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“I’m not retiring, I’m repurposing,” says Ray Davis, who’s retiring from a long career in substance abuse prevention. “I’m 72 years old, I’m in pretty good health. I’m lucky for that, and I have most of my wits about me. I’ve got something in my life — my music.”

In Portsmouth: Stepping down from prevention

PORTSMOUTH — Ray Davis has been involved in substance abuse prevention issues for decades, but said he has nothing on one of his family members. more

By Jim McGaw | 7/7/22

Portsmouth High’s Tristan Thomas competes in the high jump during Monday’s meet in East Providence. He won the pole vault event with a best effort of 10 feet.

Portsmouth's Landon Rodrigues wins 4 events at track meet

EAST PROVIDENCE — Landon Rodrigues won four events as the Portsmouth High boys’ outdoor track team swept a meet in East Providence Monday. The final team scores were Portsmouth 92.5, … more

4/25/23

Bristol Theatre Company actors take a bow at the end of their performance of Disney's Descendants: The Musical. From left, Carlos (Dylan Pariseault), Jay (Abby Oliver), Mal (Lizzie Karberg), Evie (Layla Coelho), and King Ben (Logan Cabral)

Bristol Theatre Company back to the stage for first show in three years

Actors aged 7-18 performed at St. Philomena's School in Portsmouth for multiple shows between Thursday, Aug. 3 and Sunday, Aug. 6. more

8/10/23

The intersection of East Main Road and Turnpike Avenue (looking south) where the roundabout is being proposed. The main entrance to Clements' Marketplace is at left.

East Main improvements on Portsmouth Town Council agenda for Monday at PHS

PORTSMOUTH — A member of the Town Council is seeking to cancel the body’s Nov. 30 vote regarding the R.I. Department of Transportation’s (RIDOT) plan to build a roundabout at … more

By Jim McGaw | 12/7/23

Canvassing Clerk Barbara Sherman shows 17-year-old Maciej Tabak how to navigate the state’s Voter Information Center website (vote.sos.ri.gov) after he filled out his voter registration form at Town Hall Sunday. Thanks to a new state law, the Portsmouth High School student will be able to vote in next month’s Presidential Primary because he will be 18 by the time of the General Election. He was attending the Portsmouth Board of Canvassers’ “Primaries & Pizza” event that featured a presentation about the elections.

Whether you’re 17 or 70, every vote matters

PORTSMOUTH — You don’t typically see a 17-year-old filling out paperwork at Town Hall — especially on a weekend — but that’s exactly what Maciej Tabak was … more

By Jim McGaw | 3/7/24

What’s working well — Aaron Tessier helps his daughter Aubrey, 5, cast into Thurston Gray Pond from the small dock at Melville Park last Thursday. Residents last week pointed to Melville Park’s fishing spots and hiking trails as among the best examples of the town’s open space and recreational facilities.

Parks and recreation: How’s Portsmouth doing?

PORTSMOUTH — Portsmouth still needs a community recreation center, as well as a facility for the fastest-growing sport around — pickleball. The hiking trails and fishing … more

By Jim McGaw | 4/22/22

This vacant lot on Carnegie Harbor Drive recently sold for $2 million — said to be the highest vacant land sale of the year in Rhode Island.

Portsmouth: Carnegie Harbor Drive lot fetches $2 million

PORTSMOUTH — Residential Properties Ltd. (RPL) has announced the sale of a vacant lot on Carnegie Harbor Drive for $2 million — the highest vacant land sale in Rhode Island this … more

5/11/22

Becky Chace had her own band, sold thousands of CDs and played at big venues, before pausing music to become a teacher. These days, she’s playing music on her own terms — and having fun.

Meet Becky Chace: A prolific musician with a future all her own

I had sought out, for some time, singer, songwriter, guitarist Becky Chace for an interview regarding her life and times in music. A life rich in gigs, travel, recordings, starts, stops and … more

By Michael Khouri | 9/26/23

Local legislators hear Portsmouth's wish list

PORTSMOUTH — More state funding for schools, supporting an alternative LNG supply to Aquidneck Island, and improved internet service were among the top priorities local legislators need to … more

By Jim McGaw | 1/25/23

John Migliori with a 25.5-inch pickerel he caught on Aquidneck Island last week.

Opening Day for fishing season is this Saturday

O pening Day of the freshwater fishing season in Rhode Island is at 6 a.m. this Saturday, April 8. The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) has stocked 100 waterways, many … more

By Capt. Dave Monti | 4/5/23

Portsmouth woman, 76, charged with 1st-degree arson

PORTSMOUTH — A 76-year-old local woman was charged with first-degree arson after officers responded to a report of an active fire at her apartment at Bay View Estates Apartments just after … more

5/8/23

Brian Ganley (left) and Melissa Cotta both spoke to the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority board of directors on Wednesday morning, urging them to investigate how to install suicide prevention barriers on the state's tall bridges.

