When: Thursday, May 21, from 6 pm to 7 pm (Rain Date: Thursday, May 28)
Where: Carter Preserve Western Trailhead, 931 Kings Factory Rd, Charlestown
Registration: Preregistration is required for this walk – link to register in post
A Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) walk focuses on understanding nature through Indigenous perspectives and ecological knowledge.
The Friends of the National Wildlife Refuges of Rhode Island announce their 26th Annual Amateur Photo Competition to highlight the beauty of the five refuges that comprise the Rhode Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex. Amateur photographers are encouraged to enter their existing refuge color photos or to take new ones. Photos and a $10 entry fee per photo must be received by September 8, 2026.
What: Budget Public Hearing on the 2026–2027 Charlestown Municipal Budget
When: Monday, May 4 at 7 p.m
Where: Charlestown Town Hall
The purpose of the public hearing is to present the Town Council’s proposed municipal budget to the voters and to hear their questions and comments.
Charlestown resident and Narragansett Tribal member Thawn Sherenté Harris ran the 2026 Boston Marathon on April 20, to honor his great uncle, Ellison “Tarzan” Brown, a two-time winner of the Boston Marathon. Harris, 47, ran the marathon in under four hours, which is an impressive time.
On April 27, the Town Council appointed Holly Eaves to represent Charlestown on the Chariho District School Committee. Holly earned an advanced degree in education from the University of Rhode Island and also has a BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of Connecticut. Like Donna Chambers, Holly is an education professional.
The Wood-Pawcatuck Wild & Scenic Rivers Stewardship Council has an opportunity for an independent contractor experienced in social media and event planning. The work and compensation is described in detail in the post.
Town Councilor Bonnie Van Slyke placed the resolution in this post in honor of Donna Chambers on the April 27 Council meeting agenda, where it was read and approved by all the members. Donna, a long-time Charlestown member of the Chariho School Committee, passed away on March 11, 2026.
When: Saturday, May 16 at 10 am
Where: Meet at the parking lot next to Mini-Super
What: A guided bicycle tour through the Historical Cross Mills Village
Cost: Free
Register: Pre-registration is required – link to register in post
Participants will stop and visit several historical locations, buildings, and cemeteries along the route.
When: Friday, May 1 at 7 pm
Where: Charlestown Elementary School Gymnasium
What: An evening of History, Storytelling and Community
Cost: Free
Register: Pre-registration link in post
Enjoy an historical play presented by students of the Chariho School District. Play will be approximately 45 minutes long.
When: Saturday, May 9, 8:00 am to Noon (come early for the best selection)
Where: St James Parish Center, 2079 Matunuck Schoolhouse Road, Charlestown
Cost: Free parking and admission
This Plant Sale features flowering annual plants, houseplants, herbs, and perennials from members’ gardens. There will also be Mother’s Day gifts. Again this year there will be a soil-testing table run by URI Master Gardeners; please bring a cup of your soil for analysis.
Charlestown, along with Portsmouth, Tiverton, Hopkinton, Burrillville, Bristol, Smithfield, West Greenwich, East Greenwich, Lincoln, Middletown, and Westerly have all signed the statement which is printed in this post. This initiative to gain statewide support to restore local zoning control may already have other towns’ support beyond those listed here. Please encourage other towns to sign the statement.
Rhode Island is the smallest U.S. state by land area, and the second most densely populated state, exceeded only in density of development by New Jersey. Charlestown, at 160 dwelling units per square mile, is the most densely populated rural town in the state and the most densely populated community lacking both sewers and public water.
When: May 7 to May 28
Where: Cross Mills Library (4417 Old Post Rd, Charlestown) and guided hikes at Canonchet Brook Preserve in Hopkinton and Mill Pond Preserve in Charlestown
What: Writing About Place is a collaborative community series featuring four writing workshops and two guided hikes focused on observing, experiencing, and writing about the landscapes around us.
When: Monday, April 13 to Sunday, April 19 – from 8 pm to 10 pm every night
Where: Frosty Drew Observatory and Science Center in Ninigret Park
Why: Charlestown is joining in the celebration of International Dark Sky Week
International Dark Sky Week is a global celebration of the night and Charlestown is known for some of the darkest night skies remaining on the U.S. Eastern Seaboard.
