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Becky Chace had her own band, sold thousands of CDs and played at big venues, before pausing music to become a teacher. These days, she’s playing music on her own terms — and having fun.

Meet Becky Chace: A prolific musician with a future all her own

I had sought out, for some time, singer, songwriter, guitarist Becky Chace for an interview regarding her life and times in music. A life rich in gigs, travel, recordings, starts, stops and … more

By Michael Khouri | 9/26/23

Steve Cardone helps load donated goods into a shopping cart outside of the food bank last Friday. The food bank was honored with The Portsmouth Award by the Town Council Monday night.

Portsmouth Community Service Award goes to food bank

PORTSMOUTH — St. John’s Lodge Food Bank’s hard work and dedication in serving the community over the past several years has not gone unnoticed. more

By Jim McGaw | 9/26/23

Portsmouth Police: Car hit 110 mph during high-speed chase

A 34-year-old Pawtucket man turned himself in last week after previously bolting from officers during a high-speed chase, police said. more

9/25/23

The Portsmouth Patriots varsity football team takes the field before facing Bishop Hendricken in a non-league match at home last Thursday night.

Portsmouth gets walloped by Bishop Hendricken, 55-7

PORTSMOUTH — Bishop Hendricken is in a different league than Portsmouth High, and the Hawks proved it Friday night. In a non-league matchup which served as the home opener for the … more

9/25/23

Thais Jackson of Portsmouth, here playing for her high school team, St. Mark's School, has committed to play lacrosse at West Point, where she will be a member of the Class of 2029.

Portsmouth lacrosse athlete commits to play for West Point

PORTSMOUTH — She’s only 16, but Portsmouth’s Thais Jackson already has a commitment to attend West Point, aka The U.S. Military Academy. more

9/25/23

Portsmouth water mains to be flushed starting Oct. 2

PORTSMOUTH — The Portsmouth Water and Fire District will be flushing water mains from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. per the following schedule: • Monday, Oct. 2: East Main Road from Pine Tree … more

9/25/23

The state says people should avoid contact with Lower Melville Pond, due to blue-green algae (or cyanobacteria) blooms. A similar advisory is still in effect for the upper pond, now known as Thurston Gray Pond.

State: Avoid contact with Lower Melville Pond, Portsmouth

PORTSMOUTH — The R.I. Department of Health (RIDOH) and the R.I. Department of Environmental Management (DEM) are advising people to avoid contact with Lower Melville Pond due to blue-green … more

9/22/23

Rep. Terri Cortvriend of Portsmouth walks along the shoreline in front of Baker Road homes on the west side of Portsmouth back in March. Her bill establishing that the public area of the shoreline is 10 feet landward of the recognizable high tide line was later signed into law by the governor.

Federal judge dismisses challenge to R.I. shoreline access law

Wrong court, wrong argument and against the wrong people. So declared U.S. District Court Judge William Smith in his Sept. 19 opinion dismissing a legal challenge to the state’s newly … more

By Nancy Lavin/R.I. Current | 9/22/23

Gordon School has created a new “Whatever I Need” block in every student’s day, where they have free time for “whatever they need.” In the spirit of social-emotional wellness and growth, classes might go outside for some fun, hold a lively discussion about an important topic, or spend time reading together (above) with the school’s therapy dog, Denver.

For private schools, enrollment growth is a pandemic silver lining

While the global pandemic made a mess of just about everything everywhere, it had a hidden benefit for private schools — it boosted their enrollments. Admissions directors at numerous … more

By Scott Pickering | 9/21/23

Portsmouth schools end fiscal year with surplus of over $400K

PORTSMOUTH — The school district will have more than $400,000 to spread around for school construction projects, thanks to a surplus left over from the 2022-2023 fiscal year. Chris … more

By Jim McGaw | 9/20/23

This placard, along Park Avenue, is among several that have popped up around town.

Special meeting looms on Portsmouth transfer station

PORTSMOUTH — Residents are still not done talking trash, apparently. About 100 or more residents crowded the Town Council Chambers and the adjacent hallway to hear an agenda item regarding … more

By Jim McGaw | 9/19/23

Tyler Both (12) fires a shot off a Central defender which resulted in a corner kick for the Patriots. Landon Rodrigues (11) would end up scoring on the corner kick by Kyle Bielawa.

Portsmouth edged by Central High in boys’ soccer, 2-1

PORTSMOUTH — The Portsmouth High School boys’ varsity soccer team is still seeking its first win this season after being nipped by Central High at home Tuesday night, 2-1. The … more

9/19/23

Maggie Lauder is a senior at Portsmouth High School who is being honored by the R.I. Environmental Education Association.

Portsmouth student honored with environmental award

PORTSMOUTH — A Portsmouth High School senior is one of the four recipients of the R.I. Environmental Education Association’s (RIEEA) 2023 Environmental Education Award. more

9/18/23

A new URI study has found extensive microplastics in Narragansett Bay. Researchers Victoria Fulfer (shown) and J.P. Walsh estimate that the top 2 inches of the floor of Narragansett Bay now contain more than 1,000 tons of microplastics, and that buildup has occurred in just the last 10 to 20 years.

