Rhode Island Feeds

By ecoRI staff

PROVIDENCE — The Rhode Island Public Transit Authority is partnering with the city to examine the feasibility, cost and benefits of improving transit within the city’s central core, connecting the College Hill, downtown and upper south Providence neighborhoods.

The study will examine options for connecting the significant educational, medical, employment and cultural destinations in this corridor with the central bus hub in Kennedy Plaza and rail services at the Providence MBTA/Amtrak station.

Members of the public are encouraged to attend one of three upcoming community open houses to help plan how transit might improve mobility and strengthen the downtown, upper south Providence and College Hill areas.

College Hill Open House
• Tuesday, Sept. 21, from 5-7 p.m.
• Brown RISD Hillel Center, 80 Brown St.
• Informal drop-in open house, with brief formal presentation at 6 p.m.

Upper South Providence Open House
• Wednesday, Sept. 22, from 5-7 p.m.
• Edmund Flynn Elementary School, 220 Blackstone St.
• Informal drop-in open house, with brief formal presentation at 6 p.m.

Downtown Open House
• Thursday, Sept. 23, from 12:30-2 p.m.
• The Commerce Center, 30 Exchange Terrace.
• Informal drop-in open house, with brief formal presentation at 1 p.m.

By ecoRI staff

The Rhode Island Energy Efficiency and Resource Management Council — a stakeholder group charged with helping consumers save money through efficiency investments — recently released the results of an 18-month study designed to identify opportunities for National Grid to invest in cost-saving energy-efficiency resources. The study shows that the state could capture hundreds of millions of dollars in savings, and the results are being used to help set targets for future expansion of energy efficiency programs.

“The Opportunity for Energy Efficiency that is Cheaper than Supply in Rhode Island” was based on about 450 residential phone surveys and on-site visits to commercial and industrial facilities in the state. The study was designed to determine the potential for energy and cost savings from electric efficiency measures in Rhode Island over a 10-year period. It also supports the goals of the Rhode Island Comprehensive Energy Conservation, Efficiency and Affordability Act of 2006, which requires National Grid to procure all energy efficiency that is cheaper than traditional supply options.

The results show that significant cost-effective energy-efficiency opportunities exist in Rhode Island. The study found that 29 percent of Rhode Island’s electrical energy needs — or 2,140,000 megawatt-hours — can be met over 10 years through cost-effective energy-efficiency measures, such as compact fluorescent light bulbs, outdoor lighting controls and high-efficiency air conditioners and clothes dryers.

To download the report, click here.

ecoRInews: Breaking Gulf Coast News: USCG reports another oil rig explosion off the coast of LA. All workers are accounted for, with one injured.

Scott MacKay, WRNI radio commentator, speaks out on the 75M loan guarantee to the Curt Schilling video game company and defends Bristol's Carbon Ocean Yachts and smaller business of RI. http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wrni/news.newsmain/article/7057/0/1694087/Politics/The.company.that.didn%27t.get.the.deal

I know it has been a hot summer, but when I saw several people taking a dip in the Charles River one sultry evening this August I couldn’t believe my eyes. What were they thinking?

I know the river has been significantly cleaned up in the last few years, but it stinks to high heavens on certain days, which leads me to believe that some foul stuff is afloat in there. Rumor has it that before the clean-up efforts, boaters were advised to head straight to the hospital for tetanus shots after a fall in the river. This incident got me thinking about the state of the Charles River today-how clean it is, what contaminants remain, and how close we are to the Charles becoming a river that city dwellers can safely (and pleasantly) swim in.

Pollution of the Charles originated with the first English settler to Boston in 1625, and continued via the introduction of untreated raw sewage, waste water from city streets and factories that emptied contaminants directly into the river. The creation of dams and filling in of marshlands in Boston compounded the pollution and limited drainage. The river eventually became noxious, slicked with oil and flowing with toxins. Efforts to clean the river began in 1965 with the creation of the Charles River Watershed Association and in 1995 the EPA declared the goal of a “fishable, swimmable” river by 2005.

There has been considerable progress, but the EPA has not accomplished its goal of a completely fishable and swimmable river. The EPA measures bacterial counts at ten points along the 80-mile long river. The report card shows that in 1995, the Charles received a “D” rating, meaning that the river was safe for some boating but no swimming. In 2005, the river received a B+ rating, meaning that it is safe for all boating and some swimming. A major hurdle in the way of the EPA’s goal of a swimmable and fishable river is combined sewage overflow (“CSO”), which occurs when the pipe carrying untreated sewage from its source to the treatment facility cannot hold all of the water during periods of heavy rain. The overflow dumps untreated sewage directly into the river. Hopefully this will change, as we begin to see the results of a 2006 settlement between the EPA and the Massachusetts Water Resource Authority (MWRA) where the MWRA agreed to control CSO output into the Charles.

