Westerly

Westerly Starts Spraying for Mosquitos

Flo Jonic — Wed, 15 May 2013 18:32:53 +0000

Westerly residents may be awakened to the sounds of helicopters overhead Thursday morning. Continuing a practice begun in 1997, the town of Westerly is conducting aerial spraying against mosquitos.

The targeted areas are portions of Chapman Swamp and the swamp area adjacent to Hespar Drive.

The town uses Bti, a naturally occurring bacterium which prevents larval mosquitoes from developing into adults. The state Department of Environmental Management says it safe to humans and the environment.

Spraying begins Thursday at 7:00am and continues through 2:00pm.

Westerly Prepares for Summer After Superstorm Sandy

Flo Jonic — Mon, 13 May 2013 12:50:48 +0000

The town of Westerly is close to fulfilling its promise to rebuild the Misquamicut Beach area by Memorial Day. The town has made great strides since Superstorm Sandy left a path of destruction last fall.

It’s not perfect yet, but Misquamicut Beach looks a lot better than it did six-and-a-half months ago. Tons of sand the storm dumped on Atlantic Avenue have been put back on the beach, sand dunes have been restored and shopkeepers are making repairs. Jennifer Cordier of Hartford, Connecticut visited the beach Sunday and was pleasantly surprised.

Public has Two More Chances to Comment on Westerly Hospital Sale

Kristin Gourlay — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 18:18:44 +0000

Rhode Island authorities have until the end of April to make a decision about whether to allow the sale of Westerly Hospital to Connecticut-based Lawrence + Memorial Hospital, but on Wednesday members of the Westerly community will have the chance to comment on the proposed sale.

The Department of Health and the attorney general’s office have final say on the deal, but Attorney General Peter Kilmartin says public input helps to inform the decision.

Bench Decision Could Halt Operation at Copar Quarry in Westerly

Bradley Campbell — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 10:23:00 +0000

A Superior Court Judge is expected rule on a lawsuit that could temporarily shut down a quarry in Westerly. Residents are complaining that Copar Quarry is a threat to their health. Copar disagrees.

Chamber Wants Businesses Damaged by Superstorm Sandy Repaired by Summer

Catherine Welch — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 21:31:34 +0000

The Westerly-Pawcatuck Chamber is working to raise $400,000 to make sure area businesses damaged by Superstorm Sandy are up and running by Memorial Day.

Chamber executive director Lisa Konicki says the storm seriously damaged some 29 businesses, and most of them have yet to see a dime from their insurance companies.

Funds raised by the chamber will help businesses remove sand, repair damage and replace inventory before the tourist start arriving.

Application to buy Westerly Hospital heads for formal review

Kristin Gourlay — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 21:00:00 +0000

Westerly Hospital is another step closer to being acquired by New London-based L&M Hospital.

Rhode Island’s department of health and the attorney general’s office say they’ve received a complete application from L&M. The state agencies now have 90 days to review it. If they accept L&M’s offer, Westerly could be the first hospital acquired under the state’s new Hospital Conversions Act.

Westerly has been in receivership since late 2011. The financially struggling community hospital has been looking for ways to keep its doors open despite declining patient numbers.

Westerly rebuilds after Sandy

Flo Jonic — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 14:39:26 +0000

(PROVIDENCE, RI) Westerly town manager Steven Hartford says damage from Superstorm Sandy will probably exceed $20-M. Roughly 150 homes and 30 businesses were damaged when the downgraded hurricane slammed into Rhode Island’s southern coast October 29th.

$1.1M heading to Westerly to turn flood-prone property into green space

Catherine Welch — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 21:37:56 +0000

(PROVIDENCE, RI) Rhode Island’s congressional delegation says a little more than a million dollars in federal funding is on its way to buy property in Westerly. The plan is to turn land along Canal Street into open green space.

The $1.1 million in federal funding will go toward the purchase of five residences and three pieces of non-residential property on Canal Street in Westerly’s north end. The area floods often and was severely damaged during the big flood of 2010. The plan is to demolish the homes and turn the land into wetlands.