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The Portsmouth Town Council meets virtually via the Zoom application Monday night, April 21. The top row (from left) shows Town Clerk Jennifer West, Council President Kevin Aguiar and Town Administrator Richard Rainer, Jr. together at Town Hall, and council members Daniela Abbott and J. Mark Ryan videoconferencing from home. In the middle row (from left) are council members Andrew Kelly, Keith Hamilton and Linda Ujifusa. Council member Len Katzman, Human Resources Director Lisa Puglia and Town Solicitor Kevin Gavin (from left) are in the bottom row.

Pandemic may spawn Portsmouth school surplus of $500K to $1M

PORTSMOUTH — The School Department is expected to finish the fiscal year with a surplus between $500,000 and $1 million due to cost savings in services not being provided during the … more

By Jim McGaw | 4/22/20

Grand gesture will light the lights for the Class of 2020

The Bristol Warren school community is planning a symbolic show of support for the Class of 2020 — Mt. Hope High School seniors whose final, should-be triumphant days in school are being wiped … more

4/17/20

Bristol Police: Residents tattle on neighbors for gatherings, soccer, beer pong

The most frequent call for Bristol law enforcement these days is from residents reporting the groups, gatherings and activities of neighbors who might be violating social distancing standards. … more

4/17/20

Bristol raccoon's high-wire act is back

This extremely large and agile resident of an unclear downtown address achieved regional notoriety when a video of his high-wire-walking antics ended up on sports and pop culture blog Barstool, … more

4/17/20

East Providence COVID-19 'hotspot' likely lacked employees, equipment to contend with outbreak

EAST PROVIDENCE — Nursing homes around the state, including one here in city, comprise the bulk of the COVID-19 "hotspots" resulting in a majority of those who have died due to the outbreak... more

By Mike Rego | 4/16/20

The newly released model shows a “blue line” scenario where the state’s healthcare system has enough hospital beds, and a “red line” scenario where it does not.

State releases modeling, with virus peak coming sooner, or later

Gov. Gina Raimondo added two new terms to the growing lexicon of Covid-19 terminology. Along with “social distancing” and “Knock it off,” Rhode Islanders can add “Blue … more

By Scott Pickering | 4/16/20

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

Virtual meeting in Barrington interrupted by hacker

Barrington police are investigating an incident that occurred during a town board's online meeting last week. Town officials contacted police on Thursday, April 9, and reported that someone had … more

4/16/20

Warren Town Solicitor Anthony DeSistor (center) speaks with Warren Town Council member Steve Calenda (right) at a recent council meeting. At left rear is councilor Brandt C. Heckert.

Warren gives residents extra 25 days to pay taxes

The Warren Town Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to extend the grace period for quarterly tax payments an additional 25 days — the long-standing policy prior allowed for five days. As a … more

By Ted Hayes | 4/16/20

Barrington council approves three new car-charging stations

The Barrington Town Council has approved the installation of three electric vehicle charging stations. The council voted to approve the new charging stations during its teleconference meeting on … more

By Josh Bickford | 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

Zoning Board of Appeals Chairman Roger Menard presides over the board’s April 1 meeting from his home.

Remote Westport meetings — still a few kinks

WESTPORT — Remote meetings remain a work in progress, members of the Westport Zoning Board of Appeals discovered during their half hour April 1 session. With three items on the agenda, the … more

By Bruce Burdett | 4/16/20

New EPHS project reaches another milestone

EAST PROVIDENCE — As it rises above the horizon, reaching its anticipated height, it not only serves as a beacon of the city’s future, but now also offers a welcomed respite from the … more

By Mike Rego | 4/15/20

Hathaway Elementary School third-grade teacher Ashley Adamson reads to her class from her basement at home. In addition to running their morning meetings as usual, Ms. Adamson and her co-teacher, special educator Victoria Travis, have sent handwritten cards to their students.

In Portsmouth: Teaching in a time of crisis

PORTSMOUTH — Growing up, Ashley Adamson can remember a chunk of time when she would play in her parents’ basement, pretending to be a teacher. more

By Kristen Ray | 4/15/20

A shopper at Tom’s Market in Tiverton recently. Little Compton’s new Buddy System will match younger shoppers with residents who are worried about or unable to go grocery shopping.

Little Compton volunteers launch grocery Buddy System

LITTLE COMPTON — Those who are worried about grocery shopping or unable to get to the grocery store now have buddies in Little Compton. The Democratic Town Committee this week announced a … more

4/15/20

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

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

The Blount Grande Mariner (foreground) and Grand Caribe (rear) have been offered as isolation housing for medical professionals fighting the Covid-19 virus.

Blount offers ship housing for medical front-liners

Two Warren-based cruise ships could soon take part in the fight against the Covid-19 virus. Blount Small Ship Adventures officials on Friday offered the use of their sister cruise ships, the … more

By Ted Hayes | 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

South Shore Beach, Little Compton (Buzzards Bay Coalition)

Parking ban hits Little Compton's South Shore Beach, Lloyd's Beach, Town Landing

LITTLE COMPTON — Little Compton took action Friday afternoon to prevent parking at South Shore Beach where some report seeing large numbers of cars and lots of people in recent … more

By Bruce Burdett | 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

Police: Car sold, then stolen, now driver is missing

A Barrington resident contacted police on Wednesday, April 1 regarding a civil matter — the resident had sold a car to a man and agreed to assist the man with financing. However, the buyer … more

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

Asher Schofield bags T-shirts for delivery Thursday afternoon. His Frog and Toad store has sold more than 5,000 of them so far.

Knock it Off! Warren T-shirt campaign is a huge hit

Knock it off! Shut it down! Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo’s catch phrases, a plea to residents to stay inside, hunker down and help prevent the spread of the Covid-19 virus, have … more

By Ted Hayes | 4/9/20