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Bristol Fire Marshal Robert Ferguson (left) and Fire Chief Michael DeMello demonstrate the full package of protective gear they use if responding to a call with a known or suspected Covid-19 patient.

Business as usual at the fire department (not really)

Everything is normal at the Bristol Fire Department — understanding, of course, that absolutely nothing in life is normal these days. Firefighters and paramedics are still responding to … more

By Scott Pickering | 4/16/20

Letter: Thankfully, our Presidential leadership gives us hope

Why do so many intelligent, successful people support our president? In the face of never-ending, wacky, and unsubstantiated claims as illustrated in Thomas Browns’s letter (“ These days, … more

4/16/20

A window on Roosevelt Drive in Bristol offers bears for the hunters — and hope for the future.

Bear hunters take to the streets in Bristol and Warren

Inspired by the Michael Rosen book, “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt,” and motivated by the need for something — anything — to do with restless little ones who do not understand why their playdates and playground visits have been cancelled, bears (and other creatures) have been popping up in windows across America and beyond. more

By Christy Nadalin | 4/16/20

Gov. Gina Raimondo talks about the new order requiring all employees in customer-facing businesses to wear face coverings.

Governor mandates face coverings for all ‘customer-facing’ businesses

Gov. Gina Raimondo’s daily press briefing included the announcement of a new executive order, to take effect this Saturday, April 18. It will require all “customer-facing” … more

By Christy Nadalin | 4/14/20

Letter: Please help postal employees stay safe

To the editor: During these challenging times, postal employees are working hard to ensure residents stay connected with their world through the mail. Whether it’s medications, a package, … more

4/10/20

Raimondo: Six more deaths, 288 new cases of coronavirus

There were six more deaths, 288 new cases and 169 people reported to be in the hospital in relation to the coronavirus, announced Gov. Gina Raimondo during her daily briefing Friday afternoon. That … more

4/10/20

Bristol Police: Residents reporting gatherings and groups all over town

For the second straight week, criminal activity was light, but calls about groups and small gatherings were a frequent occurrence. Following are Bristol Police calls from March 30 to April 5. … more

4/10/20

Letter: Churches need your support during this crisis

As a member of many organizations, I receive invoices via my mail carrier to continue my membership. Often these invoices ask for additional funds at my discretion to help with building maintenance, … more

4/10/20

Victor Goglia hands the last of Goglia’s Market’s legendary grinders to Sue Rohrman of State Street on Thursday, April 2.

After 102 years, Goglia’s Market is closing down

For more than a century, Goglia’s Market has been serving fresh meat and staples in the Wood Street neighborhood of Bristol. It was established in 1918 by Peter Goglia, the grandfather of … more

By Christy Nadalin | 4/10/20

Town by town, virus surge continues — the local count

Led by East Providence with 49, then Barrington with 17, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases continues to rise in the East Bay, as in the rest of Rhode Island. Next door in Westport there … more

4/10/20

Brody, now 10 weeks old, sits atop one of the painted rocks at Mt. Hope High School, where he will be frequently be reporting for duty as a comfort/therapy (once schools reopen to students).

Officer Brody, reporting for duty in Bristol

Earlier this week Bristol welcomed the youngest, smallest and by far cutest officer in the history of the town’s police force. Brody, a 10-week-old chocolate labrador retriever, was formally … more

By Scott Pickering | 4/9/20

DEM, Marine association provides boating community with virus guidelines

PROVIDENCE — The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and the Rhode Island Marine Trades Association last week issued the following guidance regarding the safe operation of … more

4/9/20

Gov. Gina Raimondo talks about a new executive order that authorizes fines for those not following the state's isolation or home quarantine directives.

State adds teeth (fines) to quarantine measures; governor says surge is weeks away

The State of Rhode Island is getting more serious about its orders for people to stay in isolation or self-quarantine during the coronavirus pandemic. Earlier today, Gov. Gina Raimondo signed an … more

By Scott Pickering | 4/9/20

Bernie Lambrese (left) takes delivery from Paul Mancieri of Leo’s.

Bristol volunteers and donors are sending 5-star meals to hospital workers

The effort started a couple of weeks age, when Bristol resident Bernie Lambrese, a longtime healthcare entrepreneur, saw a news story about an effort in Washington, D.C. to get delicious meals to … more

By Christy Nadalin | 4/9/20

Letter: ‘Parent rebates’ editorial makes no sense at all

Last week’s editorial makes the strange suggestion that because the schools are closed now, the Town should rebate the equivalent cost of running these schools to the parents of the students. … more

4/9/20

The Town Crier leads the 2019 Bristol Fourth of July Parade.

Bristol scaling down Fourth parade, most events are postponed

Here’s what they know so far … There is a 2020 chief marshal for the nation’s oldest, continuous Independence Day celebration, but that person will not be announced until the … more

By Scott Pickering | 4/9/20

Letter: These days, the Presidential failings are magnified

I have been saying for several years that we — America — are in trouble because we seem unable to do well even the most fundamental things, such as maintain adequate streets, roads, and … more

4/8/20

Governor Raimondo announces 220 more coronavirus cases, 143 people now in the hospital at her April 8 briefing.

Raimondo: Five more die, cases in ‘rapid spread’

Rhode Island is at a “big clip of increase … in the rapid spread phase” of the coronavirus outbreak, Governor Gina Raimondo said at her daily briefing Wednesday (2:30 p.m. today), … more

By Bruce Burdett | 4/8/20

Friends do a birthday drive-by for Alan Leach on Friday.

A birthday surprise for their middle school buddy

Not even a global pandemic could rain on Alan Leach’s parade Friday night. Though the 14-year-old was disappointed he could not celebrate his birthday like usual — getting ice cream … more

By Kristen Ray | 4/8/20

Owner Phil Kinder (right) and Kirby Dwyer, at the finishing stage of constructing shield masks, which are first sanitized, and then boxed up for delivery to Rhode Island hospitals.

Bristol businesses churning out thousands of shield masks

Like everyone else, Phil Kinder has been both captivated and impacted by the coronavirus taking over all aspects of daily life. And he heard the call, day after day, from state leaders asking private … more

By Scott Pickering | 4/3/20

Gov. Gina Raimondo (right) speaks during Friday's coronavirus briefing.

State encourages people to wear cloth-based face coverings in public

PROVIDENCE — Rhode Islanders are now being encouraged by the state to wear cloth-based face coverings in public, Nicole Alexander-Scott, director of the R.I. Department of Health, said … more

By Jim McGaw | 4/3/20

Bristol Police: Residents report kids playing, groups gathering, all over town

The Bristol Police log saw a noticeable increase in residents calling to report their neighbors or strangers gathering, playing or congregating in public. Police officers also arrested a Barrington … more

4/3/20

Editorial: Parents deserve rebates for distance learning

Parents are integral to the success of Rhode Island’s distance learning programs, and they too should be recognized, and compensated, for their significant contributions. Consider the … more

4/3/20

Gov. Gina Raimondo and her husband, Andy Moffit, adopted a casual tone to talk to Rhode Island children on Thursday.

Governor talks to kids, reveals Easter Bunny is an ‘essential worker’

Gov. Gina Raimondo debuted a new look, new format and new co-star in her Thursday coronavirus briefing, and she steered the hour-long session to a new audience — kids. The governor and her … more

By Scott Pickering | 4/2/20

Virus cases continue to rise in RI: April 2 town-by-town numbers

On a day that saw 91 new coronavirus cases in Rhode Island, for a total of 657, cases in East Bay towns continue to rise as well. The Thursday, April 2, town-by town numbers, as reported by the RI … more

4/2/20