALLY THE LITTLE SAND BEACH THAT USED TO EXTEND FURTHER SEAWARD.

WITH SEA LEVEL RISE AND STORM EVENTS, THAT SAND GETTING PUSHED ONTO THE MARSH AND THE MARSH AND THE BEACH ARE MIGRATING INLAND.

THAT IS WHAT WE SEE THERE, IS NOW, INSTEAD OF, HAVING THAT AREA OF WHERE THE SAND IS BE SALTMARSH, IT IS LIKE A LITTLE BEACH IN THE MARSH AREA.

WE'RE THE SIGNS OF EROSION AND THAT SHORELINE MIGRATING INLAND RIGHT BEHIND US.

WHEN MY HUSBAND AND I MOVED TO THE CITY OF CRANSTON 40 YEARS AGO, THIS PROPERTY WAS PRETTY MUCH IN -- AN ABANDONED PIECE OF PROPERTY OWNED BY THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND.

THE PROPERTY HAD BEEN IGNORED AND NEGLECTED IN 1978 THE CITY OF PROVIDENCE BROUGHT ALL OF THEIR SNOW FROM THE BLIZZARD OF 1978 AND DUMPED IT HERE.

INSIDE OF THE SNOW, WERE LOTS OF WEED'S SEEDS.

SO THE PROPERTY BECAME OVERRUN WITH INVASIVE TREES AND VEGETATION.

BUT IS THE ONLY CITY PARK THAT THE CITY OF CRANSTON.

IT'S A FIVE AND HALF ACRE SITE THAT IS A SALTMARSH, TWO BEACHES, A BOAT RAMP, A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE THAT THE CITY OF CRANSTON DOES COASTAL.

>> BACK IN 2012 IT HURRICANE SANDY.

>> THE AREA WE WERE TRYING TO PLANT INTO AT THAT TIME WASHED AWAY.

EVERYBODY WAS LOOKING AT SOUTHERN RHODE ISLAND AND THE SEVERE DAMAGE THEIR.

BUT THIS AREA HAD ALSO ENCOUNTERED A STORM SURGE.

>> INSTEAD OF HAVING A SLOPED SHORELINE, WE ENDED UP WITH A VERTICAL CUT BECAUSE THE WAVE ENERGY JUST HIT THE SHORE AND PULLED THE SOIL AWAY.

>> I TOOK 10 FEET OF THE PARK AWAY.

>> YOU CAN'T STOP EROSION.

IS A NATURAL PROCESS.

IT HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR YEARS WE CAN TRY TO COULD -- CREATE CONDITIONS THE SHORELINE WILL NOT ERODE AS RAPIDLY.

WE ARE LOOKING AT ADAPTING TO NEW CONDITIONS, USING NATURE-BASED SOLUTIONS AND INSTEAD OF TRYING TO FIGHT EROSION AND FIGHT SEA LEVEL RISE, WE ARE TRYING TO CREATE A SHORELINE THAT CAN ADAPT TO ACCELERATED SEA LEVEL RISE AND INCREASED INTENSE STORMS.

IN A CASE LIKE STILLHOUSE COVE, ONCE WE HAD THE EROSION POST HURRICANE SANDY INSTEAD OF TRYING TO BUILD THAT BANK BACK TO WHAT IT ONCE WAS THE BANK WAS TOO STEEP.

WE PULLED THE BANK INLAND.

WE LOST A LITTLE BIT OF THIS PARK BUT WE ENDED UP WITH A MORE GENTLE SLOPE THAT WE COULD INSTALL A NATURAL PRODUCT WHICH IS MADE OUT OF COCONUT FIBER AND WE PLACE THEM, THEY LOOK LIKE GIANT BURRITOS, WE PLACE THEM ONE ON TOP OF THE OTHER THE CRATE A GENTLE SLOPE THAT WE THEN PLANTED WITH THE NATIVE GRASSES.

MUST NOT TRY TO REBUILD THE BANK THE WEIGHT WAS -- LET'S NOT TRY TO REBUILD THE BANK THE WAY IT WAS, BUT TRY TO REGRADE.

WE'RE GOING TO KEEP SEEING THIS EROSION AND TIED TO PREVENT FUTURE EVENTS THAT ARE SO DESTRUCTIVE.

>> RHODE ISLAND IS ON THE CUTTING EDGE OF COASTAL MANAGEMENT IN AS PART OF THE WORLD.

RHODE ISLAND STILL HAS 400 MILES OF COASTLINE.

