Faces of Business

After 100 Years, Life's Still a Beach for Peabody Family

A look back at the origins of Peabody's Beach and how one of Rhode Island's few privately owned saltwater beaches manages to weather economic storms.

One of the most popular family beaches in Rhode Island, for many many years, has been Peabody's Beach, one of Rhode Island's last privately owned beaches, found on the north end of Sachuest Cove near the town-owned Third Beach. The cove beaches have always attracted families with young children because it doesn't get big waves like some of the surrounding beaches. It also has the best sea glass and sea shells for treasure-hunting. Peabody's Beach has been a family-run business for more than 100 years. According to Restcom Peabody Jr., "My Grandfather purchased (Peabody's) Beach back in 1906 from Rialty Realty of Pawtucket, Rhode Island. He used it to store his boats and fishing gear. The beach was left to my sister Betty Wessick and I in …

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Is Red Tide Taking Over Middletown Beaches?

Find out the difference between red tide and red seaweed, the dangers and the surprising benefits.

Is "Red Tide" taking over Middletown beaches? Fortunately, no!  In fact, what beach goers are seeing washed up on Aquidneck Island beaches this time of year is not red tide at all, but red seaweed.  What is the difference you ask?  Well, red tide is caused by microorganisms that grow rapidly, causing what scientists refer to as a Harmful Algae Bloom (HAB) or what we know as red tide.  The microscopic organisms that cause red tide  and HAB produce toxins that kill fish, and make shellfish poisonous to human consumption.  Often, red tide is not even red, but brown or orange, and the actual organism cannot be seen with the naked eye.  What has been washing up on local beaches and turning the surf red is not harmful at all, just a big nuisance…

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Atlantic Beach Closed to Swimming

The Rhode Island Department of Health recommended closing Atlantic Beach Tuesday afternoon around 4 p.m.

The Rhode Island Department of Health (DOH) recommended the temporary closure of Atlantic Beach Tuesday afternoon to swimming and other activities due to high bacteria levels in the water. The closure was the second this year for Atlantic Beach, according to the DOH website. The recommendation was made based on results from water samples that showed high bacteria levels. The health department will continue to monitor the water quality regularly to assure safe bathing throughout the summer season, officials stated in an announcement. Atlantic Beach typically experiences the most closures following heavy rains each summer. In 2010, the beach closed six times due to high bacteria levels. It closed eight times in 2009. The bacteria commonly …

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Viewfinder: Sachuest Point Beachgoers Welcome First Day of Summer

Sachuest Point was full of life during the Summer Solstice.

Sachuest Point, the hot spot for so many summer activities, bustled with crowds Tuesday as the first official day of summer and the longest day of the year arrived. Beachgoers took to the waves on everything from Boogie Boards to kayaks and stand-up paddle boards, while some got their Del's fix at Surfers' End and others just kicked back with toes in the sand. Further up the road at Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge, fishermen cast their lines to the sea while bird watchers and nature lovers cast their eyes to the active wildlife around them. Got some of your own fresh summer memories to share? Upload your own photos here.

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Mario St-Cyr

12:49 pm on Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Great article! We love paddle boarding. join the community, it's FREE! http://www.paddleboarding.com   more ›