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

Tiverton man critical after crash Friday evening

Tiverton police believe speed and alcohol contributed to an accident Friday night that left a Tiverton resident in the hospital in critical condition. Police and fire crews were called to the … more

By Ted Hayes | 7/15/22

Option 2A calls for one new grades 1 to 5 school, and a renovated 1 to 5 school, with a combined early learning center.

Proposed plans: Construction, renovation, demolition for Barrington schools

Members of the Barrington School Building Committee have two weeks to decide which of the six construction plans for new schools in Barrington they want to recommend to the school committee. The … more

By Josh Bickford | 7/15/22

Westport urges water conservation as drought sets in

The Westport Board Health is urging residents to keep water conditions in mind, after low rainfall and high temperatures contributed to Level 2 Drought conditions in Westport and across most of the … more

7/15/22

Cindy and John Bowdren enjoy a brew on the top deck at Ragged Island Brewing Company. The farm brewery will host the Ocean State Beer Festival on Sunday, Aug. 21.

Portsmouth’s Ragged Island to host Ocean State Beer Festival

PORTSMOUTH — After a two-year hiatus, the Ocean State Beer Festival will return on Sunday, Aug. 21, with Ragged Island Brewing Company hosting. The event will run from 2-5:30 p.m. at … more

7/15/22

Paul LaFleur (right) was recently sworn in as the new President of Bristol Rotary for the fiscal year 2022-23 during a lunch meeting at DeWolf Tavern.

Bristol Rotary Club welcomes a new president

Paul LaFleur was recently sworn in as the new President of the Bristol Rotary Club for the fiscal year 2022-23. more

7/14/22

East Providence man dies in recent kayaking accident

PROVIDENCE — The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management has identified Rui Resendes, 56, of East Providence as the decedent in an incident that took place in Newport on July … more

7/14/22

Rumford Minor Stars reach Silva tourney championship round

EAST PROVIDENCE — The Rumford Little League squad in the District 2 Ron Silva Minor Baseball Division All-Star event reached the winners’ bracket final against Bristol where they won by a … more

Photos by Tyler Maxwell | 7/14/22

Thomas Dawson, a Bristol resident, took off this week to begin hiking the entirety of the Appalachian Trail with his older brother, John. He smiles as he talks about the cushioned shoes he will wear, which he has been teased resemble “Frankenstein shoes”.

Bristol resident sets off for 2,194-mile hike on the Appalachian Trail

“We’re both worried we won’t be able to bring enough toilet paper,” Thomas Dawson, a Burton Street resident, said with a laugh. more

By Ethan Hartley | 7/14/22

The Town Council on Monday reversed its earlier decision to enter into a one-year pilot program to install automatic license plate readers on the Mt. Hope Bridge to assist police in suicide prevention.

No license plate readers on Mt. Hope Bridge after all

Four weeks after approving a pilot program that would have put automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) cameras on the Mt. Hope Bridge to assist police in suicide prevention, the Town Council Monday night voted unanimously to rescind its previous vote. more

By Jim McGaw | 7/14/22

Police: Summer camp teens caught with booze at Barrington Beach

Someone called Barrington Police on Saturday, July 9 to report teenagers drinking alcohol at the town beach at about 6 p.m. Police responded and located a group of about a dozen teens. Police … more

7/14/22

A visitor casts a line into the Sakonnet River from the end of the Stone Bridge abutment in Portsmouth on Saturday. Part of Teddi’s Beach is seen at left. The R.I. Department of Transportation has offered to sell both the beach and the abutment to the town for $300,000, and the Town Council on Monday voted unanimously to pursue the proposal.

In Portsmouth: A ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ opportunity

PORTSMOUTH — The town is moving ahead with plans to turn the shabby Stone Bridge abutment and adjacent Teddi’s Beach into a waterfront spot that residents can proudly call their … more

By Jim McGaw | 7/14/22

Barrington’s Alexandra Smuk (left) and her sister Dasha competed at the USA Fencing National Championships in Minneapolis, Minn. earlier this month — both earned top-five finishes in their respective divisions.

Barrington sisters shine at fencing nationals

Two Barrington sisters placed in the top-five in their respective divisions at the USA Fencing National Championships in Minneapolis, Minn. earlier this month. Alexandra Smuk and her older … more

7/14/22

A reader submitted a photo of three versions of a flier found throughout downtown Bristol on July 5 and 6. We have blocked out the contact information provided on the fliers.

