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Police: Drugs found in Tiverton man’s vehicle after stop

PORTSMOUTH — A 29-year-old Tiverton man was charged with manufacturing/possessing/delivering a controlled substance shortly before 3 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 27. According to police, patrol … more

1/29/24

Clements’ Marketplace owner Tracy Anthony speaks in opposition to a plan to create a roundabout in front of her Portsmouth grocery store during a public forum last month. The ability to speak at public meetings is a New England tradition that goes back centuries.

New report on government access – How does your town rate?

One law governs public meetings in Rhode Island, yet seemingly no two public meetings are the same. A sweeping analysis of “public comment” rules by the American Civil Liberties Union … more

By Scott Pickering | 1/26/24

Portsmouth Police charge man with 3rd-degree sexual assault

PORTSMOUTH — A 19-year-old Newport man was arrested last week and charged with three counts of third-degree sexual assault. According to police, the arrest came after officers checked … more

1/25/24

St. Mary Academy-Bay View names 2023-24 first semester honor roll

St. Mary Academy-Bay View principal Dr. Marcela Rossi is proud to announce 200 students made the honor roll for the fall 2023 semester. This academic distinction recognizes the dedication of students … more

1/24/24

The St. Mary Academy-Bay View Players presented their production of Disney's “The Little Mermaid” last weekend, including a scene with Zara Jean as "Sebastian."

Gallery: Bay View Players present Disney's 'The Little Mermaid'

The St. Mary Academy-Bay View Players presented their production of Disney's “The Little Mermaid” over four performances last weekend, January 18-20. Saturday's events included a … more

Photos by Julie Furtado | 1/24/24

Supporters of the transfer station say they like the convenience it offers, with several different bins for glass and plastics, yard waste, construction debris, bulky waste, and more.

Portsmouth will also issue RFP to keep transfer station as is

PORTSMOUTH — Fans of the transfer station finally got what they wanted at Monday night’s Town Council meeting. Before a crowd of about 200 in the Portsmouth High School auditorium, … more

By Jim McGaw | 1/23/24

The intersection of East Main Road and Turnpike Avenue (looking south) where the roundabout is being proposed. The main entrance to Clements’ Marketplace is at left.

Roundabout update: Portsmouth roadwork delayed a year

PORTSMOUTH — The R.I. Department of Transportation (RIDOT) says it’s still committed to major roadway improvements to East Main Road, but due to controversy over a proposed roundabout the … more

By Jim McGaw | 1/22/24

RIDOT Director Peter Alviti speaks during a press conference held Monday afternoon, Jan. 22.

RIDOT issues first Washington Bridge update in 10 days, doesn't rule out complete westbound replacement

Gov. Dan McKee and Rhode Island Department of Transportation Director Peter Alviti gave an impromptu update on the status of the Washington Bridge during a news conference called Monday afternoon, … more

By Mike Rego | 1/22/24

File photo of temporary LNG vaporization facility on Old Mill Lane.

Jan. 24 hearing in Portsmouth on LNG facility is canceled

PORTSMOUTH — Citing improper notification of abutters, the R.I. Energy Facility Siting Board (EFSB) has canceled next week’s hearing on the proposed permanent installation of Rhode … more

By Jim McGaw | 1/19/24

Wyatt Zani, 16, poses next to his 1977 Volkswagen van, which he and his dad transformed into an electric vehicle after many months of work in their home garage. He gets about 120 miles on a full charge. “This works for me because I never leave more than 40 miles away from Portsmouth. All I do is cruise around the island and go to beaches,” Wyatt said.

‘eVan’ is the ‘coolest car in Portsmouth’

PORTSMOUTH — Maybe you’ve seen it cruising around town, this blast-from-the-past, blue-and-white van sporting antique plates and the iconic “VW” logo on its front end. more

By Jim McGaw | 1/18/24

Carol Mello of Portsmouth (left) and Constance Gee of Westport (third from left), who oppose SouthCoast Wind’s proposal, hand out work sheets while one of the wind energy supporters, Jill Gabrielsen (right), shows how she feels outside the Portsmouth High School auditorium before Tuesday’s Town Council meeting.

Portsmouth enters host community agreement with SouthCoast Wind

PORTSMOUTH — After more than three hours of listening to both opponents and supporters of wind energy Tuesday night, the Town Council voted 5-1 to enter into a host community agreement … more

By Jim McGaw | 1/17/24

Portsmouth High’s Honorah Dougherty took first place in the 500 freestyle at last Friday’s meet against Westerly with a time of 6:27.92. She also won the 100 backstroke in a time of 1:11.39.

