Commercial real estate interests own Middletown

Library must be precedence of new center

I was astonished to read through that programs for the new Middletown Center included a smaller sized public library tucked absent from West Most important Road.

Our present public library is too small. Shrinking its location by a whopping 4,000 square feet is 180 degrees off from the direction in which we ought to be transferring. Our new library should really be greater, nicer and prominently positioned proper at the entrance to the Town Center. Why do libraries still subject? Libraries are one of the number of areas where families can go without anyone hoping to sell them some thing. Libraries spark creativeness, enjoy of mastering, and curiosity among the young and the aged. Libraries are the rungs on the ladder to achievements in instruction and in life.

Libraries are the place my mom, an immigrant functioning to strengthen her English, could take her two youngsters to understand and expand although she examined to make a superior daily life for us all. Libraries are where I put in the operate that led to a number of graduate levels and sizeable professional results. The Middletown Public Library really should – no, will have to! – give a spacious, welcoming, point out-of-the-art facility. The library sends a very apparent concept to the folks of Middletown, one particular way or a further. Let’s make it a concept stating that our town cares about training, cares about growth, cares about us. Let us set that beautiful library correct at the entrance to Middletown Heart, let’s identify it Pottsy Memorial Library to honor SSG Christopher Potts, and let’s make it anything all of Middletown can use with satisfaction.

Alex Ellermann, Middletown

Commercial actual estate interests individual Middletown

Let’s be distinct. Business true estate interests possess this city. For several years the town council, as a result of its own actions, and its appointments to the zoning and scheduling boards, have all but assured that the skids will be greased for any venture authentic estate buyers propose. Will not believe that me?

The improvement of the vacant residence on West Main Street, acknowledged as Middletown Heart, has acquired a proposal from Rocky Kempenaar and other folks. It includes market-level flats, “affordable housing” and business areas. Also, Kempenaar, who now owns four hotels in Middletown, wishes to create yet another resort on this property. When he was educated that this hotel may well not be in the most effective interests of Middletown, listed here is what Kempenaar’s consultant explained:

Tale proceeds

“There are things of all those fears we’ve heard tonight that we will unquestionably discuss and try out to integrate or address, but in conditions of elimination of the hotel … these would be a nonstarter for the progress team.”

The discussion of whether a different resort is necessary or desired is worthwhile. What is not worthwhile, what is not appropriate, is the “take it, or leave it” risk presented by Kempenaar.

Owning been accommodated for decades, Kempenaar and his partners truly feel entitled to desire just about anything from the town. This will carry on until eventually the voters finally wrest regulate from these lengthy-serving city councilors who have unsuccessful to act in the finest pursuits of the city.

Lawrence Frank, Middletown

Volunteers make a distinction at Portsmouth Puppy Park

The Portsmouth Dog Park celebrated Earth Day on Saturday, April 23, in its individual inimitable trend. All palms and paws were on deck for a quite productive, delightfully chaotic spring clear-up. What a superb group!

Big thanks to every person who labored so difficult. Lots of volunteers appeared with their rakes and shovels and wheelbarrows and, of training course, their canine. 20-3 very successful Marines from the Naval Justice University also returned by preferred demand from customers. And this calendar year, Rumford Pet Convey and Animal Earth sponsored the celebration with yummy food stuff, goodie luggage and a raffle to support the Puppy Park.

Distinctive thanks as properly to the Urban and Group Forestry Method for donating eight new trees to the Canine Park. Brian Woodhead, director of the Portsmouth DPW, and his group planted the trees, and equipped the mulch and topsoil for us to use throughout the cleanse-up. We respect anything the city of Portsmouth does to support this wonderful haven for canine and their people.

The dogs showed up in complete power, performed and romped and fortunately dismissed all the action around them. If they only realized all the persons who came collectively on Earth Day to assist make their playground clean up and safe! On their behalf, I thank you all from the base of my heart.

Please examine out shots from the event on our web-site at portsmouthdogparkri.com.

Jane Regan, chair, Portsmouth Dog Park Committee

Middletown Heart system will get absent from the town

You should support us save the library, softball industry and basketball court docket. Developer Chris Bicho, proprietor of The Landing, mentioned in a news clip dated Oct. 20, 2021, that there is “a hodge-podge of issues that are not definitely remaining used significantly, now there is an open up subject, a softball subject, a basketball court and the Middletown Public Library and a former elementary university.”

Expanding up in a local community without the need of a substantial library will adversely have an effect on this local community. Men and women will not want to shift to a community that does not have a library that is obvious and ever-present. If you go the library to a back again of a searching mall, what information are you giving anyone? Our small children need a put to study and investigate our entire world through guides. Curiosity feeds expansion. Actively playing exterior is superior for the soul. Children will need areas to play baseball and basketball.

If Chris Bicho truly enjoys his neighborhood, he would be creating a searching heart that does not choose around our town, but improves it. Will not make our local community a transient purchasing place give us a spot exactly where we can be away from a store, have peace of head and investigate and be creative and engaged with character.

Cynthia Patistea, Middletown

Not all short-term renters are the similar on Aquidneck Island

All short-phrase summer time rental entrepreneurs can not be painted with the exact brush.

A lot of entrepreneurs are certainly absentee owners — off-Islanders, out-of-staters and in all probability out-of-country, who purchased homes purely for investment decision needs. Normally these houses are dark in wintertime. Frequently, they are also the “problem qualities,” which are rented to unrelated younger men and women, frequently cited for sounds violations. In our Ellery Avenue community, there are two such houses, which are the supply of complaints by the Renfrew Park resident not too long ago featured in the Newport Every day News.

Then there are area house owners, like us. We stay in Portsmouth. We are very a great deal palms-on, and have never had a sounds complaint. We hire to families and mature older people who have good testimonials on VRBO or Airbnb. Our two sons (equally of whom have experienced setbacks) live there 9-furthermore months of the year. The money realized from summer season rentals allows us to pay out the bills for this arrangement. I’m positive there are lots of other nearby landlords with very similar stories.

I hope the city of Middletown will consider the details for each form of landlord, and tier their tax improves accordingly.

Shirley Lally, Portsmouth

This posting at first appeared on Newport Each day News: LETTERS: Professional true estate interests individual Middletown