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Home » Opinion

Editorials

A question of committment

Thu, Sep 21

Category:

Opinion, Editorials

You know you are on Block Island when, no matter what the topic of conversation, it ends up being about housing (or, especially after the week we’ve had, transportation). That’s probably self-evident from the number of stories and editorials we’ve written on the subject over the past few weeks. The...
Housing needs require coordinated look

Thu, Sep 7

Category:

Opinion, Editorials

With the discussion of available affordable housing bubbling up in what seems like several different quarters around the Island, it may be time for the Housing Board, as the group that has spearheaded actual progress in this area, to consider holding a series of public forums specifically dedicated...
Once again

Thu, Aug 31

Category:

Opinion, Editorials

It was just a week ago that we called on people to participate in the mail ballot to elect five members of what will be the newly created Utility Board of Commissioners. In fact, by Monday morning — Aug. 28 — Town Clerk Molly Fitzpatrick had received almost 400 ballots, which, if we can speculate,...
Cast your vote

Thu, Aug 24

Category:

Opinion, Editorials

It would be hard to make the argument that the transition the Block Island Power Company is making from a privately-owned entity to a ratepayer-run utility district has been smooth. The vote to purchase two-thirds of the stock for $1.8 million was contentious, and very, very close, and the journey...
Making a difference

Thu, Aug 17

Category:

Opinion, Editorials

Right around this time, every year, you can see the toll that the summer takes on the volunteers who staff the Block Island Volunteer Fire and Rescue Squad. The calls just keep on coming, day after day, without discrimination in terms of time of day, and without discretion in terms of the severity...
BIPCo candidates night is Monday, Aug. 14

Thu, Aug 10

Category:

Opinion, Editorials

The Block Island Times and the Block Island Residents Association are sponsoring a candidates night on Monday, Aug. 14 at 6 p.m. at the Block Island School. All eight candidates — Mary Jane Balser, Sean McGarry, Everett Shorey, Barbara MacMullan, Peter McNerney, Christine Grele, Jack...
Along Corn Neck Road

Fri, Aug 4

Category:

Opinion, Editorials

Not everybody liked the walkovers that were constructed over the dunes on Corn Neck Road, but their presence, along with a series of other efforts, has gone a long way toward restoring and repairing these necessary buffers. It’s a relief to see the beach grass growing where piles of bicycles used...
Smart food

Fri, Jul 28

Category:

Opinion, Editorials

Jamie Johnston, an island resident who runs a trash pickup business, called the paper and said something was gnawing at him, and that was the amount of edible food being left behind at the homes where he collects trash and recyclables (He sent us this photo of leftover food items.). This is food...
Stay in your lane

Thu, Jul 20

Category:

Opinion, Editorials

There are, in fact, rules to the road. This applies to people who drive cars, and to people who ride mopeds and bikes. This is a message for people who ride bikes, generated by the fact that people are openly concerned and frustrated by what is plainly seen as irresponsible behavior by those people...
A central role in island life

Fri, Jul 14

Category:

Opinion, Editorials

One of the key words from those who advocated purchasing two-thirds stock of the former Block Island Power Co. was “control.” The idea behind that word was to have local oversight of our power company because it was going to be sold to someone , so why not take ownership of it ourselves?...
Block Island is a work of art

Fri, Jul 7

Category:

Opinion, Editorials

Block Island is always referred to as a tourist destination, which is defined almost exclusively as a place to eat, drink, lounge on the beach, ride a bike or moped, or visit historic landmarks. What is too often excluded in this mix is art — Block Island is, and always has been — a haven for...
Signs, signs, everywhere there’s signs

Fri, Jun 30

Category:

Opinion, Editorials

All of a sudden we seem to be sign-happy on Block Island. There are new signs along Corn Neck Road urging people not to park on the beach side near the dunes. There are “stay off the dunes” signs that have been placed on the dunes. And now there are some big map signs that, while perhaps being...
Money better spent elsewhere

Wed, Mar 26

Category:

