Despite the opposition to land conservation in Charlestown from the current Town Council majority, passage of “State Question 4” would allow Charlestown to continue to apply for state funds to purchase land that protects critical and uncommon habitats, supports rare or endangered species, expands other protected land, protects surface water bodies and groundwater for drinking water, and provides public access for passive recreation.
David is Senior Vice President of an international company he helped to found. He served two years on the Charlestown Town Council where he was fair, clear, organized, informed, and inclusive. His leadership skills and his knowledge of the major underlying issues will make him an excellent and effective presiding officer at all regular and special budget public hearings.
Angie is a life-long educator with expertise in planning, technology, grant management, and personnel development. She will bring experience collaborating with state and community organizations to her role in town government. With an over 40-year history in Charlestown, she is passionate about preserving our town’s unique character and community connections.
When: Thursday, September 26 from 6 to 8pm
Where: Cross Mills Public Library, 4417 Old Post Rd., Charlestown
What: Coastal Ponds Management Commission member Art Ganz will give a presentation about the erosion of the barrier beaches and damage to the west jetty of the Charlestown Breachway
Cost: Free
Would you like to host a lawn sign for our candidates? We will bring it to your house and place it for you. Just send us an email to mail@charlestowncitizens.org. We have signs for Town Council, Planning Commission and will have signs for Town Moderator soon too.
What: Be Safe! Be sure to wear at least 200 square inches of florescent orange (usually a hat and or a vest) when hiking on state, federal, or other public and private open space.
When: *September 7, 2024 – February 14, 2025 for deer, and until May 18 for other game.
The Charlestown Land Trust has announced the expansion of protected land at the historic Amos Greene Farm in Charlestown. Thanks to the incredible generosity of landowners Carla and Russ Ricci, an additional 47 acres have been placed under conservation easement, bringing the total protected area on the Amos Greene Farm to 87 acres and increasing the Charlestown Land Trust’s total protected acreage to almost 700 acres.
Why: Household hazardous waste must not be placed in regular garbage!
When: Saturday, September 21, 2024 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Where: Richmond DPW – 51 Buttonwoods Rd., Richmond
Appointments are required for this event – link to register in post.
Carol is a photographer, writer, publisher, and small business owner. She has lived here for 13 years, served on the Planning Commission for two, and loves our unique, small town character. Her education, with both an MFA and MBA, and her experience help her to understand the need to achieve a balance between commercial development and the cultural, aesthetic, and environmental impacts on our community.
Sarah is a nationally recognized marketing expert with over 30 years of experience as a creative director, art director, designer, and photographer. As a small business owner, she wants to ensure that our economy can flourish without damaging the character of one of the most beautiful communities on the East Coast. Sarah is the third generation in her family to be raised in Charlestown and believes “we should continue to conserve land to protect the natural resources that support our economy and low tax rate in the long term.”
Where: Frosty Drew Observatory and Science Center in Ninigret Park
When: Tuesday, September 17, from 9:00 pm to 11:30 pm
On Tuesday, September 17, the Harvest Moon will occur, and with it a Partial Lunar Eclipse is taking place, which will be visible to all in New England. This will be an awesome night and Frosty Drew Observatory is opening to celebrate the event starting at 9:00 pm offering excellent views of the eclipse. They will stay on site and open until 11:30 pm, which is when the eclipse will be completed.
When: Saturday, Septemper 14, 2024 6:30 pm to 10:30 pm
Where: Frosty Drew Observatory in Ninigret Park
Cost: $5 Suggested Donation per person 5 years and older
For the 2024 International Observe the Moon Night, Frosty Drew Observatory will join thousands of museums, observatories, and science institutions around the world in spotlighting our nearest neighbor, the Moon. The waxing crescent Moon will be in perfect position for spectacular up-close viewing in the Frosty Drew telescopes and on their grounds.
Where: Frosty Drew Observatory and Science Center in Ninigret Park
When: Saturday, September 14 from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
What: Fourth Annual Inspire, Discover, Enlighten, and Awe (IDEA) Fundraising Exposition
Cost: Admission is free with the expectation that visitors will donate to help Frosty Drew achieve their yearly goals.
A vote for these candidates is a VOTE FOR experienced voices who will listen to diverse views and act in the best interests of all our residents. These candidates support sound, civil, and open government, and they bring expertise in areas ranging from the environment, to education, to the economy, and most importantly, their experience as your neighbors. These leaders value and are committed to protecting the inherent quality of life that makes Charlestown so unique.
Weidman said the new law enables development by right of ADUs in homes near Charlestown’s environmentally sensitive salt ponds, which the state Coastal Resources Management Council, she said, rates as already beyond their capacity to safely tolerate more wells and septic systems. She remains unhappy that an effort to carve out these areas in the legislation was rejected.
