The current Town Council majority continues to say that there is no plan to spend $39.5 Million on Ninigret Park. But there is a plan to develop the park that will cost nearly $40 million. The scale of the plan and the substantial cost are connected. You can read the detailed cost estimates in this post.
Charlestown was the first municipality in the state to adopt a written fund balance policy. This wise planning has already proved critical. Because the town built up and maintained adequate fund balances and because of the skill of town staff in planning for climate resiliency, Charlestown had the funds available for a temporary fix to the damage caused to the Charlestown Breachway
When: Tuesday, October 29 at 7 pm
Where: Charlestown Town Hall
What: Town Council special meeting to discuss and possibly adopt the new 2024 Master Plan for Ninigret Park
The Town Council will discuss the 2024 Ninigret Park Master Plan that its consultant, VHB, developed in accordance with the directions given to the company by the Town Council. The $39.5 million cost estimates that were handed out at the April 15 meeting are included in this post.
We have created a community characterized by protected land, but development is still proceeding at more than 5 times the rate of preservation; still our political opponents see land conservation as a threat to population growth!
The only “interest” that the Alliance has is to protect Charlestown’s natural resources and low tax rate, to promote honest and transparent government, and to prevent unregulated development. Charlestown is indeed a very special place and it deserves our special interest.
Wednesday, October 16 is the first day of Early Voting at Town Hall. Early voting will take place at Town Hall, anytime between 8:30 am to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, from October 16 to November 4. The state prints different ballots for each precinct in Charlestown. Sample ballots for each precinct in this post.
Coastal planners in Rhode Island are asking the public to take photos of flooding of low-lying coastal areas that occurs during the upcoming extreme high tides (called King Tides) arriving October 16 through 20 and November 15 through 17 and share their photos using the MyCoast App. These photos can identify where resilience efforts are needed. You can take photos at any beach, or flooded roads, parking lots, buildings, seawalls, playgrounds, and yards.
Charlestown deserves a government that will protect our quality of life, our low tax rate, and our beautiful environment. To accomplish this, Charlestown Town Council candidates Sarah Fletcher, Angela Jalbert, Peter Keating, Ruth Platner, and Bonnie Van Slyke offer these commitments:
When: Saturday, October 19 from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Where: Mill Pond Preserve, across from East Charles St. on South County Trail
RSVP: Please register for this event
The Charlestown Land Trust invites you to join them at Mill Pond Preserve for their annual S’mores Social. Enjoy a marshmallow roast with good company and conversation!
When you fill in your mail ballot from now until November or enter the voting booth from October 16 to November 5, please vote for the candidates in this post, highlighted in blue. From the shore of the Block Island Sound to the villages along the Pawcatuck River they will protect our quality of life, our low tax rate, and our beautiful environment.
When: October 19 and 20 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Over 25 art workshops and exhibits in multiple locations in Hopkinton, Richmond, Charlestown, and surrounding areas
What: Visit local artists and artisans in their studios and workshops and view their amazing work
Cost: Free
Join us to meet the candidates CCA has endorsed for Charlestown Town Council, Planning Commission, and town moderator at an in-person meeting on October 12 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Charlestown Mini Super, 4071 Old Post Rd., Charlestown
When: Saturday, October 12
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 blue bags starting October 7, and the transfer station and fire stations will accept them without charge on October 12 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
When: Saturday, October 26 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Where: Ninigret Park Parking Lot
Pre-register your trunk: Trunks and people handing out candy must pre-register to participate. For all others, this is not required.
Dress the kids in costumes and enjoy trick or treating with a twist; instead of going from house to house, participants will trick or treat from one decorated car trunk to another.
When: Wednesday, October 9 at 5:30 p.m.
Where: Kettle Pond Visitor Center, 50 Bend Road, Charlestown
What: Charlestown Land Trust Members’ Annual Meeting with guest speaker Steve McCandless, Charlestown GIS Coordinator. Steve will speak on the issues facing the Charlestown Breachway, as well as proposed solutions.