To prevent suicides, citizens ask bridge board for a safety study

The Rhode Island Bridge and Turnpike Authority Board opened its final meeting under Director Buddy Croft’s tenure on Wednesday morning with public comments from citizens concerned with stopping … more

1/8/20

Portsmouth zoners to consider amendment of housing development

PORTSMOUTH — Aquidneck Country Club is seeking Zoning Board of Review approval to amend a previously approved special-use permit to develop 22 single-family dwellings and six duplex units … more

4/22/22

Danielle Chretien makes pizzas in the kitchen area at Clements’ Marketplace on Tuesday. “Growing our team is a top priority in 2023,” said Matt Ponte, spokesperson for the store.

In Portsmouth, business is looking up

PORTSMOUTH — COVID-19 did a number on many local businesses, but nearly three years after the pandemic closed many shops and restaurants down, most of them have rebounded and are … more

By Jim McGaw | 1/12/23

East Providence's Sam Jackson (center) vies with Portsmouth's Landon Rodrigues for possession during the teams' Division I boys' soccer game October 11. Jackson netted both goals in the contest, a 2-0 win for the host Townies in East Providence.

Townies put away Pats in Division I boys' soccer contest

EAST PROVIDENCE — Over a week's time recently, the East Providence High School boys' soccer club not only snapped a lengthy losing skid, but also qualified for the upcoming Division I state … more

By Mike Rego | 10/12/23

Portsmouth: We can do our own zoning, thank you very much

PORTSMOUTH — Keep your hands off our zoning, the Town Council is telling state lawmakers. Legislation introduced in the General Assembly that would prohibit single-family residential zoning … more

By Jim McGaw | 3/29/22

Portsmouth Police booking photo of Ryan Walsh, of Norton, Mass.

Man charged with distributing fentanyl within Portsmouth

PORTSMOUTH — A 47-year-old Massachusetts man was arrested Thursday, June 16, and charged with distributing fentanyl within Portsmouth, police said. This month, members of the Portsmouth … more

6/17/22

James Garman (left), recipient of this year’s Portsmouth Award, is congratulated by Town Council President Kevin Aguiar Monday night.

Portsmouth Award goes to James Garman

J. Mark Ryan remembers sitting with a group of “intellectually unmotivated boys” in a damp, un-air conditioned classroom back in high school. Despite that, the Town Council member said … more

By Jim McGaw | 9/13/22

The west-to-east side crossover on Interstate 195 towards the Washington Bridge will be moved closer to the span in an attempt to alleviate congestion.

RIDOT preps new lane configuration on east side of bridge

The Rhode Island Department of Transportation will shift the location of the crossover from the westbound side of Interstate 195 to the eastbound side and eventually over the Washington Bridge as … more

By Mike Rego | 4/8/24

Governor: Two week 'pause' begins Nov. 30 — social gatherings stop immediately

With cases continuing to surge and hospitals now reaching 97 percent capacity of their available COVID-19 beds, Gov. Gina Raimondo said she had no choice but to place Rhode Island on a two-week … more

By Kristen Ray | 11/19/20

The contractor for Rhode Island Oak Counseling and Wellness, a new business where the old Kaufman's Hardware used to sit, plans to put in a curb cut so vehicles can enter via East Main Road and exit onto Patriots Drive.

Council overturns denial of curb cut for Portsmouth business

PORTSMOUTH — The subject that took up the bulk of the discussion at Monday's Town Council meeting was the site of the old Kaufman's Hardware store at the corner of East Main Road and Patriots … more

By Jim McGaw | 9/14/22

Data from the Rhode Island State Police, which aggregates information from each municipal police department, shows that the total number of arrests among 11-15- and 16-20-year-olds in Warren was rising prior to Covid, and is on the rise again since 2020.

Data shows arrests among youth increasing since 2020

Crime among adolescents and teens has gone up since 2020, with multiple East Bay communities seeing their highest number of arrests in 2021 or 2022. We examine this troubling trend and search for reasons why that might be. more

By Ethan Hartley | 2/15/23

Members of the new Portsmouth High School boys’ volleyball team — Evan Vogl, Alex Goss, Hayden Krzych, Leekey Zhang, Sport Foshee and Will Voute (from left) — celebrate after Zhang hit a successful outside slam during the second set of their home match against Johnsto Monday night.

Portsmouth High boys finally get a volleyball team of their own

PORTSMOUTH — The team lost its first match, 3-0, but it didn’t really matter. Portsmouth High School now has a competitive boys’ varsity team it can call its own. more

4/4/23

Portsmouth woman charged with cruelty to animals

PORTSMOUTH — A 51-year-old Portsmouth woman has been charged with cruelty to animals. At about 1:15 p.m. on Wednesday, April 3, officers responded to 28 Sprague Court to … more

4/8/24

Cool off, Knock It Off! Warren restaurant joins viral campaign

It started with T-shirts. Then came coffee, beer, personal protective equipment - even barbecue sauce. Now the wildly popular “Knock It Off” design created by a Warren-owned Providence … more

By Ted Hayes | 6/4/20