Daily Briefing: Ready for the spooky season?

ALSO: A massive emergency alert test is scheduled to hit your phone on Wednesday. Here's what to know. Advertisement [eNewspaper]( | [Crosswords]( | [Horoscopes]( [Read in browser]( [Read in browser]( The Daily Briefing YOUR MORNING NEWS ROUNDUP Tue Oct 3 2023 Will Richmond | Managing Editor Communities & R.I. [@Will_Richmond]( Good morning, I'm Will Richmond at The Providence Journal and this is the Daily Briefing. There are few Rhode Island events that garner as much excitement as the Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular at Roger Williams Park Zoo in my house. My wife and I started going before we had kids and now it's become an annual tradition, even making our way through the drive-in experience of 2020. And already my youngest son has already started asking when we'll go this year. [02_Pumpkiins_0928302023.JPG] Zach Kennett from Passion for Pumpkins wires up another of the 5000 pumpkins on display before the Sept 28th opening night of the Roger Williams Park Zoo Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular. Kris Craig, The Providence Journal While we don't have a date yet scheduled for this year's trip, we can get at least a preview to hold us over. Journal photographer Kris Craig was recently at the display to watch it being set up, along with opening night to capture the first round of 5,000 pumpkins carved by Passion for Pumpkins of Oxford, Massachusetts, for the opening night. Like past years, there's a mix of Jack-O-Lantern style carved pumpkins and those that display an image, with this year's theme "Pumpkins around the World." [You can check out Kris's photos for yourself and start to get into the spooky spirit.]( It's also just the start of some Halloween-related stories we'll be rolling out over the next couple of days, as we round up everything from haunted attractions to family-friendly events to keep you busy in October. So don't be scared and check back throughout the week. WORTH A READ 📱 Reminder: [A massive emergency alert test]( is scheduled to hit your phone on Wednesday. Here's what to know. 🚢 ['The Love Boat' captain]( former Cape Cod home is for sale at $2.8 million. 📰 [A 5th-generation jeweler is thriving in Warren]( but you can't find them in any store. [Today's Weather]( 🌤️ Fog in the morning; otherwise, mostly sunny with the temperature near the record of 83; a gorgeous day to be outside. Highs in the low-80s. TOP STORIES [How advocates imagine a Rhode Island with less poverty]( [Illustration of child poverty]( A conference hosted by the Economic Progress Institute looked at the forces affecting Rhode Islanders living in poverty. [READ MORE]( Advertisement [Board of Elections, Robert B. Rapoza, Executive Director. ]( [Board of Elections director retiring in 2024. Who will replace him?]( Robert Rapoza hasn't left yet, but he has confirmed he intends to retire in early 2024. The position has a tumultuous past. [READ MORE]( [Jeff’s Wood Fired Pizza will participate in Providence Pizza Week at the East Providence shop.]( [Rhode Island is full of great pizzerias. Vote for your favorite.]( Chicago? New York? Neopolitan? What makes a pizza great? [READ MORE]( [David Rodriguez, Mount Pleasant football]( [After win over EG, what will Mount Pleasant's David Rodriguez do next?]( Why do many of the nation's top programs want Mount Pleasant's David Rodriguez? The junior showed why Saturday - and it's only the beginning. [READ MORE]( [“Overall,” Tom Roberge of Riffraff said when reached by phone, “it's not that bad,” “but the profits are not the same.” A full-service bar and bookstore that opened in 2017, Riffraff projects that they might be able to break even for the year, but — Roberge said — “it will be close.” [The Providence Journal / David DelPoio]]( [Riffraff Bookstore and Bar in Providence has new owners]( A UMass Dartmouth professor and his wife have purchased the business. [READ MORE]( Advertisement You Asked. We Listened. The eNewspaper is now available in the breaking news app. [DOWNLOAD THE APP]( [DOWNLOAD THE APP]( Sign up for the news you want Exclusive newsletters are part of your subscription, don’t miss out! We’re always working to add benefits for subscribers like you. [SEE ALL NEWSLETTERS ➔]( [SEE ALL NEWSLETTERS ➔]( SUBSCRIBE TODAY Our Reporting. Your Stories. Full access to subscriber-only content on all devices. Share bonus subscription with a family member or friend. The universal eNewspaper, the digital version of our print paper, plus bonus monthly magazines and hundreds of local papers. Original reporting of our hometown teams, from high school sports to the pros. [Unlock news for $1]( [SUBSCRIBE TODAY]( Follow Us Problem viewing email? [View in browser]( [Unsubscribe]( • [Manage Newsletters]( • [Terms of Service]( • [Privacy Policy/Your California Privacy Rights]( • [Privacy Notice]( • [Do Not Sell My Info/Cookie Policy]( • [Feedback](