By ANDREW MARTIN

RICHMOND–Members of the Town Council were disturbed and disappointed at their Aug. 24 meeting when they heard why the Richmond Senior Citizens Association, which is a self-governing non-profit entity, denied a resident's application.
Resident Carolyn Richards acknowledged that she has been a consistent critic of the association and its board of directors and executive director since around 2004, when she began a two-year term on the town's finance board. She said her frustration increased as she saw “inordinate taxpayer money and resources appropriated” to a group that continued to show “arrogance and financial irresponsibility.”

 

HOPE VALLEY – Congressman Jim Langevin visited the Wood River Health Services last Tuesday for a tour of the facility and to meet staff, patients, administrators and board members.
Among a number of recent improvements at the health center, the congressman will be viewing is a newly installed barrier-free exam table designed to improve access and safety for wheelchair bound patients and those with ambulatory challenges, purchased with proceeds from the health center’s annual fundraiser.
The electrically powered table can be positioned as a chair and lowered to a seat height of 19 inches. Once comfortably “onboard,” the patient can then be safely raised and positioned as needed for exams or other procedures.
The “Midmark 630 Barrier-Free Universal Power Procedures Table,” which cost $8,820, was installed along with three new regular exam tables last week, each of which cost $1,100.
The additional cost of the barrier-free table was financed through the proceeds of Wood River Health’s annual Laughter is the Best Medicine comedy night gala held in May.
For more information on the barrier-free table, go to www.midmark.com.

Fire chief fears insurance rates could increase

By ANDREW MARTIN

HOPE VALLEY – Although it’s been four months since the epic flooding of this past spring, the impact of the immense weather event has not completely disappeared.
During the days-long storm, the dams throughout the towns of Charlestown, Richmond, and Hopkinton were a major cause for concerns. Reports continued to roll in that emergency personnel in the area were worried about dams breaching from Shannock to Hope Valley.

Dog park facilities subcommittee to pay back loan over five years

By ANDREW MARTIN


CHARLESTOWN – The Town Council approved loaning $20,000 to fund the off-leash Ninigret Dog Park project that will include two separate dog runs for big and small dogs.
This project has been in the works since last April, when interested area residents met to organize and discuss the the creation of the dog park. The process of creating the facility began in October 2009, when the Town Council approved the creation of the Ninigret Park Dog Park Facilities Subcommittee and the Charlestown Canine Club.