Don't Miss RIPBS Show "Our Town: North Kingstown" Wednesday Night

For months, a crew from Rhode Island PBS who teamed up with a group of thoughtful and motivated locals from North Kingstown put their noses to the grist mill.

The fruit of that effort comes to life tonight at 8:30 p.m. on Rhode Island PBS with the premiere of “Our Town: North Kingstown.”

It’s a documentary that features 15 segments inspired by stories told by locals who volunteered their time to guide the camera’s lens through the town’s historical sites and into the lives of many who make North Kingstown the unique and distinct community it is.

The Our Town: series aims to tell the stories of Rhode Island cities and towns through the voice of people who call these places home.

“These stories have been woven together into a visual tapestry of nostalgia, humor, enterprise, history, even a surprise or two, all representing life in North Kingstown through the eyes of those who know and love it,” a RIPBS blog post previewing the show states.

There are stories about the North Kingstown Community Chorus, who started as a group of people hoping to find an outlet for their singing that has blossomed into a 100-member strong musical powerhouse for all ages.

Another segment, “Old Salt,” brings viewers the story of John Bradley, who rigs sails and restores old sailboats. He’s still missing his “old Scottie,” a boat lost in Hurricane Irene.

Follow along the town’s Harbor Master, poke around the Little Red Schoolhouse, listen to 101-year-old Alvin Noss describe his childhood in Slocum.

And all the great things the town has to offer: the Wickford Art Festival, the Gilbert Stuart Museum, Smith Castle and of course, historic Wickford Village all come to life.

It’s been a great experience,” said Margie O’Brien, producer of Our Town. “The warmth, hospitality, and genuine enthusiasm we were shown during this project was as inspiring as it was informative and entertaining.”

“The film does a great job showcasing North Kingstown’s charm and natural beauty, too,” said Jodi Mesolella, Our Town project director. “We’re looking forward to sharing the stories of Our Town: North Kingstown with all of Rhode Island on September second.”

Part fund-raiser, part community builder, part historical and cultural documentary, and part “day-in-the-life” video scrapbook, Our Town: North Kingstown is the second documentary in the Our Town series. The first film, Our Town: Glocester, will be shown at 7 p.m. on September 2, just before the premiere of the new film.

For information about joining the Rhode Island PBS Our Town project, visit ripbs.org/ourtown, or call Jodi Mesolella (project director) at 401-222-3636, extension 209, Margie O’Brien (producer) at extension 225, or email ourtown@ripbs.org.

Rhode Island PBS can be found on Cox channel 8 or 1008 for HD, Verizon channel 8 or 508 for HD (18 and 518 in Mass.) and on DirectTV channel 36.

It can also be viewed over the air on digital channel 36.1.

Check out a promo of the show below: