Dredging operations will occur 24 hours/day, 6 days/week. The crew has been instructed to maintain public access to the pond. The most significant interruptions to public access will likely occur when the cranes are on site deploying and removing the dredging equipment. It is anticipated that dredging operations will be completed by the end of January.
Thanks to Bob Petrone who compiled this video slide show of Quonnie over the last twelve months. Bob captures Quonnie’s character and charm during all four seasons. This year he […]
The first hearing in that appeal before the Zoning Board was scheduled for 7 p.m. November 20, but earlier today, the attorney for the developer sent a letter withdrawing their appeal. That means that this application is over, that the Planning Commission’s decision to deny will stand.
“Thank you, George, for being willing to step into an unexpected vacancy to make a complete five member Town Council so that we could effectively govern the Town of Charlestown for 2018. As the voter’s choice and Vice President of the prior Town Council, you had the unique ability to have the confidence of the citizens of the Town and to fully participate immediately with the work of the Town Council in a seamless transition. Your wisdom, humor, articulate communication and thoughtfulness were a valuable contribution to our deliberations and decisions.”
“Thank you Denise for your dedication to protecting the environment and public health of all the citizens of Charlestown. We thank you for your insight about how easily change can come to our beautiful community when we don’t have local control. Your integrity, compassion, courage and careful weighing of all the facts in your work on the Town Council are greatly appreciated.”
You can find the sum total of all public comments at the FRA website. Hint… not one candidate on the slate calling itself Charlestown Residents United even bothered to send an email opposing the Kenyon to Old Saybrook Bypass.
All of these events were possible because the citizens of Charlestown rose up in the winter of 2016 to fight off the RR proposal and they were led by Lee, Carroccia,Van Slyke and Platner. As we go to vote this week, I hope we all congratulate ourselves for fighting for what we love about Charlestown and say thank you as we vote.
The Charlestown Citizens Alliance was created over a decade ago to foster exactly this type of “good government” and civil discourse, as Charlestown voters joined together to reject the political attacks that now sadly characterize national politics. The result is that Charlestown has among the lowest taxes in the state, while providing proven leadership to protect our town against expected and sometimes unexpected threats.
Incredibly (and we do not use that word lightly) Charlestown managed to back down potential supporters of the Bypass in the federal delegation, enlist the support of key environmental groups which stayed on the sidelines in every other state on Northeast Corridor, and most importantly, they convinced Governor Raimondo to oppose the plan.
I will vote for candidates based on their character, and what they can offer our town, in keeping with its rural character and charm. I will vote for Charlestown Citizens Alliance-endorsed candidates Virginia Lee, Julie Carroccia and Bonnie Van Slyke, who worked to defeat the train for all Charlestown residents, and who saved my home, as well as our community.
CCA receives 100% of its funding from Charlestown property owners, nearly three quarters of donations are from year round residents and the rest from seasonal residents. Seasonal residents contribute to CCA for the same reason full time residents do, because they want Charlestown to remain a beautiful community with taxes they can afford.
If you like Charlestown as it is, continue supporting a council that has worked to maintain that character; the low taxes but quality education, open space that preserves our resources and provides habitat and recreation, that believes in listening to people as evidenced by their going door-to door to get individuals’ views of as many residents as they can and asking their concerns, and being civil and responsible.
While the news and television advertisements are focused on our national and state elections, I find that my quality of daily life in Charlestown is most affected by the type of candidates elected to local office. Fortunately, the Charlestown Town Council circus that once made Charlestown the political laughing stock of the state has dramatically changed for the better.
These are but two glaring examples that compelled Charlestown voters to oust them and strongly contributed to CCA’s success at the ballot box, which has resulted in exemplary leadership over the past eight years. Now, vestiges of that same group have the gumption to make their primary position in this year’s election, “Bring back open and transparent government.” I trust that Charlestown voters will not be fooled again. It’s simply a matter of “old wine in new bottles.”
Julie Carroccia, Virginia Lee, Bonnie Van Slyke, David Wilkinson, and Bill Wilson are proven leaders whose education, experience, and integrity prepare them to best represent you as Charlestown Town Councilors.
Frosty Drew Observatory’s dynamic program is drawing people in from all over New England to Charlestown to experience our dark sky. This Rhode Island Monthly magazine story describes the amazing view of Saturn that you can see through Frosty Drew’s telescopes.
