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Opinion

Ban the balloon, too

Thu, Mar 29

Category:

Opinion, Editorials

In the era when people are screaming “fake news” at just about anything they don’t seem to like or agree with, putting out the annual April Fool’s edition may seem like a dicey proposition, but here we are. One item in this week’s edition that may appear fake, but decidedly is not, is the story...
Letters

Thu, Mar 22

Category:

Opinion, Letters

A clarification To the Editor: While I was accurately quoted in last week’s Block Island Times , and while I understand every statement cannot be quoted in full, my remark, “Sports is not everything,” was prefaced by my statement that sports can play an invaluable role, citing my own blind...
An even-handed approach

Thu, Mar 22

Category:

Opinion, Editorials

The compassionate action taken by the Town Council on behalf of Meriton Gurguri, the young man recently arrested and detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents, has been woefully and perhaps willfully misinterpreted by some on social media. What the Council did for Gurguri was simply,...
Letters

Thu, Mar 15

Category:

Opinion, Letters

Great job To the Editor: Thank you Islanders and pilots for a good turnout and great feast and festival at our St. Paddy’s Day Brunch on Sunday, March 11. Molly O’Neill and the Ladies of St. Andrew Guild did a masterful job. Fr. Joe Protano St. Andrew Parish Church Like the old days To the Editor:...
Woke students

Thu, Mar 15

Category:

Letters, Editorials

Perhaps social awareness begins early, as young as four or five years of age, when your teacher engages you in an activity such as counting coins that, when rolled and counted, you know will go towards helping people. Perhaps it is due to growing up in an atmosphere in which, for many months of the...
Letters

Thu, Mar 8

Category:

Opinion, Letters

More to the story To the Editor: An addendum to the obituary of of Frank Tanucci: Obituaries are usually a solemn compilation of life's events of the deceased. But if you take time to look at the gathered information, you can usually expand that to include a few more tributes and facts...
Editorial from Chief Carlone

Thu, Mar 8

Category:

Opinion, Editorials

To the people of Block Island: This winter has been an anomaly concerning accidents involving speed and alcohol. We have had four such accidents, and have identified the responsible parties and charged them. This means we are at 100 percent of solvability in terms of these incidents, which is...
Letters

Thu, Mar 1

Category:

Opinion, Letters

Not a good idea To the Editor: Just a few weeks ago, I was appalled to read a request made by the Deer Task Force to have hunting reinstated for the school vacation in February. This has been traditionally off limits due to the natural dangers of children out of school and roaming the fields and...
It’s your money

Thu, Mar 1

Category:

Opinion, Editorials

It is no longer news to say that each year’s municipal budget sets a new record in terms of its amount. It seems as though, like death and taxes, the fact that it will cost more to run a town in the coming year than it did in the previous one has proved to be axiomatic. The next question, then, is...
Letters

Thu, Feb 22

Category:

Opinion, Letters

Blood drive To the Editor: Our next blood drive is Thursday, March 1 from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Harbor Church. Please make every effort to donate. Our January drive was postponed because boats were cancelled due to weather. Because all donors were to receive a pound of Dunkin’ Doughnuts coffee in...
Editorial

Thu, Feb 22

Category:

Opinion, Editorials

Peter and Shirley Wood took a gamble. It was the late 1980s, and Block Island was growing. In 1988, the tax rate was $14.12 and the town budget was $1,975,996. A year later, the tax rate would be $15.96 per $1,000 of assessed value, and the budget would increase to $2,468,058. (In 1990, the tax...
Letters

Thu, Feb 15

Category:

Opinion, Letters

To the Editor: When I read about daily ferry commuter service to the mainland, I think of a quote by native Block Islander and life-long resident, Albion Dodge Slate. “They should run the boat once a week in the winter — and not at all in the summer!” Island life is unique. Block Island is not the...
An energized Recreation Department

Thu, Feb 15

Category:

Opinion, Editorials

The Recreation Department is just two people — Dave Sniffen and Cindy Lemon — aided and supported by a five-member volunteer Board. Healthy activities, both indoor and out, have always been part of the Block Island lifestyle, and the Rec. Department is responding to that in creative and innovative...
Letters

