City & Government

PROVIDENCE, RI – With Governor Dan McKee proclaiming October as Farm to School Month across Rhode Island, the Department of Environmental Management (DEM) is announcing a $260,000 United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm to School grant award. The statewide proclamation aligns with National Farm to School Month, which Congress designated in 2010 as an annual showcase of food education, school gardens, and lunch trays filled with nutritious, local ingredients. The award will provide Rhode Island Farm to School (RIF2S) funding allowing the network to boost local procurement for Rhode Island schools, hire a full-time Farm and Sea to School Coordinator, and expand funding for the RIF2S Network which has expanded the RIF2S network throughout Rhode Island.
“As a dad and the husband of a teacher, I know the importance of having fresh, local fruits and vegetables in our schools,” Governor McKee said. “That’s why as Governor, I’m honored to proclaim October as Farm to School Month. Thanks to our very strong public-private food system partnership, school districts across Rhode Island are buying and serving locally-grown produce while ensuring high nutrition standards at the same time. Encouraging kids to eat healthier while supporting local farmers is a win-win. It also makes our food supply chain more resilient. I’m proud of the progress we’re making.”
“Food, nutrition, and gardening education programs empower students to make informed choices, form lifelong healthy habits, improve eating behaviors, and enhance academic achievement – so, obtaining this USDA Farm to School grant award is a very big deal and a tribute to the effectiveness of all partners involved in the endeavor,” said DEM Director Terry Gray. “The fact that RIF2S also helps local farmers and stimulates the Rhode Island economy makes it a win on every level.”
“We are thrilled to work together with our partners to expand Rhode Island Farm to School and bring nutritious meals to all children, regardless of their zip code,” said Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Angélica Infante-Green. “Thank you to Rhode Island’s farmers, educators, and wellness advocates who help our children learn, grow, and thrive. We look forward to the great impact these new RIF2S investments will have on our school communities.”
“Rhode Island’s small farms, fishers, and local food producers have taken advantage of the ‘buy local’ movement through farmers markets and CSAs. However, they face barriers to accessing institutional markets which offer more consistent and high volume sales but require standardized products, connections to certain distributors, and for K-12, strict nutrition requirements to meet national school lunch standards,” said CommerceRI Director of Food Strategy Julianne Stelmaszyk. “We look forward to partnering with DEM and RIDE to hire the State’s first Farm & Sea to School Coordinator to provide important value chain coordination, build stronger connections across the supply chain, and support school food service operators in identifying strategies to serve more locally grown, caught, and harvested food in schools. This a clear win for our kids and our small businesses.”
“Farm Fresh Rhode Island is excited to work with DEM and the RI Farm to School Network to continue to build strong relationships between schools and the local food system,” said Farm Fresh Rhode Island Co-Executive Director Jesse Rye. “Forging transparent sourcing relationships helps to ensure that local farmers, fishers, and food makers play a significant role in providing nutritious school meals to Rhode Island’s students. Local food in schools contributes to a more resilient supply chain that is better for the environment and bolsters local economies.”
“We’re seeing a growing interest for Farm to School in communities across the state. Families, students, and educators are becoming more knowledgeable about where their food come from along with its economic and environmental impact,” said RI Healthy Schools Coalition Co-Director Karin Wetherill. “There’s always excitement when local fresh foods are prepared and served in school cafeterias. They taste great, after all!”
The RIF2S Project began in 1999 with the goal of improving children’s nutrition, support sustainable agriculture, and preserve open space and the quality of Rhode Island’s environment by integrating locally grown foods into school cafeterias.
Recently, farm to school at the statewide level has been re-energized through the creation of the Rhode Island Farm to School Network. It’s a joint initiative of DEM, the Rhode Island Department of Education, Rhode Island Healthy Schools Coalition, CommerceRI Director of Food Strategy, and Farm Fresh Rhode Island (FFRI). In the past two years, the RIF2S network has worked to engage partners to develop, expand, and strengthen local procurement, education, and gardening initiatives through unified advocacy, organization, and funding to address the growth and sustainability of a statewide program. The RIF2S network seeks to engage partners across the state to develop, expand, and strengthen local purchasing, education, and gardening initiatives and welcomes individuals from the school, farm/food producer, and community sectors to join.
With the announcement of this new funding comes new priorities and partners are especially committed to increasing local procurement.
The new funding will be mobilized to support the following three key objectives:
o Hire a Farm and Sea to School Coordinator to address distribution barriers to increasing procurement of locally produced, caught, and harvested foods and to increase engagement with members of the RI Farm to School Network from underserved and underrepresented communities.
o Establish a comprehensive action plan to provide a road map to expand access to local food and agricultural education across all school districts in Rhode Island.
o Energize and engage a broader and more diverse group of farmers, fishers, and food producers to solve distribution barriers that limit the ability of schools to source more regionally produced foods.
