Set clocks back tonight

Charlie: Faithful Friend, RIP

Beautiful, tender, funny, sad.

This piece is written by Stan Dimock, better known as Bristol's "clean up guy", about his relationship with his beloved cat, Charlie. Perhaps some of you have seen Stan walking Charlie around town. Charlie was euthanized on Tuesday, October 27.

I first met Charlie in April of 2003, on my way to The Gatehouse Restaurant in Providence. Charlie sitting at the front entrance of Simple Pleasures, a garden and gift shop adjacent to The Gatehouse. I said, “You’re a pretty kitty” as I passed by. Charlie neither retreated nor approached. Instead, he just observed, wide-eyed, while I entered the restaurant. The bartender (a cat lover, herself) relayed to me that Charlie had been hanging around the restaurant for the previous three days, and she was worried, because his front paws were de-clawed, so he shouldn’t have been outside on his own. He had a collar (so tight it left an indelible mark on his neck for the rest of his life), but no tag – and no one had come looking for him. 

After I finished my meal, I headed out to my car in a very crowded parking lot to discover that Charlie was waiting for me at my car. He kept pawing at my driver’s door, literally begging me to take him home. Having recently dealt with the death of a pet, I wasn’t prepared to take him with me, so I headed home, alone – but I couldn’t stop thinking about the cat that wanted so desperately to come home with me.
The next morning, I brought my pet carrier to work. After relaying the previous evening’s events to my boss, she insisted that we head directly to Richmond Square to hunt for the cat that had already found a place in my heart. Despite our “here, kitty” calls, there was no sign of Charlie – until we started to pull out of the lot. Suddenly, I spotted him heading towards us. My boss stopped the car, and we hopped out. When I set the pet carrier on the ground and opened it, Charlie came running, all the way across the lot, and dove into that pet carrier as if to say, “I knew you’d come back, now take me HOME!”
We brought Charlie back to Save The Bay’s office, and all available staffers gathered around Charlie in the library, as he walked on top of the conference table greeting every single person in the room. Clearly, Charlie had no fear of people, and despite whatever trauma he had experienced while he was out on his own, he was one very well-adjusted feline.
After spending that first night together, I awoke to a cat I didn’t even recognize. While I was sleeping, Charlie spent the entire night grooming himself. His gray and brown coat of the night before was white and orange in the morning light – a “Prince Charming” of the cat world!
That first week, Charlie was chased by my neighbor’s Australian sheepdog. That’s the only time I ever witnessed him run from a dog. Over the 5 ½ years that we lived together, we were charged by dogs three other times. After that first incident, I had his complete trust, and rather than run from an a potential attack, Charlie would simply lie at my feet, and let me chase away any charging dog.
The move to Stone Harbour was perhaps the luckiest day of Charlie’s life. We immediately developed a routine of taking a walk first thing every morning (usually to visit Angus, the feral library cat who lives across the street), followed by a walk later in the day to visit the downtown shop owners. I am so grateful for the many kindnesses displayed to us by everyone in town. Charlie was a “regular” at Olde China Trader, Claddagh Connection, Floral Fantasy, Studio Six, Harbor Bath & Body, Revival, and European Kitchen – just to name a few. Wherever we headed, he would (almost) always be right at my side. My proudest moments with him were the ones spent walking Hope Street. Pedestrians and drivers would often stop to comment about what an unusual cat he was.
We were only separated once outdoors, not long after our move to downtown Bristol. Just after heading outside, while I was distracted picking up litter, Charlie took a sharp left and snuck under a parked car on Thames Street. I assumed he had taken a right to head to the Thames Street Landing shops, only to discover that I had lost him. I spent the next hour searching high and low for my buddy. Finally, I gave up and headed indoors – only to receive a call minutes later that Charlie had been returned to Stone Harbour by John Allen, who had spotted Charlie lounging in front of the Elbow Room. When I retrieved Charlie from the McQuaids’ condo that morning, he looked pleased as punch – and a bit smug for having thoroughly enjoyed his morning adventure.
Charlie didn’t have a jealous bone in his body. If I spent a night away at my dad’s in Connecticut, or patted another animal before returning home, he would always greet me with tremendous affection.
Charlie had no fear – not of any other animals, people, fireworks, or even thunderstorms. (In fact, he loved to sit on a windowsill to watch lightning!)
Most unusual was Charlie’s ability to say “hello” in an almost human tone. When this behavior first started, I thought I must be imagining it, but one day when Charlie trotted ahead of me on our way outside, he said “hello” to one of my neighbors passing by. He was too far ahead of me for me to hear it, but the neighbor, in disbelief, said, “I think I just heard your cat say ‘hello’ to me.” We would often say “hello” back & forth to each other at home.
There is no doubt in my mind that Charlie was one of a kind. Something between us clicked from that very first moment we laid eyes on each other. He had the most delightful personality of any animal I have ever encountered. He was the best companion I could have ever asked for – like a gift from heaven.
When we took our last trip to the animal hospital, I am convinced Charlie knew exactly what the end result would be. I truly believe he was ready to let go. His exit from this world was a peaceful one, cradled in my arms while I kept repeating how much I loved him, right up to his very last breath. I will miss my little buddy more than words can ever express. Bristol lost its littlest ambassador with his passing this week.

