What: Public Hearing on the creation of the Charlestown Climate Resiliency Commission
When: Monday, December 13 at 7 p.m.
Where: Town Council Meeting, Town Hall, 4540 South County Trail
In part, the commission will work to protect the quality of life for Charlestown residents and minimize climate change effects on the community as much as is possible.
Food insecurity continues to rise nationally due to the pandemic and our town is no exception. The Rhode Island Center Assisting Those In Need (RI CAN) is a local lifeline to many. We are asking you to join CCA’s fundraising campaign with a financial donation that will be presented to RI CAN.
There are great health benefits, for body and soul, when connecting with nature, and autumn is one of the most beautiful times to hike in Charlestown. And after a big Thanksgiving meal you may be looking for fun ways to burn off some calories.
It is with heavy hearts that we must report the passing of Jan Knost. Jan passed away on Sunday, August 22, just as Hurricane Henri made landfall in Charlestown and knocked the power out. Jan’s passing was coincidental to the storm, but there is some symbolism in this great light of our community, Jan Knost, being lost at the same time all our lights went out.
We ask that the Town Council and our State Government Officials inform the Federal Railroad Administration that Charlestown should have a seat at the table on the New Haven to Providence Capacity Planning Study; that there be a complete environmental impact study; and that we remain opposed to the Old Saybrook to Kenyon Bypass.
Most of our readers are signed up to receive the CCA newsletter which is handcrafted and sent about once a week from our website. A smaller group of subscribers receive an automated email with all of the previous day’s blog posts whenever there is new content. All of our readers who were receiving the “daily” automated email will be transferred to a new email list.
On April 17, the day we set aside for the recent litter pick-up in Charlestown, Jeanne Silva, one of the dedicated volunteers working to clear the roadside on Old Mill Road, came upon this pitiful snake, trapped in plastic mesh that someone had dumped at the side of the road.
Charlestown’s 2021 Litter Pick-Up Day had a great turn out and a staggering amount of roadside litter was picked up. Bravo to everyone who pitched in and also to those who tooted their horns and gave thumbs up to the volunteers, giving everyone energy! Statistics about Litter Pick-Up Day in the post.
The Charlestown Planning Commission and Planning Department have created a slideshow to summarize the 2020 draft of Charlestown’s Comprehensive Plan. Please click on the blue button in the post to page through the summary. A continued joint public hearing on the proposed new Comprehensive Plan is scheduled by the Town Council and Planning Commission for May 4th at 7 PM.
Charlestown Citizens Alliance kicked off a campaign seeking donations to ease the burden on neighbors experiencing food insecurity. As of mid-January, donations have reached almost $10,000 from nearly 50 individual donors. An anonymous donor working directly with RICAN pledged to match the donations. We thank all the donors who participated in our campaign.
Let the legislature know you support House bills 5113 and 5280. These “Bottle Bills” can make our roads cleaner and safer, reduce litter and marine debris, increase recycling rates, protect our environment and natural resources, and save taxpayers money.
For the last three years, another high-speed rail planning process, independent of the Federal Railroad Administration, proposes a new route that would go inland through Connecticut instead of along the shoreline. The proposed new route would cross Long Island Sound with a 16-mile tunnel to New Haven, and then north to Hartford. From Hartford it would travel east to UConn at Tolland Connecticut, and then on to Providence and Boston.
There are many of you who already pick up roadside litter as you take an afternoon walk or you may continuously clean the litter tossed in front of your property. Community litter pick up days are a chance to get more people involved and raise awareness about this issue, but is there more we could do?
If you don’t regularly check your Promotions tab, or would prefer the CCA email to arrive in your primary inbox, there are two different ways you can teach Gmail to put CCA email in your Primary tab.
Starting in mid-November, we hosted a fundraiser in support of the primary food bank in Charlestown — the Rhode Island Center Assisting those in Need. Thank you to everyone who donated!! We raised over $5000.00 and an anonymous donor has matched each of your donations to result in over $10,000.00 to support RI CAN!
Freedom of speech, freedom of religion and the right to cast your vote in a free and open election of government officials are some of the most important elements of the United States of America. This past November 3rd and the weeks leading up to it, the citizens of Charlestown cast their votes in record numbers to elect officials who would represent them for the next two years or more.
The 1,112 acre Francis C. Carter Memorial Preserve is beautiful in October. There are 8 miles of hiking trails to help you explore this beauty. Here are just a few pictures. To really experience that beauty you need to take a hike.
