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From the press release of 11/18/2008
PROVIDENCE—Lt. Gov. Elizabeth Roberts, Chairwoman of the Small Business Advocacy Council (SBAC) announced this morning the launch of Buy Local RI, a new economic development initiative to support local businesses. The initial phase of Buy Local RI will be a public awareness campaign encouraging Rhode Islanders to support our local businesses by shopping locally for the holidays.
“The economy in Rhode Island is struggling,” Roberts said. “As we look at our economy turning down, we need to invest our dollars here in Rhode Island. One of the best things we can do is to support local businesses. We know that Rhode Island is home to thousands of unique artists, artisans, retailers, manufacturers, cafes, restaurants and farmers whose small businesses are locally owned and crucial to our neighborhoods, our quality of life, and Rhode Island’s overall economy.”
Roberts and members of the Small Business Advocacy Council were joined by Providence Mayor David Cicilline, members of local Chambers of Commerce, local business owners and Doug Hammond, a national expert in building local first initiatives. “Many communities throughout the state have already begun to embrace the idea through local initiatives from Newport County and South County, to the Blackstone Valley and Providence,” Roberts said. “Through Buy Local RI I have committed to serve as the catalyst to connect these existing efforts and help raise their visibility.”
Roberts announced a series of “Main Street” events she will hold across the state which will build on existing local initiatives and highlight the opportunities and benefits of choosing to Buy Local RI during the holiday season. “In the next few weeks, as you shop for the holidays,” Roberts said, “think about your local merchant first.” The first “Main Street” event is scheduled for Wednesday, November 19th in downtown Westerly. Additional “Main Street” events include Greenville, Providence, Wickford, Warren and Newport, among others. The Buy Local RI initiative will extend beyond the holiday season with the creation of a working group, to include members of the Small Business Advocacy Council and key BuyRI constituencies, to develop a network organization and a website dedicated to expanding the market for local businesses and products by connecting people to Rhode Island businesses.
You are invited to meet John R. MacArthur, author of “You Can’t Be President: The Outrageous Barriers to Democracy in America” and publisher of Harper’s Magazine.
He will be appearing at Green Valley Country Club in Portsmouth on Thursday evening, November 20th from 6:30pm -8:30pm.
Our community is the subject of a chapter in his book where we fought Big Box development and WON! We are showcased as part of the “positive democratic process” that can happen in this country.
His book will be for sale; making a great gift, and refreshments will be available. Come check it out…
For a small sampling go the below link. Make sure you scroll down to the bottom of the first page!!
Preserve Portsmouth is inviting you to Greenvale Vineyards,
Wapping Rd. this coming Thursday, May 8th at 6:00 p.m.
Let’s celebrate Spring, get together and share recent developments.
Please let us know if you can attend. Reply to info@preserveportsmouth.org.
Progress is being made, during the moratorium of business above 50,000 sq ft, to assess the current ordinances. Check the Meetings/Calendar section for a schedule of upcoming meetings. Public participation in these meetings is encouraged.
What an exciting few weeks it has been for our town and the people who have stood up against a Goliath and won!!! Quotes have been flying in the newspaper’s, and blogs that this is : “Democracy at it’s finest” I don’t believe that we are agitators, we simply took a stand.
The other exciting news is that the town is hosting a Charette. There will be a dozen round tables, where people can have intimate discussions and decide what they’re willing to live with as far as retail development in our lovely town. We all need to be at this Charette and have our views and concerns heard. PLEASE SAVE THE DATE!!! THURSDAY, AUGUST 23rd, 7:00pm at the Senior Center on Bristol Ferry Road in Portsmouth. They can hold up to 200 people.
Preserve Portsmouth is hosting an event at Green Valley Country Club on Thursday, Sept. 13th at 6:30 p.m.
Stacy Mitchell from www.newrules.org, and the Institute for Local Self Reliance will be coming to Portsmouth and presenting her studies in regards to retail development in America. Check out her website or go and purchase her books Hometown Advantage, Big Box Swindle, and get better informed before the Charette meeting!!!!
To enjoy the natural beauty of our island we are encouraging folks to take their NO signs down. Store them in your garages and hopefully when the planning and zoning is amended in January we can then throw them away!!
Dear Friends of Preserve Portsmouth,
It is official!! TARGET has withdrawn their special use permit and will not be building a BIG-BOX store on the corner of West Main and Union Street after all!!
KUDOS to EVERYONE who has supported and guided us in the effort to educate the community!!! It really is true that “people can make a difference” when the right positive energy is combined.
Please make sure that we as a community continue to have a say in how our town should develop in the future. Don’t forget to attend the moratorium meeting August 1st, at 7:00pm at the Portsmouth Middle School. It is vital to show the Town Council that we still care deeply about other projects that are bound to come Portsmouth’s way and we NEED TO BE PREPARED as a community.
Thank you all!!
