Stories,photos,videos,specialsections,printissues,eeditions,packages,magazines,maps,polls,charts | EastBayRI.com - News, Opinion, Things to Do in the East Bay

Kerry McAuliffe, the curator for the Portsmouth Historical Society, inside the museum’s first-floor display room, which is now easier to browse.

New, improved Portsmouth Historical Society re-opens

PORTSMOUTH — The Portsmouth Historical Society has a new look, and its Board of Trustees hopes that will translate to more visitors and memberships. more

By Jim McGaw | 6/3/22

These eight Portsmouth High School seniors are going on to service academies this month (from left): Colby Fahrney (USNA), Amory Kirwin (USNA but deferred for one year due to injury), James Andersen (USNA), John Maedke (USAFA), Garen Seibert (USAFA), Jack Pacheco (USMA), Maria Chytka (USMA), and Ethan Courville (USMA). This photo was taken after an informational session the seniors presented to younger PHS students.

These Portsmouth High graduates are at your service

PORTSMOUTH — Eight members of the Portsmouth High School Class of 2022 won’t have much time to celebrate their summer vacation after being awarded diplomas tonight, June 3. … more

By Jim McGaw | 6/3/22

Not another moment of silence

I’m sick to death of observing another moment of silence when children have been murdered, particularly in a school setting. Since 2018 there have been 119 school shootings. The most recent … more

By Arlene Violet, Esq. | 6/3/22

Editorial: Pass new gun laws now

Rhode Island has enacted a handful of smart gun laws in the past decade, but it is not enough. At least five common-sense gun regulation bills sit stagnant in the Rhode Island General Assembly, where … more

6/2/22

Advocates celebrated back in 2018, when then-Gov. Gina Raimondo signed an executive order making Rhode Island the first state to act on new gun policies since a gunman shot and killed 17 people at a Florida high school earlier that month. The event was attended by hundreds of people, including many students. Rep. Jason Knight (holding microphone) addressed the crowd in the Statehouse lobby at the time.

The long fight for new gun laws

There are many ways to absorb and process news of a lone gunman slaughtering 19 children and two teachers in Uvalde, Texas. Images of the smiling, mostly 10-year-olds and their teachers evoke sorrow, … more

By Scott Pickering | 6/2/22

Portsmouth Times - Thursday, June 2, 2022

6/2/22

“Nothing can ever replace the hole left behind by a fallen service member, and no medals nor ribbons can comfort the ones left behind,” said guest speaker SFC William “Bill” McCollum, U.S. Army (Ret.), during Monday morning’s Memorial Day observance outside Portsmouth Town Hall.

Portsmouth honors veterans who made the ultimate sacrifice

PORTSMOUTH — The veterans who laid down their lives for our freedoms “were ordinary people who responded in extraordinary ways in extreme times,” the guest speaker at Monday … more

By Jim McGaw | 5/30/22

Cathy Winston looks on as teammate David Schwartz returns a serve during a game of pickleball on the Bristol Town Common. The Town of Portsmouth’s grant request for matching funds to build a pickleball facility at Elmhurst Park was recently denied.

State to Portsmouth: No pickleball for you!

PORTSMOUTH — Sorry, pickleball enthusiasts. The sport won’t be coming to Portsmouth just yet. The town recently learned that its 2022 Department of Environmental Management (DEM) … more

By Jim McGaw | 5/29/22

The Portsmouth Free Public Library recently donated this little library, which can be found at the entrance to the Island Park Playground on Ormerod Avenue. It was built by Paul Shoenbucher and installed by the Department of Public Works.

More ‘little libraries’ popping up around Portsmouth

PORTSMOUTH — Is there a little free library near you? Portsmouth has a small but growing number of these tiny free lending libraries — basically free-standing cupboards that are … more

By Jim McGaw | 5/27/22

Volunteer Nate Minese leads visitors on a tour around Butts Hill Fort during Saturday’s event.

Portsmouth: Volunteers make pitch to put Butts Hill Fort on the map

PORTSMOUTH — Speaking under a tent in the center of Butts Hill Fort on Saturday, Craig Clark recalled his days as a Portsmouth High School student, “about 40 years and 600 … more

By Jim McGaw | 5/26/22

Letter: What religious freedom on abortion actually means

To the editor: Our legislators must pass H7442/S2549, the Equality in Abortion Coverage Act, out of committee in the name of religious freedom. In listening to the testimonies provided to the … more

5/26/22

Portsmouth Times - Thursday, May 26, 2022

5/26/22

Mt. Hope junior pitcher Reily Amaral struck out 11 and allowed just three hits, a walk and four runs in seven innings of work.

