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Maggie the Goat in her prime, at the West Place Animal Sanctuary in Tiverton.

Westport animal cruelty case survivor dies

Maggie the goat, one of the last local survivors of the massive 2016 animal cruelty case in Westport, died in late April at the West Place Animal Sanctuary in Tiverton, her home for the past seven … more

By Ted Hayes | 5/4/23

Donna Amaral shows a photograph taken inside the 81 Benoit St. home last month, following a complaint to the town.

Westport homeowner OK’d to re-enter home, after cleanup

A home deemed uninhabitable last month has been cleared by the Department of Health, but several dogs taken from the residence were still with Westport animal control as of Friday. Board of … more

By Ted Hayes | 10/20/23

Lifeguards and water lovers in the middle of another tough day at Cherry and Webb Beach.

Westport beach pass prices may rise steeply

It will cost significantly more to park at town beaches next year, if a fee hearing planned by the town for next month goes the way members of the beach committee hope it does. Last week, beach … more

By Ted Hayes | 10/31/23

An artist's rendering of the new playground planned for the Central Village, at the Town Hall Annex.

A whale of a playground coming to Westport

After years of waiting for the right time, members of the Westport Recreation Department are nearly ready to install a new playground at the Town Hall Annex, replacing one that provided endless fun … more

By Ted Hayes | 11/16/23

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

Gov. Gina Raimondo and her husband, Andy Moffit, adopted a casual tone to talk to Rhode Island children on Thursday.

Governor talks to kids, reveals Easter Bunny is an ‘essential worker’

Gov. Gina Raimondo debuted a new look, new format and new co-star in her Thursday coronavirus briefing, and she steered the hour-long session to a new audience — kids. The governor and her … more

By Scott Pickering | 4/2/20

Connor James (left) signals teammate Nick Arruda to stay up as he crosses home plate in the third inning of their game against West Bridgewater on Tuesday. Westport won the home game 7-6.

Wildcats seventh inning rally sinks West Bridgewater 7-6

The Westport baseball team scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to overcome a 6-4 deficit and beat West Bridgewater 7-6 during their last regular season home game on Tuesday night. more

Story and photos by Richard W. Dionne, Jr. | 5/27/22

Volunteers and organizers prepare at the start of the cleanup.

Volunteers collect tons of garbage in Westport

Team COW (Clean Our Westport)had a very successful Spring litter cleanup day the Saturday before last. Martin Costa, Team COW's founder, reports that more than 175 volunteers showed up to pick enough … more

4/24/23

Westport Middle High School students work at their computer stations earlier this year.

Westport Middle High gets first accreditation report

For the first time in its short life, Westport’s new Middle High School has a blueprint to follow toward accreditation with the New England Association of Schools and Colleges . The last … more

By Ted Hayes | 2/26/24

Town by town, virus surge continues — the local count

Led by East Providence with 49, then Barrington with 17, the number of confirmed coronavirus cases continues to rise in the East Bay, as in the rest of Rhode Island. Next door in Westport there … more

4/10/20

Voters approved $1 million in appropriations, contingent on a future override vote, at May's annual Town Meeting.

With Town Meeting done, Westport looks to override vote

PIC: Override DIONNE Head Override vote coming this summer Subhead With Town Meeting out of the way, select board mulls next step in estimated $3 million ballot question Jump: … more

By Ted Hayes | 5/17/23

South Shore Beach, Little Compton (Buzzards Bay Coalition)

Parking ban hits Little Compton's South Shore Beach, Lloyd's Beach, Town Landing

LITTLE COMPTON — Little Compton took action Friday afternoon to prevent parking at South Shore Beach where some report seeing large numbers of cars and lots of people in recent … more

By Bruce Burdett | 4/10/20

In this map prepared by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Management (MASSDEP), Westport is depicted almost entirely in light green — the state's designation for watersheds that may be designated as Natural Resource Areas following the promulgation of proposed Title V amendments. Towns shown in gray either have not yet been evaluated for nitrogen impacts, or have been evaluated and determined not to be impacted by nitrogen.Half of New Bedford, a small part of Fairhaven and most of Achushnet, shown in teal, have already been designated Natural Resource Areas.

