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

Letter: Book, bake sale was a success, thank you!

On behalf of the Union Public Library Association, I would like to thank the greater Tiverton community for their support of our annual book sale, yard sale and bake sale fundraiser held on July 16. … more

7/27/22

Letter: Want to protect polling places? Bring back dead bill

A couple of years ago Massachusetts state representatives Antonio Cabral and William Straus sponsored H.5083, An Act Relative to Polling Place Security and Integrity. The bill limits sheriffs and … more

7/27/22

Letter: Overwhelmed with community spirit after book fair

The Westport Friends Book Fair was a joyful and financial success, and we are so grateful! Thank you to all who donated books, purchased books (occasionally even your own), and shared your … more

7/27/22

Letter: Cotta overstepped his bounds with Seasons comments

To the editor: In a recent news article covering the strong opposition expressed by Tiverton residents to a Seasons 24-hour gas and mini-mart proposal, Tiverton Town Administrator Chris Cotta … more

7/26/22

McKee’s approval ratings are low, but does it matter?

On the surface, a new Morning Consult finding showing Gov. Dan McKee as the lowest-ranked governor in the nation (with a 38% approval rating) doesn’t reflect well on the incumbent. But if McKee … more

By Ian Donnis | 7/25/22

Letter: Why spread misinformation and negativity?

To the editor: There were three very interesting and connected pieces in last week’s Phoenix. Letters to the editor from Bill Bullard and Michael Byrnes, and a piece about White Nationalist … more

7/21/22

Letter: ‘Misleading Facts’ – Really Mr. Bullard?

To the editor: Apparently, Mr. Bullard is so enamored with Bristol’s former high school principal that facts presented by Messrs. Byrnes and Hewett and Ms. MacDonald in their letters to … more

7/21/22

Letter: On the Mt. Hope mural

To the editor: Last week's Phoenix contained a very well written but totally irrelevant letter from a highly regarded person of our town about Black Lives Matter in the inner courtyard of the … more

7/21/22

Letter: Barrington needs to preserve local control

To the editor: On Thursday July 14 at 3:45 p.m., the Barrington School Building Committee held a very important meeting regarding its progress in the RIDE Necessity of School Construction … more

7/20/22

Letter: High school mural gives me hope in our community

To the editor: I am writing in response to Michael Byrnes' letter to the editor in last weeks paper , and to give my opinion about the BLM Mural recently put up in a courtyard at the Mt. Hope … more

7/20/22

Letter: We are spending more and getting less in our schools

To the editor: I found myself feeling sorry for Bill Bullard after reading his letter to the editor in last week’s Phoenix. First, he failed to note that he is married to Sarah Bullard, a … more

7/20/22

Letter: On three former Democrats running as Independents

To the editor: Last week's Phoenix contained an article regarding candidate filings for the upcoming November elections, and while there were very few surprises, there was one thing that really stood … more

7/14/22

Letter: Please deny the Robin Rug amendments as presented

To the editor: Honorable members of the Bristol Town Council: Downtown Bristol is unique. There is no other place like it in Rhode Island. We do not want to become another Newport — which is … more

7/14/22

Letter: Learn from Portsmouth’s rescission on bridge cameras

To the editor: At the July 11 meeting, the Portsmouth Town Council voted 7-0 to rescind their approval of the pilot program to place Automated License Plate Readers at the approaches to the Mt. Hope … more

7/14/22

Letter: Strong nostalgia for this town

To the editor: I miss my town. And surely there are many like me who have experienced this same feeling after moving away from such a wonderful place. After graduating from BHS in 1987, I went … more

7/14/22

Commentary: Don’t forget to water your trees

Warren’s trees got plenty of water this spring, thanks to all the rain. But lately, we have had very little rain, and with July temperatures, trees are transpiring more in the heat. When it … more

By Anne Raver | 7/14/22

Letter: Key danger to cyclists — cars passing on blind curves

To the editor: The roads are filled with cyclists as we reach mid-summer. Bicycling has been an enormously popular outdoor exercise during Covid restrictions and even more now in warm weather … more

7/13/22

Letter: Amused by the critics of youth athletics

To the editor: I find it amusing that after more than 14 years, this town still has public debates about the need for more town athletic fields. It’s amusing that a few people … more

7/13/22

Letter: New Mt. Hope mural politicizes education

To the editor: Recently a Black Lives Matter mural, with Marxist clenched fists, was painted on an inside wall in a courtyard at Mt. Hope High School. To put up such a politically charged mural, … more

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

Letter: Privacy concerns over ALPRs heard loud and clear

To the editor: At the July 11 meeting, the Portsmouth Town Council voted 7-0 to rescind their approval of the pilot program to place Automated License Plate Readers at the approaches to the Mt. … more

7/12/22

Letter: Portsmouth sending a mixed message on public input

To the editor: The June 30, 2022 edition of The Portsmouth Times confuses me. In the article regarding solar facilities, Council Vice President Ujifusa, sitting as Town Council president, states … more

7/11/22

Driver’s licenses for undocumented is not a panacea

This legislative year the Rhode Island General Assembly agreed to allow the issuance of driver’s permits/licenses for undocumented immigrants who can prove they have income and income tax … more

By Arlene Violet, Esq. | 7/8/22

Column: Okay, Bristol, now I get it

I've never been much for parades or overt patriotism, but then I went to my first Bristol 4th of July Celebration. more

By Ethan Hartley | 7/7/22

The Acoaxet Chapel in Westport celebrates 150 years this July.

Acoaxet Chapel at 150: Construction was a true community effort

The notes below are taken from the historical record and continue from a previous article detailing the history of the Acoaxet Chapel in Westport, MA. They are being presented as the Acoaxet Free … more

7/7/22