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Westport toughens cell tower requirements

Telecommunications construction companies must now seriously consider alternative sites when they propose building cellular telephone towers in Westport, after voters at Tuesday's Town Meeting passed … more

By Ted Hayes | 5/6/22

Westport voters reject 'overly restrictive' sign by-law amendments

Voters at Tuesday's Town Meeting soundly rejected a proposed change to Westport's sign by-laws that many feared could restrict their right to put multiple signs on their property, and could hurt … more

By Ted Hayes | 5/6/22

A map from Mayflower Wind shows the projected route of cables required to transport power from its offshore wind farm to a connection at Brayton Point in Somerset, Mass. The connection requires a long stretch up Mt. Hope Bay, across land in Portsmouth, and up the Sakonnet River.

Offshore wind farm proposes cable connection through Sakonnet River, Mt. Hope Bay

The project developer contends it will generate enough clean energy to power 800,000 homes, and will plug into the grid that serves Rhode Island as well. But potential environmental impacts have yet to be discussed publicly. more

By Ethan Hartley | 5/4/22

Voters raise their hands to vote in favor of helping to fund the new Diman School project in Fall River.

Westport passes on override, OKs Diman and other projects at Town Meeting

Voters at Tuesday night's anual Town Meeting breezed through what could have been a contentious agenda in less than four hours, approving dozens of warrant articles in efficient fashion and with … more

By Ted Hayes | 5/4/22

Lt. Thomas Plourde is retiring from the Westport Police Department after 34 years of service to the town.

Veteran Westport cop calls it a career

Lt. Thomas Plourde, a member of the Westport Police Department for more than three decades, is nearly ready to turn in his badge. The Westport resident always wanted to be a cop, and said he lived … more

By Ted Hayes | 5/3/22

Voters give a near-unanimous show of support for the funding of an assistant town planner position at last year's Town Meeting.

Westport Town Meeting set for Tuesday

Westport is facing one of its toughest budget cycles in recent years, and residents who take part in Tuesday's annual Town Meeting will be asked to approve more than 30 warrant articles to keep town … more

4/29/22

Town Internet plan hinges on Town Meeting vote

Does Westport need better Internet connectivity? Many residents believe it does, and a warrant article on next Tuesday's Town Meeting agenda would, if passed, give the town the means to look more … more

By Ted Hayes | 4/29/22

Tiverton Budget Committee member Joseph Sousa protests against President Joe Biden Monday in front of Stateline Tobacco on Stafford Road. Note: portions of his sign have been blurred electronically.

Tiverton official says he won't stop waving anti-Biden sign

"F*** Biden." The words on Joe Sousa's white sign, and a drawing of a hand with uplifted middle finger, are clear as day and leave no doubt where the elected Tiverton Budget Committee member … more

By Ted Hayes | 4/26/22

The United States Army Corps of Engineers says it will cost $2.738 million to remove tons of rubble from beneath Hix Bridge.

Watershed alliance takes closer look at Hix Bridge Plan

With the cost to the town up to nearly $1 million, members of the Westport River Watershed Alliance have offered — and received the go ahead — to take a closer look at the benefits of … more

By Ted Hayes | 4/22/22

Andy Pollock, executive director of Coastal Neighbors Network and Clare Foley, executive director of The Association for the Relief of Aged Women, are embarking on a partnership to improve the well-being of elderly women in Westport and Dartmouth.

New partnership aims to help elderly Westport women

Coastal Neighbors Network , one of the area’s newest charitable organizations, is partnering with The Association for the Relief of Aged Women (ARAW), one of the oldest charitable foundations … more

4/22/22

Westport Health Notes: Rabies clinic is Saturday

Welcome to Westport Health Notes, a monthly column from the Westport Board of Health (BOH). The goal is to share information with our community about local issues and projects, public health … more

By Tanja Ryden | 4/22/22

Fish commissioner Everett Mills believes Cockeast Pond is a "microcosm" of the town's nitrogen issues.

Westport commissioner wants nitrogen lawn fertilizer ban

Westport's fish commissioner believes it's time for the town to get serious about reducing nitrogen in its waters, and is proposing that Westport look into by-law changes that would ban the use of … more

By Ted Hayes | 4/22/22

This photograph, taken last summer, shows a cyanobacterial bloom on South Watuppa Pond.

