August 31: Anniversary of Hurricane Carol 1954

http://www.abc6hurricane.com/2009/07/22/hurricane-carol-bristol/?nggpage=2Amazing link to a series of photographs by Joseph Pimental in 1954 of Bristol after Hurricane Carol. Kindness of Fred Campagna
Photo above: Lower State Street at Thames (click on photo once to enlarge) Click on blue link above for more photos.

Hope Street road work Workshop Tues Sept. 7

The RI Department of Transportation (DOT) will
discuss plans and take public comment about the
reconstruction of downtown Hope Street at a
workshop in Bristol Town Hall on Tuesday
September 7 at 7pm.

DOT DIrector Michael Lewis and Deputy Chief
Engineer Robert Smith will present details of the
nearly completed plan at the request of State
Rep. Douglas Gablinske. Construction is
scheduled to begin next spring on road
resurfacing, new granite curbing, sidewalks,
steps, tree work and lighting from Silver Creek to
Constitution Street.

Rep Gablinske is largely responsible for the
state taking recent action on this project.

Please attend to learn the parameters of this project
and to voice your concerns or comments.

Raptor Weekend At Audubon • September 11 and 12

Raptor Weekend 2010 Schedule
Saturday, September 11th

10:00 am: Flight Program: Talons! A Bird of Prey Experience (Behind Building)*
11:00 am: Raptor Presentation by Wind over Wings (Presentation Tent)*
12:00 pm: Providence Falcons: a history and discussion of the nesting Peregrine Falcons in Providence by Joe Zbyrowski (Auditorium)
12:00 pm: Migration Madness Game (Right side of Building)
12:30pm: Flight Program: Talons! A Bird of Prey Experience (Behind Building)*
1:15pm: Raptor Presentation by Audubon Society of RI staff (Presentation Tent)*
1:30 pm: Photographing the Peregrine Falcons of Providence. Open discussion by Photographer Peter Green (Auditorium)
2:00 pm: Raptor Presentation by Wind over Wings (Presentation Tent)*
3:00 pm: Owls of RI Lecture by Kim Calcagno Audubon Society of RI staff (Auditorium)
3:15pm: Raptor Presentation by Audubon Society of RI staff (Presentation Tent)*


Sunday, September 12th

10:30 am: Owl Presentation by Eyes of Owls (Presentation Tent)*
11:30 am: Flight Program: Talons! A Bird of Prey Experience (Behind Building)*
12:00 pm: Raptor Presentation by Audubon Society of RI staff (Presentation Tent)*
1:00 pm: Owl Presentation by Eyes on Owls (Presentation Tent)*
2:00 pm: Bald Eagles in RI- A Survival Success Story Lecture by Michael Tucker Audubon Society of RI staff (Auditorium)
2:00 pm: Migration Madness Game (Right side of Building)
2:30 pm: Flight Program: Talons! A Bird of Prey Experience (Behind Building)*
3:15 pm: Raptor Presentation by Audubon Society of RI staff

*Meet the Experts
New this year! Get a chance to speak with the Raptor Experts. After each the live raptor presentations the presenters will be available for approximately 15-20 minutes to answer any of your questions. Just stop by the "Meet the Experts" information table!
Photo Top: Barred Owl; Bottom: Great Horned Owl with fabulous raptor expert who will be back again this year!

Huge Sale at 'A Novel Idea' Bookstore

Sue Woodman. proprietor, sends this news August 30, 2010:
"We're moving soon to 54 State Street and there's SO much to move so we are having a
STOREWIDE SALE - EVERYTHING IS 40% OFF!
Includes current bestsellers, booklights, reading glasses, candy, puzzles, stuffed animals, artwork, etc.
Hope to see you soon and thanks for supporting your local independent bookstore.
Sue
------------------------------------------------------------
A "Novel Idea" Ltd. Booksellers
Sue Woodman - Proprietor
450 Hope Street
Bristol, Rhode Island 02809
Phone: 401-396-9360
Fax: 401-396-9378

East Bay Food Pantry Fundraiser at Herreshoff

“UNCORKED!” - Sunday, September 12, 2010, 4-7 pm
Herreshoff Marine Museum Tent, Bristol, RI

Join us for this relaxing sunset event on Bristol Harbor with drinks, light fare and live music by MEPOS, all to benefit the East Bay Food Pantry.

