Mail sent to mail@CharlestownCitizens.org
Freedom of speech, freedom of religion and the right to cast your vote in a free and open election of government officials are some of the most important elements of the United States of America. This past November 3rd and the weeks leading up to it, the citizens of Charlestown cast their votes in record numbers to elect officials who would represent them for the next two years or more.
The 300-square mile watershed provides abundant clean groundwater that serves as the sole source of drinking water for more than 60,000 local residents and supports roughly 70 percent of Rhode Island’s globally imperiled species. The Pawcatuck, which forms the northern border of Charlestown, is very popular for fishing, canoeing, kayaking, and other forms of outdoor recreation.
Lisa Tewksbury, Charlestown resident and director of the URI Biocontrol Laboratory, has launched a targeted biocontrol effort to fight the emerald ash borer. First found in RI in 2018, emerald ash borers are threatening to destroy the entire population of ash trees in Rhode Island. Do you have an ash tree in your yard or on your street? If so, watch out for this invasive beetle. Lisa and her students are deploying three species of parasitic wasp from Asia that lay their eggs in the beetle’s eggs or larvae to try to control the ash borer.
We are lucky to live in such a wonderful place that is well run and managed by people who truly care. I sadly discovered that this town is divided and have witnessed these ill feelings first hand with false political attacks, some directed at me. We need to put politics aside and put the future and well being of this town first.
Tonight is my last regular meeting as president of the Charlestown Town Council. I am so grateful to the people of Charlestown for your vote of confidence over the last 6 years and the opportunity to serve you with the best I had to offer. I hope you are even more engaged in town government in the future, including adoption of an updated Comprehensive Plan which will set the tone of our town for the next 10-20 years.
A 3.6 magnitude earthquake occurred at 9:10 a.m., Sunday, November 8. It was centered 30 miles southeast of Providence on the north shore of Buzzards Bay, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Charlestown residents reported a loud rumbling noise that sounded like a very large truck and shaking houses that went on for what seemed like about 10 seconds. No damage has been reported.
Red-Spotted Newts are a species of salamander that are found in Charlestown. They help to control mosquito populations by eating their larvae. The biggest threat that newts and other salamanders face is habitat loss and fragmentation. They are considered indicator species, meaning the health of their populations tell us about the health of the environment in general.
Candidates endorsed by the Charlestown Citizens Alliance have long championed protecting our irreplaceable natural and scenic resources because these are linked directly to our healthy tourist economy, our health, and our low tax rate. CCA candidates have called for responsible development and have opposed unfettered, willy-nilly residential and commercial developments that benefit developers and large corporations, not our residents and local businesses.
Ruth’s clear, strong voice emphasizes that the 2020 Charlestown election is an opportunity to maintain the rural character and low tax rate that residents cherish. Many have moved to Charlestown because of these two factors. Vote for Ruth Platner to preserve Charlestown’s rural character.
Charlestown is one of the best-run, lowest-taxed, most-beautiful towns in the entire State of Rhode Island. Not only are their integrity and civility unassailable, CCA officials and candidates have demonstrated, time and time again, that they have Charlestown’s best interests at heart. After receiving a mailer that falsely attacks the integrity of the Charlestown Citizens Alliance (CCA) elected officials, I write to set the record straight.
The bigger question is why did everyone on the commission vote for Ruth Platner as Chair? The answer is, she is incredibly dedicated to preserving Charlestown’s natural beauty, keeping low taxes, and balancing growth. No, she obviously does not singlehandedly halt trains ripping through the middle of Charlestown, nor box stores, but she is always there as a quiet, dedicated leader.
The 1,112 acre Francis C. Carter Memorial Preserve is beautiful in October. There are 8 miles of hiking trails to help you explore this beauty. Here are just a few pictures. To really experience that beauty you need to take a hike.
What I observed was a commitment of the Planning Commission and its chairwoman, Ruth Platner, to approved policy when reviewing applications from prospective business enterprises. These regulations not only preserve the character of Charlestown, but they also protect independent operators of locally owned small businesses from being swallowed up by big-box Goliaths.
