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These eight Portsmouth High School seniors are going on to service academies this month (from left): Colby Fahrney (USNA), Amory Kirwin (USNA but deferred for one year due to injury), James Andersen (USNA), John Maedke (USAFA), Garen Seibert (USAFA), Jack Pacheco (USMA), Maria Chytka (USMA), and Ethan Courville (USMA). This photo was taken after an informational session the seniors presented to younger PHS students.

These Portsmouth High graduates are at your service

PORTSMOUTH — Eight members of the Portsmouth High School Class of 2022 won’t have much time to celebrate their summer vacation after being awarded diplomas tonight, June 3. … more

By Jim McGaw | 6/3/22

Not another moment of silence

I’m sick to death of observing another moment of silence when children have been murdered, particularly in a school setting. Since 2018 there have been 119 school shootings. The most recent … more

By Arlene Violet, Esq. | 6/3/22

Editorial: Pass new gun laws now

Rhode Island has enacted a handful of smart gun laws in the past decade, but it is not enough. At least five common-sense gun regulation bills sit stagnant in the Rhode Island General Assembly, where … more

6/2/22

Advocates celebrated back in 2018, when then-Gov. Gina Raimondo signed an executive order making Rhode Island the first state to act on new gun policies since a gunman shot and killed 17 people at a Florida high school earlier that month. The event was attended by hundreds of people, including many students. Rep. Jason Knight (holding microphone) addressed the crowd in the Statehouse lobby at the time.

The long fight for new gun laws

There are many ways to absorb and process news of a lone gunman slaughtering 19 children and two teachers in Uvalde, Texas. Images of the smiling, mostly 10-year-olds and their teachers evoke sorrow, … more

By Scott Pickering | 6/2/22

Little Compton eyes green town vehicles

At the urging of a local resident, the Little Compton Town Council will ask town officials to research the pros and cons of going green through a gradual conversion of town-owned, gas-powered … more

By Ruth Rasmussen | 6/1/22

Sakonnet lawmakers vote 3-2 to legalize marijuana

A majority the Sakonnet area's legislative delegation is celebrating legal recreational marijuana in the Ocean State, following Gov. Dan McKee's passage Wednesday of the Rhode Island Cannabis Act, … more

By Ted Hayes | 5/27/22

An architect's rendering of the proposed Seasons Corner Market.

Tiverton residents wary over proposed convenience store

A proposal to build a 24-hour convenience store, gas station and drive-through coffee shop at Souza and Main roads isn't sitting well with neighbors and some planning board members, who are concerned … more

By Ruth Rasmussen | 5/27/22

Affordable housing and Little Compton

To the editor: Little Compton's Agricultural Trust is a national treasure and a model for how to protect open space and environmental quality against overdevelopment. I watched the costs of … more

5/27/22

Make property owners responsible for swales

To the editor: In the rural town in which I live, our road system is slowly failing. Little by little, stormwater is eroding “everything.” To slow down/redirect the stormwater … more

5/27/22

I'll take diversity of thought over GOP group think, thank you

To the editor: Some witticisms, true then, are true now. Cowboy wit Will Rogers once said “I am a member of no organized political party. I’m a Democrat.” Sure enough, the … more

5/27/22

Flag decision was not homophobic, but practical

To the editor: My reason for voting against flying the Pride flag on the Little Compton Town Hall was not anti-LGBTQ, but was for the reasons below: First off, I want to say that … more

5/27/22

Letter: What religious freedom on abortion actually means

To the editor: Our legislators must pass H7442/S2549, the Equality in Abortion Coverage Act, out of committee in the name of religious freedom. In listening to the testimonies provided to the … more

5/26/22

Little Compton won't fly Pride flag

In a split vote, the Little Compton Town Council last Thursday declined a local organization’s request to display the Pride flag at the town hall building during a community Pride celebration … more

By Ruth Rasmussen | 5/25/22

Little Compton letter writer publishes book from the 'Back 40'

Little Compton resident Sidney Tynan, whose letters on nature and life have graced the pages of the Westport Shorelines for years, has published some of them in a new book, "More Country Letters," … more

By Ted Hayes | 5/24/22

Letters: Internal combustion engines aren’t the problem

To the editor: If Mr. Voutes (“Blown away by gas-powered lawn equipment” letter, May 19) seeks solitude and improved health by the elimination of internal combustion engines (ICE) he's … more

5/24/22

Police Officer Maddie Pirri checks Renesha Duncan for vitals during a mock DUI crash event staged outside Portsmouth High School in front of seniors last week. Duncan, a sophomore, was playing the part of a passenger who was killed after being ejected from a car operated by a drunk driver. Looking on at right is Anastacia Inman, another student who played one of Duncan’s friends. In the middle are Police Officers Amanda Weaver (left) and JeanMarie Stewart.

In Portsmouth: ‘This actually happens in real life’

PORTSMOUTH — Portsmouth 911 — what’s your emergency? Hi, there’s an accident at the high school. It looks like there’s two cars. I can’t see too well; I was … more

By Jim McGaw | 5/24/22

Gary Plunkett, of the Tiverton Open Space Commission, talks about native species with Sue Theriault of the Little Compton Tree Committee.

Little Compton's 'Meehan Triangle' to be a model for nature-based land stewardship

The tiny sliver of land tucked between Old Main and West Main roads, near Taylor's Lane, is easy to miss — it's just two and a half acres. But botany lovers in Little Compton and Tiverton … more

By Ted Hayes | 5/20/22

Op-ed: How will children grade us?

One in four households with children in Rhode Island are food insecure, meaning they struggle to afford adequate food. more

By Andrew Schiff | 5/20/22

Perky Nellissen and 8-month-old Ziti pose together at their Little Compton home. Nellissen and Ziti are both going through guide dog training for the first time.

Guide dog training – learning as they go

1 Perky Nellissen and 8-month-old Ziti pose together at their Little Compton home. Nellissen and Ziti are both going through guide dog training for the first time. 2 Perky Nellissen teaches … more

By Lucy Probert | 5/19/22

East Bay Homes - May 2022

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5/19/22

End nuclear weapons, or they may end us

To the editor: Last June, the Little Compton Town Council voted to endorse part of the policy platform of the Back from the Brink campaign, a national grassroots effort advocating for the … more

5/19/22

Dear Republicans, I'll try to use better rhetoric

To the editor: Mea “Gulpa!” Authors of three published letters have criticized three of my recent letters to the editor. I thank all readers. One writer called me out regarding … more

5/19/22

Thank you for addressing shoreline access issues

To the editor: Your excellent articles on shoreline access, including the last one on April 21 by Glen Sherman, finally deal with the elephant which has been lurking in our collective … more

5/19/22

Ashley Kalus’ media buy is a knockout

Since she is an unknown candidate in the gubernatorial race, Republican Ashley Kalus has commenced a media buy in order to get name recognition. One campaign ad shows her as a boxer (with … more

By Arlene Violet | 5/13/22

Letter: Opposed to taxpayer funding for abortion on demand

I am writing in strong opposition to taxpayer funding for abortion on demand in Rhode Island. There is a bill in the state legislature (S2549 and H7442) which will allocate your tax … more

5/13/22