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

Portsmouth High’s Carson Conheeny runs a jet sweep for a gain against Barrington at home Friday night. The Patriots won, 21-7.

Portsmouth defeats Barrington, 21-7, remains atop division

PORTSMOUTH — The Portsmouth Patriots are guaranteed a No. 1 or No. 2 seed in the playoffs thanks to a 21-7 win over the visiting Barrington Eagles Friday night. Portsmouth, which … more

10/24/22

Kenneth J. Mendonça, Mario J. Teixeira, and Linda L. Ujifusa (from left) are competing for the R.I. Senate District 11 seat.

Senate District 11 candidates share priorities if elected

PORTSMOUTH/BRISTOL — Now that independent candidate Andrew Kelly has dropped out of the race, there are three remaining hopefuls running for the R.I. Senate District 11 seat (Portsmouth … more

10/24/22

Next EPLAC meeting features Neurodiversity discussion

EAST PROVIDENCE — The East Providence Local Advisory Committee For Special Education (EPLAC) welcomes all to attend its next monthly meeting to be held on Wednesday, Oct. 26, at 6 p.m. in the … more

10/24/22

Cora Powledge of Portsmouth won first place in women’s foil at an “E” and under fencing tournament held at Worcester Fencing Club.

Portsmouth girl takes home gold medal in fencing

Cora Powledge of Portsmouth earned a first-place gold medal in women’s foil at an “E”-and-under fencing tournament Oct. 15-16 in Worcester. more

10/23/22

Bristol Citizens Police Academy returns in January

The Bristol Police will be offering their free Citizens Police Academy, from Jan. 12 to March 16, 2023, a ten-week program that will meet on Thursday evenings from 6 to 8 p.m. more

By Christy Nadalin | 10/22/22

Fishermen AJ Elson, Al Elson, Connor Halpin and Matt Kelsey (from left to right) stand with the 750-pound giant bluefin tuna.

Giant hooked: Barrington boat lands 750-pounder

The forecast that morning seemed fine: Swells between one and two feet. No problem for AJ Elson and the four other men aboard the 51-foot Let ‘Em Run . But after a few hours on the … more

By Josh Bickford | 10/22/22

"The take-home message to people is, the virus is here," said Dr. Scott Marshall, the state’s veterinarian, during an online news briefing Friday afternoon.

‘There’s a lot of virus out there’

In light of today’s news that Rhode Island’s first domestic presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) was detected in Newport County, state health officials are sounding the … more

By Jim McGaw | 10/21/22

Bristol police disperse more loud parties, make arrests

Bristol PD broke up multiple loud parties in addition to assisting residents and a cat on the bike path between Oct. 10-17, 2022. more

10/21/22

Barrington School Committee candidates Frazier Bell (bottom left) and Rudy Seber (bottom right) are pictured with moderator Scott Pickering during a recent online forum.

Candidates’ common ground: Teacher morale a major concern

Passions and priorities were on display when the four candidates for Barrington School Committee met for a forum on Tuesday night, Oct. 18. Independents Frazier Bell and TJ Peck and Democrats … more

By Josh Bickford | 10/21/22

Building committee: Keep old high school and renovate it

Voters will likely be asked if they want to spend $29 million to renovate the old Westport High School property, decommissioning Westport's aging town hall, town hall annex and Council on Aging … more

By Ted Hayes | 10/21/22

This is a stock photo provided by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS)/USDA. It is not an image from the Newport County farm where the virus was detected.

DEM announces R.I.’s first domestic case of avian flu

NEWPORT COUNTY — The R.I. Department of Environmental Management (DEM) announced Friday that the first domestic presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Rhode Island has … more

10/21/22

Bristol's most famous tree has had its 'Last Christmas'

An 18-foot Colorado Blue Spruce, located at a West Kingstown nursery, has been identified as a good candidate to replace the existing tree, which is now growing too close to power lines to decorate safely. more

By Christy Nadalin | 10/21/22

Sgt. Brian Morse (left) and patrolman Sean Gonsalves demonstrate the use of Axon body cameras, which will now be utilized by all Bristol police officers thanks to a state and federal grant.

