EAST BAY - East Bay Newspapers announced this week the purchase of the East Providence Post and Seekonk Star newspapers from the New Herald Press of Pawtucket. The purchase is expected to take place by Oct. 1.

The East Providence Post, published since 1954, is a paid weekly newspaper covering the city of East Providence. The Seekonk Star, published since 1972, is also a paid weekly newspaper that covers Seekonk, Mass. Both papers are published on Fridays.

East Bay Newspapers, owned by the Phoenix-Times Publishing Company of Bristol, publishes the Barrington Times, Bristol Phoenix, Warren Times-Gazette, Sakonnet Times, The News of Seekonk and Swansea, Westport Shorelines and Newport This Week. The company also publishes the East Bay Classifieds and East Bay Living magazine.

Matt Hayes, publisher of East Bay Newspapers, said of the purchase, "We are excited to add these newspapers to our group of established community newspapers. We look forward to bringing our brand of community journalism to the residents of East Providence and Seekonk. The addition of these newspapers to our group fits of strategy of careful growth to fit the needs of our advertising customers."