THAT COASTLINE IS SO CENTRAL TO OUR ECONOMY, TO OUR ECOLOGY, TO EVERYTHING ABOUT WHO WE ARE AS THE OCEAN STATE.

THE NORTHEAST HAS UNIQUE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS.

A LOT OF WIND, HIGH-ENERGY WAVES WE GET ICE THERE IS LESS OF A GROWING SEASON FOR NATIVE PLANTINGS.

THOSE ARE CHALLENGES THE NATURE CONSERVANCY HELPED CONSTRUCT WHAT WE CALL A LIVING SHORELINE, WHICH CONSISTS OF A ROCK BERM.

THESE ROCKS WERE PLACED IN A WAY TO SLOW DOWN THE POWER OF THE WAVES AND ALLOW FOR SOME SEDIMENT TO SECRETE BEHIND IT AND BUILD UP.

WE PLANTED THE NATIVE MARSH GRASSES.

THIS IS OUR SECOND GROWING SEASON.

AND LOOKS SURVIVED THE LAST TWO WINTERS PRETTY WELL.

SO FAR SO GOOD.

A BLUFF WAS ERODING AND THE WAY WE TREATED IT WAS TO BUILD IN THESE STONES AS TOE PROTECTION.

ABOVE THAT, WE HAVE THE SANDBAG, MADE OUT OF COCONUT FIBERS AND SAND, THAT IS LAID ACROSS THE ERODING LEFT AND PLANTED ON TOP WITH DUNE GRASS.

THE IDEA IS THAT EVENTUALLY THE VEGETATION WILL GROW THROUGH IT AND ROUTE DOWN INTO THE SOIL AND PROVIDE NATURAL STABILIZATION.

OVER HERE YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE LIVING SHORELINE AREA ENDS AND WHAT IT LOOKED LIKE BEFORE TREATMENT.

OBVIOUSLY, THIS BLUFF IS ERODING RAPIDLY.

YOU CAN SEE OLDER TREES THAT ARE READY TO LET GO.

YOU CAN ALSO SEE THE ROOT SYSTEMS OF THESE TREES AND THAT IS WHAT WE TRY TO RESTORE WHEN WE DO THE LIVING SHORELINE, TO GIVE VEGETATION THE CHANCE TO GET ROOTED.

BUT THIS ILLUSTRATES CLEARLY THAT THERE'S A LOT MORE TO DO, JUST TO PROTECT THIS LITTLE AREA.

AS A RESULT OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND SEA LEVEL RISE, WE ARE SEEING THE BEACH ON THE COASTAL FEATURE HERE CRUMBLING INTO THE BAY AND PROVIDENCE RIVER EVERY YEAR.

RECENTLY, THERE WAS A CONCRETE WALL THAT COLLAPSED.

THE CITY HAD TO COME BACK AND SCRAMBLE TO MAKE REPAIRS ON THAT WALL.

THAT IS A RELIC OF ALL TIMES.

WE ARE LOOKING WHEREVER POSSIBLE TO REPLACE THINGS LIKE THAT WITH A MORE NATURE-BASED APPROACH.

EUNICE -- MINA THE POLITIES AND AGENCIES WILL OFTEN GO TO -- MUNICIPALITIES AND AGENCIES WIL OFTEN GO TO WHAT WAS LAST TIME.

TRYING TO REPAIR US -- AND FILING SEAWALL WILL BUY A LITTLE TIME, BUT A LOT OF THE TIME, BUILDING BACK AND REPLACING WHAT WAS LOST IS AN INVITATION TO TROUBLE.

IF IT HAS FAILED, IT IS PROBABLY GOING TO FAIL AGAIN.

THE OCEAN IS GOING TO WIN, THE TIDE IS ALWAYS GOING TO WIN.

>> THESE STRATEGIES ARE RELATIVELY LOW COST.

THERE RELATIVELY LOW-TECH.

THEY CAN BE DONE IN THE COURSE OF A COUPLE OF MONTHS IN TERMS OF THE TIME FOR CONSTRUCTION.

COMPARED TO OTHER MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, THESE ARE A BARGAIN.

WHAT YOU GET IS NATIVE PLANTINGS, THE GRASSES AND THE NATURAL FEATURES WORKING FOR YOU 24 7, 365.

THEY HELP ABSORB RAIN, THEY PROVIDE HABITAT FOR BIRDS, MARINE LIFE, AND UNLIKE HARD WALL, THESE PLACES MAINTAIN PUBLIC ACCESS AND PEOPLE'S ABILITY TO COME AND USE THEM SAFELY.

