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

Riverside Middle School lot/field project crosses last hurdle

EAST PROVIDENCE — After years of dilly-dallying caused mostly by internal forces though with a few external ones as well, the City Council, at its October 4 gathering, at last gave final approval to a … more

By Mike Rego | 10/8/22

Letter: Thanks for helping with the pumpkin patch

To the editor: This past Saturday approximately three thousand pumpkins were unloaded onto the front lawn at St. John’s Episcopal Church. Once again we are indebted to student groups, … more

10/7/22

Local candidates for general assembly seats (top row, from left to right) Sam Read (House, District 66), Jason Knight (House, District 67), Pam Lauria (Senate, District 32) and (bottom row) Jennifer Boylan (House, District 66), Scott Fuller (House, District 67) and Rhonda Holmes (Senate, District 32).

Ask the candidates: Would you make changes to the gun laws?

Question: Would you like to see any changes made to Rhode Island’s gun laws? District 32, Senate Pam Lauria (D) — “As a Moms Demand Action volunteer, I have strenuously … more

10/7/22

Some of the upgrades at the Rock/E.P. Senior Center include building a Pickleball court (left) and a walking path (right).

Upgrades to E.P. Senior Center grounds are nearing completion

EAST PROVIDENCE — A multi-faceted project to upgrade the Robert Rock/East Providence Senior Center grounds in nearing completion. Begun in the spring, the improvements included the … more

By Mike Rego | 10/7/22

Sajo Jefferson (left) and Julia Chang, who are both part of the leadership team at Movement Ground Farm in Tiverton, gave visitors a tour of the farm, stopping to talk about the sheep behind them, and the unique efforts of their farm to engage young and minority populations in farming. Everyone on the leadership team at Movement Ground is under the age of 35 and most come from Providence to work there.

The food network is hard at work

Research suggests the average person thinks about food 15% of their day. That’s of course their own food, or their family’s food, and those thoughts are typically connected to the rumble … more

By Scott Pickering | 10/6/22

Little Compton Community Center Executive Director Amy Mooney gives a welcome speech during a presentation on the Center's history.

Little Compton Community Center celebrates 25 years

The Little Compton Community Center hosted its 25th Anniversary celebration recently, giving residents and neighbors to meet each other and gather in a space dedicated to the members of the community … more

By Jen Campisi | 10/6/22

Warren seeking artist for Town Wharf project

Submissions are due on or before Friday, Oct. 28. more

10/6/22

Bristol Council candidates meet in live forum tonight

The eight candidates competing for five seats on the next Bristol Town Council will meet in a live forum tonight, Thursday, Oct. 6. The candidates include all five incumbents (independents Nathan … more

10/6/22

Barrington School Committee candidates (from left to right) Margaret Reid, TJ Peck, Frazier Bell, and Rudy Seber.

Ask the candidates: How can we better prepare BHS students for college/career?

Question: What steps, if any, could Barrington High School take to better prepare students for college and/or career? Rudy Seber (D) — “As a grateful BHS alumnus, I would work with … more

10/6/22

Former Barrington Probate Judge Marvin Homonoff (pictured left) sits on the "Judge's Bench" surrounded by his family.

Former judge gets his own bench in Barrington

Marvin Homonoff now has his own "Judge's Bench," outside of the Barrington Public Library and Community Center. Homonoff was given the bench in recognition of his 33 years as Barrington Probate … more

10/6/22

Nathan Minese leads a tour of the earthworks surrounding Butts Hill Fort in 2020. Public Archeology Laboratory just released an archeologic assessment of the property, which makes several recommendations related to future restoration work there.

Portsmouth: Butts Hill Fort archeologic report released

PORTSMOUTH — Members of a local nonprofit who have pledged to restore and maintain Butts Hill Fort, a Revolutionary War earthwork, have their work cut out for them following the release … more

By Jim McGaw | 10/6/22

A view of the new Cumberland Farm convenience store on Newport Avenue from earlier in the summer of 2022.

E.P. Council resoundingly rebuffs Cumberland Farms 24-hour petition

EAST PROVIDENCE — A request heard last week by the City Council from Cumberland Farms seeking to have its latest franchise in city located on Newport Avenue as part of the “Newport … more

By Mike Rego | 10/6/22

Dave Squillante and Doran Smith, pictured during a less frantic moment of their recent honeymoon in Barcelona, Spain.

