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A section of the U.S. Navy’s solar facility on West Main Road as it appears from the west end of Mill Lane. Many residents are worried that similar-looking, large-scale facilities will keep popping up around town. This development did not require town oversight, however, so it did not need to conform to minimum setbacks or buffers to appease abutters.

In Portsmouth: Larger solar arrays barred from residential zones

PORTSMOUTH — After a three-hour hearing in which 16 residents testified in favor of changes to Portsmouth’s current solar ordinance, the Town Council Monday night voted unanimously to … more

By Jim McGaw | 11/9/21

A Westport resident unloads at the transfer station. Town officials hope the current hauling crisis will be over by Monday, Nov. 15.

Westport trash piles up, with nowhere to go

Westporters who bring their trash to the transfer station this week are in for an unwelcome surprise — the town's three household waste dumpsters are full, there is no room for more trash, and … more

By Ted Hayes | 11/9/21

Police: Bag of urine not an act of hostility toward Barrington school official

Barrington Police believe a bag of urine found on the edge of a school committee member’s property late last week was not placed there in an act of hostility. According to police, the school … more

By Josh Bickford | 11/5/21

Erin Schofield during a meeting in 2019. At the time, she was chair of the school committee.

Pros and cons of school committee grant oversight

Is a new BWRSD procedure of approving grant funding and expenditures good financial practice, needless meddling, or somewhere in between? more

By Ethan Hartley | 11/4/21

The Barrington Town Council renamed the throwing circle and surrounding field at Barrington High School "Robert Gourley Field."

Weight throwing area named for longtime BHS coach

A short walk from the Barrington High School campus, atop a hill just beyond the JV softball field, is where Bob Gourley worked his magic. Over the course of four decades, the longtime throwing … more

11/4/21

Little Compton eyes town-wide flag policy

The Little Compton Town Council is expected Thursday evening to review and vote on a proposed flag policy that would govern their placement on all municipally-owned flag poles, including those of the … more

11/4/21

Theresa Crean talks about a 100-year flood event, as happened in 1938. This marker on the side of the Everready Fire Station on Thames Street shows where the water rose that day.

Expert shows how and why the tide is rising in Bristol

cnadalin@eastbaymediagroup.com The weather last Saturday morning was foul in Bristol. The rain alternated between a light drizzle and just shy of a downpour, making … more

By Christy Nadalin | 11/4/21

Westport couple buys Walt's Farm

A local couple has purchased Walt's Farm from the Westport Land Conservation Trust, and will continue to farm the 12-acre apple orchard that has become a landmark in the north part of town. … more

11/3/21

Housing activists gather in the stairwell during the meeting.

Homelessness highlights Governor’s visit to Warren

A group of advocates made their presence known at the first public input session for the "Rhode Island 2030" plan, held at Hope & Main in Warren. more

By Ethan Hartley | 11/3/21

Portsmouth school employees asked to get vaccinated by Dec. 1

PORTSMOUTH — By Dec. 1, teachers and all other employees of the Portsmouth school district must submit proof of being vaccinated against COVID-19. If they don’t, they will need to … more

By Jim McGaw | 11/2/21

Signs leading up the new speed zone near Kent Heights Elementary School heading north on Pawtucket Avenue.

School zone speed camera warning period in East Providence begins

EAST PROVIDENCE — The 30-warning period following the installation of speed control cameras near schools across the city began this week, the administration of Mayor Bob DaSilva and the East … more

11/2/21

Hathaway School third-grade teacher Ashley Adamson, the 2021 R.I. Teacher of the Year, stands in front of the entrance to the White House during her trip to Washington, D.C. last month.

For Portsmouth teacher, school bell 'comes full circle'

PORTSMOUTH — When she was a little girl, Ashley Adamson wanted to be a teacher so badly that she’d play one at home. She even owned a school bell, as a picture she keeps in her … more

By Jim McGaw | 11/2/21

'Absolutely, it was racism’

Simona Simpson-Thomas, who was chosen to lead professional development for Mt. Hope High School but was rejected by a 5-4 vote of the school committee, responds to the incident. more

By Ethan Hartley | 10/29/21

Barrington School Committee member Megan Douglas raises her hand to an audience member during a heated exchange late in the hearing.

