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 […]
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Tom Gentz Council Comments, November 14, 2016
At the final meeting of the 2014-2016 Town Council, Tom Gentz read the following statement summarizing some of his work from his six years on the Town Council. Congratulations to […]
Ninigret Pond Dredging Kickoff
On Friday, November 18, 2016, CRMC had a kick off of the Ninigret Breachway dredging and salt marsh restoration project in Charlestown. The project is a Federal Grant for $3.25 […]
Letter: CCA Candidates Have Records of Success
I find that my quality of daily life in Charlestown is most affected by the type of candidates we elect to local office. These candidates have succeeded in public office because they produce public policies that work for the majority of Charlestown residents and focus on the general well being of the public.
George Tremblay Lists Accomplishments of CCA Candidates
This abbreviated record of achievements illustrates the work and dedication toward fiscal responsibility, civic pride, and environmental consciousness you can expect from CCA candidates for Town Council. Incumbent CCA candidates Virginia Lee, Denise Rhodes, and Bonnie Van Slyke, were instrumental in creating this record, and are seeking re-election. New candidates Julie Carroccia and Steve Williams attended most of the meetings of the current town council, and are well versed in its proceedings and obligations. As an outgoing town councilor, I thank you for the privilege of serving, and urge you to vote for my dedicated CCA colleagues.
We may be of different political parties, but for Charlestown we are Independents
In our door to door campaign this fall of talking and listening to voters we have heard consistently that residents feel that the current Town Council and Planning Commission’s goals of preserving the character, the resources and the way of life is what the majority want with little major change. Although we may be of different political parties for Charlestown we are Independents because we all share a common vision for the town. Politics is not the issue, the good of Charlestown is the driver.
Letter: CCA-backed candidates will maintain town’s character
From my six-year tenure as the Charlestown Town Council president, I know management experience is needed to run the town effectively and that the policy setting group must balance what stakeholders want and the budget approved. I appreciate the diverse skills brought to the council by all members but ask that voters consider the newcomers as valued added assets to the group.
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.
Charlestown Celebrates ChurchWoods Groundbreaking
Geoff Marchant, executive director of Washington County Community Development Corporation, the “man of the hour” for working six years to transform the vision of ChurchWoods, a 24 unit, senior affordable housing project, from a dream into a reality.
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.
Charlestown 2015 Accomplishments and 2016 Plans
Each year at this time The Westerly Sun invites local leaders to share highlights of the past year and goals for the coming year. The following response to this request […]
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 […]
Filippi Sticking to His Word on Quarry Help
The following letter appeared in local newspapers and is shared with us here by the author, Steve Dubois. I read with great interest the various news reports about Representative Blake […]
The Colors of Fall
The following letter was submitted to local newspapers and is shared with us here by the author Michael Chambers We are fortunate to have one of the most beautiful color […]
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).