Thu, Feb 8

Category:

Opinion, Letters

Yes to more boats To the Editor: Hurrah for Kristin Baumann and hurrah for Judy Tierney! Most Block Islanders echo their sentiments: “…Block Island needs real commuter service to the mainland all year-round.” What a difference in quality of life this would be! Four days a week without round-trip...
The moped dilemma

Thu, Feb 8

Category:

Opinion, Editorials

It may have seemed like nit-picking, and it probably was a bit of a pain to the people who created Rhode Island’s latest video marketing campaign, but the members of the Block Island Rescue Squad were perfectly right in calling out the promotional video that highlighted less than safe moped driving...
Letters

Thu, Feb 1

Category:

Opinion, Letters

To the Editor: This is my first letter to The Block Island Times in years, and I am writing it to say “hurrah” for Kristin Baumann. I heard she stood up at a recent meeting and stated an obvious, but ignored, fact: Block Island needs real commuter service to the mainland all year-round...
A solution to the town’s dinghy dock? Hopefully, yes.

Thu, Feb 1

Category:

Opinion, Editorials

On the next Town Council agenda, printed in full on page 18, there is an item that at first didn’t pop out at us, but its implications soon became clear: “Receive and act on a proposal from John Wronowski Family regarding Town-operated dinghy dock in Great Salt Pond adjacent to rip rap near the end...
Letters

Thu, Jan 25

Category:

Opinion, Letters

Thanks for the help To the Editor: Throughout 2017, The Block Island Times ran a bi-weekly column provided by the Historical Society. “On the Corner of Past and Present,” featured items in the Museum's collection and celebrated the organization’s 75th Anniversary. Now that no deadline...
No to offshore oil drilling

Thu, Jan 25

Category:

Opinion, Editorials

It isn’t often that national issues impose themselves onto our community, but the recently announced plan to open up the North Atlantic, including waters off Rhode Island, to oil and natural gas drilling seems like an ill-advised idea. We understand that such a proposal would meet the primary goal...
Letters

Thu, Jan 18

Category:

Opinion, Letters

Remembering Vicky To the Editor: Block Island has just lost one of our ladies, Victoria (Vicky) Murphy. Although I’ve known her son, Robbie, for many years I had not had the pleasure of meeting his mom until quite recently. I became her upstairs neighbor on the first of July 2017. Vicky would sit...
Democracy shrinks in the dark

Thu, Jan 18

Category:

Opinion, Editorials

We wholly support the initiative of the Town Council, particularly Second Warden André Boudreau and Councilor Chris Willi, to push for more transparency in the dealings of local government. People have every right to know as much as possible, without damaging ongoing litigation, on how and where...
Letters

Thu, Jan 11

Category:

Opinion, Letters

To the Editor: "Junior hunting,” "Kids’ Day," "Something for them to do on the island" — have people lost their minds? Have we become so obsessed with Lyme disease that we now have to train our kids to kill for fun? The Deer Task Force already has a bleak record for deer control. Spending thousands...
Westerly Airport situation impacts Block Island

Thu, Jan 11

Category:

Opinion, Editorials

Town Councilor Martha Ball, at a meeting during which the situation at the Westerly Airport was discussed, made the salient point about the importance of a safe, functioning mainland airport: the Westerly Airport may be more important to the island than it is to Westerly. The days when the only...
Letters

Thu, Jan 4

Category:

Opinion, Letters

A request To the Editor: Could The Block Island Times follow up on the electromagnetic field study and verify the wind velocity being studied? Studying EMF at 10 mph is quite low for this wind turbine’s power curve. The cut-in wind speed is about 6.7 mph and cut-out is about 55 mph. Since...
Meet, and greet

Thu, Jan 4

Category:

Opinion, Editorials

The Block Island Town Council is hosting an informal public meet and greet with Ed Roberge, the new Town Manager, at The Barn at the Spring House on Monday Jan. 8 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. There will be a cash bar and light hors d’oeuvres . Also, the Town Council will be holding a work session...
Letters

