Atlantis Rising International Sand Sculpture Competition
When: May 30 – June 1
Where: Ninigret Park
Cost: $15 for adults and children over 10, $7 for children 10 and under
This event is rain or shine, no pets allowed.
Mailbox
Mail sent to mail@CharlestownCitizens.org
Charlestown’s Earth Care Farm Featured in ecoRI Article
“You see all the steam coming off the compost, all that vapor,” he said, pointing through the screens of his covered porch in Charlestown to the large pile of organic materials in view, “that’s a product of the microorganisms … they eat that food and break it down to become the best part of our soil.”
Join CLT For An Early Morning Bird-Watching Paddle On Ninigret Pond
When: Friday, June 13th at 7 a.m.
Where: Ninigret Pond (address provided upon registration)
Registration: Registration is required (read post for link to register)
Led by Conservation Biologist Paul Miller, this guided paddle offers a chance to observe bird species up close while learning about the role of conservation in protecting coastal habitats.
158 Dwelling Units Proposed In Ross Hill Road Development
When: Wednesday, May 28 at 7 p.m.
Where: Charlestown Town Hall, 4540 South County Trail, Charlestown
What: Pre-application meeting with the Charlestown Planning Commission for this development proposal
A portion of this parcel is currently a sand-and-gravel operation with the rest forest and wetlands.
Financial Town Referendum Monday, June 2
What: Financial Town Referendum
When: Monday, June 2 from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Where: Charlestown Town Hall, 4540 South County Trail
Monday, June 2, is the annual Financial Referendum on the budget for the upcoming fiscal year beginning July 1. The June 2 vote is on the municipal portion of the 2025/26 budget; the Chariho portion was approved earlier. Read the post for more detailed explanation.
2025 Memorial Day Parades And Observances
Parade on Old Post Road on Sunday
When: Sunday, May 25 at 1 p.m.
Where: Starts at the South Kingstown line and ends at Charlestown Liquor Store
Parade in Carolina on Monday
When: Monday, May 26 at 11:00 a.m.
Where: Starts at the Richmond-Carolina Fire Station and ends at St. Mary’s Church in Charlestown
Charlestown Beach Road Moves Closer To A Long-term Solution
The RI Coastal Resources Management Council has denied the Town Council’s request to resurface Charlestown Beach Road along the coastal barrier with asphalt millings. After many years of fighting for different kinds of pavement for this section of the road, some members of the Town Council have finally relented to follow the advice the town has been consistently given by coastal geologists since at least 2013.
Should Charlestown Stop Collecting Development Impact Fees?
When: Tuesday, May 27 at 7 p.m.
Where: Charlestown Town Hall
What: A public hearing to discuss this question and the Zoning Ordinance amendments proposed, which, if adopted, would revoke the town’s Capital Facilities Impact Fees Ordinance.
Presentation On Charlestown Breachway
When: Tuesday, May 20 from 6 to 7pm
Where: At the Charlestown Breachway, 812-774 Charlestown Beach Road, Charlestown (In case of rain the presentation will be at the Kettle Pond Visitor Center at 50 Bend Rd, Charlestown)
What: An update on the status of the repairs at the Charlestown Breachway
Register: Register by May 19
Friends of the National Wildlife Refuges of RI Photo Competition
The Friends of the National Wildlife Refuges of Rhode Island announce their 25th 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 3, 2025.
Tomaquag Museum Presents Strawberry Thanksgiving
When: Saturday, June 7 from 12 p.m to 4 p.m
Where: Ninigret Park
What: Dancing – Music – Games – Food
Tomaquag Museum is Rhode Island’s only museum entirely dedicated to telling the story of the Indigenous peoples of this land.
New State Plan, Housing 2030, Mandates Rural Towns Grow At A Faster Rate Than Urban Areas
Parts of the new 2030 housing plan roughly follow Land Use 2025, but the assigned housing production numbers in the plan reverse the goals of Land Use 2025 and enforce the continued population movement toward the more rural areas, with its related loss of forest, farms, wildlife habitat, and natural beauty.
St. Andrew Lutheran Church Outdoor Plant Sale
When: Saturday, May 24, from 8am to Noon
Where: St. Andrew Lutheran Church, 15 East Beach Road, Charlestown
Hanging baskets, annuals, perennials, mixed containers, vegetables, and herbs.
The Charlestown Town Council’s 2025–2026 Budget
What: Budget Public Hearing
When: Monday, May 5 at 7 p.m
Where: Charlestown Town Hall
Municipal spending exceeds the amount of money the town will raise in tax revenue and still maintain a stable, low tax rate long term. The Budget Commission noted that expenditures continue to trend upward while revenues are increasing much slower.
Cinder Worm Workshop – Fly Tying & Fishing – Starts May 6
The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in partnership with RI Department of Environmental Management, is hosting the Cinder Worm Workshop, now in its 16th year. There will be two evening classes 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.
