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Aftermath- the Documentary
Date and Time
Monday Nov 3, 2014
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM ESTLocation
Granite Theater
Westerly, RI
Contact Information
914-325-5404
Send EmailAftermath- the DocumentaryDescription
Aftermath – the Documentary
New Schedule New Date November 3, 2014
A new and unique view of Storm Sandy’s destructiveness can be seen in the documentary “Aftermath” the destruction and rebuilding of Misquamicut Beach in Westerly, RI. Two showings will be held this fall to commemorate the second anniversary of Storm Sandy striking our community. Sandy was a particularly brutal force destroying miles of beaches along the many barrier islands that lie along the coasts of CT & RI. Harriet Grayson’s “Aftermath” documents the destruction and the slow rebuilding and, more importantly, starts to ask those difficult questions of what is the future of these beaches.
“Aftermath” will be shown on Monday, November 3, 2014 at the Granite Theater in downtown Westerly, RI. The showing begins at 6 pm and will be followed by a discussion of the future of our coastal communities. The showing is FREE but donations will be accepted to benefit the non-profit Granite Theater.
The footage is intertwined with interviews with important stakeholders in the rebuilding of Misquamicut Beach including Chris DiPaola, broadcaster and owner of Westerly-based WBLQ, Caswell Cooke, Jr, the president of the Misquamicut Business Association and a member of the Westerly Town Council, Lisa Konicki, Executive Director of the Westerly-Pawcatuck Chamber of Commerce, Matthew Lewiss Westerly attorney and Misquamicut Beach property owner, and David Prescott of the RI-CT environmental group Save the Bay.
Chris, a radio personality and owner of station WBLQ, spoke about his reporting on that fateful late October day when Storm Sandy struck the coastal communities of southeast CT and southern RI. Chris was on the air after the electricity lines were down and the police had ordered the evacuation of the Misquamicut Beach area. Ms. Grayson recalled how Chris’s melodic voice had kept the Westerly-Pawcatuck-Stonington communities informed about road closures, where shelters were open, where to buy gasoline and groceries, and the local officials used his show to call in with new information. He was acting as town crier and good will ambassador when ordinary citizens were literally left in the dark.
Perspectives from the business community were offered by Mr. Cooke and Ms. Konicki. They all expressed confidence that the Misquamicut Beach community would coming roaring back for the summer of 2013. And they were correct although it was clear that Storm Sandy was potentially only the first messenger of what was to become the “new normal” for all beach communities. Ms. Konicki described the herculean efforts that were coordinated by the Chamber to assist local businesses. They created an impressive business assistance program that financially helped every Misquamciut Beach business that requested help.
Mr. Lewiss described his efforts and those of his neighbors in rebuilding their private properties. The state, federal and insurance representatives were rated for their effectiveness and generally received good marks for responsiveness. What Mr. Lewiss learned was that every homeowner should read their insurance policies including the fine print before a disaster strikes.
Dave Prescott of Save the Bay with an office in downtown Westerly-Pawcatuck, put on his scientific fortune-telling hat and discussed the future of our beautiful coastal communities. Can we ever control Mother Nature? Acknowledging the complexity and sometimes conflicting interests of business, state and local government, and the citizenry, there is not just one answer. Mr. Prescott strongly urged all stakeholders especially local residents to have their voices heard as the state of RI, the Army Corps of Engineers determines how best to maintain the beach community recognizing climate change and a rising tide.
Ms. Grayson’s documentary “Aftermath” looks at the impact of Storm Sandy on Misquamicut Beach as not an isolated incident but one chapter in an evolving book. Many of those interviewed recognized that Storm Sandy was just the beginning. The documentary showed that Misquamicut is not merely a state beach but a thriving business asset not only to those individual business owners but to the state of RI and the taxpayers of Westerly. It is a major economic engine for the town of Westerly, local beach businesses, and the state of RI so that any future actions taken by regulatory agencies will have a rippling effect.
Ms. Grayson is the Host/Producer of a local cable access TV show “Community Culture Showcase” (seen on channel 12 in CT on Tuesdays at 8 pm & in southern RI on channel 18 on Wednesdays at 6 pm). She is a Westerly resident and President of 5 Star Seminars and the independent publishing company, Ocean Breeze Press.
Contact: Harriet Grayson (graysonharriet@gmail.com)
Telephone: 914-325-5404Tell a Friend
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