Thu, Dec 28

Category:

Opinion, Letters

The gift of life To the Editor: The first blood drive of 2018 will be held at Harbor Baptist Church on Thursday, Jan. 4 from 1 to 5 p.m. Let’s all see if we can make a New Year’s resolution to make all five blood drives that will be held this year. This is the one drive at which all donors receive...
Auld lang syne

Thu, Dec 28

Category:

Opinion, Editorials

The last 12 months have been a whirlwind of change for Block Island. The island made history when the five wind turbines started to send power our way back in May, but with everything that has been happening, that event, for some reason, seems a long time ago. Maybe because it was such a long time...
Letters

Thu, Dec 21

Category:

Opinion, Letters

A little bit of history To the Editor: History was made at the Coast Guard Station this past summer! Together with our families, we would like to thank the Town of New Shoreham for their help and support in putting together a ‘first’ for Block Island: a wedding at the Coast Guard Station. It all...
The gift of giving

Thu, Dec 21

Category:

Letters, Editorials

The quality of life on Block Island is maintained, and often improved, by the uncountable number of hours put in by an army of citizen volunteers who sit on the numerous boards and commissions that help make the town run. There isn’t anything terribly sexy about heading over to a meeting at 9 a.m...
Letters

Thu, Dec 7

Category:

Opinion, Letters

A great crew To the Editor: ‘Tis the season to be Merry... and grateful! The Block Island Tourism Council would like to thank the dedicated band of volunteers who helped to make the annual Christmas Tree Lighting possible: John Cullen (the man who saves Christmas every year!), Sean McGarry and...
A little help, please?

Thu, Dec 7

Category:

Opinion, Editorials

Town Finance Director Amy Land, IT Specialist Michelle Spero, and Facilities Manager Sam Bird have full-time jobs that are busy enough on their own, never mind having to grapple with the issues surrounding the high-speed internet initiative. All three are adjunct members of the New Shoreham...
Letters

Thu, Nov 30

Category:

Opinion, Letters

A remarkable man To the Editor: Norris Pike was a remarkable Design-Builder. It’s hard to ‘notice’ a Norris Pike design on the island… you really have to look hard as his houses have that ‘timeless vernacular’ character that makes it difficult to separate them from our Island’s historic resources...
Master plan needed for long-term housing needs

Thu, Nov 30

Category:

Opinion, Editorials

The idea of adding two dwelling units to the design plan for the Fred Benson Beach Pavilion is a good one, and, given the island’s current housing crunch, more than a symbolic gesture even if the units will only house three people. The “No lifeguard on duty” sign has become all too familiar by the...
Letters

Tue, Nov 21

Category:

Opinion, Letters

The meaning of faith To the Editor: Some years ago, Justin Abrams thoughtfully offered us a “siddur,” the “Sabbath and Festival Prayer Book,” which, for many years, before replaced, had served Temple Emanuel, in Providence, where the Abrams family worshipped in days of yore. In addition to the...
For all the world

Tue, Nov 21

Category:

Opinion, Editorials

Each year, at the Thanksgiving Ecumenical Concert, Mary Donnelly reads the names of those people who died during the past year abd who either lived on, or had some association with, Block Island. After she has read the names, Mary includes a little prayer, which she writes, and which also is...
Letters

Thu, Nov 16

Category:

Opinion, Letters

Good works To the Editor: For those who made the time to support the Bo Gempp Fundraiser on Sunday afternoon (Nov. 12), there is only one way to describe the atmosphere that filled the room, and that is as a “magical event.” Bo would have been extremely proud to see the outpouring of Island love in...
Our neighbor, our colleague, our friend

Thu, Nov 16

Category:

Opinion, Editorials

The following resolution honoring Norris Pike was drafted by Martha Ball, in collaboration with others, and is presented here in its entirety: Whereas, F. Norris Pike, proud descendant of Block Island's early settlers, spent his early years here, attended Wentworth Institute in Boston,...
Letters