(Photo courtesy of Alayne White)

Noise Study Committee growing

At Wednesday night's Town Council meeting three new names were added to the list of people interested in making up the Noise Study Committee. 

They were:

Steven Barker, Mike Ferreira and David Barboza. 

The others on the list are: 

Nathan Calouro, Christy Nadalin, Peter Wilbur, Joe Antinucci, Tom Pasqual Jr. and David Raposa.

Ken Marshall, Town Council Chair, told the audience that the Department of Health monitors noise in New Jersey. That Rutgers University has detailed information on noise that hopefully can be adopted by Bristol and maybe even state wide. The issue for the moment has been "tabled" until further notice. If you are interested in being on this committee, contact Lou Cirillo, Bristol Town Clerk, at Town Hall.

High School Collaboration Saving Silver Creek

Members of Save the Bay, Save Bristol Harbor, Mount Hope High School and the Town of Bristol are all working together to create a high school curriculum (in Marcia King's MHHS Marine Science class) for approximately twenty 11th and 12th graders working together to clean up Silver Creek and make it healthy again for birds, fish, vegetation, soil, general water quality as well as flood control.

The students will work on this project for the entire school year beginning in November.

The project will cost a total of $8000. $4000 will be contributed by Save the Bay, $1000 by Save Bristol Harbor, $2000 by Mount Hope High School and $1000 (approved last Wednesday Oct 28) by the Town of Bristol.

The goals of the project will be addressed by removing the tidal restrictions, removing the invasive species and possibly removing some historic fill. A secondary benefit to the project will be reducing the risk of flooding on properties within the Silver Creek watershed. Other project partners include: the Natural Resources Conservation Service, NOAA and the RI Department of Transportation.

Save the Bay conducted an analysis of the change in area of the Silver Creek over time. Results showed that 55% of the native marsh habitat has been lost since 1939.

Phragmites (the very tall grasses) now covers 52% of the marsh and the expansion of Phragmites has constricted the creek and reduced the open water area by 33%. Since 1939, 15% of the marsh has been filled, however a significant portion of the marsh was likely filled prior to 1939 due to the town landfill.

At the request of the Town Council a report will be published summarizing the work and results of this collaboration.

The information for some of this article was taken from a report created by Save the Bay's Rob Hancock (Bristol resident and Board member of Save Bristol Harbor). Bob Aldrich from Save Bristol Harbor and Walter Burke from the Town Recreation Dept introduced this project to the Town Council last Wed night. Congratulations to all.

Potter League offering free housebreaking clinic

Wednesday, November 18

6:30pm

Potter Pet University - Housetraining 101

Behavior Coordinator Byron Davies will discuss how to house train puppies and how to deal with adult dogs who are experiencing house training lapses.This program is free but pre-registration is requested. Please contact Amy.

amyc@potterleague.org

Mosaico needs your help on November 19

Diana Campbell, new interim director of Mosaico, has asked that I post this for her. Please try to help if you can - especially if you have some large jars of change at home that the bank will count for you!

"Bank Newport is celebrating 10 years of service to the Bristol community and they’re generously included Mosaico CDC in their celebration.

On THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19, they will be counting coins FOR FREE. At the end of the day, they will make a donation to Mosaico CDC based on the amount of money counted on that day. They will actually be doing this for the whole week, but the donation to Mosaico is only for those coins counted on THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19.

Bank Newport’s Celebrating 10 YEARS flyer is attached

So we are asking that you please bring those dusty jars of coins you have in your closet or on your bureau to Bank Newport, on Gooding Avenue, on THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19. Bank Newport will count your coins for free, exchange them for cash, and will make a donation to Mosaico CDC based on the day’s tally.

Pass the word! This is a painless way to show your support and make a donation to Mosaico CDC, an organization that is dedicated to helping the community through storefront renovations, mentoring, scholarships and in so many other ways. All of our funding for these programs comes from donations and grants, and this year especially, we can really use your help.

Thank you for your support, and thanks to Bank Newport for including us in their celebration!"

Bristol Art Museum opening Friday, October 30 at 7 pm

The"Decorata Project: A Dialogue with Nature", sponsored by the Bristol Art Museum, Saturday October 31st for three weeks until Sunday November 22nd, is an opportunity to see Joan Backes, Carpet Of Leaves, Wendy Wahl's Rebound: Mixed Editions and Paulette Carr, Earth Pendulums, three art installations that interpret life and nature. The opening reception for the exhibit will be on Friday, October 30th at 7:00 pm at the museum on the grounds of Linden Place, 500 Hope Street, Bristol. On Sunday, November 1st at 2 pm, the three artists will talk about their individual artwork. The Museum Hours are Tuesday-Sunday from 1-4 pm.