Bristol Police investigating white nationalist fliers

The Bristol Police Department is investigating the origin of fliers found along the Bristol 4th of July parade route that advertise a self-proclaimed “pro-white” New England nationalist social club. more

By Ethan Hartley | 7/14/22

Barrington Business and Community Association Chairman Bryan Hoffman (left) listens as board member Sarah Huard talks about the upcoming street fair planned for Wood Avenue this Sunday. The event is expected to feature more than 40 vendors, three food trucks and will include live musical performances.

Barrington prepares for its first-ever street fair this Sunday

Live music, food trucks, and dozens of vendors: Welcome to the first-ever Barrington Street Fair. The event will be held this Sunday, July 17, from 3 to 6 p.m., and promises something for just … more

By Josh Bickford | 7/14/22

This section of Schoolhouse road will be closed off for four months as culverts are installed to replace old drainage pipes.

Four-month detour for Schoolhouse Road travelers begins

The temporary closure will allow the Department to replace old drainage pipes under the road with culverts. more

7/13/22

Phase I of the plan calls for a new multi-purpose field, a new baseball diamond, and an expanding parking lot.

Manager about Haines Park plan: ‘minimal impact design’

The town manager wants residents to know that the renovation of athletic fields at Haines Park is just one piece of the work that officials would like to see completed there. Phil Hervey … more

By Josh Bickford | 7/13/22

A photo depicts Bristol’s Firemen’s Muster from Sept 3, 1906. This year, however, will not feature the water battle.

Bristol's popular Firemen's Muster returns this Sunday

For the first time since 2019, Bristol’s bravest will hold their spirited competition. more

By Christy Nadalin | 7/13/22

Westport, Horseneck beaches closed to swimming after shark sighting

Westport has closed town beaches to swimming, following a near-shore shark spotting at Horseneck Beach Wednesday morning. Horseneck was the first to close following the sighting Wednesday morning. … more

7/13/22

Michelle King spent 11 years in Lincoln public schools before joining Mt. Hope during the 2016/17 year as assistant principal.

Michelle King appointed Mt. Hope interim principal

Michelle King, assistant principal of Mt. Hope High School since the 2016/17 school year, was named the school’s interim principal on Monday. more

By Ethan Hartley | 7/13/22

Volunteers man the chicken dinner grills during last year's fair. This year, the chicken barbecue will be held Saturday evening.

All's fair in Westport — fair opens Wednesday

For the first time in three years, the Westport Fair is back, full strength and restriction-free, this week. The fair kicked off Wednesday evening at the fairgrounds on Pine Hill Road, and … more

By Ted Hayes | 7/13/22

Tiverton wants traffic study before Seasons Market plan vote

Nearly two dozen speakers pleaded with the Tiverton Planning Board Tuesday evening to reject a proposal by a Cranston-based company that wants to build a Seasons Corner Market, a 24-hour convenience store, gas … more

By Ruth Rasmussen | 7/13/22

Members of the Barrington Juniors Division All-Star baseball team pose for a photo following their 14-4 win over East Providence in the District 2 Championship game.

Barrington Juniors top East Providence, win District 2 title

The Barrington Juniors Division All-Star baseball team outscored East Providence 14-4 and captured the District 2 championship late last week. Barrington opened the District 2 tournament … more

7/13/22

Danny Dawson, his grandmother, Paula Dawson, aunt, Brooke Dawson, and brother, Neil, enjoy a meal at Blount’s Clamshack on Friday evening.

Destination Water Street

Could Water Street in Warren hold the densest collection of great restaurants in all of Rhode Island? It’s been a legitimate question for a few years, and recent developments have only … more

By Scott Pickering | 7/13/22

Seven Steps to Solving the Barrington Fields Problem: (Steps 1-6 shown in yellow) 1. Put artificial turf at Barrington High School's Victory Field. 2. Share this field with youth sports on weeknights and weekends. 3. Negotiate for field usage with St. Andrew’s School. 4. Sign long-term agreement with St. Andrew’s and invest in new field and parking. 5. St. Andrew’s Farm Field – already in great condition. 6. At Barrington Middle School, move baseball field (not shown on map) to Haines and dedicate two fields for youth sports. 7. (shown in red) Throughout the new corridor of sports fields, add sidewalks, crosswalks, pedestrian paths, signage and safety measures.

A new vision for sports fields in Barrington

Last month I attended a Barrington Recreation Commission workshop focused on the town’s plan to spend perhaps $1.1 million of American Rescue dollars to move a baseball field and create a new … more

By Scott Pickering | 7/13/22

Barrington Police: Woman charged with possession of stolen vehicle, resisting arrest

Barrington Police received a 911 call for an erratic driver on County Road at about 7:30 p.m. on Monday, July 4. Officers responded and spoke to witnesses, who said the female motorist nearly … more

7/12/22