Portsmouth swimmers split in swim meet against Westerly

PORTSMOUTH — The Portsmouth High girls’ varsity swim team beat Westerly at Roger Williams University on Friday, improving its record to 2-1 in Division II. The 53-27 victory … more

1/16/24

Portsmouth High’s Landon Rodrigues (center) took sixth place in the 55-meter hurdles at the Yale High School Classic on Saturday. His time of 7.88 seconds qualified him for the New Balance Indoor National Championship meet in Boston from March 7-10.

Portsmouth High boys compete at Yale Classic meet

PORTSMOUTH — Several members of the Portsmouth High School boys’ indoor track team competed Saturday at the highly competitive Yale High School Classic, a track invitational held … more

1/16/24

Michael Durrett, head chef and business owner of Dashing Dan’s Cafe Car, serves a birthday lunch last week to Bob Obara (in hat), along with his wife Patty and their son, Michael.

A different kind of 'meals on wheels' in Portsmouth

This train car may not move, but its chef certainly does. more

1/16/24

Haven Box, a nonprofit that provides comfort boxes to survivors of sexual violence, was the beneficiary of the 100 Women Who Care Rhode Island’s fall event.

Networking with a mission

When you put a hundred driven, selfless, passionate women in the same room, good things happen. This was certainly the case earlier this month, when 100 Women Who Care Rhode Island hosted their … more

By Julia Stearly | 1/12/24

Hugh Fanning hauls a large, rusted car part toward the trash collection pile during a Clean Ocean Access (COA) beach cleanup at Gull Cove in Portsmouth back in February 2019. According to COA, the organization’s cleanups — nearly 2,800 of them — removed more than 160,000 pounds of debris from local shorelines.

Clean Ocean Access dissolves after 10 years

PORTSMOUTH — Clean Ocean Access (COA), one of strongest environmental advocates for the local area and known by many for its countless number of volunteer-led shoreline cleanups, has made the … more

By Jim McGaw | 1/11/24

Map shows proposed route of SouthCoast Wind's transmission cables through Portsmouth. (Mayflower Wind is the company's former name.)

Big issues for Portsmouth on the table this month

Monday’s Town Council meeting flew by in 18 minutes, but that certainly won’t be the case for its next two gatherings. more

By Jim McGaw | 1/10/24

Bristol and Warren lead the region in ’23 price increases

With only a few exceptions, single family, 2-4 family and condominium prices in the East Bay real estate market continued to climb in 2023 vs. 2022, a continuation of a multiyear trend. Bristol … more

By Douglas Gablinske | 1/10/24

Portsmouth's 18-month transfer station stickers on sale

PORTSMOUTH — If you use the transfer station and you haven’t purchased your new 18-month sticker yet, you can get them at the Tax Collector’s office at Portsmouth Town Hall. … more

1/9/24

Looking Upwards is the new owner of this building at 1184 East Main Road which served for years as the headquarters for The Visiting Nurse Home & Hospice. Originally built for an electronics company, the property includes two parking lots and a large lawn with East Main Road frontage.

Looking Upwards takes over Visiting Nurse’s Portsmouth property

PORTSMOUTH — Looking Upwards and Visiting Nurse Home & Hospice (VNH&H) are swapping places. more

By Jim McGaw | 1/9/24

Portsmouth High and the other three schools in the district all received four-star ratings in the state's latest accountability report.

Portsmouth schools all receive 4-star ratings from state

PORTSMOUTH — The town’s four public schools all received a rating of four stars out of a possible five under the Rhode Island Department of Education’s (RIDE) latest school … more

1/8/24

RIDOT announces last day of service for temporary Bristol to Providence ferry

Since its inception on December 21, the ferries have carried 3,285 passengers over 12 operating days. The final day will be on... more

1/5/24

Clements’ sues town and state over Portsmouth roundabout

Clements’ Marketplace has filed suit against the Town of Portsmouth and the R.I. Department of Transportation (RIDOT) over a planned roundabout in front of the store. more

By Jim McGaw | 1/3/24

Jayden Silva hurries out of the water during the New Year’s Day Polar Dive at Island Park Beach.

In Portsmouth: ‘02871 is fun!’

PORTSMOUTH — What was perhaps a record number of swimmers celebrated New Year’s Day 2024 by running into the waters off Island Park Beach on Monday. The mild weather and the … more

By Jim McGaw | 1/2/24

Portsmouth golfer earns top honors from RIGA

PORTSMOUTH — Cindy Silvia of Portsmouth was recently named the “Rhode Island Golf Association Women’s Golfer of the Year” at the RIGA Banquet at Kirkbrae Country Club in … more

1/2/24