Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: How Westerly’s $85M sewer upgrade will hit your wallet

Spotted on the Westerly calendar: RWU Law Providence Law School Fair

Patch AM Team's profile picture
Patch AM Team, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge
Friday September 4th Patch AM
Friday September 4th Patch AM (Patch graphic)

Hey there, Westerly! Let's get started with what's happening in and around town. Read on and stay in the loop. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • How Westerly's $85M sewer upgrade will hit your wallet
  • Can Dunn's Corners and State Street playgrounds truly welcome all kids?
  • How one Westerly mom is turning loss into musical hope for kids

Also on today's calendar: RWU Law Providence Law School Fair and 8 more events.

Today's riddle: Why did the chicken go to the gym? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

  • Friday: Mostly sunny and humid, with a high of 84 and low of 59 degrees.
  • Saturday: A shower or two; not as warm, temps: high: 78, low: 57.
  • Sunday: Partly sunny, with a high of 75 and low of 51 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Westerly wastewater upgrades start, with state financing in place (thewesterlysun.com subscription) — Westerly's long-planned $85 million wastewater treatment upgrade is officially underway, backed by a $45 million low-interest state loan that will shape sewer fees and taxes for years. Local homeowners and sewer users face scheduled increases starting in 2027 as the town modernizes the plant, cuts nitrogen and ammonia discharges into the Pawcatuck River, and boosts flood resilience and reliability through 2029.
   

2. Westerly: Dunn's Corners Playground Lacks Wheelchair Access (upriseri.com) — A Westerly School Committee member says the new playground at Dunn's Corners School can't be reached by children who use wheelchairs and that handicap parking and signage problems remain unresolved after 11 months. He's urging the district to fix access there and ensure the new State Street School playground is fully ADA-compliant, giving families a chance to press the issue at upcoming meetings.
   

3. Westerly mom honors daughter with effort to fund instruments, music lessons for kids (turnto10.com) — A Westerly mother is turning her grief into action by launching Ciara's Bridge to Hope, a nonprofit that funds instruments, lessons, and music therapy for kids who love music. With help from Garden Series concerts in Westerly and a partnership with the United Theatre, she's raising money and awareness to support local children while encouraging open conversations about mental health and suicide.
   

4. Green Report Card Gives Rhode Island's Climate Change Actions Bad Grade (progressive-charlestown.com) — Two Westerly state representatives, Sam Azzinaro and Brian Patrick Kennedy, received D grades for their environmental records in a new statewide "Green Report Card" released just before the primary. The report criticizes Rhode Island's recent climate efforts, faults Governor McKee and state agencies for weak follow-through, and highlights stronger scores for several nearby South County legislators pushing more aggressive climate action.
   

📸 Around Westerly

Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Westerly

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

📣 Westerly Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!

🗓 Events Nearby

    Friday September 4
  • Rhythm and Roots 2026 →
    Ninigret Park, 5 Park Ln, Charlestown
    12:00 pm
  • Free Art Making @ The Space
    Ocean Community Chamber of Commerce The Space 38 High Street, Westerly
    5:30 pm
  • Summer Stargazing Nights - Rhythm and Roots →
    Frosty Drew Observatory and Science Center, Ninigret Park, 62 Park Ln, Charlestown
    6:30 pm
    • Saturday September 5
  • Next Up Music Festival 2026
    Ocean Community Chamber of Commerce Wilcox Park, Westerly RI

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

 

Thank you 👏👏👏 to these businesses for making Westerly PatchAM possible:

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Nextdoor has had me make a business page.
    So all of my business postings must come from there. https://nextdoor.com/page/osw-psychic-readings-witchy-wares-westerly-ri?share_platform=10&utm… (Nextdoor Airport Rd)
  • Burger King posted a job opening for Team Member in Westerly. Apply here.
  • Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. posted a job opening for Crew Member in Westerly. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Westerly here.

Ok Westerly! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: He was working on his pecks (pecs). (Thank you W F C. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

👉 Help make Patch AM better

We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what's happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

Share to NextDoor     Share to Facebook

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

More from Westerly