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The tower at Belton Court has been the target of vandals recently — most of the windows have been smashed. The property owner is tasked with boarding up the broken windows and doors.

Zion property: Unsecured, unsafe and unsightly

The clock is ticking for owners of the former Zion Bible College property. Last month, members of the Barrington Building Board of Review placed a 30-day deadline for the property owners to … more

By Josh Bickford | 1/13/21

Barrington student enrollment expected to increase

Barrington school officials are expecting the student population will increase by more than 200 over the next 10 years. During a school committee meeting on Thursday night, Barrington Schools … more

By Josh Bickford | 1/12/21

Bristol Warren schools plan mass Covid test

Bristol Warren school officials are working with the state Department of Health to organize a one-day mass event in which every person in the towns' school community — students, teachers and … more

By Ted Hayes | 1/12/21

Barrington council: No further action on harassment complaints

The Barrington Town Council voted Monday night to take no further action on harassment complaints filed against a current member of the council and one former member. During its meeting on Monday … more

By Josh Bickford | 1/12/21

Bristol Police: Multiple domestic violence arrests, plus gun shots in the woods

Bristol police officers made three arrests connected to domestic incidents from Dec. 28 to Jan. 3, as shown in excerpts from the log of Bristol Police activities (see below). Monday, Dec. 28 … more

1/8/21

Rapid testing in Bristol begins Saturday

Beginning Saturday, Jan. 9, Bristol will have its own testing site at the Town Beach, offering rapid COVID-19 tests for any resident who wants one. According to Town Administrator Steven … more

1/8/21

Barrington resident, TV news reporter passes away

Longtime Barrington resident and television news reporter Bill Rappleye died on Thursday, Jan. 7, following a battle with cancer. He was 66 years old. Mr. Rappleye worked as a political reporter … more

1/8/21

Pop-up testing site coming to Barrington Shopping Center

The Rhode Island Department of Health will open a Covid-19 rapid testing pop-up site in the Barrington Shopping Center for the second and third weeks of January. The site will offer testing to … more

1/8/21

Greg Gatos, co-owner of Bristol House of Pizza, works in the kitchen on Tuesday. A week ago, his family business was granted a license upgrade, from beer and wine to full liquor.

Three Bristol restaurants making moves in the new year

Several liquor licenses were on the agenda at the Dec. 30 Town Council meeting, with requests ranging from upgrades to transfers, to the establishment of new licenses, and notably, the applications … more

By Christy Nadalin | 1/8/21

Speaking during a Dec. 30 meeting held via Zoom, Bristol Tax Assessor Michelle DiMeo told the council that the new policy will impact about 400 Bristol businesses and the town will lose only about $18,500 in tax revenue.

Bristol eliminates small tax on hundreds of businesses

The Town of Bristol followed through on a promise it made months ago and eliminated a small tax — and a small stack of frustrating paperwork — for hundreds of businesses. At its Dec. … more

By Scott Pickering | 1/7/21

The broken-down Rescue 2, which has been out of commission for a few months, will be replaced this year.

Bristol purchasing new rescue truck

The Bristol Fire Department will be getting a new vehicle soon, to replace Rescue 2, pictured here behind Fire Department headquarters on Annawamscutt Drive. The 9-year-old vehicle has about 180,000 … more

1/7/21

Longtime Barrington resident and Brown University Sports Information Director Chris Humm served as moderator for the NCAA basketball tournament when the games were played in Providence.

Longtime resident says good-bye to Brown sports

He shared a stage with Bill Russell. He twice shook hands with a sitting U.S. president. And he once served as a make-shift bodyguard for golfing great Jack Nicklaus. For more than 30 … more

By Josh Bickford | 1/7/21

Man sent to ACI for felony domestic threats; police seize guns

A Bristol man was taken to the ACI after an allegedly violent confrontation with multiple victims and two police officers led to his arrest on felony assault and kidnapping charges. Durval J. … more

1/6/21

Vaccines and virus both arrive at Bristol facility

Just days before they were to be among the first homes visited by the pharmacy-led push to vaccinate residents and staff of Rhode Island’s long-term care facilities, Bristol’s St. … more

1/6/21

Barrington students to resume in-person learning next week

Public school students in Barrington are distance learning this week, and are expected to return to in-person learning starting Monday, Jan. 11. The district recently announced its schedule … more

1/6/21

Tap-In (Touch A Person In Need) received $2,860 of federal CARES Act funding recently. Tap-In offers food and household items to people in need throughout the East Bay.

CARES Act money makes its way to Tap-In, senior center

Two Barrington nonprofit agencies recently received thousands of dollars through the federal CARES Act. Tap-In (Touch A Person In Need) received $2,860, while the Friends of Barrington Senior … more

1/6/21

Rep. Liana Cassar is shown at a 2019 chamber of commerce event.

Local rep. criticizes House Speaker election process

Barrington resident and local Rep. Liana Cassar called the selection process for the next House Speaker a “non-competitive, confirmatory ritual” in a statement she released late last … more

1/5/21

Barrington Town Manager Jim Cunha (right) and Business and Finance Director Kathy Raposa are shown at the July financial town meeting.

State says Barrington's tax levy exceeds 4 percent cap

Assumptions, exemptions, and an unexpected tax levy increase. Town officials released a statement last week in advance of a new state report that will identify a “discrepancy between the … more

By Josh Bickford | 1/4/21

R.I. EMA warns of widespread power outages, major storm for Christmas

The Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency (RIEMA) issued a warning to Rhode Islanders Wednesday afternoon to prepare for a significant storm expected to impact the state with high wind and … more

12/23/20

Bristol Police arrest one person for narcotics, send another to ACI

Bristol Police made a handful of arrests from Dec. 7 to 13, including one for possession of narcotics and another for violating protective orders. Monday, Dec. 7 An officer responded to the … more

12/19/20

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Jonathan Brice

Schools switch to distance learning around the holidays

The Bristol Warren Regional School District will switch to full distance learning this coming Monday, Dec. 21, and students who return from winter break Monday, Jan. 4, will continue to learn at home … more

By Ted Hayes | 12/19/20

Renee Welchman spent three weeks researching and working with the seller to determine the asking price for this totally unique Little Compton home — $7.85 million.

The Art of the Ask – Setting prices on priceless properties

Try figuring out the value of a four-bedroom Colonial in Barrington or a two-bedroom condo in Bristol. It’s pretty easy. Adjusting for the variables of location and condition, you can easily … more

By Scott Pickering | 12/18/20

Alert Barrington officer spots woman in need of help

An alert Barrington police officer came to the assistance of a woman in need last week. The officer was on routine patrol on Monday, Dec. 7, driving along Narragansett Avenue when he spotted a … more

12/18/20

Man spotted rummaging through Barrington resident's mailbox

A Barrington resident called police on Monday, Dec. 7, after he spotted a man rummage through his mailbox, take a package out of it, open the package, and then throw the package on the ground. … more

12/17/20

Democrat Nathan Calouro was named Bristol Town Council chairman for a fourth consecutive term.

Bristol Councilors pick Calouro and Parella to lead them

The more things change, the more they … change a little. When the Bristol Town Council met virtually last Wednesday, Dec. 9, the same five people who had served in office from 2018 to … more

By Scott Pickering | 12/17/20