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This statue in Independence Park on Thames Street was vandalized on Oct. 12, exactly 29 years since the date it was commissioned by the Heritage and Discovery Commission. Now mostly cleaned up, remnants of red paint can still be seen. The plaque on the statue reads, "In recognition of Bristol’s cultural diversity and commemoration of the Columbus Quincentennial”.

Bristol Police: DUI, assaults, and red paint on Columbus statue

Someone threw red paint on a downtown statue on Columbus Day, and police officers responded to a handful of complaints about loud music throughout the week of Oct. 11 to 17. Monday, Oct. … more

10/22/21

Barrington resident Rachelle Zani pleads with members of the school committee about problems with the school transportation system in town during the meeting last Thursday night.

Barrington parents on busing issue: ‘This is ridiculous’

For more than a month, Barrington resident Liz Clare has asked officials to allow one of her sons to ride a bus to the middle school each day. She said his commute to school is long and dangerous, … more

By Josh Bickford | 10/21/21

Emu killed by 'large' predator in Westport

A Westport woman lost a beloved emu this week to what she suspects was either a coyote or, less likely, a bear attack. Digger, a 100-pound emu about 20 years old, was dragged from its pen on … more

By Ted Hayes | 10/21/21

The Samaritans Team gathers for a photo on top of the bridge at the Pell Bridge Run, held Sunday, Oct. 17. The group includes barrier advocates Sen. Louis DiPalma and Rep. Joseph Solomon, as well as Melissa Cotta and Bryan Ganley of Bridging the Gap for Safety and Healing.

A temporary proposal to permanently save lives

Melissa Cotta and Bryan Ganley, co-founders of Bridging the Gap for Safety and Healing , the group working toward getting suicide prevention barriers on the state’s four tallest bridges, are … more

By Christy Nadalin | 10/21/21

Barrington Police Officer Brendan Combes reunites Barrington resident Brandon Medeiros with his bicycle, which had been stolen last Wednesday.

Resident tracks down stolen bike, police make an arrest

Barrington police worked closely with the victim of a larceny to help him track down and apprehend a bike thief. Police received a phone on Wednesday, Oct. 13 from a resident who said her … more

10/20/21

Photos and candles were displayed at the vigil with messages from friends and family, who called for law enforcement to arrest the individual responsible for Raymond’s eventual death.

Family of Market St. assault victim pleads for ‘justice’

The family of a man who was put into a coma and later died from his injuries from an incident that occurred on Market Street in August is calling for authorities to arrest the juvenile perpetrator. more

By Ethan Hartley | 10/20/21

Unvaccinated school staff in Barrington face termination

The clock is ticking for unvaccinated staff in Barrington schools. For the last two months, the administration has reminded all school staff that a district policy requires they be vaccinated by … more

By Josh Bickford | 10/20/21

Pictured is the old Barrington Middle School prior to its demolition.

Barrington Middle School project contractors facing charges

The owners of the company hired for asbestos remediation work on the Barrington Middle School construction project were arraigned on wage theft charges on Tuesday, Oct. 19, in Sixth Division District Court … more

10/19/21

KFC manager, dozens more apply for Barrington town manager’s job

How many people are interested in being the next town manager in Barrington? Plenty. According to sources, 47 people submitted applications for the Barrington Town Manager’s … more

10/18/21

Sherry, John and Emily Scott (left to right) are the new owners of The Beehive Café and The Beehive Pantry. Emily was a Beehive employee for many years and will be overseeing day to day operations, without dramatic changes to the menu or atmosphere.

Bristol's beloved Beehive is in new hands

Established in July of 2007 by Jen Cavallaro, The Beehive quickly became a favorite downtown destination for great coffee and pastries. Breakfasts, then lunch options soon rounded out their … more

By Christy Nadalin | 10/18/21

Longtime weight throwing coach Bob Gourley passed away late Wednesday night, Oct. 13.

Barrington High School loses a legend

Barrington High School lost a legend this week. Late Wednesday night, Oct. 13, the Eagles’ longtime weight throwing coach Bob Gourley passed away. Coach Gourley had been struggling with … more

By Josh Bickford | 10/15/21

A bicycle leans against a public point of access granite marker at the end of Appian Way. The street is posted as “No parking either side.”

Resident and council spar over parking near rights of way

A Barrington resident says the town is restricting access to the shoreline if it does not allow parking on the streets near public rights of way. Town officials disagree. On multiple … more

By Josh Bickford | 10/15/21

Back in June, Mt. Hope High School Principal Deborah DiBiase spent part of the Senior Prom helping students cross from tent to tent on a rainy night, during the event hosted along the Herreshoff Marine Museum waterfront. This fall, the school decided it is not safe hold the traditional Homecoming dance.

