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

Will the real Washington Bridge story ever get told?

STORY OF THE WEEK: The marquee race in Rhode Island’s primary election on Tuesday was state Rep. Barbara Ann Fenton-Fung’s challenge to Cranston Mayor Ken Hopkins. The GOP race took an … more

By Ian Donnis | 9/10/24

When the truth doesn’t matter, the wackadoodles win

Perhaps I am a bit nostalgic about the “good ’ole days” when people said what they meant and meant what they said. There was no other ambition but to say and do the right thing. … more

By Arlene Violet | 9/3/24

Westport Health Notes: Changes at the transfer station

Welcome to Westport Health Notes, a monthly column from the Westport Board of Health (BOH). This month we are updating residents on the new look starting to take shape at the Transfer Station … more

By Tanja Ryden | 8/21/24

Letter: Can’t afford to focus only on offshore wind’s downsides

To the editor: I’m writing to express my strong support for the expansion of offshore wind as a generational leap forward in our pursuit of environmentally sound energy policy. Given … more

8/13/24

Letter: Turbine blade foam issue blown out of proportion

A month ago, I wrote a letter to Shorelines decrying the kind of hysteria that some folks rely on ostensibly to protect us all from the dire consequences of offshore wind projects. Then along came … more

8/12/24

Letter: What a day — Petals and Meadows was wonderful

The Sogkonate Garden Club wishes to thank the communities of Tiverton, Little Compton and Westport for their enthusiastic support of our recent garden tour, “Petals and … more

8/6/24

Letter: Anti-wind — The foam that broke the camel’s back

As someone who once supported the concept of offshore wind for its promise of economic growth, job creation, and environmental benefits, I am now deeply troubled by what has transpired surrounding … more

8/6/24

Westport Health Notes: The buzz on bugs — protect yourself!

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 alerts, … more

By Donna Amaral | 7/29/24

Letter: Wind power foes should ponder where energy comes from

To the editor: As I drive around some of the high-rent areas of the island, I see huge single-family homes, with perfectly kept lawns and hedges. It would be reasonable to assume that their … more

7/23/24

Letter: Alarmist on offshore wind? No, just very wary

Big thanks to the Westport Shorelines for hosting the critically important conversation regarding Offshore Wind, starting with the July 9 report, " Westport looks to organize as offshore wind … more

7/22/24

Letter: More alarmist nonsense from the ‘Green Oceans Gang’

Another letter in Shorelines that describes the supposed threats from running deeply buried transmission lines through the uninhabited roadsides of Route 88 is truly Trumpian in its distortion and … more

7/16/24

Letter: Mystic Aquarium skipped a key step in whale study

The Mystic Aquarium marine rescue team arrived at Little Compton's Briggs Beach on July 10th when the young female minke was still alive . After her death, the team carved out a few inches here and … more

7/16/24

The first place Red Sox team from 1974 includes (front, from left) S. Hubert, C. Tripp, R. tavares, L. Wilkinson, R. Ortin, D. Amendaio, J. Quinn and J. Bernier and (back, from left) assistant manager Ted Quinn, R. Soares, C. Drabble, M. Gagne, R. Pond, M. Rodriques, B. Bernier, G. Costa and Manager G. Jennings.

Letter: Memories of the childhood, and Westport Little League

In going through a 1974 baseball scrapbook belonging to my late father, Gary Jennings Sr., I came across these newspaper clippings and realized they were from 50 years ago! I remember spending lots … more

7/16/24

Letter: Being offered worst possible choices needs to end

To the editor: If we continue to be the leading nation of the world, then certainly our politicians are the most powerful people in civil discourse. Then how is it one party kowtows … more

7/12/24

Letter: The Biden ‘catastrophe’: new jobs, low unemployment

To the editor: Nikki Haley has called Trump, among other things, “unhinged,” but has said she will support him because Biden has been a “catastrophe.” Friday, it was … more

7/9/24

An inspiring story of a resilient actor known to all as ‘The Fonz’

You might be surprised to know that Henry Winkler, better known as “The Fonz” on TV sitcom “Happy … more

7/2/24

Republicans and Democrats – How dare they?

If you watched the June 27 presidential debate you had to ask yourself one question: How dare the Republican and Democratic Parties leave you with a choice of two grievously flawed candidates for the … more

By Arlene Violet, Esq. | 7/2/24

Presidential debate left Democrats reeling

STORY OF THE WEEK: The Kennedy - Nixon debate in 1960 marked the dawning of a new age, when the optics of televised images carried more weight than the substance of what candidates conveyed verbally. … more

By Ian Donnis | 7/1/24

Letter: We need more funding for child care programs

To the editor: As a small business owner running a pediatric occupational therapy institute in Rhode Island, I know that the struggle to find affordable, convenient child care is a daily reality … more

6/30/24

Letter: On patience, house guests and furred interlopers

If you live in the country you never can tell what you will see in your backyard, like the wild turkey, who chose to bring up her brood there as it was safer, or a released pheasant whom I … more

6/24/24

Letter: If you don’t trust ballot box, be a poll worker

To the editor: The upcoming election is all about “saving democracy,” either from government overreach by Democrats or authoritarian Republicans. I’ve been thinking a lot about … more

6/3/24

Letter: Transparency is crucial as wind farm plan moves forward

Note: This letter was sent to members of the Westport Select Board, and other officials in Westport, by the newly-formed Protect Our Westport Waters (POWW) group: "Openness and transparency" are … more

5/28/24

A large patch of Native Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia humifusa) replaced an area of turf grass lawn in the authors’ Barrington yard. The plant is an important nectar and pollen source for many native bees, especially bumblebees and long-tongued bees. It is a host plant for several native moths and a nectar source for butterflies. The prickly pads escape herbivore browsing but the fruits provide a nutrient rich meal for wild turkeys, deer, coyotes, and foxes. This native plant is rare and endangered in both Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

Is it time to rethink the traditional lawn?

Spring is in the air, and so too are the noxious fumes and aural assault of overpowered lawn equipment. Bird song and children’s voices fill the air only to be abruptly halted by the roar of … more

By Cindy and Ed Moura | 5/21/24

Letter: Yes, be careful what you wish for

To the editor: Well, one thing Will Newman and I agree on is to be careful what you wish for (Letter: 'Careful what you wish for,' The Post, May 2, 2024 edition). Several weeks ago he wrote an … more

5/16/24

Letter: Town needs to compel voters, lay out budgetary facts

I think that the Westport Select Board has a serious challenge before it. The board needs to publicly address the effect of the failure of the override last year. Both the board and the private … more

4/30/24