Founded in 1997, the South County Independent is a family-owned, weekly newspaper that has garnered numerous New England Newspaper Association Awards for its spot-on journalism. Part of the Edward A Sherman Publishing Company, the newspaper group has a sister publication, the North East Independent, and several magazines.
Tucked away under tree cover, the Davisville Free Library has proved a small but charming and useful asset to the community. Built in 1917, the building serves as a library and a meeting space for Cub Scout and Girl Scout troops, Homeschool Chess Club, a knitting circle and numerous other organizations. A member of Ocean State Libraries, the Davisville Free Library also has a working fireplace, used primarily in the winter. Dogs are welcome — just bring a leash.
The Aquidneck Land Trust strives to preserve the open space and natural beauty of Aquidneck Island. The nonprofit was founded in 1990 by local residents and in 1993 secured its first conservation easement.
In the late 1990s, the Aquidneck Land Trust set a goal of conserving 2,000 acres. In October 2008, they reached and surpassed that goal.
The ALT is currently overseen by more than 20 trustees and an advisory board of just as many. A full-time staff also manages operations.
Occupying a peninsula between the Sakonnet River and Rhode Island sound, the 242 acre Sachuest Point National Wildlife refuge is a very popular site for the over 65,000 annual visitors each year.
The refuge sports a newly renovated visitor center, over 2.5 miles of nature trails, viewing platforms, and a number of Refuge volunteers present to help visitors and to help in management of the refuge.
Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge is renowned for its fantastic saltwater fishing, and the presence of the largest winter population of harlequin ducks on the East Coast.
Once a horse racing area, then a Naval communications site, and now a National Wildlife Refuge, the are is steeped in history. From saltmarsh and beach strand habitats to upland shrub dominated lands, the refuge supports over 200 bird species, with such notable occasional visitors such as the peregrine falcon, northern harrier, and the snowy owl.
Sachuest Point, along with the four other National Wildlife Refuges in the State, are administered by the Rhode Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex, headquartered in Charlestown, RI. The new Kettle Pond Visitor Center and headquarters located in Charlestown, RI,, celebrates the Sachuest Point Refuge and all of the other refuges in Rhode Island. This facility contains interactive exhibits, displays, a sales area, classrooms for special events, and knowledgeable people where visitors can come and explore the refuges and learn about the wildlife resources and coastal environments of each refuge.
The Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd was given new life with the completion of its new sanctuary in 2009. The chapel feels like a large living room, complete with high wooden ceilings, lots of windows and chairs.
Good Shepherd has a choir, a youth group and a prayer fellowship. Church members are active in supporting local charities, such as the Jonnycake Center, the Welcome House and the Domestic Violence Resource Center.
Centrally located in Middletown along tree-lined Forest Avenue, Graceway Community Church, a Christian church, prides itself on being a community made up of parishioners from all walks of life and from different socioeconomic, ethnic and denominational backgrounds.
Sunday morning services at Graceway include Bible Class at 9:30 am and Worship at 10:30. Bible Classes are open to all ages, from preschool to adult, and Sunday services typically feature Bible reading, prayer, communion, music and lessons.
Graceway also offers Connect Groups that include Pathfinders, The Way and Sojourners. Other programs include Prayer Room, Third Watch for teens, and youth activities, as well as ministry services that partner with other local area churches.
Lead Pastor Mike Sullivan, a native of Lawrence, Kansas and raised in North Dakota and California, attended Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas before completing his studies at Abilene Christian University in Abilene, Texas. He has served churches from California to Rhode Island for 21 years.
The United Brothers Synagogue is the second oldest synagogue in all of Rhode Island. The small, unassuming building tells little of the enormous historical significance this synagogue has on understanding the history of Jews in Rhode Island. The migration of Jews from Long Island, NY to Bristol RI at the turn of the Century was the start of the story and over the course of the next 100 years, the congregation transformed as the people transformed from its early Orthodox beginning to Reconstructionism of today. Reconstructionism is a more modern, liberal American-based Jewish movement .
Led by Scott Tepper, an innovative spiritual leader, all are welcomed who are interested in participating in Jewish life. A small synagogue means a close-knit congregation.