To celebrate a yearly Farm to School tradition, the 2022 RIF2S network’s “Apple Crunch” event will take place on Wednesday, Oct. 19, when students across Rhode Island will set their watches for 12 PM and bite into locally grown apples! Classrooms and cafeterias or school groups anywhere can participate by registering online to get an Apple Crunch Celebration Guide with ideas on how to assemble a planning team, source local apples, incorporate farm to school education, and promote activities. Share videos and photos on social media with #RIAppleCrunch22.
If you are passionate about Rhode Island Farm to School and connecting children with locally grown and nutritious foods, please visit and get involved by visiting the Rhode Island Farm to School Network at www.rifarmtochool.org. There are many events and fun filled resources to explore!
For more information about DEM divisions and programs, visit www.dem.ri.gov or follow us on Facebook, Twitter (@RhodeIslandDEM), or Instagram (@rhodeisland.dem) for timely updates.

PROVIDENCE, RI – The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) is advising the public that it will begin removing standing dead trees in the Browning Mill section of Arcadia Management Area, Exeter, on Thursday, Oct. 13, weather permitting. The trees are deciduous, including ash, pine, spruce, oak, maple, and evergreen and have been damaged by fungal and insect pathogens. This project will help strengthen the overall health of the immediate forest and wildlife habitat, reduce fire risk, protect the water quality of nearby Browning Mill Pond, and help manage stormwater runoff.
This is not a clear-cutting project. DEM foresters have strategically selected the trees to be removed and the work will be done by Rhode Island-licensed arborists at North-Eastern Tree Service under the supervision of the DEM Division of Agriculture and Forest Environment (DAFE), which manages 40,000 acres of state-owned rural forestland. Due to the potential hazards associated with tree removal, DEM asks users of this popular recreational area to exercise caution while the work is underway. For more information, please contact DAFE at 401-539-2356.
DEM is developing an outreach effort on timber harvesting and tree removal projects, including the one planned at Arcadia, to make community members and local officials aware of planned cutting operations on state-owned management areas and to improve the public’s understanding of the benefits of forest stewardship for wildlife habitat, forest health, and public safety. The targeted audience includes local officials, neighbors/homeowners, management area users such as hunters, anglers, and hikers, and other recreational partners.
For more information on DEM programs and initiatives, visit www.dem.ri.gov. Follow DEM on Facebook, Twitter (@RhodeIslandDEM), or Instagram (@rhodeisland.dem) for timely updates.

PROVIDENCE, RI– Secretary of State Nellie M. Gorbea is reminding Rhode Islanders that they have until Tuesday, October 18, to submit a mail ballot application to their local board of canvassers for the statewide general election on November 8.
Mail ballot applications must be received by Tuesday, October 18, not postmarked. Voters may place applications in the mail or drop them off in person at their local board of canvassers. Addresses for all boards of canvassers can be found on the back of the mail ballot application.
“Voting by mail is a safe and secure option for casting your ballot,” said Secretary Gorbea. “I strongly encourage all Rhode Islanders that wish to vote from home with a mail ballot to put their applications in the mail at least a week before the deadline to ensure they are received in time.”
The Department of State has partnered with public libraries throughout Rhode Island to make mail ballot applications available. Registered voters may also access a mail ballot application by visiting vote.ri.gov or by contacting the Department of State’s Elections Division at 401-222-2340 or elections@sos.ri.gov.
Voters who do not return their mail ballot application by the October 18 deadline, or those who prefer to vote in person can still vote in person, either early or on Election Day. Early voting will be available during regular municipal business hours from October 19 through 4:00 p.m. on November 7. Voters may contact their local board of canvassers for details on early voting. Voters choosing to vote on Election Day should go to vote.ri.gov to check their polling place information.
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La Secretaria Gorbea les Recuerda a los Habitantes de Rhode Island de la fecha límite del 18 de octubre
Para Presentar las Solicitudes Para Votar por Correo
PROVIDENCE, RI – La Secretaria de Estado Nellie M. Gorbea les recuerda a los habitantes de Rhode Island que tienen hasta el martes, 18 de octubre, para presentar sus solicitudes para votar por correo para las Elecciones Generales del 8 de noviembre.
Las solicitudes para votar por correo deben ser recibidas por su junta local de elecciones, a más tardar el martes 18 de octubre y no llevar matasellos. Los votantes deben entregar sus solicitudes personalmente a su junta local de elecciones o enviarlas por correo. Las direcciones de las juntas locales de elecciones, las puede encontrar en la parte posterior de la solicitud para votar por correo.