Reservations are $30 per person, $50 per pair or $40 each at the door. Every $30 reservation buys 300 pounds of food! This place is not only a food pantry but also has a huge Thrift Shop.
More details go to:
http://www.eastbayfoodpantry.org/Events.html

Bristol's new street signs are gorgeous!

Have you noticed the handsome new black and white street signs
all over town? Here is the scoop direct from Town Clerk, Louis P. Cirillo: Thank you Lou!

"The signs are wooden (some hardwood; not sure of the species) with
black-anodized aluminum plaques fastened to the wooden plaques with
stainless steel screws to which reflective letters are affixed. These are
based on a design prevalent in Rhode Island (not just Bristol) c.1950
which many may remember. Most, if not all, of these (and the originals of the past) were made at the State Prison.

The Corrections people helped with the deign of the new signs
based on old ones. (which were painted steel plate) using
the new, modern materials. The project was a collaboration be-
tween the Town Administrator, the Town Council, The Town Clerk,
the Historic District Commission, and the Community Development
Department. Public Works is doing the installation now."
Photos showing the old green ones and the new.

Linden Place Art Exhibit and Lecture

"The Girl of My Dreams" Art Exhibit & Lecture Explores the Life of DeWolf Family Member Sylvia DeWolf Ostrander

Stacy Renee Morrison, a New York City Photographer, stumbles across a 19th century trunk abandoned in the garbage that belonged to Sylvia DeWolf Ostrander, a Bristol, Rhode Island native. Sylvia, born in 1841, was a member of the well known DeWolf family that occupied Linden Place Mansion in Bristol, Rhode Island for 177 years. Compelled by the objects Sylvia left behind, Stacy goes on to research her life and attempts to bring her back through photography. Morrison will present some of her photographs, and the twists and turns of her research on Sylvia, during a presentation in the Linden Place Ballroom on Sunday, September 26 at 2 PM.

Stacy Renee Morrison, a native to New Jersey, graduated from Rutgers University in 1997 with a degree in women's studies. She received her Master's Degree in Photography from New York University in 2001. She currently teaches photography at Montclair State University in New Jersey and is also a still-life photographer.

Stacy has exhibited her photographs in New York City, Toronto, Italy, Rhode Island and San Francisco. She received a grant from the Rhode Island Council of the Humanities for her work on "The Girl of My Dreams" that enabled her to slip back in time and make her apparitional images. She is currently working on developing curriculum with the Rhode Island Historical Society to bring "The Girl of My Dreams" to history classes across the state and making ghostly photographs for a new book coming out about the John Brown House in Providence.

Admission to this event is free and open to the public. In conjunction with this lecture and the celebration of the mansion's 200th birthday, the Linden Place Museum will be open for free guided tours from 12pm - 2pm. Guests are encouraged to visit the 1810 museum prior to attending the lecture. Refreshments will be served.

Community Journalism

http://www.pbn.com/detail/51897.html
The former managing editor of the Phoenix, Scott Pickering, is Rhode Island regional editor for PATCH.
"The nature of community journalism is about to change dramatically.

The recent launch of AOL Inc.’s Patch.com in Rhode Island and eight other states is expected to increase already-intense competition for local news and add the Internet as a major player in a field long dominated nationally by newspapers and television.

Bolstered with a $50 million investment by AOL, Patch initiated its presence in Rhode Island the first week of August, when three Patch.com websites went online – one each serving Middletown, Newport and Portsmouth – with more to come both in the Ocean State and elsewhere across the country. In Massachusetts, Patch.com sites are in 13 communities to date.

