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A building appears untouched by the wildfire which destroyed the historic town of Lahania Thursday, Aug. 10, 2023, on Maui. (Kevin Fujii/Civil Beat/2023).

Hawaii 'Miracle’ house owned by noted Westport couple

Editor’s note: The following article is reprinted with permission from the Honolulu (Hawaii) Civil Beat. It concerns not only the ‘miracle’ survivor of the recent blaze that … more

8/29/23

Clock ticking for appeal in Spinnaker Way rental mess

The clock is ticking for the owners of a 50 Spinnaker Way home to appeal a recent town order that bars them from renting their home as a short term rental (STR). In mid-August, members of the … more

By Ted Hayes | 9/21/23

Korynne Holden (middle) celebrates with head coach Jen Gargiulo (left) and teammates after scoring her 1000th point in the first quarter on Friday night.

Holden reaches milestone as Wildcats trample Avon 58-22

Korynne Holden scored her 1000th point as the Westport girls’ basketball team trampled Avon 58-22 in a league home game on Friday night. Holden, the Wildcats’ senior point guard, … more

Story by Richard W. Dionne, Jr. | 2/12/24

Ryan Mendonca and fiance Meg Crispino, of Tiverton.

Uber driver gets New Year's DUI in Tiverton

First, the good news: A Tiverton couple emerged without a scratch and didn't have to pay for their ride home early New Year's Day. The bad news? Their Uber driver got a DUI, marking the first arrest … more

By Ted Hayes | 1/4/22

“Chuck, you’re not supposed to talk — quiet,” local resident Sharlene Patton tells Town Council member Charles Levesque after he assured her there was no agreement between the Town of Portsmouth and SouthCoast Wind in place — or even being discussed. Patton was referring to Levesque’s earlier comment that he was recusing himself from any council deliberations regarding the wind energy developer’s proposal because his family owns property off Boyds Lane, through which SouthCoast wants to run transmission cables. Levesque, meanwhile, said Patton and others should not be speaking because the item was not on the agenda.

SouthCoast Wind foes demand answers from Portsmouth council

PORTSMOUTH — For a topic that wasn’t even on the council’s business agenda, it sure drew a lot of discussion. more

By Jim McGaw | 4/12/23

A map rendering showing the proposed path of power lines from SouthCoast Wind up the Sakonnet River to connect in Somerset. (Courtesy Southcoast Wind Energy LLC)

CRMC OKs Sakonnet River transmission line for wind farm

The financial agreements anchoring a 149-turbine offshore wind farm proposed south of Rhode Island have come undone, but that hasn’t stopped state coastal regulators from reviewing — and … more

By Nancy Lavin/Rhode Island Current | 12/15/23

Members of the fifth grade girls' team include (from left) Coach Justin Gendreau, Ella Camara, Maddison Wenson, Lily Veracka, Bailey Hart, Sophia Nickelson, Reese Markovich, Margaret Twomey, Lily Cipollini, Ella Pereira, Isabella Krzyston, Autymn Pereira, Peyton Gendreau, Assistant Coach Keith Nickelson and Assistant Coach Paul Krzyston. Missing from the photo are teammates Mallory Crocker and Vera Rodrigues.

Westport soccer team eyes state championship

A group of Westport girls who have gone farther in youth soccer than anyone here in nearly 25 years will play for a state championship this coming weekend. The Westport United Youth Soccer fifth … more

By Ted Hayes | 6/24/22

Gov. Gina Raymond announces Thursday that traditional schooling won't resume this school year.

Governor: Home learning the rule in RI for rest of this school year

Distance learning — “How long will it last?“ is the question Governor Gina Raimondo said she has heard more than any other. And Thursday came her answer … more

By Bruce Burdett | 4/23/20

Little Compton whale dissected, will be buried

Biologists from Mystic Aquarium spent much of Thursday dissecting the young female humpback whale that washed up at Church Cove and was first spotted Saturday. Using a bulldozer to help them move … more

By Ted Hayes | 1/13/22

$1 million pledged to study Gooseberry causeway impacts

More times than he can remember, Mark Rasmussen has been asked if he thinks the causeway connecting Gooseberry Island to the mainland is responsible for the many changes this stretch of coast has … more

By Ted Hayes | 3/10/22

Tiverton Planning Board rejects Seasons convenience store

The Tiverton Planning Board voted unanimously last Tuesday against a plan to build a Seasons Corner Market at the corner of Souza and Main roads. Colbea Enterprises LLC LLC, based out of Cranston, … more

By Jen Campisi | 9/20/22

Shauna Ferry, with husband and business partner Andrew Ferry and their daughter Maia, run Westport's online retail dairy and also produce state-certified raw milk.

