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

Turbulent waves keep rolling out of Washington

Ian Donnis’ Rhode Island politics roundup for Jan. 31, 2025 1. STORY OF THE WEEK: If the past week tells us anything, here are a few starting points: 1) Democratic-leaning states like … more

By Ian Donnis | 2/4/25

Letter: An assault rifle ban will make you less safe

To the editor: This is the most dangerous time of year for Rhode Islanders. It is when the legislature is back in session and the politicians gather to play their games. Every year, our … more

1/28/25

Trump comes out swinging, pushes immigration to the forefront

STORY OF THE WEEK: President Trump ’s use of an executive order to try to eliminate birthright citizenship — a right enshrined in the Constitution not long after the Civil War — … more

By Ian Donnis | 1/27/25

Members of the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra play for students at the Wilbur McMahon School in Little Compton.

Commentary: Little Compton non-profit teaches love for the arts

Editor’s note: Neve Carmichael is a student at Tiverton High School, and wrote this article as part of her journalism studies. Music, in one guise or another, permeates through all … more

By Neve Carmichael | 1/22/25

Is Rhode Island's glass half-full, or half-empty?

STORY OF THE WEEK: Gov. Dan McKee had a high-profile platform last Tuesday, using his State of the State speech to assert that Rhode Island is “flipping the script” from some of the less … more

By Ian Donnis | 1/21/25

Letter: What’s next, now that the Lafayette House is gone?

Editor’s note: This letter was sent to the Tiverton Town Council earlier this month, and shared in its entirety with the Sakonnet Times: Another crime against the preservation of town … more

1/21/25

Letter: Felag addressed my issue, and quickly!

A few weeks ago, I reached out to my State Senator, Walter Felag Jr., about a minor traffic concern. Senator Felag promptly returned my call that same day. After listening to my concerns, he assured … more

1/16/25

Letter: Redefining civility: An MLK Day reflection on tolerance

As we approach Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a time to reflect on the principles of unity and equality, I write to celebrate the essence of civility and tolerance in our public discourse. Tolerance was … more

1/16/25

Letter: Close loopholes — preserve Little Compton's future

The Tuesday, January 7 Little Compton Planning Board meeting gave a glimpse into a proposed major subdivision on a 26-acre parcel in Little Compton. The engineer and attorney for the property owner … more

1/14/25

Letter: The cost of Conservation in Little Compton

As a town, Little Compton has done a remarkable job of preserving farmland and open space. After having our first child, Little Compton was high on my wife’s and my list due to its rural … more

1/13/25

Little Compton needs a queen — is it you?

LC 350 , the committee organizing Little Compton's 350th anniversary celebration, is searching for a Little Compton resident over 90 years old to be a possible Queen, and two court members, for our … more

1/9/25

Sakonnet Light is undeniably beautiful but can be deadly when the weather is in — working there nearly scared the lightkeeper to death in 1917.

Think the weather is cold enough now? Everything is relative

Editor's note: This column is part of a series dedicated to Little Compton's 350th anniversary celebration this year. For more, see the organizing committee's website . Most of us have heard of … more

By The Town Crier | 1/9/25

Letter: Little Compton housing, agriculture and open space

There are a number of forces at work in in Little Compton that have contributed to increasing housing prices, with each affecting either demand or supply: The high desirability of a coastal … more

1/8/25

A New Year’s resolution for state leaders

Here is a basic New Year’s resolution for state political leaders: “Spend taxpayer money as if it were you own.” Instead, far too many politicians make giddy spending decisions … more

By Arlene Violet | 12/31/24

Letter: The remains — How did we allow history to be destroyed?

I like old houses. They don’t fit many of the standards of modern life, but they have strong personalities having been, after all, in one place for a long time. They reflect the landscapes of … more

12/30/24

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: What a shame — Tiverton history lost forever

The Abraham Brown House, otherwise known as the Lafayette House at 3118 Main Road in Tiverton, had stood the test of time until it met its unfortunate fate last week — within hours, erased from … more

12/24/24

Letter: Antitrust case could undermine data privacy bill

To the editor: If you’re like me, you care about protecting your family’s personal information. I practice basic personal security tips like not using the same password for everything. … more

12/21/24

Letter: Huge improvement to Tiverton’s Main Road and north end

Over the months of September through November, folks in Tiverton watched as the RIDOT completely redid the existing sidewalks along our waterfront and added sidewalks to the east side of Main … more

12/19/24

Little Compton's own Colonel Henry Tillinghast Sisson, memorialized in this statue at the Common, invented the three ring binder.

Town Crier: Did you know these strange Little Compton facts?

In researching for Little Compton's upcoming 350th birthday celebration, I have found a few facts that would probably not fit in a column by themselves, but I found them interesting and fun. So here … more

By The Town Crier | 12/12/24

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

Letter: Your support at Veterans’ Day ceremony was appreciated

On behalf of the Tiverton Historical Society, I would like to thank all those who came to our annual Veterans Day Tribute at the World War I Doughboy monument by the old Stone Bridge - all fifty of … more

12/11/24

Letter: Thanks in order for recent Tiverton re-paving work

Complaining about our government has become the new national pastime. But I write to do the opposite! Like most of us in Tiverton, I was caught in the one-lane delays all summer long along the … more

12/11/24

Letter: Sad to see the divisiveness in Gonzalez’s letter

I would like to submit the following for consideration in the “Letters to the Editor” section published in EastBayRI. It is very rare that I will reach out to an entity and … more

12/10/24