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Portsmouth High’s Tristan Thomas took first place in the pole vault with a best effort of 11 feet, 6 inches.

Portsmouth notches several 1st places at division track meet

PORTSMOUTH — Both of the Portsmouth High tracked field teams placed second among 11 teams in the Eastern Divisional Championship meet held over the weekend. more

5/9/23

Letter: How students are teaching us at the Portsmouth Dog Park

To the editor: For the last year, the Portsmouth Dog Park Committee has had the pleasure of working with students from Salve Regina University and the University of Rhode Island. We turned to … more

5/8/23

Margie Brennan, the Portsmouth school district’s K-8 science instruction coach, is one of only nine educators in the country to receive the national Presidential Innovation Award for Environmental Educators.

Portsmouth educator wins presidential teaching award

PORTSMOUTH — Margie Brennan, the Portsmouth school district’s K-8 science instruction coach, is in rare company. more

By Jim McGaw | 5/8/23

Commentary: Time for Rhode Island to put oil companies on trial

While Rhode Island communities experienced extreme drought, torrential rain, and flash floods last year, the oil and gas companies pouring fuel on our climate crisis were raking in record profits. … more

By Rep. Terri Cortvriend | 5/5/23

Letter: Turbines, a ghastly embodiment of man's arrogance

Beauty. The beauty of the earth. The beauty of the mountains, valleys, rivers and lakes—and, of course, the ocean. The Ocean State, our little Rhode Island, embraced by the … more

5/4/23

Letter: Want an easy way to make a real difference?

To the editor: Every now and then you may have the urge to help out your community in some way, but you may not know how. Please let me suggest to you an easy way to do that. On Saturday, May … more

5/4/23

Portsmouth exploring higher tax rate on commercial properties

PORTSMOUTH — The town is considering shifting more of the property tax burden to commercial businesses in order to give some relief to residential homeowners. During the third night … more

By Jim McGaw | 5/4/23

Portsmouth High’s Nick Waycuilis fires a spike to St. Raphael Academy’s side during the Patriots’ home win Tuesday night.

Portsmouth boys win first volleyball match of season

PORTSMOUTH — After starting their inaugural season at 0-5, the Portsmouth High School varsity boys’ volleyball team notched its first win Tuesday night in a thriller over St. Raphael … more

5/3/23

Pennfield School students, faculty and volunteers pose for a photo during their service trip to Guatemala.

In Portsmouth: A service trip with a smile

Lucy Walker said one of her favorite things about her recent trip to Guatemala wasn’t just the meaningful work in which she took part, but the connections she made with the locals … more

By Jim McGaw | 5/2/23

Regina Shers (center), the wife of the late School Committee member Allen Shers, shovels dirt as a tree is planted in remembrance of Shers at Hathaway School Friday. Shers’s sister, Dawn Maitz. is at left. They were assisted by Hathaway students Greyson Maitz (in red), and Jack (at right) and Sam Billings.

‘A Beautiful Day’: Hathaway School dedicates tree to Allen Shers

PORTSMOUTH — The Hathaway School community had two things to celebrate during its annual Arbor Day event on Friday: Month of the Military Child, and the life of School Committee member Allen … more

By Jim McGaw | 5/2/23

Diane and Chris Myers met while both were students at the University of Massachusetts-Lowell. Aside from a few years of downtime while their children were young, they’ve been making music together for most of 30 years.

Meet Chris and Diane Myers – partners in marriage and music

Chris and Diane Myers have been husband and wife for 30 years this July. In their time together they have thrived, fostering careers, raising children, building a home, while becoming pillars in … more

By Michael Khouri | 5/2/23

A door, car and driveway may be hazardous to your health

I n mid-April, 16-year-old music prodigy Ralph Yarl was running an errand that most older siblings perform, i.e. picking up his younger brothers at a friend’s house. He went to a home on … more

By Arlene Violet | 5/2/23

Despite overhauls, pensions remain a hot topic in R.I.

