Mail sent to mail@CharlestownCitizens.org
After 8 p.m. on election day, Wednesday, September 9, the RI Board of elections will begin to report election results for Charlestown. You can get to the Charlestown results by clicking on the link 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 tide (called King Tide) arriving on September 11 and 12 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.
The University of Rhode Island’s Salt Pond Smart property certification program is now open for enrollment, inviting residents who live on properties within the Salt Ponds watersheds to take part in a growing community effort to protect some of Rhode Island’s most treasured coastal resources. This post links to URI website to learn more.
When: Saturday, September 19, from 9 am to 11 am
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.
When: Thursday, September 24 from 5 pm to 6:30 pm
Where: Kettle Pond Visitor Center, 50 Bend Road, Charlestown
What: Second public meeting of the Ninigret Restoration Advisory Board (RAB) for the Charlestown Naval Auxiliary Landing Field formerly used defense site (Ninigret Park and the Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge)
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) New England District invites everyone to the second public meeting of the Ninigret Restoration Advisory Board (RAB).
When: Thursday, September 10 from 5 pm to 7 pm
Where: Kettle Pond Visitor Center, 50 Bend Road, Charlestown
Who: Hosted by the Charlestown Climate Resilience Commission (CCRC)
Join the CCRC for the kickoff of a Regional Groundwater Resilience Assessment. How much water can our aquifer sustainably provide, and will that water remain safe to drink, now and as conditions change?
When: Tuesday, September 15 at 10:00 am
Where: Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge
Who: Led by Salt Ponds Coalition and local artist, Frances Topping
What: Learning to sketch the beautiful, natural environment of Ninigret Pond
Reservations are required – link to pre-register in post
Where: Frosty Drew Observatory and Science Center in Ninigret Park
When: Saturday, September 19, from 7:30 pm to 10:30 pm
Cost: $5 Suggested Donation per person 5 years and older
Stop in for a fun night under the beautiful moonlit skies of Ninigret Park and become acquainted with our only natural satellite, the Moon!
The local candidates profiled in this post are individuals with the skills and dedication to act in the best interests of all the citizens of our town. They will do the hard work to protect our environment, safeguard our rural character, and keep our tax rate as one of the lowest in Rhode Island.
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? Volunteers for front desk shifts at the Kettle Pond Visitor Center, and Environmental Education Support. Details in post along with “One Volunteer’s Experience” by John Topping.
Why: Household hazardous waste must not be placed in regular garbage!
When: Saturday, September 12, 2026 from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Where: Richmond – DPW, 51 Buttonwoods Rd.
Appointments are required for this event – link to register in post.
When: Saturday, September 19 from 10 am to 4 pm (rain date September 26)
Where: Ninigret Park in Charlestown
This is the 3rd year for the Ninigret Arts and Crafts show and there will be artists, woodworkers, potters, jewelers, quilters, crochete and macrame crafters and much more. Local artisan and woodworker, Brian O’Connor of South County Paddles, will again have a booth with many of his fish dioramas.
If the surreal nature of our contemporary times has encouraged you to set out alone with your camera this year, you may have captured some stunning photographs of our beautiful landscapes and wildlife. In this post are three ongoing photo contests where you can win either prizes or recognition for your beautiful photographs.
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.
Where: Ninigret Park
When: September 4 to September 6
As it has for over a quarter of a century, Rhythm & Roots will return to Charlestown, this Labor Day Weekend. The festival showcases a wide array of musical styles on three stages such as Cajun, Zydeco, blues, country, bluegrass, Americana and many other genres.
When: Saturday, September 5 from 9 am to noon
Where: Charlestown Mini Super, 4071 Old Post Road, Charlestown
Why: Indie Cycle is offering this great opportunity to dispose of your unwanted electronics that can be either recycled, reused or refurbished.
Three Ways To Vote (choose one of these)
• Vote by mail
• Vote early until September 8
• Vote on Wednesday, September 9
There is only one local contest on the Primary ballot, and that is the local Democratic Party primary for Representative in General Assembly District 36
Links to District 36 candidates’ websites in this post.
