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

Gov. Gina Raimondo talks about the new order requiring all employees in customer-facing businesses to wear face coverings.

Governor mandates face coverings for all ‘customer-facing’ businesses

Gov. Gina Raimondo’s daily press briefing included the announcement of a new executive order, to take effect this Saturday, April 18. It will require all “customer-facing” … more

By Christy Nadalin | 4/14/20

Raimondo: Six more deaths, 288 new cases of coronavirus

There were six more deaths, 288 new cases and 169 people reported to be in the hospital in relation to the coronavirus, announced Gov. Gina Raimondo during her daily briefing Friday afternoon. That … more

4/10/20

Town by town, virus surge continues — the local count

Led by East Providence with 49, then Barrington with 17, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases continues to rise in the East Bay, as in the rest of Rhode Island. Next door in Westport there … more

4/10/20

DEM, Marine association provides boating community with virus guidelines

PROVIDENCE — The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and the Rhode Island Marine Trades Association last week issued the following guidance regarding the safe operation of … more

4/9/20

Gov. Gina Raimondo talks about a new executive order that authorizes fines for those not following the state's isolation or home quarantine directives.

State adds teeth (fines) to quarantine measures; governor says surge is weeks away

The State of Rhode Island is getting more serious about its orders for people to stay in isolation or self-quarantine during the coronavirus pandemic. Earlier today, Gov. Gina Raimondo signed an … more

By Scott Pickering | 4/9/20

In a video still from an online Palm Sunday service, Lydia DeAngelo leads a brief processional from the chapel to the home of her mother, Jennifer Pedrick (read), rector of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church.

Local churches make a spiritual connection through cyberspace

PORTSMOUTH — It’s Holy Week, which normally means local churches are packed with parishioners from Palm Sunday through Easter. But inside the historic chapel at St. Mary’s … more

By Jim McGaw | 4/9/20

The Town Crier leads the 2019 Bristol Fourth of July Parade.

Bristol scaling down Fourth parade, most events are postponed

Here’s what they know so far … There is a 2020 chief marshal for the nation’s oldest, continuous Independence Day celebration, but that person will not be announced until the … more

By Scott Pickering | 4/9/20

Governor Raimondo announces 220 more coronavirus cases, 143 people now in the hospital at her April 8 briefing.

Raimondo: Five more die, cases in ‘rapid spread’

Rhode Island is at a “big clip of increase … in the rapid spread phase” of the coronavirus outbreak, Governor Gina Raimondo said at her daily briefing Wednesday (2:30 p.m. today), … more

By Bruce Burdett | 4/8/20

Carley Peckham, who now serves as full-time manager, grew up at the greenhouse her parents, Rick and Laura Peckham, own. "I really feel like the luckiest girl in the world," she says.

No stopping planting season

The early morning clouds had given way to blue skies Saturday afternoon, and inside Little Compton’s Peckham’s Greenhouse was blooming with early spring life. In previous weekends, … more

Kristen Ray | 4/8/20

Gov. Gina Raimondo (right) speaks during Friday's coronavirus briefing.

State encourages people to wear cloth-based face coverings in public

PROVIDENCE — Rhode Islanders are now being encouraged by the state to wear cloth-based face coverings in public, Nicole Alexander-Scott, director of the R.I. Department of Health, said … more

By Jim McGaw | 4/3/20

Colin Cook competes at the recent World Adaptive Surfing Championships in California.

Cook wins at world Adaptive Surfing Championships

TIVERTON — Going on five years since a large tiger shark took much of his left leg, Tiverton surfer Colin Cook found himself standing atop a California medal podium two weekends ago, being … more

By Bruce Burdett | 4/3/20

Gov. Gina Raimondo and her husband, Andy Moffit, adopted a casual tone to talk to Rhode Island children on Thursday.