Town — and maybe homeowners — face expensive Title V changes

Thousands of Westport homeowners could be on the hook for expensive septic upgrades under a series of Title V (septic) amendments being rolled out early next year, though Westport officials are … more

12/15/22

Westport paramedics deliver baby in ambulance

Westport's youngest resident arrived a bit early Saturday afternoon, barreling down the highway somewhere in the vicinity of Old County Road and Route 88. The baby, a healthy boy, was delivered in … more

By Ted Hayes | 1/23/23

Lifeguards look out over Cherry And Webb Beach last summer. A new corps of guards will be back this year, allaying fears that Westport might have to do without.

Lifeguards to the rescue in Westport

Summertime, and the living's easy. That was the word Monday night, when Westport Town Administrator James Hartnett told the select board that at least eight hopefuls have signed up to be … more

By Ted Hayes | 6/13/23

New Year’s Eve Day plungers, including Jen Potter of Gnome Surf at left, run for the ocean just after 10:30 a.m. Sunday.

Westport plungers do the deed a day early

Technically, they were a year earlier than most. But just barely. A few dozen hearty souls decided to buck the New Year’s Day plunge trend Sunday, saying goodbye to 2023 by jumping in Buzzards Bay … more

By Ted Hayes | 12/31/23

Westport finance committee won't support $35M Route 6 project

Six days before voters head to the polls to decide the fate of the $35 million Route 6 sewer and water debt exclusion, members of the Westport Finance Committee said Wednesday night that they will … more

By Ted Hayes | 4/4/24

The large fork at Old Harbor and River in Westport was impossible to miss.

Westport's fork in the road goes missing

Someone stole the fork in the road. Westport police are looking for the unknown thieves who made off with the fork that marked the split at River Road and Old Harbor, they said Wednesday. There … more

7/19/22

Joining Rep. McGaw (second from right) as special guests during Thursday’s House session were parade organizer Chuck Kinnane (right), this year's parade grand marshals David and Diane MacGregor, and John Sperduti, treasurer (not pictured).

Kinnanes honored as world's shortest St. Paddy's Day parade nears

State Representative Michelle McGaw (District 71, Tiverton, Little Compton and Portsmouth) had special guests when the House celebrated St. Patrick's Day Thursday: Organizers of the world's … more

By Ted Hayes | 3/16/24

Sajo Jefferson (left) and Julia Chang, who are both part of the leadership team at Movement Ground Farm in Tiverton, gave visitors a tour of the farm, stopping to talk about the sheep behind them, and the unique efforts of their farm to engage young and minority populations in farming. Everyone on the leadership team at Movement Ground is under the age of 35 and most come from Providence to work there.

The food network is hard at work

Research suggests the average person thinks about food 15% of their day. That’s of course their own food, or their family’s food, and those thoughts are typically connected to the rumble … more

By Scott Pickering | 10/6/22

Oscar party attendees cheer on Oscar hopeful Jenny Slate Sunday evening.

Marcel the Shell: Tiny snail, big party

Paul Newman and Audrey Hepburn were there Sunday evening. Steve McQueen made it, Jeff Bridges too. Even Sean Connery attended, though it was a long trip from Lyford Cay, the Bahamas, to Davoll's … more

By Ted Hayes | 3/13/23

The new 150-foot monopole communications tower on Drift Road, adjacent to Route 88 and Masquesatch Road

Westport cell phone tower will be online within weeks

The new cell phone tower at Drift and Masquesatch roads is up, but when can cell phone users expect better reception in lower Westport? It could be a matter of weeks, a representative from the firm … more

By Ted Hayes | 6/22/23

Diners are served during last year’s annual community dinner in Little Compton.

Volunteers needed for LC Community Dinner

What’s quickly becoming a treasured Little Compton tradition returns in two weeks, when hundreds of residents from across town gather at the Commons for the fourth annual Community Dinner. … more

8/29/23

Westport-area legislators take aim at Title V costs

Area legislators have filed at least one bill opposing the implementation of proposed Title V septic regulations that have the potential to cost homeowners in Westport and other south coast … more

By Ted Hayes | 2/22/23

Marchers make their way down Main Road in Adamsville during last year's inaugural running of the 'World's Shortest St. Patrick's Day Parade.'

Adamsville parade is Saturday, and it's still short

If the Irish saying goes that 'Two people shorten the road,' does a whole parade of people do the same? Adamsville will find out Saturday afternoon. Adamsville’s World's Shortest St. … more

By Paige Shapiro | 3/13/23