Christ Methodist Church, located on Kingstown Road, is a religious institution serving South Kingstown and surrounding communities.
Worship services are held each Sunday at 10:45am with communion service on the first Sunday of each month. Sunday school is also held on Sunday at 9am.
This private club is located in a quiet, residential neighborhood. While it's for members only and is primarily a social club for men, the facilities can be rented by anyone for a variety of events: receptions, graduation parties or family gatherings. The club has a kitchen and a bar (bartenders can be hired through the club to staff a cash bar) and outside facilities include a barbecue area and bocce court.
The 245-acre heavily wooded park borders historic and picturesque Brickyard Pond, the East Bay Bike Path and the Bayside YMCA at the end of West Street. It includes a picnic area, benches, grills, a baseball field and toilet facilities. Bikers, joggers and walkers can enjoy the views and wildlife from the bike path on the edge of the pond. Fishing is allowed in season. A dirt walking path that starts at the picnic area cuts through the grass and winds along the edge of the shallow pond, where you can easily launch canoes, kayaks, rowboats and even some sailboats. There is plenty of free parking available at the end of a gravel roadway that starts by the welcome sign at the ball field.
Founded in 1905, the First Church of God built their house of worship on Allen Avenue in 1938. The Church of God is part of a nationwide network of 2,292 churches headquartered in Anderson, Indiana. The multi-cultural congregation in South Kingstown lends itself to a designation as one of the most unique church congregations in town.
Originally a few shelves at the back of a mid-1800's one-room schoolhouse on Oliphant Lane, today's town library at 700 West Main Rd. can now accomodate a collection of 80,000 items thanks to renovations completed in 2003.
The Middletown Library has also remained true to its early education roots, as it continues to host lectures by world-reknowned authors, financial education seminars and other community classes, as well as enrichment activities like the Toastmasters public speaking club, and teen programs such as summer movies.
For the kids, there are summer reading programs and drop-in storytimes.
Part of the Ocean State Libraries (OSL) network, the Middletown Public Library offers card holders Internet access to search the Library Catalog from any computer onsite. Its website also hosts an impressive series of links to community resources, digital downloads and engaging and interactive tools including blogs for teens and kids. For more information, visit: http://www.middletownpubliclibrary.org/Community-Links
Knights of Columbus Council 2011 is located on Tower Hill Road. This organization has members hailing from North Kingstown, East Greenwich, Cranston, and Wakefield. The hall is available for special-event rentals and contains a full bar with three licensed bartenders. Council 2011 holds meetings twice a month (on the first and third Tuesdays of the month) and offers monthly breakfasts and twice-monthly dinners. In 2009, the council raised more than $40,000 for various charities. The council is led by Grand Knight V. J. Simonelli.
The South County Art Association may show contemporary artwork, yet its location in historic Kingston covers an appreciation for classical work as well.
The association, which opened in its current location in 1941, calls a structure erected in 1802 its home. While the exterior may look its age, inside, the gallery displays paintings, photographs, jewelery and sculptures that are much more current. The gallery is free to visit, and much of the artwork is available for purchase.
Formerly know as the Women's Resource Center, the Domestic Violence Resource Center of South County knows that domestic violence spans all genders and types of families. Count on it for education, counseling and support. The center provides help with obtaining restraining orders and other matters before the court. Child care is available during the drop-in women's support groups.
Coventry Teachers Alliance is a teacher's association in Coventry. The association offers its members newsletters and advising on issues related to education.
If you happen to meander into this church on a Sunday, you'll find no pastor, no parishioners, no music and definitely no service. The Wickford Seventh-Day Adventist Church celebrates the Sabbath on Saturdays, the original 7th-day of the Judeo-Christian week. This 30-person congregation is led by Pastor William Warcholik.
This YMCA summer camp welcomes boys and girls ages 7 - 16 from around the world. Located on Pt. Judith Pond, with access to the Atlantic Ocean, there are land and water-based activities available. You can register online through the website. Weekends are available from April 22 to June 10 and Sept. 1 to Nov. 1 for church groups, conferences and special events.