Barrington School Committee votes to fire unvaccinated teachers

The Barrington School Committee moved very close to firing three unvaccinated teachers on Thursday night. In a 3-1 vote, committee members Gina Bae, Erika Sevetson and Megan Douglas called for the … more

By Josh Bickford | 10/29/21

Union steps in, asks for unvaccinated teachers to keep their jobs

The Rhode Island teachers' union will be asking the Barrington School Committee to halt its plan to fire teachers who choose to not get the Covid-19 vaccine. The school committee will be meeting … more

10/28/21

Amos House resident Sandra A. pets a horse and the horse played back during a therapy session earlier this month.

In Tiverton, horses are for healing

The warm October sun hung high overhead as Lisa S. stepped out onto the pasture, a handful of horses roaming just ahead. It had been a year since she’d last spent time at Silva Spirit Farm in … more

By Kristen Ray | 10/28/21

Police seized a BB gun, and a large amount of narcotics following a motor vehicle stop in Warren on Friday, Oct. 22.

Warren PD seize ounces of drugs, over 1,500 pills during traffic stop

Warren Police discovered a large volume of narcotics during a traffic stop on Oct. 22. more

10/28/21

Jacob “Rowdy” Burns, a 15-year-old Warren native, sits inside of his late model race car in the pits at Seekonk Speedway after completing practice runs before the Haunted 100 race, where he placed 8th of 30 racers.

15-year-old miles ahead of his age on the track

Jacob “Rowdy” Burns, originally from Warren and now living in East Greenwich, has been racing competitively since he was five. more

By Ethan Hartley | 10/28/21

The future site of Brick Pizza Co., one of numerous new eateries or food businesses coming to downtown Bristol.

Bristol's Unity Park attracting an array of food businesses

With successful food business incubator Hope & Main right up the road, it’s only natural that some of its “graduates” are finding their way to Unity Park, the revitalized former … more

By Christy Nadalin | 10/28/21

David Lauria, Mt. Hope Choral Director, and Emily Marino, a Mt. Hope senior and Bristol resident, speak about her selection to the All-National Choir at the Mt. Hope auditorium on Thursday.

Mt. Hope student selected for All-National Choir

Emily Marino, a Mt. Hope High School senior, was selected for the All-National Choir — the first Mt. Hope student to ever be selected for such an honor. more

By Ethan Hartley | 10/27/21

School Committee Chairperson Marjorie McBride shouts for order in the room after questioning of the proposed vendor for professional development in the district descended into chaos Monday night. She would vote to deny the $7,000 expenditure shortly after.

Tensions boil over hiring $7,000 consultant for teacher training

The Bristol Warren Regional School Committee voted 5-4 to reject the expenditure of $7,000 in grant funding for a project-based learning initiative. more

By Ethan Hartley | 10/27/21

Nate Schneider (left) and Olin Guck guide their boat through the water during a training session last week in the Warren River. The BHS sailing team qualified for a top regional meet, but is unable to attend because of a district rule banning overnight trips.

School rule sinks Barrington sailing team’s plans

In late September, the Barrington High School sailing team qualified to compete in the Atlantic Coast Championships, an elite regatta featuring some of the best teams in the country. But the … more

By Josh Bickford | 10/27/21

Richard Grundy, President and COO of AVTECH, holds up a Room Alert device, the flagship product of AVTECH which can be found on every continent and in 187 countries around the world.

AVTECH’s Room Alert wins international award

AVTECH was recently awarded the International Trade Council's 2021 Go Global Award for Property Technology, beating out over 6,400 other entrants from around the world. more

By Ethan Hartley | 10/27/21

Barrington School Committee members Patrick McCrann, Gina Bae, Megan Douglas and Erika Sevetson (from left to right) are shown during the Oct. 7 meeting.

School official says teacher vaccine mandate vote was unclear

Barrington School Committee member Patrick McCrann switched seats at last week’s meeting and spoke out during the public comment period. Mr. McCrann spoke about a lack of clarity and … more

10/26/21

Russ Shipp salutes the memory of his brother, Corp. Thomas A. Shipp, after placing a rose to a wreath outside the Portsmouth Historical Society during the annual Beirut Memorial Service on Saturday. Corp. Shipp was among the nine Rhode Islanders killed in the Beirut terrorist bombing attack on Oct. 23, 1983.

‘Rhode Island Nine’ are memorialized in Portsmouth

PORTSMOUTH — Lt. Col. Scott Stephan, USMC, said he was just 5 years old in October 1983 when 241 U.S. service men and women were killed in a terrorist attack while on a peacekeeping … more

By Jim McGaw | 10/23/21