The local candidates profiled in this post are individuals with the skills and dedication to act in the best interests of all the citizens of our town. They will do the hard work to protect our environment, safeguard our rural character, and keep our tax rate as one of the lowest in Rhode Island.
When: Saturday, August 22 – Arrival 8:30 am; Launch 9:00 am
Where: Green Hill Civic Association Dock/Kayak Launch located on Green Hill Beach Road, South Kingstown Rhode Island
Register: Registration is required for the event
Learn about the beauty of Green Hill Pond as well as some of the challenges that it faces
When: Saturday, August 15 from 9 am to 5 pm
Where: Rocky Neck State Park ( 244 West Main Street (Route 156), Niantic (East Lyme), CT )
and
When: Sunday, August 16 from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm
Where: Scarborough North State Beach ( 870 Ocean Road, Narragansett, RI )
The New Haven to Providence Capacity Planning Study team is popping up again with very short notice in Narragansett, RI and in Connecticut.
Where: Frosty Drew Observatory and Science Center in Ninigret Park, Charlestown
When: Saturday, August 15 from 9:00 pm to 11:30 pm
Cost: $5 per person over four years of age – you must get tickets in advance
Frosty Drew Observatory and Science Center is a great place to see the Milky Way Galaxy because it is easily accessible and it is sited in one of the darkest locations in southern New England.
The August 6 “pop-up” was not a presentation, but instead a table with pamphlets, a bulletin board for the public to place three stickers each on the topics they were most concerned about, and members of the Amtrak study team circulating for one on one conversations with the public. Most of what was at the “pop-up” is already available at the Capacity Planning Study website. But the conversations with the study team members were still enlightening.
When: Wednesday, August 19 at 6:30 pm
Where: The Quonnie Grange, 5662 Post Rd, (Rt. 1) between East and West Beach Rd., next to Dunn’s Corners Fire Station (location map of the Quonnie Grange at bottom of post)
Who: Presentation by Joan Lawlor, Bill Steinman, and Steve Young, all from the Quonochontaug Historical Society
The presentation will be preceded by a short annual meeting.
When: Monday, August 17, at 7 p.m.
Where: Kettle Pond Visitor Center, 50 Bend Rd., Charlestown
Cost: Free and open to the public
Guest Presentation: A talk titled “RI’s Great White Sharks… and What About the Seals?” presented by Jon Dodd, Executive Director of the Atlantic Shark Institute.
When: August 12 to 16
Where: 78 Richmond Townhouse Road (Route 112), Richmond, RI
What: The Washington County Fair is Rhode Island’s largest agricultural event, plus country music, food, a carnival, and more.
When: Thursday, August 13 at 6 pm
Where: Cross Mills Public Library, 4417 Old Post Rd., Charlestown
Who: Lisa Tewksbury, Biological Control Lab Director, URI Department of Plant Sciences and Entomology
Join Lisa Tewksbury for a look at black swallow-wort, an aggressive invasive vine spreading through Rhode Island fields, forests, and gardens-and the biocontrol research underway to bring it under control.
When: Thursday, August 6 (dinner starts at 6 p.m., movie begins at dusk)
Where: Ninigret Park at the New Pavilion
What: Concert by The Chris Marra Band; movie Lilo and Stitch; and food trucks providing dinner
Who: Brought to you by Charlestown Parks and Recreation Department
Cost: Music is Free. Dinner – pay for as little or as much as you want to eat
When: Thursday, August 6 at 6 p.m.
Where: Ninigret Park at the New Pavilion
With less than 48 hours notice before the event, a notice went up on the Town of Charlestown’s web site and Facebook page that Amtrak would be conducting this pop-up event. No notice was sent by Amtrak to the many residents who have signed up to be notified via the study email list.
Charlestown voters passed the referendum to allow the use of land in Charlestown for a new, unified elementary school for all students in Pre-K through Grade 5 from Hopkinton, Richmond, and Charlestown on the site of the current elementary school at 363 Carolina Back Road (Rt. 112).
If you think an out of town trip, or any other reason may stop you from voting in the September 9 Rhode Island Primary, consider ordering a mail ballot for that primary election. Plus, information on the Representative in General Assembly District 36 Democratic Primary in Charlestown.