STORY OF THE WEEK: Twelve years after Gina Raimondo spearheaded what once seemed an improbable overhaul of the state pension system, pensions remain a hot topic in Rhode Island. As the ProJo’s … more

By Ian Donnis | 5/2/23

Mark Tracy of Barrington caught striped bass to 29” this weekend in the East Passage from the shipping channel to Potters Cove, Prudence Island. File photo.

It’s getting fishy out there

Freshwater and saltwater fishing in Massachusetts and Rhode Island are outstanding. Both trout and salmon fishing in stocked ponds is particularly good with an explosive largemouth bass … more

By Capt. Dave Monti | 5/2/23

Average Portsmouth water customer sees 11.25% rate hike

PORTSMOUTH — The Portsmouth Water and Fire District’s average residential customer will see a water rate hike of 11.25 percent in the next fiscal year that began Monday, May 1, according … more

5/2/23

Shannon Watson sniffs a rose before tossing it into Blue Bill Cove Sunday afternoon in memory of her son, Cole, who died at the age of 22 after jumping from the Claiborne Pell Newport Bridge on May 7, 2022. Her husband, Tom, is behind her. They were attending a healing vigil behind Thriving Tree Coffee House in remembrance of those lost to bridge suicide in Rhode Island.

Hope, comfort for those impacted by bridge suicide

PORTSMOUTH — Monica Taft had just left a funeral hours earlier when her phone blew up with urgent calls and messages. more

By Jim McGaw | 5/2/23

Letter: No simplistic answers for questions on gun control

To the editor: First, the current state: There are 400 million guns in a country of 300 million people. Most people don’t own guns, or own one or two; this means that a few people have a … more

4/30/23

Letter: Indoor smoking should be banned in casinos

To the editor: As a therapist working very close to the Rhode Island border, I am concerned for the workers and non-smokers who are again being exposed to second-hand smoke inside the casino. I … more

4/30/23

Francisco Vazquez Ramos, Sergio Ricard, and Nictsa Garcia (from left) as they appeared in the booking photos.

Portsmouth Police charge 3 people with trafficking cocaine

PORTSMOUTH — Three out-of-town individuals were arrested Thursday, April 27, and charged with trafficking cocaine following an investigation by the Portsmouth Police Department, DEA … more

4/28/23

Letter: Pray for change, because goodness matters

Prayer plays a prominent part in many American lives. Many pray for peace. Some kneel or bow in regular prayer. Others call for "thoughts and prayers" for victims. And some even make … more

4/27/23

Letter: Some progress on suicide prevention barriers – but not enough

In 2023, the next phase of suicide prevention barrier legislation is pending before the Senate (S586) and the House (H6002). A lot has happened since this odyssey began to install barriers on the … more

4/27/23

Letter: Urge your government to allow critical gun safety votes

To the editor: There are currently two pieces of legislation critical to our public safety which are making their way through our Rhode Island legislature. They would: 1) Ban of future sales of … more

4/27/23

Pie chart shows how property taxes are divvied up between residential, commercial and tangible in Portsmouth. The Town Council is considering a freeze on the tangible tax rate in next year’s budget — it would otherwise be lowered, along with the two other tax rates, due to the recent revaluation — in order to take some of the tax burden off residential property owners.

Portsmouth seeks tax relief for residential homeowners

PORTSMOUTH — In an effort to lower the tax burden on residential property owners, the Town Council is considering a change to the way it sets the tax rate for the next fiscal year beginning … more

By Jim McGaw | 4/26/23

University of Massachusetts fly half Bella Pomeroy tosses the ball to a teammate during a game against the University of Vermont (UMV), which romped to a 66-0 victory on Saturday — the highest-scoring game in the bracket.

A 'Beast' of a tournament in Portsmouth (photos)

PORTSMOUTH — Eighty collegiate rugby teams battled it out over the weekend at Glen Farm during the 37th annual Beast of the East. more

4/26/23

Letter: Is nuclear an alternative to offshore wind?

In 2022, Rhode Island passed a law to change our renewable energy standard "to achieve the goal that one hundred percent of Rhode Island's electricity demand is from renewable energy by 2033 and each … more

4/26/23