Paulette Carr, Director of Exhibitions for the Bristol Art Museum found the inspiration for the show in the word, "decorata", which is used to refer to the plant and animal kingdom and symbolizes nature. Joan Backes's Carpet of Leaves, brings the outside inside to the museum with leaves from different tree species along with the spectrum of colors from Spring through Fall. "Leaves have been used as a design motif for cloth carpets throughout history, "Backes states. Her other installation, "Cardboard Trees", are made from recycled boxes from every continent. The box material is a tree product and now the cardboard is returned to the tree.

Wendy Wahl's,"Rebound: Mixed Editions", challenges assumptions about our surroundings through the use of tactile text by using discarded encyclopedias as a building material. The books have been deconstructed and restructured to create a work that considers the associations between the tree of life and the tree of knowledge. Paulette Carr's, "Earth Pendulums", is an interactive installation that revisits the passage of time. "The pendulums are to be touched and gently pushed, just as we touch and move with the earth each day we are living", says Carr. "Patterns are traced in sand and vary with the force and length of the touch to the pendulum. The steel spheres that sound with each movement evoke the bells used through the centuries to mark celebrations."
For more information, www.bristolartmuseum.org

Pro Jo article on death of Bristol girl

Today's (Wed. Oct. 28, 2009) Pro Jo front page article on the death of 12 year old Bristol resident, Victoria Sousa.

http://www.projo.com/news/content/Death_in_Portsmouth_10-28-09_9QG8KDV_v19.3c1c831.html

More info on death of Bristol girl

From WRNI PBS radio RI - Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Scroll down for yesterday's entry on death of Bristol girl

(Click once on text above to enlarge.)

Beehive Cafe: Roasted Buttternut Squash sandwich a hit!

Twit from the Beehive on Franklin Street. Sounds yummy! (Click on text above once to enlarge.)

PS: By popular request, the Beehive Hot Dessert night will coincide with Bristol's Holiday Shopping Preview night: Friday, November 20, 2009 from 5 - 9 pm.

Zipcar: Rent a car by the hour

Zipcar is a very handy way to rent a car - all from your iPhone. www.zipcar.com(Click on image once to enlarge.)

RI Audubon wins urban education grant

RI Audubon wins $143,000 urban education grant

http://newsblog.projo.com/2009/10/ri-audubon-wins-143000-urban-e.html

"It is imperative that the next generation have a solid understanding of our natural environment," Audubon executive director Lawrence Taft, said in a statement. "If children do not form a personal connection to the environment, they will not be invested enough to protect it in the future. This federal funding allows us to bring innovative science-based environmental education to underserved students across the state."

Meet with Governor Carcieri

Have an idea or a comment for the Governor?

Go to Open Door Thursdays

Five minute meetings with the Governor are held on the last Thursday of the month. Appointments are made on a first- come, first served basis. Appointment line: 222-2080

Bristol death of young girl

A 12 year old girl died today possibly from the swine flu in Bristol. She was a student at St. Philomena's in Portsmouth. It was reported by a family member that an autopsy is being done to determine the cause of death. Calling hours are on Friday, October 30, 2009 from 4 - 8 pm at Smith's Funeral Home in Warren, RI. A memorial service will be held Saturday, October 31, 2009 at 10:30 am at St. Mary's Church on Wood Street in Bristol. Her name is Victoria Sousa, youngest daughter of Lou and Cathy Sousa, Hope Street, Bristol.

For info on swine flu in RI go to www.flu.gov  or call the hotline at: 222-8022 between 8:30 am — 4:30 pm M-F.

Obama's Clean Energy Leadership speech at MIT

October 23, 2009

Running time: 28 minutes

In framing the clean energy issue in a global and economic context, Obama declares, "Countries on every corner of this earth are beginning to recognize that energy is growing scarcer. Energy demand is growing larger and rising energy use imperils the planet that we will leave to future generations. That's why the world is now engaged in a peaceful competition to determine the technologies that will power the 21st century. From China to India, from Japan to Germany, nations everywhere are racing to develop new ways to produce and use energy. The nation that wins this competition will be the nation that leads the global economy. I'm convinced of that, and I want America to be that nation."

http://mitworld.mit.edu/video/716

Annie Leibovitz new Obama family official portrait

Twin River: The slot machine/ greyhound racing connection needs to end

http://www.projo.com/news/content/TWIN_RIVER_DOGDEAL_10-24-09_CFG6QTQ_v20.38b8908.html

Seems like the RI General Assembly needs to create a new law to detach the greyhound racing from the use of slot/VLT/ gambling machines or to change the 125 days of racing requirement. As it is today, the 4800 + slot machines are not allowable without the dog racing. (60% of every lost gambled dollar at Twin River goes to the State!) Sounds easy to change but this may take years to get accomplished. Meanwhile, the state of RI will use/rent cheaper dogs from the state NH — but I thought dog racing ended for good in NH over the summer? Perhaps there are some ready Teddy racing greyhound workers recently unemployed with dogs and eager to come to RI.