Thu, Nov 9

Category:

Opinion, Letters

Write the Council, ban the bag To the Editor: On Wednesday Nov. 15, at 7 p.m. the New Shoreham Town Council will continue its public hearing on the banning of single-use plastic bags on Block Island. Plastic bags are bad for our environment, dangerous to marine life, and litter our trails and...
Getting it right

Thu, Nov 9

Category:

Opinion, Editorials

It was getting a bit tense. The Town Council was scheduling special meetings, sometimes during the day, to continue the discussion on the new Town Manager’s contract. The five members emerged on Wednesday, Nov. 9, with the good news: Contract negotiations had come to an end, and Edward Roberge was...
Letters

Thu, Nov 2

Category:

Opinion, Letters

Vote yes to ban the bags To the Editor: Banning single-use plastic bags on Block Island is the right thing to do, and an important step towards increasing environmental responsibility on our beautiful island. What seemed to delay the Town Council’s action on this matter at the October meeting were...
Staying Connected

Thu, Nov 2

Category:

Opinion, Editorials

Town residents either woke up to, or saw while still awake, something unusual from the Block Island Power Company in the early morning hours of the storm that rolled over the island this past weekend: notices from BIPCo updating residents about what the company was doing to address outages and...
Letters

Thu, Oct 26

Category:

Opinion, Letters

Baffling To the Editor: I'm blown away by the Town Council's inability to come to grips with the fact that plastic bags are bad for the environment, particularly on islands — no matter the size — and need to be regulated. After all these months, they want to dither over small details, like how do...
Medical Center, School, should move ahead on internet needs

Thu, Oct 26

Category:

Opinion, Editorials

The demands and needs of the digital age have finally caught up with Block Island. The Block Island School and the Medical Center have reached a tipping point, and while the demands of the School have been widely known for some time, the Medical Center got some news recently that put one of their...
Featured letter

Thu, Oct 19

Category:

Opinion, Letters

To the Editor: Last week, Councilor Chris Willi was critical of the previous Town Council on Facebook noting that that Council did not vote for a housing stipend for a Town Manager. When I saw that, my initial thoughts were that if we are to work together to solve our issues, social media isn’t...
Letters

Thu, Oct 19

Category:

Opinion, Letters

Issues, issues To the Editor: Sometimes government action can overdo things, and sometimes it’s late to the table. Out in the big wide world such excesses or deficiencies may have dire consequences; here on Block Island, not so much. But still. Three examples come to mind. In the too-much category...
Ban the bag

Thu, Oct 19

Category:

Opinion, Editorials

Plastic is choking our oceans and killing marine life. Banning single-use plastic bags should not really be too much of a debate. We urge the Town Council, at its next meeting, to take what will be a largely symbolic measure and pass the ordinance banning the plastic bags that was crafted by the...
Letters

Thu, Oct 12

Category:

Opinion, Letters

Can you help? To the Editor: In my 37 years on the island and eleven years on the Town Council I think that I have written to The Block Island Times only four or five times and two of those may have been letters of praise or thanks.This time it is different. I am moved to reach out for...
Whale deaths

Thu, Oct 12

Category:

Opinion, Editorials

Since 2003 and in 2006, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration declared unusual mortality events (UME) for humpback whales. The 2003 event was called in the Gulf of Maine (for large whales, but primarily humpbacks), and in 2006, the area that NOAA concentrated on was the North Atlantic...
Letters

Thu, Oct 5

Category:

News, Opinion, Letters

Choices for Utility Commissioners To the Editor: The reddish ballot for electing the Utility Commissioners to the Block Island Utility District arrived today. The color was well-chosen and a reminder to stop, look, and vote. Of the candidates, there are three — Everett Shorey, Barbara MacMullan,...
Take the test

Thu, Oct 5

Category:

Opinion, Editorials

The Medical Center is offering free Lyme disease and babesiosis testing on Monday, Oct. 9 from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. It would be a good idea for as many island residents who are able to take advantage of this opportunity. Those who experience Lyme disease first-hand can attest to its sometimes...

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