August 4-6
August 10-12
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Summer Sale ! August 18-31
@ omojewels
A Curated Collection of American-Made Jewelry , Clothing , Accessories , Ceramics , Hand Blown Glass and Clever Gifts
AUGUST TRUNK SHOWS Kinross Cashmere
August 4-6
Suzy Landa
August 10-12
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CityState : Reporter
until Mary ’ s death in 2022 .
Government runs on the batteries of small-D democracy . Islanders are currently working to amend regulations to create more affordable housing and plan for sea level rise . When there wasn ’ t a full slate of candidates for Town Council last election , Councilor Molly O ’ Neill was one of three residents who put their names forward as write-ins to give everyone some choice . New Shoreham still has a financial town meeting where the town makes big decisions together . This April , they agreed to put up a $ 3.1 million bond referendum to address water capacity . In 2017 , the town approved , by two votes , $ 2.7 million to buy the Block Island Power Company from private investors and turn it into a nonprofit cooperative .
“ It was the largest turnout I ’ ve ever seen ,” says Barbara MacMullan , who sits on the utility board . “ And we thought , ‘ This better work out or we ’ ll be run out of town on a rail .’ In the end , it did . But the community had a huge voice in whether it was going to happen , and that ’ s very much how it is out here .”
Some blame home prices on the conservationists ; others worry that once the town hits its 50 percent preservation target , developers will overrun what ’ s left . There are fears that civic engagement is slumping ; it ’ s harder to fill the boards and field the all-volunteer fire department . O ’ Neill says the introduction of broadband may have unanticipated impacts . “ It ’ s going to enable people with second homes to spend more time in their second homes , because working remotely is a thing now .”
On an island of a thousand people , there are a thousand different opinions — at least . But there is consensus on this : “ My favorite line is : ‘ I may not like you , but if your house catches fire , I ’ ll come help put it out ,’” says Rich Tretheway , who co-hosts the “ Two Guys on Block Island ” podcast with Marc Scortino . “ That core foundation of the island has not changed . People care , and they ’ ll show up if someone ’ s in need — and it ’ s stronger than anywhere I ’ ve ever seen . It ’ s this big , crazy , busy place in the summer , but it ’ s still a wonderful small town .” 🆁
Ellen Liberman is an award-winning journalist who has commented on politics and reported on government affairs for more than two decades .
42 RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY l AUGUST 2023