Join us to meet the candidates CCA has endorsed for Charlestown Town Council, Planning Commission, and town moderator at an in-person meeting on October 6 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Hungry Haven Restaurant (outside), 5000 South County Trail, Charlestown.
Sarah has lived in Charlestown for 15 years and has been a member of the Planning Commission for 6 years. Sarah has felt a deep connection to our community from the beginning of her time here, but the threat to neighborhoods, wildlife, and protected open space by the Federal Railroad Administration plan for new train tracks through northern Charlestown inspired her to become actively involved. She would like to continue to work to protect our beautiful town as a member of the Planning Commission.
Having served 8 years on the Town Council, 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.
When: Sunday, October 6 at 10:00 a.m. sharp. There is no rain date!!
Where: Meet at the Burlingame State Park main Parking lot, on Klondike Road
To celebrate October, the Breachway Bikers Community Group and Charlestown’s Block Island Sound Bikeway Committee invite interested cyclists to join them for a ride.
Please Reject Charter Questions 7, 10, 14, 15, and 17
Please Approve Charter Questions 11, 12, 13, and 16.
Charter Questions 8 and 9 are Tossups.
Read the post for full explanations of all the Charter Questions.
Amendments that are rejected can be brought back up at the next election if the Town Council feels that they needed some adjustment.
Coleen is a small business owner, professional comedian, motivational speaker, and former special education teacher. She has a strong background in design and is committed to preserving Charlestown’s natural resources, history, and character. She believes that it is possible to focus on preservation and work with all parties to find solutions that will best serve our community as a whole as we grow.
Ruth had a long career in scientific research and technology and serves on the Planning Commission. She has worked successfully to preserve the beauty of Charlestown’s natural environment that brought her here 47 years ago by being a leader in open space preservation, groundwater protection, and many other conservation efforts, including fighting the federal proposal in 2017 to bisect Charlestown with new rail lines.
Before sending the ordinance to a public hearing, the Town Council stripped the regulations of the Special Use Permit requirement. This makes it a “by right” use on any commercial lot along the Scenic Highway. They also removed several other recommendations from the Planning Commission’s version of the ordinance that protect the rights of abuters, neighborhoods, and natural resources.
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Rhode Island Headquarters is at the Kettle Pond Visitor Center on Bend Road in Charlestown. This is the headquarters for all of the National Wildlife Refuges in Rhode Island. What is needed? The greatest need is on weekends and Wednesday afternoons. Even volunteering once or twice a month is a huge help and shifts are only three hours long. Volunteers of all ages are welcome. This is also a great way for students to get volunteer hours!
When: Saturday, October 19, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: Charlestown Town Beach
Help keep Charlestown Town Beach clean! Shoreline trash is ugly and dangerous to wildlife, and shoreline cleanups are a great way for volunteers to make a difference.
A full list of recreation offerings in Charlestown with event dates, including recreation programs for children and adults. The change of season doesn’t slow down recreation in Charlestown.
Lisa works as a Planner at the Naval Submarine Base New London, has lived here for eight years, and has served on the Planning Commission for four years where she advocates for our environment and small-town character. Living on the western edge of town, Lisa has a front-row view of a large quarry in Westerly and the effect that bad land use planning can have on neighbors and natural resources.
Peter is a life-long volunteer. Besides working on countless charitable efforts, he’s served as a director on many boards – as varied as a local library and an orphanage in Africa. He even gave his left kidney to a stranger. For decades, Peter owned and operated a successful Connecticut supermarket with a diverse staff of 100 people. He’ll bring his talents for listening, analyzing, and responding to concerns to town governance.
As a past member of Charlestown’s Planning Commission and Town Council, I have witnessed at close proximity the competing interests of proponents for expanded economic development and the public will for preservation and conservation of natural resources. Well guided economic growth can be used to foster preservation and conservation, and CCA is committed to that dual outcome.
When: Thursday, September 19 at 4:00 pm
Where: Blue Shutters Beach in Charlestown
What: Release of two Sea Turtles
Phineas, a Kemp’s ridley sea turtle and Tullibee, a green sea turtle will be released.