Rhode Island Feeds

Are You Prepared? Storm related tree damage can cripple an unprepared community. Envision this scenario in the storm's aftermath: Toppled trees and downed electric power lines; thousands of hazardous trees needing immediate attention; tree debris strewn everywhere, blocking fire and emergency access and making local roads virtually impassable. This is a very dangerous and chaotic picture, but this is only half of the problem. The other half involves storm damage mitigation described simply as returning the community to its pre-storm condition.

Food & Wine Tasting, Silent Auction & Raffle Join us for One Night to Remember in November.
Stroll through the beautiful Roger Williams Park Botanical Center, the largest display of indoor gardens featuring flowers and plants from all over the world, while sampling an array of fine food from well known restaurants and a selection of wines, micro brews and festive beverages to please your pallet. This fundraising event will include a silent auction and raffle with great prizes, sure to make the evening one night to remember in November.
Tickets are available here or by calling 401 764-5885.

Reminder, our monthly meeting is this evening @ 6pm.

There is a conflict at the Brown Bookstore for this evenings meeting.  To accommodate them, we are moving our meeting the the upstairs of the bookstore, near the faculty author section.  There is a comfortable couch and TV in the vicinity.  The bookstore staff will have extra chairs in the area for us.  If you need directions, please as a book store employee.

Capt. Frank Blount, owner of the Frances Fleet, reports that fishing has been "very good." "There were some periods of weak tides and very little...

By Thomas J. Morgan Journal staff writer PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The state Department of Transportation said Friday that flood damage repairs on the Fred Lippitt Woonasquatucket River Bikeway will continue weekdays beginning Monday from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Path...

Mike Lanni with the 64.1-pound bass he caught at Block Island Mike Lanni of Narragansett has caught the top three fish submitted by the...

I’ve written here before about Michelle Obama’s efforts to address childhood obesity by encouraging children and families to spend time together outside. Last month, the First Lady unveiled a program through the National Parks Service called “Let’s Move Outside, Junior Rangers!”

As government programs go, it’s not much. Kids who participate in at least one physical activity in pursuit of a Junior Ranger badge at a participating national park will earn a special sticker designating them as a “Let’s Move Outside” ranger.

I don’t knock stickers — they’ve motivated my children to get their immunization shots and their teeth cleaned, both of which seem much less fun than doing something physical outdoors. And I certainly don’t knock the long-running Junior Ranger program. Ursula still has the badges she’s earned on trips we’ve taken to national parks. Each time, she spends several hours — sometimes more — going through the activities in each park’s Junior Ranger booklet. The books teach her about the park’s plants and geology, and about safety and Leave No Trace guidelines. She answers questions, draws pictures, goes on the scavenger hunts, even prepares for a final quiz from a ranger. Her badge from Mt. St. Helens touched off a fascination with volcanoes that hasn’t subsided, and she’s collected others from Mt. Rainier, Yellowstone, Yosemite. I think part of the reason she cherishes her Junior Ranger badges is that she feels she’s really earned them.

But the First Lady’s program doesn’t seem to be carrying over to the parks themselves, at least not on their websites. Of the 20 parks across the country that are supposed to have put the “Let’s Move Outside, Junior Ranger!” program into practice, I’ve taken a look at the websites for three near the AMC region — Great Smoky Mountains and Fort Dupont and Rock Creek in Washington, D.C. — and see no mention of the program or of Michelle Obama’s call to (physical) action on the part of America’s children. Stickers or no, that seems a lost opportunity to me.

That said, I found an event listing, just by looking around one park website, that I think our kids would enjoy. It’s “The Long Arm of the Law” at Minute Man National Historical Park in Lexington, Mass. Several times on Saturday afternoon, July 10, a “motley group of offenders” will be brought before a Colonial-era magistrate. The description asks, “Will the defendants be fined, sentenced to be flogged, or perhaps exonerated?” I might have to explain flogging and exoneration, but I have no doubt that Ursula and Virgil would want to check this one out.

And maybe checking it out is what Michelle Obama’s program is all about — there’s a surprising amount of fun stuff to do with kids at our national parks, with or without the stickers.

Learn more
... about what's happening this summer at the national parks

“Great Kids, Great Outdoors” is an AMC Outdoors blog, written by Kristen Laine.

By Thomas Morgan Journal staff writer The third-annual Amica Ironman 70.3 Rhode Island will be held Sunday throughout Rhode Island, according to a news release. Providence Journal photo / Carolyn Thornton Kate Conklin competes in last year's Amica Ironman 70.3...

To kick off the summer hiking season, the Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC) is offering free maps with detailed, printable trip itineraries for its top 25 "Hikes for Kids" in New Hampshire's White Mountains. Recommended in AMC's Best Day Hikes in...

Big-bass hunter Mike Lanni landed a 64-pound striper this morning, said Al Conti of Snug Harbor Marina where the fish was weighed. Conti said bass...

There are questionable creams and devices (such as the "VelaSmooth" shown in this photo from Texas at right), but can yoga really get rid of stubborn cellulite? Women's Health magazine recently postulated that theory in an article that argues yoga's...

Capt. Dave Chiefo with one of Tuesday night's bass "One of Capt Dave Chiefo's specialties is the nighttime trophy bass trip," writes first mate...

July 12, 20106:00 pmto8:00 pm

The next RIBike monthly meeting will be held on July 12th @ 6pm in the Brown University Bookstore by the faculty author section (2nd floor).  Come find out what’s happening with:

RI VeloSprints summer sessions
Our Citizen’s grant request
Our official board meeting as RIBike

… and more.

Ed Hughes with one of several pike he caught last week. This is the month to catch northern pike in Rhode Island, according to...

Kite enthusiasts from all over the Northeast will paint the sky over Brenton Point with their colorful creations this weekend. A 150-foot cobra kite and some of the world's tiniest kites will be among the stars of the Newport Kite...

"Those bluefin tuna were close," says Chris Willi of Block Island FishWorks. "Close enough so that it only took us 45 minutes until lines were...

Many a fitness buff gets her inspiration from a workout soundtrack. A playlist that works best in the gym, running, or when taking to the road on for a walk or bike ride. And we all love our iPods, but...

Looking for a new way to see your self and your life? There's an ancient answer, says Marya Ursin who will present a chakra yoga workshop, July 11 in the Westerly Community Yoga Center. "We shall travel through the chakras,...

Fluke fishing on both inshore and offshore party boats has been excellent, reports Frank Blount, owner of the Frances Fleet. "Saturday was about as good...