Stories | EastBayRI.com - News, Opinion, Things to Do in the East Bay

Letter: Individual ‘rights’ vs. community responsibility

Over the past several weeks, I have followed the ‘mask debate’ as it pertains to the start of the school year. The increasingly polarizing rhetoric around this reflects an erosion of our … more

8/26/21

Bristol native appointed state court administrator

Attorney Julie P. Hamil is the state court administrator, having succeeded J. Joseph Baxter Jr. on Aug. 23. Ms. Hamil was formerly the general counsel for the Rhode Island Supreme Court, while Mr. … more

8/25/21

Letter: Taliban rout and storming of U.S. Capitol eerily similar

Those of us who took Latin in grade school know that “Sic Transit Gloria” represents what the U.S. is experiencing with the fall of Afghanistan. Americans and democracy really had no … more

8/25/21

Alex Brassard sings “Funny Honey” during “Chicago: A Two-Woman Extravaganza,” at the 2 Woman Productions theater in Bristol.

‘Chicago,’ on a summer night in Bristol

Mt. Hope alumni Alex Brassard and Sara Slusarski put on their own creative and scintillating version of, “Chicago: A Two-Woman Extravaganza,” on the 2 Woman Productions stage behind Ms. … more

Story and photos by Richard W. Dionne, Jr. | 8/25/21

Bristol Fire Dept. Engine 5 arrives at St. Mary's Cemetery for the funeral of Ray Castro.

The Bristol Fire Department meant everything to Ray Castro

I remember the day vividly when Ray Castro and I sat down to talk about his beloved Bristol Fire Department. It was a somewhat cool autumn afternoon when the weather was just changing from summer to … more

BY MANUEL C. “MANNY” CORREIRA | 8/25/21

Letter: Use masks as an opportunity for growth

One of the disturbing messages coming out of the more recent Bristol Warren Regional School Committee meeting was the idea that mask wearing is cognitively, physically, and emotionally harmful to … more

8/25/21

Barrington High School quarterback James Anderson flips the ball to a back during a drill on the first day of preseason football practice on Monday morning, Aug. 23.

Preseason practice kicks off at Barrington High School

Barrington High School sports teams opened the fall season on Monday morning, Aug. 23. Members of the football, field hockey, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls soccer, girls tennis, … more

8/25/21

Barrington police break up large underage drinking party

Barrington police received multiple calls for a loud party on North Lane at about 10 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 21. Officers responded and discovered a number of cars parked in the cul de sac, … more

8/24/21

This Dutch Colonial on Woodland Road in Barrington is a perfect example of what’s happening in the “luxury” homes market. A few years ago, it would be considered a really nice, upper middle class home in a great neighborhood, close to the center of town off Rumstick Road in Barrington — the type of home that might sell for about $700,000. In fact, it is assessed by the Town of Barrington at $695,000. With modern upgrades and beautiful renovations — and in this market — it sold this summer for $1.3 million. Sellers were represented by the Kirk Schryver Team of Residential Properties, and the Buyers were represented by Kris Chwalk of Residential Properties.

In this market, million-dollar sales are a dime a dozen

Back in the old days — like, two years ago! — a million-dollar real estate deal was something special. Million-dollar sales did not happen often. They were reserved for only the very top … more

By Scott Pickering | 8/20/21

Once an RV garage, this home now sparkles day or night. The roofline in the background reveals the original garage, before two additions were constructed (garden room to the left, entryway and mudroom to the right). The elegant library was a featured element in the design.

The writer’s studio – From RV garage to a relaxing home

Architect Gale Goff has enjoyed her share of unique projects. This Little Compton hideaway skews to the “unique” end of the spectrum. Dubbed “The Writer’s Studio” … more

By Scott Pickering | 8/20/21

An outdoor patio area will seat an additional 40 patrons, with crisp views of the Palmer River and the Warren Bridge.

The Guild Warren opening on Sept. 1

The new brewpub owned by the Pawtucket brewing powerhouse The Guild, situated on the banks of the Palmer River in Warren, will open Wednesday, Sept. 1 more

By Ethan Hartley | 8/20/21

The plan to turn the former Jos. A. Banks store space into a Starbucks with a drive-through lane received a key special-use permit from the Barrington Zoning Board of Review on Thursday night.