Patch intends to be the largest hirer of full-time journalists in the United States this year, the company said in a news release, expecting to hire more than 500 journalists by the end of the year. In Rhode Island, Patch has hired at least four local editors and last week was looking to fill 12 more positions from Westerly to Woonsocket."
(Full PBN article at link above)

Providence Bus to NYC for $1

Megabus goes to Boston as well.http://www.pbn.com/detail/51955.html

Persimmon Provisions: New Butcher Shop to open in October

http://www.eastbayri.com/detail/137821.html?content_source=&category_id=1,6&search_filter=&list_type=&order_by=&order_sort=&content_class=&sub_type=stories&town_id=

RIRRC is now recycling plastic bottle caps

RIRRC is now accepting:
Plastic bottle caps (the type found on #1 & #2 soda bottles, milk bottles and detergent jugs)
Plastic trigger sprayers & pump sprayers (household cleaners, etc.)

When recycling your plastic caps and sprayers, you must attach them to the #1 or #2 containers with which they were originally purchased.
Please rinse any containers to be recycled before placing them in your recycling bin.
Thank you to Stan Dimock for sending in this important recycling info.

Wednesday August 25: Special Tri-Town Water Company Meeting

A special Tri-town Bristol, Barrington and Warren Council Meeting has been scheduled for this Wednesday night, August 25, 2010 at 7pm at Town Hall in Bristol to review consideration of draft RFP for Audit Performance of the Bristol County Water Authority (BCWA)
See Public Notice above. Click on notice once to enlarge.

Local vegetables growing chart

It occured to me the other day that although many of us are in synk with the idea of eating locally fresh foods many of us are not aware of the growing seasons for these local foods. So here's a chart to set you straight. Now you know why cauliflower is usually more expensive than broccoli. Look at the differences in length of growing season. Or why buying asparagus now is not seasonal.

Save Bristol Harbor Annual BBQ this Sunday

Save Bristol Harbor is having their Fourth Annual Summer BBQ at a private
Poppasquash residence overlooking Bristol Harbor on Sunday, August 29 from 1 - 5 pm.
Tickets are still available at the Bee Hive or Paper Packaging and Panache - both in Bristol.
Or you can call or email Tony Morettini at 253 8521 or amorettini@cox.net
Do it! This is a fabulous party for a worthy cause. Our priceless harbor!
Tickets are $40. Kids under 5 free.
Click on accomplishments once to enlarge.

David Segal at Agave Restaurant tonight at 8pm

David Segal, Congressional candidate for District 1 (i.e. Patrick Kennedy's seat), will be in Bristol this week.He will be at Agave Restaurant tonight - Aug. 21 at 8 PM.
He is running for Patrick Kennedy's seat. In addition to Ciccilini, his opponents in the Democratic primary are Gemma and Lynch. The winner will probably face Loughlin in the general election.

As a Providence city councilman and then a state representative for the past eight years, David Segal has been a true champion for working families and has never shied away from challenging powerful interests. He's also been a strong advocate for ethics reform and campaign finance reform legislation.

David is running a grassroots campaign, refusing to accept corporate contributions. To learn more, please go to: http://votesegal.com. And don't forget to vote in the primary on Sept. 14!
Follow on twitter here: http://twitter.com/SegalforRI
Video here: http://nobodyspuppet.com/
Link to Kevin Faria's Bullraker blog opinion here: http://bristolbullraker.wordpress.com/2010/08/18/nobodys-puppet/

RWU Masters in Historic Preservation starting this fall

Roger Williams University
Masters in Historic Preservation starting this fall
Graduate degree will build on the legacy of the nation's oldest undergraduate program in historic preservation

In an effort to meet increasing regional demand for professionals to preserve historic buildings, communities and infrastructure, Roger Williams University, in Bristol, will offer a Master's of Science in historic preservation beginning this September. The M.S. builds on the reputation and rigor of the nation's oldest undergraduate program, which will continue to offer a B.S. in historic preservation.

The Master's program is founded on the principle that in-depth expertise in the preservation field must be coupled with skills in design, planning, leadership and administrative management for professionals in historic preservation to be most engaged and effective. This multi-disciplinary, process-based approach helps practitioners to advance their careers, and the greater cause, in partnership with other professionals and stakeholders.

