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

The Rhode Island Department of Transportation closed the bike path bridges in Oct. 2019. A Barrington resident said it's time the bridges were reopened.

Barrington man asks DOT to reopen bike path bridges

Where was the risk analysis? That is the question Barrington resident Peter Shinkle is asking town and state officials in regards to the closure of the East Bay Bike Path bridges. Mr. Shinkle … more

By Josh Bickford | 9/30/21

Part maker Sonia Borges, with Jade President Steve Holland, pose for a photo on the main floor.

Jade Engineered Plastics has grown, invested in the East Bay

From a 600-square-foot building in Bristol to its new 66,000-square-foot facility in Warren, Jade Engineered Plastics has shown that prosperous, local manufacturing is still alive on the East Bay. more

By Ethan Hartley | 9/30/21

Jonathan and Erin Chapman relax on the small deck on the north side of their home, overlooking Mint Water Brook. “It’s funny,” Erin said. “Jonathan’s parents’ house is on a rushing river and my parents are on a brook, so I think for both of us, that was always a part of what we grew up with.”

In Portsmouth: From historic mill house to ‘a fun place to live’

PORTSMOUTH — After stepping out of your car in Erin and Jonathan Chapman’s driveway that sits at the edge of the woods on Glen Farm Road, the first thing you hear is the peaceful … more

By Jim McGaw | 9/30/21

New interim superintendent Ed Mara and Assistant Superintendent Dianne Sanna at Monday night's meeting of the Bristol Warren Regional School Committee.

Schools accept money to begin their own testing program

Bristol Warren district welcomes outside grant to begin conducting in-school PCR tests more

By Ethan Hartley | 9/30/21

Members of the team “Bulldawgs,” with sailors from Florida, the Virgin Islands and California, slice through Bristol Harbor during racing last Friday. The U.S. Sailing Team Racing Championships took places over three days, with 204 races.

Bristol hosts national team sailing championship

It was a real community effort last weekend, as Bristol hosted the U.S. Sailing Team Racing National Championship. Over three days, 144 sailors on 24 teams battled for the Hinman Cup, sailing in 204 … more

By Christy Nadalin | 9/30/21

Louis Calcagni III, Christopher Anderson (partners at HUS Companies, Warren Town Planning Board member Frederick Massie, HUS Partner EJ Lanni, Warren Director of Planning and Community Development Bob Rulli, and Tom Ouellette, regional account executive for Lowes, break ground for the construction of The Lookout on Main.

HUS Companies breaks ground on Main Street condos

A 15-unit condominium building at 300 Main Street will feature two commercial units and four affordable housing units priced at 80 percent of the median income for the area. more

By Ethan Hartley | 9/29/21

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

Barrington’s Leigh Payne will represent Rhode Island in the Miss America Competition this December. The event will be held at Mohegan Sun.

Here she is, Miss Rhode Island

It is not the talent portion of the competition that concerns Leigh Payne — she is an accomplished pianist. And she is very comfortable speaking in public. No, Ms. Payne, who recently won … more

By Josh Bickford | 9/29/21

Student participants of the think tank event gather for a group photo after the brainstorming session wrapped up on Thursday morning.

Think tank seeks bridge between high school and professional world

Students from Mt. Hope High School and Highlander Charter School teamed up with local commerce and education leaders to discuss ways to better collaborate and prepare future generations of workers. more

By Ethan Hartley | 9/29/21

East Providence agrees to sell long-dormant Union Primary School property

EAST PROVIDENCE — Some 30 years since it stopped being an active academic site and after repeated attempts to either sell or convert it into other uses, an acceptable buyer has finally been … more

By Mike Rego | 9/29/21

Police taping off the Italo-American Club following the events of Sept. 2, which claimed the life of Asst. Fire Chief Brian Remy and the perpetrator, former club president, Michael Ouellette.

Italo-American Club gets liquor license back, for now

The Italo-American Club in Warren received a stay of its liquor license revocation, but with some strings attached. more

By Ethan Hartley | 9/29/21

Parents’ pleas heard — busing changes on the way in Barrington

Changes are coming to the school busing situation in Barrington. Late last week, Barrington School Committee Chairwoman Gina Bae said the district will be reducing the bus ridership eligibility … more

By Josh Bickford | 9/27/21

Selahattan Sep is keeping alive a centuries-old Kurdish craft from his home in Bristol with his shoemaking enterprise, Tigris Handmade. He’s show here with leather shoes in Grenada Red and Tigris Yellow; multicolored styles in the background are made from fabric imported from his business partner in Diyarbakır, a Kurdish-majority city located in Southeastern Turkey.