Economic downturn challenges creativity

Economic downturn challenges YES gallery owner's creativity. The following is an article from last week's Providence Business News on YES Gallery owner Leigh Medeiros and how she is dealing with the current economic downturn.

Her gallery is on Water Street in Warren RI. She realized early on that one way to a customers pocket book is through complimentary food and drink!

http://www.pbn.com/detail/45231.html

Hachiko: Richard Gere movie trailer

Much of this film was shot in Bristol RI last winter! (Remember the yellow and black HCK signs all over town?) It's a film about a faithful dog and his master and is based on a true story. Due to come out Friday, December 18, 2009.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FaS37E3gKOU&NR=1

MicroSoft new operating system, Windows 7, is out today

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/22/technology/personaltech/22pogue.html?em

Only at Microsoft do “user-friendly” and “write down this password: E6fQ9UX3uR” appear in the same sentence.

New book by Malcolm Gladwell: What the Dog Saw

"You don't start at the top if you want to find the story. You start in the middle, because it's the people in the middle who do the actual work in the world," writes Gladwell in the preface to WHAT THE DOG SAW. For more info go to:

www.gladwell.com

David Pogue: Computerized Health Records

David Pogue is a  NY Times technology writer. Here is a link to an interview he had recently with President Obama's medical records czar, Dr. David Blumenthal. In 2008, ony 17 percent of physicians adopted electronic health records and about 10 percent of hospitals. In Europe - many countries are already at 100%.

http://www.nytimes.com/indexes/2009/10/15/technology/circuitsemail/index.html?8cir&emc=cir

Bristol's downtown shopping Holiday Preview is November 20, 2009 sponsored by the local DBMA and Bristol Independent Galleries

Please mark your calendars for a bit of festive warmth and community cheer and support your local businesses while your at it. Bristol's Holiday Shopping Preview is Friday, November 20 from 5 - 9 pm.

Sponsored by the Downtown Bristol Merchants Association (DBMA) and Bristol Independent Galleries, as many as 45 local businesses will be open for this special event —  it's a great big block party and a wonderful time to begin your Christmas shopping!

Bristol Bull Raker Blog

Reminder for a more political POV from a young local Bristolian, Kevin Faria - please read his "Bristol Bull Raker" blog at http://bristolbullraker.wordpress.com/ 

and feel free to leave comments.

DBMA Halloween Walkabout this Sunday from 1 - 3pm

Hey Kids! This is for you.

Take your grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles and favorite goblins to the 6th annual downtown HALLOWEEN WALKABOUT this Sunday afternoon October 25 from 1 - 3 pm. Tons of downtown stores will be open and all will be in costume!

Support bill to get funding for waterfront

"A bill now in Congress would provide federal funding to coastal and Great Lakes states to help preserve and protect working waterfronts. Boat Owners Association of The United States is urging boaters and anglers to contact their members of Congress to co-sponsor and support H.R. 2548, the "Keep America's Waterfronts Working Act of 2009."

Introduced in May by Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME) and co-sponsored by Rep. Lois Capps (D-CA), the legislation would allow local governments to use federal grant funds to purchase a threatened marina outright. It would also allow a non-profit group to obtain a grant to buy development rights in order to keep a working boatyard in business, rather than see it sold for residential development.

In introducing her bill, Rep. Pingree said, "Water-dependent, coastal-related businesses are economically and culturally important places to many coastal communities and working waterfronts are quickly disappearing under the tremendous pressures from incompatible uses."

For full (short) story in New York Post go to:

http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/more_sports/support_bill_to_get_funding_on_the_Zy7gkJzMQg6G59P9QLIPQN

For Patrick Conley's opposing point of view  go to his essay in the Pro Jo on September 30, 2009 titled" "CIty Fumble, Wilting Waterfront" at http://www.projo.com/opinion/contributors/content/CT_conley30_09-30-09_MMFSBDD_v13.3f8e276.html

NPR Toxic Water series interview with Charles Duhigg

How safe is our drinking water? This is a radio interview done by Terry Gross yesterday (Oct 19, 2009) for Fresh Air WRNI and is about 30 minutes. The interview is with Charles Duhigg who is doing a series of reports for the NY Times on our toxic waters. The link to the NY Times articles is:http://projects.nytimes.com/toxic-waters

The Terry Gross audio radio interview link is:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113927993

Bottom line: If you drink tap water, use a water filter and change it regularly. If you drink bottled water go online and see if they filter it. The USA is the Saudia Arabia of coal and coal is the largest polluter of our air, water and land. It's also why we take our relatively cheap electricity for granted. Call the BCWA (Bristol County Water Authority) and ask for the Consumer Confidence Report for the last year recording all the detected toxic pollutants in our water supply. Their number is: 401 245 2022 x19  (www.bcwa-ri.com Note: This web address did not work with a Safari browser)

Sen. Reed helps RWU get large grant

Documentary movie: RETHINK Afghanistan Friday night at 7 pm

Rethink Afghanistan - a free documentary movie will be shown this Friday night, October 23 at 7 pm at the St. Mike's Parish Hall on the corner of Church and Hope Streets, Bristol RI. The event is sponsored by the East Bay Citizens for Peace. The film runs for 75 minutes and will be followed by discussion and refreshments. (Click on image above once to enlarge.)