Did you miss the March 30 meeting about loss of local control over zoning and land use? We’ve included a video of the meeting in this post in case you would like to see the discussion.
When: Saturday, April 25 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Ninigret Park
What: Free activities for the whole family. Vendors and organizations offering earth friendly information and education.
Voters Passed the Chariho budget during Tuesday’s referendum. Charlestown voted 579 in favor to 102 against. Total District voters voted 1741 in favor to 1324 against. Thank you to all who voted!
Ph.D. student Madison Geraci receives a Nature Conservancy award to study microscopic organisms that reveal how local salt marshes respond to restoration and change.
When: Wednesday, April 29 at 6 pm
Where: Kettle Pond Visitor Center, 50 Bend Road, Charlestown
Cost: Free and open to all! No pre-registration required.
Join URI PhD student Christopher Hickling and the Charlestown Land Trust for an engaging look at the interaction of bobcats and human land use in Rhode Island.
The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in partnership with RI Department of Environmental Management, is hosting the Cinder Worm Workshop, now in its 17th year. There will be an evening class in fly tying instruction and one weekend evening of fly fishing, all free and without charge to registrants. The course syllabus is a treasure chest of comprehensive knowledge and instructional excellence. Dates and details in post.
When: Saturday, April 18
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 April 10, and the transfer station and fire stations will accept them without charge on April 18 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
When: Saturday, April 25 at 10 a.m.
Where: Ninigret Park
What: A 5K to commemorate Deerfoot (Tarzan Brown)
Cost: $25 – Link to register in post
When: May 1, from 1 pm to 3 pm
Where: Francis Carter Preserve, Charlestown
Cost: Walk is free and open to the public
Registration: Preregistration is required (link to preregister in post)
Who: This walk is organized by the Rhode Island Wild Plant Society
Hone your observation skills and improve your ability to identify wildflowers.
When: Thursday, April 16 (Rain Date: April 17) 3:30 pm
Where: Kettle Pond Visitor Center, 50 Bend Rd., Charlestown
Cost: This event is free and open to all – No pre-registration required
Warm up with hot cocoa and join arborist Dan Weise for this next event in CLT’s 2026 Speaker Series! Dan will lead a guided forest walk featuring tree and shrub identification and much more.
When: Thursday, April 16 at 5 pm
Where: Kettle Pond Visitor Center, 50 Bend Road, Charlestown
Cost: Free and open to all! No pre-registration required.
Join the Charlestown Land Trust for a presentation with landscape architect and arborist Michael Cavanagh on invasive plant management. A focus on the native plant communities that are used to support local ecosystems and to minimize invasive plant problems.
When: Wednesday, April 1 at 6:30 pm
Where: Charlestown Town Hall on Route 2 (4540 South County Trail)
What: Special Town Council Meeting to review, and possibly change the 2026-2027 town budget
On April 1, the Town Council will have its first look at the municipal budget recommended by the Budget Commission for the coming year that begins July 1. At the meeting, the Council will review the budget, and may make revisions.
The Department of Environmental Management is reminding Rhode Islanders to remove potential food sources from their properties as black bears emerge with warmer weather. Bird feeders, unsecured trash cans, livestock feed, and other easily available household and backyard food sources attract bears primarily in early spring, during droughts, or in the fall when they are trying to put on weight for hibernation.
When: Monday, March 30 at 6:30 pm
Where: Charlestown Town Hall on Route 2 (4540 South County Trail)
What: Public workshop of the Town Council and representatives of other impacted towns
The workshop, proposed by Councilor Bonnie Van Slyke, will begin an in-depth conversation about issues surrounding housing and state mandates.
Let the Rhode Island Senate know that you support Senator Victoria Gu’s bill to protect our environment and natural resources. This bill would give local communities greater control over the density of housing developments built on public drinking water supply watersheds and groundwater so clean it is classified as suitable for drinking without treatment. Sample email to send in post.
In addition to our in memoriam post, there is also now an obituary for Donna Chambers where you can leave messages for the family.