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

Becky Rebecca Patalano and Julia Silva hold up strawberry plants that would then be put into decorative pots and sold to raise money for the residents of Waterview Villa.

Growing inter-generational gratitude in East Providence

For the past eight years, Katie Solitro has taken students to give gifts to residents at Waterview Villa on South Broadway. Last week, the Villa residents gave a gift back. more

By Ethan Hartley | 5/20/25

Road rage, disorderly conduct top Portsmouth Police report

PORTSMOUTH — Here are some recent arrests made by the Portsmouth Police Department: Tuesday, May 13 Yonathan Osvaldo Alvarez Cortez, 21, of 424 Park Ave., was charged with … more

5/19/25

Panther Alier holds up an East Providence Townies sweatshirt gifted to him prior to speaking at Riverside Middle School. He first came to East Providence to share his story in 2004, after fleeing his homeland of South Sudan in 1987 and ultimately coming to America in 2001.

One of Sudan's 'Lost Boys' gets a warm welcome back to Riverside

Panther Alier escaped from certain death as a 10-year-old in Southern Sudan during their brutal Civil War in 1987. Nearly 40 years later, he was lauded for his commitment to sharing his story with East Providence middle school students. more

By Ethan Hartley | 5/19/25

Deborah Perez, a resident of Fort Street, holds up a bag of golf balls above another full container of golf balls. The errant orbs have continuously been hit onto her property from the nearby hole belonging to the Met Links golf course, sometimes dangerously close to her and members of her family. Other neighbors say they’ve had property damaged.

Resident besieged by golf balls makes plea to EP City Council

When Deborah Perez moved into her home on Fort Street in East Providence, she probably didn’t expect she would have to deal with artillery battering down on her property like it was a literal fort during the Revolutionary War. more

By Ethan Hartley | 5/15/25

Dr. Hank Wietsma was one of the founders of the Pets in Need (PIN) Clinic back in 2016. He helped gather a collaborative of people to bring it back from the dead in 2025.

Riverside low-income pet clinic revived under new collaborative

A group of veterinarians, vet techs, private donors, and pet loving community members have given low-income pet owners a great gift in Riverside. more

By Ethan Hartley | 5/14/25

Rumford native Acadia Ullucci with some of the participants of her “Social Emotional Crafternoon” program, which earned her the highest honor among Girl Scouts: The Gold Award.

Rumford native earns Girl Scout Gold Award

Girl Scouts of Southeastern New England recently announced that Acadia Ullucci, of Rumford, earned the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award in Girl Scouting. more

5/14/25

Trinity Johnson-Carter (left) took first place and teammate Ryley Souto took second in the 110 hurdles during a dual meet with Tiverton and Mt. Hope on Monday.

Townies crush competition in dual meet, look towards divisionals

The East Providence boys track team finished their dual meet season by crushing Tiverton 103-50 and Mt. Hope 115-32 at home on Monday evening. The third place Townies improved their overall record to … more

Story and Photos by Rich Dionne | 5/14/25

Environmental Police Officer Anthony Sullivan patrolling RI waters.

RIDEM ramps up patrols, education during National Safe Boating Week

Environmental Police Officers from the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) are teaming up with boating safety advocates across the U.S. and Canada to promote safe, responsible … more

5/13/25

Sonia "Ascawawa" Thomas-Silva of the Narragansett Tribe pours cedar water, a ceremonial purification, onto the beached minke whale that washed up at Bold Point over the weekend.

Dead minke whale washes up at Bold Point in East Providence

The whale has been determined to have been dead since at least January, but it is not known how it died. more

By Ethan Hartley | 5/13/25

Left-right: Martin Middle School Principal Laurie Marchand, seventh-grade social studies teacher Amy Moran, and Jim Curtis, New England Strategic Account Manager for School Specialty. Moran was named one of five educators in the United States among 500 entries to earn a "Crystal Apple" award for teaching excellence.

East Providence educator earns national 'Crystal Apple' award

Amy Moran, a middle school teacher at Edward R. Martin Middle School, is one of just five educators in the entire United States to earn the honor. more

By Ethan Hartley | 5/12/25

Rhode Island Environmental Police Officer Anthony Sullivan patrolling Rhode Island waters. May 17-23 is National Safe Boating Week.

DEM ramping up water patrols and education

Whether you’re on the high seas or just cruising the bay, navigate the water safely and wear your life jacket. Environmental police officers from the R.I. Department of Environmental … more

5/12/25

The redesigned signs, one at each planned entry to the development known as “The Met”, off Veterans Memorial Parkway. The Waterfront Commission had rejected a previous design that was 21 feet tall. The approved signs are 11 feet, seven inches tall.

