Narragansetts get water-improvement grant

The Narragansett Indian Tribe will have improved access to vital water services through $20,800 from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service’s Indian Health Service announced $90 million nationwide in “shovel ready” infrastructure projects designed to better protect human and environmental health in Indian country. “We are very proud that the Recovery Act is providing funds for the Narragansett Indian Tribe to improve drinking water services,” said Ira Leighton, acting regional administrator of EPA’s New England office. “This critical work will provide real dividends for the communities, by protecting peoples’ health, bolstering our economy and creating jobs.” The $20,800 in Recovery Act funds will pay for a project to improve drinking water services by funding a corrosion control project to eliminate a current deficiency at the tribe’s Four Winds Building.

S. Kingstown offers volunteer partnership

A new partnership has been formed between SHO Volunteers and the South Kingstown Chamber of Commerce to set up the South Kingstown Community Volunteer Corps. The goal of this partnership is to connect business volunteers to local opportunities. “I have believed in and supported volunteerism for many years here in southern Rhode Island and have enjoyed so many wonderful aspects of our many villages throughout our community’s social fabric,” said Joe Iacoi, executive director of the South Kingstown Chamber of Commerce. “We want to connect volunteers to opportunities and build effective volunteerism through our organization as we grow and become the most active group of business leaders in our town,” he added. The objective of this project is to provide meaningful service experiences to a new wave of volunteers. For example, volunteers are needed for the South Kingstown Chamber of Commerce’s golf ball drop at the Wakefield Rotary’s annual balloon festival or at the Chamber office, supporting daily management activities. Community-based support is needed on a regular basis in schools, local service agencies, museums, art centers, medical facilities, offices and emergency services. To get involved, call Liz Henderson with SHO Volunteers at 789-2362, Monday through Fridays between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.