Charlestown Joins Burrillville in Opposition to Power Plant
At the December 12 meeting of the Town Council, the Council voted unanimously to support Burrillville in their opposition to the 1000 Megawatt gas and diesel power plant proposed in […]
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Tom Gentz and George Tremblay’s last Town Council Meeting
November 14 marked the last Town Council meeting for Tom Gentz and George Tremblay. Both have done a tremendous job for Charlestown in their six years of town service. Tom […]
Good News for Charlestown – Great Thicket National Wildlife Refuge Approved!
Following an extensive public process, and with overwhelming public support, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has finalized the creation of Great Thicket National Wildlife Refuge, dedicated to conserving and managing shrubland and young forests for wildlife in New England and eastern New York. The approval of the refuge marks a key step, enabling the Service to now work with willing and interested landowners to acquire land.
Setting the record straight on wind turbines in Charlestown
Mr. Malin repeatedly claims Charlestown to have banned wind power, and he campaigns to lift the ban. I write to refute his claim, and set the record straight. It was a very public process, and the moratorium was lifted when the ordinance was adopted five years ago on Nov 14, 2011.
Charlestown’s Reusable Tote Bags a Success
Single-use plastic bags, the bags we are given to carry our purchases from a store, are a major source of plastic pollution, a health hazard to aquatic animals and an eyesore as litter along our roadways. Last May, the Charlestown Town Council approved up to $10,000 to underwrite costs for distributing reusable tote bags in an effort to reduce single-use plastic waste.
Vote yes to end fast-track vote on bonding
The following letter appeared in local newspapers and is shared with us here by the author George C. Tremblay. Mr. Tremblay is a member of the Charlestown Town Council. On […]
Please Vote “YES” on Question 8 – Charter Change
On November 8, Please Vote “YES” on Question 8, the Charter Amendment, the 1st Local Question on the Ballot
Please support the proposed Charter change for any citizen’s financial petition that involves bonding authorization (one which imposes a long-term future tax increase), to be submitted to town voters at a general election. This will allow time for prior due diligence, public input, and the largest possible voter awareness and participation.
Read detailed explanation in the post.
Tom Gentz Comments at ChurchWoods Groundbreaking Ceremony
Charlestown Town Council president Tom Gentz addressed about a hundred residents gathered for the ChurchWoods groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday, August 23, at the Church of the Holy Spirit. The following […]
Smearing Gentz no way for Mageau to effect change
The following letter appeared in the Westerly Sun on July 3rd and is shared with us here by the author George C. Tremblay. Mr. Tremblay is Vice President of the […]
ChurchWoods in the Context of the State Affordable Housing Law
On Wednesday, June 22, the Charlestown Planning Commission gave Preliminary Approval to ChurchWoods, the affordable, senior housing proposed for commercial land next to the Episcopal church in Cross’ Mills. New […]
Charlestown Effort to Reduce Plastic Waste
The following letter appeared in local newspapers and is shared with us here by the author George C. Tremblay. Mr. Tremblay is Vice President of the Charlestown Town Council. Environmental […]
Chipping Away at Local Control
On June 18 the Rhode Island Legislature passed another version of the so called “Dry Lands Bill” that “provides that wetland buffers not be excluded from the calculation of buildable […]
Boston.com names Frosty Drew one of 3 places to see the Milky Way in New England
Boston.com found three easy-to-get-to places in New England with a great view of the Milky Way and listed Frosty Drew as number one! The other two were the much more […]
Starting a Dialog about Getting Plastic Out of Charlestown’s Environment
- An effort to reduce solid waste by limiting transport of goods from retail outlets in single-use plastic bags and polystyrene (Styrofoam) containers.
- Resolutions to the General Assembly for statewide action die in committee.
- We are a resort community, where pollution of the landscape and waterways detracts from the appeal of our tourist economy.
- Includes video on this topic
Town Council Approves Pawcatuck River Preserve
At Monday night’s Council meeting the Town Council Chamber was filled with supporters of the acquisition of land that will provide residents access to 1,600 feet of frontage on the […]
Town Council to Consider Land Acquisition on Pawcatuck River
On Monday, March 14, at 7 p.m. the Charlestown Town Council will consider the acquisition of 27 acres of land in the village of Carolina that will provide public access to 1,600 feet of frontage on the Pawcatuck River.
