Outdoors in RI: Turkey talk, conservation news, comedian picks RI, Greenway, holiday lights, 2A

Photo, above: RIDEM

Southern Rhode Island Conservation District

Southern Rhode Island Conservation District hosts sign-up session for NRCS conservation funding for RI farmers and landowners. A sign-up session for the first cycle of fiscal year 2025 Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) funding for farmers, forest landowners, oyster growers, ranchers and urban growers. The deadline to apply for the first cycle of funding is January 10, 2025. The session will be held on Saturday, December 7 from 10 am until 12 pm at the Warwick Public Library located at 600 Sandy Lane in Warwick, RI.

Conservation funds are available through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), Agricultural Management Assistance Program (AMA), National Water Quality Initiative (NWQI), and Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP).
To register for the sign-up session, visit sricd.org/2024-12-07-nrcs-funding-sign-up-session or contact [email protected]. For more information on the NRCS funding process, visit nrcs.usda.gov.

The Southern Rhode Island Conservation District (SRICD) promotes and achieves a healthy environment and sustainable use of natural resources for the people of Kent and Washington Counties and the State of Rhode Island, now and for the future, by coordinating partners to provide technical, educational and financial resources.

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RI DEM Public Workshop on proposed Wildlife & Hunting Regulations

The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) is announcing that its Division of Fish and Wildlife (DFW) will hold a public workshop on proposed regulations relating to Statutory changes from the end of the 2024 cycle. These regulations govern furbearing animals, the use of crossbows for turkey harvest, and the salvage of wildlife that collide with vehicles.  

Wednesday, Dec. 4, 5:30 PMWhere: DFW Outdoor Education Office
ADDRESS/DIRECTIONS: 1B Camp E-Hun-Tee, Exeter, RI – Take Frosty Hollow Road off Rt. 165 in Exeter, RI. Continue all the way down the dirt road (about 2 miles), past a pond, and over a small bridge, until you hit a 4-way intersection. Take a left at the intersection (not straight into trailhead parking). Then take a right after ~100 yards through the open red gate. Follow the road all the way down, passing our Caretaker’s home and two other cabins/buildings on your left. Continue until you see signs for the DFW Education Office and parking.

Interested parties may present comments concerning the draft regulations at the Dec 4 public workshop or submit written comments to David Kalb at [email protected] by close of business (4 PM) on Monday, Dec 10, 2024.

To request copies of the draft regulations please email [email protected] or call 401-284-3427.  For more information on DEM programs and initiatives, visit www.dem.ri.gov. Follow DEM on Facebook, Twitter/X (@RhodeIslandDEM), or Instagram (@rhodeisland.dem) for timely updates. Follow DFW on Facebook and Instagram (@ri.fishandwildlife) to stay up to date on news, events and volunteer opportunities.

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Blackstone River Greenway news

A newly completed section of the Blackstone River Greenway connecting the path from its previous end in North Smithfield to a longer trail into Massachusetts is now complete, and will officially open with a ribbon cutting scheduled for TODAY, Friday, Nov. 22 at 6 Mill St. in Blackstone, behind the Polish American Citizens Club, starting at 1:30 p.m.

Starting at the Depot parking lot on Canal Street, the key half mile connects a previously isolated trail segment in Rhode Island with a 3.5 mile stretch into the neighboring state. It will now allow bikers, walkers and more to travel off road from Cold Spring Park in Woonsocket to Adams Street in Uxbridge, Mass. by the former Quaker Drive-In. The bikeway closely follows, and often crosses the Blackstone River, once known as hardest-working river in America, and a central feature to the region’s value as a national park.

The event will celebrate completion of the new segment, which continues from the viaduct into Meadows Park, another scenic space owned by the town of North Smithfield also known as the Paul Kelley Complex, home to multiple athletic fields.