Governor talks to kids, reveals Easter Bunny is an ‘essential worker’

Gov. Gina Raimondo debuted a new look, new format and new co-star in her Thursday coronavirus briefing, and she steered the hour-long session to a new audience — kids. The governor and her … more

By Scott Pickering | 4/2/20

Virus cases continue to rise in RI: April 2 town-by-town numbers

On a day that saw 91 new coronavirus cases in Rhode Island, for a total of 657, cases in East Bay towns continue to rise as well. The Thursday, April 2, town-by town numbers, as reported by the RI … more

4/2/20

Brian Weeks of Carlone’s Florist brings some flowers out to the delivery van Tuesday afternoon. Deemed a “non-critical” business by the State of Rhode Island, the flower shop was ordered to close its doors through at least April 13 to contain the spread of the coronavirus. The business is still filling delivery orders, however.

Doing business — or not — during COVID-19 in Portsmouth

PORTSMOUTH — The Portsmouth Shop on East Main Road celebrated its 39th year in business on Wednesday, April 1. more

By Kristen Ray and Jim McGaw | 4/2/20

Governor Raimondo announced a new program to gather information from all people visiting Rhode Island from New York.

Governor: State Police will be stopping cars with New York license plates

Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo announced on Thursday, March 26, an aggressive new program to gather information about anyone traveling from New York to Rhode Island, in an effort to limit the … more

3/26/20

Gov. activates Guard, says there is no plan for a total lockdown

During her daily press briefing, Gov. Gina Raimondo made one big announcement and answered the biggest question on everyone’s mind: She has no plan to order a full lockdown in Rhode … more

3/20/20

Rhode Island shutting down schools for one week

Rhode Island public school students will be staying home next week as the state government steps up measures to contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Shortly after a conference call with school … more

By Scott Pickering | 3/13/20

East Bay's Kat Barker moves past a Burrillville defender during Game 1 of the playoff series.

Eagles win Game 3 thriller, advance to hockey finals

The East Bay Co-op girls hockey team is headed to the Division I finals. After losing the first game in a best-of-three series against Burrillville, the Eagles played clutch hockey and … more

3/3/20

Workers from John Roccio Corp. have been busy relocating utility lines in preparation for complete replacement of the Silver Creek Bridge.

Bristol bridge will be one-way for most of the next 6 months

The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) will temporarily close the northbound travel lane on Hope Street (Route 114) at the Silver Creek Bridge in Bristol on Monday, March 2 to begin … more

2/18/20

Question over AP exam fees sparks debate in Portsmouth

PORTSMOUTH — A conversation about the future of Portsmouth High School’s AP exam policy at a recent School Committee meeting spiraled into a debate over who’s responsible to pay … more

By Kristen Ray | 2/18/20

Fishermen have been capturing images of what they find while out on the water.

Fishermen come out in support of balloon-release bill

The House Judiciary Committee held a hearing Tuesday, Jan. 28, on legislation, introduced by Rep. Susan Donovan (D-69), which attempts to protect the environment and wildlife by banning the … more

By Christy Nadalin | 2/8/20

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

Advocates celebrate bill to put suicide barriers on bridge

Rep. Joseph J. Solomon Jr., a Warwick Democrat, has introduced legislation that would require safety barriers or netting on the three tallest bridges in the state. The bill (2020-H 7366) would … more

By Christy Nadalin | 1/31/20

Rep. Susan Donovan is proposing a bill that would ban the intentional release of balloons, such as these during a fund-raiser in Colt State Park in Bristol in October 2015.

Donovan bill would ban intentional release of balloons

PROVIDENCE — The House Judiciary Committee has scheduled a hearing tomorrow, Jan. 28, on legislation introduced by Rep. Susan Donovan (D-Dist. 69, Bristol, Portsmouth) to protect the … more

1/27/20

A recent photo of Jake, an 80-pound Labrador retriever who suffered severe injuries when he was mauled by a coyote Tuesday night on Windstone Drive.

Coyote attacks, severely injures 80-pound dog in Portsmouth

PORTSMOUTH — A Windstone Drive resident, whose 80-pound Labrador retriever was brutally mauled by a coyote Tuesday night, is warning others to take extra precautions to keep their pets … more

By Jim McGaw | 1/22/20

With the launch of a new legislative session, East Bay lawmakers discuss priorities

The Rhode Island General Assembly got back to work last week, and with it, your elected representatives. East Bay Life spoke to several local senators and representatives to hear what issues are at … more

By Christy Nadalin | 1/15/20