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Lea Hitchen of Portsmouth appointed next town planner

PORTSMOUTH — The town didn’t wait long to appoint a successor to Town Planner Gary Crosby, who earlier this month announced his retirement effective June 30 after 18 years of … more

By Jim McGaw | 4/26/22

Chris Zeeman from a Fort Adams work crew uses a trump grinder during Saturday’s cleanup at Butts Hill Fort.

In Portsmouth: Volunteers pitch in to clean up Butts Hill Fort

PORTSMOUTH — Armed with rakes, shovels, tree saws and loppers, 34 volunteers took part in this year’s first cleanup of Butts Hill Fort, a Revolutionary-era earthwork near Portsmouth High … more

4/26/22

Nearly two dozen Marines from the Naval Justice School helped out during the cleanup at the Portsmouth Dog Park on Saturday.

Letter: Thanks Marines, others for cleaning up dog park

To the editor: The Portsmouth Dog Park celebrated Earth Day last Saturday in its own inimitable fashion. All hands and paws were on deck for a very productive, delightfully chaotic spring … more

4/26/22

Police investigate a house at 37 Warren Avenue in Warren after a man had a stand-off with police early Tuesday morning. The suspect surrendered peacefully.

Warren PD releases details on morning standoff

A 44-year-old Warren man is in custody following a tense standoff with police this morning. more

4/26/22

Letter: An open letter from Be Great for Nate

Dear community members, Be Great For Nate was created four years ago to support youth in our community by raising suicide awareness. It has been our honor to serve in this organization in memory … more

4/26/22

Comedian Ashley Gutermuth (far left) entertains the crowd inside Greenvale Vineyards’ tasting room on Sunday during the winery’s first-ever Comedy for Conservation event.

In Portsmouth: Recycling jokes for a good cause

PORTSMOUTH — They were yukking it up inside Greenvale Vineyard’s tasting room on Sunday for the winery’s first-ever “Comedy for Conservation” event. Proceeds from the … more

4/26/22

Drew Lapointe sprints around second base en route to his first of two triples during the Eagles' win on Friday.

Eagles sweep Islanders, improve to 5-3 in division

The Barrington High School baseball team scored five runs in the first inning, two more in the second, and rolled to a 13-3 win over Middletown on Friday afternoon, April 22. Junior pitcher … more

By Josh Bickford | 4/26/22

Pictured are (from left to right) Barrington Shaw’s Store Director Karen Medeiros, and Tap-In’s Laurie Ward, Pascale Lord, Debbie Thurston and Tirza Rivera-Cira. Medeiros stopped by Tap-In to share a $12,800 donation from Shaw’s to the local nonprofit.

Tap-In receives generous donation from Shaw’s

Once again, Shaw’s Supermarket has stepped up to support Tap-In’s efforts to address food insecurity and economic hardship in the East Bay. Barrington Shaw’s, … more

4/26/22

Tiverton Budget Committee member Joseph Sousa protests against President Joe Biden Monday in front of Stateline Tobacco on Stafford Road. Note: portions of his sign have been blurred electronically.

Tiverton official says he won't stop waving anti-Biden sign

"F*** Biden." The words on Joe Sousa's white sign, and a drawing of a hand with uplifted middle finger, are clear as day and leave no doubt where the elected Tiverton Budget Committee member … more

By Ted Hayes | 4/26/22

Alyssa Gotovich watches as a bike owned by her mom, Nicole Gotovich, is inspected by Art Leland, owner of Your Bike Shop in Warren. Nicole Gotovich was the main organizer for the safety forum.

Safety first at bike event in Portsmouth

PORTSMOUTH — Pedals, police and popcorn were on the bill last Wednesday, April 20, for the first Bicycle Safety Forum in Common Fence Point. Children and adults brought their bikes to the … more

By Jim McGaw | 4/25/22

The United States Army Corps of Engineers says it will cost $2.738 million to remove tons of rubble from beneath Hix Bridge.

Watershed alliance takes closer look at Hix Bridge Plan

With the cost to the town up to nearly $1 million, members of the Westport River Watershed Alliance have offered — and received the go ahead — to take a closer look at the benefits of … more

By Ted Hayes | 4/22/22

This stone for Philip Mosher, who died at Andersonville Prison during the Civil War, is most likely a memorial to his life.

Tiverton cemetery cleanup is Saturday

Volunteers with the Tiverton Historic Cemeteries Commission will spend Saturday cleaning years of overgrowth from a historic cemetery on Furey Avenue, and they could use some help. The public is … more

4/22/22

Andy Pollock, executive director of Coastal Neighbors Network and Clare Foley, executive director of The Association for the Relief of Aged Women, are embarking on a partnership to improve the well-being of elderly women in Westport and Dartmouth.

