Save Misquamicut Beach event

Misquamicut, a favorite summertime playground for many southern New Englanders, suffered the ocean state’s worst of hurricane sandy and now the community is coming together to rebuild this Westerly Beach properties. 

Lisa Konicki from the Greater Westerly Chamber of Commerce and local artist, Finn Moran, joined The Rhode Show to talk about an upcoming event.

There has been an outpouring of local support in our effort to rebuild. The Jump Start Small Business Recovery Grant Fund was established by the Greater Westerly Chamber Foundation in response to Hurricane Sandy’s devastation of Misquamicut Beach. The Misquamicut business community suffered an estimated $14 million in damages.

There will be events all weekend long including ongoing fundraising initiatives to help rebuild from Hurricane Sandy’s devastation.

The event is called Bring Back the Beach Weekend. It begins on Friday, Dec. 7, with a multi-band concert at the Knickerbocker Café.

The concert begins at 7 p.m., and the $15 cover charge will be donated to the Jump Start Small Business Recovery Grant Fund. On Saturday, the ocean community YMCA Westerly Pawcatuck branch will host a family day of summer-type fun from 4 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Activities include swimming, a giant bounce house, beach blanket bingo, sumo wrestling, face painting, sea shell ornament decorating, and a karaoke dance party.

Donations are $5 per child, $3 per adult, or $10 per family. Wrapping up the weekend is Sunday’s Misquamicut Beach Benefit, hosted by The Malted Barley, Perks & Corks, and The Twisted Vine.

The day-long event begins at 2 p.m. and features live music, food by local restaurants, and a silent art auction of works by local artists. Admission is by donation, with donations of $20 or more providing a raffle ticket for special grand prize.

Artist, Finn Moran, created many paintings of logos of the businesses that have been hurt.  She has painted a small miniature snack stand to replicate Sam’s Snack Bar that was washed away in the storm.  Hot dogs will be served from that mini stand this Saturday at the YMCA event.  She has also painted a beach buggy that will be used to cart kids around for rides during the event.