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Little Compton Odd Fellows hall needs building code work

Members of the Little Compton Town Council will ask state fire officials for additional time to address a host of deficiencies cited by the town’s fire marshal following a building safety … more

By Ruth Rasmussen | 8/21/24

A book about the nation’s early days offers lessons for these days

A book steeped in history, “To Rescue the Constitution” traces the development of our most important document, the Declaration of Independence. more

By Donna Bruno | 8/20/24

Reminders of how the money flows through politics

STORY OF THE WEEK: “Money, it’s a gas,” goes the song by Pink Floyd. “Grab that cash with both hands and make a stash.” The tune encompasses the central quality of money … more

By Ian Donnis | 8/20/24

Prioritize native woody plants like shrubs, trees and vines in your fall planting. These plants help form the bones of your outdoor space and offer high ecological benefits. They also provide essential food and shelter to pollinators and songbirds. Shown here is Hypericum prolificum, Shrubby St. John’s, which research has shown to be an important plant for at-risk pollinators. It is carefree and highly adaptable to varying light and soil conditions.

Fall is the perfect time to grow deep roots

Autumn Equinox may still be a few weeks away, but hints of pumpkin spice season have already arrived. For many it is the imminent return of kids to classrooms that marks the shift of summer to fall. … more

By Cindy and Ed Moura | 8/20/24

Letter: Four years on, and Little Compton still isn’t doing enough for seniors

Here we are almost four years in presenting our thoughts on having a Senior Center, with nothing to show for it, but a worn out bus. Absolutely despicable. Especially after our friend, Andrea … more

8/20/24

Ag trust ponders Little Compton in 2060

The Little Compton Futures Project, an exhaustive, year-long study managed by the town’s Agricultural Conservancy Trust (LCACT) and focusing on planning and land use issues in town, is ready to … more

By Ruth Rasmussen | 8/20/24

Athletes from the Providence Country Day School were among those from the Rhode Island Fencing Academy & Club to earn their way to the national championships in Ohio.

RIFAC athletes shine in lead up to national championships

It was another terrific spring and summer season of competitions for several Rhode Island Fencing Academy & Club athletes of all ages as they took part in various events leading up the the … more

8/19/24

Patrick and Sean Bowen at the site of their proposed oyster farm in August 2021.

Would-be Tiverton oyster farmers contest law change

Although proposed legislation intended to kill a plan to establish anoyster farm just southwest of the Seapowet Avenue bridge became law at the end of June, Little Compton brothers Patrick and Sean … more

By Ruth Rasmussen | 8/16/24

Tiverton school superintendent Peter Sanchioni.

Tiverton voters to decide on school oversight plan

Tiverton voters will be in November whether they want to approve an amendment to the town charter that would require the school department to submit detailed monthly financial reports to the town … more

By Ruth Rasmussen | 8/14/24

Sakonnet Times - Thursday, August 15, 2024

8/14/24

With less than three weeks until the first day of school, enrollment is up at the Wilbur McMahon School.

Despite enrollment pressures, optimism abounds in Little Compton

While it may be a cliché to describe a neighborhood school as the heartbeat of a community, one need only listen to those who have close ties to Wilbur & McMahon Schools in Little Compton … more

By Ruth Rasmussen | 8/14/24

Joe Klinger of South Kingstown with a 22” summer flounder (fluke) he caught off Jamestown in the West Passage this weekend.

NOAA makes progress on improving angler data

NOAA Fisheries and their Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) shared progress on two recreational fishing data collection initiatives , the Fishing Effort Survey study and the collaborative … more

By Capt. Dave Monti | 8/13/24

Volunteer Holly Lippert stocks the shelves at the Little Compton Food Bank. The bank serves 60 households a week.

Sakonnet non-profits get $37,000 in help

Four organizations that help Sakonnet-area residents in myriad ways have won grants totaling $37,000 from the Rhode Island Foundation. They include: The Herren Project The … more

8/13/24

Letter: Can’t afford to focus only on offshore wind’s downsides

To the editor: I’m writing to express my strong support for the expansion of offshore wind as a generational leap forward in our pursuit of environmentally sound energy policy. Given … more

8/13/24

Fogland Farm is enormous, covering nearly 85 acres just east of Fogland Beach.

Tiverton history for sale — at $5.95 million

Looking to buy a home in Tiverton? You couldn’t do much better than Fogland Farm — but it’ll cost you a cool $5.95 million. The historic 84-acre farm, which traces its … more

By Ted Hayes | 8/12/24

Wilbur School students carry the banner and play for the crowd during the town’s 300th anniversary celebration in 1975.

Let the music play — a Little Compton celebration in song

Hans Christian Andersen said, “Where words fail, music speaks.” The 300th Anniversary of Little Compton Committee (in 1975) must have supported this belief because music was a … more

By The Town Crier | 8/12/24

Polly Allen, director of prevention for the Newport County Prevention Coalition, and Gregory Thompson, regional drug-free communities grant program director, host a podcast called “Totally Preventable” that’s taped at the regional coalition’s headquarters in the Portsmouth Business Park.

In Portsmouth: This space is the place

PORTSMOUTH — Rebecca Elwell readily admits it was an adjustment moving her office from the bucolic beauty of Glen Farm to the concrete jungle that is the Portsmouth Business Park. … more

By Jim McGaw | 8/8/24

Rebecca Elwell, executive director of Strategic Prevention Partnerships, stands next to the conference table where staff members collaborate — as they did on the “Pick Your No’s” program. She’s hoping to hire a new prevention coordinator for Portsmouth by Oct. 1. “I’m looking for somebody who has a real passion for the community,” she said.

Wanted (again): Prevention coordinator for Portsmouth

PORTSMOUTH — When Ray Davis stepped down as Portsmouth’s prevention coordinator in 2018, he had been at that job for more than seven years. Since then, the position has been a … more

By Jim McGaw | 8/8/24

Tiverton police arrest man for illegal tracking device

Monday, July 29 A caller reported an erratic driver on Route 24 at 4:07 a.m. A report of a suspicious vehicle at Fogland Beach came in at 9:12 p.m. A Persimmon Drive resident filed a … more

8/8/24

Letter: Commons road, curb work makes a big difference

I would like to extend my gratitude to the State of Rhode Island for the recent infrastructure improvements in our town, particularly the road resurfacing. The addition of new curbing and the walkway … more

8/8/24

Letter: An historic vote for Rhode Island

The danger of a nuclear disaster — either intentional or by accident — is the gravest immediate threat to our very existence. more

8/8/24

Letter: Political paranoia and Constitutional constipation

I would be remiss if I remained silent with regard to the current question of whether or not to call a constitutional convention. more

8/8/24

Little Compton sailors bring home the gold

Three Little Compton-based sailors took first place this past weekend in the Yngling 2024 North American Championships, held in Marquette, Mi. Henry Brislin (left), skipper Bruce Chafee (center) and … more

8/7/24

Letter: Union Public Library sale was one for the books!

On behalf of the Union Public Library Association, I would like to thank the Tiverton community for their support of our annual book, bake, and Yard Sale held on July 20. It was a great success! … more

8/7/24

The Tiverton Fire Department welcomed five probationary firefighters to their ranks last month. From left, they include Mike Simoes, Garret Olbrych, David Kelley, Ryan Gray and Parker Collins.

Tiverton inks new police contract, updates fire pact

The Tiverton Town Council recently ratified a Memorandum of Agreement with the firefighters’ union and approved all tentative agreed-upon provisions of a new three-year contract with the police … more

By Ruth Rasmussen | 8/7/24