Did you know that there are 30 Islands in Narragansett Bay? That was my trivia question this week, and it got me thinking  about all of the wonderful things that the Narragansett Bay offers our state.  The Bay’s three largest islands are Aquidneck (Newport), Conanicut (Jamestown), and Prudence, but there are also 30 smaller islands  dotting the Bay.

The Bay provides a quality of life that attracts businesses, industries and more than 12 million visitors each year, generating thousands of jobs and billions of dollars for the regional economy. For commercial fishermen, it is their livlihood, producing about 8 million pounds of quahogs annually, with a value of $6 million. Millions of people in Rhode Island and Massachusetts live, work and play around the Bay. More than 100,000 fishermen and over 32,000 recreational boats cruise the bay each year.

And this got me to thinking about my friend Jonathan Stone at Save The Bay. Founded in 1970, Save The Bay and its supporters work to protect, restore, and explore Narragansett Bay and its watershed. They have enjoyed remarkable success restoring the habitats of over 60 species of fish and shellfish, 200 bird species, and countless seals, dolphins and sea turtles. 

As part of the new long-range plan, Save The Bay is addressing Massachusetts-based pollution with the Massachusetts Project. The project is led by Ira Magaziner and staffed by volunteers, their objective is to  research pollution problems in the Blackstone River region and the Mount Hope Bay, Taunton River, and Fall River region.

 This Week’s Real Estate Insight:

 Save the Bay is one of the great organizations in Rhode Island that really impact all of our residents, and is largely a grass roots organization and relies on volunteers. Save The Bay volunteers come from all ages and backgrounds yet  all share a passion for the  Bay. To find out how you can help save the bay, contact Stephany at 401-272-3540, x130

The RI Fire Safety Code Board of Appeal and Review has postponed fire safety requirements for interconnected smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in three-unit dwellings in the state until Dec. 31, 2010. The Board first extended the deadline until July 1, 2009 to address questions about wireless technology, interpretations of the code, short sale and foreclosures and confusion over other enforcement issues. 

Some inspectors were interpreting the code to require owners of three-unit dwellings to install a separate meter for the new fire safety device instead of drawing from one of the existing meters, this could have forced property owners to spend thousands of dollars to relocate the entire meter bank, according to the Fire Safety Code Board.   The Board, State Fire Marshal, State Building Board, State Building Commissioner, and others worked together to create a solution to avoid undue hardship to owners of existing three-unit dwellings.

 The Rhode Island Association of Realtors  is working with the State Fire Marshal’s Office to organize training about the revised interpretation. click here to read Interpretation : http://www.ri.gov/RIFSC/interpretations/int_details.php?id=168&agency=FSC.

Contact the Fire Safety Code Board of Appeal and Review at (401) 462-0940 if you have any questions.