Join Charlestown Land Trust For A Guided Walk At Amos Greene Farm
When: Saturday, May 10 at 10am
Cost: Free and open to all, but you must pre-register
Join CLT for a guided walk at Amos Greene Farm, their newest conservation easement property! This historic farm, now permanently protected by the Charlestown Land Trust, offers a glimpse into Charlestown’s rich agricultural heritage.
ecoRI: Charlestown’s Francis Carter Preserve Part Of Glacial History
“That’s a floodplain forest,” he said. “Pin oaks mixed with red maple. When the glacier retreated, a meltwater river likely piled sand here before the moraine, which these pines tolerate, while the lower plain became swampy and friendlier to the forest community across from us.”
Would a Homestead Exemption Be Good for Charlestown?
The Town Council sent a letter to our legislative delegation requesting authority to draft an ordinance to enact a homestead exemption. A homestead exemption allows one group of taxpayers to receive an exemption, while another group of taxpayers are required to pay the difference.
May 19 Special Meeting On Second Amendment Rights
At the April, 28 meeting, when asked what the meeting was about, Councilor Carney stated that the purpose of the meeting was to discuss “a Second Amendment resolution in support of Second Amendment rights.” It’s unknown why this information wasn’t included in the last two agendas along with the meeting announcement.
Arbutus Garden Club Spring Plant Sale
When: Saturday, May 10, 8:00 a.m. 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 and a raffle. Again this year will be a soil-testing table run by their Master Gardeners; please bring a cup of your soil for analysis.
Spring On Two Wheels – May Is Bike Month
When: Saturday, May 3 at 9 am sharp – NO RAIN DATE
Where: Meet at St. James Chapel, 2079 Matunuck School House Rd. (Please park on the far left of lot along the edge)
What: 10 mile bike ride on a route that passes by Charlestown Beach, Green Hill Beach, Moonstone Beach and South Kingstown Beach.
Who: Charlestown’s Block Island Sound Bikeway Committee and South Kingstown’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee invite you to ride with them.
Earth Day Celebration April 26
When: Saturday, April 26 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.
Join Save The Bay In A Cleanup Of Charlestown Beach
When: Saturday, May 10, 10 a.m. to 12 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.
Fundraiser To Honor Local Boston Marathon Winner Ellison Brown
The Tarzan Brown Memorial Fund has been established to preserve the memory of Ellison Brown, the runner who gave Heartbreak Hill its name, by seeking donations for the creation of a life size bronze statue of Tarzan. Once completed, the statue will be housed at Tomaquag Museum’s future location, at the University of Rhode Island. Link to donate in post.
Are You Getting Tired Of Picking Up Other People’s Trash?
You Can Take Action To Clean Up Litter And Plastic Waste By Supporting the 2025 Rhode Island Bottle Bills!
This year Rhode Island has two proposed bottle bills. Sign a letter to your state legislators today! Tell them to support H6207 and H6206 to fight litter and waste! Links to bills and to an easy to use form to write to legislators.
Join Charlestown Land Trust To Cleanup Ninigret Park And Nearby Streets
When: Sunday, April 27, 9am to 11am
Where: Meet at the Ninigret Park parking lot
RSVP: RSVP here to let CLT know you’re coming!
The Charlestown Land Trust (CLT) invites you to join them in celebrating Earth Day by participating in a rewarding community clean-up event.
Charlestown: A Brief History Of Its People And Land Settlement
When: Thursday, April 24 at 6 pm
Where: Kettle Pond Visitor Center, 50 Bend Road, Charlestown
Who: Pam Lyons, President of the Charlestown Historical Society
What: Pam’s presentation will provide an overview of Charlestown’s land use history
Cost: Free
This presentation is sponsored by the Charlestown Land Trust (CLT) and is the fourth talk in their 2025 Speaker Series.
What Does 10% Affordable Housing Mean?
Most cities and towns in Rhode Island are “incentivized” to provide 10% of their year-round housing as low or moderate-income housing (LMIH). The “incentive” is that in towns without 10% deed-restricted, affordable units, developers can file development proposals known as “Comprehensive Permits” that allow them to build at much higher densities than zoning or environmental objectives would usually allow as long as 25% of their units are LMIH.
2025-2026 Chariho Budget Passes
Voters Passed the Chariho budget during Tuesday’s referendum. Charlestown voted 282 in favor to 34 against. Total District voters voted 911 in favor to 368 against. Thank you to all who voted!
Rush To Add Housing Will Have Unintended Outcomes
New housing must be supported by clean drinking water both in quantity and quality. The failure to plan for a safe and steady supply of drinking water can have catastrophic impacts. Any housing that will rely on onsite wells for their sole source of drinking water must be low density.