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

Gov. Gina Raimondo at her daily briefing on the COVID-19 pandemic on Friday, May 1. Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott, director of the R.I. Department of Health, is at left.

Governor still aiming to lift R.I. stay-at-home order on May 8

PROVIDENCE — Despite the fact that surrounding states have extended their stay-at-home directives due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Rhode Island is still sticking with its plan to let Gov. … more

By Jim McGaw | 5/1/20

Katie Hutchison, foreground, and Dawn Oliveira have collaborated on a new podcast, Design Me a House. They are pictured here in the podcast studio at the What Cheer Writers Club in Providence, in the days before social distancing mandates forced them to produce the podcast remotely from their own homes.

Local design pros join forces to talk home design

When Katie Hutchison and Dawn Oliveira, longtime friends and collaborators, first conceived of their podcast, Design Me a House, they certainly did not imagine that they would be launching it at a … more

By Christy Nadalin | 5/1/20

Gov. Gina Raimondo and First Gentleman Andy Moffit talk to children about the coronavirus pandemic during their April 30 live broadcast.

Governor hints at the 'new normal' for schools, sports, camps, kids

The same-old, same-old questions about healthcare, hotlines and hospital beds were pushed to the side for one day on Thursday, when Rhode Island children replaced the regular pool of coronavirus … more

By Scott Pickering | 4/30/20

DEM issues new temporary license for direct sale of some seafood

PROVIDENCE — To help foster the continued viability of the Rhode Island commercial seafood industry during the COVID-19 public health crisis, the Department of Environmental Management (DEM) … more

4/30/20

Georgia MacDougall would have performed the lead in the spring musical at Mt. Hope High School. She’s now looking ahead to college in the fall — while wondering if she’ll even be allowed to go to college.

The Class of 2020 — With their senior spring gone ... what comes next?

They are like every other senior class: they are athletes and academics, artists, community organizers, and leaders. Many of them are all of these things and more. They have hopes and dreams, and … more

By Christy Nadalin | 4/30/20

Gov. Gina Raymond announces Thursday that traditional schooling won't resume this school year.

Governor: Home learning the rule in RI for rest of this school year

Distance learning — “How long will it last?“ is the question Governor Gina Raimondo said she has heard more than any other. And Thursday came her answer … more

By Bruce Burdett | 4/23/20

Letter: Farewell, Goglia’s! We won’t be the same without you

When Goglia’s market closes its doors, Bristol won’t lose just a great neighborhood market, it will lose an institution. No other place shares its one-of-a-kind character. Built by … more

4/23/20

Dr. Deborah DiBiase, at home in her new “office,” talks about the challenges and triumphs of distance learning during a “Zoom” interview.

Dr. D says: ‘I miss the kids!’

Dr. D, as she’s commonly known, gets an unexpected kiss from one of her dogs during a “Zoom” interview. Mt. Hope High School Principal Deb DiBiase has an office familiar to most … more

By Scott Pickering | 4/23/20

A drone shot of the Mt. Hope High School stadium Monday night shows the football field engulfed in light, plus a string of vehicles traveling up Chestnut Street.

School, town and students honor the Mt. Hope Class of 2020

Deborah DiBiase stood alone on the field of the Mt. Hope High School football stadium, engulfed in light. It was just before 8:20 p.m. on Monday, April 20, and the high school principal was live and … more

By Kristen Ray | 4/22/20

Warren Fire Chief James Sousa loads donated CPAP and BiPAP machines at the fire department Monday morning.

Warren Fire Department collecting CPAPS for re-use as ventilators

The apparatus bay at the Warren Fire Department is slowly filling with used CPAP and BiPAP machines donated by Warren residents, and could soon see frontline use in the fight against the Covid-19 … more

By Ted Hayes | 4/22/20

Grand gesture will light the lights for the Class of 2020

The Bristol Warren school community is planning a symbolic show of support for the Class of 2020 — Mt. Hope High School seniors whose final, should-be triumphant days in school are being wiped … more

4/17/20

Letter: Face facts, we are living under martial law

It bothers me that the noose constricting our freedoms has been so continually tightened of late that our rights have been all but dissolved in the name of protecting us from ourselves and others … more

4/17/20

Letter: For a nation in uncharted waters, we need some perspective

We can all agree that our nation has entered uncharted waters over this Covid 19 virus, and Congress is already planning to go even deeper into those waters. Last week our federal government … more

4/16/20

The newly released model shows a “blue line” scenario where the state’s healthcare system has enough hospital beds, and a “red line” scenario where it does not.

