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Distinctive Homes | Summer 2023

Distinctive Homes | Summer 2023 more

8/2/23

The AgInnovation Farm is a student-run program located at Cloverbud Range on Jepson Lane, Portsmouth.

Micro-clover pilot program to be planted in Portsmouth

PORTSMOUTH — The Eastern Rhode Island Conservation District (ERICD) recently received a grant award through the Urban and Community Conservation (UAC) Grant Initiative to model a unique … more

8/1/23

Be very careful with Officers’ Bill of Rights

Another legislative session in Rhode Island has come and gone without any action on a perennial issue, reform of the Law Enforcement Bill of Rights. To be sure, some Constables on Patrol (COPS) have … more

By Arlene Violet, Esq. | 8/1/23

Letter: Waterfront issues can be addressed in non-enforcement way

To the editor: I want to briefly comment upon the almost dystopian appraisals of the access to water being exercised in our town. While I don't wish this to be CSI CFP, I do … more

7/31/23

Nick Spaner at Fitton Field at the College of the Holy Cross, where he has committed to play Division 1 baseball.

Portsmouth’s Nick Spaner commits to play D-1 baseball

PORTSMOUTH — The recruiting process took 24 months. The first email was sent in June of 2021. The first conversation with a college coach took place in July of 2021. Two years … more

7/31/23

Aquapalooza, an unauthorized, social media-driven event scheduled for Saturday, July 29 at Potters Cove, Prudence Island, is necessitating the precautionary shellfishing closure, according to RIDEM. (File photo)

'Aquapalooza' forces preemptive closure of Prudence shellfishing area

PORTSMOUTH — Citing the risk of accidental and illicit discharge of sewage associated with the gathering of hundreds of boats off Prudence Island on Saturday, the R.I. Department of … more

7/27/23

Portsmouth Times - Thursday, July 27, 2023

7/27/23

Architect’s aerial rendering of what the Island Park OASIS Beach Volleyball would look like if built at the site of the former boomerang-shaped town landfill property. Park Avenue and Island Park Beach are at far right, with Mason Avenue just above the 13 proposed sand courts. (Boyds Lane is at the bottom, out of frame.) The three temporary structures between the parking lot and courts would be similar to trailers. The gravel entrance from Park Avenue features a turn-around to accommodate emergency vehicles.

Portsmouth gets first look at sand volleyball complex

PORTSMOUTH — A controversial plan to build a sand volleyball complex on top of the former town landfill got its first public airing last week before the Zoning Board of Review. more

By Jim McGaw | 7/27/23

Local youngsters make their way into RIGA Junior Am semifinals

SEEKONK — Youngsters have taken centerstage this week with the 104th edition of the Rhode Island Junior Amateur, which began with stroke play qualifying rounds in Westerly at Winnapaug Country … more

By Mike Rego | 7/26/23

At Town Hall last week, Gov. Daniel McKee discusses the Learn365RI Municipal Compact with (from left) Superintendent Thomas Kenworthy, Town Administrator Richard Rainer, Jr., and Holly Buresh and Capt. Jonathan Kabak of Oliver Hazard Perry.

An education under sail in Portsmouth

PORTSMOUTH — By this time next year, the town hopes to have a group of local students working toward improving their reading, math scores and school attendance — all while aboard a … more

By Jim McGaw | 7/26/23

Real estate values resume their upward trend

After pausing for a few months in the first three months of this year, East Bay residential real estate values show a resumptive trend of increasing values. With one rare exception, an analysis of … more

By Douglas Gablinske | 7/25/23

Will the Matos campaign stumbles scramble the CD1 race?

STORY OF THE WEEK: With a bit more than six weeks until the Sept. 5 primary in Rhode Island’s 1st Congressional District, the race took a dramatic turn last week. Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos, … more

By Ian Donnis | 7/25/23

Architectural rendering of what the new-and-improved, adaptive and inclusive playground off Turnpike Avenue will look like.

Group makes final push for Portsmouth playground funds

It was just a little over a year ago when the nonprofit Four Hearts Foundation started fund-raising for a new-and-improved playground to be built on Turnpike Avenue. more

By Jim McGaw | 7/25/23

Best Team Photo in Block Island Tournament was awarded to team ‘Defiant’ for this photo taken in the Block Island Wind Farm. Some nice fluke caught by youth anglers.

