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

Senate, House back bills requiring regular reporting on Washington Bridge status

PROVIDENCE — The General Assembly backed bills sponsored by two high-ranking East Providence legislators seeking to hold the Rhode Island Department of Transportation accountable going forward … more

By Mike Rego | 5/3/24

Portsmouth High’s Jack Casey fires a spike over the net during the first set of last Thursday’s home volleyball match against Scituate/Prout.

PHS boys’ volleyball team extends No. 1 squad to 5th set

PORTSMOUTH — The Portsmouth High boys’ varsity volleyball team came oh so close to upsetting the top-ranked team in Division III Thursday night. more

5/3/24

Lee Silva of the Cosmopolitan team, with a Cosmo firmly in hand, prepares to throw the bag during Monday night’s cornhole championship at the VFW Post 5390 in Common Fence Point. “It’s the only sport where it’s legal to drink,” said league organizer Bob Dyl. “In fact, in most cases it’s encouraged.”

Taking their cornhole seriously in Portsmouth

PORTSMOUTH — It was an epic battle between the Half in the Bags and Challengers teams inside the VFW Post 5390 hall in Common Fence Point Monday night. The consistency of the throws … more

By Jim McGaw | 5/3/24

Volunteers clean up the grounds at Butts Hill Fort. The Battle of Rhode Island Association was the recipient of a grant from the Aquidneck Land Trust for grounds restoration of the fort.

Land trust awards grants to Portsmouth organizations

PORTSMOUTH — Two local groups were the beneficiaries of grants awarded last week by the Aquidneck Land Trust (ALT). more

5/3/24

Jackson Irwin and Sutton Powers lead the Newport Pediatric Dentistry team onto the field during Portsmouth Little League’s Opening Day ceremony on Friday at Glen Park.

In Portsmouth: Let's play ball!

PORTSMOUTH — It was a fine day to run the bases as Portsmouth Little League Baseball & Softball hosted its Opening Day ceremony Friday at Glen Park. Dozens of players in uniform … more

4/30/24

Sonny (left) and Cameron Beausoleil of Beausoleil Bros. unload spools of straw wattle — used for erosion control, stabilizing slopes, or filtering stormwater runoff — off a truck last Friday just outside the dog park. The company is clearing the north and west sides of the Portsmouth Dog Park for a series of fenced-in trails.

Portsmouth: New trails will take a dogleg at dog park

PORTSMOUTH — If you’re dog owner who has always wanted to take your pooch for an unleashed hike at the Melville Recreation Area, you’ll soon be in luck. Works recently began … more

By Jim McGaw | 4/30/24

Portsmouth: Two charged with assault in domestic disturbance

PORTSMOUTH — Police arrested two people following a report of a domestic disturbance at a Glen Road home on Sunday, April 28. Shortly before 7 p.m., officers responded to 62 Glen Road … more

4/29/24

The Patriots’ Sonia Starschick on her way to winning the 400-meter run in a time of 1:04.8.

Portsmouth notches several 1st-place finishes at track meet

PORTSMOUTH — The Portsmouth High girls’ and boys’ outdoor track teams hosted Barrington and Mt. Hope Tuesday and came away with several first-place finishes. Boys’ … more

4/25/24

Chart chows various tax rates in municipalities throughout Rhode Island, according to figures presented by Town Administrator Richard Rainer, Jr.

Portsmouth's proposed budget calls for 39-cent tax rate hike

PORTSMOUTH — Town Administrator Richard Rainer Jr.’s proposed municipal budget for fiscal year 2025 starting July 1 calls for a 39-cent increase in the tax rate … more

4/25/24

Vicious dog hearing set for May 3 in Portsmouth

PORTSMOUTH — The Town of Portsmouth has scheduled a hearing for Friday, May 3, to determine if three unleashed Cane Corso dogs that attacked a leashed dog on April 13 should be considered … more

4/23/24

Portsmouth Police deal with alleged assaults, disorderly conduct

PORTSMOUTH — A 73-year-old tenant of Quaker Estates was charged with simple assault and disorderly conduct following an incident at the town’s public housing complex last week. … more

4/23/24

Anna D’s Café and Ice Cream will host a series of Monday afternoon farmers’ markets starting June 3.

Anna D’s Café gets OK for more farmers’ markets

PORTSMOUTH — If you didn’t get to any farmers’ markets in Portsmouth last year, you’ll get another chance starting June 3. more

By Jim McGaw | 4/22/24

Residents of Old Mill Lane, who have complained about noise, safety and other issues, say the LNG facility has no business being in a residential neighborhood.

