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

Jesse Oliveira (right) celebrates after scoring earlier this season. The The 12-5 Wildcats with a power ranking of 12 in Division 5, are a shoe-in to make the playoffs when the brackets come out on Wednesday.

Baseball, tennis teams make playoffs, softball awaits fate

The Westport baseball and softball teams finished up their regular seasons and now wait for to learn their tournament fates. The baseball team beat South Shore 3-2 on Friday and … more

Story by Richard W. Dionne, Jr. | 5/27/24

Members of Portsmouth Abbey’s Class of 2024 pose for a photo during commencement exercises held Sunday. Fifteen students from Portsmouth received diplomas.

Portsmouth Abbey awards diplomas to Class of 2024

PORTSMOUTH — The clouds cleared and the sun shone brightly as faculty, staff and members of the Portsmouth Abbey Class of 2024 walked across the Holy Lawn at the onset of the school’s … more

5/27/24

This map shows the location of pump stations originally included in the town’s failed $35 million Route 6 water and sewer project. The select board on Monday deadlocked on taking land for pump station easements at pump stations one and two, shown at upper left of photo.

Westport select board deadlocks on Route 6 eminent domain

A divided Westport Select Board deadlocked Monday night on a plan to take two State Road properties west of Route 88 by eminent domain, a move the town administrator said would shore up the … more

By Ted Hayes | 5/24/24

Buyers, be crafty — Sellers, be ready

Every real estate market presents opportunities. The challenge is finding them. Today’s market, especially in the East Bay of Rhode Island and Southcoast of Massachusetts, is much the same … more

By Scott Pickering | 5/24/24

A bulldozer sits idle about a quarter mile east of the access road's terminus at Bridge Road.

Capone: Horseneck work was approved, but ...

The Westport Conservation Commission unanimously approved access road work at Horseneck Beach last fall, but filed a cease and desist order Wednesday afternoon after discovering that the scope of the … more

By Ted Hayes | 5/23/24

Marchers make their way down Main Road in last year’s Memorial Day parade.

Westport marks Memorial Day Monday

Westport will mark the sacrifices made by its armed service members with a parade and ceremony this coming Monday, May 27. Veterans and town officials will lay a wreath, with a rifle salute and … more

5/22/24

The excavation doubled the width of the path.

Westport orders state to stop Horseneck work

Days after bulldozers carved off a sizable chunk of the Horseneck Beach dunes, the Westport Conservation Commission ordered the Mass. Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) Wednesday to … more

By Ted Hayes | 5/22/24

Though they have always been technically illegal in Westport, the only Short Term Rental (STR) properties that have been called out by the town to date are those that have been problematic — like this home on Spinnaker Way, whose owners were served cease and desist orders last year after neighbors complained.

Short Term Rentals a "quagmire" for Westport, select board says

Two weeks after voters at Town Meeting rejected a warrant article that would have legalized and regulated Short Term Rentals (STRs) in Westport, members of the Select Board warned Monday night that … more

By Ted Hayes | 5/21/24

Partner Noah Amaral (left) looks on as Austin Carter heaves the javelin during the Special Olympic Games in Dartmouth on Monday.

Westport Special Olympians give it their all

For a few hours Monday, 15 Special Olympians from Westport got to leave everything behind and just focus on competing. Sophia Siddal was as competitive and driven as ever. Ethan Cabral and Ethan … more

By Ted Hayes | 5/20/24

South Coast deer problem — 'We're not making a dent'

After more than a year looking for solutions to Westport and Dartmouth’s deer overpopulation problem, one of the founders of a group formed to address the issue said this week that while there … more

By Ted Hayes | 5/17/24

Freshman pitcher Makayla Grace struck out 9 and allowed just one hit, 5 walks and 3 runs in the Wildcats' 15-3 win over South Shore Vo-tech. on Tuesday.

Playoffs in reach as Wildcats wallop South Shore 15-3

Makayla Grace struck out 9 and Jayda Pequita homered and drove in 4 runs as the Wildcats walloped South Shore 15-3, in a non-league home game on Tuesday afternoon. Westport improved their overall record to 6-8 with a power ranking of 33 in Division 5, as they fight for a playoff spot with four games left to play in the regular season. more

Story and photos by Richard W. Dionne, Jr. | 5/16/24

Opioid presentation next Wednesday in Westport

The Westport Board of Health will sponsor “The Impact of Opioid Addiction on Individuals, Families, and Communities: A Public Health Crisis,” next Wednesday, May 22, in the middle high … more

5/16/24

Westport police logs: No arrests this week

Monday, May 6 A caller from Beeden Road reported larceny, forgery or fraud at 12:56 p.m. A State Road resident complained of harassment at 4:47 p.m. A 911 caller reported a disturbance … more

5/16/24

Barry and handler Kyle Fernandes recently brought smiles to the Westport Elementary School.