State releases modeling, with virus peak coming sooner, or later

Gov. Gina Raimondo added two new terms to the growing lexicon of Covid-19 terminology. Along with “social distancing” and “Knock it off,” Rhode Islanders can add “Blue … more

By Scott Pickering | 4/16/20

Letter: Thankfully, our Presidential leadership gives us hope

Why do so many intelligent, successful people support our president? In the face of never-ending, wacky, and unsubstantiated claims as illustrated in Thomas Browns’s letter (“ These days, … more

4/16/20

Warren Town Solicitor Anthony DeSistor (center) speaks with Warren Town Council member Steve Calenda (right) at a recent council meeting. At left rear is councilor Brandt C. Heckert.

Warren gives residents extra 25 days to pay taxes

The Warren Town Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to extend the grace period for quarterly tax payments an additional 25 days — the long-standing policy prior allowed for five days. As a … more

By Ted Hayes | 4/16/20

A window on Roosevelt Drive in Bristol offers bears for the hunters — and hope for the future.

Bear hunters take to the streets in Bristol and Warren

Inspired by the Michael Rosen book, “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt,” and motivated by the need for something — anything — to do with restless little ones who do not understand why their playdates and playground visits have been cancelled, bears (and other creatures) have been popping up in windows across America and beyond. more

By Christy Nadalin | 4/16/20

Gov. Gina Raimondo talks about the new order requiring all employees in customer-facing businesses to wear face coverings.

Governor mandates face coverings for all ‘customer-facing’ businesses

Gov. Gina Raimondo’s daily press briefing included the announcement of a new executive order, to take effect this Saturday, April 18. It will require all “customer-facing” … more

By Christy Nadalin | 4/14/20

Letter: Please help postal employees stay safe

To the editor: During these challenging times, postal employees are working hard to ensure residents stay connected with their world through the mail. Whether it’s medications, a package, … more

4/10/20

Raimondo: Six more deaths, 288 new cases of coronavirus

There were six more deaths, 288 new cases and 169 people reported to be in the hospital in relation to the coronavirus, announced Gov. Gina Raimondo during her daily briefing Friday afternoon. That … more

4/10/20

The Blount Grande Mariner (foreground) and Grand Caribe (rear) have been offered as isolation housing for medical professionals fighting the Covid-19 virus.

Blount offers ship housing for medical front-liners

Two Warren-based cruise ships could soon take part in the fight against the Covid-19 virus. Blount Small Ship Adventures officials on Friday offered the use of their sister cruise ships, the … more

By Ted Hayes | 4/10/20

Letter: Churches need your support during this crisis

As a member of many organizations, I receive invoices via my mail carrier to continue my membership. Often these invoices ask for additional funds at my discretion to help with building maintenance, … more

4/10/20

Town by town, virus surge continues — the local count

Led by East Providence with 49, then Barrington with 17, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases continues to rise in the East Bay, as in the rest of Rhode Island. Next door in Westport there … more

4/10/20

Asher Schofield bags T-shirts for delivery Thursday afternoon. His Frog and Toad store has sold more than 5,000 of them so far.

Knock it Off! Warren T-shirt campaign is a huge hit

Knock it off! Shut it down! Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo’s catch phrases, a plea to residents to stay inside, hunker down and help prevent the spread of the Covid-19 virus, have … more

By Ted Hayes | 4/9/20

DEM, Marine association provides boating community with virus guidelines

PROVIDENCE — The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and the Rhode Island Marine Trades Association last week issued the following guidance regarding the safe operation of … more

4/9/20