Editorials

Sometimes when we look at how the town sets its spending priorities, it’s difficult to see if the powers that be understand what pays our bills. A case in point is the situation with The Welcome Center, an issue discussed at the Tourism Council this week. First, the facts. The town owns the...
Thanks, Brown, for a great opportunity

Wed, Mar 12

Category:

Editorials

Brown University kicked off its 250th birthday last weekend and in its effort to include the broader Rhode Island community, seventh and eighth graders from every middle school in the state were invited to join the celebration. Students from the Block Island School took advantage of the invitation...
Ownership

Wed, Mar 5

Category:

Editorials

Here’s a phrase that we hear often enough: Block Island is unique. But Block Island is unique and one of the reasons for that is due to the deep feeling of ownership that many have for this place. Very few communities have a population as deeply committed to it as islanders are to their home, and...
Editorial: Let’s keep the plan moving

Fri, Feb 21

Category:

Editorials

The ambitious and controversial deer-culling plan scheduled to begin next week has been postponed — for a year. The reason for this last-minute change is that the White Buffalo sharpshooters felt unsure about proceeding without more time to prepare. Naturally it makes no sense to go forward with a...
Editorial: Town Council meetings are too long

Wed, Feb 19

Category:

Editorials

People who specialize in workplace efficiency routinely say that meetings lasting more than two hours fast become a waste of time. The mind begins to wander, conversation becomes repetitive and energy gets sapped. We bring this up in light of the excessive length of most of the Town Council...
Editorial: One young man’s journey

Sun, Feb 9

Category:

Editorials

The shocking death of actor Phillip Seymour Hoffman on Super Bowl Sunday from a heroin overdose has once again put that drug back into the spotlight. After that news became known, something predictable happened in the media: articles and TV reports started sensationalizing the presence of the drug...
Editorial: Why even bother?

Sun, Feb 2

Category:

Editorials

Gov. Lincoln Chafee, in what otherwise appears to be a responsible $8.5 billion fiscal budget for 2015 (begins July 1, 2014), has cut the tourism line item to the bone. As pointed out in our story this week , the state is posed to spend a mere $400,000 for marketing, aside from the hotel tax...
Editorial: Walsh’s food bill is necessary

Sun, Jan 26

Category:

Editorials

It’s one thing to say something needs to be done. It’s another to take the steps to accomplish it. That’s why we praise State Representative Donna Walsh on her efforts to increase food waste recycling in Rhode Island. Last week, Walsh proposed new legislation that would require Rhode Island...
Editorial: Winter diversions

Sun, Jan 19

Category:

Editorials

Block Island resident Judith Fucci posted a simple question on Facebook the other day: “Hey Block Island.. Mental wellness?..How ‘bout a gym.. swimming pool?.. A Y?.. Somewhere to hang out that is not a bar?” Within a short period of time, she received 155 “likes” and dozens of comments. What...
From the Editor

Mon, Jan 13

Category:

Editorials

It has been almost a year since I was introduced to the island, and the island was introduced to me. It’s been a year of much learning, a situation I don’t expect to change very much in the months and even years ahead. I am grateful to everyone who continues to take the time to speak with me about...
Editorial: A new year, a new council, but lingering issues await

Mon, Jan 6

Category:

Editorials

The New Shoreham Town Council is now back up to five members. At this week’s meeting, the board added new member Gary Ryan to its ranks. This is a selection that has received universal praise. Ryan is a well-liked and respected member of the Block Island community and is a welcome addition to our...
Editorial: Choosing a new member an important step for the council

Sun, Dec 29

Category:

Editorials

Five individuals have forwarded their names to the Town Council that they may be considered to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of Sean McGarry. The first thing we need to do is offer our thanks to these five: Gary Ryan, Mark Emmanuelle, Allan MacKay, Howell Conant and Les Slate. Working on...
Editorial: Though not perfect, DEM plan best option for reducing deer herd

Sun, Dec 22

Category:

Editorials

On Wednesday night the Town Council voted to approve a comprehensive plan developed by the state Department of Environmental Management (DEM) to cull Block Island’s deer herd. It is very far from a perfect solution but we believe it is the right course of action. It is a milestone in the effort to...
Editorial: Jessica Willi right choice for tourism award

