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

Letter: Barrington memories — Kids of the River

To the editor: During the summers of my childhood in Barrington, during the 1960’s, the water of the Barrington River was our playground and the creatures within and around it were our … more

7/2/21

Commentary: Let’s listen and speak to each other instead of being against our neighbors

The Harvest Moon holds appeal for people from a global range of cultures. We celebrate here at Thanksgiving and like to think we are thanking the indigenous tribes for helping us to prepare the local … more

By Mike Fink | 10/13/22

It’s more clear than ever – the kids are in crisis

STORY OF THE WEEK: State-mandated disclosures about the deaths and near-deaths of Rhode Island children have become increasingly frequent over the last year. Twenty-eight fatalities and an identical … more

By Ian Donnis | 4/30/24

Letter: Diverse equity overcomes common sense... again

To the editor: Well, your school district has now gotten its deserved "10 minutes of fame" on FOX News, America's news source. When I first saw/heard today's Barrington episode, I figured they … more

5/20/22

Commentary: Put your cell phone away for a minute...enjoy the beauty of nature in the fall

Look up from your cell phone. Please. The sky is on fire. Don’t miss it. Foliage is transitioning to flame and to tangerine and to ochre. These colors, hidden in summer, are becoming visible as … more

By Betsy Shea-Taylor | 10/13/22

Editorial: It’s just common sense — even in a pandemic

Emotions run high these days, with most people quarantining at home, many worrying about loved ones, far too many wondering how they will pay their bills, and no one knowing when and how there will … more

4/23/20

Letter: This is a unifying call for action, for our schools

There are many reasons that brought our families to Barrington and keep us here. But at the top of everyone’s list is an excellent school system that promises to “empower all students to … more

4/12/22

Letter: Give us porta-potties, trash cans and bleachers in Barrington, please

To the editor: As a frequent visitor to the athletic fields at the new middle school, I wonder if I am the only resident appalled at the complete lack of a bathroom facility for the numerous … more

5/20/22

Letter: Dredging the Sakonnet River is a mistake

Dredging in the Sakonnet should be prevented and the attendant difficulties in bringing ashore the power cables returned to Massachusetts where they belong. more

3/28/24

Editorial: The virus masks the best education possible

A few weeks ago we shared our opinions about mandatory masking in schools. Based on some reactions , you might think we advocated for citizen revolt against both the government and the medical … more

8/26/21

Talking Politics: Gov. McKee's budget comes at a great time for candidate McKee

STORY OF THE WEEK: With the September 13 primary fast approaching, RI Gov. Dan McKee last week unveiled a spending plan that doubles as a way to appeal to a wide swath of Rhode Islanders. Big spend … more

By Ian Donnis | 1/26/22

Letter: Vote ‘NO’ to the demolition of the monastery

To the editor: I would like to publicly voice my thoughts on the future of the Carmelite Monastery, located at 25 Watson Avenue. I hope many of you will join me in voting ‘NO’ to the … more

5/20/22

Letter: Barrington's DEI: Division, Exclusion and Intolerance

To the editor: There are many things to oversee when managing a town and its budget. Giving residents the services that they need as well as being fiscally responsible is a constant balancing … more

11/10/22

Letter: Safety starts at home: lock up your guns

To the editor: The news from Michigan recently is both heartbreaking and infuriating: a teenager took a gun from his home and used it to murder four students and to seriously wound seven others … more

12/13/21

Seven Steps to Solving the Barrington Fields Problem: (Steps 1-6 shown in yellow) 1. Put artificial turf at Barrington High School's Victory Field. 2. Share this field with youth sports on weeknights and weekends. 3. Negotiate for field usage with St. Andrew’s School. 4. Sign long-term agreement with St. Andrew’s and invest in new field and parking. 5. St. Andrew’s Farm Field – already in great condition. 6. At Barrington Middle School, move baseball field (not shown on map) to Haines and dedicate two fields for youth sports. 7. (shown in red) Throughout the new corridor of sports fields, add sidewalks, crosswalks, pedestrian paths, signage and safety measures.

A new vision for sports fields in Barrington

Last month I attended a Barrington Recreation Commission workshop focused on the town’s plan to spend perhaps $1.1 million of American Rescue dollars to move a baseball field and create a new … more

By Scott Pickering | 7/13/22

Letter: Where are the solar panels?

To the editor: Where are the solar panels that should be on the middle school roof? Didn’t the Town of Barrington request and receive monies from the state to make the middle … more

11/11/22

Troubled Philly trip continues to make waves for McKee

STORY OF THE WEEK: The troubled March trip to Philadelphia by two Rhode Island officials continues to make waves. Following revelations, via ProJo, about a January lunch at the Capital Grill that … more

By Ian Donnis | 6/27/23

Letter: The Pride flag is American

To the editor: For the past month, I have thoroughly enjoyed driving through town and seeing the vibrant colors of the Pride flag flying along with our nation’s flag. During a time when even … more

7/1/20

Letter: If this were a civics class, school board would be failing

To the editor: We should expect more from our school committee, superintendent, and assistant superintendent. So many in this community moved here, willing to pay hefty property … more

9/16/21

Letter: Response to 8 reasons to reject Haines Park plan

To the editor: I feel obliged to clarify facts in response to Josh Bickford’s April 27 editorial about the 8 reasons to reject the Haines Park plan. The two proposed fields at Haines … more

5/4/22

Letter: Once monastery is gone, the town will be forever changed

To the editor: The Town of Barrington passed a highly contested vote, by one at last year’s Financial Town Meeting (FTM) to purchase the former Carmelite Monastery at 25 Watson Ave, under … more

5/20/22

Letter: Council insults Barrington residents of Italian heritage

To the editor: Mary Teixeira's letter regarding the current Town Council's decision to change Columbus Day to something else expresses my thoughts, but she was much kinder about this subject. … more

11/10/22

Letter: Sowams field is not a dog/donkey park

I'm asking for help from those residents who live near the field on Sowams Road across from Orchard Avenue, known as Perna Park. A dog, or perhaps a small horse or donkey, has … more

4/14/23

What has become of us?

June was pockmarked by events which suggest to me that ethics as a guiding force is in full decline. Locally, we had the pathetic saga of two administrators of Gov. Dan McKee engaging in unchecked … more

By Arlene Violet, Esq. | 6/27/23

Be very careful with Officers’ Bill of Rights

Another legislative session in Rhode Island has come and gone without any action on a perennial issue, reform of the Law Enforcement Bill of Rights. To be sure, some Constables on Patrol (COPS) have … more

By Arlene Violet, Esq. | 8/1/23