To view a trailer and for more details go to: http://rethink.bravenewtheaters.com:80/screening/show/13227-bristol

Artist admits using AP photo for Obama HOPE poster

This would have been fine if the artist had received permission from the AP photographer...but that never happen! Click once on image to enlarge.

Pro Jo LNG opinion piece written in response to Ken and Cara's op-ed piece

Below is a link to Friday's (Oct 16, 2009) Pro Jo opinion piece by Ted Gehrig, president and CEO of Weaver's Cove Energy. It is a response to Cara Cromwell and Ken Marshall's op-ed piece on the dangers of LNG tankers published a couple of weeks ago in same paper and published in this blog. The second link is a point by point response by Save the Bay from their most recent TIDES Magazine including unacceptable impacts on the environment, travel and recreation in our area.

http://www.projo.com/opinion/contributors/content/CT_weaver16_10-16-09_96G25EV_v10.3f8e267.html

http://www.savebay.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=1226

News on America's Cup 1983 race

Halsey Herreshoff was interviewed by TV Channel 10's  RJ Heim yesterday in Bristol about the winged keel design of the Australian boat that won the Americas Cup in 1983. Halsey was the navigator on Liberty,the American boat, and thinks the keel design violated the conditions of the rules. Here is the link to the 2 minute video clip under 'Americas Cup Cheat': http://www2.turnto10.com/jar/my_town_common/east_bay

Pizza Garden at Charter School in Pawtucket

This is a great idea and hopefully when Bristol gets its school gardens up and running this can be done here. For more info on RI Local go to:

http://www.buylocalri.org/

Speaking of N O I S E

Today, Sunday October 11, 2009, when entering Bristol on Hope Street - just before Topside Restaurant, there is a portable electronic LED traffic sign set up telling you how fast you are driving and also stating the following noise violation: "Loud Vehicle Stereos and Mufflers - Strictly Enforced".  Thanks to Diane Mederos, Bristol Town Administrator, and the Bristol Police Dept. for setting this up. Let's hope it works! It will be interesting to find out if any arrests or warnings were made relative to this sign.

ASA recently granted East Bay Energy Consortium contract

Applied Science Associates (ASA) of South Kingstown, RI was recently granted the newly formed East Bay Energy Consortium wind energy turbine contract to determine the technical and economic feasibility (and quantity of  wind turbines) to be possibly constructed for nine East Bay towns in one area -  yet to be determined. The towns include: East Providence, Bristol, Barrington, Warren, Tiverton, Little Compton, Portsmouth, Middletown and Newport. ASA has been in South County for 30 years and was started by two URI professors in the "fluid dynamics" and engineering departments focusing on solving engineering problems in the environment. Below is an article about ASA noting other projects they are working on -- both locally and globally. ASA did a similar study for the town of Portsmouth before they erected a wind turbine at their high school last winter.

August 7, 2009 APPLIED SCIENCE ASSOCIATES CONTRACTED TO PERFORM WIND ENERGY FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR NORTH KINGSTOWN

SOUTH KINGSTOWN, RI  — The school department of North Kingstown, Rhode Island has contracted with ASA to perform a study to advise on the technical and economic feasibility of constructing the town's first utility-sized wind turbine power generator. 

ASA's wind energy expert and senior principal, Daniel Mendelsohn will act as principal-in-charge and project manager on the project and lead a team of five sub-contractors including Loria Emerging Energy Consulting, GZA Geo-Environmental, Maguire Group, Sustainable Energy Advantage and Rich Gross Electrical. The team has worked together for the past four years and is actively involved in the development of wind projects in several New England states. 

Mr. Mendelsohn, commented, "This is only one of many exciting renewable energy projects that ASA is involved in, with a view to provide experienced, leading edge services and technologies to municipal, state and private clients in the this important and growing market." Mr. Mendelsohn further stated, "However, what makes today's news most notable is the fact that this could be Rhode Island's third megawatt scale turbine and Rhode Island is poised to be at the leading edge of a municipal renewable energy revolution in the northeast and in the United States. This project will be another step towards the achievement of the Rhode Island Renewable Energy Standard requirement of generating 16% of the State's electrical power with renewable resources by 2020".

