Harbormaster Spots Humpback Breaching in Narragansett Bay

"It looked fine. It looked like it was having a good time," said North Kingstown Harbormaster Ed Hughes.

By MARK SCHIELDROP, Narragansett-South Kingstown Patch Staff

North Kingstown —Boating season is basically over and North Kingstown Harbormaster Ed Hughes now makes his rounds on land. But today, he wished he was on a boat.

Still, Hughes was able to witness a remarkable sight: a humpback whale breaching, splashing and frolicking in Narragansett Bay for nearly an hour.

The Other, Other Rite of Spring

Apologies to Igor Stravinsky and Alexander Cartwright

By Bob Yarnall

Hexagenia limbata, a.k.a. The Giant Mayfly
 - Wood River’s premier trout food

Well, here it is, the final weekend in March and it’s snowing flakes the size of Hexagenia limbata. Spring seems determined to make April Fools out of all of us, so we have that much in common with the CCA, like it or not.

In any event, perhaps it’s a good time to sketch out a working class prelude to one of humankind’s oldest sustenance activities so those of you so inclined can engage in philosophical debate about the true meaning of Henry David Thoreau’s timeless observation, "Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after."

More jobs seem to be opening up in our area

Jobs available in and around South County in non-profits and businesses

By Will Collette

The official Charlestown unemployment number holds at 6.1% which is close to the statewide average. We’re still waiting to see the new stats for January and hoping they will show some real job growth. But for now, the numbers show almost 300 Charlestown workers actively looking for work out of a total active workforce of 4,519.

I’ve noted before that these statistics belie the Charlestown Citizens Alliance’s image of Charlestown as a community of retirees at leisure. Maybe down in Quonnie where they live, but not in the rest of Charlestown.

Anyway, rather than point out once against that there are practical steps Charlestown can take to help residents find and hold onto work, let’s look at what’s available.

These listings come from the Swearer Center at Brown University for most of the non-profit listings (click here to sign up for their daily e-mail of current openings) and from the various local Patch websites in our area (South Kingstown-Narragansett, North Kingstown, Stonington, New London). Some listings may be out of date or the jobs are filled (that’s always a possibility with any job posting), but here they are:

Are you looking for a new job?

If you’re looking for work, check these listings

By Will Collette

With an unemployment rate of 6.1%, Charlestown has nearly 300 people in serious need of work, plus an unknown number of people stuck in part-time or low-paid jobs who need something better.

The Charlestown Town Council just made its big move to bring new jobs into Charlestown by cutting the annual business license fee from $25 to $10 (see all those employers just rushing in!).

But while you’re waiting for the trickle-down effect of that bold move to actually produce results, here are some of the local jobs available according to RI Community Jobs (click here to subscribe to their daily e-mail), the local Patch websites in Narragansett and Stonington and job stories and notices I’ve collected.

NOTE: as the economy continues to improve, there are more jobs out there than we’ve seen in years. Unfortunately, a lot of them don’t pay well or require a long commute (and Charlestown has no link to public transportation). For that reason, I narrowed the listings below to those that are relatively local and seem to pay a living wage (i.e. no “manager-in-training” at McDonald’s, for example):

Here we go.

Damaged

Be sure to keep good records of storm-related losses

By Will Collette

Charlestown has gotten off a lot easier this winter – so far – than most of the rest of New England. Our snow totals have been a lot less and, again so far, we haven’t had a brutal wet snow even like 2013’s Nemo that knocked out power for days and destroyed many trees all over town.

Take, for example, poor South Kingstown, which must have had at least seven or eight feet of snow if you believe the headlines in the Patch website, though they now seem to be getting a little defensive about their Faux News-style weather coverage.

I realize winter’s not over yet. That idiot groundhog has predicted winter will last through most of March. If I believed in jinxes, I shouldn’t even be having this conversation with you.

At some point soon, most or all of New England might receive a federal disaster declaration. 

Governor Raimondo and the other New England governors have asked for federal help. They have also issued the appropriate state disaster declarations. Even towns like Charlestown issued their own emergency declarations.

All that paves the way for reimbursement for storm costs to states and localities and perhaps some reimbursements to individuals. FEMA had a team on the ground in Rhode Island last week to assess the impact of the storms.

Stormy weather

Once again with the warnings about big snow

By Will Collette

Storming warnings are up once again for a major winter storm for the weekend. Some parts of New England, mostly those that have been high hard before, are going to get hit hard again. 

The official winter storm watch for our area starts Valentine’s Day at 3 PM and runs until Sunday at 7 PM. The general outlook for much of the watch area is 6 to 12 inches, though it looks like Charlestown will once again escape the storm's full force.

That, of course, was more than enough for the local Patch to once again say there will be a foot of snow that will drop on South Kingstown.