Study eyes phosphorous in South Watuppa algae blooms

The algae blooms that plague South Watuppa Pond could take years to address. But officials studying the pond's health say it can clearly be improved, though doing so will take a concerted and … more

By Ted Hayes | 4/15/22

Police set up a command post at Holiday Lanes in Westport as they attempted to stop Ian Grant Wednesday

Chase begins in Westport, ends in Connecticut

A Dartmouth man faces a host of charges after he led police on a chase last Wednesday, April 13, that began in Westport and ended after a standoff in North Stonington, Conn. According to … more

By Ted Hayes | 4/15/22

Branden Vye places beams to support the 181-year-old school before it is lifted.

Historic move underway in Westport

The Westport Historical Society 's Bell School is being moved, though you might not notice unless you look really, really close. Workers from Aquidneck Movers have begun raising the old school … more

By Ted Hayes | 4/15/22

Melissa Pacheco (left) and Gloria Cabral won seats on the Westport School Committee Tuesday, beating incumbent Michelle Orlando, who placed third in the race for two open seats.

Pacheco and Cabral in, Orlando out, in Westport School Committee race

Westport School Committee member Melissa Pacheco and political newcomer Gloria Cabral won three-year terms on the school committee Tuesday, placing first and second place, respectively, in the … more

By Ted Hayes | 4/13/22

Maggie, a goat rescued from Westport six years ago, catches up with West Place executive director Wendy Taylor.

Animal sanctuary marks 15 years of love in Tiverton

Tiverton attorney Wendy Taylor never imagined that West Place, the animal sanctuary she founded in her back yard in 2007, would be anything other than a hobby — a small non-profit she hoped … more

By Ted Hayes | 4/12/22

Almy Creek, at center, includes pristine beachfront, salt marshes and coastal thickets.

Access anger at Little Compton's Almy Creek

Stumbling blocks to public access remain at the so-called Ratcliffe property in Little Compton, a five-acre tract which accesses prized Almy's Creek and was purchased late last year by the Little … more

By Ted Hayes | 4/7/22

New handicap parking mats coming to Beach Avenue

The Westport Conservation Commission has signed off on a plan to install permeable parking mats at the end of Beach Avenue, adjacent to and just west of the Knubble, to make it easier for those with … more

By Ted Hayes | 4/7/22

Westport Community Schools superintendent Thomas Aubin speaks at an even at the high school earlier

Westport school chief: District needs financial support, override

The head of Westport Community Schools said this week that while the district can live without some of the items he and the school committee proposed under a $4.4 million override budget, the … more

By Ted Hayes | 4/6/22

The East Bay Chamber of Commerce spent time with (from left to right) Rep. Susan Donovan, Rep. Liana Cassar, Sen. Wally Felag, Rep. Jason Knight and Rep. June Speakman.

Elected officials discuss how to spend a billion dollars, and change a culture

Five members of the Rhode Island General Assembly met with a room full of local business leaders, and the predominant topic of conversation was how to spend about $1 billion in federal monies. more

By Scott Pickering | 4/1/22

Thousands and thousands of cobblestones are shown on Horseneck Beach in this photo taken last month.

State, Westport address cobbling at Horseneck Beach

The Westport Conservation Commission has approved a state request that should make it easier for the state to re-distribute cobble at Horseneck Beach when it becomes a problem. Every winter, and … more

By Ted Hayes | 4/1/22

Westport librarian Robin Winters spent months researching the fate of the Industry's crew.

Local researchers instrumental in cracking Westport whaling ship mystery

Robin Winters walked into work at the Westport Free Public Library one morning last September and found a doozy of a request waiting for her: Archaeologists needed help researching the history of a … more

By Ted Hayes | 3/30/22

Little Compton vineyard wants full BV license

Carolyn's Sakonnet Vineyard owners want the right to sell distilled spirits on their property, and the Little Compton Town Council members voted Thursday evening to seek legal input from the town's … more

By Ted Hayes | 3/25/22

This image of an anchor was taken from the 1836 shipwreck site of brig Industry in the Gulf of Mexico by the NOAA ROV deployed from NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer on February 25, 2022.

Westport whaling ship found in Gulf of Mexico after 186 years

The wreck of a Westport whaling ship lost more than 180 years ago has been found 6,000 feet deep in the Gulf of Mexico, the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and its partners … more

3/23/22