10 Ways to Celebrate Earth Day All Year Long

Here are some eco-friendly ways to celebrate Earth Day any day!

  Founded in 1970 in the U.S. as a day of education about environmental issues, Earth Day is now a globally celebrated holiday. More than one billion people in 192 countries will observe the 43rd anniversary of Earth Day, according to the Earth Day Network. Although Earth Day is a great reminder to be environmentally conscious, there are plenty of simple ways you can celebrate the earth all year long. Here are just 10 ways you can be eco-friendly long after Earth Day is over: 1. Plant a tree. Planting a tree is perhaps the most common Earth Day activity, but you can plant a tree any day of the year. Trees produce oxygen and help reduce air pollution. A single tree can absorb 10 pounds of air pollutants a year, and produce nearly 260 pounds…

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House Hunt

House Hunt

Check out these open houses happening this weekend in North Kingstown.

Itching to do some house hunting? Want to know what open houses are going on this weekend? Check North Kingstown Patch each week for our roundup of select open houses every weekend. We've featured a handful of this weekend's houses here. Click here for the complete list of open houses and full look at properties for sale in North Kingstown. If you're a local real estate agent and have open houses in North Kingstown, we'd love to feature your listings. Email Samantha Turner at Samantha.Turner@patch.com for more details. Also, feel free to add your own listing by clicking the "upload" button!

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Police Identify Sunday Crash Victims

Madeline Healey, 18, and Michael Ruggieri, 19, of North Kingstown, died when the pickup truck they were in flipped over on Shippeetown Road in the early morning.

East Greenwich Police have identified the four people involved in the rollover crash early Sunday on Shippeetown Road that killed two. According to the press release issued Monday evening, Nicholas Whiteley, 21, of North Kingstown, was driving the vehicle when it crashed. He and passenger Christopher T. Mortin, 19, of North Kingstown, are being treated at Rhode Island Hospital. Madeline E. Healey, 18, and Michael D. Ruggieri,  19, both of North Kingstown, were pronounced dead at the scene. The crash took place at around 3:45 a.m. in front of 476 Shippeetown Road between Division and Middle roads. Police said the vehicle had been traveling south on Shippeetown Road when it struck two boulders on the east side of the road, "became airborne …

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NKHS Girls' Volleyball: Skippers Look to Make Waves

For Victoria Tefft, the primary objective is always to improve. Every practice, every game, every match, every season.

Considering the fact that her NKHS girls’ volleyball team fell just one match short of playing for the state championship last fall, the 2011 season begins with the bar set high. The Skippers began last season at 2-4, but then rolled off five wins in seven matches before falling to Coventry in an emotional 3-0 loss in the state semifinal. This year, Coach Victoria Tefft returns with a young but talented squad.  “We lost some really important players so we are a little young as far as experience goes,” Tefft said. “That’s going to be a huge factor for us, is how we’re going to develop.”  Of the five players lost to graduation last year, none will be missed more than the dominant outside hitter Annie Ragan, a two-time first-team all-stater …

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Irene Expected to Make Early Arrival

Forecasters are now saying that Hurricane Irene will be arriving in southern New England Sunday morning instead of Sunday night.

Forecasters at the National Weather Service are now predicting that Hurricane Irene will hit the region Sunday morning rather than Sunday evening. Effects from the storm will be felt later tonight, as well. Wickford Middle School, the Red Cross shelter in town, will open early at 6:30 p.m. tonight. Strong to damaging winds are still expected throughout the region, likely resulting in "widespread damage with downed trees and power outages." Rainfall amounts could be in the five- to ten-inch range in parts of the state. According to the National Weather Service, for those under the hurricane warning (like southern Rhode Island): Now is the time to rush to complete preparations for the protection of life and property. Evacuate if directed to …

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Girls' Co-Op Hockey Team Comes Up For Vote With NK School Committee

Could girls hockey be getting a team of their own?

The dream of a high school ice hockey team for girls in North Kingstown, Narragansett and South Kingstown is now just one final vote away from becoming a reality. The proposed team, which would be a cooperative between the three high schools, faces its final hurdle on Tuesday night, Aug. 23. That’s when the North Kingstown School Committee will vote on whether to approve the interscholastic team.  Approvals have already been granted by the school committees in South Kingstown and Narragansett. In NK, the team has the full support of Athletic Director James Marcello.  “Forming this team creates an excellent opportunity for the students in all three schools to get involved with a new sport,” Marcello said.  The idea for the team was …

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NK Riptide Falls To Apponaug In Pawtucket

Apponaug's four-run third inning proves to be the deciding factor in the teams' second game of the 12 and under Summer Smash tournament.

PAWTUCKET -- The North Kingstown Riptide 12-years old and under girl’s softball team was bested by Apponaug, 6-1, Saturday afternoon in Pawtucket, in the latest round of the Summer Smash softball tournament. Apponaug took advantage of North Kingstown’s mental lapses in the field and scored four runs in the top of the third inning to pull ahead. Keara Pedroso singled in two runs to begin the rally, but back-to-back errors in the infield for Riptide pushed across two more for Apponaug. “You’ve always got to take advantage of the other team’s mistakes,” Apponaug manager Rick Hough said. “If we did it, they would have to take advantage of the mistakes. When they make an error we have to capitalize on it and work towards the next one.” There …

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