I’ve got to stop reading Patch’s forecasts because their Brian Williams approach to weather reporting only pisses me off.

Once again, snow forecasts differ wildly

What’s with the Patch?

By Will Collette

The official forecast from the National Weather Service for Charlestown for today through Monday calls for scattered flurries and no accumulation today, only a 20 to 40% chance of flurries on Saturday with maybe an inch or less of accumulation, and a 50 to 60% of snow on Sunday and Monday.

The Weather Channel’s forecast for Charlestown calls for a 30 to 50% of snow showers on Saturday and, like the Weather Services, less than an inch or maybe nothing. Sunday night, they say we have a 70% chance of getting an inch. On Monday, the odds are higher of precipitation – 80 to 80% and one to three inches of that dreaded “winter mix.”

All of which we should be able to handle. But then there’s the South Kingstown-Narragansett Patch forecast with this headline:

Volunteer to shovel out elderly and handicapped

Serve Rhode Island is signing up volunteers to help shovel out the elderly and disabled.

By Mark Schieldrop (Patch Staff)

When the blizzard dies down later on Tuesday, many Rhode Islanders who can’t shovel themselves out will need some help.

Fortunately, Serve Rhode Island has a plan.

The Storm Assistance for Elderly and Disabled (SAFE-D) program connects volunteers with people who need support and signing up is easy.

Go HERE, fill out the form and have a copy of your photo ID handy. Once you fill it out, someone from Serve Rhode Island will contact you and match you with a resident in need.

Calamari Bill Resurfaces in General Assembly

RI is the "King of Squid," according to two local legislators.

Teresa, Sue and Donna again push to promote Rhode Island's
most valuable seafood resource

Posted by Mark Schieldrop,  Narragansett-South Kingstown Patch

EDITOR’S NOTE: The bill, H-7446, is co-sponsored by Representatives Donna Walsh of Charlestown and Teresa Tanzi of Peacedale.

Rhode Island fisherman have adapted to the changing local fishery, catching more and more squid in recent years. Landings from Rhode Island now make up half of the entire haul from the eastern seaboard.

Rhode Island is the East Coast capital of squid, according to Sen. Susan V. Sosnowski (D-Dist. 37, South Kingstown, New Shoreham) and Rep. Joseph McNamara (D-Dist. 29, Warwick, Cranston).

And that's why they're reintroducing a bill that would make Rhode Island-style calamari - battered, fried and served with hot peppers — the state's official appetizer.

Bill would Let Tenants Stay in Foreclosed Homes

Rep. John G. Edwards (D-Dist. 70, Portsmouth, Tiverton) and Sen. Harold M. Metts (D-Dist. 6, Providence) have filed bills that would prevent banks from evicting tenants living in foreclosed homes until they sold the house to a new owner.

Posted by Mark Schieldrop (Editor), Narragansett-South Kingstown Patch

From left, Rep. John G. Edwards, Maureen Martin, of the Rhode Island
Federation of Teachers and Health Professionals, and
Sen. Harold M. Metts stand in the rotunda following news conference.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This legislation has been co-sponsored by Rep. Donna Walsh and Rep. Teresa Tanzi.

Tiverton and Portsmouth Rep. John G. Edwards has submitted legislation that would let tenants living in foreclosed homes stay put until the bank holding the bag completes a sale.

“I introduced this bill six years ago when I met a neighboring family in Tiverton who lived in a foreclosed home,” Rep. Edwards, (D-Dist. 70, Tiverton, Portsmouth,) said. 

OMG PD

Running With Scissors

Posted by Samantha Turner (Editor) in the Narragansett-South Kingstown Patch

Running With Scissors

One South Kingstown woman was very eager to make away with some stolen items from Walmart last week. The woman allegedly stole a pair of scissors and face wash – the jury’s still out on whether or not these were complementary purchases – and left the store.

Police tried to stop her from leaving the parking lot, but she ignored their attempts and continued onto the highway. She made it a few miles up the road before police blocked her off at an intersection, at which point she pulled off the road and drove up a grass embankment, then jumped out of the car.

OMG PD

How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria(juana)?

Posted by Samantha Turner (Editor) Narragansett-SouthKingstown Patch

The Internet Would LOVE This House

We’re not sure how many cats a person has to own to be considered a crazy cat lady, but this woman definitely has the minimum requirement on that front.

Barrington police, not one but two animal rescue organizations, and a veterinarian are working to help the woman find homes for her cats she’s been hoarding as she is moving away. How many cats are we talking about? Oh, just like 60 cats.

Northern Lights May Appear in Skies Over Rhode Island

With clear skies predicted over the state overnight, chances are good that if northern lights result from this week's solar flare, we might be able to see the celestial display.