Workshops, labs, internships and seminars provide an opportunity to work on projects in partnership with regional, national and international organizations and firms. Students and faculty work closely with other University graduate programs including architecture, construction management, public administration and leadership. Preservation-specific coursework addresses preservation history and philosophy, documentation, research, architectural conservation, community planning, law and regulation, design, economics and management.

The University offers two paths for the M.S. degree. For those who have completed an undergraduate degree in historic preservation, a one-year, 32-credit program is available beginning fall 2010. Starting in fall 2011, a full-time, two-year, 52-credit program will also be available to qualified students holding a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field. Part-time participation in both programs is available now.

For additional information, please contact program coordinator Philip Marshall at pmarshall@rwu.edu or (401) 254-3061. For information on how to apply, visit http://www.rwu.edu/admission/grad/historicpreservation/

Energy Efficiency Basics for Old House Owners

The Economical Historic Home:
Energy Efficiency Basics for Old House Owners
A workshop by the Collaborative for Common Sense Peservation
Saturday, September 25th - 1:00pm - 5:00pm

Do you love your historic home but hate the high heating bills and wasted energy? Learn how to make your old home more "green," saving money and energy without losing its historic character. Experts will present information and demonstrations on:

· insulation
· weatherizing the building envelope (walls, doors, roof, etc.)
· wood window repair and restoration
· retrofitting for efficient heating systems
· tax credits and funding sources
· and more

This workshop will be held at Casey Farm (c. 1750), 2325 Boston Neck Road, Saunderstown, RI, (401)295-1030.

The Collaborative for Common Sense Preservation is a joint project of Newport Restoration Foundation, Preserve Rhode Island, Historic New England, and the Providence Revolving Fund, in association with Heritage Restoration, Inc and Heartwood Building & Restoration.

Click here to register! http://www.newportrestoration.org/calendar/details/17765-the_economical Advance registration is required. Tickets are $25 per person / $20 for members of Preserve Rhode Island or Historic New England.

Hess LNG declared dead; your letter is needed

Barney Frank and Jim McGovern maneuver to kill Hess LNG terminal

By Staff reports
Herald News
Posted Aug 19, 2010 @ 12:24 PM
Last update Aug 19, 2010 @ 12:31 PM
FALL RIVER —
U.S. Reps. Barney Frank and James McGovern said on Thursday morning that they added language to a House appropriations bill that would prohibit construction of an LNG terminal within five miles of Fall River.

Frank said in a press conference at the Narrows Center for the Arts that the bill is "a stake in the heart of the project."

They said the bill has bipartisan support for the measure and a promise from the House leadership that it would be approved by Oct. 1.

After years of public uncertainty, Frank and McGovern said this move helps to alleviate doubt concerning the terminal's construction.

Here is an excerpt from the Save the Bay website:
"Congressmen Barney Frank and Jim McGovern today announced that they have made a very significant and perhaps decisive step forward in efforts to block the construction of the Hess LNG terminal.

McGovern and Frank, along with Senators John Kerry and Scott Brown, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, Rhode Island Governor Donald Carcieri, Fall River Mayor Michael Flanagan, and virtually all state and local government officials representing the Fall River area, have strongly opposed the LNG proposal and have fought it since it was first introduced eight years ago.

The mechanism by which Frank and McGovern in the House, working with Senators Kerry and Brown in the Senate, will help definitively end consideration of the LNG project is through a provision Frank and McGovern have written for the Energy and Water Appropriations bill in the House.

The provision would ban any federal funds from being used to further the LNG project in any way, including a prohibition on using funds even to advance the permitting process.

If the bill is signed into law, the long fight to stop the LNG terminal will effectively be over."

PLEASE SEND A LETTER through Save the Bay to your congressman via this link. It's easy to do and extremely important that you do it. Here is the link:
http://capwiz.com/savebay/issues/alert/?alertid=16078501

cell phone for seniors

Sent courtesy of Bob Aldrich. I don't know if this is real or not...?

Sachuest Beach Long Board Surfing Jam

http://www.elementalsurfandskate.com/
Click on image once to enlarge.