Meet Officer Barry, Westport's new comfort dog

Barry, Westport’s newest member of the police force, isn’t your typical officer. He’s never clothed apart from a harness and sometimes, a little police cap. He doesn’t … more

By Ted Hayes | 5/15/24

Neighbors installed these signs adjacent to a home at 50 Spinnaker Way that they said was a nuisance on their quiet street.

Short Term Rentals still illegal — and Westport may enforce prohibition

Owners of Short Term Rentals (STRs) could face cease and desist letters from the town following last week’s rejection of a warrant article that would have made them legal in Westport. The … more

By Ted Hayes | 5/14/24

Westport Town Meeting kills Route 6, short term rental plans

Two initiatives that would have had wide-reaching ramifications in Westport were defeated by voters at last Tuesday’s Financial Town Meeting. Meanwhile, residents agreed to give a new source of … more

By Ted Hayes | 5/13/24

Huge waves roll in during a recent nor-easter.

The SouthCoast: Authors write of their inspiration here

A healing sanctuary during a time of great trouble in the world. A place where inspiration lies in massive majestic vistas and small encounters. And a place of mystery at the edge of the ocean. … more

By Ted Hayes | 5/13/24

Senior co-captain Kaelyn Jones, the Wildcats’ first singles player, is one of three seniors on the team. The rest are underclassmen. Jones, who has been playing tennis since seventh grade has a record of 3-3. She took over the one spot during her freshman season and is still a strong player for Coach Kampper.

Tennis team continues to struggle, loses to Durfee 3-2

It’s been a tough start to the season for the Westport girls tennis team, who lost a close 3-2 match to Durfee on Monday for their seventh loss in a row. The team is currently 1-7. Their lone … more

5/10/24

An artistic rendering of the new Annex playground.

New annex playground coming soon to Westport

With grants and donations in hand, members of the Westport Recreation Department will soon install a modern, nautical-themed playground to replace the aging structure near the Town Hall Annex built … more

By Ted Hayes | 5/9/24

Westport man ordered held without bail on felonies

A Westport man was ordered held without bail after police said he broke into a Reed Road home and assaulted a woman early Sunday morning. Tyson C. Cleaves, 48, of 123 Reed Road, faces charges of … more

5/8/24

A highway department truck removes cobble from East Beach Road after one of the winter’s strong storms.

East Beach cobbles will stay put

Westport come up with a draft interim policy designed to help East Beach property owners as much as possible, while still maintaining the integrity of East Beach Road, when damaging storms hit the … more

By Ted Hayes | 5/8/24

Owen Boudria reacts after mashing a run scoring triple to left field earlier this season. Boudria is a superior athlete who has become our cleanup hitter,” said Coach Charette. “He has been productive in every aspect of the game.”

Finglas mows down Wareham 5-1, Baseball team wins 3 straight

Westport junior Luke Finglas mowed down Wareham hitters in the Westport baseball team’s 5-1 victory in an away game on Thursday afternoon. The win was the Wildcats third straight as they … more

Story and photos by Richard W. Dionne, Jr. | 5/7/24

“Souper Bowl” winner Tony Ward (right) receives his trophy from Westport Police Department Deputy Chief Rob Rebello.

Firefighter wins Westport soup showdown

A friendly rivalry that has been brewing for months ended at lunchtime Saturday when judges who sipped, slurped (and god forbid, salted) several iterations of Portuguese Soup handed a trophy, and … more

By Ted Hayes | 5/7/24

Westport Police: Arrests for DUI, strangulation and burglary

Following is an overview of Westport Police activity from April 29 to May 5. Monday, April 29 Animal complaints came in from Gabriella Drive at 8:47 p.m. Rene Valois, 75, of 1024 … more

5/6/24

Senate, House back bills requiring regular reporting on Washington Bridge status

PROVIDENCE — The General Assembly backed bills sponsored by two high-ranking East Providence legislators seeking to hold the Rhode Island Department of Transportation accountable going forward … more

By Mike Rego | 5/3/24