Barrington 2024: Year in review

An election, a recount, sick raccoons and plenty more filled the Barrington Times in 2024

Posted 1/2/25

It was an election year. It was an eclipse year. And it was an aurora borealis year. Barrington residents were treated to plenty of interesting news in 2024, and maybe a few weeks where people spent …

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Barrington 2024: Year in review

An election, a recount, sick raccoons and plenty more filled the Barrington Times in 2024

Posted

It was an election year. It was an eclipse year. And it was an aurora borealis year. Barrington residents were treated to plenty of interesting news in 2024, and maybe a few weeks where people spent a lot of time talking about synthetic turf fields. 

January 2024

The new year started off with a schedule conflict at Barrington High School.

Officials initially announced that the BHS graduation ceremony would be shifted from Sunday, June 9 to Saturday, June 8. But that move was met with some student push-back — the regional track championship was scheduled for June 8, and senior members of the Barrington track team would have to choose whether to attend the meet or their own graduation. 

On Jan. 4, then-Superintendent of Schools Michael Messore announced graduation was moving back to Sunday, June 9. “In the end, it’s about the kids. I’m happy, but I’m happy for the kids,” said the parent of a BHS senior.

Other January headlines:

• Crowd debates whether Barrington official’s posts were anti-semitic

• Barrington Schools’ assistant superintendent is resigning

• DEI requests Council share ‘Respectful’ pledge 

• Vehicle driven by Barrington teenager strikes two pedestrians

February 2024

Not in our backyard. That was the message from some residents who live near Chianese Park when they discovered a councilman’s plan for constructing a synthetic turf field on the lower Chianese capped landfill field. 

Those in opposition said the proposal would increase traffic in their neighborhood, lead to safety issues and likely increase noise pollution. Some residents supported the plan, but Council members later suggested the middle school host the synthetic turf surface. Voters at the November elections rejected the synthetic turf field proposals. 

Other February headlines: 

• Next superintendent salary ‘in the range of $265,000’

• Eagles make history, win state championship

• Barrington students win national art contest

March 2024

The third month of 2024 was also the last month for the longtime Barrington veterans organization, Barrington United Veterans Council. 

At a March 12 meeting, all members of the BUVC resigned, protesting the town’s flying of certain flags above the veterans memorial outside Barrington Town Hall. “We can no longer serve in good faith a local government that harbors such hostility and animosity towards its Veterans and its families,” stated a letter from the group.

Months later, members of the Barrington Town Council voted 3-2 to construct a new flagpole plaza near the entrance to the Town Hall and move the outreach flags out of the veterans memorial. 

Other March headlines:

• Pedestrian struck and killed in Barrington

• Revised bike path bridge plans call for fishing access

• A decade of dominance — BHS girls swim team wins 10th straight state championship

April 2024

It was kind of a big deal. Just about everyone everywhere pushed pause on their normal activities on Monday, April 8 to stare at the sun. The partial solar eclipse drew huge crowds all across the region, including at the town hall lawn in Barrington. 

The next solar eclipse will take place in 2045. 

Other April headlines:

• Track surface joins list of failing facilities at BHS

• School officials at odds with Energy committee chairman

• Veterans memorial compromise stalls at Council meeting

May 2024

Barrington teenagers were in the news in May — but it was not good news.

Early in the month, multiple Barrington schools sheltered in place and the high school locked down because of a disturbance that took place outside the high school. Also in May, Barrington Police charged multiple BHS students with felony assault following a fight on Upland Way. The students also shared video of the fight that left their classmate with serious facial injuries. 

Other May headlines:

• Barrington man hits a $4 million jackpot

• Barrington’s next Superintendent is from Massachusetts

• RISPCA: Dead dog found on Barrington beach had been shot

June 2024

The Barrington High School boys outdoor track team made history by winning the outdoor track state championship. In 100 years of outdoor track and field records, Barrington High School had never won a team championship. 

Barrington scored 120 team points and finished ahead of second place Hendricken (108.5 points), third place LaSalle (96 points) and 30 other teams. 

Other June headlines:

• Town sells land for $1; developer to make $660K

• School Committee shares vision for renovated Victory Field

• Resident rips Committee member about canceled speaker   

July 2024

Barrington Beach proved to be very popular. Town officials revealed that parking spaces at the town beach were hard to find on weekends and holidays this summer. The spots go quickly, often taken up by non-residents who arrive before the beach opens and stay all day long. 

Other July headlines:

• Police shoot and kill aggressive dog

• Council signs off on safer sidewalks 

• Tennis anyone? Town breaks ground on new courts

August 2024

The Barrington Police Department held a special swearing-in ceremony for its newest member: an English Labrador retriever named Levi. He is the department’s first-ever community engagement dog. Levi is partnered with Barrington Police Officer Michael Gregorzek, a 16-year veteran of the department. 

Other August headlines:

• Massasoit sidewalks are still down the road a bit

• No stipend raises for BHS coaches, again

• Boy discovers rare fungi for a second time

September 2024

An emergency construction project to repair a broken sewer pipe celebrated its one-month anniversary. 

The work to repair the broken pipe, which was located about 20 feet underneath the intersection of Middle Highway and Legion Way, presented crews with a variety of obstacles, and motorists with an inconvenient detour. Officials closed the section of Middle Highway between Nayatt Road and Maple Avenue for weeks.

Other September headlines:

• A private meeting, rental fees and unexpected budget moves

• Committee member resigns, cites ‘lack of progress’ on renewable energy

• Dead dog found inside leaf bag in Barrington

• School board supports coaching stipend raises

• Resilience garden blooms near town hall

• Human remains found at Nayatt Point construction site

October 2024

Barrington and much of the northern half of the United States gets treated to a rare visit by aurora borealis, the northern lights. Vivid hues of red, green and purple lasted about 15 minutes during a flare-up.

The rare occurrence was the result of a geomagnetic storm that arrived one day in October and was gone the next.

Other October headlines: 

• A bright ending for Black Cloud

Candidate: ‘Independents are a new party’

• Ducks race across the pond for BEF fund-raiser

• Pickle-ball’s ‘pop’ puts damper on Kent Street courts lights

November 2024

When the dust settles days later, Democrats swept the three open seats on the Barrington Town Council. It was a different story for the school committee, where two Independents and only one Democrat win seats. 

Other November headlines: 

• Tests reveal contaminated soil at local school

• Council member on turf votes: ‘a missed opportunity’

• Police euthanize nearly a half-dozen sick raccoons

• New school rankings released: Barrington is number one

December 2024

ARPA funding — the gift that kept on giving — finally runs out. For more than two years, Barrington dipped into its bag of American Rescue Plan Act funding to pay for all sorts of projects and purchases. But by the end of December, the town earmarked its entire allotment, including more than $100,000 for the Bayside YMCA. 

Other December headlines:

• Council awards $1.37M bid for Haines Park project

• How will the school construction increase my taxes?

• ’Super Senior’ grants offer $1,148 in extra tax relief

2025 by East Bay Media Group

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MIKE REGO

Mike Rego has worked at East Bay Newspapers since 2001, helping the company launch The Westport Shorelines. He soon after became a Sports Editor, spending the next 10-plus years in that role before taking over as editor of The East Providence Post in February of 2012. To contact Mike about The Post or to submit information, suggest story ideas or photo opportunities, etc. in East Providence, email mrego@eastbaymediagroup.com.