December 2021

The Harbors Committee continued its discussion of private moorings in Great Salt Pond, specifically focusing on the long waiting list. There are 290 mooring balls in the pond, with a waiting list of 688.“It’s no secret it’s almost impossible to get a mooring here,” Member Gary Pollard said at the meeting on December 9. He […]

John Dougherty of Mission Broadband was on-hand at the Town Council meeting on December 6 to give an update on Block Island’s broadband project. Verizon is still holding up the permitting and licensing process, with only 50 percent of the pole licenses approved, according to Dougherty. Verizon must grant the licenses in order for fiber

Although it was only the second-ever meeting of the Sea Level Rise Committee, the members were asked to commit to a plan from town planner Allison Ring to apply for an “Action Grant” from the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank to enhance “resiliency” on the island. Ring told the group that funding had just been released

Maryanne Crawford submitted her town manager’s report at the December 15 meeting of the New Shoreham Town Council, and the report listed several actions taken by the town in preparation for winter. There has been some difficulty in procuring road salt, but Crawford’s report said the town was working with the Rhode Island Department of

Superintendent Bob Gerardi gave a Covid update to the School Committee at its December 20 meeting and discussed the decision to switch to distance learning for the last week of school before Christmas break. He reported that nurses Liz Dyer and Linda Closter had performed 134 PCR Covid tests, as well as 180 rapid Covid

As National Grid seems to suffer one setback after another in its attempt to rebury a small portion of its Sea2shore transmission cable that runs between Block Island and the mainland, the obvious question becomes: how much is this costing? And how much will it cost Block Island ratepayers?The initial installation cost of the cable

The Island Free Library Board of Trustees met for the final time of 2021, with Director Kristin Baumann reporting on the end-of-year holiday events in progress and the upcoming programs scheduled for the new year. Her report also included a new section: library updates submitted by the staff.Chair Lisa Nolan applauded the move as a

As Covid cases continue to rise on the island, with 15 cases in the past three weeks, please remember that Block Island’s indoor mask mandate is still in effect.Governor McKee recently issued a mask mandate for Rhode Island for venues of over 250 people, with smaller venues having the option ofrequiring masks or proof of

Block Island’s 2021 Christmas season brings people together, allows islanders to practice traditions old and new, and brings decorations to brighten the island.Islanders and tourists celebrate this year’s holiday season by honoring their favorite holiday traditions and activities. Austin Morin, creator of Queer Block Island, a year-round resident shared his favorite island holiday treats. “I

Interstate Navigation met with the New Shoreham Town Council for its yearly Q and A session, and the answers to the questions leaned heavily toward “maybe.” With two of the three members of the Town Council, Martha Ball and Mark Emmanuelle, admitting that they rarely use the ferry, and with Second Warden Sven Risom absent,