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Maximus "Max" Julian (right) fishing off Little Compton, in a photo provided by his family.

Alleged murderer of Little Compton man indicted

The man accused of murdering a Little Compton resident in Newport six months ago has been indicted by the statewide grand jury on a charge of murder. Tyrese Poulsen, 18, of Newport, is scheduled … more

By Ted Hayes | 12/2/21

Volunteer Elizabeth Peters helps client Joe Barreiro with selecting produce during a visit to the East Bay Food Pantry in Bristol last week.

Food prices are rising, and so are trips to local food banks

Everything is getting more expensive, and that includes food. According to the latest report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the annual rate of inflation in the United States was 6.2 … more

By Scott Pickering | 12/2/21

Every Student Initiative (ESI) members Charlie Townsend and Anna Conheeny discuss the best way of joining two pieces of material to make a blanket in the basement of St. Barnabas Church on Sunday. ESI has been making and giving away the blankets to children with cancer for the past four years.

In Portsmouth: Coverings of kindness

PORTSMOUTH — Young cancer patients at Hasbro Children’s Hospital will soon be a little warmer at night, thanks to members of Every Student Initiative (ESI). more

By Jim McGaw | 11/16/21

AJ Amaio (left) a senior member of the Portsmouth High School Marching Band, personally thanks Army veteran George Cushman, 90, for his service during a Veterans Day tribute at Thriving Tree Coffee House on Thursday, Nov. 11. Cushman, who regrets having stopped playing piano when he joined the military many years ago, urged band members to always keep playing music throughout their lives.

In Portsmouth: ‘This is one Veterans Day I will never forget’

PORTSMOUTH — George Cushman was pumped up. The 90-year-old Army veteran shook his fist and waved other veterans over to join him in front of the Portsmouth High School Marching Band before … more

By Jim McGaw | 11/12/21

The restaurant industry faces a crisis, as nearly every business struggles to find and retain the workers who keep them running

Restaurants short on staff and high on stress — Apply within

The signs are everywhere. Literally, the signs are everywhere. “Help Wanted.” “Now hiring.” “Seeking: Line Cooks, Bartenders, Dishwashers.” Almost … more

By Scott Pickering | 11/11/21

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

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

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

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

Staff from the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) spent 90 minutes talking aquaculture before the Tiverton Harbor Commission Monday evening. Representatives included (from left) executive director Jeffrey Willis, deputy director James Boyd and aquaculture specialist Benjamin Goetsch.

CRMC, wary audience talk oyster farms in Tiverton

Representatives from the state's Coastal Resources Management Council got an earful Monday evening when they appeared before the Tiverton Harbor Commission to talk about the changing face of … more

By Ted Hayes | 10/6/21

A short term rental in Tiverton, from the Air BnB website.

Tiverton modifies proposed short term rentals ordinance

Head Tiverton council amends short term rentals plan Subhead Council continues work on short term rental ordinance; planning board to review prior to council … more

By Ruth Rasmussen | 9/29/21

Pennfield School eighth-grader Spencer Mazur works on a drawing during an outdoor art class.

These schools opened — and stayed opened

When The Pennfield School in Portsmouth recently held an assembly on their front lawn celebrating the 50th anniversary of the start of classes, students and staff, all masked and spread out, were … more

By Lucy Probert | 9/24/21

Whit Collier, atop his wingfoil, catches the wind as he heads out from Fogland last Wednesday. He made it as far as Sakonnet Point.

Foiled! Tiverton fund-raiser brings in $1,500 for alzheimer's research

If you happened to look out to the Sakonnet River between Fogland and Sakonnet Point last Wednesday, and spotted a strange-looking inflatable sail attached to a stubby elevated surfboard, with a … more

By Ted Hayes | 9/23/21

Jessica Szpila poses with a freshly-banded female Saltmarsh Sparrow, just before releasing her.

Saving the Saltmarsh Sparrow

The Saltmarsh Sparrow has nested in low-lying salt marshes in the Northeast for thousands of years. Climate change and rising sea levels now threaten their existence. more

By Ethan Hartley | 9/16/21

A conversation with the team behind Bristol Porchfest (PODCAST)

Host Kevin Centazzo, aka Kevin from Bristol, speaks with Bristol Porchfest Co-Chair Nancy Kellner and Co-Technical Director Joe Caron on the highly popular event coming to downtown Bristol this … more

9/15/21

A mute swan swims along the north shore of Briggs Marsh early Wednesday morning.

DEM calls off Little Compton swan hunt this year

The state Department of Environmental Management (DEM) cancelled this week its plan to euthanize an untold number of mute swans on Briggs Marsh, under a controversial state policy put in place 15 … more

By Ted Hayes | 8/20/21

Volunteers Holly Billings (left) and Helen Pereira inspect some of the fresh local produce available this past Saturday at the Little Compton Food Bank

Little Compton Food Bank busier than ever

By 10:30 this past Saturday, the volunteers at the Little Compton Food Bank had nearly exhausted the day's supply of fresh produce and fruit. It was a busy morning, with a steady stream of Tiverton … more

By Ted Hayes | 8/18/21

McKee stops short of mandating masks in Rhode Island schools

PROVIDENCE — Governor Dan McKee, following up on updated recommendations made earlier this week by the Centers of Disease Control as the “Delta” variant of the coronavirus has … more

By Mike Rego | 7/29/21

Tim Palmer in the garage with one of his Mean Green electric riding mowers.

The sound of (near) silence — Tim’s Lawn Care goes electric

WESTPORT — Ah, the sweet sounds of summer — birds chirping, children at play and the Friday evening din of the lawn care company’s stand-on mowers and 80-decibel backpack blowers … more

By Bruce Burdett | 7/23/21

Bruce Burdett at a patio table outside his Bristol home, where he often works. The editor of The Sakonnet Times and Westport Shorelines is retiring this week after 45 years with East Bay Newspapers. “There’s something in all of us that likes to tell people stories, and this was my way to be able to do it,” he said.

After 5 decades in journalism, Bruce Burdett's hanging up his notebook

When Bruce Burdett first arrived in Bristol to start his new job at East Bay Newspapers in the mid-’70s, he was just two years out of college with only minimal experience working for his school … more

By Jim McGaw | 7/22/21

Tiverton man charged with child molestation after missing Pennsylvania girl found

TIVERTON — A Tiverton man faces a charge of first degree child molestation sexual assault after a missing Pennsylvania girl was found at a Tiverton home on Wednesday, July 7. Tiverton Police … more

By Bruce Burdett | 7/15/21

Jeremy Howard poses with Harper Oates, the inspiration for The Play Brigade, alongside the ‘Fearless Girl’ statue in New York City. The statue originally faced the “Bull of Wall Street statue and children often climbed up to pose for pictures with the girl. When Harper first visited she was unable to because of the raised plinth. Her mother was instrumental in advocating for the statue to be repositioned at ground level when it was later moved across the street from the NYSE. This picture was taken at the conclusion of the Fearless Girl relay that Ms. Oates organized.

Little Compton man tackles The Long Trail — at double time

LITTLE COMPTON — On or about June 20, the plan was for Little Compton ultramarathon runner Jeremy Howard to get himself to the village of North Troy, Vt., on the Canadian border. There, at … more

Bruce Burdett | 6/24/21

Max Julian tends a net from the bow of one of the work boats as the Maria Mendonsa circles in the background on a murky morning.

Family, friends mourn student/fisherman

LITTLE COMPTON — At 22 years old, Little Compton resident Maximus Julian was about to graduate … more

Bruce Burdett | 6/11/21