AMERICAN DINER.

IN THE PANTHEON OF FAST FOOD, DINERS WERE THE FIRST AND FOR MANY THE GO TO FOR RELIABLE REASONABLY PRICED FOOD.

STILL PART OF OUR CULTURE TODAY, THE ICONIC EATERIES ACTUALLY OWE THEIR EXISTENCE TO AN ENTERPRISING RHODE ISLAND MAN WHO CAME UP WITH THE IDEA 150 YEARS AGO.

>> IT STARTED RIGHT HERE IN PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

A GENTLEMAN BY THE NAME OF WALTER SCOTT.

HE GOT THE IDEA THAT PEOPLE NEEDED FOOD LATE AT NIGHT HE TOOK A HORSE-DRAWN WAGON PULLED INTO DOWNTOWN WESTMINSTER.

>> JACK SAYS THE FOUNDER OF DINERS GOT THE IDEA WHILE WORKING AT THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL'S PRINTING PRESS.

>> IT WAS PERFECT BECAUSE PEOPLE AT THE PROVIDENCE JOURNAL WERE TRYING TO GET THEIR NEWSPAPERS READY FOR THE MORNING SO THEY WOULD BE WORKING THROUGH ALL HOURS OF THE NIGHT.

>> HORSE-DRAWN FOOD WAGONS EVOLVED TO LARGE ROLLING LUNCH CARTS.

EVENTUALLY TAKING THE TRAIN LIKE SHAPE WE KNOW TODAY.

>> THEY HAD THE WHEELS, SO YOU COULD TELL THEM AROUND.

THINK OF IT, BEING ON A RAILROAD, TRAVELING AND GOING INTO THE DINING CAR AND GETTING A NICE MEAL, EVEN ON CHINA.

THEY START CALLING THEM DINER CARS.

NOW, IT EVOKES THAT WHOLE SPIRIT OF THE RAILWAY.

EVENTUALLY, YOU GET THE NAME DINER.

IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PART OF THE AMERICAN SPIRIT.

>> THE ROMANCE OF TRAVEL HELP TO SPUR CASUAL SOLO DINING AND SHARING OPINIONS WITH STRANGERS.

>> HERE, JUST LIKE WHERE WE ARE SITTING NOW, YOU CAN GO INTO A DINER, ALL BY YOURSELF, SIT AT A COUNTER, OTHER PEOPLE SITTING RIGHT NEXT TO YOU, YOUR PART OF A FAMILY.

YOU CAN TALK TO SOMEONE, SOMEONE YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW.

YOU CAN HAVE A CONVERSATION.

>> ON THE TALK TURNED TO THE MENU, THE CHEF SAYS THE INFLUENCE OF AMERICAN IMMIGRATION ADDED A NEW INGREDIENT.

>> YOU'RE GETTING AMERICAN FOOD, BUT FOOD WVE -- WAVES ARE NEVER STAGNANT.

AS MORE IMMIGRANTS COME IN, THE MAIN CUISINES START TO CHANGE AS WELL, DISLIKE SOCIETY.

STARTS TO ASSIMILATE INTO THE IMMIGRATE FOODWAYS.

YOU START GETTING THINGS LIKE CHORIZO AN BIGS, INSTEAD OF SAUSAGE.

>> DINERS ARE A MELTING POT.

>> THEY REFLECT THE PEOPLE WHO OWN THEM, THE PEOPLE WERE COOKING IN THEM.

THIS IS THE CULTURE, SOCIETY AND NEIGHBORS THEY ARE IN.

>> THE DINERS THE CENTERPIECE OF THE JOHNSON WELLS UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES AND MUSEUM.

USED TO SIT ON ADMIRAL STREET IN PROVIDENCE.

>> I USED TO EAT IN THIS PLACE.

IT'S REAL.

>> HE SAYS THE EVER READY IS A GREAT TECHING TOOL.

>> A LOT OF STUDENTS WHEN HE TALKED TO THEM, THEY HAD THE IDEA OF EVEN GETTING INTO THE FOOD BUSINESS BECAUSE OF THE LOVE OF GOING WITH HER GRANDFATHER OR GRANDMOTHER TO A DINER.

>>E THOUGH STUDENTS CAN STUDY THOUSANDS OF VINTAGE ITEMS AND COOKBOOKS HERE.