An ancient craft, now made here

Handmade of suede, intricately woven fabric, or leather in a variety of colors from the sedate Sequoia Brown to the eye-popping Yia Yia Green, the shoes hand-crafted by Bristol resident Selahattin … more

By Christy Nadalin | 9/26/21

The Hunt Ocean 63 was named the Best New Powerboat Over 40 Feet at the 2021 Newport International Boat Show Newport.

Portsmouth’s Hunt Yachts wins for best new powerboat over 40'

PORTSMOUTH — Hunt Yachts has a winner. The Portsmouth company’s Ocean 63 was named the best new powerboat over 40 feet at the 2021 Newport International Boat Show. Newport … more

9/24/21

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

Ela Pirri poses with her custom-designed sneakers.

A unique and charitable sole

Ela Pirri has grown up a lot since she first started raising money for Boston Children’s Hospital through the “Miles for Miracles” effort back in 2018. She’s a poised … more

By Christy Nadalin | 9/23/21

“Part of the goal is to champion the youth — that they can actually make a difference,” said Capt. Ann Ford of Youth With a Mission, here on the deck of the 98-foot, sloop-rigged Pacific Star, which is being restored at Hinckley Boat Yard for a mission trip to Micronesia later this year.

In Portsmouth: Crew prepares boat for long service journey

PORTSMOUTH — There are holes in the hull, rotted wood, a mess of equipment in the cabin, and patches of rust everywhere. After a cursory inspection of the 98-foot, sloop-rigged Pacific … more

By Jim McGaw | 9/23/21

Russell Goyette, owner of Trafford Restaurant (285 Water Street), and his fiancèe, Sherri Miles, inside the newly-renovated restaurant overlooking the river.

Trafford hopeful for October opening

After a fire in 2019, COVID hitting in 2020 and now facing hiring difficulties, the popular Trafford Restuarant has defied odds and is looking ahead to a fall reopening with a warm new aesthetic inside their Water Street building. more

By Ethan Hartley | 9/23/21

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

Barrington students wait at the intersection of County Road and Federal Road during the morning commute on Monday. Some parents are concerned about the district’s decision to eliminate some bus stops and strictly enforce the two-mile ridership eligibility rule.

Parents sound the alarm as bus stops disappear in Barrington

A number of parents have started the school year concerned, frustrated, and angry about student transportation issues, bus ridership eligibility, and the Barrington School Department’s response … more

By Josh Bickford | 9/22/21

The Bristol Warren Regional School Committee gives a short round of applause after unanimously approving Ed Mara (seated at far left) as its new interim superintendent of schools Tuesday night.

A familiar face returns to lead Bristol Warren district

At the end of a meeting that lasted a little more than an hour, the Bristol Warren Regional School Committee appointed a new interim superintendent on Tuesday night. The name is familiar to many; Dr. … more

9/22/21

EPPD arrest three individuals on animal cruelty, other charges

EAST PROVIDENCE – Three people were arrested on Monday, Sept. 20, by the East Providence Police Department Animal Control Unit and charged with several acts of improper treatment involving a … more

9/21/21

Town officials have been pressuring Shineharmony LLC, the owners of the property, to secure the vacant buildings, which have become an inviting target to vandals. Demolition of some of the buildings on the property began recently.

Demolition begins at long-vacant Zion property in Barrington

Owners of the former Zion Bible College property have ordered the demolition of some buildings there. According to Barrington Town Manager Jim Cunha, the demolition is beginning with the … more

9/21/21

Interim Superintendent of Schools Robert Hicks, sitting beside Assistant Superintendent Diane Sanna, presented his reopening plan to the school committee back in August. A heated closed-door meeting with the committee on Monday night led to his sudden resignation.

Conflict with school board members led to superintendent’s resignation

The unexpected resignation of interim Superintendent of Schools Robert Hicks from his role in the Bristol Warren Regional School District on Tuesday was a surprise to most everyone in the district. … more

By Scott Pickering | 9/17/21

Prior Market Street assault results in one fatality

An incident that took place on Aug. 26 on Market Street has resulted in the death of one man involved. more

9/16/21