Starbucks plan in Barrington nearly crushed, then approved

A last minute plea by Joe Paolino during Thursday night’s zoning board meeting saved the plan to build a new Starbucks restaurant with a drive-through lane in the Barrington Shopping … more

By Josh Bickford | 8/20/21

A mute swan swims along the north shore of Briggs Marsh early Wednesday morning.

DEM calls off Little Compton swan hunt this year

The state Department of Environmental Management (DEM) cancelled this week its plan to euthanize an untold number of mute swans on Briggs Marsh, under a controversial state policy put in place 15 … more

By Ted Hayes | 8/20/21

Zoning board made the right (cell) call

Main Road resident Betty Slade hit the nail on the head when she got up at Wednesday's zoning board of appeals hearing to talk about the proposed cell phone tower at Masquesatch and Drift roads, … more

8/19/21

The Warren Folks Fest will return on Saturday, Aug. 28 at 30 Cutler Street.

Warren Folks Fest returns Aug. 28

Warren Folks Fest is a celebration of all things local and all things artistic. It will be held on Saturday, Aug. 28 from 1-8 p.m. at the mill complex at 30 Cutler Street. more

By Ethan Hartley | 8/19/21

Calling for a show of hands, the zoning board of review voted on the cell tower plan at 8:11 p.m. Wednesday. Mr. Elias, with hand raised, was the only member to vote in favor of Municipal Communications LLC. The applicant's attorney, Brian Corey, has his back to the camera.

Westport rejects Masquesatch cell phone tower

Members of the Westport Zoning Board of Appeals on Wednesday evening overwhelmingly rejected a telecommunications company's request to build a 150-foot cell phone tower at 67 Masquesatch Road, voting … more

By Ted Hayes | 8/19/21

Letter: Mighty doctors rightly admonished us simpletons

While open dialogue about COVID is censored and punished across major social media platforms, and the free exchange of information is policed by fact-checking apparatchiks and filtered by an openly … more

8/19/21

Volunteers Holly Billings (left) and Helen Pereira inspect some of the fresh local produce available this past Saturday at the Little Compton Food Bank

Little Compton Food Bank busier than ever

By 10:30 this past Saturday, the volunteers at the Little Compton Food Bank had nearly exhausted the day's supply of fresh produce and fruit. It was a busy morning, with a steady stream of Tiverton … more

By Ted Hayes | 8/18/21

Letter: Council decision was mean-spirited and vindictive

Just as I expected, at their most recent meeting our town council in a rushed and poorly thought out vote, eliminated longevity payments and buyout bonuses for the town clerk and town administrator, … more

8/18/21

Scenes like this, from last fall on State Street, are likely to continue, as Bristol is taking steps to allow outdoor dining options to remain into 2022.

Bristol's emergency executive order expires — outdoor dining will not

Bristol’s pandemic-related emergency order expired on Aug. 18, and at the July 28 Bristol Town Council meeting, Administrator Steven Contente said he would not be seeking to extend it. … more

By Christy Nadalin | 8/18/21

This Adams Point Road home in Barrington sold recently for $3,570,000.

Adams Point Road home in Barrington sells for $3.57 million

Residential Properties Ltd. recently announces the sale of an Adams Point Road home, which sold for $3,570,000. According to statewide MLS data, this sale marked the second-highest sale in … more

8/18/21

Dr. Jeff Berg speaks in favor of mask-wearing during the public comment period of a Bristol Warren Regional School Committee meeting Monday night.

Tension builds as Bristol Warren considers school mask mandate

Interim Superintendent Bob Hicks and the nine members of the Bristol Warren Regional School Committee face a big decision that, regardless of their ultimate vote, will result in many unhappy … more

By Ethan Hartley | 8/18/21

Oyster farmers' numbers don't add up

To the editor: In response to the August 12th Bowen article. The applicants for the proposed oyster farm in a highly public used area in the Sakonnet River have made some … more

8/17/21

The fact is, oyster farming is wrong for Seapowet

To the editor: Despite continued claims by the Bowens that Seapowet abutters and neighbors are running a misinformation campaign, the facts show otherwise. They are missing the main point: that … more

8/17/21

Letter: Safety vs. freedom, what is the right balance?

To the editor: Recently, the Barrington Times dared to share its view on masks, which in turn generated several passionate responses. One reply stated how she was “ Shocked and infuriated … more

8/17/21