Bristol PD now ready for their closeup

Last week, the Bristol Police Department learned that they would be receiving $341,250 in state and federal grant money to outfit 39 Bristol Police officers with body cameras. more

By Christy Nadalin | 10/21/22

Local candidates for general assembly seats (top row, from left to right) Sam Read (House, District 66), Jason Knight (House, District 67), Pam Lauria (Senate, District 32) and (bottom row) Jennifer Boylan (House, District 66), Scott Fuller (House, District 67) and Rhonda Holmes (Senate, District 32).

Ask the candidates: Do you support the affordable housing program law?

Question: Do you support the state legislation calling for the repurposing of vacant and unused school buildings for affordable housing? District 32, Senate Pam Lauria (D) — … more

10/21/22

A screen capture of the female suspect in the Walgreens counterfeit bill case.

East Providence Police seek suspects in counterfeit case

EAST PROVIDENCE — East Providence Police investigators are seeking the input of the public in their attempt to apprehend two people alleged to have passed counterfeit currency at a local … more

10/21/22

Barrington School Committee candidates (from left to right) Margaret Reid, TJ Peck, Frazier Bell, and Rudy Seber.

Ask the candidates: Should Barrington keep expanding the Pre-K program?

Question: Should Barrington Public Schools continue to expand the Pre-K program (more classes and moving classes from half-day to full-day), and if so, what are your thoughts on physical spacing and … more

10/21/22

Sarah Rundquist trots polo ponies Dulce (she's riding), Princeapito (brown), Campinetta (gray), Victoria (white) and Caramella (light brown) in a set around a paddock at White Rock Farm in Little Compton earlier this month. The horse trainer is also a lifeguard at South Shore Beach.

Have ponies, will travel

There are snow birds, and then there are snow ponies. Dulce, Frozen, Campinetta, Victoria, Carmella and Princeapito are a regular sight each summer at the White Rock Farm in Little Compton, but … more

10/20/22

The East Providence No. 3 doubles tandem of Tiana Brierly (left) and Emma Gillheeney earned the deciding point in the Townies' 5-2 win over PCD Wednesday, Oct. 19.

Townies take care of PCD in Division III girls' tennis tilt

EAST PROVIDENCE — The East Providence High School girls’ tennis team cemented itself among the top sides in Division III as the league playoffs approach after the Townies eventually … more

By Mike Rego | 10/20/22

Longtime Barrington resident and lifelong BHS sports fan Tony Arico calls a game in the press box.

Meet Barrington High's number one fan

Some people claim he’s Barrington High School’s biggest cheerleader. They may be right. Anthony “Tony” Arico is in a class by himself when it comes to supporting the Blue … more

BY MANUEL C. “MANNY” CORREIRA | 10/20/22

Westport will host a walk/run for the schools and council on aging this Sunday, Oct. 23.

First-ever Walk/Run for Westport is Sunday

Three Westport organizations that benefit young and old are joining together to hold 'Walk/Run for Westport,' a town-wide walk and run this coming Sunday, Oct. 23. It benefits the Westport Education … more

10/20/22

Where do Bristol school committee candidates stand on school safety?

Part two of a Q&A series with Bristol’s school committee candidates. more

By Ethan Hartley | 10/20/22

Barrington Town Council candidates (clockwise from top left) Kate Berard, Jarrod Ryan, Ray Clark, and Braxton Medlin.

Ask the candidates: Do you support the school department's 'Option 2B'?

Question: Since the council will have a role in the process, do you support “Option 2B” of the Barrington School Department’s master facilities plan? Kate Berard (D) — … more

10/20/22

Jill Campanella-Dysart, adult services librarian, and Michaela Hutchinson, youth services librarian, inside the George Hail Free Library.

George Hail Library hires new youth and adult services librarians

Jill Campanella-Dysart, adult services librarian, and Michaela Hutchinson, youth services librarian, are excited about the potential of working at the George Hail Free Library. more

By Ethan Hartley | 10/20/22

Views of the Beech Tree on the grounds of the Weaver Library advocates said could have been saved from harm if a forester was in place.

E.P. Council adds forester appropriation to FY22-23 budget

EAST PROVIDENCE — The City Council, while approving the Fiscal Year 2022-23 operating budget at its meeting last week on October 18, included a line-item to formally fill a long-inactive … more

By Mike Rego | 10/20/22

Residents are pictured at a previous year's FTM.

Are changes coming to Barrington's annual FTM?

Town officials are exploring alternatives to holding a financial town meeting every year. Initially, the town council considered the idea of forming a committee to study how other communities … more

By Josh Bickford | 10/19/22