“Votar por correo es una forma segura de emitir su voto”, dijo la Secretaria Gorbea. “Yo recomiendo encarecidamente a todos los habitantes de Rhode Island que desean votar desde casa con una papeleta de votación por correo, que envíen sus solicitudes para votar por correo por lo menos una semana antes de la fecha límite, para así asegurarse que sean recibidas a tiempo”.
El Departamento de Estado se ha asociado con las bibliotecas públicas alrededor de Rhode Island para hacer que las solicitudes de votación por correo se encuentren disponibles. Los votantes registrados también pueden acceder a las solicitudes de votación por correo visitando vote.ri.gov o comunicándose con la División de Elecciones del Departamento de Estado al 401-222-2340 o a elections@sos.ri.gov.
Aquellos votantes que no devuelvan sus solicitudes para votar por correo antes de la fecha límite del 18 de octubre o aquellos votantes que prefieran votar lo pueden hacer, ya sea votando por adelantado en persona o en el Día de las Elecciones. La votación por adelantado en persona estará disponible durante el horario regular municipal de atención al público desde el 19 de octubre hasta el 7 de noviembre. Los votantes pueden comunicarse con su junta local de elecciones para obtener más detalles sobre la votación por adelantado en persona. Los votantes que elijan votar en el Día de las Elecciones pueden visitar vote.ri.gov para verificar la información de sus locales de votación.

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PROVIDENCE, RI – The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) is excited to announce that Rhody Critter Kits are back for another year. Educational resources for K-8 educators organized thematically into learning modules, Critter Kits contain lesson plans, activities, videos, hands-on learning guides, and other fun-filled resources developed by the DEM Division of Fish and Wildlife’s Wildlife Outreach staff. The kits emphasize native wildlife species, conservation work, and management practices.
“Rhody Critter Kits have been designed to connect elementary-age students to the wildlife resources right in their own backyards and communities, as well as spread awareness about wildlife conservation work in Rhode Island,” said DEM Director Terry Gray. “I appreciate the effort, creativity, and sense of fun that our Wildlife Outreach team put into making these vibrant materials, and am particularly proud that our team developed them to conform with Next Generation Science Standards. Science is central to our lives and DEM hopes that Critter Kits will spark an interest in today’s students to solve problems, tinker, build things, tear things apart, and explore outside.”
“In our Rhody Critter Kits, we included video interviews with our biologists and fun virtual field trips to give students a behind-the-scenes look at conservation work in action,” said Wildlife Outreach Coordinator Mary Gannon. “We’ve also included resources and suggestions on how teachers and students can get involved and help wildlife right in their own schoolyards, backyards, and communities. Whether it’s submitting an observation of a frog through the DEM HerpObserver app or planting native plants in your school garden, there are lots of ways educators can create direct connections to our wildlife and contribute to conservation. These resources aren’t just for classroom teachers, either. We encourage informal educators, homeschooling families, scouting groups, and other groups interested in Rhode Island’s wildlife to check them out! We also have partnered with the RI Office of Library and Information Services to provide a set of kits for children’s librarians.”
DEM Wildlife Outreach staff have developed five kits: Feathered Friends, Bat Chat, Keeping the Balance, Scales and Slime, and Home Sweet Habitat. Kits are available to borrow, free of charge, for two weeks at a time. To reserve a kit, visit www.dem.ri.gov/critterkits to view available dates and then fill out the reservation form to request a kit. Once your reservation has been confirmed, your kit may be picked up any time during your reservation period. Educators in the Providence, Bristol, and Kent Counties may borrow kits through the Washington Park Library in Providence. Educators in Washington and Newport Counties may borrow kits through the DEM Division of Fish and Wildlife’s Great Swamp Headquarters in West Kingston. Librarians should reserve kits through the OLIS Equipment Catalog. All written resources are available online for use anytime by visiting the Critter Kits website.
The Rhody Critter Kits program is made possible through support from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Wildlife & Sport Fish Restoration (WSFR) Program and State Wildlife Grants (SWG) from hunting licenses, permits, and excise taxes on firearms, ammunition, and archery equipment. Monies are allocated each year to DEM through the WSFR Program to fund wildlife research, monitoring, habitat acquisition and restoration, wildlife outreach programs, and aquatic resource and hunter education courses. Additional funds from the SWG Program are allocated to support conservation and outreach efforts for Rhode Island’s Species of Greatest Conservation Need.
For additional questions about Rhody Critter Kits and Wildlife Outreach Program, please email mary.gannon@dem.ri.gov.
For more information on DEM programs and services, visit www.dem.ri.gov. Follow DEM on Twitter (@RhodeIslandDEM), Facebook, or Instagram (@rhodeisland.dem and @ri.fishandwildlife).