New partnership aims to help elderly Westport women

Coastal Neighbors Network , one of the area’s newest charitable organizations, is partnering with The Association for the Relief of Aged Women (ARAW), one of the oldest charitable foundations … more

4/22/22

Wenley Ferguson of Save the Bay (middle) oversees beach grass planting at Fogland Beach last Friday.

Building a beach in Tiverton

One blade of sea grass at a time, Fogland Beach's sand dunes are growing. A group of about 30 volunteers spent a sunny afternoon last Thursday plugging native grasses into sand berms deposited … more

4/22/22

Westport Health Notes: Rabies clinic is Saturday

Welcome to Westport Health Notes, a monthly column from the Westport Board of Health (BOH). The goal is to share information with our community about local issues and projects, public health … more

By Tanja Ryden | 4/22/22

Work has commenced on the long-abandoned Longfield property along Hope Street.

Development progresses on blighted Longfield and Knowlton properties

Work has commenced on the blighted Longfield property on Hope Street, but to passersby, that work may appear to be well beyond the scope of what was approved by the town. But that’s an illusion — there are actually two separate development projects happening side-by-side. more

By Christy Nadalin | 4/22/22

A drawing shows the plan to build three pathways through the seawall at Walley Beach to provide easier shoreline access. East Coast Construction should have the project completed and ready to reopen to the public by June.

Improved Walley Beach and park scheduled to reopen by June

With Narragansett Bay cleaner than it has ever been, taking a swim in the harbor is a great alternative to a sandy beach in Middletown or Newport. Recognizing this, Bristol began looking into ways to make the rocky beach at the end of Walley Street more accessible to swimmers. more

By Christy Nadalin | 4/22/22

The new 1898 replica of the 28-foot steam launch being carefully hauled into the Herreshoff Museum’s Hall of Boats.

1898 replica steam launch added to Herreshoff Museum

It’s been five years — including a prolonged Covid pause — since Sandy Lee and a team of volunteers began the undertaking of building a replica of the 1898, 28’ steam launch built for the USS Eagle, a converted gunboat that participated in the Spanish American War before spending the next two decades surveying the Caribbean. more

By Christy Nadalin | 4/22/22

Neighbors react to Bristol Planning Board approval of Robin Rug development

The Bristol Planning Board came to a 3-2 decision to approve a 127-unit development, with Tony Murgo, Armand Bilotti, and Chairman Jerome Squatrito voting to approve, and Brian Clark and Stephen Katz voting to deny. more

By Christy Nadalin | 4/22/22

It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s a bamboozle!

Here we go again! Armed with a four-page term sheet, Gov. Dan McKee, Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza, and the Principal of High Rock Westminster Street LLC announced an “agreement” that … more

By Arlene Violet | 4/22/22

Fish commissioner Everett Mills believes Cockeast Pond is a "microcosm" of the town's nitrogen issues.

Westport commissioner wants nitrogen lawn fertilizer ban

Westport's fish commissioner believes it's time for the town to get serious about reducing nitrogen in its waters, and is proposing that Westport look into by-law changes that would ban the use of … more

By Ted Hayes | 4/22/22

Portsmouth zoners to consider amendment of housing development

PORTSMOUTH — Aquidneck Country Club is seeking Zoning Board of Review approval to amend a previously approved special-use permit to develop 22 single-family dwellings and six duplex units … more

4/22/22

What’s working well — Aaron Tessier helps his daughter Aubrey, 5, cast into Thurston Gray Pond from the small dock at Melville Park last Thursday. Residents last week pointed to Melville Park’s fishing spots and hiking trails as among the best examples of the town’s open space and recreational facilities.

Parks and recreation: How’s Portsmouth doing?

PORTSMOUTH — Portsmouth still needs a community recreation center, as well as a facility for the fastest-growing sport around — pickleball. The hiking trails and fishing … more

By Jim McGaw | 4/22/22

Editorial: Why luxury housing is good for the middle class

The highest-and-best use of the town-owned, former Carmelite Monastery property on Watson Avenue would be luxury townhouses for ages 55-plus. That may be considered an elitist stance in a community … more

4/22/22

Letter: Use large one-time fundings for once-in-a-lifetime opportunities

To the editor: I attended in person (and spoke at) the April 5 Planning Board meeting to get a general sense of the current status of the plans for the Carmelite Monastery and the Shine Harmony … more

4/22/22