Heroic honeymooners help save 25 children from burning Barcelona nursery

Bristol couple Dave Squillante and Doran Smith were enjoying their long-awaited honeymoon in Barcelona, Spain, until fate called them into action. more

By Ethan Hartley | 10/6/22

Bristol resident Stephen Knapman with one of the many images he captured over several days assessing the damage to family’s, friends’, and his own property in west Florida. This image shows destroyed properties along Pine Island Road on Matlacha, near where the road washed out, preventing access to the island.

Bristolians tell their stories from Hurricane Ian

Current and former Bristol residents found themselves in the crosshairs of last week's devastating Florida hurricane. Here are a few of their stories. more

By Christy Nadalin | 10/5/22

Primrose Hill School parents Elizabeth Singh, Sophia Melisaratos, Heather Magnussen, Meredith McBride, Kristen Pearse, Erika Twohig, Robert Tisdale and Jessica Cabral-LaFreniere (from left to right) stand for a photo outside the school last week. A number of parents are frustrated with the overcrowding issue at Primrose Hill.

They're packed in at Primrose Hill School

Just how crowded is Primrose Hill School? For starters, a group of third-graders are using the cafeteria as a classroom. The art and music rooms were sacrificed to make space for other classes. … more

By Josh Bickford | 10/5/22

Artists Gary and Suzi Graham in their Graham Gallery, opened earlier this year at 412A Thames St.

New Thames Street gallery hosting numerous meet-the-artist events

Beginning in 2020, confined to their home, painting became an everyday escape for Gary and Suzi Graham. more

By Christy Nadalin | 10/5/22

Don E. Cowart II began his new role as superintendent of Coventry public schools on Oct. 1. He grew up in Warren and graduated from Warren High School in 1987.

Don Cowart, Warren native, is Coventry's new superintendent

Don Cowart II began his tenure as Coventry’s superintendent this week, the culmination of a nearly 30-year career in education that began as a teacher in New Jersey. more

By Ethan Hartley | 10/5/22

Members of the BHS boys cross country team pose for a photo following the 2022 Woods Trail Run hosted by Thetford Academy in Thetford, Vt.

Barrington cross country teams shine in Vermont

The Barrington High School cross country teams recently proved that training on flat ground does not mean you can’t run hills. The BHS boys team ran to a third place finish at the … more

10/5/22

Hennessey Elementary School third grade teacher Emily Rendine gathers with her students after receiving the 2022 Milken Educator Award.

East Providence teacher Rendine receives $25,000 Milken Award

EAST PROVIDENCE — Hennessey Elementary School third grade teacher Emily Rendine received a 2022 Milken Educator Award, presented by the Milken Family Foundation, in the amount of $25,000 during … more

10/5/22

First singles player Elsa White hits a forehand/backhand during her match against Sonya Pareek of Barrington. She won the match, 6-1, 6-3, and is currently 6-1 on the season.

White qualifies for states as tennis team competes in D-I

The move up to Division I has been difficult for the Mt. Hope tennis team who are now 3-4 on the season after losing to Barrington 6-1 on Monday afternoon. Last season the Huskies were the Division … more

Story and photos by Richard W. Dionne, Jr. | 10/5/22

Barrington Town Council candidates (clockwise from top left) Kate Berard, Jarrod Ryan, Ray Clark, and Braxton Medlin.

Ask the candidates: How will you vote on the marijuana question?

Question: How will you vote on the ballot question about whether to allow retail sales of recreational cannabis in Barrington? Braxton Medlin (D) — “I will vote yes. Regardless of my … more

10/5/22

Tiverton fire crews at the scene of an outdoor blaze.

Tiverton Fire Department sues town over pay

The union that represents Tiverton’s firefighters is suing the town, claiming it violated Rhode Island law in calculating overtime pay for its members. Tiverton Firefighters Local 1703, the … more

By Ruth Rasmussen | 10/4/22

An aerial view depicts how the building would appear compared to surrounding structures. The Tourister Mill is the large complex at the back.

Citizens united in opposition to Water Street development

Over 15 residents spoke in opposition to a proposed four-story, 17-unit affordable housing development that would be located at 119 Water St. and would require nine zoning variances. more

By Ethan Hartley | 10/4/22

Hannah Wolbach carries freshly picked crops Friday morning.

Westport Profiles in Farming: Hannah Wolbach

This week begins a new, semi-weekly series in the Westport Shorelines, "Profiles in Farming." Deanna Levanti, a member of the Westport Agricultural Commission, will talk with Westport-area farmers … more

By Deanna Levanti | 10/4/22

East Providence begins statistical revaluation process in October

EAST PROVIDENCE — The city through its newly-hired private sector appraiser will begin the Statistical Revaluation Project of properties throughout East Providence, a process delayed a year … more

10/4/22