Categories - Main | EastBayRI.com - News, Opinion, Things to Do in the East Bay

Arlene Violet: What will happen with the changing of the guard?

Very little is certain about fundamental change with the advent of Joseph Biden’s presidency. Just about the only prediction is that he will face substantial obstacles. Sweeping reforms may be … more

By Arlene Violet | 1/29/21

Letter: Barrington's Covid-19 vaccine distribution severely inadequate

To the editor: If one were asked to provide an example to illustrate the words “asinine” and “ludicrous,” he or she would have to look no further than Barrington’s … more

1/29/21

An artistic rendering shows the Windmill Hill golf course site after its conversion into a solar farm.

Warren OKs Windmill Hill solar farm

Warren has given final approval to a plan to convert the Windmill Hill golf course on Schoolhouse Road into a seven-megawatt solar farm. Members of the Warren Planning Board earlier this month … more

By Ted Hayes | 1/29/21

Barrington resident Ruth Oppenheim (third from left) heads back to her car after discovering she was not able to register for a vaccination on Friday morning.

Barrington seniors brave cold weather, hope to register for vaccine

Ruth Oppenheim pushed through a bitterly cold wind as she made her way to the front door of Barrington Town Hall early Friday morning. The 93-year-old Barrington resident was hoping to register to … more

By Josh Bickford | 1/29/21

Norm Menard, of Barrington EMS, gives instruction while checking someone in at Quinta Gamelin Recreation Center, where health workers and first responders can get the COVID-19 vaccine.

Warren flooded with calls from vaccine seekers

Phones have been ringing off the hook at Warren Town Hall since early Thursday, when local officials learned they would soon be receiving 50 doses of the Covid-19 vaccine to distribute to elderly … more

By Ted Hayes | 1/29/21

This house, on a 2.18-acre swatch of Metacom Avenue land slated for development, was once owned by Cool Moose Party founder and well-known local attorney Robert Healey.

Apartments planned for former Cool Moose property in Warren

A Metacom Avenue property formerly owned by Cool Moose Party founder Robert Healey could soon be the site of an 18-unit apartment complex, and an engineer said it is possible that more apartments … more

By Ted Hayes | 1/29/21

Letter: Why is this state so far behind in vaccinations?

It is the same sensation as hearing a friend has won the lottery. It is the same sensation as being the unmarried bridesmaid sister at your sister’s wedding. I have recently been helping … more

1/29/21

Roger Williams University junior Samantha L’Esperance is a dedicated arts student who would like to make a career of it. Between COVID-19 impacts and the loss of the university’s ceramics studio, she feels like her ambitions are “slowly going down the drain.”

University studios are packed up and put on hold

For the past four years, Roger Williams University maintained two fully equipped art studios for its visual arts students. Today those studios sit inside a storage facility. The … more

By Samantha Tavares | 1/29/21

Bristol opens Covid-19 vaccine registration for 75+ on Monday

On Thursday, Jan. 28, Bristol Town Administrator Steven Contente announced Bristol's COVID-19 vaccination registration process for senior residents. Beginning Monday, Feb. 1, at 8:30 a.m., Bristol … more

1/28/21

Veteran Karl Antonevich stands before the Memorial Garden, a place of reverence for Bristol veterans and citizens.

A place of honor for the Bristol veterans

They’ve had to pack up and move a lot of times over the years, but the Bristol Veterans Council may have finally found their forever home. According to Veterans Council Vice President Karl … more

By Christy Nadalin | 1/28/21

Letter: Sparring politicians need to find more substantive issues

After the recent little swipe against the town’s political conservatives taken by Town Councilor Tim Sweeney regarding the severance package of retiring Town Clerk Louis Cirillo, it came as no … more

1/28/21

Members of the United Veterans Council of Barrington stand in opposition to the town manager’s decision to raise the Black Lives Matter flag on the town hall flag pole last year. The group is calling for a non-political flag policy.

