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.
When: Thursday, January 27, 2022 at the Rise of the House (approximately 5 p.m.)
Where: The meeting will be televised on Capitol Television, which can be seen on Cox Channels 15 and 61, in high definition on Cox Channel 1061, on Full Channel on Channel 15 and on Channel 34 by Verizon subscribers. It will also be live streamed at http://rilegislature.gov/CapTV/Pages/default.aspx
How to participate: Written testimony is strongly encouraged and may be submitted as described in the post.
Vintage postcards of Quonochontaug from about 1908 make up this 2 minute video from Carla Ricci
Charlestown’s Town Administrator, Mark Stankiewicz, has written again to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) asking for clarification on the New Haven to Providence Capacity Planning Study. The concern is that the study leaves open the door for new rail alignments that could negatively impact Charlestown’s residents and natural resources. The Town has had no response to its August letter to the FRA. The text of Mr. Stankiewicz’s newest letter to the FRA is in the post.
Bob Petrone has created this beautiful year-end video of seasonal scenes of Quonnie. The video takes 6 minutes to watch, but you’ll wish it was longer.
The public was invited to participate in an information session on November 18, regarding coastal resiliency at Quonochontaug Breachway. A link to a recording of that meeting is available in this post along with a link to provide feedback to DEM.
On November 3rd, 2021, a meeting took place between representatives of Charlestown and the RI DOT Director Peter Alviti and RI DOT Intermodal Programs Chief Stephen Devine. The meeting was requested to provide an update on the NEC Connect 2035 plan and specifically the New Haven to Providence Capacity Planning Study.
Members of the Charlestown Police Department will join in what is now commonly referred to as No-Shave November. If you see Charlestown officers on the road sporting a beard and/or mustache, they have donated to the cause and are participating in the fundraiser. Charlestown Police Department’s goal is to raise at least $2500.
Town Councilor Susan Cooper recently proposed forming a Climate Resiliency Commission dedicated to studying and analyzing the issues surrounding climate change as they impact Charlestown. To that end, she and Town Councilor Cody Clarkin have interviewed town staff and other experts and are proposing the ordinance language in this post to create the new commission.
Kenyon Mill is located on the edge of the Pawcatuck River in both Richmond and Charlestown and is engaged in the manufacturing of natural and synthetic textile products. The mill has been discharging to the river for centuries, since the early American industrial period. For over 30 years the discharge has been regulated by the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and is now under the Rhode Island Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (RIPDES) Program.
Donate a coat and share some warmth with people in need.
The Town of Charlestown has placed a large bin at Town Hall, right inside the main entrance door, where you can place gently worn or new coats to donate to the Jonnycake Center. The coats will be distributed to those in need to help them stay warm this winter. Charlestown Town Hall is located at 4540 South County Trail.
The Frosty Drew Observatory in Ninigret Park has just finished the installation of their new telescope, a model “CDK 600”, made by PlaneWave Instruments of Adrian, Michigan. The research-grade telescope will be the best telescope in Rhode Island. This bigger, better, and more modern telescope was funded in part with a $107,541.00 grant from the Champlin Foundation.
When: Friday, October 29th from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Where: Charlestown Town Hall, 4540 South County Trail (Rt. 2)
What: Visit the Charlestown Town Hall with your little witches and ghosts and go trick or treating through all of the Town Hall departments. Enjoy the spooky decorations and pickup some extra candy.
Cost: Free for all
Contestants were asked to submit photos taken on one of the five National Wildlife Refuges in Rhode Island. The Refuges are Ninigret NWR in Charlestown, Trustom Pond NWR in South Kingstown, John H. Chafee NWR at Pettaquamscutt Cove in South Kingstown and Narragansett, Sachuest Point NWR in Middletown and Block Island NWR.
On August 10, The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management issued a notice that approximately 30,845 square feet of wetlands at the quarry on Rt. 91 in Charlestown had been altered. The notice requires the land owner to restore the wetland and provides the methods and plant species necessary to achieve that.
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Town Council member Deb Carney recounted assurances from Amtrak CEO William Flynn at the August 10 Town Council Meeting that the most likely new route for a high-speed rail connection from New Haven to Providence would be along the I-95 corridor. As far as NEC Future is concerned, the route “more parallel to Route 95” is the Kenyon to Old Saybrook Bypass. And if we are to believe the verbal assurances of Flynn, rail officials are once again on a collision course with eastern Connecticut and southern Rhode Island.
When: Wednesday, July 28 at 7 PM
Where: The Quonnie Grange, 5662 Post Rd, (Rt. 1) between East and West Beach Rd., next to Dunn’s Corners Fire Station (location map of the Quonnie Grange in post)
Why: Learn how the Charlestown Naval Airbase almost became a nuclear power plant and the environmental impacts of nuclear energy.
Presenter: Art Ganz, Marine Biologist
When: Saturday, July 31 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Where: At the Charlestown Animal Shelter on Sand Hill Road in Charlestown
Tents are going up to house all the items that will be for sale. You can visit the yard sale to shop for bargains, and you can donate your no longer wanted items for sale. If you want to make a donation for the yard sale, call 401-364-1211.
Artificial light at night may be one of the main drivers of firefly declines. These species are active at dusk or after dark, and artificial lights that are on at this time can make it harder for them to see each other. It may also make fireflies more vulnerable to predators that would otherwise be repelled by their light. The resulting decreases in reproduction and survival could have severe consequences for firefly populations.
The Charlestown Be-Fit Road Bike Trail is a bike tour of our beautiful town and was conceived and developed by the Charlestown Parks and Recreation Commission. The trail passes many of our town’s pristine conserved lands along with Historic Cemeteries, ponds, streams and inviting businesses.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of man-made chemicals that have been manufactured and used in a variety of industries since the 1940s. There is evidence that exposure to PFAS can lead to adverse human health effects. High PFAS levels are often found at former military sites like Ninigret Park. The wells with elevated PFAS are not used for drinking water.
Thanks to Carla Ricci for this video of a snapping turtle laying its eggs near Carolina Rhode Island.
The Breachway Bikers Club is a community bicycle group that explores our beautiful part of the world at a leisurely pace. You can join them on Saturday mornings at 8:00 am and Wednesday nights at 5:00 pm for a non-competitive bike ride throughout our beautiful area. Details in post.
A full list of recreation offerings in Charlestown with event dates, including recreation programs for children and adults, movies, concerts, nature trails, beaches and more.
Only In Your State‘s travel writers create articles highlighting the hidden gems, little-known attractions, and natural wonders of each state. They describe Charlestown as “a tiny town that represents a slower kind of life centered on the natural beauty of the area.”
