Every Friday night in the winter (weather permitting), Frosty Drew Observatory opens their Observatory, Science Center, Sky Theatre, and telescopes to the skies and offers free stargazing and astronomy to anybody interested in observing with them. They open on clear Friday nights at around 7:00 p.m. with views of the beautiful night sky over Ninigret Park.
Do you do a daily or occasional pick-up of roadside litter? Nips, which make up a lot of the litter on some roadsides, are mostly not recyclable, but now they have a use! They can be used to persuade the legislature to support legislation to reduce single use plastics, which will help to reduce litter and pollution in our area.
What started out as a routine trip to dump trash turned into a lovely day-out experience. The preserve covers 87 acres consisting of 2 large fields and lots of surrounding woodland with several trails through them, a small pond and some wetlands. After our walk we decided to lunch out … and decided on a nearby very small cafe owned and operated by local native Americans called “The Sly Fox Den Too”
Thanks to Bob Petrone for sharing this beautiful video of a recent drone flight from East Beach to the Quonochontaug Breachway to display the beauty of the Charlestown coast.
On November 1, a letter from Mr. Clay Johnson, a resident of Richmond, dated October 14, 2022 arrived at my home and the homes of many other Charlestown residents. It is full of baseless conspiracy assertions about Chariho. Mr. Johnson has done nothing to promote creditable and responsible discourse among voters.
The Town of Charlestown’s Onsite Wastewater Management Program created this first short video (in post) detailing the Town’s Nitrogen Reducing Layered Soil Treatment Area (LSTA) Septic System pilot project. There will be a series of these videos as the program progresses. This first video illustrates the need, design, treatment mechanisms and installation of the LSTA system.
Someone once said that local election campaigns are called the “Silly Season.” Now it’s the “Lying Season.” I was shocked to read in The Westerly Sun’s Letters to the Editor on Tuesday, October 11, the fabrications and deliberate lies of Catherine O’Reilly Collette, chairwoman of the Charlestown Democratic Party.
In this year’s Charlestown Town Council race, you will find independent Town Council candidates Susan Cooper, Peter Gardner, Ann Owen, Joshua Vallee, and David Wilkinson together, in the bottom section of the ballot. Rhode Island election laws had already secured for the political party candidates the more desirable spots at the top of the ballot. The laws were written by the political parties to serve their own interest.
As a resident of Charlestown, I will cast my vote for candidates who have impressive records of accomplishment. Town Council candidates Susan Cooper, Peter Gardner, Ann Owen, Joshua Vallee, and David Wilkinson; Planning Commission candidates Walter Mahony, Carol Mossa, and Lisa St. Godard; and School Committee candidates Donna Chambers, Craig Louzon, and Linda Lyall are the most accomplished candidates. List of accomplishments in the post.
I see evidence that individuals endorsed by the Charlestown Citizens Alliance have served my town extremely well for over a decade. In the future, I know they will work to maintain this healthy balance of slow, planned growth, preservation of rural character, and a stable, low tax rate.
PLACE MATTERS. We all know that. That place could be this diverse and jagged world, or this great country, neither of which we can influence greatly. The place I’m talking about is Charlestown – our town – and you have great influence to elect smart and responsive leadership in the candidates of the Charlestown Citizens’ Alliance.
When: October 22, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
What: The Charlestown Historical Society presents a Revolutionary War Encampment
Where: The Historic Amos Greene Farm
Who: Performed by the 2nd Rhode Island Regiment, Kingston Reds, 5th Connecticut, Peters’ Corps, 54’th A Foot, Butlers’ Rangers, Le Regiment Bourbonnais, and the Cape Cod Blue Jackets Fife and Drum Corp.
Access: Parking is at the Charlestown Elementary School with a shuttle bus that will start running at 9:45 a.m.
Cost: There is a suggested donation of $5.00 for anyone 14 years or older.
On October 2nd, Rhode Island Public Broadcasting Service (RI PBS) aired a story about Light Pollution for RI PBS Weekly, a TV News magazine featuring in-depth stories of local interest. The film “Green Seeker: Lights Out”, created by photo journalist and editor Ross Lippman, features Frosty Drew Observatory & Sky Theatre, Charlestown’s exquisite night sky, the issue of light pollution, and what we lose when we lose our view of the stars. Video in the post.
View the local and statewide Primary election results. There was only one local contest on the Primary ballot, and that is the local Democratic Party primary contest for Senate District 38, (formerly Dennis Algiere’s seat). That senate district includes Charlestown districts 503 and 504. There were three Democratic Party candidates in that primary. Victoria Gu won that primary by a wide margin in Charlestown and district wide.
The non-profit group Environment Rhode Island announced Wednesday that it has filed a lawsuit against Kenyon Industries, Inc., and its parent company, Brookwood Companies Incorporated, for alleged violations of the federal Clean Water Act at their textile mill in Kenyon, Rhode Island.
