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Students Riley Flannagan, Ben Poitras, Zander Santos, Matt Smith and Kenny Ferrer seem pleased after they installed Osprey's mast for the first time.

Westport boat builders find inspiration in the past

Westport high school students got a good dose of history alongside hands-on boat building lessons this spring, when they built "Osprey," a replica of a shallow-drafted coastal sailboat built in … more

By Ted Hayes | 5/25/22

Westport needs more summer lifeguards

The weather is getting warmer and Cherry & Webb Beach will be officially open soon. The only thing missing is hot beach weather, and lifeguards. The Westport Beach Commission is having a … more

By Ted Hayes | 5/20/22

Developer’s rendering shows solar panels on land between Drift Road and Route 88 along Soules’ Way (an additional section is barely visible in the foreground). This is from a proposal before the town two years ago.

Westport reduces solar array farm size

Prospective solar farm operators in Westport will have less room to work with in the future, after voters at Town Meeting earlier this month passed a by-law change that reduces the maximum amount of … more

By Ted Hayes | 5/20/22

Westport rowers in Connecticut included (from left) Blake Stewart, Montgomery "Monty" Jonsson, Andre Jusseaume, Samuel Hall and coxswain Ethan Stewart before the start of a heat at Saturday's competition.

What a gig — Youth Westport rowers head to Connecticut

Five young rowers from Westport took part in a first Saturday — an open water race hosted by the Sound School in New Haven, Ct. It was the first competition for kids involved with Dharma Voyage … more

5/20/22

Perky Nellissen and 8-month-old Ziti pose together at their Little Compton home. Nellissen and Ziti are both going through guide dog training for the first time.

Guide dog training – learning as they go

1 Perky Nellissen and 8-month-old Ziti pose together at their Little Compton home. Nellissen and Ziti are both going through guide dog training for the first time. 2 Perky Nellissen teaches … more

By Lucy Probert | 5/19/22

Berry Hill Farm is one of the Westport Land Conservation Trust's most recent saves.

Westport Land Conservation Trust turns 50

Few private organizations have had as big an impact on Westport's way of life as the Westport Land Conservation Trust . Now, with 50 years of saving one sliver of open space at a time under its belt, … more

By Ted Hayes | 5/19/22

Amy and Fred Thurber's "In the Wake of the Willows" is the subject of a walking tour Saturday afternoon at Westport Point.

Authors plan book tour Saturday at Westport Point

Westport authors Fred and Amy Thurber will lead a walking tour of Westport Point Saturday in support of their new book, "In the Wake of the Willows," a humorous followup to the classic "The Wind in … more

5/13/22

Westport voters up allowed size of accessory apartments

Westport will ease size restrictions on in-law apartments, following a vote last week that zoning board members hope will make it easier for the elderly to stay in their homes, with their … more

By Ted Hayes | 5/13/22

Cold case unit looks into Westport skulls

The unidentified partial remains of two people found in Westport over the past 12 years will be examined by the Bristol County District Attorney's Office's Cold Case Unit, in an attempt to provide … more

By Ted Hayes | 5/6/22

Westport toughens cell tower requirements

Telecommunications construction companies must now seriously consider alternative sites when they propose building cellular telephone towers in Westport, after voters at Tuesday's Town Meeting passed … more

By Ted Hayes | 5/6/22

Westport voters reject 'overly restrictive' sign by-law amendments

Voters at Tuesday's Town Meeting soundly rejected a proposed change to Westport's sign by-laws that many feared could restrict their right to put multiple signs on their property, and could hurt … more

By Ted Hayes | 5/6/22

A map from Mayflower Wind shows the projected route of cables required to transport power from its offshore wind farm to a connection at Brayton Point in Somerset, Mass. The connection requires a long stretch up Mt. Hope Bay, across land in Portsmouth, and up the Sakonnet River.

Offshore wind farm proposes cable connection through Sakonnet River, Mt. Hope Bay

The project developer contends it will generate enough clean energy to power 800,000 homes, and will plug into the grid that serves Rhode Island as well. But potential environmental impacts have yet to be discussed publicly. more

By Ethan Hartley | 5/4/22

Voters raise their hands to vote in favor of helping to fund the new Diman School project in Fall River.

