...and views

August 10, 2007 - Middletown Town Council to hear results of the Buck Road/Forest Avenue traffic study at next Council meeting 8.20.07. Agenda to be posted here when available.

August 9, 2007 - Portsmouth sets up a "Development Charrette" to determine just what they want their town to become. Every town should have Assistant Town Planner Gary Crosby at the helm. Article here.

July 31 , 2007 - Forest Avenue resident, Bruce Ryerson, has started an excellent blog about the new 55+ development and impending through road proposal for this street. It's a great clearing house for info for those concerned about the changing character of this Forest Avenue neighborhood. Here is the link: http://www.bayridgeatforestave.blogspot.com

July 26, 2007 - Even BETTER news! Target pulls out of Portsmouth altogether! Congratulations to Preserve Portsmouth and especially Conni Harding- who led the smart growth charge all the way! Newport Daily News article here. (Note:Town Administrator Bob Driscoll has reported that the annual tax revenue generated by the store would have been closer to $100,000-not the $400,000 as Target Atty Silva reports in this article.)

July 18, 2007 - Good news! Portsmouth officials say Target IS subject to moratorium. Application not complete at time of filing. NDN article here. (Note: reporter Matt Sheley erroneously reports that opinions are "split" on Target and that only 100 people showed up for Town Council Moratorium issue- actual number closer to 250).

June 12, 2007 - Preserve Portsmouth wins request for a Big Box moratorium at a packed Portsmouth Town Hall last night. Read the Daily News account here. Read the Providence Journal account here.

June 4, 2007 - On the docket at Middletown Town Council Monday night, 7pm: proposal to add connector road from Forest Avenue to Buck Road neighborhood. All interested parties PLEASE attend. Update: Council voted 3-2 to go ahead with $10,000 traffic study.

June 2, 2007 - Newport Daily News article re: Preserve Portsmouth's upcoming Portsmouth Town Council request for a moratorium on all commercial buildings over 38,000 sq. ft. All islanders concerned about over development please attend June 11, 7pm. Many bodies needed to pack Town Hall.

April 18, 2007 - Great letter in today's Newport Daily News by Dawn Emsellum re: Coyotes.

April 12, 2007 - Read today's Newport Daily News article re: perceived problem with Coyotes on the Island. Speciesism, kneejerk vigilante action and ignorance at it's worst- just in time for upcoming Earth Day. Kudos to biologist Numi Mitchell, DEM's Charles Brown and Middletown Town Administrator Gerry Kempen for keeping the coolest heads during the "Coyote Summit" held Wednesday.

April 9, 2007 - Read today's Newport Daily News article re: Retail behemoth, Target, and the grassroots activists it created. Go Preserve Portsmouth!

April 5, 2007 - Residents concerned with Target and other unwise commercial development proposals for Portsmouth band together and form the grassroots organization "Preserve Portsmouth". Check out the excellent account of intial design review meetings with Target on their website's blog here: preserveportsmouth.org

March 15, 2007 - Newport Daily News article re: Town Administrator's proposal to build a through road from Buck Road neighborhood to Forest Avenue again. How much more traffic can Forest Avenue take? Adding Buck Road will automatically and instantly link an additional 170 houses to the road.This is in addition to the 62 unit, increased density planned for the senior development next to Forest Avenue school. We maintain that there are many more less impactful areas via which to provide a 2nd egress.

March 14, 2007 - Newport Daily News article re: Retail behemoth, Target, to invade our sweet little neighbor, Portsmouth. This big box is proposed for the undeveloped corner of West Main Road and one of the oldest, cutest streets in town, Union Street. Sad. Just plain sad. Has Portsmouth learned NOTHING from the sprawl development of Middletown?! Is our need to consume crap that deep that we would destroy a community for it?

March 6, 2007 - Newport Daily News article re: neighbors concern with proposed police station for Valley Road Christmas tree farm

March 2, 2007 - Newport Daily News article re: yet more construction for once formerly beautiful Aquidneck Avenue

February 10, 2007 - Newport Daily News article re: Superior Court judge rules that Rhode Island law trumps city ordinances in planned Newport Grand expansion

December 28, 2006 - Newport Daily News article re: Middletown Open Space re-zoning

December 20, 2006 - Newport Daily News article re: state attorney general investigating 11/30/06 Library Trustees meeting

December 13, 2006 - Newport Daily News letter to the editor in support of the Library Director by Marvin Lahr

December 13, 2006 - Newport Daily News article: Home Depot Plaza

December 7, 2006 - Newport Daily News editorial: Library Chair resignation

December 6, 2006 - Newport Daily News article: Library Chair responds to call for resignation

December 5, 2006 - Newport Daily News 2 letters to the editor in support of the Library Director by Lorraine Lahr and Tom Lahey

December 5, 2006 - Newport Daily News article: Town Council urges entire Library Board to resign

December 2-3, 2006 - Newport Daily News letter to the editor in support of the Library Director by Paul LaMond

December 2-3, 2006 - Newport Daily News letter to the editor in support of the Library Director by Margaret Bellucci

December 2-3, 2006 - Newport Daily News cartoon in support of the Library Director by Chil Mott

December 1, 2006 - Providence Journal Bulletin article re: Library Director's resignation

December 1, 2006 - Newport Daily News article re: Library Director's resignation
*Note* The Daily News and ProJo articles do not even begin to convey the emotionally charged atmosphere of the room. It was remarkable that so many of the attendees were Seniors–out way past their bedtimes–in support of Director Robert Balliot and fiercly dedicated to the right of intellectual freedom - Gail G

November 29, 2006 - Newport Daily News article re: petition to keep Library Director

November 29, 2006 - Newport Daily News letter to the editor in support of the Library Director by Gail Greenwood

November 28, 2006 - Newport Daily News letter to the editor in support of the Library Director by Friends of the Middletown Public Library

October 27, 2006 - Providence Journal article re: Library Board vs. our hard working Library Director, Robert Balliot.
*Note* Middletown First is a non political organization.

