Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge Road Repairs Underway

The road that leads up to the Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge has been closed since Hurricane Sandy. Work has began to open the road.

Officials announced work to open the road that leads up the Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge has begun.  The road has been closed since concrete slabs washed up during Hurricane Sandy last October. Although officials previously announced the refuge would be open by the end of January 2013, winter weather delayed the project. There are no official estimates of when the refuge will be open, but a Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) official said the project to clear the road should take approximately a month. “We are grateful to our state and federal partners for helping us restore access to this vital natural resource that was virtually cut off after Hurricane Sandy,” Governor Lincoln D. Chafee said. “When all is said …

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Fafar

10:36 am on Wednesday, March 13, 2013

$4.00 per 1/2 mile, both ways. All revenue collected will be sent to the General Fund.   more ›

Wildlife Refuge Opening Delayed

Bad weather has delayed the re-opening of the Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge

  In December, officials announced they hoped to re-open Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge by the end of January 2013, however recent winter storms has delayed the work.  A new date has not been released.  The refuge was closed due to unsafe and hazardous conditions caused by Hurricane Sandy. The high surf created unstable banks and washed up concrete slabs on Sachuest Point Road, which left it impassable.  “Unfortunately we will be unable to reopen the refuge to the public until the road is repaired because our current 4-wheel drive access roads are not adequate for emergency response if necessary,” said Sarah Lang, Volunteer Coordinator with the refuge.  Lang added the contract to repair the road has been awarded by the The Rhode …

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Officials Say Wildlife Refuge To Open Next Month

During a tour of the damaged area, officials announced work to open the road should begin shortly.

After Hurricane Sandy shut down Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge over a month ago, there appears to be a light at the end of the tunnel.  During a tour of the damaged park on Friday afternoon, officials announced the refuge will be open to the public by the end of January.   Robert Smith, Deputy Chief Engineer for the Department of Transportation said the road, which is currently impassable, will be not only cleared and repaved, but that they plan to build a “stone armor” to shield against future storms.  Smith said they expect to put out a contract for the work within five days.  “This isn’t a quick fix,”  added the Refuge Manager Charlie Vandemoer. The concrete slabs that were washed up on Sachuest Point Road will be reused to …

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Thursday in Middletown: Sunny Skies and Farmers Market

What is going on in and around Middletown today:

  1.) Create arts and crafts for various ages at Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge. Starts at 11:00 a.m. 2.) Get fresh, local food at the farmers market from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. 3.) Post your own event to Middetown Patch! Click the link here. 4.) Hear stories of remarkable entrepreneurship and religious diversity among Newport's colonial period. Starts at 10:30 a.m. 5.) Expect sunny skies with a high near 77, according to the National Weather Service.

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Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge Hosts over 100 College Volunteers

The following write-up was provided Juancarlos Giese, Deputy Manager of Rhode Island NWR Complex

  On Sunday, August 26th, and Monday August 27, over 80 students from Providence College and over 20 students from Roger Williams University spent the day volunteering at Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge (NWR). Students were able to participate in a hands-on conservation experience by restoring native shrubland through the planting native shrubs, protecting wildlife by clearing debris and litter from the Sachuest Point NWR coastline and improving the beach habitat by removing invasive Asiatic Sand Sedge.  Native shrubland was once very common along the Rhode Island coast, consisting of a great diversity of large shrubs, small trees and wildflowers.  Unfortunately, development of the Rhode Island coastline and forest succession has …

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Bird Watchers 'Having a Hoot', Snowy Owl Sightings at Sachuest Point

Sightings of the snowy owl, native to the Arctic region, have been reported at Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge.

Bird enthusiasts are flocking to Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge in Middletown after several sightings of a Snowy Owl were recorded there. The Providence Journal reported that the bird has been in the area since December. Shirley Lally, a six-year volunteer at the refuge, said the birds, usually native to the Arctic region, have been spotted from Connecticut up to Maine since Thanksgiving. She said the birds have been moving south because the food supply in the Arctic region is down, which she said might be caused by global warming. Other common names for the owl are the Arctic Owl, Great White Owl or Harfang. Although the bird's native home is the circumpolar region, it is considered to be a nomadic species when fluctuations in …

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Police Rule Fisherman's Death Accidental

Middletown police say Gary Mathias' death last Wednesday, Nov. 2, was an accident . Mathias died at Newport Hospital after at water rescue at Third Beach in Middletown.

Middletown police have closed the investigation into the death of Portsmouth fisherman Gary Mathias, ruling the cause as "accidental."  "It appears accidental," said Middletown Police Lt. Robert Nutt on Monday. "The investigation has been closed." Gary Mathias, 48, of Portsmouth, died Wednesday, Nov. 2, after he was swept into the ocean by a large wave near the Sachuest Point Wildlife Refuge, Middletown police said.  Mathias was fishing on the rocks with a friend and was just about to leave, when a large wave knocked him off the rocks and swept him into the water.  "A big wave came in and swept him off the rocks," Nutt said. "His friend tried to grab him. He (Mathias' friend) then drove down to the Cumberland Farms down the road to use the…

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Portsmouth Man Dies After Being Swept Into Ocean Near Sachuest Point

A Portsmouth man died after he was pulled out of the water Wednesday morning near the Sachuest Point Wildlife Refuge in Middletown.

Gary Mathias, 48, of Portsmouth, died Wednesday after he was swept into the ocean by a wave near the Sachuest Point Wildlife Refuge, Middletown police said.  Police responded just after 4 a.m. to the national refuge for a report of a fisherman being swept into the ocean.  Sgt. Mark Minnella arrived first and located the victim floating in the surf. Sgt Minnella entered  the water with a life line attached, but the surf was to rough to allow him to reach the victim, police said.  Mathias' body was later found floating in the surf and was unresponsive. The victim was brought to the Third Beach Boat ramp, where Newport Rescue personnel began CPR. Mathias was then transported to Newport Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.  The …

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5 Things To Know Today

Today: Good Surf Arrives, Ghost Hunts Return to Fort Adams

It's not here yet. Between hurricane preparations, here are 5 fun distractions in and around Middletown today.

Just how big will the waves get from Hurricane Irene this weekend? Magicseaweed.com's constant updates of Middletown's surf report and weekend forecast will keep you posted in real-time. Need to lighten up? You can find comedy seven nights each week at the Firehouse Theater. 4th Friday with live music returns to the Newport Art Museum. Ghost Hunts return to Fort Adams tonight. The Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge will close Saturday in advance of Hurricane Irene, but today's seminar about the refuge is still on.

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Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge to Close for Hurricane Saturday

With Hurricane Irene projected to hit Middletown this weekend, the Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge will close Saturday, Aug. 27, 2011 until further notice.

With Hurricane Irene projected to hit the northeast coast this weekend, the Rhode Island National Wildlife Refuges will be closed beginning Saturday, Aug. 27, 2011 until further notice, according to an announcement issued Thursday.   "Forecasters predict that the Rhode Island coast will experience surging tides, high sustained winds of 75 mph and severe flooding. We regret this emergency closure and we will re-open as soon as conditions are safe," said Janis Nepshinsky, Visitor Services Manager. The Rhode Island National Wildlife Refuges consists of Block Island NWR, John H. Chafee Refuge NWR in Narragansett/South Kingstown, Ninigret NWR in Charlestown, Sachuest Point NWR in Middletown, and Trustom Pond NWR in South Kingstown.  

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