Wed, Dec 18

Category:

Editorials

We sometimes feel as though the state of Rhode Island has forgotten us out here; that we’re just a cash cow in terms of tax revenue and that’s about it. Of course, the island does produce revenue for the state because so many people find Block Island an attractive place to visit. The ongoing...
Editorial: No movies this year

Fri, Dec 13

Category:

Editorials

When Empire Theatre owner Gary Pollard announced that he wanted to extend his schedule into the winter for first run movies — if he could find a suitable venue — the idea was hailed as a contribution to both island culture and its mental health. Various groups and organizations publicly supported...
The First Thanksgiving

Wed, Nov 27

Category:

Editorials

Edward Winslow, who was a passenger on the Mayflower and a leader among the first settlers, attended the first Thanksgiving. He provided the earliest contemporaneous account of the feast in correspondence commonly referred to as “A Letter from New England to a Friend,” dated Dec. 11, 1621. The...
Editorial: Baldwin worked quickly and effectively for patients

Fri, Nov 22

Category:

Editorials

Barbara Baldwin was obviously not going to allow the decision by UnitedHealthcare to drop three healthcare professionals on Block Island from its Medicare Advantage network, to stand. Because of her tenacity, it didn’t. Island residents and patients at the Block Island Medical Center are fortunate...
Editorial: Time to decide on the deer

Fri, Nov 15

Category:

Editorials

The issue of Lyme disease and the presence of the deer that carries the tick that causes it, as anyone with any institutional memory can attest, goes back decades. Now, at long last, it appears that the Department of Environmental Management (DEM) has sanctioned a plan to seriously reduce the size...
Editorial, New fire barn: A good idea, but too early

Fri, Nov 1

Category:

Editorials

The idea proposed last week about building a new $3 million fire barn here on the island was certainly worth floating. But if it was indeed a trial balloon then we say that it should drift away gracefully and return only when some other, more urgent, needs have been met. The proposal, which was...
Cable options: Where do we go from here?

Mon, Oct 28

Category:

Editorials

It was inevitable that the discussion with state Rep. Donna Walsh and Sen. Sue Sosnowski would get around to the subject of Deepwater Wind. The two held a breakfast at the Community Center on Wednesday, Oct. 23, and all of 18 people showed up. But when the subject of Deepwater Wind did arise, it...
Editorial: A hopeful start

Sun, Oct 20

Category:

Editorials

On Tuesday night the Town Council, at its invitation, held a joint meeting with the Tourism Council and the Chamber of Commerce. The topic was a list of concerns identified by the latter two groups to improve the environment for tourism. The meeting was positive, productive and encouraging. It is...
Editorial: Time to go to work

Sun, Oct 13

Category:

Editorials

A startling, but quite true, statement was made to the paper last week. That statement was, in effect, that the headlines that filled the pages of The Block Island Times years ago — even decades ago — were still the topics of conversation on the island today. To wit: what to do about the...
Editorial: A missed opportunity for the BIHS Board

Fri, Sep 27

Category:

Editorials

A perfectly reasonable proposal to the Block Island Health Services Board to recognize the years of service of former Executive Director Monty Stover — possibly through a fundraiser — quickly devolved into a discussion designed to put as much daylight between the Board of Directors and this idea as...
Editorial: Two plans, two opportunities to help

Sun, Sep 22

Category:

Editorials

There are two initiatives underway designed to improve the town’s infrastructure and the quality of life here and each in its own way is an important step toward institutionalizing some of the challenges we face. The Block Island Chamber of Commerce recently issued a survey asking business owners...
Editorial: The arts community is an important part of island life

Mon, Sep 16

Category:

Editorials

We received a very nice letter from island artist Sharon Lehman thanking us for the spread we did on the recent art show that closed out the Spring Street Gallery season. (It’s in the letter section here .) It was not only a pleasure for us to do, but we believe the arts community is an important...
Editorial: Summer wishes, summer dreams

Mon, Sep 9

Category:

Editorials

Three things tell us that summer is coming to a close: Labor Day, the emptying streets and the return to school. One can argue that the season still has a couple of weeks to go, but if you’re sitting in a classroom looking at the nice weather through a window, you know that argument is never really...
Editorial: What was that all about

Sun, Sep 1

Category:

Editorials

The question that seemed to linger in the air after the Town Council voted unanimously to renew “a contract” for Town Manager Nancy Dodge was: What was that all about? We put “a contract” in quotes because that was the language used in the motion that passed this Wednesday night — meaning we don’t...
Editorial: It’s frustrating, yes, but progress is being made

Sun, Aug 25

Category:

Editorials

It is understandable that a good portion of the audience that came to listen to representatives of the Department of Environmental Management on the deer situation would be frustrated by what they did — or didn’t — hear. This conversation has been ongoing for years, literally, and so the ...
Editorial: Planning Board combined patience and wisdom

Mon, Aug 19

Category:

Editorials

Being a member of a Planning Board, as anyone who has served will tell you, is not the most glamorous job in the world. You look at plat maps. You listen to abutters. You hear the arguments from attorneys, who are often so eloquent and persuasive for their side of the debate that quite a...
Editorial: B.I. Conservancy education center a gem

Mon, Aug 12

Category:

Editorials

The opening of the Block Island Conservancy’s Education Center is a significant event in the island’s ongoing efforts to preserve its open space. The center is located in a small, elegant little building — the Old Schoolhouse — on Weldon’s Way and is the result of considerable effort by a number of...
Town Manager debate ill-conceived and troubling

Sun, Aug 4

Category:

Editorials

Monday night’s meeting on Town Manager Nancy Dodge’s contract was not a high point in town governance — and there is no clear resolution in sight. First, councilor Sean McGarry — who was so critical of Dodge’s performance that he rated her no higher than one in any of the eight categories her...
Editorial: Action now on beach erosion

Mon, Jul 29

Category:

Editorials

The question is truly epic: How do we protect our shorelines from further damage from the storms that climate experts say are surely on the way? The other question is this: Do we even try? The question of climate change, to our minds, is mute. You’ll notice we said “climate change” and not “global...
Editorial: Take a moment to thank a tourist

Mon, Jul 15

Category:

Editorials

Those of us who live here are familiar with our love/hate relationship with the summer visitors. It’s bleak here in January and February, so we look forward to “the season” when more restaurants and businesses open and the island comes alive. But when it does arrive, we become impatient with the...
Editorial: We need a seat at the PUC table

Mon, Jul 1

Category:

Editorials

During the special session that the Town Council scheduled this past week to discuss whether or not to appeal the recent Public Utilities Commission order that approved the annual revenue increase for Interstate Navigation, there was some palpable frustration with the PUC and the process that led...
Editorial: BIHS has new leadership and a new opportunity

Mon, Jun 24

Category:

Editorials

After a tumultuous and disruptive year, the Block Island Health Services (BIHS) Board of Directors has newly elected officers, one new board member (and two returning members) and some new opportunities. The new slate of officers is Bob Fallon, president; Cindy Baute, vice president (who was also...
Editorial: "Stop... talking to cops" is exactly the wrong message

Tue, Jun 18

Category:

Editorials

Given the events of the past few weeks, we have to assume that whoever planted a sticker on the stop sign in Bridgegate Square so that it would read: “Stop… talking to cops,” was serious about making a point. Just as the community, long in denial about the issues of substance abuse, appears...
Editorial: Beach Pavilion should be open by now

Sun, Jun 9

Category:

Editorials

There were about 80 students, plus assorted teachers, visiting the island and having a bonfire on town beach the other night. It was a beautiful night, crisp and clear, and the kids were all camped out about 100 feet or so from the Fred Benson Beach Pavilion. They were taking pictures and throwing...
Editorial: A Taste of Block Island begins Friday

Fri, May 31

Category:

Editorials

Do you have your button yet? That is, have you paid your five dollars for the button that will gain you access to all the events happening this weekend during A Taste of Block Island? The button can be purchased on the ferry or at the Block Island Chamber of Commerce, and along with it comes a...

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