ASA's wind energy team was recently involved in a similar wind energy study for the new utility-scale, megawatt-sized wind turbine built for the Town of Portsmouth, Rhode Island. Mendelsohn, who led the Portsmouth wind feasibility project, applauds the municipality and school department's leadership in pursuing alternative energy solutions at the local level. North Kingstown School Department is taking aim at similarly offsetting rising energy costs for their schools. Like the Portsmouth project, a North Kingstown turbine could potentially provide over 3 million kilowatt-hours of power per year, enough energy to offset (over a 20-year net cumulative savings) nearly $3 million. Funding for the Portsmouth turbine project was authorized via a bond referendum approved by Portsmouth voters last November which allowed the borrowing in the form of an interest-free Clean Renewable Energy Bond. 

Ned Draper, Director of Administration at North Kingstown School Department announced, "The School Department and the town are excited about the prospect of tapping our local wind energy potential with ASA and ready to get the project off the ground." 

Regional wind energy projects that ASA is presently involved in include:
· Technical and economic feasibility study for the Town of Jamestown, RI
· Feasibility study of Peddocks Island in Boston Harbor for the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation
· Feasibility study for the University of Massachusetts Medical Campus
· Feasibility study and MTC development grant support for the Plymouth County Correctional Facility, Plymouth MA, 
· Environmental impacts study for a wind power production facility at a land site on Cape Cod 
· Support for the Special Area Management Plan, regulatory framework development for the permitting of wind and other energy production projects in the waters offshore of RI
· Synthesis of the current state of knowledge of the potential impacts of renewable energy system development on the outer continental shelf for the U.S. Minerals Management Service
· Support for the Massachusetts Ocean Management Plan which is in part directed at offshore wind energy facility siting

ASA's Energy Group is also involved in supporting numerous energy development projects in Africa, the Middle East, Caspian Sea, China, Australia, and South East Asia.

The FUN theory of climbing stairs!

Here's a short video that proves that FUN can change behavior!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lXh2n0aPyw&feature=player_embedded

Mosaico has money for job training

Mosaico CDC has CDBG grant money available to fund job development and training for people in low and moderate income brackets in the area of marine systems, health and green technology. If you are interested or know of people who are, please call Diana Campbell, interim executive director of Mosaico at 401 253 4627. This is an extraordinary program especially with the RI unemployment rate remaining in two digits. For more info on Mosaico and their many diverse programs go to the link below and read their latest newsletter. Mosaico is located in downtown Bristol on the first floor of the Bristol Statehouse building at the intersection of High and Court Streets. Please come in and introduce yourself!

http://www.docstoc.com/docs/4727608/Mosaico-CDC-Newsletter-www-mosaicocdc-info-In-the-early 

Noise Committee to be formed

After six weeks and two Town Council meetings of being continued with no resolution, the noise ordinance Thursday night was tabled. Town Council Chair, Ken Marshall, requested a seven member committee be formed to deal with noise in Bristol and come up with a final recommendation for the Town Council. Ken said the committee would be made up of the Police Chief, the Town Zoning enforcement officer (Ed Tanner), a business person, a person from a non-profit, a community member and one or two Town Council members (Ray Cordeiro and/or Mary Parella). Ken Marshall also requested that the committee study what other towns have done and are currently doing to abate noise. He specifically singled out a recent letter written by James Farley of Mount Hope Farm who he said selfishly had the existing noise ordinance passed 2 years ago for his own self interest at Mount Hope Farm (MHF) at the expense of the rest of the community. (Close to 75% of MHF revenues come from weddings.) Ken Marshall called Mr. Farley's recent letter to the Town Council (and others) defending the noise ordinance "vile, arrogant, and disrespectful." For another point of view, read this weeks (Oct. 8, 2009) editorial in the Bristol Phoenix titled "Buyer Beware" focusing on the Blithewold/Van Wickle neighbors dispute. http://www.eastbayri.com/detail/131695.html?content_source=&category_id=19&search_filter=&list_type=&order_by=&order_sort=&content_class=&sub_type=&town_id=

If anyone reading this would like to volunteer to be interviewed to be on this soon-to-be-formed committee, please email Lou Cirillo, Bristol Town Clerk, at lpcirillo@bristolri.us or call him at Town Hall at 253 7000 for details.

War College and URI collaborate on saving energy

Posted Oct 9, 2009
ENERGY
URI students find energy savings at Navy base
By Chris Barrett
Providence Business News (PBN) Staff Writer


University of Rhode Island students recently pitched a plan to the Naval War College in Newport that could help reduce the military’s utility bills.

During the summer a team of students from the university’s Energy Center Fellows Program visited the college’s facilities and found a wide variety of inefficiencies in energy use, including areas that had more lighting than necessary, outdoor lights that were on during daylight hours, occupancy sensors that were not working properly, and computers that were never turned off.