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Comedian picks Rhode Island

Comedien Matt Rife, 28, has purchased a home in North Smithfield (said to be 20 minutes from the Conjuring House). According to NRI News, “the lot features a private driveway stretching a third of a mile, a pool and pool house, a helicopter pad and more. The house itself holds four bedrooms, six fireplaces, three balconies, a wine making cellar, a game room and a two-stall shooting range. He jokes about how he has bought most of Rhode Island and the value of what he was able to buy based on what he would have been able to buy in California or another, more popular location.” He plans to build a performance stage as well, and says he wants to get involved in the North Smithfield community. Rife is about to begin a giant world-wide tour, performing just about everywhere. He has shows on Netflix, with a new one in production.

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Holiday Lights out and about

Bring family and friends to experience Holiday Lights Spectacular – Rhode Island’s brightest annual walk-through experience. Walk through a winter wonderland where over 3.5 million twinkling lights light up the Zoo. Discover dazzling displays featuring festive decorations and enchanting illuminations. From reindeer that shimmer to snowmen who sparkle, it’s like stepping into a holiday fairy tale brought to life. Don’t miss out on this magical New England holiday experience.

Ring in the season nightly from November 29 through January 4, 2025, from 5:00 to 9:30 pm. Bundle up, grab an adult beverage or hot chocolate, roast some s’mores, and stroll through 40 acres of illuminated pathways. It’s the perfect holiday experience to share with friends and family.

For the little ones, Santa will be at the Spectacular on Thursday nights in December until Christmas. The visit is free to families with a same-night ticket for the 5:00 or 6:00 pm timeslots only.

Holiday Lights Spectacular is open rain or shine. Tickets are available online only. NO REFUNDS OR RESCHEDULING. This program does not include animal exhibits. Please note: the Holiday Lights Spectacular features flashing lights which may affect photosensitive visitors. See below for details on pricing, parking, and membership discounts. Proceeds from the Holiday Lights Spectacular support the Zoo’s ongoing animal care, education programs and conservation initiatives. Thank you for helping us save wildlife and wild places!

Tickets are required and must be reserved online in advance.

• Adult $14
• Child (ages 2-12) $12
• Toddlers 1 and under FREE

Get your tickets in advance… there are discounts for RWPZ members.

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LaSalette – a Rhode Island family tradition

Opening this Saturday, November 23rd, La Salette’s Christmas Festival of Lights will from from 5 to 9pm until January 1st. at the Shrine in Attleboro. Most families have a tradition – day after Thanksgiving – January 1st – day before Christmas – whatever it is, pack up the car, bring the kiddos with some friends…

The theme this year is “Christ Be Our Light” and there will be 135 (!) new exhibits.

Today’s world is like a stormy ocean, with a fragmented culture, climate change issues, conflicts in Ukraine, the Middle East, and Burma, and mass migrations acting as turbulent waves, leaving us with a profound need for guidance. Our society, both within and outside the Catholic Church, faces deep polarization, making Christ’s guiding and inspiring light more essential than ever.

The image of the Christ Child, peacefully resting amidst the turbulent waters of a stormy sea, beautifully captures our need for His light. This year’s Christmas Festival of Lights, themed “Christ Be Our Light,” aims to offer our visitors and pilgrims an opportunity to experience not only the beauty and magic of our Christmas lights, but also to remember the profound hope that Christ’s light brought into the world on that holy night in Bethlehem. This Christmas season, may His light shine brightly in your hearts and homes. Warm wishes for a blessed Advent and Christmas Season.

For more info go to: lasaletteattleboroshrine.org – click on christmas-festival.

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Know Your Turkeys!

From RI DEM:

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2A Update

Free Gun Locks at Cranston Public Library. Secure storage of weapons is now the law in Rhode Island. A Free Gun Lock and Securing Weapons Safely information is available at the Reference Desk at the Central Library, 140 Sockanosset Cross Rd., in Cranston. Stop by for a free gun lock and literature on how to securely store weapons. Doing so will save lives and make our communities safer. Residents from all RI communities are welcome. This event is not endorsed by or affiliated with the Cranston Public Library. Hours are: Sunday (1-5pm) – Mon & Tues (9-8pm) – Wed, Thurs, Fri, Sat (9-5pm).

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