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

Letter: We should all think before we throw

All my adult life I’ve been obsessed with trash. In 1986, as a young, very pregnant woman in Brooklyn, my husband and I went door to door, distributing informative pamphlets in our … more

1/27/21

Letter: ‘Diversity’ committee would undermine the government and citizens of Bristol

Editor’s note: The following is an abridged version of a letter submitted to the Bristol Town Council prior to hearing a proposal to create a Committee on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. … more

1/27/21

Barrington Police: Resident reports confederate flag-waving dirt-bike rider; partying in Y’s buses?

Barrington police responded to a variety of incidents last week: • On Saturday, Jan. 23, a Western Avenue resident called police to report that a man had been riding a dirt bike around nearby … more

1/27/21

Aaron Ley was one of two Bristol town councilors in favor of forming a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, but he was in the minority, during a meeting held on Zoom Jan. 20.

Bristol denies diversity group’s request for formal committee

Bristol resident Rob Hancock and many others spoke at length at last Wednesday night’s Bristol Town Council meeting regarding the establishment of a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee … more

By Christy Nadalin | 1/27/21

Annmarie Gower was an All-American runner in college and beloved track and cross-country coach for more than 30 years at Barrington High School. She stepped down recently, stating “The last couple of years with COVID and the school time change the day became really long. I couldn’t start my practices until 3:45. Personally for me it became difficult as is the case for any coach who is a teacher.”

Start-time change a factor for retiring BHS coach

Perhaps Barrington High School Director of Athletics George Finn best expressed how important Annmarie Gower has been to the school’s girls’ cross country team, indoor track team and … more

BY MIKE SCANDURA | 1/27/21

Letter: Massachusetts travel policy seems inconsistent

To the editor: I am curious about the Barrington School District policy of not allowing day trips to a place like Wachusett mountain. I personally have no vested interest in this because we … more

1/26/21

Letter: Non-political flag policy is first step to unity

To the editor: As we look towards achieving our 46th President's goal of unity and healing, I would recommend we look no further than the heroic actions of our nation's first Black recipient of … more

1/26/21

Metacom Avenue's hodge podge of styles, large parking lots and overall aesthetic are being targeted by a sweeping town revitalization effort.

Warren envisions improved Metacom Avenue

Warren's sprawling and in many places dated and drab Metacom Avenue could be transformed to a trendy business and residential area, with condos, small shops and green spaces, under a sweeping series of proposed regulations released this week by the town's planning department. more

By Ted Hayes | 1/26/21

Candace Breen was one of a handful of residents who recently received a letter from another resident telling them to remove Biden and Black Lives Matter signs from their yards.

Letter to Barrington residents: Remove Biden and BLM signs

Candace Breen was having a wonderful day. The Barrington resident was watching President Biden’s inauguration on television last Wednesday when she heard the mail truck pull in front of her … more

By Josh Bickford | 1/26/21

Police provided this photograph of some of the marijuana plants allegedly seized in the raid of a Market Street apartment Friday evening.

Warren police raid yields marijuana, guns and cash

A Warren man faces several felony charges after a police raid at his home Friday, Jan. 22 uncovered dozens of marijuana plants and more than a pound of prepared marijuana, eight weapons and several … more

By Ted Hayes | 1/25/21

Examples of signs that were erected in front of a Bristol Ferry home by local resident Michael DiPaola, and which were the target of a notice of violation from the Town of Portsmouth. The ACLU has now filed a lawsuit against the town, challenging the zoning ordinance.

Portsmouth: Notice of violation doesn't target signs’ content

PORTSMOUTH — The Town of Portsmouth did not use its local sign ordinance to ban the posting of “political” signs by a local man on residential property, the town stated in a … more

1/24/21

Members of the RI National Guard set up the asymptomatic rapid testing site in the Barrington Shopping Center.