Posted by Patrick Luce (Editor) in the Narragansett-South Kingstown Patch

A strong solar flare facing the Earth earlier this week may bring us a rare display of aurora borealis, or northern lights, overnight Wednesday into Thursday, according to reports. 

OMG PD

Beer Necessities

Posted by Samantha Turner (Editor) in the Narragansett-South Kingstown Patch

I Immediately Regret My Decision

No one wants to find himself or herself in the back of a police car. In fact, some people even fight officers to avoid the ordeal. And then, there’s this guy.  The 21-year-old man from Narragansett was found a short ways from a hit-and-run accident. 

He denied any involvement in the accident, despite the fact that the trail of radiator fluid from the accident led directly to his SUV. He told police he had not been driving that night.

OMG PD

Twerk What Your Mama Gave You

Posted by Samantha Turner (Editor)

One East Providence police officer may be a wee bit mentally scarred after a rather interesting encounter with a belligerent bar patron last week.

While officers helped staff at East Bay Tavern clear out the remaining customers, an officer noticed one man attempting to leave the establishment with his beer. When the officer told him he couldn’t take the drink with him, the 22-year-old man allegedly threw the cup on the ground, spilling it.

OMG PD

Double Crack Entendres and Edward Knifehands

Posted by Samantha Turner (Editor), in the Narragansett-South Kingstown Patch

Edward Knifehands & the Case of the Stolen Sneakers

One Woonsocket man wanted to make sure others knew he was serious about his accusations that someone had stolen his shoes. What better way than with knives?

The 20-year-old man accused a woman of stealing his sneakers, causing her to leave the apartment building to avoid confrontation. That only exacerbated the situation as the man ran back after her, carrying a handful of knives he had found in his kitchen cabinet.

Sea Level Rise 'A Real Issue' In RI

The ocean is encroaching upon the land much faster in the state than the world average, forcing all residents to deal with the issue.

Posted by Patrick Luce in the Narragansett-South Kingstown Patch

Even at low tide, waves crash near the pilings
the Ocean Mist sits on. Credit: Patrick Luce

All anyone needs to do to see the effects of climate change and sea level rise is go have a drink.

The Ocean Mist — located on Rhode Island's south coast, frequented by students and locals alike, and often the venue of some of the area's best local bands — is a popular beach bar in Matunuck.

Well, it used to be a beach bar anyway.

Patrons can still grab a drink from the inside or outside bar, wander to the deck and gaze out over the open ocean toward Block Island in the distance. But those who frequented the Mist as recently as a decade ago may be stunned to find they can no longer stroll along the sandy beach between the bar and the crashing waves ... because it is no longer there.

OMG PD

Candy, Flowers & Blackmail

Posted by Samantha Turner (Editor) in the Narragansett-South Kingstown Patch

When cards, flowers and candy fail to hold your relationship together, there’s always extortion. Well, at least one Newport man thought so.

Instead of finding himself in the arms of his lady love, this 53-year-old man found himself in the back of a police cruiser after he threatened to release explicit photos and video of his girlfriend if she left him.

Not one to buckle to blackmail, the girlfriend (presumably ex-girlfriend now) reached out to the State Police. They arrested the man on charges of extortion, cyber harassment and cyber stalking.

Oh, and they also discovered he was wanted on a bench warrant for failing to appear in court on charges of obtaining money under false pretenses.

South County Narrow River to Benefit From Hurricane Sandy Resiliency Funding

Rhode Island will receive $6 million, part of which will be used to enhancing the Narrow River in South Kingstown, Narragansett and North Kingstown.

Posted by Lauren Costa (Editor), in the Narragansett South Kingstown Patch

The Narrow River, also known as the Pettaquamscutt River, is a narrow tidal
inlet that opens into the Atlantic Ocean at Narragansett Beach.
Credit: Narrow River Preservation Association

In advance of the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Sandy, Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell announced on October 24 that $162 million will be invested in 45 restoration and research projects that will better protect Atlantic Coast communities from future powerful storms. 

The projects will aim to restore marshes, wetlands and beaches, rebuild shorelines, and research the impacts and modeling mitigation of storm surges.

The investments are consistent with President Obama’s Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force Strategy Report and the Administration’s commitment laid out in the Climate Action Plan to build resilience by restoring natural features along shorelines to help better protect communities from future storms.

OMG PD

We Don't Accept Visa

From the Narragansett-South Kingstown Patch

Ma’am, We Don’t Accept Visa

Call it a genius move or a drunken blunder, but one Massachusetts woman had an interesting tactic when dealing with police. 

An officer pulled the car over for suspicion of drunken driving and found that the driver smelled of alcohol and displayed slurred speech.

When the officer asked for her driver’s license, the woman offered up her debit card.