“We found a lot of little things that can have a big impact on their energy bill,” said Kevin Silveira, 21, a URI senior studying mechanical engineering. “Changing behaviors may be the hardest thing to do because they’ve been doing things the same way for years and years, but we hope to get the faculty, staff and students to switch their mindset to be more energy conscious and more waste conscious.”

The students said implementing their recommendations and installing renewable energy sources could reduce the college’s energy consumption by 30 percent below 2003 levels by 2015.

Rear Admiral Phil Wisecup, president of the War College, has endorsed the plan and asked for students to return and oversee the implementation of the project.

“It’s a wonderful example of what people can do together, and of how talented these young URI students are,” Wisecup said. “The URI faculty deserves a lot of credit here, too. We are so pleased to be working together on this. It’s a real win-win.”

Bristol on Chronicle TV Show in Boston

Below is a link to a 4 minute video that was aired recently on Channel 5 TV in Boston about Bristol! Thank you to Joan Roth for being such a warm and informative ambassador (your velvet voice really comes across well on TV!) and to TV hostess Cindy Salvato for bringing this special RI Walking Market Tour to the attention of the Chronicles TV program. This particular tour is a RI Culinary and Culture Walk (http://www.rimarkettours.com/) focusing on Bristol- visiting many restaurants as well as museums in our area including Linden Place and Coggeshall Farm.Here's the video link:

http://www.thebostonchannel.com/chronicle/21163598/detail.html

PS This is how the RI Market Tours describe Joan Roth on their website. (If Bristol ever gets an oral history project started, Joan Roth should be one of the top picks to begin it!)

Joan Roth — She teaches, she sings, she's an artist and musician, she's a historian, and is teased by her friends as being Bristol's unofficial Mayor; and now she's your tour guide. Joan Roth is a native Bristolian and taught school in Little Compton and Bristol. She heads the music series at Linden Place, which runs October thru May, and served, at one time, on the board of the Youth Orchestra of the RI Philharmonic. Joan loves to tour people around Bristol and has great stories to share with you; you'll love meeting her.

Mr. Hannah goes to Brazil!

(Uncle Wiggly goes to Chicago) A few days ago I wrote about an osprey named "Mr. Hannah" who was radio collared in Nantucket. (The solar powered radio tracking GPS cost $5000 and was donated anonymously) just before his migration to points south. At that time he had just arrived in Venezuela. I thought you might like to know that he is now in Brazil. Below is an email I received today from the biologist (Robert Kennedy, PhD.) in charge of his receiver and mapping. Bob's email is on the bottom of his report if you would like to be placed on a Mr. Hannah tracking email list and also to receive fascinating google maps of Mr Hannah's whereabouts in SA. Here is Bob's email:

Hi Osprey Friends,

Mr. Hannah has not reached his winter home!
In my last email on 28 September it looked like Mr. Hannah was settling into a small area in north central Venezuela as he spent about 10 days in that area. I guess he was just having some R and R from his 11-day, 3,000-mile trip from Nantucket. Just after I downloaded the last data, which included up to 1 pm on 27 September, Mr. Hannah took off to the south at 2 pm on the 27th, arriving in the headwaters of the Orinoco River in Department of Apure, Venezuela on the 28th. He remained there until 3 October and then headed south again, crossing into Colombia on 4 October following sections of the Orinoco River along the border of Colombia and Venezuela until our last data point at 2 pm yesterday, 6 October, when he was still in Colombia but just 20 miles north of Brazil and the Rio Negro, one of the main tributaries to the Amazon. Also, he was just 2.5 degrees north of the Equator.
Since he arrived in South America, he has travelled over 750 miles south. His combined straight line flight from Nantucket is about 3,500 miles, which he has covered in 30 days.
I have attached three maps. One covers his flight from Nantucket until he reaches Colombia and Venezuela covering 6 to 17 September. The second covers his travels while in South America from 17 September to 6 October. The third is a Google Earth file that you can zoom in to see his travels more closely. Again just use the slide rule bar on the top center of the map and move the bar all the way to the right to see locations appear. You will need Google Earth downloaded on your computer to do this.
Yesterday he was flying south non-stop from 10 am to 2 pm at about 20 mph, so I am sure that he continued into Brazil and possibly is now south of the Equator. We still do not know where he will end up!
Will have another update in a few days. Enjoy,
Bob
Robert S. Kennedy, Ph.D.
Director of Natural Sciences
Maria Mitchell Association
4 Vestal Street
Nantucket, MA 02554

rkennedy@mmo.org
phone: 508-228-1782
cell: 508-577-4105
fax: 508-228-1031
MMA's Website: www.mmo.org

New Energy Funding Opportunities at URI

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St. Michael's concert series begins season with Community MusicWorks Players

The Community Concert Series at St. Michael's presents its first concert of the season, "Providence String Quartet and Community MusicWorks Players," on Saturday, October 24 at 8 p.m. at St. Michael's Church in Bristol. The quartet features violinists, Jesse Holstein and Minna Choi, violist Sebastian Ruth, and cellist Sara Stainaker, with guest violist Chloe Kline, performing one of Johannes Brahms' outstanding chamber works, the String Quintet in F Major ("Spring"), among other works. Now in its 13th season, Community MusicWorks provides free after-school music education, instruments, and performance programs to children in Providence's underserved neighborhoods. Acknowledged as a premier public service arts program by the president’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities, CMW now offers a training program for professional musicians interested in this successful model. Each St. Michael's concert also features a piece performed by a talented young musician from a local school and a reception with the artists.  The Bristol Community String Project is based on this Providence program. The kids in the Bristol program can attend the concert for free.