Early last month the Narragansett Bay Estuary Program (NBEP) released “Into the Woods: Solar in the Forest” to examine the number and location of ground-mounted solar projects in the region and to assess how much green space has been lost to solar development. The NBEP mapped solar arrays in the forests of the 113 municipalities in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut that make up the Narragansett Bay region. Nearly 4,000 acres in the region, most of which was undeveloped, have been cleared for solar projects. “By far, most solar projects were installed in forested areas or cropland,” according to the recently published study.
I’ve been elected to the Planning Commission since 1998, and I watched the Commission for ten years before that. In all that time, not a single person who was a neighbor of a large residential subdivision spoke in favor of the proposed development, and most asked that it not be approved. If residents were getting what they wanted, land would not be developed, but approvals of residential development have far more to do with state law and property rights than residents’ desires. My story can illustrate what can be done, however to preserve the land next door that you might love.
In Charlestown, the fall bird migration begins in August and continues into November. Birds are tracked on radar and thousands of birds are passing through Washington County each night. In this post are links to tools that predict and monitor bird migration in real time through our area, and tips on how you can help the birds in their long migrations.
The proposed development consists of changes to the existing commercial building that has a floor area of 9,444 square feet, and construction of six new one-story commercial buildings, with a total of 23,892 square feet of building floor area, new parking areas, a new septic system (OWTS) and a new public well.
Rhode Island PBS has created some short segments called Trail Stories that they show between longer programs. This one features the fabulous Carter Preserve, the 1,100 acre preserve located in Charlestown and owned by the Nature Conservancy (TNC). The film opens with the Tarzan Brown Trail and is narrated by TNC’s Tim Mooney.
As it has for a quarter of a century, Rhythm & Roots will return to Charlestown, this Labor Day Weekend, August 30, August 31, and September 1. This year, the festival showcases music on three stages (the Roots, Rhythm, and Dance Stages) and will feature a variety of music styles, including Cajun, Zydeco, blues, country, bluegrass, Americana, and many other genres.
There is a plan to increase the resiliency of the breachway so it can support critical habitat for flora and fauna and help to ensure the continued viability of Ninigret Pond for the future. The plan would involve repairing the west seawall to help prevent future filling of excess sand in the pond and to enhance the barrier dune habitat. Dredging will also be needed to clear out the current sand blockage in the breachway.
Currently, the Planning Commission does not have enforceable standards for commercial development. It still won’t have. The Town Council insisted that the required zoning ordinance language would not be included in the consultants’ work; it was just to be a design document. This leaves us at the mercy of a developer to follow or not follow these guidelines.
The excellent candidates for Town Council and Planning Commission who are endorsed by CCA in the upcoming election will listen. They have heard your concerns, and they will work to return Charlestown to the path to long-term sustainability by protecting our natural resources on which our economy and our future depend.
When: Wednesday, August 21 at 6:30 pm
Where: The Quonnie Grange, 5662 Post Rd, (Rt. 1) between East and West Beach Roads, next to Dunn’s Corners Fire Station (location map of the Quonnie Grange in post)
Using drone technology, learn about the severe erosion that impacted Quonnie beaches this past winter and what can be done to slow this perennial problem.
Who: Presentation by Art Ganz, Marine Scientist
My election campaigns always seem to present unexpected challenges. I declared my candidacy for Charlestown Town Council in June, and a biopsy on July 15 found a small tumor in my throat. I had, and have, no symptoms except for a swollen lymph node. I will get through this and be okay. My voice may be quieter for a short time, but it won’t be silent and I will continue doing my best to protect the beautiful, natural character of our community.
When: Saturday, August 24 at 9:00 am
Where: Meet at Quonochontaug Yacht Club, 155 West Beach Road
Preregister: The tour will be limited to 20 kayaks. Preregister on a first-come-first-served basis by emailing: alicia@joinsaltponds.com or angela@joinsaltponds.com
Rain Date: Sunday, August 25th at 9:00 am
When: Saturday, August 17, at 10:00 am
Where: Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge
Cost: Program is free
Registration: Please pre-register as space is limited
Hands-on experience that introduces children and their families to a variety of aquatic creatures living in the salt ponds.
The University of Rhode Island is looking for answers from a community wide survey. The survey is focused on identifying and addressing concerns about coastal resilience and the Charlestown Breachway barrier beach-lagoon system in Charlestown, Rhode Island. Link to survey in post.
When: Wednesday, August 21 at 7:00 pm
Where: Charlestown Town Hall, 4540 South County Trail
The Charlestown Planning Commission is hosting a public workshop to present a draft of commercial and village standards to promote good design for new development in commercial areas in Charlestown.