Latest news with #EvanLaCross
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Roger Wheeler State Beach is a go-to for families. Why it won't be as friendly this summer
NARRAGANSETT – Beachgoers will find their favorite sandy spots a little more cramped when they visit Roger W. Wheeler State Beach this summer. The beach is undergoing a makeover as construction crews replace and expand the boardwalk and build a bulkhead. By the time work is done, the new boardwalk will have doubled in size to nearly 1,200 feet in length and be accessible for people with disabilities. New stairs, sidewalks, shade structures, a foot washing station and concrete benches will also be installed, according to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM). The work, however, will bring some disruptions to beachgoers. Amenities at the beach – among them concessions, lifeguards, restrooms and showers – will open on Saturday, June 14, later than in previous seasons. Until then, the beach will be an active construction site with limited access, according to Evan LaCross, a public affairs officer at DEM. The beach area also will be reduced, with some sections being rocky, according to DEM. 'There will be fenced-off areas along the East and West sides of the beach, extending into the parking lot and beachfront itself to establish safe work zones,' says a DEM page on the construction project. The parking area may also be reduced, DEM warned. It is a popular nesting spot for piping plovers, a protected shorebird. DEM said it would monitor and protect the nesting areas. The work began last August and is scheduled to last until May 2026, with a pause in construction this summer. It is being funded by $3.1 million in federal money from the Land and Water Conservation Fund; $7.5 million from the 2021 Beach, Clean Water and Green Economy Bond; and $150,000 from state capital funds. In total, about $10.7 million, LaCross said. Roger W. Wheeler State Beach is the oldest state beaches in Rhode Island, according to DEM. It was originally known as Sand Hill Cove, a name still used by some locals. The state's ownership of the beach goes back to the Revolutionary War, when the state seized the property from a Tory sympathizer of King George III. Over time, beaches became more popular with Rhode Island's working class. But it wasn't until the 1940s – in the middle of World War II – that the state kicked out a community of squatters who had built illegal structures at the beach. The beach was renamed in 1970 after the late Capt. Roger W. Wheeler, who was credited with creating the Rhode Island State Life-Saving System, a series of stations that assisted ships in distress. These days, Roger W. Wheeler State Beach is known for its fine white sand and calm waters protected by Galilee's breakwaters, making it a popular spot for families with children. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Roger Wheeler State Beach getting a makeover, new boardwalk
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Free PPE available for people at higher risk of bird flu
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Bird flu, or the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), is widely present in Rhode Island's wild waterfowl, according to the Department of Environmental Management (DEM). The DEM told 12 News on Monday that it would likely collect dead birds if an entire flock dies, but the choice to remove a dead bird is largely left up to local animal control officers (ACOs). Dr. Maria Peterson, an assistant professor of animal and veterinary sciences at URI, said if ACOs have the proper personal protective equipment (PPE), it's not a bad idea to dispose of dead birds. 'If [the dead bodies] are being left out, and if they did have highly pathogenic avian influenza, then it could contaminate the environment,' she noted. Community Focus: How does bird flu spread? The Rhode Island Department of Health says animal health responders (those who handle sick or dead animals) are at higher risk when it comes to being exposed to HPAI. In its guide to handling dead birds, the Health Department and DEM advise animal health responders to wear disposable gloves, N95 masks, eye protection and outer work gloves. The guide says birds' bodies should be double-bagged, and the bags should also be sprayed with an EPA-registered antimicrobial product that's effective against HPAI. Once a bird is disposed of, the guide says animal health responders should wash their shoes and clothing too as HPAI spreads easily on contaminated surfaces. RELATED: Bird flu found in southern RI farm flock Through a collaboration between the DEM, Health Department and the R.I. Emergency Management Agency, free PPE is available to anyone who works in areas with higher risk of being exposed to HPAI, including ACOs and farmers. You can submit a PPE request form by clicking here. There could be some hope on the horizon, as the DEM predicts there will be a decline in wild bird deaths in the future. 'At the national level, a significant decline in H5N1 cases typically occurs in the summer, likely because migratory birds have reached their nesting sites, and the hot, dry summer weather helps to break down the virus in the environment,' DEM spokesperson Evan LaCross explained. 'We anticipate seeing this seasonal pattern again.' Download the and apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch or with the new . Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