Have you noticed how good you feel when you go for a walk outside in the woods? It has been proven that experiences in nature release your body’s ‘feel good’ chemicals and improve your overall health and wellness. Join Wendy Rappaport, USFWS volunteer, expressive artist, and naturalist for experiences that bring nature into your life to promote well being in mind, body and spirit. The classes will be held in August and September.
Endangered species laws vary from state to state, and Rhode Island laws lack some protections that have been codified by its New England neighbors. “The regulatory frameworks that currently exist for protecting wildlife in Rhode Island are inadequate,” according to the state’s Community Wildlife Conservation Guide. Before rare species can be protected, the state must decide which species are of greatest concern and find where they are living.
Three online wildlife surveys are currently accepting observations from the public: the herp observer, the wild turkey brood survey, and the summer deer surveys. All three surveys can be accessed through a smartphone or desktop computer. Simply take a photo of the animal, open the app, and follow the steps to submit your sighting.
Did you miss the Quonochontaug Historical Society’s July 13 presentation on our beautiful and important night sky? The entire presentation was recorded on two 30 minute videos. Links to videos in post. Charlestown is an important location for the study and viewing of the cosmos because we have the darkest skies along the coast between New York and Boston.
When: Wednesday, July 13 at 7 p.m.
Where: The Quonnie Grange, 5662 Post Rd, (Rt. 1)
What: Learn about easy ways to protect Quonnie’s dark skies from the problem of ever-increasing light pollution and also learn about the Frosty Drew Observatory
Who: Presentation by Bill Steinman – Quonnie Night Sky Enthusiast and Scott MacNeill – Director of Frosty Drew Observatory
When: Saturday, June 18 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Where: Clark Memorial Field, 39 Columbia Heights Rd., Charlestown
Bring the family to this free event with Face Painting, a Moon Bounce, Carnival Games, and more.
When: Sunday, June 26, at 10 a.m.
What: Narragansett Trail Hike at the Francis Carter Preserve in Charlestown
Why: Celebrating the Wild and Scenic Status of the Wood-Pawcatuck Waterways
Where: You must register for this event. Once registered, you will be contacted with meeting place and other details. Link to register in post.
The Wood-Pawcatuck Wild and Scenic Rivers Stewardship Council presents the 1st annual 7 Rivers Festival during National Rivers Month.
URI Master Gardener volunteers will be at Kettle Pond to conduct free soil pH testing. The test helps determine soil pH levels and predominant soil texture, and provides basic information and recommendations for gradual correction of soil pH and compaction issues. While you are dropping off your soil sample, stop by the native plant demonstration garden.
Saturday, April 9 was a great day to enjoy spring in New England – about 25 enthusiastic walkers, a couple of leashed dogs, lots of bird song, clear views of the Pawcatuck River and sun, were enjoyed. The walk was to introduce an initiative of Charlestown’s Parks and Recreation Commission of a trail in commemoration of Ellison “Tarzan” Brown.
All community members and organizations are encouraged to plan free events – whether family friendly, recreational or restorative. Events can range from ecological, educational, cultural, musical, historical or artistic activities to hiking, cycling, canoe and kayak outings or even picnics and social gatherings that celebrate the Wild and Scenic Status of the Wood-Pawcatuck Waterways.
Since July 2021, when the The Northeast Corridor Commission released Connect NEC 2035, a 15-year development plan and planning process for the Northeast Rail Corridor, Charlestown’s Town Administrator has written to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) several times asking for information. Now seven months later, Charlestown has finally gotten a reply from the FRA, but not a lot of answers.
Land proposed for protection under the Natural Heritage grant program is scored for its protection of critical and uncommon habitat, its capability of supporting a diversity of habitats, its support for rare/endangered species, its close proximity to other protected land, its close proximity to a river or other water body, groundwater protection, and public access for passive recreation.
Rhode Island House Bill H 7531 makes our state’s most important forests and wildlife habitat, ineligible for incentives to develop renewable energy. It also defines preferred sites where renewable energy incentives should be focused. If adopted, this legislation would be a huge improvement of Rhode Island’s current renewable energy siting programs that are encouraging the clearing of many hundreds of acres of forest and wildlife habitat.
Cynthia Drummond, who wrote for many years for the Westerly Sun, has brought her considerable skill and high journalistic standards to cover Richmond Town Council and Planning Board meetings for the BRVCA. You can read her articles at the BRVCA web site. Because of our shared borders and interests, Cynthia’s coverage is also a benefit to Charlestown readers.
The purpose of this MOU is to establish a framework of cooperation between the Town and the Refuge in regards to management of natural resources in the Park to meet the intent that these lands be managed in a manner consistent with the Refuge while facilitating the development of the Park for the benefit of the public.