Preserve Portsmouth
A huge thank you to all the folks that helped contribute to our “Old Fashioned Family Picnic.”
Preserve Portsmouth asks that you remember to patronize these wonderful local businesses…
Newport Restoration Foundation
Jim Garmin, Historian
Little Pony Express
Simmons Farm
Gadzooks Gazania by Chase Farms Inc.
U.G. Masons HVAC
Frajeelai Jewelry
Laura Goldstein Knits
Lark Rodrigues Pottery
Rene & Sons Carpet & Flooring
Maison de Coco Pastries
Equine Connection
Dr. Ron Marsh, Chiropractor
Custom House Coffee
Beach House by Watercolours
Ma Goetzingers
Kimberly Nunes, Esthetician at Sydney’s Salon
Tie One On NYGreen Valley
Persimmon Restaurant
2nd Story Theater
Striper Moon
Chatelaine
Bay Queen & Newport Cruise Company
DeWolf Tavern
Pow Science
Castle Hill Inn
Newport Vineyards
Billy Black Photography
Newport Jazz Festival
Preservation Society of Newport County
Maplewood Farm
Island Garden Center
Sweet Berry Farm
Armor & Martel
Claytime
Island Books
Rhythym+Pink
Escobar’s Highland Farm
West Main Pizza
Flo’s
Anna D’s
Green Grocer
The Valley Inn
Shannon Buss, Realtor
Jennifer Balch of 2 Gals Photography
Newport Playhouse
Dear Target Shareholder or Customer:
Target sells many products made out of or packaged in polyvinyl chloride (PVC), known as the poison plastic. PVC is the most hazardous plastic to our health and environment, releasing toxic chemicals linked to cancer and birth defects. Target’s sale of PVC products and packaging poses major hazards to our health and environment, and avoidable legal, financial, and reputational risks to the company.
This is surprising and disappointing given Target’s sustainability initiatives. Phasing out PVC is fully in line with Target’s environmental programs, particularly its green purchasing initiative, commitment to recycling and the “social, economic and environmental health of the communities we serve,” and its efforts to identify “packaging options with fewer environmental impacts and greater recycling potential.”
Why does this report focus on Target? Why not another major retailer like Wal-Mart? Unfortunately Target is way behind Wal-Mart and other companies in phasing out this unnecessary toxic plastic. Wal-Mart has publicly committed to phasing out private label PVC packaging and children’s lunchboxes and is beginning to reduce PVC use in building materials. Other leading retailers and manufacturers are also working to phase out PVC including Costco, Ikea, Johnson & Johnson, Microsoft, Nike, SC Johnson, and other major companies. Safer, cost-effective alternatives are available. Target has an opportunity to demonstrate it is not an industry laggard, but instead is a leader in selling safe and healthy products.
Target was contacted over one year ago about this issue, when a coalition of over sixty health and environmental groups sent a letter expressing our deep concern about this issue. Target responded publicly and stated that they are “exploring alternatives to PVC.” Over seven months later, we have not seen any plan to evaluate alternatives. During this same time period, over 40,000 Target customers and parents have signed petitions, sent letters, faxes, and made phone calls to Target urging them to phase out PVC.
This report analyzes Target’s sale of products containing PVC by focusing on three key areas: baby / children’s products and toys, shower curtains, and packaging. These three areas were selected because Target sells many of these products that are made out of PVC. Target customers may be exposed to highly toxic chemicals from using these products in their homes.
We hope you find the information in this report illuminating. We hope Target’s shareholders and customers will urge the company to adopt a responsible environmental practice and commit to phasing out PVC in products and packaging.
Sincerely,
Lois Marie Gibbs, Executive Director
Center for Health, Environment and Justice
May, 2007
The lawn signs are in!! Please feel free to pick up a sign (one per household) preferably, for maximum visibility throughout the island!! Available at the 4-H Fair on July 14, at Glen Park and the Old Fashioned Picnic on July 22nd at Glen Park, or call Conni at 847-5653 or Christine at 847-9236 to arrange a pick up.
We are accepting a $5.00 donation or more per sign if possible.
Please be very careful to place them “ON” your own property, 10 feet in from the edge of the road. Please also be aware that signs are being taken from all over town, be on the lookout!
**SAVE THE DATE**
August 1st at 7:00pm, a public hearing on the development moratorium will be held at the Portsmouth Middle School. Please be present at this next meeting when the Town Council will fine tune their building moratorium specifications for the planning and zoning boards to approve.
Come to our Old Fashion Country Picnic on July 22, 2007 from 12pm to 4pm at Glen Park in Portsmouth.
Food * Beverages * Popcorn * Hay Rides
Pony Rides * Face Painting * Kids Games
Pottery Lessons * Raffle * Auction
Tickets are $10 each or $25 per family. We look forward to seeing you there.
Please see this Old Fashioned Country Picnic poster for more information