As our local elections near, elected Charlestown Citizens Alliance (CCA) members of the Town Council, Planning Commission and others in Town Government should be proud of the civil, open, and well-run local government that has been achieved amid one of the most politically divisive times in our nation’s history and a global pandemic of tragic proportions. By contrast our opposition has based their campaign on attacking CCA with claims that are deceptive and completely false.
There are great health benefits, for body and soul, when connecting with nature, and autumn is one of the most beautiful times to hike in Charlestown. We are so lucky to live in Charlestown, where we have access to the Pawcatuck River, ponds, parks and public open space located throughout our town.
As chairman of the Charlestown Citizens Alliance, I agree that stealing or moving political signs is wrong and should not be condoned. The sign ordinance is clear. CCA has not touched any of the CRU signs, has attempted to place our signs on private property, and has received permission from each property owner, and has complied with the sign size restrictions. Mr. Quillen’s implications in his letter to the editor last week are unwarranted.
Since March of 2015, when CCA published a guide to Charlestown open space for the community, we have promoted all the town-owned lots along the barrier beach east of the Charlestown Breachway, as well as the right to public access along the shore of the entire beach. It’s impossible to read everything, so we certainly aren’t faulting anyone who doesn’t know, but it’s just not been a secret.
CCA 2020 Platform for Charlestown Our Economy – Our Environment – Our Future The Charlestown Citizens Alliance* (CCA) is committed to enhancing the overall quality of life for all Charlestown […]
Dr. Andrew is a Professor of Animal Science making her an excellent fit as a Town Councilor in a community that prides itself on rural character. “The town has everything we love; from the agricultural and the rural nature, to the magnificent ocean and salt ponds.” She is looking forward to supporting the Charlestown community in maintaining that rural character, supporting our highly respected school system, keeping reasonable tax rates and measured and responsible development, all with a focus on protecting the environment and our natural resources.
Cody, who has lived almost his entire life in Charlestown, has a BS in Biological Sciences from URI with a minor in Justice, Law, and Society. Cody is the recipient of a national award for volunteer community service for his work protecting Charlestown’s natural and historic resources. His work as a member of the Town Council will be a continuation of that same community service. As a Town Councilor, Cody wishes to continue the tradition of the town supporting environmental causes and community engagement.
Elected to the Town Council since 2014, Bonnie views the protection of our natural resources as critical for our economy. As a Town Councilor she has championed protecting the local environment, including our dark skies, and safeguarding our rural community with its low taxes. She advocates for inclusive recreational opportunities throughout our town. A former director of the Frosty Drew Nature Center and Observatory, Bonnie works in publishing and has a BA in Economics.
David was elected to the Town Council in 2018 and is Senior Vice President for Operations of an international company he and a team of logistics experts founded in the late 1990s. His love of Charlestown’s quiet natural beauty, his determination to work to protect our town, his substantial experience of other communities, and his leadership skills and experience in project management, budgeting, financial planning, and operations have made him an excellent and effective Town Councilor. David has a BS in Business Administration.
Gordon is a current member of the Planning Commission who holds a Masters degree from Tufts University in Urban and Environmental Policy. He is a former chair and member of the Charlestown Conservation Commission, a co-founder of the Charlestown Land Trust, and has lived in Charlestown since 1993. He worked in coastal resource management and is an Academic Skills Coach and Professional Tutor of Economics, Spanish, and Writing in the Academic Success Center at Johnson & Wales University.
Ruth currently serves on the Planning Commission, has a BS degree in Biology and has had a long career in scientific research and technology. The beauty of Charlestown’s natural environment brought Ruth here over 40 years ago. She was invaluable in the defeat of the Federal Railroad Administration proposal to bisect Charlestown with new rail lines; she was a leader in stopping Invenergy from trucking our ground water out of town; and Ruth has always reminded us of the connection between natural resource protection and our relatively low tax rate.
Frances is a Natural Science Illustrator, fine artist, educator and naturalist. She has both a Bachelor of Science in Geography with Botany and Zoology and a Bachelor of Fine Arts. She has served on the Charlestown Planning Commission for six years where she has demonstrated her work ethic, eloquent writing skills, and impressive knowledge of the local environment. Frances is a past member of the Conservation Commission and volunteers for the RI Wild Plant Society and other groups and has lived here for 18 years.
It seems like a good time to take a step back and look at the town of Charlestown; assess what we have, what we want to keep, and where we […]
