Barrington news offered a little bit of everything in 2023 — union contract negotiations, lawsuits, and even disagreements over chalk-covered pickle ball courts. 

And through it all, were the voices of those involved. 

Following are some of the more memorable quotes from the Barrington Times news stories of 2023.

“We’re here til we die.”

— Longtime Barrington resident Mary Alyce Gasbarro, commenting during a discussion about the former Carmelite monastery property. The town has spent years discussing what to do with the property and most recently has identified a plan to build a small pocket neighborhood on part of the land and sell off some single family house lots also. 

“I don’t really care one way or another.”

— Barrington Town Councilor Rob Humm, speaking about two pillar signs the town installed. Soon after the signs were installed some people objected. The Town Council eventually ordered their removal. 

“Some of them have sand in them.”

— Barrington Recreation Department Director Michele Geremia about hypodermic needles found at Barrington Beach in August. Geremia said the needles had washed up on the beach and not been dropped there.  

“They need to be punished for their actions.”

— Greg Piccirilli, referring to the national, state and local teachers unions. Piccirilli’s clients, Brittany DiOrio, Stephanie Hines and Kerri Thurber, sued the teachers unions and alleged the unions failed to represent them after they lost their teaching jobs in Barrington for not following the district’s vaccine mandate. 

“Our job is not to spend money on lawyers.”

— Barrington School Committee Chairman Patrick McCrann, shortly after the committee voted 3-0 to amend the district’s vaccine policy, changing the vaccine “requirement” to an “encouragement.” DiOrio, Hines and Thurber settled with the district and received back pay, compensation for damages, and were offered their jobs back.

“The town has dumped on Bay Spring.”

— Bay Spring resident Dean Brockway, on the decision to move the stage area for summer concerts at Latham Park.

“You can always aim your chair whatever direction you want, right?”

— Barrington Town Manager Phil Hervey, in response to complaints about the changes at Latham Park.

“The meter is ticking… we have to pay… the savings are lost.”

— Magnus Thorsson, the Resilience and Energy Committee Chairman, who is frustrated with the school district’s delays in installing solar panels atop the new middle school.

“Someone’s going to get a rod in the eye.”

— Owen O’Rourke, speaking at a CRMC meeting about the design for the new bike path bridges. The plans call for narrower bridges and narrower sidewalks. CRMC has withheld permits for the bridge work until DOT officials respond to complaints about the designs. 

“The objective is to get the state to notice.”

— George Voutes, referring to the rebate program for battery-powered lawn equipment.

“We’ve got shacks out there.”

— Deb Nyser, talking about the former Carmelite monastery property. She also said there were people doing drugs on the town-owned land. 

“I can’t believe we’re talking about kids chalking.”

— TR Rimoshytus, during a Park and Recreation Commission meeting. Some pickle ball enthusiasts have complained about children covering the courts in chalk. The Commission has posted signs directing children to chalk only on the nearby basketball court and not on the pickle ball courts at Chianese.

“Half the people want it, half the people don’t. It doesn’t matter where you are.”

— Art Eddy, a consultant hired by the town to study the athletic fields in Barrington. Eddy was referring to the possible installation of synthetic turf fields.

“I love turf.” 

— Barrington resident Chris Coleman talking at a Town Council meeting about the possible installation of a synthetic turf field in town.

“The respect is terrible.”

— Dennis Perry, speaking about the negotiations of the school support staff union contract.

“I am not part of a national agenda… I’m advocating for family involvement.”

— Barrington resident Ellen Schaffer speaking at a School Committee meeting about the district’s gender policy. Schaffer was responding to a comment made by a previous speaker. 

“I wake up every day thinking about the work.”

— Barrington Superintendent of Schools Michael Messore, who is retiring at the end of the year.

“We want to address it in a compassionate manner.”

— Barrington Police Chief Michael Correia, referring to the department’s efforts to remove people who were living inside Veterans Park. The squatters eventually moved out of the park. 

“On Monday evening, Nov. 6, I just missed getting killed by a second or less.”

— Barrington resident Norman Dudziak, in a letter to the editor, recounting an incident where a vehicle nearly struck him while he was cutting his lawn

“It does get hectic.”

— BHS student Madeleine Kaufman about the traffic inside the school parking lot. 

“If we could save our playground and leave it for other people to enjoy as well, I thought we should do it.”

— Mary D’Arrigo, whose family donated their property to the land trust 

“They scored fourth in the nation, but they’re number one in our hearts.”

— Maggie Slane, about her daughter’s Barrington Pop Warner cheer team. The Eagles finished fourth at nationals and also shared some of their cheers during an unexpected flight delay on the trip home.

“You’re never going to hear me say ‘You’re too tall. You’re too skinny.’”

— David “Ruka” DeSisto, the Barrington Middle School wrestling coach. DeSisto does not cut anyone from his team and believes all students can become wrestlers. 

“You’re climbing a big mountain when you show up.”

— Shane Parker, Mt. Hope’s football coach about playing against Barrington in the Thanksgiving Day game. The Eagles won 36-7.

“I love drawing animals in people clothes.”

— Barrington resident RW Alley, whose latest book is title “Firefighters to the Rescue.”

“If you let it, this project can be life-changing.”

— Dinis Carpin, speaking about his BHS senior project experience.