Rhode Island's best-kept secrets are revealed on COX 3, Rhode Island's cable TV provider's local programming channel. With the help of the ongoing series, Rhode Trip, Rhode Islanders discover, learn and explore the best of the best that Rhode Island has to offer. For the past five years Rhode Trip has informed us on everything from gondolas, to recycling worms, to llamas! If it's our there, be sure that it will be found, thanks to the hard work of producers David Steinbrick, Richard Griffin, and Diane Norte, all Rhode Island natives and loving it. The three musketeers of Rhode Trip have been a team for 12 years, and have been together on Rhode Trip for five of those years producing, taping, and editing this unique show.

Their journey through Rhode Island begins in the office. They sit. They ponder. What interesting tidbits can be found for their viewers? Meetings turn into conversations, and conversation turn into stellar episodes. After brainstorming, they move on the next step – shooting. They spend approximately three days shooting. The weather is of no concern to them. (Well, maybe some concern, but their audience comes first!) Summers of beaches and festivals are easy, but what about those long winters? They shrug them off, like the post office, not rain, sleet, nor snow shall slow them down! With as many as 8-10 tapes of material, they move on to editing. They spend about five days looking through the endless tapes, and pick the most appetizing moments to show you. Finally, they arrive at the final mix, three more days, they fix, they fit, and they organize.

"It's different, not sit down", says Norte. Even though it can be demanding, it is something they can be proud of. Between producing Rhode Trip and An Evening at Chan's, which offers live jazz from Chan's restaurant in Woonsocket, they have their work cut out for them. But, their mission to find the most unique and interesting things keeps them afoot of all the fun, the fresh, and the funky that Rhode Island has to offer. And with the help of the community, they are always kept on the up and up of what is going on. According to Griffin, that "one-degree of separation that is Rhode Island" also helps in connecting with that person or organization.

What makes this show different? Probably Rhode Trip's non-news format, and their break from the nasty little habit that local news has of feeding you 10 hours of information in only a minute and a half. This program goes behind the scenes, and gives you a true taste of what Rhode Island has to offer. Its expanded segments of 7-10 minutes give you more than a quick teaser of Rhode Island life. They show the lives people live and the personalities that are the building blocks of Rhode Island life. Their segments are helpful to the community, and give you new insight into our past present and future. Did you know that Rhode Island had a llama farm in Foster, and its very own accu-vet that services acupuncture to animals? This and more can be found on Rhode Trip.

Being in the main stream has kept them busy, rarely sitting in one spot for long, but Rhode Trip's three musketeers have no intentions of slowing down. They enjoy bringing the news and spotlighting community organizations. With special segments such as RI Blood Center and Meals on Wheels, their efforts have helped community organizations be heard and get noticed. They "love getting things out", says Griffin. They even offer theme shows focusing on hot topics like music and food. Rhode Trip has approximately 53 shows under their belt, fans that include Governor Almond, and awards such as "Best Community Support" that prove their devotion to the Ocean State.

Rhode Trip is a Cox Studios production that is part of the Local Origination Department that runs from East Providence. They are open to suggestion, and even offer classes for those eager to learn the what-to-do's of running a studio. Rhode Trip is on Rhode Island's Cox Communications chanel 3 at 9 PM weekdays, and 8:30 PM weekends.

So, if you want to be up on what is going down in Rhode Island, turn to Cox cable channel 3 to find what you never knew you were looking for!

Ziomara Hernandez is a soon-to-be graduate of Florida International University where she has been studying journalism and broadcast media. She is a Providence native that enjoys everything and anything that has to do with living!

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