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Gallery: 2022 R.I. Folk Fest

EAST PROVIDENCE — The 2022 Rhode Island Folk Festival was held at Larisa Park in Riverside on Sunday, Aug. 28. — East Providence Post and eastbayri.com contributing photographer Tyler … more

Photos by Tyler Maxwell | 8/31/22

Tiverton Harbor Commission vice chairman Dave Stewart (left), who formerly ran a kayak rental shop out of the marina, Tom Fennessey (center) and former marina owner Frank Chase wait for Tuesday morning's tour to begin.

DEM: Tiverton marina project will cost $4-5M

Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management officials estimate it will cost between $4 and $5 million to r edevelop the old Chase Marina property at 169 Riverside Drive , which has been … more

8/31/22

A model of the brig Random is located in the foyer on the south side of Portsmouth Town Hall. The wooden model was built by Capt. Alfred Southwick Chase of Portsmouth, the former master of Random.

Random sighting inside Portsmouth Town Hall

PORTSMOUTH — If you’ve been to Town Hall recently, you may have seen something different inside the south entrance. It’s a model of the brig Random that was built by Capt. Alfred … more

By Jim McGaw | 8/30/22

Amanda LaRose, owner of Rhode Island Oak Counseling and Wellness.

New mental health practice opens in Portsmouth this month

PORTSMOUTH — Building on its growth and success over the past six years, and answering the call to support and improve access to mental health services, Rhode Island Oak Counseling and Wellness … more

8/30/22

“An apology to the people of color formally from the state is in order,” Ray Rickman told those gathered for the annual commemoration service for the 1st Rhode Island Regiment — also known as the “Black Regiment” — at Patriots Park on Sunday.

‘Rhode Island, I’d like an apology’

PORTSMOUTH — With a likeness of “Black Regiment” soldier looking over his shoulder and several state lawmakers and other government leaders directly in front of him, Ray Rickman on … more

By Jim McGaw | 8/30/22

Hathaway School kindergarten teacher Liz Gill organizes materials in her classroom on Monday as she prepares for the first day of school next week. The 2022-23 academic year begins on Monday, Aug. 29, for staff; Tuesday, Aug. 30, for kindergarten, fifth- and ninth-grade students; and Wednesday, Aug. 31, for all other students.

Portsmouth schools reminder: No free lunches this year

PORTSMOUTH — They’ll be no free lunch for students when they report back to school next week. more

By Jim McGaw | 8/25/22

Mayflower Wind map shows what route the cables for its proposed wind turbine project would traverse Portsmouth.

Portsmouth: Mayflower should explore alternative routes

PORTSMOUTH — Mayflower Wind should explore alternate routes before running a cable up the Sakonnet River and over land in Portsmouth, an attorney for the Town of Portsmouth told the R.I. Energy … more

By Jim McGaw | 8/25/22

A couple of e-bikers travel south on the East Bay Bike Path, approaching Thames Street in downtown Bristol. DEM says electric bikes or other electric apparatus are not allowed on the bike path, but there is very little enforcement or understanding of the regulation.

E-bikes on bike paths — Not allowed and not enforceable

Amid increasing reports of accidents or near-misses on the East Bay Bike Path between people riding electric bicycles and everyone else, Rhode Island lacks clarity on what is or is not allowed on its … more

By Katie Langley | 8/24/22

Tiverton harbor commission, state to tour Chase Marina Tuesday

Members of the Tiverton Harbor Commission, representatives from the state Department of Environmental Management and other town officials will tour the old Chase Marina at 169 Riverside Drive, which … more

8/24/22

Town of Portsmouth ends fiscal year with large budget surplus

PORTSMOUTH — Although the books are not yet closed, the town apparently ended the 2021-22 fiscal year with a large surplus — somewhere in the vicinity of $800,000 or so. more

By Jim McGaw | 8/23/22

Illustration provided by Mayflower Wind shows how proposed cables would make landfall in Portsmouth at Island Park Beach, follow Boyds Lane underground to Anthony Road, and then take one of three as-yet-undetermined routes before transitioning back to offshore in Mt. Hope Bay. The cables would eventually make it to the regional transmission system at Brayton Point in Somerset.

Portsmouth delays vote on resolution opposing Mayflower cable

PORTSMOUTH — A resolution to oppose the installation of the Mayflower Wind transmission cable in the Sakonnet River was on Monday’s agenda for a vote by the Town Council, but no action … more

By Jim McGaw | 8/23/22

Workers at Greenleaf Compassionate Care Center staged a one-day strike in June 2021 to protest what they deemed an unjust termination of a co-worker.