THERE IS AN ABUNDANCE OF THE FUN AND FAMILIAR HERE, REAL MENUS FOR PRESIDENTIAL DINNERS, ABRAHAM LINCOLN'S INAUGURAL DINNER AND RECIPES FROM THE JFK WHITE HOUSE.

THERE'S PARAPHERNALIA FROM EVERY ERA, EVEN AN OLD NEON SIGN FROM CAMINOS -- FROM THE RESTAURANT.

HOWARD JOHNSON WAITRESS UNIFORM, ALONG WITH DINER SETTINGS HAVE MADE SOME URINE FOR THE GOOD OLD DAYS.

-- YEARN FOR THE GOOD OLD DAYS.

>> THEY CAME FROM THE FAIRMONT LINE.

>> THE LOWER WAS BORN AGAIN ONE THE OLD PURPLE CAT RESTAURANT IN THE CHEPACHET VILLAGE WAS TORN DOWN RECENTLY, REVEALING A RELIC, THE ORIGINAL DINER.

>> THE BATS CAR WAS WHERE THE KITCHEN AREA WAS.

THE FRONT CAR WAS A DINER PART.

>> THIS ALL STARTED WAY BACK ONE?

>> 1929.

>> KEVINS FAMILY CAPTURED THE LOCAL FLAVOR HERE, ESPECIALLY IN THE EARLY DAYS WHEN TIMES WERE HOPPING.

>> RIGHT ABOUT THAT SAME TIME WAS ONE THE HORSE RACING TRACK WAS OPENING UP DOWN THE STREET.

SO, IT WAS A VERY POPULAR VENUE BACK THEN FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE COMING INTO THE RACETRACK.

ALSO THE HORSE OWNERS AND JOCKEYS, FREQUENTED THE PLACE OFTEN.

>> TODAY IS NO EXCEPTION.

THERE IS A BIG APPETITE FOR THE SURVIVING DINERS IN RHODE ISLAND.

WEATHER AT THE COUNTER, OR BOOTH, OR EVEN OUTSIDE INS COVID, IT SEEMS EVERYONE LIKES A QUICK BITE.

BEFORE FAST FOOD FRANCHISES SUCH AS MCDONALD'S WHERE MAINSTAY IN OUR CULTURE, THERE WERE PLACES LIKE THIS ONE.

>> PEOPLE COME INSIDE AND THEY ARE MESMERIZED.

THE SURROUNDINGS AND HISTORY OF IT ALL.

>> OWNER CARRIE MYERS SAYS THE IT HAS BEEN A STAPLE ON MAIN STREET IN EAST GREENWICH FOR DECADES.

>> IN 1917 THE STARTED AS A LUNCH PARK.

IN 1940, THEY BROUGHT IN THE FIRST DINER CAR.

IT WAS ALL MEN WAITERS AT THE TIME WITH THE BOWTIE CALLERS.

IN 1950, THEY MANUFACTURED SEVERAL OF THE BOXCAR DINERS AND THEY BROUGHT THIS ONE IN.

THE CLOSE THE STREETS, BROUGHT THE CAR IN.

IT HAS BEEN THIS EVER SINCE.

IT WAS OPEN ALL NIGHT.

THERE WAS BAR FIGHTS.

THEY WERE ABLE TO SMOKE IN THE IT WAS A WHOLE DIFFERENT ATMOSPHERE THAN WHAT THEY HAVE TODAY.

>> ATMOSPHERE IS WHAT BRINGS NOSTALGIA LOVERS HERE FROM AROUND THE WORLD, AS WELL AS REGULARS, LIKE KEN.

HE COMES MOST EVERYDAY, ALL THE WAY FROM PROVIDENCE.

>> FEELS LIKE HOME.

EVERYTHING IS MADE FROM SCRATCH.

I SIT DOWN, MY COFFEE IS IN FRONT OF ME.

THEY KNOW EXACTLY WHAT I WANT.

SO, IT IS PERFECT.

>> DINERS ARE FAMOUS FOR SIMPLE, INEXPENSIVE FAIR WITH A SIGN A FASTER SERVICE.

IS COMFORT FOOD.

>> IT'S SO GOOD.

>> AND A -- OF FRIENDSHIP.

>> LIKE THEY USED TO SAY IN CHEERS, THEY KNOW YOUR NAME.

THAT'S WHAT IT IS.

WAITRESSES ARE LIKE BARTENDERS.

YOU TELL THEM EVERYTHING.

>> HAUSER PANCAKES?

-- HOW ARE YOUR PANCAKES?