Mt. Hope softball clinches division title

The Mt. Hope softball team clinched the Division II South title as they out slugged Portsmouth 8-4 during a home game on Tuesday afternoon. The Huskies are 16-0 in league play with one game … more

Story by Richard W. Dionne, Jr. | 5/25/22

Letters: Internal combustion engines aren’t the problem

To the editor: If Mr. Voutes (“Blown away by gas-powered lawn equipment” letter, May 19) seeks solitude and improved health by the elimination of internal combustion engines (ICE) he's … more

5/24/22

Police Officer Maddie Pirri checks Renesha Duncan for vitals during a mock DUI crash event staged outside Portsmouth High School in front of seniors last week. Duncan, a sophomore, was playing the part of a passenger who was killed after being ejected from a car operated by a drunk driver. Looking on at right is Anastacia Inman, another student who played one of Duncan’s friends. In the middle are Police Officers Amanda Weaver (left) and JeanMarie Stewart.

In Portsmouth: ‘This actually happens in real life’

PORTSMOUTH — Portsmouth 911 — what’s your emergency? Hi, there’s an accident at the high school. It looks like there’s two cars. I can’t see too well; I was … more

By Jim McGaw | 5/24/22

Marcus Bostic of East Providence chips out of the bunker at the fifth green.

Gallery: 2022 East Division golf playoff match

PORTSMOUTH — Portsmouth High School was the far-and-away winner of the East Division golf playoff match held over its home layout of Green Valley Country Club Monday afternoon, May 23, as the … more

Photos by Richard W. Dionne Jr. | 5/23/22

Op-ed: How will children grade us?

One in four households with children in Rhode Island are food insecure, meaning they struggle to afford adequate food. more

By Andrew Schiff | 5/20/22

Jeff Prater, who chairs the Shoreline Education and Preservation Action Committee in Common Fence Point, carries a tray of switchgrass for volunteers to plant along Common Fence Point Boulevard Monday afternoon. About 100 of that variety were planted.

In Portsmouth: Roots of resiliency

PORTSMOUTH — Along a scenic shoreline on the north side of Common Fence Point Boulevard, volunteers have been getting their hands dirty over the past year, putting in hundreds of plants … more

By Jim McGaw | 5/20/22

Perky Nellissen and 8-month-old Ziti pose together at their Little Compton home. Nellissen and Ziti are both going through guide dog training for the first time.

Guide dog training – learning as they go

1 Perky Nellissen and 8-month-old Ziti pose together at their Little Compton home. Nellissen and Ziti are both going through guide dog training for the first time. 2 Perky Nellissen teaches … more

By Lucy Probert | 5/19/22

East Bay Homes - May 2022

Click here to read. more

5/19/22

Portsmouth Times - Thursday, May 19, 2022

5/19/22

Ashley Kalus’ media buy is a knockout

Since she is an unknown candidate in the gubernatorial race, Republican Ashley Kalus has commenced a media buy in order to get name recognition. One campaign ad shows her as a boxer (with … more

By Arlene Violet | 5/13/22

Letter: Opposed to taxpayer funding for abortion on demand

I am writing in strong opposition to taxpayer funding for abortion on demand in Rhode Island. There is a bill in the state legislature (S2549 and H7442) which will allocate your tax … more

5/13/22

Letter: Patience! Spring, and life, is returning

To the editor: It was such a long wet winter that the fields couldn’t be mowed until a few weeks ago. This did not please my beautiful pheasant and he fled next door where there was a nice … more

5/13/22

Residents of Quaker Manor/Estates have been complaining about maintenance and management issues for the past several years. However, Phoenix Property Management, which took over management in the beginning of 2021, has assured tenants there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Portsmouth: HUD demands Quaker Manor ownership change

PORTSMOUTH — The Portsmouth Housing Authority (PHA) will eventually be getting “out of the ownership and management business,” its chairman told tenants of Quaker Manor/Quaker … more

By Jim McGaw | 5/13/22