Alex Kuffner award winning article

Below is link to Alex Kuffner's Providence Journal award winning article on competition for offshore wind farms along the east coast and the USA. It is seven pages and well worth reading. He sites (and charts) projects from NY, NJ, RI, Delaware and MA.
http://www.projo.com/economy/OFFSHORE_WIND_RACE_08-16-09_EBF0D97_v106.33863bd.html

Workshop with Historic District Commission and Town Council Monday night

There will be a special workshop with the Historic District Commission and
the Bristol Town Council Monday night, August 16 at 7 pm at Town Hall.
The general public and residents of the Historic District are invited to share their suggestions and ideas to improve
the 'user friendly quality' of the HDC. The HDC has been working on streamlining the application process and will discuss this at the meeting.
Question: Are driveways and landscaping under the guidance of the HDC?
Please try to attend this important meeting, especially if you care about downtown historic Bristol.
Photo: House on High Street getting ready for the Fourth. BTW, paint color is considered reversable and any house color is acceptable by the Bristol HDC.

New Boat Launch on Mount Hope Bay

The Department of Environmental Management (DEM)

Cordially invites you to attend a
Groundbreaking ceremony for the

Mount Hope Boat Launch Improvement Project

Monday, August 16, 2010
10:00 a.m.
Mount Hope Boat Launch
Annawanscutt Drive off Metacom Avenue, Bristol

Please join us at grand opening ceremonies for the Mount Hope Boat Launch Improvement Project in Bristol on Monday, August 16. The old boat launch located behind the RI Veterans’ Home has been replaced with a new, 60-foot wide concrete ramp and two floating courtesy docks. The new Mount Hope facility is accessible to boaters with disabilities.
A dredged channel from the new boat ramp location, which is north of the old Mount Hope boat ramp, into deep water will accommodate larger boats brought in by trailer to the new facility. This new ramp is the only public boat launching ramp of its size in the Rhode Island portion of Mount Hope Bay.

The $998K project was funded by the Federal Aid in Sportfish Restoration fund through a tax on motorboat fuel.

For more information, please call Gail Mastrati at DEM at 222-4700 ext. 2402.

One night only: August 17 at 7:30pm

The Art of the Steal Jane Pickens Theatre - Newport, RI - 401 846 5474 for tickets go to: www.newportfilm.com
An unmissable look at one of the art world's most fascinating controversies and a celebrated selection of the Toronto, New York and AFI Film Festivals, Don Argott's gripping documentary THE ART OF THE STEAL chronicles the long and dramatic struggle for control of THE BARNES FOUNDATION, a private collection of art valued at more than $25 billion.
Director Don Argott and Producer, Sheena M. Joyce will participate in a Q&A after the screening.

""A terrifically suspenseful and enlightening art-world documentary in which the forces of art and money square off with primal ferocity.""
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly

Williams College tops Forbes list

Brown moves up to number 45. Others in top 5 were Princeton, MIT, Amherst and West Pointhttp://www.pbn.com/stories/51697.html

Warren Mill Project: Exhibition and lecture

Avatar coming to Bristol Sept 4!

Downtown Bristol to show Avatar at Independence Park!
For all those who have yet to see the movie AVATAR it isn't too late. It's coming to downtown Bristol on Saturday, September 4 and its FREE. Thanks to Walter Burke and the Bristol Recreation and Parks Dept, The DBMA, The Bristol Pastime Foundation and RWU we will once again have a movie showing in Bristol. Please click on image once to enlarge. Movie at 7:30pm; Family ZUMBA with Deana at 6:45pm! Thanks to all who organized this. What a terrific idea!

Alex Kuffner wins journalism award

Many of you may remember Alex Kuffner, reporter for the Pro Jo,
when he was on the Bristol beat. We still miss him terribly!
He just received an award in journalism! No surprise to us -
we all knew/know he is excellent and totally top rate!