CCA-endorsed candidates for 2018 are proven leaders whose education, experience, and integrity have prepared them to best represent you in town government. These independent candidates are not affiliated with any political party. What they share in common is a dedication to civil and open government and a passion for preserving and protecting those assets that make Charlestown such a unique and treasured place to live.
Great article in So Rhode Island magazine about Charlestown’s dark skies. “Frosty Drew sits in a wide-open park, surrounded by protected federal lands with nothing beyond but the big, wide Atlantic Ocean. What this means for stargazers is the right kind of darkness, a field of stars relatively unmarred by man-made light. You can even get a look at the Andromeda Galaxy – which will be in prime viewing over Rhode Island in October”
Whether on the Charlestown Town Council, Planning and School committees, or as Town Moderator, CCA-endorsed officials have formulated policies consistent with our rural character and have brought respectful discussion to those debates in which they themselves disagreed. They have not always voted in unison, and the CCA Steering Committee has always supported worthy candidates without a litmus test for specific positions.
The Preserve joins other protected land that contains a diversity of natural resources featuring the area’s dramatic geological history and many unique ecological communities. Besides protecting groundwater and wildlife habitat, these natural areas, and the Preserve, provide some of the best hiking, hunting, fishing, swimming and boating opportunities in Rhode Island. The deep green forest and cool blue water of the Pawcatuck River have been described by the Chair of the Planning Commission as Charlestown’s emerald and sapphire crown, and indeed this Preserve is one of the jewels in that crown.
At the August 14 Town Council meeting, the Council voted unanimously to partner with the Rhode Island Chapter of The Nature Conservancy (TNC) to protect a 55 acre parcel of land that is contiguous with TNC’s Pasquiset Preserve on Old Coach Road. The new parcel is also contiguous with cluster subdivision open space and Pasquiset Preserve is contiguous with Charlestown’s South Farm Preserve.
We are very pleased to announce that Leo Mainelli has agreed to serve as the Charlestown Citizens Alliance President! Leo currently serves as Charlestown’s Town Moderator. Leo will be stepping […]
This post is to update those who may not have seen the recent local newspaper article about the Planning Commission’s decision at its July 25 meeting.
On July 25 the Charlestown Planning Commission did not approve the applicant’s Master Plan for a 7,500-square-foot Dollar Store proposed for Cross’ Mills. The vote to deny was unanimous.
When: Sunday, August 26, at 2PM
Where: Meet at the Preserve’s Railroad Ave Parking lot in Carolina
What: The parking lot is complete, the trails are marked, the Preserve is now open
Who: Join the Charlestown Conservation Commission and the Charlestown Land Trust for the grand opening of this beautiful preserve to the public
George Tremblay: “Communications towers are not admired as works of art, but they are a necessity in protecting the public welfare. Several already exist in the area, and it has not been made evident why new hardware attached to one of the existing towers could not satisfy the need for public safety. Erection of new towers calls for the utmost discretion if we are to preserve the beauty of our landscape.”
What: Continuation of the Dollar General hearing before the Planning Commission
When: Wednesday, June 27th at 7pm
Where: Charlestown Elementary School
At this meeting the Planning Commission will decide whether or not to approve the applicant’s Master Plan. The Dollar General store is proposed in Charlestown’s Traditional Village District, which is also in the Historic Village Overlay District.
Sad to report, Robert’s public voice has been silenced by a series of medical crises precipitated by an illness that had him hospitalized.
Alone on the river it can feel like you are in a wilderness, 1000 miles from anywhere, just you and a startled beaver and the splash of sun bathing turtles diving into the water.
Robert Malin was a candidate for Charlestown Town Council in the 2016 election. He has also been very active in the opposition to the Invenergy Power Plant in Burrillville and many other issues and causes. Robert’s family have set up a Go Fund Me page where you can read more about his situation and learn how to help.
On April 23, Peter Gaynor, the Director of the RI Emergency Management Agency (RIEMA), wrote to Joe Warner, the Charlestown Zoning Official, to say that RIEMA would examine alternative locations for the radio tower they had proposed for the DOT Salt Barn property at the Cross Mills exit on Rt. 1.