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.
Overwhelmingly, residents are “very happy” with Charlestown’s management, finances, education system and recreation opportunities. In response to the candidates’ most important query, “What are your hopes, concerns or questions about our town?” we’ve heard new ideas, valid criticisms, and lots of love for Charlestown.
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.
Jim Mageau is back this election on the Town Council ballot, again promising to fire staff. This time his target is Charlestown’s excellent Town Planner. Other candidates are also talking about firing Town staff and forcing out our highly-regarded Town Administrator. Before marking your ballot this election, please watch this video to see what happens when residents vote for someone they believe will “shake things up”.
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.
The changes desired by opponents would jeopardize our natural resources and cost taxpayers dollars. They do not comply with Charlestown’s Comprehensive Plan or State Land Use Plans. They contradict the priorities identified by our taxpayers in the 2021 Town-Wide Community Survey, and they have nothing to do with providing affordable housing because the resulting homes would be market-rate housing.
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.
It’s not a surprise that an opposition candidate would look to the Charlestown Citizens Alliance for campaign ideas and website content. What is a surprise is the willingness of Deb Carney’s group to shamelessly steal entire content, word for word, from the CCA website. Plagiarism is just the newest tool in their bag of campaign dirty tricks. Having the same content and branding leaves voters with the impression that there is very little difference between the two groups, when in fact there is a world of difference.
This is why she is well-respected in the field of adult education and in the development of learning methodologies. This is why she is considered a trustworthy and reliable friend and colleague. She is on the Chariho School Committee and is committed to the prospect of improving upon the school district’s already laudable ranking within the state.
Actions by candidates endorsed by Charlestown Residents United (CRU) contradict the claim that they will protect the town’s environment. For 12 years, Independent Town Council members endorsed by the Charlestown Citizens Alliance (CCA) have consistently acted to protect our environment and keep our taxes low. These actions are in keeping with priorities clearly expressed in the recent Town-wide Community Survey.
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.
When: Saturday, October 15
Who: You and your family and friends
Where: Pick any road you like in Charlestown to pick up roadside litter
What: The town is providing the bags and the transfer station and fire stations will accept them without charge on October 15 from 8 AM to 4 PM
It is important to elect independent Town Councilors and Planning Commissioners who will put the interest of the town, its tax rate, and its environment first. These Independent Town Council and Planning Commission candidates are committed to our environment and rural character. They understand the connection between protection of our natural resources and our low tax rate. Electing Independent Town Council candidates Susan Cooper, Peter Gardner, Ann Owen, Joshua Vallee, and David Wilkinson and Planning Commission candidates Walter Mahony, Carol Mossa, and Lisa St Godard will help to keep Charlestown green, both on the land and in all our wallets.
Join us at a ZOOM meeting to meet all the CCA candidates for Charlestown local offices.
When: Thursday, October 6 at 7 p.m.
Where: From the comfort of your home via ZOOM
Why: These candidates will protect our quality of life, our low tax rate, our beautiful environment, and our future.
Details on joining the ZOOM meeting in this post.
“Only In Your State” calls Ninigret Park “Home To One Of The Best Dark Sky Parks In The World” “Boasting some of the darkest skies on the East Coast, Frosty Drew Observatory & Sky Theatre at Ninigret Park in Charlestown offers the perfect way to spend a Friday evening – all year around.”
Read the full story in the Only In Your State article.
We have images for signs, posters, handouts, emails, Facebook posts, Facebook banners or anything your creativity inspires that we are happy to share with you to promote these candidates who will protect Charlestown’s environment, tax rate, and future.
Our candidates are independent citizens willing to invest their diverse backgrounds, talents and time to work hard to protect and improve our community. We expect to be the beneficiaries of their investment through continued low taxes, protected natural resources, and all the other benefits of living in this beautiful community, but they need your support.
If you too want to keep our environment protected, our drinking water clean, our tax rate low, and our town working well, vote to elect the Independent candidates endorsed by CCA. As Independents they have the interests of the town foremost, not the interests of a political party or personal agenda and will act in the best interests of all the citizens of the town.
These candidates will bring education, experience, science, and a commitment to conservation to the elected Planning Commission. The top vote getter will serve as a full voting member. The next two vote getters will be elected as alternates. Alternates participate fully in all Planning Commission discussions and vote in the absence of a full voting member.
Three Ways To Vote (choose one of these)
• Vote by mail
• Vote early until September 12
• Vote on Tuesday, September 13
There is 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.
Links to Senate District 38 candidates’ websites in this post.
The enactment of the new Residential Conservation Development Ordinance by the majority of the Town Council provides environmental and tax benefits for all Charlestown residents; weakening it would have served a very small class of corporate developers. These updates are meant to increase environmental protection, reduce long-term negative impacts to taxpayers, and at the same time provide ways for developers to reduce their own costs when they protect more open space.
Join us at a ZOOM meeting to meet the candidates to represent Charlestown on the Chariho School Committee.
When: Thursday, September 8 at 7 p.m.
Where: From the comfort of your home via ZOOM
Why: Those whom we elect to School Committee affect the future of Charlestown’s children and the Chariho school budget. Chariho has become one of the highest ranking school systems in our state.
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.
If physical distancing had encouraged you to set out alone with your camera, you may have captured some stunning photographs of our beautiful landscapes and wildlife. Here are four ongoing photo contests where you can win either prizes or recognition for your beautiful photographs.
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.
The banner image is an aerial view of the subdivision on Cedar Meadows Road (off of Shannock Road) that shows a subdivision with approximately 70% open space. This subdivision was built under the current cluster ordinance and would still be possible under the proposed changes for conservation development. But with the flexibility provided by the new ordinance, a developer could reduce further the impacts to wildlife, wetlands, and groundwater and reduce long-term impacts to taxpayers.
Charlestown and most of Washington County are experiencing extreme drought conditions. July 2022 in Rhode Island is the second driest July on record, over the past 128 years of record keeping. No matter what your normal water levels are, your well is probably drawn down more than normal.
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.
Since the Town Council first advertised the proposed Conservation Development in March, our political opposition has spread intentionally false and misleading information about the proposed ordinance. In this post is a table with some of the disinformation that is being spread and a response to each.