Take a video tour of the land and learn about the:
- Environmental Impact
- Recreation Impact
- Fiscal Impact
Charlestown Delegation Lobbies Legislature
Delegation Asks Legislature to Give Charlestown Ability to Regulate Quarries
Filippi’s Bill Authorizes Charlestown to Regulate Excavation and Extraction Activity
Town Councilors Tom Gentz and George Tremblay and a group of local citizens testified on Thursday, January 28th, before the House Committee on Municipal Government.
Corrective Resolution Relative to the Regulation of Earth Removal, Gravel Extraction and Blasting
At their December 14 meeting, the Charlestown Town Council unanimously passed a resolution requesting the General Assembly to create enabling legislation that would allow the town to enact ordinances to […]
Town Council Passes Resolution Requesting Legislation to Control Blasting
Under current state law, blasting at quarries and construction sites can take place without advance notice to those who live nearby and who may be adversely affected by noise or […]
Salt Ponds Coalition 30th Anniversary Celebration Video
The Salt Ponds Coalition is dedicated to the preservation and restoration of Southern Rhode Islands Salt Ponds. This short film was produced by Vic Dvorak, a former executive director of the […]
Giving credit where credit is due
The following letter is shared with us by the author George Tremblay. This was written in response to a letter that appeared in the Westerly Sun that falsely asserted that construction of senior housing was a misuse of disaster relief funding, that senior citizen housing does not belong in a village district, and that the town should have spent the housing money on the Breachway. As the letter below explains, the disaster relief funding exists only because of the housing. One might ask why the Westerly Sun prints such nonsense, but George set the record straight.
I was dumbstruck by the arrogant disregard for reality in the letter from Brandon Cleary on the use of Hurricane Sandy Disaster Relief Funds (Westerly Sun, July 15).
This American, Absolutely Democratic, Idea of Public Land
Pulitzer prize-winning author and historian Wallace Stegner described National Parks as “the best idea we ever had. Absolutely American, absolutely democratic, they reflect us at our best rather than our worst.”
Charlestown’s public lands may not be National Parks, but they include a National Wildlife Refuge and some of Rhode Island’s most important recreation and conservation areas. From our miles of ocean beaches to the Wild and Scenic Pawcatuck River we are a town rich in outdoor, public recreation opportunities. These public lands belong to all of us.
This Independence Day weekend, consider celebrating and enjoying this democratic idea of public land at one of the properties below.
We hope you have a great Fourth of July!
Town Closes on ChurchWoods Property
Said Charlestown Town Council President Tom Gentz, “Geoff Marchant, President of the Washington County Community Development Corporations, The Rev. Dr. Michael Tessman, the 2011 pastor of the Church of the Holy Spirit, and I have waited years for this moment and are thrilled that the project has the funding needed to build well-constructed affordable units that meet the needs of our residents.”
Enabling Legislation on Quarry Fugitive Silica Dust Passes
In summary, the legislation requires that “Manufactured unwashed sand”, or quarry dust located within 1,500 feet of any occupied dwelling shall not be stockpiled without measures to control fugitive dust from trespassing beyond the quarry’s property line, and RI DEM is authorized to enforce compliance.
Bill that would allow more regulation of mining and gravel operations passes House and Senate
We have just learned that Rhode Island House Bill 5680 Substitute A passed the House and a companion Senate Bill passed in the Senate. The text of that bill is […]
ChurchWoods Senior Housing Will Be Ready for Occupancy Summer, 2017
The last piece of funding for ChurchWoods, an affordable housing project for senior citizens, has been acquired. ChurchWoods will provide 24 1 bedroom rental units for seniors next to the […]
Failure of the Conservation Easement
The following letter appeared in local newspapers and is shared with us here by the author Michael Chambers The June 1 Charlestown Financial Referendum resulted in the passing of the […]
Charlestown Open Space Provides Economic Payback
In 2010, the Trust for Public Land released their report, “The Economic Benefits and Fiscal Impacts of Parks and Open Space in Nassau and Suffolk Counties, New York.” The study found that parks and open space provide a $2.74 billion annual economic boon to local governments and taxpayers on Long Island. The report details how conservation of parks and open space generates income and increases property values, even as it reduces the costs associated with new government services, if the land were developed.
Why Choose to Divide Our Town and Inspire Hatred?
The following letter appeared in local newspapers and is shared with us here by the author John Goodman. It seems that every time there is an election, the Charlestown Democratic […]
South Farm Pays Its Way and Will Provide Fiscal Benefits for Generations to Come
By offsetting the tax loss from new residential development, South Farm Preserve has already more than paid back the Town’s initial investment and will now continue to provide a fiscal benefit for generations to come.