School cancels dance, so parents plan their own

“Students are gathering at other school events … There are no state restrictions. Why is this an issue?” MICHELE … more

By Christy Nadalin | 10/14/21

Town officials said there is hardly a day that goes by where the court is not covered with empty water bottles, soda cans, disposable face masks, food wrappers, pizza boxes and other debris.

Barrington threatens to lock up basketball courts

How bad is the littering problem at the new Barrington Middle School basketball courts? So bad that the town is going to lock up the courts. Town officials said there is hardly a day that goes … more

By Josh Bickford | 10/14/21

Joan Quinn has given haunted tours of Bristol for the past four years, and this year has expanded her reach to include a walk through downtown Warren, including such historic landmarks as the First Baptist Church, pictured here.

Take a walk on Warren's darker side

Guided ghost tours will take you down some of Warren's most historic streets, ripe with natural (and supernatural) intrigue. more

By Ethan Hartley | 10/14/21

The Barrington Town Council has asked the town’s Resilience and Energy Committee to explore the idea of installing solar panels atop some of the capped landfills. Pictured is the capped landfill on Upland Way.

Council news: Town to explore putting solar panels on capped landfills

Former landfills in Barrington could be home to solar fields in the future. During the Oct. 4 meeting, members of the Barrington Town Council voted unanimously in favor of having the town’s … more

10/14/21

Replacing the stormwater system in Portsmouth Park — Aquidneck and Narragansett avenues — is considered the No. 1 priority on a draft list of local resilience capital infrastructure improvement projects.

In Portsmouth: Building a path toward climate resiliency

PORTSMOUTH — The town isn’t waiting around for Park Avenue to go under water permanently. Working proactively in an attempt to stem the tide of climate change, the town and the … more

By Jim McGaw | 10/14/21

Officials confirmed that all future plans for the property will include the preservation of Belton Court mansion.

What’s next for the Zion property in Barrington?

Shortly after the fences went up, the buildings started coming down. Demolition of the Messerlian and Union Hall building on the former Zion Bible College property has coincided with a request … more

By Josh Bickford | 10/14/21

Westport fisherman Paul Leuvelink (right) dumps a half bushel of quahogs into the East Branch of the Westport River Friday afternoon. In all, he and other helpers deposited 71 bushels of necks.

Another transplanting season in books for Westport's 'Money Clam'

Some time next week, Chris Leonard and his crew of volunteer helpers will dump the last of this year's quahogs in the Westport River, continuing a propagation program that over the years has kept the … more

By Ted Hayes | 10/13/21

Sasha and Casey Jones are Ed Aldrich's constant companions.

Little Compton fund-raiser is for the birds, literally

Ed Aldrich isn't worried so much about himself as the cold weather approaches, but for his two long-time companions and best friends, Sasha and Casey Jones. Sasha is a former rescue bird, a … more

By Ted Hayes | 10/8/21

New state virtual learning academy growing

75 students from 10 districts across the state have signed up for the Rhode Island Connections Academy, an all-virtual school program. more

By Ethan Hartley | 10/7/21

The Rhody Reader Box, launched in 2020, features locally crafted goods that connect to a central theme relative to the centerpiece of the gift package, a book written by a local author. This year features a novel from a Barrington resident, chocolate from a Cranston-based chocolatier, a candle from a Bristol candlemaker and a handmade beaded bookmark from a Riverside artisan.

Ink Fish Books offers a bit of Rhody in gift box

You can hear the excitement in Lisa Valentino’s voice begin to rise as she buzzes from one shelf to the next inside Ink Fish Books on Main Street, showing off the various published works from … more

By Ethan Hartley | 10/7/21

Ptlm. George Lefebvre, Det. Adam Clifford, Det. Julie Veader and Chief Kevin Lynch (left to right) discuss the reallocation of staff resources to work on cold cases — a strategy to both keep officers fresh and engaged, and to fill downtime during the pandemic.

New strategies net 152 applicants for Bristol police force

Across the country, many large police departments are shorthanded, struggling to both recruit and retain officers. The Bristol Police Department just hired two officers to fill its only two … more

By Scott Pickering | 10/7/21

The new owners don't plan to change much about beloved Aidan's Pub, but they are planning big changes for next-door Gillary's on Thames Street in downtown Bristol.

After three decades, Aidan’s is changing hands

Businesses come and go, but for many years now, not much has changed at Aidan’s — and for the regulars, many of whom were not born when the iconic Irish pub first opened its doors, … more

By Christy Nadalin | 10/6/21

Glen Ridge Farm, with over 8 acres of ocean-view pastoral farmland and equestrian facilities, was sold this week for $3.25 million.

$3.25 million land sale said to be highest ever in Portsmouth

PORTSMOUTH — About 8.3 acres of waterfront property on Frank Coelho Drive has sold for $3.25 million, which is reportedly the highest land sale in Portsmouth ever recorded. more

10/6/21