>> THE BEST.

>> NEW JERSEY HAS THE MOST DINERS WITH 600.

THERE ARE A COUPLE OF DOZEN IN RHODE ISLAND INCLUDING FIVE LIKE A MODERN DINER IN PAWTUCKET THAT ARE ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES.

THE COOK IS ALWAYS FLIPPING RHODE ISLAND SIGNATURE JOHNNY CAKES.

THEY WERE RECENTLY FEATURED IN A FOOD FACE-OFF ON THE TV SHOW, THE TALK.

>> YOU ARE REPRESENTING THE OCEAN STATE AS THE OWNER AND CHEF OF THE DINER IN PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

CARRIE MYERS.

>> I SERVE IT WITH SAUSAGE AND WE WON.

>> SHE IS THE TRPHY TO COMMEMORATE IT.

NOW SHE IS PLANNING TO OPEN A SECOND RESTAURANT, JIGGERS 2.

THE NEW OWNERS PLAN TO REFURBISH THE ORIGINAL TROLLEY CAR, TRANSFORMING IT INTO AN ICE CREAM PARLOR.

MEANWHILE IT HAS BECOME A TOWN HEADQUARTERS FOR MEMORIES.

>> PEOPLE STOP IN ALL THE TIME TAKING PICTURES.

THE INTEREST HAS BEEN OVERWHELMING.

>> ONE MAKES IT SO IMPORTANT TO PEOPLE?

>> THE SENSE OF COMMUNITY.

>> THE JOHNSON AND WALES MUSEUM HAS BEEN CLOSED TO VISITORS IN RECENT YEARS.

IN CELEBRATION OF THE COLLEGE OF FOOD INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGIES UPCOMING 50TH ANNIVERSARY THEY ARE PLANNING TO OPEN SOON.

>> TONIGHT WE WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU A BIT OF LAUGHTER.

AS PART OF OUR MY TAKE SERIES WE VISITED THE COMEDY PARK IN CRANSTON TO FIND OUT THE IN'S AND OUTS OF BEING A COMEDIAN, WITH A LOCAL STANDUP COMEDIAN BILL SIMAS, WHO HAS AGREED TO LET US IN ON THE SECRETS OF THE TRADE.

>> AS A COMEDIAN, ENTERTAINER, IF YOU CAN GET THAT FIRST LAUGH, AND SUSTAIN THOSE LAUGHS, IT'S A PEACEFUL PLACE.

HELLO MY NAME IS BILL SIMAS AND THIS IS MY TAKE ON COMEDY.

>> PEOPLE WITHOUT KIDS, YOUR SMILES A SCREAM HOPE.

[LAUGHTER] HERE IS HOW A PARENT SMILES, I FIGURED IT OUT.

FOCUS.

LOOK RIGHT HERE.

HERE'S A PARENT SMILE.

YOU READY?

[LAUGHTER] WE SMILE WAY DOWN DEEP.

IT IS IN THIS AREA.

IT IS COVERED WITH BOOZE AND BENADRYL AND BROKEN DREAMS.

>> I THINK PAIN FOR A LOT OF COMEDIANS IS WHERE COMEDY DRIVES FROM, WHETHER IT IS A DEFENSIVE MECHANISM OR YOU GET TO HIDE BEHIND THE MICROPHONE.

IN MINE, MY PARENTS WERE DIVORCED WHEN I WAS A KID.

I WAS VERY YOUNG.

I LIVE THAT LIFE.

I WAS MARRIED, NEVER WANTED TO BE DIVORCED AND I GOT DIVORCED.

SO, WAS AFTER MY DIVORCE THAT I KNEW THAT I WAS MADE PEOPLE LAUGH, BUT I REALLY NEEDED TO TRAVEL THAT LENA TO NOT ONLY HEAL MYSELF BUT I'M SURE OTHER PEOPLE -- LANE TO NOT ONLY HEAL MYSELF BUT OTHER PEOPLE ARE FEELING THAT AS WELL.

I THINK ABOUT HOW MY PARENTS RAISED ME, EVERY THING CHANGES.

MY SON, LIVING THE DIVORCED LIFE UNDER MY ROOF, I SAY HEY MOM IS COMING TO PICK YOU UP.

DO YOU WANT HER TO COME BEFORE DINNER OR AFTER DINNER?

THIS IS MY SON'S RESPONSE TO EVERYTHING AT HIS AGE.

>> [LAUGHTER] >> I'M LIKE, WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?

