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

Little Compton drafts hazard, flood plan update

Little Compton officials are looking for public comments as they update the town’s Hazard Mitigation and Flood Management Plan, as required by the federal government. The plan, currently … more

4/9/24

Morgan Briere of Tiverton will be a freshman in the all-virtual Rhode Island Connections Academy this fall.

Some students choose virtual school over traditional

Tracey McGee-Moreira, an educator for 34 years, points to March 13, 2020, as the day the entire landscape of education changed. It was, to her way of thinking, the true start of the pandemic, when … more

By Ruth Rasmussen | 8/4/22

This residence on Long Pasture Drive cannot be expanded, a judge recently ruled, as doing so would violate town ordinances that govern accessory dwelling units, otherwise known as in-law apartments.

Judge: Little Compton was right to deny home expansion

A Rhode Island Superior Court judge has sided with the Little Compton Zoning Board and building official after they were taken to court by a couple who claimed they were wrongly denied the right to … more

By Ruth Rasmussen | 3/11/24

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

Pennfield School eighth-grader Spencer Mazur works on a drawing during an outdoor art class.

These schools opened — and stayed opened

When The Pennfield School in Portsmouth recently held an assembly on their front lawn celebrating the 50th anniversary of the start of classes, students and staff, all masked and spread out, were … more

By Lucy Probert | 9/24/21

Two people and their canine companion walk along the shoreline near Nayatt Road in Barrington. These two happened to be traveling directly along the proposed “recognizable high tide line,” noted by the presence of seaweed and debris left by a recent high water line.

Who owns the shore?

Every now and then, the Rhode Island General Assembly confronts a bill that is not like other bills. It is bigger, bolder, more significant in promise and impact. The “Shoreline Access” … more

By Scott Pickering | 4/13/22

A 'peaceful revolution' at the pump in Tiverton

Motorists were lined up on the shoulder of Stafford Road in Tiverton for more than 20 minutes on Monday, waiting their turn to fill up their gas tank at one of four pumps at George’s Gas and … more

By Jen Campisi | 7/20/22

A crop cannon in Little Compton. Some residents say they've had enough of the noisy devices.

Little Compton fires back in crop cannon skirmish

Weeks after an Old Main Road woman first complained about the noise made by crop cannons near her home, members of the Little Compton Town Council on Thursday directed the town clerk to send a … more

By Ted Hayes | 8/15/23

Nursing students Eilish Condon (left) and Sarah Souza perform a modified bed pan maneuver during class.

Tiverton CTE programs give students a leg up on skills

On a recent Wednesday morning, six Tiverton High School seniors, dressed in medical scrubs, gathered around a table in the school’s media center to talk about their expectations after … more

By Ruth Rasmussen | 1/16/24

Map shows proposed route of SouthCoast Wind's transmission cables through Portsmouth.

RIDEM seeks comment on SouthCoast Wind plan

PORTSMOUTH — Have an opinion on SouthCoast Wind’s proposal to run cables under the Sakonnet River and Mount Hope Bay to transfer electricity from an offshore wind facility? more

2/6/24

Tiverton purchases menorah for town holiday display

Is it legal to use taxpayer funds to purchase what some consider a religious symbol to be included in a December holiday display outside of town hall? The Tiverton Town … more

By Ruth Rasmussen | 10/25/23

Portsmouth’s lead runner was Wake Zani, who ran seventh overall in 18:58.

Gallery: Portsmouth, Tiverton cross country teams

TIVERTON — Teams from LaSalle Academy were the winners of both the boys’ and girls’ Metropolitan Division cross country meet held Monday, Sept. 26, over the 3.1-mile layout on and … more

Photos by Tyler Maxwell | 9/30/22

Little Compton Town Council member Andrew Iriarte-Moore has had charges against him dismissed, following an incident with a dog walker last summer. Charges against his husband were also dismissed.

Judge drops charges against Little Compton town councilor and husband

Nearly five months after Little Compton town councilor Andrew Iriarte-Moore was charged with misdemeanor disorderly conduct, the charges against him and his husband have been dismissed. In late … more

By Jen Campisi | 2/6/23

Aerial view of one of the five wind turbines 3.8 miles southeast of Block Island generating electricity at the Block Island Wind Farm. An application for a separate wind farm project, SouthCoast Wind Farm, has been put on hold after state regulators questioned its economic viability.