Profiles in farming: A 'deep-seated passion'

Note: The latest in our series on farming in Westport, from the farmers' perspective. Shauna greets me at Westport Dairy, located at 729 Gifford Road, which opened its doors last winter. … more

By Deanna Levanti | 11/16/22

Gov. Gina Raimondo at her Friday, May 15 briefing on the COVID-19 pandemic.

Governor: Phase 2 of re-opening won’t begin until after Memorial Day

PROVIDENCE — At her daily COVID-19 briefing Friday, Gov. Gina Raimondo explained the criteria being used to determine when the state is ready to move into a different phase of re-opening … more

By Jim McGaw | 5/15/20

Westport toughens cell tower requirements

Telecommunications construction companies must now seriously consider alternative sites when they propose building cellular telephone towers in Westport, after voters at Tuesday's Town Meeting passed … more

By Ted Hayes | 5/6/22

A 'reference photo' of a similar crematorium, included in Sakonnet Partners LLC's conceptual plan for the Tiverton project.

Crematorium planned for north Tiverton

The Tiverton Planning Board is expected to conduct a preliminary plan review next week of a proposal for construction of a 2,960 square foot crematorium and chapel at 730 Main Road. As it makes … more

By Ruth Rasmussen | 11/23/22

Noah Sowle played well defensively at shortstop and batted .325 from the leadoff spot and hammered 13 hits with 2 doubles, a triple, 5 RBI, 8 stolen bases and scored 18 runs.

Westport nine win division championship, prepare for playoffs

The Westport baseball team won the Mayflower Athletic Conference division championship with a league record of 8-0 and now prepare for home playoff game sometime next week. How they … more

Story and photos by Richard W. Dionne, Jr | 5/29/23

Four of these hot pink signs were posted in the front foyer of Barrington High School last week. Orange signs with the same message were posted near another entrance. No one at the school was able to answer who posted the signs or when.

More questions, some answers, about FREE!! school food

Last week I wrote a first-person account of my research into school lunches in Rhode Island. This week I’m back, writing on the same subject, with updates on what I’ve learned, and a … more

By Scott Pickering | 2/11/22

Boaters taking part in Saturday's parade on South Watuppa Pond wave to well-wishers on shore.

Watuppa celebrates America

You don't get the nickname 'Captain Seaweed' for nothing. Christian DaSilva, of Beaulieu Road in Westport, has had it for years, and not surprisingly loves to be on the water. This past weekend, … more

By Ted Hayes | 7/15/22

Westport voters reject Diman excluded debt

In a vote that could have huge implications for future Westport budgets, voters on Tuesday rejected a ballot question asking if they approved of using excluded debt to fund Westport's portion of the … more

By Ted Hayes | 11/9/22

It may become necessary to change the way Westport schools are funded, the report predicts. Above, superintendent Thomas Aubin at a public meeting last year.

Five-year plan calls for major financial change in Westport

A five-year financial plan recently released by the Town of Westport concludes that fundamental changes in the way the town does business will likely need to be made if the town is to dig itself out … more

By Ted Hayes | 2/12/24

Developer’s rendering shows solar panels on land between Drift Road and Route 88 along Soules’ Way (an additional section is barely visible in the foreground).

Westport planners take dim view of solar plan

WESTPORT — A developer’s request to stretch town guidelines for a new solar project received a cool reception from the Planning Board at the board’s September 8 meeting. After … more

By Bruce Burdett | 9/24/20

Supporters regroup as Westport voters reject Route 6 plan

Members of the Infrastructure Oversight Committee were expected to meet Wednesday to figure out their next move after voters last Tuesday rejected a proposed $35 million debt exclusion that would … more

By Ted Hayes | 4/12/24

Where the East Bike Path repairs are planned in Riverside.

East Bay Bike Path could be impacted by repair projects

PROVIDENCE — Parts of the East Bay Bike Path in Bristol and Riverside could be impacted by repair projects and temporarily close the week of July 18-22 , according to the Rhode Island … more

7/16/22

Sawdy Pond clearing angers neighbors

As he prepares to build a new home near Sawdy Pond, a Portsmouth man has angered some of his neighbors who claim he is clearing land he does not own and is harming the environment, including … more

By Ruth Rasmussen | 9/8/22

Booking photos of Tara Desilveira of Westport and Paul Silva of New Bedford, who were arrested on drug charges in Portsmouth on Wednesday, Feb. 8.

Narcotics investigation leads to arrests in Portsmouth

PORTSMOUTH — Two people were arrested on Wednesday, Feb. 8, in connection with the distribution of illegal narcotics in Portsmouth, according to police. An investigation in … more

2/9/23