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

Five young men in the buff dash by the Portsmouth High School tennis courts in March 1974. Students had been tipped off about the incident in advance, with many witnessing the streakers from windows on the west side of the school.

50 years ago: PHS streakers turned their other cheeks

PORTSMOUTH — There was a lot going on around the world in March 1974. A grand jury concluded that President Richard Nixon was involved in the Watergate coverup. Most Arab … more

By Jim McGaw | 3/14/24

Four of these hot pink signs were posted in the front foyer of Barrington High School last week. Orange signs with the same message were posted near another entrance. No one at the school was able to answer who posted the signs or when.

More questions, some answers, about FREE!! school food

Last week I wrote a first-person account of my research into school lunches in Rhode Island. This week I’m back, writing on the same subject, with updates on what I’ve learned, and a … more

By Scott Pickering | 2/11/22

Boaters taking part in Saturday's parade on South Watuppa Pond wave to well-wishers on shore.

Watuppa celebrates America

You don't get the nickname 'Captain Seaweed' for nothing. Christian DaSilva, of Beaulieu Road in Westport, has had it for years, and not surprisingly loves to be on the water. This past weekend, … more

By Ted Hayes | 7/15/22

A family enjoys a pizza on the beach Sunday, during Fogland's opening weekend last season.

A new way to pay at the beach in Tiverton

A round-up from the Tiverton Town Council's most recent meeting Monday: Grinnell’s, Fogland to go cashless Beach-goers will never have to worry about losing their wallet in the sand … more

4/20/23

Portsmouth High seniors toss their caps at the end of Friday night’s graduation ceremony inside the PHS field house. Diplomas were awarded to 195 students.

‘Give yourself completely,’ PHS grads told

PORTSMOUTH — The one hundred and ninety-five Portsmouth High School seniors who received diplomas Friday night were challenged to always make the world a better place for everyone around … more

By Jim McGaw | 6/11/23

Tiverton school spending goes under the microscope

Tiverton will spend up to $100,000 to hire an outside accounting firm to scrutinize the school district’s finances and spending practices over the last two fiscal years. Members of the … more

By Ruth Rasmussen | 7/12/23

Council slams school brass amid Fort Barton closure talk

Tiverton Town Council members harshly criticized the school committee and the superintendent of schools Monday night for what they said were ill-considered fiscal decisions, including a pattern of … more

By Ruth Rasmussen | 3/26/24

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).

Westport planners take dim view of solar plan

WESTPORT — A developer’s request to stretch town guidelines for a new solar project received a cool reception from the Planning Board at the board’s September 8 meeting. After … more

By Bruce Burdett | 9/24/20

Dan and Teresa O'Connor take a photo of their graduate, Finn O'Connor, as he walks back with his diploma

Little Compton students say good-bye to Wilbur & McMahon

Twenty-three eighth graders at the Wilbur & McMahon Schools said goodbye to their hometown school Thursday, when they graduated in an outdoor, evening celebration at the school. The students … more

6/24/22

Sean Conlon and son, Remi, 2, gaze at the colorful tree made of locally found sea glass by John Viveiros and wife, Snooky.

In Tiverton, a tree from the sea

John Viveiros loves to collect sea glass. And while combing Tiverton-area beaches has been a rewarding hobby for him over the years, it turns out the weathered, colorful material is great for making … more

By Jen Campisi | 12/7/22

Wilbur McMahon students Elizabeth Burchard, Phoebe Hadley and Sara Higgins recently published a book of Little Compton recipes. In this first week, they teach you how to make Karen Corrigan's famous spinach stuffed shells.

Little Compton Cooking: From the book

Someone’s been cooking up a storm in Little Compton… but who? The question sniffs out its answer among the laminated pages of Community Cookbook, a recipe book recently created by … more

7/12/23

“I wake up pretty late; I have a hard time getting up,” says U.S. Presidential Scholar Maggie Lauder, whose loaded schedule keeps her pretty busy.

U.S. Presidential Scholar has her hands in nearly everything

PORTSMOUTH — Peruse Maggie Lauder’s résumé and you’ll find it filled to the brim with awards and recognitions. more

By Jim McGaw | 5/14/24

Where the East Bike Path repairs are planned in Riverside.

East Bay Bike Path could be impacted by repair projects

PROVIDENCE — Parts of the East Bay Bike Path in Bristol and Riverside could be impacted by repair projects and temporarily close the week of July 18-22 , according to the Rhode Island … more

7/16/22

Sawdy Pond clearing angers neighbors

As he prepares to build a new home near Sawdy Pond, a Portsmouth man has angered some of his neighbors who claim he is clearing land he does not own and is harming the environment, including … more

By Ruth Rasmussen | 9/8/22

The Patriots celebrate a goal scored by Kaelyn Mahoney late in the first half of Tuesday’s home game against North Smithfield. Portsmouth won, 2-0.