New URI study finds extensive microplastics in Narragansett Bay

Two University of Rhode Island researchers estimate that the top 5 centimeters (2 inches) of the floor of Narragansett Bay now contain more than 1,000 tons of microplastics, and that buildup has occurred in just the last 10 to 20 years. more

9/14/23

The Patriots celebrate a goal scored by Kaelyn Mahoney late in the first half of Tuesday’s home game against North Smithfield. Portsmouth won, 2-0.

Portsmouth girls shut out North Smithfield, 2-0

PORTSMOUTH — The Portsmouth High varsity girls soccer team is off to a good start in Division II after winning its first two games. The team shut out North Smithfield, 2-0, during its … more

9/13/23

Members of the Cote family from Dartmouth pedal their bikes along Park Avenue during the inaugural Sakonnet Coastal Bike and Stroll held Saturday. Jeremy Cote leads his children (from left) Jack, 8, Georgia, 6, and Sam, 6. Park Avenue, Hummocks Avenue and a portion of Anthony Road into Common Fence Point were shut down to motor vehicles so cyclists and pedestrians could enjoy a safe, car-free ride.

Having the whole road to themselves in Portsmouth

PORTSMOUTH — Bari Freeman, executive director of Bike Newport, said she asked the kids pedaling along Park Avenue on Saturday what they liked most about the Sakonnet Coastal Bike and … more

By Jim McGaw | 9/13/23

Police Chief Brian Peters pitches his Portsmouth Police Department employee retention plan to the Town Council Monday night. The council unanimously approved the program.

Portsmouth OKs police chief’s plan to retain officers

It’s a nationwide crisis that has finally come home to roost within the Portsmouth Police Department — losing good officers to other jobs, which has resulted in a staffing shortage on the force. more

By Jim McGaw | 9/12/23

Architect’s aerial rendering shows updated layout of the Island Park OASIS Beach Volleyball complex being proposed for a site over the old landfill in Island Park. The larger of the 13 courts at left could be converted into a sand soccer court. The parking lot has spaces for just over 100 vehicles, and the three temporary buildings in between would be used for storage, ticket sales and restrooms. The gravel entrance road from Park Avenue at right includes a turnaround for emergency vehicles.

Abutters don’t dig plans for sand volleyball complex

PORTSMOUTH — Abutters finally got their turn last Thursday night to sound off on a proposed sand volleyball complex that would be built atop the old town dump in Island Park. more

By Jim McGaw | 9/11/23

Ken Rutter, commander of VFW Post 5390 in Common Fence Point, stands inside the top floor of the hall, which is undergoing a transformation. Behind him are pilates equipment used in classes led by Conley Zani, who rents space in the building.

In Portsmouth: A metamorphosis in the making

PORTSMOUTH — Ken Rutter stands inside the shabby looking basement room of the VFW Post 5390 hall in Common Fence Point and knows there’s a lot of work to be done. But with the … more

By Jim McGaw | 9/7/23

The 80-foot catamaran has 1,600 square feet of solar panels built into its exterior. The panels feed into the battery pack that fuels the electric engine, as well as the boat’s mechanicals, like air conditioning, heat, water systems, lights and more.

A golden Sól, with a heart of green

The famed Herreshoff piers at the mouth of Bristol Harbor have hosted some of the world’s most spectacular and unique yachts. They’ve never seen anything like the gleaming, gold catamaran … more

By Scott Pickering | 9/6/23

Jimmy Buffett smiles toward the crowd during his surprise appearance at Sunset Cove in Portsmouth on July 2.

It’s true: Jimmy Buffett played his last gig in Portsmouth

PORTSMOUTH — Mike MacFarlane, scrambling around Saturday during a particularly busy day at his Sunset Cove restaurant in Island Park, shook his head as he motioned toward the back lawn … more

By Jim McGaw | 9/5/23

Portsmouth Patriots John Colna and Alexander Lopes (right) stop a Rogers opponent from advancing during an Injury Fund game Thursday night in Barrington.

Portsmouth Patriots football season kicks off Friday

PORTSMOUTH — The Portsmouth High School varsity football team begins its new season with a non-league road game against North Kingstown at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 8. The Patriots lost an … more

9/5/23

Bike enthusiasts of all ages enjoyed the car-free “Farm-to-Farm” ride held in 2018 on Middle Road. A similar event is taking place in Island Park and beyond this Saturday.

In Portsmouth: A wide berth for just walkers and cyclists

PORTSMOUTH — Plan ahead, as most of you won’t be able to drive a car or truck through Island Park or the Hummocks for a good chunk of time this Saturday, Sept. 9. more

By Jim McGaw | 9/5/23

Where to vote in Portsmouth in Tuesday’s primary

PORTSMOUTH — The polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 5, for the Rhode Island First Congressional District Primary. more

9/2/23

Kateri Chappell Buerman, who runs The Four Hearts Foundation, hands a free popsicle to Benny Godek at the Turnpike Avenue Playground. The Foundation is raising funds to build a larger, modern and more-inclusive playground on the site.

'Popsicles for play' in Portsmouth

PORTSMOUTH — There were plenty of sticky fingers at the Turnpike Avenue Playground on Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 30. The Four Hearts Foundation hosted a “Popsicles for … more

8/31/23