April is National Poetry Month. It was introduced in 1996 and is organized by the Academy of American Poets as a way to increase awareness and appreciation of poetry in the United States. The suit, hand-me-downed from her beloved teen-aged cousin Kathleen, hung in a back closet, ready for her to size up to […]
The following was submitted by Block Island School art teacher Lisa Robb: Everyone was feeling hot, hot, hot thanks to the tasty chili that was available for sampling at this year’s BIS ChiliFest Competition. With 16 different chilies to try, the competition was diverse and intense. But, this year’s winner brought in a secret weapon
Genealogist Peter Greenman has again plunged into the history of a large Block Island family, and this time it is a founding family: the Roses, descended from Tormut Rose, one of the 16 original Block Island settlers of 1661. Only seven of the 16 settlers were landowners, and Tormut Rose was an owner as well
It is with deep sadness that we say farewell to our beloved father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, Edward Perry Phillips. His spirit and kind being touched the hearts of many who knew him, enjoyed his humor, and his love for Block Island. Born on Feb. 5, 1924 in New York City, Ned was raised by his
For several decades, starting in 1959, Carroll Rheinstrom and his wife Irene had a beautiful house (although, oddly, it had only one room) on a 12-acre Block Island parcel. The house had a beautiful view of Scotch Beach with its wide-open stretches of white sand. The couple enjoyed sailing their yacht, Vaeringer II, out of the
A team representing the new owners of the Surf Hotel and the Gables Inn provided the Town Council with an overview of their plans for the two properties, including internal and external restorations, making some of the structures compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the construction of new cottages, and their plans for extensive
Trying to provide access to the Coast Guard Station is a goal the town and Harbors Department are working to achieve. The topic was discussed at two recent budget hearings. Town Manager Ed Roberge informed the Town Council that $150,000 was recommended for replacement and expansion of the old, dilapidated Coast Guard dock. At the April
A day after she publicly read a scathing letter about what she called “self-serving” practices by the Tourism Council, Block Island Chamber of Commerce President Diane Hayde abruptly resigned. The Chamber Board held an unscheduled meeting on Tuesday, April 2, a day after Hayde had read a lengthy letter about the Tourism Council during the
First Warden Ken Lacoste’s decision to “be a little more aggressive” led the Town Council to fully fund the budget requests of three town groups. The three entities that will receive their full funding requests are the Medical Center ($300,000), Block Island Volunteer Fire Department ($180,400), and the Senior Advisory Committee ($23,100). The Medical Center’s