Portsmouth girls shut out North Smithfield, 2-0

PORTSMOUTH — The Portsmouth High varsity girls soccer team is off to a good start in Division II after winning its first two games. The team shut out North Smithfield, 2-0, during its … more

9/13/23

Dillion Fesmire (right), playing Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, clowns around with his future bride Constanze Weber, played by Eli Cabral, during a dress rehearsal of the PHS Drama Club’s production of “Amadeus,” to be staged Nov. 16-18 in the school’s Kate Grana Auditorium.

At Portsmouth High: Counting down to opening night

PORTSMOUTH — It’s just two weeks before opening night of “Amadeus” and Dillion Fesmire, playing the title role, has asked for his next line one too many times. more

By Jim McGaw | 11/8/23

A performer entertains at sunset at Westport Rivers Vineyard and Winery.

Something to look forward to — summer music at Westport Rivers Winery

WESTPORT — In the spirit of ‘betters days are coming,” Westport River Winery offers this announcement … “We believe that there is a 'light at the end of … more

4/2/20

Tim O'Toole works a sifter to recover small artifacts from a construction trench at the Wilbor House.

Little Compton Historical Society needs help digging

Since June, L ittle Compton Historical Society workers have uncovered more than 1,000 artifacts from a 180-square foot construction trench at the Wilbor House, the society's headquarters … more

By Ted Hayes | 9/28/22

Al Alfonso (left) looks on as Don Knight speaks about a tree that needs removing before it lands on his house.

CountryView residents ask Tiverton to intercede

A group that represents residents at Countryview Estates, a manufactured home community in northeast Tiverton, has asked the town for help in resolving numerous grievances it has with Hometown … more

By Ruth Rasmussen | 12/7/22

School enrollment is just one factor in determining how much state educational aid each school district receives, as this table clearly illustrates. We took the amount of total state educational aid that several nearby communities are slated to receive under the governor’s proposed fiscal 2024 budget, and divided it by that district’s enrollment to come up with a per-pupil figure. As you can see, Portsmouth ranks at the bottom. Also note that among the districts listed here, only Barrington and Bristol-Warren are slated to receive more aid this year under the governor’s proposed budget; all the others are facing cuts.

Are Portsmouth schools being shortchanged on aid?

PORTSMOUTH — For more than a decade, school and town officials have lamented how the Portsmouth school district is getting the short end of the stick when it comes to its share of annual … more

By Jim McGaw | 2/9/23

Dora Millikin (left) and director Marjory O'Toole work on the exhibit one recent afternoon.

Art as inspiration guides new show in Little Compton

Those particularly cynical few may say there’s nothing new under the sun. That might well be. But true or not, the Little Compton Historical Society embraces the claim this year, giving people … more

By Paige Shapiro | 6/29/23

RIDOT Director Peter Alviti testifies about the Washington Bridge crisis before the joint House and Senate Oversight Committees at the General Assembly Monday, Feb. 12.

Alviti accepts responsibility for Washington Bridge closure, promises to find quick solution

Rhode Island Department of Transportation Director Peter Alviti took the brunt of the blame for the calamity created as he was peppered with questions about the status of the Washington Bridge from … more

By Mike Rego | 2/12/24

Tiverton residents Ellen Snell, left, and Sarah Trobaugh model solar eclipse glasses outside the Tiverton Public Library in anticipation of the solar eclipse on Monday, April 8.

What’s that, in the sky? An eclipse! Sakonnet gets ready

While Little Compton and Tiverton are only in the 90 percent viewing range for the partial solar eclipse this coming Monday, April 8, astronomers such as Francine Jackson say this is still a mighty … more

By Ruth Rasmussen | 4/3/24

The newly released model shows a “blue line” scenario where the state’s healthcare system has enough hospital beds, and a “red line” scenario where it does not.

State releases modeling, with virus peak coming sooner, or later

Gov. Gina Raimondo added two new terms to the growing lexicon of Covid-19 terminology. Along with “social distancing” and “Knock it off,” Rhode Islanders can add “Blue … more

By Scott Pickering | 4/16/20

Tiverton man charged with child pornography possession

A Tiverton man allegedly found in possession of more than 150 images and videos depicting child sexual abuse was arrested Tuesday. David Burke, 63, was charged with possession of child … more

1/13/22