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

Editorial: Ethical gaps and lapses in R.I. government

Kudos to Common Cause Rhode Island for filing a complaint and seeking a tighter code of ethics in Rhode Island in the wake of a scandal involving Gov. Dan McKee and the awarding of a $5.2 million … more

12/27/24

Letter: Silver Creek abutter fears flooding will get worse

To The Editor: Last week's Phoenix featured a front page article reporting the Rhode Island DEM approval for a proposed hotel being built on wetlands on Gooding Ave. along with an editorial … more

12/26/24

Letter: DEM’s approval of Gooding hotel violates state planning

To the editor: The long-standing flooding problem in the Silver Creek Watershed will be worsened if the DEM's approval of the proposed hotel site on Gooding Avenue is allowed to stand. It flies … more

12/26/24

Letter: An accident waiting to happen

Dear Editor, Back in 2003 after ten years of lobbying with the help of Halsey Herreshoff and Bristol’s state legislators, my wife Gail and I secured passage of state law 31-25-27.2 banning … more

12/26/24

Letter: Story brought back great football memories

To the editor: The story in last week’s Warren Times-Gazette about Julie Abruzzi brought back some wonderful memories of her Dad. Growing up in Montreal, Canada, our favorite football team, … more

12/21/24

Editorial: DEM leaves coal in Bristol’s stocking

The decision by the Department of Environmental Management’s office of Water Resources to permit the alteration of freshwater wetlands off Gooding Avenue, filling in some 1.15 acres, is … more

12/19/24

The bridge fallout still hovers over R.I. and the governor

1. STORY OF THE WEEK: Dec. 11 marks the one-year anniversary of the abrupt emergency closing of the westbound Washington Bridge, a crisis whose full effect will … more

By Ian Donnis | 12/12/24

A Great Horned Owl surveys its territory from a native cherry tree perch in the East Bay. Great Horned Owls are widespread across the U.S. but bird count surveys have shown a significant decreasing trend in the eastern region. Photo courtesy of Butch Lombardi.

The symbiotic relationships between owls and woodpeckers

Head outside on a clear winter night in the East Bay and you might just be greeted by the deep, soft hoots of Great Horned Owls advertising their territories and calling to their mates. Listen more … more

By Cindy and Ed Moura | 12/12/24

Editorial: Access for all at the Bristol docks

A local nonprofit’s request to install a lift for wheelchair-bound boat passengers at the town’s public marina is reasonable on its merits. Like offering transient slips, a pumpout … more

12/5/24

Dr. Patrick T. Conley, chairman of the U.S. Constitution Council, delivers an address to dignitaries at Philadelphia’s Independence Hall on Dec. 15, 1991, to mark the Bicentennial of the Bill of Rights. U.S. Chief Justice Warren Burger delivered a similar address on that day in Richmond, Virginia.

In praise and recognition of America’s Bill of Rights

December 15 is the anniversary of our Bill of Rights. On that date in 1791, Virginia’s ratification of Articles I through X of our Constitution incorporated them permanently into our … more

By Patrick T. Conley | 12/4/24

Editorial: Explore Bristol! Then go home

As it makes life better for its residents, Bristol should be wary of making life difficult for its visitors. In recent weeks, the local government has passed two new ordinances aimed at outsiders. … more

11/27/24

Letter: A tribute to Guiteras School

Reading the article in the Bristol Phoenix about the closing of Guiteras School immediately brought back the early memories where my 45 years of teaching secondary-school mathematics began in 1963 at … more

11/27/24

Letter: At last, the Pokanokets are returned to their native lands

On Nov. 15, 2024, Brown University returned 255 acres of Mt. Hope (Potumtuk) land in Bristol to the people who had been stewarding it for 12,000 years. Nearly 350 years ago, King Philip’s … more

11/27/24

Correction – the Christmas Festival tradition goes back to 1987

In the Oct. 10 issue of the Bristol Phoenix, on page 4, there is an article with respect to the upcoming Christmas Festival . The opening sentence states: “Since its inception in 2021, the … more

11/27/24

During its heyday, the Barrington-Bristol Thanksgiving Day battle featured the likes of former Bristol stars (and cousins) Raymond "Little Ray" Almeida ((left) and Augie Almeida, who would later become head coach of the Barrington Eagles.

Column: There’s nothing like the high school football rivalries

High school football rivalries…there’s nothing quite like it at this time of year. Whether you were rooting for the old Warren Redskins or Bristol Colts or the Barrington … more

BY MANUEL C. “MANNY” CORREIRA | 11/26/24

Letter: Bristol’s non-resident parking rules are broad, maybe illegal

At its recent meeting, the Bristol Town Council had a first reading of a proposal to expand existing nonresident parking restrictions. I am a nonresident who parks overnight on the streets of Bristol and will be adversely affected by the proposed change. more

11/22/24

Letter: Long-term effect of Bristol's rental tax proposal

Universally we agree that by raising the taxes on rental properties the cost will be passed to the renters. Over time, some of the long-term residents will be pushed to Warren or East Providence, … more

11/21/24

Letter: Why I’m in favor of the new Mt. Hope design

I’m in favor of the new high school design, and I’d like to address criticism of the building’s contemporary aesthetic, offering a professional perspective. I’m a parent of … more

11/21/24

Letter: Republican national sweep underscores R.I. leader disconnect

With more than a week since the 2024 Election concluded, America wakes up to a new reality: Donald J. Trump is once again President-Elect of the United States. The candidate who started his campaign: … more

11/21/24

Letter: A creative idea to heal the political divide

I have a wonderful idea to facilitate healing across the political divide. Last week, I was thumbing through the Phoenix when I chanced upon a rare treat, a letter from Mike Proto. In his … more

11/21/24

Letter: Bristol shifting taxes from one group of residents to another

The Bristol Town Council is considering a new three-tier tax system, which would effectively shift the property tax burden from those that own homes to those that rent homes or apartments. Last … more

11/14/24

Letter: Tax plan is unfair to all long-term renters in Bristol

Regarding the Nov. 7 article in the Phoenix, “ Landlords will pay more in new tax system ,” the idea that this will help alleviate the housing shortage is nonsense, and it is clear that … more

11/13/24

Editorial: A high school sports system built for inequity

When we first learned that the Rhode Island Interscholastic League (RIIL) had adopted a new system for rating the strength of Rhode Island high school sports teams, we were dubious. Now that it took … more

11/13/24

Letter: Reason for optimism in a true blue state

Now that the election is over and I’m beginning to come to grips with my anger and sadness over the results of the presidential election, I’m taking solace in a number of things that … more

11/13/24

Letter: Trump political rallies were no distraction to motorists

A recent letter expressed concern for safety at Hope Street and Gooding Avenue during three separate, four-hour political gatherings there last week. She need not worry. All … more

11/13/24