Portsmouth: Greenleaf workers unanimously ratify first contract

The unionized budtenders, keyholders, online orderers and delivery drivers employed at Greenleaf Compassionate Care Center voted unanimously recently to approve its first contract. more

8/20/22

The Mt. Hope Bridge is one of four bridges that the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority will begin examining through a feasibility study to determine whether a physical suicide barrier could possibly be implemented.

Bridge barrier study expected to take 18 months

According to the projected timeline, the study will begin in October and continue for a year and a half, resulting in a final report by Feb. 28, 2024. more

By Christy Nadalin | 8/19/22

Matt Chappell and Linda Ujifusa will square off in next month's Democratic primary for the R.I. District 11 Senate seat.

District 11 candidates make pitches during League forum

Linda L. Ujifusa said she’s the most qualified candidate for the R.I. District 11 Senate seat because of her experience, while Matt A. Chappell said his “different perspective” is … more

By Jim McGaw | 8/19/22

DEM: Striped bass poacher from Portsmouth hit with $9,000 penalty

PORTSMOUTH — A local man has been assessed a $9,000 penalty for possessing striped bass in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) off Block Island in June. more

8/18/22

Portsmouth schools being spruced up for opening day

PORTSMOUTH — When students and staff enter their respective school buildings this month, they’ll see some improvements the district has been working on over the summer. The … more

By Jim McGaw | 8/17/22

Portsmouth Town Council ratifies 2 employee contracts

PORTSMOUTH — The Town Council, at its Aug. 9 meeting, unanimously ratified separate five-year contracts between the town and two local workers’ unions. One was for the firefighter … more

By Jim McGaw | 8/15/22

A screenshot of Mayflower Wind’s new virtual exhibition room.

Mayflower Wind launches virtual exhibition room

PORTSMOUTH — Mayflower Wind, the developer of an offshore wind energy lease area located off the coast of Massachusetts that could impact the East Bay and South Coast area, has launched a … more

8/11/22

Portsmouth: Mayflower Wind reps grilled about cable route

PORTSMOUTH — During an informational meeting before the Town Council Tuesday night, Mayflower Wind representatives were peppered with questions about the route of a proposed cable that … more

By Jim McGaw | 8/11/22

Forum features Democrats for state Senate and Barrington Council

Democratic candidates for the Barrington Town Council and Senate Districts 11 and 32, which have some voters in Barrington, Bristol, East Providence and Portsmouth, have been invited to debate on … more

8/10/22

Mike Flynn of Quonset View Farm on Middle Road wipes his brow last Friday as he rotates the strawberry field’s soil in preparation for next season. The farm has been experiencing “severe drought conditions” and irrigating is expensive, Flynn said.

Portsmouth: Rain, rain — please come here!

PORTSMOUTH — You may have been feeling a bit toasty over the past month, but it’s unlikely you experienced the heat and humidity quite like Robert Pires. The 58-year-old chef and … more

By Jim McGaw | 8/9/22

Nick Spaner, 16, catches for Portsmouth High School during a game against North Kingstown.

Portsmouth High catcher journeys to The Futures

PORTSMOUTH — Local resident and Portsmouth High School rising junior Nick Spaner is working toward his dream: Division 1 college baseball. more

8/9/22

Family and friends of the late John “Bobby” G. Arruda gather along Park Avenue next to the bench that was dedicated in his memory on Sunday.

Portsmouth: Late John ‘Bobby’ Arruda honored with bench

PORTSMOUTH — “A loving father, grandfather, friend and mentor” reads the inscription to a new red bench that was dedicated Sunday in memory of John “Bobby” G. Arruda, … more

8/8/22

Morgan Briere of Tiverton will be a freshman in the all-virtual Rhode Island Connections Academy this fall.

Some students choose virtual school over traditional

Tracey McGee-Moreira, an educator for 34 years, points to March 13, 2020, as the day the entire landscape of education changed. It was, to her way of thinking, the true start of the pandemic, when … more

By Ruth Rasmussen | 8/4/22

To keep vegetable gardens healthy during a drought, mulching helps lock in moisture.

How to keep your garden up in the middle of a drought

For backyard gardeners, mild droughts and water ban restrictions common during the summer months can be a cause for concern. Kate Venturini Hardesty, a program administrator and educator with the … more

By Mary Lind | 8/4/22