Block Island Inshore Fishing Tournament big success

The Block Island Inshore Fishing Tournament ended Sunday, July 23, with a winning striped bass measuring 48”, caught by team ‘Frayed Knot,’ led by Capt. Richard Lipsitz of North … more

By Capt. Dave Monti | 7/24/23

The Portsmouth Dog Park Committee is seeking volunteer members to support the maintenance of and improvements to the park.

Volunteers sought for various Portsmouth town committees

PORTSMOUTH — Have a special area of expertise and some extra time on your hands? If so, you may want to consider volunteering to serve as a member of a town committee. The Town Council is … more

7/21/23

Paul Philips of North Kingstown with the nine-pound summer flounder he caught in deep water off Newport last week on ArchAngel Charters.

Strong reports on tuna and large fluke

There is still time to register for the Block Island Inshore Fishing Tournament which takes place within the three-mile limit around Block Island. This year the Tournament starts Saturday, July 22, … more

By Capt. Dave Monti | 7/20/23

Portsmouth Times - Thursday, July 20, 2023

7/20/23

The Parks, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan recommends that the town develop five courts for pickleball, the facilities for which don’t currently exist. These abandoned basketball courts at Elmhurst Park were first targeted for a pickleball complex in 2021, but the town failed to win a matching state recreation development grant to make it happen.

Portsmouth gets mixed grades on recreational facilities

PORTSMOUTH — The Town of Portsmouth is doing a decent job in providing and maintaining its outdoor recreational facilities, but lags behind other similar communities when it comes to … more

By Jim McGaw | 7/19/23

Stephen Luce, chairman of the Melville Park Committee, inspects one of the smaller ponds at Melville Park in October 2022. Luce recently received permission from the Town Council to rename the 3/4-mile stream that runs through the park as Matapurcetti Brook.

In Portsmouth: Melville Park stream finally gets a name

PORTSMOUTH — Since he took over the reigns of the Melville Park Committee, Stephen Luce has wanted to find some way to pay tribute to the indigenous people who once roamed this property that … more

By Jim McGaw | 7/14/23

RISPCA offers reward for information on abandoned guinea pigs

EAST PROVIDENCE — Two hikers discovered a total of 42 guinea pigs abandoned at the Browning Mill Pond Area off of Arcadia Road in Exeter on Tuesday, July 12. The hikers, along with two … more

7/14/23

Aerial view of one of the five wind turbines 3.8 miles southeast of Block Island generating electricity at the Block Island Wind Farm. An application for a separate wind farm project, SouthCoast Wind Farm, has been put on hold after state regulators questioned its economic viability.

State presses pause on SouthCoast Wind review

It doesn’t make sense to review a project application when there’s no money to fund it. So concluded state energy regulators, who on Thursday opted to pause their review of an … more

By Nancy Lavin/Rhode Island Current | 7/14/23

Barrington assistant coach Dave Caldarella speaks to the team during a time out. Barrington beat Portsmouth 3-2 and will face Pawtucket in the District 2 finals on Saturday.

Barrington All Stars edge Portsmouth 3-2, advance to finals

The Barrington 12U All Star baseball team knocked off the District 2 defending champions and state runners-up Portsmouth in an eight inning thriller on Wednesday night, July 12. With the … more

By Josh Bickford | 7/14/23

Bay View selects Hall of Famer Scorpio as new athletic director

EAST PROVIDENCE — All Stater, player of the year, team captain, Hall of Famer, championship level coach and, now, athletic director. One of the most consequential student-athletes in the … more

7/14/23

Portsmouth Times - Thursday, July 13, 2023

7/13/23

The end of the railroad track near the Sakonnet River Bridge is a popular spot for anglers. It’s also become a place where trash is dumped on a regular basis.

In Portsmouth: What to do about bad beach behavior?

PORTSMOUTH — Go to any popular fishing spot in town that’s accessible via a public right of way (ROW) and you’ll find the “presents” left behind by many visitors: … more

By Jim McGaw | 7/12/23