September 27, 2006 - Newport Daily News letter to the editor by John Grishman, Library Board Chair re: article below.
*Note* Middletown First is a non political organization.

September 20, 2006 - Newport Daily News article re: Library Board vs. our hard working Library Director, Robert Balliot.

August 26, 2006 - Newport Daily News article about upcoming meeting between Council, Planning Board, ZORC re: Commercial Design Regs at Town Hall on Monday, August 28, 6:30pm.

March 30, 2006 - Here's the the difference between our two towns: Middletown officials bend over backward to change our existing zoning FOR developers and Newport changes the zoning to PROTECT her neighborhoods. Eastbourne Lodge article here.

February 13, 2006 - Good News! Thank DOG for Middletown Open Space and Fields Committee!

February 13, 2006 - While Middletown continues to approve "cookie-cutter" Papa Gino's restaurants in the Town Center, paving near Bailey's Brook to allow an auto dealer more space for more cars, and 4 story, MASSIVE hotels that directly abut residential, TIVERTON continues to have the cojones to fight unwise development. Oh to have a smidgen of that town's backbone...

January 11, 2006 - Recent Zoning Ordinance Review Committee minutes posted now, here at Middletown First. ZORC minutes April 12 –July 11, 2005 and ZORC minutes September 12 – December 12, 2005.

January 3, 2006 - Good news! Environmentally and aesthetically pleasing new business planned for the corner of West Main and Valley. Read about the proposed car wash in today's Daily News here.

December 29, 2005 - The "Zoning Ordinance Review Committee", headed by John West and Bob Silva, inexplicably overrules the Council's vote to bring the Design Regs to Public Hearing (as advertised below). Individual ZORC members had over 2 and a half years to review the process. Where are ZORC minutes kept? They are not posted online as required.

November 15, 2005 - Commercial Design Review article in today's Newport Daily News.

October 6, 2005 - Middletown industrial park gains approval. Archived story here.

August 23, 2005 - The Middletown Zoning Board of Review unanimously approved the new 55-and-older gated condominium complex on Forest Avenue. Saying the project met the requirements for a special-use permit and was a fair compromise. Please see news item of April 13 for additional info.

June 23, 2005- The Planning Board's subcommittee to discuss the proposed commercial development design regulations has been postponed to a later date due to a delay by the firm of Ursillo, Teitz & Ritch, LTD. Time is of the essence. The conditions imposed by the Council for the new Industiral Park are tied into these regs! This is the perfect time for our town to be proactive and prevent the construction of huge metal sided buildings without trees or greenery! (see June 20, below)

June 20, 2005 - Bad news. The Town Council voted to rezone two Residential lots on West Main Road (at the former Skater Island property) to Light Industrial. Middletown First maintains that these lots should stay residential. They would act as a buffer from the industrial park for the homes across the street, would provide much needed housing and have many old trees and stonewalls on the property which will be leveled.

June 8, 2005 - Good news! After hearing testimony from many of the neighborhood residents, the Planning Board voted unanimously to forward a positive recommodation to the Town Council to change the Comprehensive Plan's Light Business designation of the area north of Dunkin Donuts on East Main Road to remain residential.

June 8, 2005 - The Planning Board heard from several Forest Avenue residents re; the proposed senior development for Forest Ave. Many speakers expressed concern over the town's interest (at the pushing of the Town Council) in providing a through road to the Buck Avenue neighborhood. One Sundown Court resident spoke in favor of the road, stating the need for a second egress into the neighborhood. The Special Use Permit application for the 62 unit project is scheduled to be heard before the Zoning Board on June 28th. Eric Offenberg, engineer for the project, stated during the meeting that the developer would be providing better drainage, more fill, playing fields and a new baseball diamond for the Forest Avenue School. School officials and residents should push to insure that these promises are made as conditions during the Special Use Permit application hearing.

May 3, 2005 - Newport Daily News article announcing airport meeting with neighbors for May 10th, 7pm, Town Hall.

April 18, 2005 - Projo article in today's paper re: Newport Airport's tree removal plans for private property.

April 13, 2005 - The Planning Board reviewed preliminary plans for the proposed senior development on Forest Avenue. Public comment will be accepted at the next Planning Board meeting regarding this proposal on May 11th, 6:30 pm, Town Hall. Many concerned Forest Avenue and Buck Road residents were in attendance.In addition to the increased density, the plans (so far) call for demolition of two beautiful old houses on Forest Ave (345 and 375) and for two new roads to empty onto Forest Avenue. The town is pushing for a full through road to the Buck Road neighborhood. They are not interested in the emergency-vehicle-only-access road the developer is proposing. Read the most recent Daily News article here. FYI- On April 19, 2004, the Town Council voted to approve Atty Patrick Haye's proposed amendent to the Middletown Zoning Ordinance to allow 30% increased density in an age restricted (55+) development. This development was already designed and planned for the area next to Forest Avenue School before this proposal even came before the council. Council members Karen Roarke, Theresa Santos and Paul Rodrigues wisely voted against this blatant spot zoning. Click here to read the Daily News jeers for this proposal.

April 13, 2005 - The Planning Board reviewed the subcommittee's findings re: a request of the Town Council for an advisory recommendation on action to bring the Town’s zoning map into conformance with the Comprehensive