State presses pause on SouthCoast Wind review

It doesn’t make sense to review a project application when there’s no money to fund it. So concluded state energy regulators, who on Thursday opted to pause their review of an … more

By Nancy Lavin/Rhode Island Current | 7/14/23

Digital rendering of a portion of the Revolution Wind farm as seen from Newport.

Revolution Wind farm plan moves ahead

Even as the Mayflower Wind project faces concern here over the routing of its electric cables up the Sakonnet River, a second project that could have a greater visual impact on the coast from … more

By Ted Hayes | 9/30/22

A map from Mayflower Wind shows the projected route of cables required to transport power from its offshore wind farm to a connection at Brayton Point in Somerset, Mass. The connection requires a long stretch up Mt. Hope Bay, across land in Portsmouth, and up the Sakonnet River.

Offshore wind farm proposes cable connection through Sakonnet River, Mt. Hope Bay

The project developer contends it will generate enough clean energy to power 800,000 homes, and will plug into the grid that serves Rhode Island as well. But potential environmental impacts have yet to be discussed publicly. more

By Ethan Hartley | 5/4/22

Scout Noah Laverda places a flag on the grave of a World War I veteran, while Jackson Greenwood looks on.

Scouts dodge raindrops to honor deceased veterans in Tiverton

Members of a two area Boy Scout groups dodged raindrops Saturday morning when they replaced nearly 1,000 worn flags on veterans' graves at the Pocasset Hill Cemetery in North Tiverton. The … more

By Ted Hayes | 5/20/23

Michael Alves directs the concert band during Tiverton Middle School’s spring concert at the high school

Tiverton students celebrate Spring in song

Tiverton Middle School seventh and eighth grades recently held their Spring Concert. Director Michael Alves led the concert band in "Welcome March," "Zephyr" and "Cupid Shuffle." Mary Bartolotta … more

6/5/23

Tiverton head coach Mike Brigham (middle) speaks to the team between innings.

With loss to Mounties, Tiverton has last shot at championship Monday

The Tiverton Tigers, playing out of the winner's bracket , fell to Mount St. Charles 6-0 in game one of the Division III Championship at RIC Thursday night. The two … more

Story and photos by Richard W. Dionne, Jr. | 6/16/23

Mayflower Wind's economic viability in question

An offshore wind farm developer seeking to run electric transmission cables under the Sakonnet River, through Island Park in Portsmouth and up Mt. Hope Bay wants more time to respond to a state order … more

By Ted Hayes | 11/21/22

Adamsville welcomes new fitness studio

For those looking for a place to give their long-lost New Year’s resolutions a kick in the tail feathers, a new fitness studio is set to open in the heart of Adamsville. Henhouse Studios, … more

By Paige Shapiro | 3/24/23

Ben Pacheco hits a forehand during his match. He beat Hadley Martinez in straight sets 6-4, 6-2.

Tiverton tennis aims for a deep playoff run

The Tiverton tennis team fell to Narragansett 4-3 in a tight match on Tuesday afternoon. The loss drops the Tigers’ record to 9-4 in Division II, heading into the playoffs. … more

Story and photos by Richard W. Dionne. Jr. | 5/20/23

RISPCA offers reward for information on abandoned guinea pigs

EAST PROVIDENCE — Two hikers discovered a total of 42 guinea pigs abandoned at the Browning Mill Pond Area off of Arcadia Road in Exeter on Tuesday, July 12. The hikers, along with two … more

7/14/23

“No Wrong Door” coordinator Bridget Manning shares a moment with one of the young participants in their “Laundry Love” program, which hosts free laundry nights, twice per month, for those who need a helping hand.

Showing love through laundry

It may not seem like much, but to some, a free load of laundry can make a difference. Through local listening sessions where low and no-income individuals and families were given an opportunity to … more

By Julia Stearly | 10/18/23

Little Compton eyes tiny harbor plot

It’s just a tiny piece of property — less than 4,000 square feet — but an unkempt lot and rundown shack at 5 Bluff Head Ave. could play a critical role in the town’s future at … more

By Ted Hayes | 3/12/24