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Let’s be honest here, if you live, vacation or go to school in Rhode Island, you know of and most likely have frequented the Ocean Mist. And…if you have been to the Mist, chances are you drifted out of the doors to its neighbor,Tara’s Tipperary Tavern, formerly Joyce’s Pub. Both of these establishments have been a staple in the community for many years and have drawn crowds to Matunuck. Not to mention, providing the locals and those that summer there a place to eat, drink and listen to music. Many worldwide acts have graced the stage of the Mist bringing with it awareness of the local community as well as revenue for the economy. Sadly, the town of South Kingstown is looking to construct a seawall that will be built along the road. Note that this will be at the expense of the tax payers. Additionally, this wall will cause irreparable damage to the Ocean Mist and Tara’s, ultimately rendering these locally run establishments inoperable. It addition, those opposed and experts point out that this wall will not provide protection to the road, the water main or the people of Matunuck.
Kevin Finnegan, owner of the Ocean Mist, has offered to pay for the resurrection of the existing seawall. The existing wall has not been maintained and therefore is not providing the necessary protection against erosion. If the existing wall is fortified, experts agree that this will prevent further damage! This will avoid a huge expense to tax payers while allowing the Ocean Mist and Tara’s Tipperary Tavern to continue to draw crowds to the area. Rhode Island thrives on its tourist population which is mainly during the summer season. Where…I mean…WHERE will those that rent houses or stay in local hotels/motels in Matunuck go? Yes, they can travel further to other restaurants, however, the area would change so drastically without these iconic places that there would likely be a decrease in vacationers to Matunuck.
The Ocean Mist and Tara’s have provided a sense of community and an open door to all, let’s repay them for their unwavering hospitality and generosity by showing our support! Read on and and please sign the petition!
Here is the history as stated on www.protectmatunuck.com. PLEASE SIGN AND SHARE!
“Prior to March 2011 The Town of South Kingstown placed an easement on Mary Carpenters land.
September 2011 The Town of South Kingstown applies for permit to construct a 60 foot deep sheet pile wall adjacent to the Ocean Mist along the road.
The Town of South Kingstown gets a State of Rhode Island Tax funded DOT grant for the sheet pile wall (Cost for 202 feet =1.6 million plus 2 million dollars to finish).
In 2011/ 2012, Kevin Finnegan(Ocean Mist), Fran & Tara O’Brien (Tara’s) and other property owners file a lawsuit.
September 17, 2012 Mary Carpenter Passes away.
March 2013 The Town of South Kingstown purchases the land from Mary Carpenters Estate.
Experts, including GZA Engineering and the Towns Engineer (on public record at Town and CRMC meetings) ADMIT the construction of the Towns Sheet Pile Wall will damage the structure of the Ocean Mist.
January 2014 and March 2014 Kevin Finnegan, owner of the Ocean Mist submits an alternative plan to South Kingstown Town Manager Stephen Alfred. The plan seeks to repair the existing Historic wall that has worked for decades and eliminate taxpayers financial obligation.
Appeals with the CRMC are lost
The businesses and community intend to continue to pursue legal avenues to stop the WRONG WALL…
Stop the wrong wall! Keep the Ocean Mist Rockin!
Why is this even up for debate. If the owner of the Ocean Mist is willing to pay for the “correct” sea wall then let him. This will ease our local and tax payers and the saved $$$ can be used by the state for something else that is necessary.
Plus there the fact that the state sea wall will NOT protect any road or structure. Therefore, what is the purpose of building something that doesn’t work, to employ some state contractor that is cahoots with the state? Please, save me the grief. Let’s do the right thing people and come together on this.
STOP THE WRONG WALL!! NOW!!!
STOP THE WRONG WALL LET THE BUSINESSES DO THIER JOBS AND EARN TAXES FOR THE STATE AND A LITTLE FOR THEMSELFS
Stop the wall
STOP THE WRONG WALL~ SUPPORT KEVIN AND ALL THE GOOD HE HAS DONE FOR THE COMMUNITY AND PEOPLE OF MATUNUCK R.I. ,THE PILAR HE IS SHOULD BE AN EXAMPLE TO BE DUPLICATED BY ALL WHO ARE IN GOVERNMENT IN THIS WARM NEW ENGLAND TOWN.STOP THE NON SENCE AND DO THE RIGHT THING ! ROCCO FURANO
Save ocean mist!!!!
Please, please save Our Beloved Ocean Mist! STOP the WRONG WALL!!!
These places are what makes Matunuck worth coming to. Most people grew up here and stayed because the Mist and Tara’s make it worth staying..Year round! Without them, Seaview market, Sk town beach (or whats left of it) and even the Vanilla Bean will not survive. To lose them is isolating Matunuck from the rest of the state an making it nothing but dead end road. Please save the places that make Matunuck so magical and let the State see that the people that live here all want the RIGHT WALL to be Built.