The popular dinner/concert packages will again be offered in cooperation with restaurants in downtown Bristol. The package price includes a fixed price dinner and concert ticket, given at the restaurant. Package reservations should be made by calling the restaurant. There will be two choices for this concert: Le Central for $40 (396-9965, view menu at www.lecentralbristol.net) and Redfelsens for $33 (254-1188, view menu at www.redlefsens.com).

Concert only tickets are $20, $15 for seniors, $10 for students, and are available at Paper Packaging & Panache, 418 Hope St., and at the door. For further information, call 254-9626.

Wind energy and Obama ocean policy

Below is a link to a recent article (October 5 -11, 2009) from the Providence Business News titled "Wind Energy part of Obama planning for ocean policy" noting that the Obama task force recommendations are to be made by December 9.

http://www.pbn.com/detail.html?sub_id=45233

Town Council agenda for Wednesday night's meeting

Below is the link to the Town Council agenda for this Wednesday's Town Council meeting at  7 pm at Town Hall. The noise ordinance will be discussed and is on page three.

http://www2.sec.state.ri.us/omfiling/pdffiles/notices/4494/2009/79863.pdf 

Jonathan Landay to speak for East Bay Citizens for Peace

Jonathan Landay, McClatchy news senior national security reporter, will be fresh back from Afghanistan when he comes to Bristol to talk about his reporting experiences there and about the war in general. Jonathan Landay will be speaking on Saturday, November 7 at the Bristol Statehouse at 8 pm.

Go to the link below to read his article about what he witnessed during an ambush on September 8th outside Ganjgal, Afghanistan. For a reporter - no doubt 'I'd use the rifle if I had to.' http://www.mcclatchydc.com/staff/jonathan_landay/story/75301.html

McClatchy's Jonathan S. Landay, who was ambushed with U.S. Marines in a remote Afghan village Tuesday, is a veteran foreign affairs reporter with long experience in South Asia, Iraq, the Balkans and Washington.Landay covered South Asia — including Afghanistan — as well as the Balkans from 1985 to 1994 for United Press International and for The Christian Science Monitor. He joined the Knight Ridder Washington Bureau in 1999.He was part of the Knight Ridder team, with State Department correspondent Warren P. Strobel and Bureau Chief John Walcott, that investigated and disproved the Bush administration's claims that Saddam Hussein's Iraq had an active nuclear weapons program and ties to al Qaida.The team won a National Headliner Award for "How the Bush Administration Went to War in Iraq," a 2005 Award of Distinction from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism for "Iraqi Exiles Fed Exaggerated Tips to News Media," and a 2007 Edward Weintal Prize from Georgetown University's Institute for the Study of Diplomacy for the Iraq coverage.The McClatchy Co. acquired Knight Ridder in 2006, and Landay is now the senior national security correspondent in the McClatchy Washington Bureau and a regular contributor to the bureau's Nukes & Spooks blog. He regularly travels to Afghanistan, Pakistan and other trouble spots.

He is the son of Bristol residents, Jerry and Sandy Landay. As many of you know, Jerry Landay is a writer, retired correspondent for CBS News and a frequent contributor to the Providence Journal op-ed page.

Potter League is only LEED GOLD ranked building in RI

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Possible sustainability minor at RWU

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Neil Silberman: Heritage talk at RWU

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Osprey pair headed south for winter

The osprey pair that take up residence every summer at the head of the harbor on the Mill Gut nesting platform are no longer around. For several days there has been a great blue heron sitting on what was left of their nest. Ospreys are migratory and travel south — often to South America every year. On Nantucket, bird enthusiasts have placed a satellite receiver on a male osprey they call "Mr. Hannah". The solar powered receiver was funded by an anonymous $5000 gift. Mr Hannah traveled 2,800 miles in 11 days flying as fast as 52 miles per hour much of the way. He was last heard from in northern Venezuela. It is reported that osprey mate for life and return every year to the same places both north and south bound - that is if they can manage to stay alive. DDT is still not banned in South America and in many developing countries because it is very effective at preventing malaria.

HPC Noise Ordinance on October 7 TC agenda

Page three of the TC agenda has the following info. This issue has been continued for the past two meetings and will be heard October 7 early in the meeting. See this weeks Phoenix front page article for more details.