Westport passes on override, OKs Diman and other projects at Town Meeting

Voters at Tuesday night's anual Town Meeting breezed through what could have been a contentious agenda in less than four hours, approving dozens of warrant articles in efficient fashion and with … more

By Ted Hayes | 5/4/22

Lt. Thomas Plourde is retiring from the Westport Police Department after 34 years of service to the town.

Veteran Westport cop calls it a career

Lt. Thomas Plourde, a member of the Westport Police Department for more than three decades, is nearly ready to turn in his badge. The Westport resident always wanted to be a cop, and said he lived … more

By Ted Hayes | 5/3/22

Voters give a near-unanimous show of support for the funding of an assistant town planner position at last year's Town Meeting.

Westport Town Meeting set for Tuesday

Westport is facing one of its toughest budget cycles in recent years, and residents who take part in Tuesday's annual Town Meeting will be asked to approve more than 30 warrant articles to keep town … more

4/29/22

Town Internet plan hinges on Town Meeting vote

Does Westport need better Internet connectivity? Many residents believe it does, and a warrant article on next Tuesday's Town Meeting agenda would, if passed, give the town the means to look more … more

By Ted Hayes | 4/29/22

Tiverton Budget Committee member Joseph Sousa protests against President Joe Biden Monday in front of Stateline Tobacco on Stafford Road. Note: portions of his sign have been blurred electronically.

Tiverton official says he won't stop waving anti-Biden sign

"F*** Biden." The words on Joe Sousa's white sign, and a drawing of a hand with uplifted middle finger, are clear as day and leave no doubt where the elected Tiverton Budget Committee member … more

By Ted Hayes | 4/26/22

The United States Army Corps of Engineers says it will cost $2.738 million to remove tons of rubble from beneath Hix Bridge.

Watershed alliance takes closer look at Hix Bridge Plan

With the cost to the town up to nearly $1 million, members of the Westport River Watershed Alliance have offered — and received the go ahead — to take a closer look at the benefits of … more

By Ted Hayes | 4/22/22

Andy Pollock, executive director of Coastal Neighbors Network and Clare Foley, executive director of The Association for the Relief of Aged Women, are embarking on a partnership to improve the well-being of elderly women in Westport and Dartmouth.

New partnership aims to help elderly Westport women

Coastal Neighbors Network , one of the area’s newest charitable organizations, is partnering with The Association for the Relief of Aged Women (ARAW), one of the oldest charitable foundations … more

4/22/22

Westport Health Notes: Rabies clinic is Saturday

Welcome to Westport Health Notes, a monthly column from the Westport Board of Health (BOH). The goal is to share information with our community about local issues and projects, public health … more

By Tanja Ryden | 4/22/22

Fish commissioner Everett Mills believes Cockeast Pond is a "microcosm" of the town's nitrogen issues.

Westport commissioner wants nitrogen lawn fertilizer ban

Westport's fish commissioner believes it's time for the town to get serious about reducing nitrogen in its waters, and is proposing that Westport look into by-law changes that would ban the use of … more

By Ted Hayes | 4/22/22

This photograph, taken last summer, shows a cyanobacterial bloom on South Watuppa Pond.

Study eyes phosphorous in South Watuppa algae blooms

The algae blooms that plague South Watuppa Pond could take years to address. But officials studying the pond's health say it can clearly be improved, though doing so will take a concerted and … more

By Ted Hayes | 4/15/22

Police set up a command post at Holiday Lanes in Westport as they attempted to stop Ian Grant Wednesday

Chase begins in Westport, ends in Connecticut

A Dartmouth man faces a host of charges after he led police on a chase last Wednesday, April 13, that began in Westport and ended after a standoff in North Stonington, Conn. According to … more

By Ted Hayes | 4/15/22

Branden Vye places beams to support the 181-year-old school before it is lifted.

Historic move underway in Westport

The Westport Historical Society 's Bell School is being moved, though you might not notice unless you look really, really close. Workers from Aquidneck Movers have begun raising the old school … more

By Ted Hayes | 4/15/22

Melissa Pacheco (left) and Gloria Cabral won seats on the Westport School Committee Tuesday, beating incumbent Michelle Orlando, who placed third in the race for two open seats.

Pacheco and Cabral in, Orlando out, in Westport School Committee race

Westport School Committee member Melissa Pacheco and political newcomer Gloria Cabral won three-year terms on the school committee Tuesday, placing first and second place, respectively, in the … more

By Ted Hayes | 4/13/22