The RI Long-Range Transportation Plan incorporates a Bicycle Mobility Plan. It is the first statewide initiative to expand the bicycle network strategically. The Bicycle Mobility Plan includes a candidate corridor for a coastal bikeway linking state beaches in Westerly, Charlestown, South Kingstown and beyond.
A study of the impact of utility scale solar power installations on nearby housing prices by University of Rhode Island economists found that house prices within a mile of a Rhode Island or Massachusetts solar array declined by an average of 1.7%. Homes within a tenth of a mile of the installations declined by 7%.
Our Town Council went into immediate action alerting residents and lobbying state and federal officials. Through thousands of hours of combined effort they gained the support of over 100 international, national, state, and municipal organizations and thousands of residents statewide. Together we succeeded in removing the “Old Saybrook to Kenyon Bypass” from the plan and the coalition the Council formed with those other organizations has put us in a much stronger position going forward.
The 2020 election in Charlestown boils down to two different visions for the town. The first vision would maintain the delicate balance between protecting our natural and scenic resources and providing reasonable, responsible growth. The opposing vision for the town is to accelerate residential growth, encourage large businesses to come to Charlestown, and open up Ninigret Park for commercial gain.
There are great health benefits, for body and soul, when connecting with nature, and autumn is one of the most beautiful times to hike in Charlestown. We are so lucky to live in Charlestown, where we have access to the Pawcatuck River, ponds, parks and public open space located throughout our town.
Perhaps the most obvious and consequential of CCA’s platforms is its focus on protecting the environment, our wildlife, the forests and our water. The Planning Commission’s main purview is the human-built environment. We do not have unlimited powers over the rights and designs of land owners and property developers. We are limited to ensuring that developers follow Charlestown’s subdivision and commercial development regulations while conforming to the town’s Comprehensive Plan.
As chairman of the Charlestown Citizens Alliance, I agree that stealing or moving political signs is wrong and should not be condoned. The sign ordinance is clear. CCA has not touched any of the CRU signs, has attempted to place our signs on private property, and has received permission from each property owner, and has complied with the sign size restrictions. Mr. Quillen’s implications in his letter to the editor last week are unwarranted.
All of the candidates endorsed by the Charlestown Citizens Alliance (CCA) share Bonnie Van Slyke’s passion for protecting the natural resources and beauty of Charlestown. For Bonnie, that passion is in her DNA.
If you have the time to review the list of people who signed petitions or wrote letters to the Federal Railroad Administration, you will find that there are CCA members and supporters’ names sprinkled liberally through the records, but not one (NOT ONE) member of CRU took the time to watch their neighbor’s back. NOT ONE! Check the list of CRU candidates against the record, NOT ONE! It’s comforting to know that CCA-supported officials will go to bat for their neighbors.
Planning in Charlestown is not, and should not be, a haphazard affair. The Commission is charged under state law with ensuring the orderly and environmentally sound growth of Charlestown.
Charlestown photographer Vic Dvorak recently flew his camera equipped drone over Mill Pond Preserve and captured this stunning photograph. The photo shows Mill Pond with surrounding woodland, and Ninigret Pond and the ocean in the distance.
Since March of 2015, when CCA published a guide to Charlestown open space for the community, we have promoted all the town-owned lots along the barrier beach east of the Charlestown Breachway, as well as the right to public access along the shore of the entire beach. It’s impossible to read everything, so we certainly aren’t faulting anyone who doesn’t know, but it’s just not been a secret.
There are things I love about social media. It has reunited me with childhood friends and allows limitless sharing of photographs, but it is really harming political discourse, especially in Charlestown.
The Town of Charlestown’s Coastal Watershed Protection and Restoration Program was highlighted in a recent EPA Southeast New England Program (SNEP) newsletter.
When birds arrived and began to set up territories this spring, there may have been less foot traffic and human use on some beaches, which could have resulted in birds nesting in some previously unused places.
If the Legal Defense Fund is unneeded, the money stays there unspent, costing the taxpayers nothing. Even if it did lower taxes, what would be the goal of making Charlestown weak in defending against big developers? The big developers of course will want to see this money removed from the budget, but why would we?
It is with heavy hearts that we must report the passing of Connie Baker. Connie was elected to the Charlestown Planning Commission in 2012 and 2014 where she brought her deep love of our special and unique part of Rhode Island to all of her decision making.