Keeping You Up To Date with Charlestown News and Events
Chariho Bond For New Schools Fails
Charlestown voted 829 in favor to 330 against.
Richmond voted 782 in favor to 798 against (not all mail ballots are in)
Hopkinton voted 705 in favor to 1278 against.
All three towns needed to pass the bond for it to be a success. Because Hopkinton decisively turned down the bond, the bond has failed.
Double Seal Release Friday, May 10 at Blue Shutters Beach
When: Friday, May 10 at 9:00 am
Where: Blue Shutters Beach in Charlestown
What: Release of two seals back to the wild
Rotini is a female harbor seal yearling and Manicotti is a female gray seal.
Please remember that seal release dates and times may change without notice.
Danbo’s Trolls Fight For Nature, But The Town Council Majority Doesn’t Listen
Danbo’s message is that the world is running out of resources. His trolls lure people out into the woods where there is soil, sun, water, and trees, and it is through the “wind and the whispers of nature” that his trolls speak. This message is especially appropriate for Charlestown which has amazing natural resources of national and statewide importance that are being negatively impacted by overdevelopment, but it’s a message that the Charlestown Town Council majority is not likely to hear or understand.
Arbutus Garden Club Spring Plant Sale
When: Saturday, May 11, 8:00 a.m. to Noon (come early for the best selection)
Where: St James Parish Center, 2079 Matunuck Schoolhouse Road, Charlestown
Cost: Free parking and admission
This Plant Sale features flowering annual plants, hanging baskets, vegetables, herbs, and perennials from members’ gardens. There will also be Mother’s Day gifts and a raffle. Again this year will be a soil-testing table run by their Master Gardeners; please bring a cup of your soil for analysis.
A “Magical” Fish: The Effort Continues to Protect Native Brook Trout
It’s Not Whether You Stock, but Where. Turek says he has no objection to hatchery fish being stocked in waterbodies that don’t have native trout already living there. Corayer believes the focus of trout management in Rhode Island should shift from recreation to conservation. “I firmly believe that our state would be far better served by teaching people about the beauty of our natural surroundings and the potential to catch a gorgeous brook trout in the woods or along the side of the road as opposed to just dumping fish in a pond and letting them succumb to predation and starvation.”
Shape The Future Of Chariho Infrastructure
This letter was written by Gina Picard, Chariho Superintendent of Schools, to explain the May 7 referendum. “For the district to become more efficient, we must address the issues of our aging elementary school facilities. The cost of operating four aging buildings will be the same, and in some cases more, than embarking on new construction. Unfortunately, some believe you will save taxpayer dollars by saying “no” to this bond. The reality is that saying “no” to the school bond will cost the taxpayers more as the needs of the facilities continue to increase.”
Chariho Bond Referendum Explained
This capital improvement plan has a strategic focus on the elementary schools. It lays the groundwork for a significant long-term investment in the District to improve facility infrastructure, increase fiscal and operational efficiency, and enhance educational spaces. The Chariho proposal is a $150M bond with 76-81% state aid over an estimated 25-year term.
“Citizen Scientists” Needed to Photograph Flooding
Coastal planners in Rhode Island are asking the public to take photos of flooding of low-lying coastal areas that occurs during the upcoming extreme high tide (called King Tide) arriving on Monday, May 6 at 7:21 p.m., and share their photos using the MyCoast App. These photos can identify where resilience efforts are needed. You can take photos at any beach, or flooded roads, parking lots, buildings, seawalls, playgrounds, and yards.
Save Rhode Island’s Farmland, Forestland and Wetlands with USDA Conservation Easements
Natural Resources Conservation Service in Rhode Island announces a third application sign up period for the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program and the Regional Conservation Partnership Program RI Forest Health Works. Apply by May 17, 2024, to be eligible for the third round of fiscal year 2024 funding.
URI Botanical Gardens – Spring Plant Sale
When: Saturday, May 04, from 9 a.m. to noon
Where: URI Botanical Gardens. Attendees are encouraged to park behind the URI Fine Arts building in Lot 7 off Flagg Road.
The sale will feature annuals, perennials, herbs, and vegetable seedlings grown by URI Master Gardener propagation volunteers in the East Farm greenhouses.