Keeping You Up To Date with Charlestown News and Events
RI Land Trust Council Will Send A Postcard To Legislature On Your Behalf
Submit your information at the “Make the Green Bond Greener” link in this post, and the Rhode Island Land Trust Council will deliver a postcard on your behalf to your RI state legislators to let them know you support returning money for land preservation to conserve important landscapes, watersheds, and farms to the “Green Bond” that will be on the 2024 state-wide general election ballot.
Town Moderator Vacancy Will Be Filled By Town Council On April 8
Susan Cooper argued for setting the appointment date for April 22 to give citizens time to find out about the opening and apply. The other Councilors disagreed that the period was too short with Councilor “Rippy” Serra saying that “everyone knows there is an opening.” We doubt that “everyone knows,” so we hope that our readers will share this post with anyone who might be a good moderator before the April 3 deadline.
Two Gentle Giants Are Arriving To Teach Environmental Stewardship, But Will The Town Council Listen?
Thomas Danbo will soon direct the installation of two trolls in Ninigret Park. Mr. Danbo’s Trolls are intended to have a message of environmental stewardship. The Trolls have the full support of our Town Council, but this is a Town Council that doesn’t always make choices that protect the environment.
Town Council To Appoint Replacement For Town Moderator Charlie Beck
With the sad and sudden passing of Town Moderator Charlie Beck on March 19, the Town Council will now appoint a replacement until the election of a new Moderator in November. This is on the agenda for the March 25 Town Council meeting.
Tuesday, April 9 – Chariho School Budget Referendum
When: Tuesday, April 9 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Where: Charlestown Town Hall on Route 2 (4540 South County Trail)
What: All-day referendum on 2024/2025 Chariho Regional School District Budget
Under the state law governing Chariho, a majority of the citizens of Charlestown, Richmond and Hopkinton must approve the Chariho School District Budget by referendum in order for the budget to be adopted.
As We Enter The Spring Migration, Please Do What You Can To Conserve Birds
Approximately 70% of all bird species are migratory and 80% of those that undergo migration do so at night. As countless numbers of birds pass overhead as you sleep, many of them will be drawn off course by bright lights scattered across the landscape below them, leading to fatigue and increasing risk of collisions with buildings.
Charlestown’s Brush With A Nuclear Power Plant
When: Wednesday, March 27 at 6 p.m.
Where: Cross Mills Public Library, 4417 Old Post Road, Charlestown
What: “A Small Town’s Brush with Nuclear Power”, presentation by Journalist Brian Mitchell who was hired as the first editor of the Chariho Times in 1977, when plans to build a nuclear power plant in Charlestown were well underway. Brian will recount the story of reporting on this controversial proposal.
Correspondence On Lighting Impacts To Wildlife Missing From Ninigret Park Plan
The final plan includes an appendix with comments, but missing from the comment collection is an important letter from the Audubon Society of Rhode Island in opposition to the installation of any lighting near the Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge. Also missing is a 2012 letter from the US Fish and Wildlife Service in opposition to lighting in Ninigret Park sent as an attachment with other correspondence. The missing letters both clearly state that there is no lighting that will not impact nesting and migratory birds in the Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge.
School Committee Adopts Budget, Cuts Hope Valley Kindergarten
The Chariho School Committee voted to adopt the Fiscal Year 2024-25 budget. The period for amendments has now ended, and the next step will be to present it to voters in April. During this final opportunity to make revisions, some items, such as the $434,000 that the committee had restored to Hope Valley School at a previous meeting, were cut from the spending plan. The final budget total, before state aid, is $58,341,117. Even if voters reject the bond in May, Hope Valley School is slated for closure.
DEM Provides Tips On Co-existing With Bears
The Department of Environmental Management is reminding Rhode Islanders to remove potential food sources from their properties as black bears emerge with warmer weather. Bird feeders, unsecured trash cans, livestock feed, and other easily available household and backyard food sources attract bears primarily in early spring, during droughts, or in the fall when they are trying to put on weight for hibernation.