This excellent essay is worth a read! “When you walk the roads of rural Southern Rhode Island, you are never far from the drinking habits of its residents. On a raw but sunny afternoon, we set off from the homestead armed with a garbage bag and a grabbing tool. It wasn’t much of a walk because we had to stop every few steps while one of us (me) operated the pincers and the other (my husband) held open the garbage bag…”
South County Tourism Council sat down with astronomer Scott MacNeill from the Frosty Drew Observatory to talk about the Sky Theatre in Ninigret Park, the Great Conjunction and favorite celestial bodies! Check it out and give it a listen. You’ll learn about the history of the observatory, our night sky, how we see the sky, science, upcoming celestial events, Charlestown’s Red Light District and much more!
The 300-square mile watershed provides abundant clean groundwater that serves as the sole source of drinking water for more than 60,000 local residents and supports roughly 70 percent of Rhode Island’s globally imperiled species. The Pawcatuck, which forms the northern border of Charlestown, is very popular for fishing, canoeing, kayaking, and other forms of outdoor recreation.
A 3.6 magnitude earthquake occurred at 9:10 a.m., Sunday, November 8. It was centered 30 miles southeast of Providence on the north shore of Buzzards Bay, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Charlestown residents reported a loud rumbling noise that sounded like a very large truck and shaking houses that went on for what seemed like about 10 seconds. No damage has been reported.
Charlestown is one of the best-run, lowest-taxed, most-beautiful towns in the entire State of Rhode Island. Not only are their integrity and civility unassailable, CCA officials and candidates have demonstrated, time and time again, that they have Charlestown’s best interests at heart. After receiving a mailer that falsely attacks the integrity of the Charlestown Citizens Alliance (CCA) elected officials, I write to set the record straight.
The bigger question is why did everyone on the commission vote for Ruth Platner as Chair? The answer is, she is incredibly dedicated to preserving Charlestown’s natural beauty, keeping low taxes, and balancing growth. No, she obviously does not singlehandedly halt trains ripping through the middle of Charlestown, nor box stores, but she is always there as a quiet, dedicated leader.
David Wilkinson is running for re-election to the Charlestown Town Council. In his first term, he demonstrated his business savvy by getting to the heart of budget issues and was singularly instrumental in getting the tax rate reduced to its present level.
The RI Long-Range Transportation Plan incorporates a Bicycle Mobility Plan. It is the first statewide initiative to expand the bicycle network strategically. The Bicycle Mobility Plan includes a candidate corridor for a coastal bikeway linking state beaches in Westerly, Charlestown, South Kingstown and beyond.
Perhaps the most obvious and consequential of CCA’s platforms is its focus on protecting the environment, our wildlife, the forests and our water. The Planning Commission’s main purview is the human-built environment. We do not have unlimited powers over the rights and designs of land owners and property developers. We are limited to ensuring that developers follow Charlestown’s subdivision and commercial development regulations while conforming to the town’s Comprehensive Plan.
Planning in Charlestown is not, and should not be, a haphazard affair. The Commission is charged under state law with ensuring the orderly and environmentally sound growth of Charlestown.
Charlestown photographer Vic Dvorak recently flew his camera equipped drone over Mill Pond Preserve and captured this stunning photograph. The photo shows Mill Pond with surrounding woodland, and Ninigret Pond and the ocean in the distance.
The Town of Charlestown’s Coastal Watershed Protection and Restoration Program was highlighted in a recent EPA Southeast New England Program (SNEP) newsletter.
When birds arrived and began to set up territories this spring, there may have been less foot traffic and human use on some beaches, which could have resulted in birds nesting in some previously unused places.
Bob Petrone has created another beautiful video using a drone at Charlestown’s East Beach. A good reminder of how beautiful our town is. Thank you Bob!
Bob Petrone has created this beautiful video using a drone at Charlestown’s amazing shore. A good reminder of how lucky we are to live here. Thank you Bob!
I am a relatively new resident of Charlestown who was attracted by the beautiful beaches, salt ponds, and miles of forested trails, which I hope will be available for all to enjoy for many years to come.
Charlestown is an important stopover point in the Atlantic Flyway, the main migration route for birds along the east coast, and the bird migration has begun! Key West radar captured a surge of migrating birds leaving Cuba, crossing the Keys, and landing in Florida.
This past year Robert Petrone was able to video various stages of the dredging process of Quonnie Pond and Ninigret Pond. He recently created a summary video of the dredging operation, from launching of the dredge machine to the planting of the salt marsh.
What: Locate 6 hidden elves around participating Charlestown businesses
When: November 29th to December 20th, 2019
How: stamp your passport & provide the location found on the Elf on the Shelf form for a chance to win a $50 gift certificate for any program.
Two years ago this month, the signup period for Solarize Charlestown ended. Charlestown’s program was one of the most successful in the state, with 58 households signing contracts for solar during the four month campaign. In this post is one family’s experience in the two years since the program ended.
On September 17th, 2019, the Rhode Island National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) Complex released seven New England Cottontails (NEC) at Ninigret NWR, in coordination the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Southern […]
Where: Charlestown Rathskeller, Old Coach Road, Charlestown
Why: October is Breast Cancer Awareness month
When: Sunday, October 6, 2019 – Registration begins at 8:30 am
Cost: There is no cost to register for the walk
The University of Rhode Island’s Graduate School of Oceanography was recently awarded a grant to study how groundwater affects the amount of nutrients found in Rhode Island’s coastal waters, including in the salt ponds. They will be focusing their studies on Green Hill and Ninigret Ponds.
The property contains forested wetlands and some vernal pools. Along with tall white pines, the forest overstory is dominated by three species of oak: northern red oak, white oak, and scarlet oak; as well as American beech with some ash, red maple, black birch, tupelo, and big-toothed aspen.
Quonochontaug Breachway has been dredged! Phase two of this project is salt marsh planting. The Salt Pond’s Coalition’s project partner, Save the Bay, is coordinating the salt marsh planting effort. On Thursday, May 16, Bob Petrone created another informative video of the experts explaining Phase Two of the Quonnie Dredging project:
This past winter Robert Petrone created four educational videos to inform the viewer about the dredging process of Quonnie and Ningret Ponds. CCA shared all four videos. Bob has now […]
The Wood-Pawcatuck Watershed Wild and Scenic River Act passes the U.S. House of Representatives. It passed the Senate last week. Next it goes to President Trump for his signature! Press release from U.S. Representative Jim Langevin.
Thanks to Bob Petrone for this video. Dredge material from Quonochontaug Pond and Ninigret Pond is being distributed to Quonnie’s salt marshes and Charlestown Beach.
The feasibility study, is the first phase in fulling the state’s goal of a coastal bike route linking Westerly with Narragansett and points north. The result is a very professional examination of the potential for a coastal bike route.
Thanks to Bob Petrone for sharing another informative video! On Friday, December 14, J. F. Brennan Company gave Bob Petrone, and Art Ganz and Richard Sarter of the Salt Ponds […]