ARE YOU HAVING A SEIZURE?

DAD, I'M FLOSSING.

IF THAT WAS LITTLE BILLY IN 1984 AT 10:00 -- 10 A LOT -- 10 YEARS OLD, AND MY DAD SAID, MOM'S COMING TO GET YOU, DO WANT HER TO COME BEFORE DINNER OR AFTER DINNER?

I WAS LIKE, HEY DAD.

MY FATHER WOULD'VE LEANED DOWN AND BEEN LIKE -- WHAT MAKES A GOOD COMMENT -- COMIC IS KNOWING WHO YOU ARE AND NOT TRYING TO GOAD TOO -- WHO YOU ARE NOT TRYING TO GO TOO FAR OUT OF THAT.

THE AUDIENCE IS SMART.

I DON'T FISH, IF I TRY TO TALK ABOUT FISHING ON THE LITTLE INTRICACIES OF FISHING, I DON'T KNOW.

MAYBE I HEARD A STORY AND I'M TRYING TO TALK ABOUT IT, DOESN'T FLOW.

YOU HAVE TO BE LIKABLE, IF THE FLOW.

TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU KNOW.

IF YOU ARE JOKE TELLER, TELL JOKES.

IF YOU'RE IN -- AN IMPERSONATOR, NAIL THE IMPERSONATIONS.

IF YOU ARE STORYTELLER, USE ALL THE GIFTS GOD GAVE YOU TO CREATE THE STORY AND USE PAUSES AND TIMING AND FACIAL EXPRESSIONS.

I THINK THE CROWD WILL GO WITH YOU.

TO ME, A GOOD COMIC IS KNOWING WHO THEY ARE, WHAT TYPE OF COMEDY THEY WANT TO DO AND HONE IN ON THAT SKILL.

>> WHAT IS A LIKE TO BOMG?

>> I CAN'T SAY I HAVE HER BOMBED.

I HAVE DONE ROUTINES WHERE I KNOW, MAYBE THE CROWD IS NOT FEELING THIS TOPIC AND I WILL FIND A WAY TO SEGUE OUT INTO SOMETHING -- I HAVE DONE THIS LONG ENOUGH AND I HAVE ENOUGH MATERIAL WHERE I CAN KIND OF TAKE THAT TO AN HALF, THREE HOURS OF STUFF -- IF I NEEDED TO ADJUST OUT SO THE BOMBING ISN'T SO BAD.

I LOOK AT OLD VIDEOS OF ME 15 YEARS AGO AND AS A COMEDIAN I CAN'T EVEN WATCH IT.

YOU GROW.

YOU MORPH, YOU HONE YOUR SKILLS YOU BECOME SOMEONE ELSE.

YOU GO THROUGH LIFE EXPERIENCES AND THAT CHANGES WHO YOU ARE ON STAGE.

YOU FIND A RHYTHM.

IF YOU CAN FIND YOUR RHYTHM YOU MAY HAVE SUCCESS HERE.

I WENT TO MY SON'S LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL GAME OR AS I LIKE TO CALL IT, SOMEBODY THROW STRIKE.

IS THURSDAY.

I HAVE BEEN HERE SINCE MONDAY.

IT IS STILL THE FIRST INNING.

THE SCORES 97-75.

I WANT TO GO HOME AND NETFLIX.

HAVE YOU EVER ROOTED AGAINST YOUR CHILD OR GRANDCHILD TO STRIKE OUT, SO YOU CAN GO HOME, BECAUSE I HAVE.

>> MY NAME IS BILL SIMAS AND THIS HAS BEEN MY TAKE COMEDY.

>> IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE BILL SIMAS LIFE YOU'LL BE PERFORMING AT THE COMEDY PARK ON JULY 15 AND 16TH.

THAT IS OUR BROADCAST THIS EVENING, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US I AM PAMELA WATTS.

>> WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEK WITH ANOTHER ADDITION OF RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

UNTIL THEN YOU CAN VISIT US ONLINE TO SEE ALL OF OUR STORIES AND PAST EPISODES AND OUR -- WEBSITE.

OR LISTEN TO OUR PODCAST COME AVAILABLE ON ALL OF YOUR FAVORITE AUDIO STREAMING PLATFORMS.

THANKS AND GOOD NIGHT.

♪ [CAPTIONING PREFORMED BY THE NATIONAL CAPTIONING INSTITUTE, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ITS CAPTION CONTENT AND ACCURACY.

VISIT NCICAP.ORG]