Barrington's proposed flag policy challenged

The president of the Barrington United Veterans Council is making a hard push to have the Barrington Town Council adopt a non-political flag policy. On Thursday morning, Jan. 28, Paul Dulchinos … more

By Josh Bickford | 1/28/21

Letter: Bristol could learn from Barrington’s diversity example

It was disappointing to see that the proposed Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee did not succeed in being sanctioned by our Town Council. Many of our citizens spoke both pro and con about this … more

1/28/21

Town officials have been pressuring Shineharmony LLC, the owners of the property, to secure the vacant buildings, which have become an inviting target to vandals.

Violation notice upheld, vacant property's owner facing fines

The Barrington Building Board of Review has voted to uphold a notice of violation issued to the owner of the former Zion Bible College property. During a meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 26, members of … more

By Josh Bickford | 1/28/21

Isabel, a freshman from Rockland, N.Y., swabs her nose as part of the coronavirus test.

Roger Williams welcomes students back to campus

By all accounts, Roger Williams University did an excellent job managing COVID within its community over the course of the fall term. They are looking forward to a repeat of that success beginning … more

1/28/21

Letter: Strong leadership raises our level of public discourse

I want to express my thoughts on the Bristol Town Council meeting held on Jan. 20. On the agenda was a petition to establish a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee of the Town Council. Many of … more

1/28/21

Photogenic Bobbert comes in for a closeup at Tiverton’s West Place Animal Sanctuary.

Letter: A chance encounter with the most memorable Bobbert

A chance encounter with the most memorable Bobbert To the editor: A few months back, while out for a bicycle ride, I went down a side lane heading for some trails in the woods. Riding parallel … more

1/28/21

Letter: We should all think before we throw

All my adult life I’ve been obsessed with trash. In 1986, as a young, very pregnant woman in Brooklyn, my husband and I went door to door, distributing informative pamphlets in our … more

1/27/21

Letter: ‘Diversity’ committee would undermine the government and citizens of Bristol

Editor’s note: The following is an abridged version of a letter submitted to the Bristol Town Council prior to hearing a proposal to create a Committee on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. … more

1/27/21

Barrington Police: Resident reports confederate flag-waving dirt-bike rider; partying in Y’s buses?

Barrington police responded to a variety of incidents last week: • On Saturday, Jan. 23, a Western Avenue resident called police to report that a man had been riding a dirt bike around nearby … more

1/27/21

Aaron Ley was one of two Bristol town councilors in favor of forming a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, but he was in the minority, during a meeting held on Zoom Jan. 20.

Bristol denies diversity group’s request for formal committee

Bristol resident Rob Hancock and many others spoke at length at last Wednesday night’s Bristol Town Council meeting regarding the establishment of a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee … more

By Christy Nadalin | 1/27/21

Annmarie Gower was an All-American runner in college and beloved track and cross-country coach for more than 30 years at Barrington High School. She stepped down recently, stating “The last couple of years with COVID and the school time change the day became really long. I couldn’t start my practices until 3:45. Personally for me it became difficult as is the case for any coach who is a teacher.”

Start-time change a factor for retiring BHS coach

Perhaps Barrington High School Director of Athletics George Finn best expressed how important Annmarie Gower has been to the school’s girls’ cross country team, indoor track team and … more

BY MIKE SCANDURA | 1/27/21

Letter: Massachusetts travel policy seems inconsistent

To the editor: I am curious about the Barrington School District policy of not allowing day trips to a place like Wachusett mountain. I personally have no vested interest in this because we … more

1/26/21

Letter: Non-political flag policy is first step to unity

To the editor: As we look towards achieving our 46th President's goal of unity and healing, I would recommend we look no further than the heroic actions of our nation's first Black recipient of … more

1/26/21

Metacom Avenue's hodge podge of styles, large parking lots and overall aesthetic are being targeted by a sweeping town revitalization effort.

Warren envisions improved Metacom Avenue

Warren's sprawling and in many places dated and drab Metacom Avenue could be transformed to a trendy business and residential area, with condos, small shops and green spaces, under a sweeping series of proposed regulations released this week by the town's planning department. more

By Ted Hayes | 1/26/21