This is not just about the two businesses listed it is about the entire Matunuck community. This involves all those that reside year-round and seasonally. As well as businesses that support the community through increased livability. Keep Matunuck alive and viable. Any decision that has such drastic impact should be reviewed and vetted by more than just “the powers that be”. There is more than just a public works project at stake here. Save Matunuck! Build the right wall.
Say it ain’t so!Tara’s at the the time, The Joyce was Vito and my first place in town when we moved here where {Everyone knew our name} and was always glad ….! And of course we always had to stop at the Mist as well, Save our Beach Bars!
This taxpayer funded wall makes no sense. Rebuild the existing , historical wall at no tax payer expense , and preserve hundreds of local jobs.
My family owned a home on the beach in Matunuck for nearly 30 years. I remember when the wall at Mary Carpenter’s was built – walls like this up and down the South Shore have ruined nearly all of the beaches (except Moonstone). I don’t think any wall should be buiilt, in fact, the wall at Mary’s should be taken down as it only provides protection for a handful of seasonal campers while destroying the natural ebb and flow of sand from one side to the other. The wall at Mary’s has only contributed to erosion at the Town Beach and Ocean Mist.
My sister ‘Tara’ puts everything into Tara’s Tipperary Tavern. She respects & honours the the local community. Stand up for the two bars & the community which is unique. Build the right wall!
stop the wrong wall!! I have spent many summer weekends on the beach of Matunick , ocean mist and Tara’s (Joyce’s pub) best memories ever ! It would be a disservice to this community .
Save the Ocean Mist! Summer wouldn’t be the same without several trips to have breakfast on the deck while enjoying the sound of the surf and the warm sun on your back! Me, my husband and daughters try to get there as many times as possible every summer.
Stop the Wall!
The bigger issue is the CRMC. The Beach Nazis has come to the time for it to end, especially because it serves no purpose other than pissing people off. If they had the chance, they would close all of the shorefront in RI. The CRMC wants what they want and that is an absolute. Convince them they are wrong? Prove them wrong? Show them a better way?
On their state web site they say their purpose is to preserve, protect, develop and restore coastal resources for all Rhode Islanders. Go to the section on Matunuck. 2011, and a bit of 2012. Their minds are made up. Only politics can save the wrong wall and the destruction of the Mist and The Pub.
When, if installed, the wall fails and the road floats away, are they prepared to tell the home owners in Matunuck that rebuilding the road would not be environmentally correct.
As former Rhode Island residents, (Now North Carolina), and now summer visitors to the state, we would greatly miss the existence of Tara’s. There are already too few establishments offering the quality of Irish entertainment that can be found at Tara’s. It is probably one of the best of its kind,offering a laid back, relaxed atmosphere with its weekend sessions. It is an Oasis in the desert of rush and confusion of vacation season. A nostalgic step back in time for members of the Irish community. I cast a strong vote to save this business
I would like to see the right thing done.. save our businesses and build the right wall for all..Tara’s and The Ocean Mist should not be a thing in the past. If the business are supporting in fixing the wall so let them do it and save there business.Storms don’t happen very often. yes they seem to be getting closer and closer every year but it could not happen again in another 20 years.. just saying.. more u play with the ocean in building walls the worst the ocean shifts and works against us..
I have been living in Matunuck for more than 20 years and in the entire time I have been here both the Ocean Mist and Tara’s have been an integral part of the community. Not just as businesses here, but also as places that have become an important center of our close community life here in Matunuck.
I truly hope we can find an alternative way to resolve the problems with erosion on our beaches without a detrimental effect on these businesses we have grown to love. NO WRONG WALL!
I have also stayed at Tara’s, I woke never have visited the area if it wasn’t there. Stop the wrong wall!
Stop the wrong wall…Save the Mist and Tara’s
stop the wall you can’t ruin a piece of heaven
We have a summer place in Narragansett. We are at The Mist and Tara’s a couple times a week. It’s our special place to enjoy the Amazing view and hook up with friends. It’s a unique place!!Do the right thing!!! Stop the wrong wall!!
Why put 2 local businesses out business oh and many people into the unemployment line! Are we not trying to save jobs? Both establishments pay for people’s incomes and help themprovide for their families! If the tides where turned the State would save their jobs!
The best memories I have is as a young adultthrough college living seasonally across the street from Joyce’s, now Tara’s and the Mist at my grandmother’s beach house. Now that cottage has become partially mine now. SAVE THOSE MEMORIES and allow me and all else new ones of Matunuck-Save it! Tell the CRMC to fugg off, it’s them not the town of SK who calls the ultimate shot on anything to do with OUR shoreline. Save MTK!
Save Tara’s and the mist. Such fond memories for so many years. It’s what makes Matunick a great place to visit.
Stop wasting taxpayer money on an ineffective plan! Not only would this wall take away jobs, but it won’t serve a purpose to the neighboring community. How can we waste state tax dollars on such a terrible cause? No brainer.