This blog was written by Maura Nugent, grant coordinator for Lights Out, Green In.

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)

Article from The Guardian reveals growing concern by UK government officials.

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 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!

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

“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

By SARAH PAYNE/ecoRI contributor

The Providence-based Southside Community Land Trust runs 13 community gardens. (Sarah Payne/ecoRI contributor)PROVIDENCE — The Southside Community Land Trust recently hosted garden tours and a harvest potluck, inviting the curious to explore six of the city’s 34 community gardens, connect with urban farmers and enjoy some local bounty.

The SCLT was created in 1981 to locate, secure and manage land for community food systems and create spaces where neighbors share tools, resources and skills. Through educational programs and gardening workshops, the organization continues to teach people how to grow food and to instill healthy eating habits.

Potters Avenue Park, one of the community gardens open for self-guided tours Saturday, is a hidden gem. Half of the plot consists of a park complete with benches and a play area, where kids enjoy the refreshing shade offered by large maple trees. The other half of the plot consists of a community garden, where about 20 families grow a variety of foods.<<Read full story

Salmon farming, which involves raising salmon in containers placed under water near shore, began in Norway about 50 years ago and has since caught on in the United States, Ireland, Canada, Chile and the United Kingdom. Because of a decline in wild fish for various reasons, many experts view the farming of salmon and other fish as the future of the industry. On the flip side, many marine biologists and ocean advocates fear such a future, citing serious health and ecological implications with so-called “aquaculture.”

Despite being much fattier, farmed fish provide less usable beneficial omega-3 fats than wild fish. Department of Agriculture research found that the fat content of farmed salmon is 30 percent to 35 percent by weight while wild salmons’ fat content is some 20 percent lower, though with a protein content about 20 percent higher. Farm-raised fish also contain higher amounts of pro-inflammatory omega-6 fats instead of the preponderance of healthier omega-3s found in wild fish.<<Opinion

ecoRInews: Watch a film and partake in a discussion about global warming. Tuesday evening in Narragansett.http://www.ecori.org/environmental-events/

Engineers this week will try to remove the failed blowout preventer from the BP well, with the goal of determining what caused the explosion (MSNBC). Meanwhile, behind the scenes, things were more acrimonious than previously disclosed (NY Times).

The panel investigating the explosion isn’t getting many good answers thus far (LA Times), and finding a smoking gun has proven difficult (NY Times).

In the wake of the salmonella outbreak, the FDA plans to inspect large egg farms, some of which haven’t been inspected in decades (LA Times).

The Obama administration sides with utilities in a Supreme Court case, angering environmentalists (Washington Post).

A map to zone the waters off of Rhode Island has so far been a letdown (Providence Journal).

Construction of a highway through a Russian forest is halted for now (LA Times).

A firm that makes blades for wind turbines plans to open a plant in Fall River (Boston Globe).

New federal regulations will prevent ships from discharging sewage within three miles of the California coast (LA Times).

Lightning as an energy source?  One researcher says yes (BBC).

Is whaling meat contaminated?  Activists want the World Health Organization to look into it (BBC).

The New Zealand Christmas tree wreaks havoc on San Francisco (NY Times).

Arlington, Texas, has the best tap water in the U.S.; the worst water is in Jacksonville, Fla.

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.

"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.

What’s one of the biggest obstacles to wind energy? This New York Times article says it’s the military.

The Washington Post has a lengthy article about the ties between industry and the Minerals Management Service. It also reports that Obama’s plan for expanded drilling included little if any input from two top environmental advisers.

Here’s a look at some New York restaurants going green (NY Times).

By ROBERT HART/ecoRI contributor

NORTH KINGSTOWN — University of Rhode Island professor of ocean engineering Malcolm Spaulding recently spoke to an audience at the town’s public library about the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. He shared his analysis of the events and his thoughts on the various efforts to cap and clean up the oil.

Spaulding, an internationally recognized expert in marine environment modeling, pioneered the models at the University of Rhode Island that were used to track the oil spill, and has been working on oil spills since 1979. Spaulding was the principle founder in 1979 of the Rhode Island company Applied Science Associates, which currently supports the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in its Gulf of Mexico spill efforts.

During Wednesday night’s lecture, Spaulding compared the Deepwater Horizon spill to other major oil disasters, including the 1989 Exxon Valdez spill. His latest estimate is that 205.8 million gallons of crude oil from the Deepwater Horizon explosion spilled into the Gulf; prior to the Deepwater Horizon spill, the worst accidental spill in history was the June 1979 spill of 140 million gallons by PEMEX, the Mexican national oil company, in the Bay of Campeche.<<Read full story