It was almost exactly a year ago in the final hours of the 2017 session of the Rhode Island General Assembly that legislation enabling the formation of the Block Island Utility District was passed into law. The intent of the legislation was to form a not-for-profit utility, controlled by ratepayers, that would acquire the Block Island […]
Eleven picnic tables were vandalized at Ball O’Brien Park on Saturday, June 30, New Shoreham Recreation Director Dave Sniffen told The Block Island Times. Sniffen said the damaged tables created a “dangerous” situation for children playing in the park. “It took place sometime Saturday night, when 11 tables were damaged,” said Sniffen. “I was notified about it
“This is Block Island’s plan. It isn’t anybody else’s. It’s what’s unique to us.” Town Manager Ed Roberge made those remarks regarding the Town of New Shoreham’s Harbor Management Plan at a June 28 meeting, which involved his first forum on the subject with the Harbors Committee. Roberge, who is updating the plan and holding
The whole idea started out as an informal way to explore other islands. “We would all go to Shelter Island and meet there. It was more of a student exchange program,” said Block Island School teacher Shannon Cotter-Marsella, who was there at the beginning. Then, over time, it morphed into what it is today: the
There were several power outages on the island on Sunday, July 1, in the early evening. We asked Block Island Power Co. President Jeffery Wright about where the outages were and their causes. Q. There was a power outage on Sunday night. Can you tell us the area or areas that were impacted? A: The
The Harbors Department has deployed one of its boats to retrieve solid waste material from boaters spending time on the Great Salt Pond. Town Manager Ed Roberge disclosed that news at the June 28 Harbor Management Plan meeting. “I’m pleased that the Harbormaster has implemented a boat for collecting trash,” said Roberge, noting the town’s
The Nature Conservancy will be upgrading its facilities on High Street; plans include building a new addition to the main building, and a storage shed, while removing a dilapidated cottage. The Historic District Commission granted unanimous (6-0) final approval for TNC’s project at its June 25 meeting with the stipulation that Building Official Marc Tillson
The following was submitted by Susan Bush of Island Bound Bookstore: Come hear Block Island notables read short stories from the anthology, “It Occurs To Me That I Am America,” on Thursday, July 12 at 5 p.m. at Island Bound Bookstore. If you are an NPR Selected Shorts fan, you will want to be part
The following was submitted by the Island Free Library Board of Trustees: The Island Free Library Board of Trustees is pleased to announce that it was awarded a Rhode Island Foundation Community Grant of $7,500 which, combined with local funding, will enable the creation and installation of a new custom metalwork universal access handrail to
Come learn more about Block Island’s very own maritime mystery. Author Jill Farinelli will tell the story at the Block Island Maritime Institute Center on BIMI Presents on Tuesday, July 10 at 7 p.m. Two days after Christmas in 1738, a British merchant ship traveling from Rotterdam to Philadelphia grounded in a blizzard on the