Waterfront Commission approves smaller signs for Met development

While the East Providence Waterfront Commission checked off one of its final local approvals for the development, the group fighting against the development continues its efforts. more

By Ethan Hartley | 5/8/25

Valarie Lawson, a lifelong Townie and member of the Senate since 2018, was elected to succeed the late Dominick Ruggerio to become the next President of the Rhode Island Senate on Tuesday, April 29.

10 questions with new Senate President Val Lawson

Valarie Lawson reflects on her historic rise to one of the loftiest political positions in the state, pay respects to mentor she succeeded, and highlight some of the state’s priority issues ahead. more

By Ethan Hartley | 5/7/25

An ocean state of mind — a local find in East Providence

Access to water views is a dream for most vacationers, but in the Ocean State, the view becomes a daily reality for some homeowners who live near the water — especially with the right design in … more

By Michelle Mercure | 5/7/25

Confined to bed, driven to give back to children battling illnesses

It typically takes about two decades from birth to reach the milestone of college graduation — a major turning point in most people’s lives. Many are in their lower to mid-twenties … more

By Michelle Mercure | 5/7/25

The sandwich isn’t called an “Italian” like at other sandwich places, because Italian Corner believes in staying true to serving the kind of food you would find in Italy, which emphasizes simple ingredients put together in reasonable portions.

East Providence boasts the best sandwich in Rhode Island

Italian Corner Deli in East Providence continues to win accolades and return customers with its simple sandwich creations, executed to authentic perfection. more

By Ethan Hartley | 5/6/25

Defensive back Jason Brown (left) looks on as teammates Zach Kollet (middle) and Nolan Travassos crunch a Wheeler attacker, knocking the ball loose, during the Townies loss to Wheeler on Thursday.

Townies lacrosse improving despite loss to Wheeler School

The East Providence lacrosse team fell to Wheeler School 23-3 during a non-league game on Thursday night. Keigan Grant scored 2 goals, and Nolan Travassos with 1 goal 2 assists for the Townies who dropped their record to 3-4 in Division 4. more

Story and photos by Rich Dionne | 5/6/25

Children help pick and gather vegetables during the last summer harvest. The garden is used as an educational tool for kids at the Y to learn about how vegetables are grown, and their importance.

East Providence residents to be named among YMCA Heroes

East Providence residents and siblings Donna and Steve Yan were raised to understand how vital food was to sustaining not just a household, but an entire community. more

By Ethan Hartley | 5/5/25

“Celeste” by Chris Plaisted has been shown for the last year near the East Bay Bike Path in town at the corner of Child Street and Railroad Avenue as part of the Warren Arts and Cultural Commission's Rotating Sculpture Program.

Warren Arts and Culture Commission issues artists call

The Warren Arts and Cultural Commission (WACC) is issuing its next call for a second sculpture to be showcased along the East Bay Bike Path in town at the corner of Child Street and Railroad Avenue. … more

5/1/25

Recycling bins sit outside of the East Providence Department of Public Works building on Commercial Way.

DaSilva doubles down on recycling fines after some citations dismissed

Around a dozen citations for improper recycling were recently dismissed from East Providence municipal court, but it hasn't deterred the city's mayor from the original goal of the $50 fines. more

By Ethan Hartley | 4/30/25

Valarie Lawson, a lifelong Townie and member of the Senate since 2018, was elected by a majority of her Senate peers to succeed the late Dominick Ruggerio to become the next President of the Rhode Island Senate on Tuesday, April 29.

East Providence's Valarie Lawson elected President of Rhode Island Senate

Lifelong Townie and Rhode Island Senator since 2018, Val Lawson has completed her ascendance to one of the state's most powerful political positions. more

By Ethan Hartley | 4/29/25

Alyssa Karalekas looks to shoot during the Townies 8-7 overtime win over Smithfield on Thursday. Karalekas scored 4 goals during the game and leads the team in scoring.

Townies remain undefeated in girls' lacrosse

The undefeated East Providence girls' lacrosse team remains undefeated eight games into their 2025 season. more

By Richard W. Dionne Jr. | 4/29/25

PCD music teacher, Piera Leone, leads elementary school students in the singing of “Let it Grow” from “The Lorax”.

The goal for urban canopy in East Providence? 'Let it grow'

The sun, and the spotlight, shone down on Providence Country Day (PCD) School to commemorate the state’s 138th annual celebration of Arbor Day. more

By Ethan Hartley | 4/28/25

A black and white film photograph taken by former East Providence resident, Dorothy Elliott, in 1963 has a written inscription below: “Aerial firefighter…Helicopter approaches oil fire in pit.”

Snapshots from their late mother's photojournalist past

Over 60 years ago, Dorothy Elliott proved that a photo was worth 1,000 words, and at least 2,000 subscribers. more

By Ethan Hartley | 4/24/25

Boat ends up high and dry on Metacom

A Barrington boater's season got off to a rough start when an Albin fishing boat fell from its trailer following an accident near the Bristol and Warren line about 3 p.m. Wednesday. The Albin … more

4/23/25