Alex Kuffner, reporter for the Providence Journal,
received a New England Associated Press News Executive
Association award winning First Place
for Business/Consumer news with his article:
"The Race: Several Companies want to be first to
develop an offshore wind farm"

The article will be posted in a later entry (ie when I can find it).
Go here to read the seven page article
http://www.projo.com/economy/OFFSHORE_WIND_RACE_08-16-09_EBF0D97_v106.33863bd.html

Photo: Alex, right, head down doing his job (it's not easy to get a face shot of AK!) interviewing
Rep Ray Gallison of Bristol under the Mount Hope Bridge in July.

The Bristol History Kids

The Bristol History Kids created and organized by Carol Glanville, Colt-Andrews first grade teacher, has a new website. Please go here http://www.historykids.us/home to check it out and contact Carol if you have suggestions! Great job!
"The History Kids are learning about our community’s historic sites, our history and the artifacts held by our museums. They are dedicated volunteers and are in training to become the next generation of docents and museum directors.
The history of America is the history of their backyards and Town Councils and main streets. These students have a wonderful time discovering the local drama of times past and the significance of the great events that have made us Americans."

Elif Shafak: The Politics of Fiction

TED lecture and master storyteller.
http://www.ted.com/talks/elif_shafak_the_politics_of_fiction.html

Bidding Opportunities for engineer site consultant

Bidding Opportunities for engineering consultant services for Animal Shelter site evaluationhttp://www.bristolri.us/clerk/bid.php

Deepwater contract criticized

A national energy expert testified Tuesday that the proposed contract governing how National Grid would buy electricity from a wind farm developed by Deepwater Wind off Block Island sets prices too high. The energy consultant said the contract is written poorly, replete with errors, and lacks key information - such as what kind of tubines Deepwater plans to use.http://www.projo.com/news/content/puc_wind_hearing_08-04-10_12JEA79_v7.2534c3f.html

Ferolbink Farm easement deal delayed

http://www.projo.com/news/environment/content/missing_millions_07-28-10_EAJBMNU_v17.3cf6a6e.html

Stokes Birding Blog

http://stokesbirdingblog.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2010-07-09T10%3A14%3A00-04%3A00

Mount Hope Farm Jazz event a fabulous success

Mount Hope Farm's Cool Jazz and More was a fabulous evening.
The weather was perfect.
THe location the absolute best.
The food and music superb.
The live auction lively and productive...
but the best thing about the evening was the people.
All the volunteers who helped to pull it off
(amazingly in about a month) under the steady guidance of Betty
and Joe Brito, Jr., the Board of Trustees
(who acted as servers for the dinner), BankNewport, Jeff Hirsh
from the The Lobster Pot, Russell Morin Catering,
Brian Remy, the amazing tent people, Fales Farm and many others
plus all the people who showed up (all 300 of them!) to help
create a fresh face and a positive direction
for Mount Hope Farm. Kudos to all!

If you'd like to view photos taken by Julie Brigidi, Bristol Oggi Photographer extraordinaire of the event do this:

Go to: www.Oggiphoto.com
Click on YOU in the black bar (at the top of the homepage)
Choose your event, Mt.Hope Farm Jazz (from the drop down bar that says, Choose an event)
Enter the password, oggi4321 and reselect your event from the dropdown bar
To view the photos, click on the first one, move the cursor to the upper right, the 'next' button will appear.
There are 114 images total - so click on both page 1 and 2 at the bottom of the page.

Here are a few to start you off!
It was a dreamy evening!

More Mount Hope Farm photos

A Novel Idea Bookseller to move

Below is a message from Sue Woodman, proprietor of A Novel Idea Booksellers.
"I'm excited to let you know that "A "Novel Idea" Booksellers is moving! But don't panic! We're only moving across the street to the corner of Hope and State at 54 State Street. (Blogger note: This is the small brick building where 'A Leg Up Bowtique and Barkery' was formerly located.) This is good news for all of you because I need your help! Even though it's a very short move, I really don't want to pack up all the books in stock so we're having a huge moving sale. Discounts from 25% to 50% off so be sure to come in soon for the best selection and you'll find some great deals. We'll also be selling some of the bookcases, tables, chairs, decorations, etc, so check out those also."

"Hope to see you soon and thanks for supporting your local independent bookstore.

Sue Woodman, Proprietor"