Barrington testing site extended two more weeks

Barrington officials announced recently that the pop-up asymptomatic Covid-19 testing site in town will remain open for an additional two weeks. The testing site, which is located in the former … more

1/22/21

Barrington Police: Lawn signs stolen, window broken, and more

Barrington police responded to a variety of different incidents last week: • On Friday, Jan. 15, a Barrington resident stopped into the station to file a report for missing lawn signs. … more

1/22/21

Three homes destroyed in devastating fire on Prudence Island

PRUDENCE ISLAND — Three homes were completely destroyed by a late-night fire on Prudence Island Thursday. One woman managed to escape safely from the home at which the fire apparently … more

By Jim McGaw | 1/22/21

Letter: A note about dogs in public spaces

To the editor: While walking on the beach and around neighborhoods, dog owners sometimes ignore repeated requests from others to keep their dogs leashed. Multiple residents have raised concerns … more

1/22/21

ACLU sues Town of Portsmouth over violation notice on signs

PORTSMOUTH — No doubt you’ve seen the signs while driving up and down Bristol Ferry Road, although perhaps the wording was difficult to make out from a moving vehicle. more

By Jim McGaw | 1/22/21

Members of the Barrington High School girls indoor track team run through a practice session on the outdoor track on Monday morning, Jan. 18. Pictured are (from left to right) Kyle Keough, Lindsay Turgeon, Jane Bryant, Virginia Sanderson, Maeve Murphy and Tosca Barako taking a warm-up lap before the start of the work-out.

Barrington teams excited to start winter sports season

Barrington High School’s winter sports teams will begin playing regular season games this weekend, after the state gave the green light to interscholastic league competition earlier this … more

By Josh Bickford | 1/22/21

Bristol Warren school chief steps aside temporarily to be with family

Bristol Warren's school superintendent is stepping away from the job for five weeks to be with his family and provide support to his mother, who is facing health problems. Superintendent Dr. … more

By Ted Hayes | 1/22/21

Barrington revaluation underway, assessments on the way

Notices for the recent town-wide revaluation could be mailed to residents as soon as February. Barrington’s new tax assessor, Ken Mallette, told members of the town council earlier this … more

1/22/21

The new bike route would include a network of downtown streets, all with street markings and signage to improve safety and allow versatility for cyclists.

Bristol bike path engineers decide to go with the flow

The plan to extend the East Bay Bike Path through downtown Bristol to the base of the Mt. Hope Bridge has undergone a significant revision. After spending much of 2020 studying possible bike routes … more

By Scott Pickering | 1/22/21

Letter: Criticism of Councilor Sweeney’s actions is inappropriate

It is very unfortunate that a former dedicated public official, Louis Cirillo, has been thrust into the maelstrom, while questions of the propriety of actions of due diligence on the part of one of … more

1/22/21

Paddle board teammates Peter Maloney and Eileen Malloy, both of Bristol, return the ball back over the net during a pickle ball match on the Town Common on Tuesday.

Pickleball on the Common — a ‘winter lifesaver’

Peter Maloney and his teammate Eileen Malloy celebrated after he whacked the softball-sized plastic yellow ball over the net, sending it whistling by his opponents, Cathy Winston and David Schwartz, … more

By Richard W. Dionne, Jr. | 1/21/21

Letter: We thank you for your generosity

To the editor: Dear Community: 2020 presented many challenges for Tap-In. The remodeling of our facility forced us to relocate for months, the pandemic caused restrictive operational measures … more

1/21/21

Two Barrington schools offering Covid-19 testing

All students and staff at Barrington High School and Barrington Middle School are now being offered testing for Covid-19 through a special program that will run through the end of the school year. The program was made … more

1/21/21

Letter: Letter was a disparaging political attack on councilor

In his letter to the editor of this newspaper (“ Due diligence and a dedicated public servant ,” Jan. 14), Mike Byrnes made some strongly worded, politically motivated allegations against … more

1/21/21