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

Barrington schools' reentry task force delays music programs

The state recently set new guidelines allowing indoor music performance at public schools, but Barrington officials have decided to get more information before implementing any changes in the music … more

By Josh Bickford | 3/16/21

Example of a New England cottontail rabbit, a candidate species for Federal Endangered Species protection.

Rabbit on Patience Island tests positive for contagious disease

PORTSMOUTH — A New England cottontail rabbit from Patience Island recently tested positive for tularemia, a contagious bacterial disease. The R.I. Department of Environmental Management … more

3/15/21

As would be expected on the new “Revolutionary Heritage Byway,” the Bristol Train of Artillery marches south on Hope Street during a Fourth of July parade.

Bristol is site of state’s first National Scenic Byway

The National Scenic Byways program was established by Congress in 1991 to recognize roads possessing qualities in one or more of six areas: archaeological, cultural, historic, natural, recreational, … more

By Christy Nadalin | 3/13/21

Letter: Council’s flag policy has divided the community

To the editor: Hard to believe the new town council has had three monthly meetings since being sworn in and the all-consuming topic has been a flag policy they created. Town business … more

3/13/21

Debt disappearing, Barrington’s budget to benefit

With $2.9 million of debt coming off the books, Barrington officials are expecting the town’s tax levy will actually decrease this year. Barrington Town Manager Jim Cunha released his … more

By Josh Bickford | 3/12/21

Arlene Violet: Accusation: The Democrats are using the pandemic to reward political allies

Congressional Republicans are objecting to the $1.9 trillion legislation being pushed by the president and the Democrats to deal with the coronavirus pandemic and the resulting economic fallout. They … more

By Arlene Violet | 3/12/21

East Bay Rowing is throwing a virtual “10K for 10 Years” party on Saturday, March 20 and hopes to raise $10,000.

East Bay Rowing celebrating 10 years

East Bay Rowing, established by Barrington residents Deb and Pat Sullivan, is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. To kick-off the year-long celebration, East Bay Rowing is throwing a … more

3/12/21

Bristol Warren Joint Finance Committee Chairman Steve Calenda, of Warren, was re-elected to a second term Thursday evening.

JFC looks long-term in Bristol Warren's budget woes

Declining enrollment, demographic changes, diminishing state aid and other institutional issues will continue to plague the Bristol Warren Regional School District's finances year in and year out … more

By Ted Hayes | 3/12/21

Letter: ‘De-leveling’ is already happening in all departments

To the editor: In your recent article regarding “de-leveling” of courses from the BHS Program of Studies you wrote, "Currently, Barrington High School officials have not 'de-leveled' … more

3/12/21

Letter: Hats off to the vaccination volunteers

To the editor: The COVID crisis has brought bad news to many of us with information that is often in contradiction as to what we as citizens should be following such as whether or not to wear a … more

3/12/21

Editorial: Bristol, a great place to …

A generation ago, many would finish that sentence by saying Bristol is a great place to raise a family. Would they still today? We ask because of what we discovered while researching population … more

3/12/21

Letter: Barrington needs to let kids play music together now

To the editor: We are Parents of Note, an organization that supports and advocates for the music programs of Barrington Public Schools. Like many programs, Band and Chorus throughout the … more

3/12/21

Letter: This bike path route will be too dangerous

My wife and I have been hiking and biking our entire lives. Hearing about the bike plan extension sounds good. I truly believe it will be dangerous — especially around the Hope and High Street … more

3/12/21

Letter: Don’t limit the rights of law-abiding citizens

I have followed articles in the Phoenix about proposed additional gun control bills in Rhode Island. It seems to me the people behind this have no idea what a responsible gun owner is. The emphasis … more

3/12/21

Isabelle Courtney (left) and Thomas Faulkner practice the flute using specially made masks during a concert band class on Tuesday morning at Mt. Hope High School. After not being allowed to meet or practice in person for nearly a year, music education students have resumed in-person classes — with restrictions.

Bristol Warren music students go back to class

Vicki Boyle, performing arts educator at Mt. Hope High School, recently experienced a joy she had not experienced since sometime last year. She walked down a school hallway, stepped into the … more

By Sam Tavares | 3/11/21

Letter: Ferry can be safe for walking, not for biking

Having lived on Fesser Avenue for 40 years (parallel to Ferry Road), I am well aware of the foot, car and cycling traffic in the area proposed for the bike path along the west side of Ferry Road. In … more

3/11/21

Reval complete, Barrington's tax base up 14 percent

Residents across Barrington received their property assessments in the mail late last week. For some, the information contained on the one-page mailer was no big deal, as their property … more

By Josh Bickford | 3/11/21

Letter: We all share responsibility in gun policies

In early February you published an article about the rise of gun ownership in Rhode Island, the potential dangers associated with this rise and the upcoming gun safety legislation being proposed at … more

3/11/21

Where have all the kids gone?

Enrollment in the Bristol Warren Regional School District has been steadily declining for 20 years. Since the start of this century, the student population has declined 18 percent. According to … more

By Scott Pickering | 3/11/21

A prior year's FTM in Barrington was moved to the high school auditorium to accommodate for a larger-than-average crowd.

Should FTM be indoors, outdoors, in-person, online?

Most years, the Barrington financial town meeting is held in late May inside the auditorium at the high school, and plays host to a few hundred people. Some years the crowd swells, and the venue … more

By Josh Bickford | 3/11/21

Bristol sells shopping plaza for $2.8 million

It was a deal about three years in the making. Officially known as the Bristol Shopping Center, and commonly referred to as Gooding Plaza, the 10.3-acre commercial property located at 6-40 Gooding … more

By Christy Nadalin | 3/10/21

Senior guard Nina Gibbons launches a three at the buzzer and ties the game to send the championship into overtime.

Eagles lose championship game in overtime thriller

With the clock about to expire, Barrington High School senior Nina Gibbons capped an improbably comeback, sinking a long-range three-pointer to tie the Division I State Championship game and send it … more

3/9/21

Map of new water main construction route starting in the area of the Emergency Pump Station on Pawtucket Ave. and ending at the Kent Heights Tank Facilities on Greenwich Avenue. Construction to begin in April and take place throughout 2021.

BCWA will soon connect emergency supply with East Providence

EAST PROVIDENCE — The Bristol County Water Authority will soon complete its recent project to construct a new $6.9 million emergency backup water pipeline connected to the City of East … more

3/9/21

Members of the Barrington High School girls swim team celebrate with their trophy after winning the Division I State Championships, 48-46, against East Greenwich Sunday.

Barrington girls win seventh straight state title

It was a Hollywood movie finish. The Barrington High School girls swim team had trailed East Greenwich for the entire Division I State Championship meet on Sunday. In fact, Barrington was trailing … more

By Josh Bickford | 3/9/21

Raquel Pellerin, Bristol Warren's last full time Chief Financial Officer, is shown here taking the oath of office as Bristol Town Treasurer in October 2019.

Bristol Warren schools widen search for financial officer

With the Bristol Warren Regional School District facing a $2.3 million budget shortfall and the prospect of dozens of layoffs and cuts looming, administrators are turning to two recruiting firms to … more

By Ted Hayes | 3/9/21