R.I. Energy applies to alter wetlands in Portsmouth

PORTSMOUTH — Rhode Island Energy is seeking state approval to alter or disturb about 1.72 aces of freshwater wetlands on the south side of Old Mill Lane, where its controversial portable … more

By Jim McGaw | 4/19/24

Third westbound lane on bridge opens April 20

A third lane of travel westbound on the east portion of the Washington Bridge will be available to drivers as of Saturday, April 20. The Rhode Island Department of Transportation made the … more

By Mike Rego | 4/18/24

Map shows limited bicycle infrastructure currently on Aquidneck Island. The recent completion of the shared use path associated with the Pell Bridge ramp project, however, has resulted in a notable increase, according to Ride Island.

Portsmouth endorses bike plan as ‘advisory resource’

Although it doesn’t seem additional road diets on East Main Road will happen any time soon , an island-wide plan has been endorsed by the Town Council as a guide toward improving safe biking … more

By Jim McGaw | 4/17/24

‘David vs. Goliath’ – the East Bay and the affordable housing fight

Shown here are the “affordability” metrics for the communities in the East Bay of Rhode Island. East Providence leads the way with the highest affordabilty ranking in the region, and it … more

By Douglas Gablinske | 4/17/24

Rep. Susan Donovan (left), or Bristol and Portsmouth, makes a point during a wide-ranging discussion at an East Bay Chamber of Commerce breakfast meeting. Sen. Pamela Lauria, or Barrington, East Providence and Bristol, looks on.

Lawmakers discuss a shortage of doctors and a bridge tumbling down

The East Bay Chamber of Commerce hosted a breakfast meeting with legislators earlier this month, with topics ranging from healthcare crisis to bridge crisis, from affordable housing to the minimum … more

By Scott Pickering | 4/16/24

East Main Road ‘diet’ appears dead in the water

PORTSMOUTH/MIDDLETOWN — Following a public hearing that lasted well over two hours Monday night, the Middletown Town Council voted 5-2 to reject a motion to support a road diet for East Main … more

By Jim McGaw | 4/16/24

Portsmouth dog owner cited after neighborhood attack

PORTSMOUTH — The owner of three unleashed dogs that attacked a leashed dog on Saturday has been cited by police, and a vicious dog hearing will be convened at some point. On the morning of … more

4/16/24

Members of the Portsmouth Middle School chess team pose with their trophies after winning the Southeast New England Chess Association Chess league. They are (back row, from left) Coach Gregg Purdy, Olivia Purdy, Amelia Davis, Patrick Schlesinger, Dan Lu, Coach John DiGangi; and (front row, from left) Chace Bolduc, Dominic Bolos, Charlie Billings, Caleb Thibeault, and Gagan Deep Palya Maruthi.

Checkmate for Portsmouth Middle School chess team

PORTSMOUTH — The Portsmouth Middle School chess team, coached by John DiGangi and Gregg Purdy, recently completed a remarkable 2023-2024 season and was recognized as the best team in Rhode … more

4/15/24

The student-run Portsmouth AgInnovation Farm, located on Jepson Lane, recently received a $20,000 grant from the Hamilton Family Charitable Trust. The grant will allow AgInnovation to serve a greater populous of students in the community and to finally take kids off the waiting list.

Grant helps increase capacity at student-run farm

PORTSMOUTH — The Hamilton Family Charitable Trust (HFCT) has awarded the student-run Portsmouth AgInnovation Farm a $20,000 grant to support ongoing programming at the farm. more

4/15/24

Cora Powledge of Portsmouth won a gold medal at the Division II/III qualifying fencing tournament held at the Boston Fencing Club earlier this month. She will compete in the Summer Nationals in Columbus, Ohio, from June 29 to July 8.

Portsmouth fencer qualifies for Summer Nationals

PORTSMOUTH — A local fencer is headed to Columbus, Ohio in June to compete in the Summer Nationals. Cora Powledge, from Portsmouth, scored a gold medal victory for the Rhode Island Fencing … more

4/15/24

Portsmouth Police charge man with child molestation

PORTSMOUTH — A 30-year-old man from Pennsylvania was charged by Portsmouth Police last week with two counts of second-degree child molestation. As a result of an investigation by the … more

4/15/24

Dorene Phillips, a music teacher at Portsmouth High School, stands inside the newly refurbished Little Theater. Phillips spearheaded efforts to acquire new seating, sound, lighting, curtains, carpeting and a paint job for the 53-year-old auditorium.

In Portsmouth: The Little Theater gets a big makeover

Nearly five years after the Portsmouth High School auditorium was completed upgraded, its little sister to the south is also new and improved. The “Little Theater” at Portsmouth … more

By Jim McGaw | 4/12/24

The five-bedroom home sits on the former site of a 67-acre saltwater farm.

Portsmouth home fetches $3.91 million

PORTSMOUTH — A five-bedroom home at 110 Farmlands Drive has sold for $3.91 million. According to statewide multiple listing service data, this is one of the top five home sales in … more

4/11/24