Narragansett Times
NO STONE LEFT UNTURNED
SOUTH KINGSTOWN — For more than 40 years, Mary Candace “Candy” Barber greeted customers at Bartone Jewelry with a sparkle in her eye and a joyful “Hey Hon!” that made everyone feel like family. This weekend, the store she lovingly built into a South...
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50th Penguin Plunge smashes all-time fundraising record
NARRAGANSETT — The frigid waves at Scarborough Beach must have been aware that this year was the golden anniversary of the Special Olympics Rhode Island Penguin Plunge. The sun was out, but the wind took the temperature well below freezing for perhaps...
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South County’s 2025 was a year of searching for identity
In 2025, four South County towns — Charlestown, Narragansett, South Kingstown, and North Kingstown — kept circling back in 2025 to one question: How to preserve a year-round sense of community, with its stability and constancy, while forces largely...
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‘ Skiing Santa’ brings holiday joy to Narrow River denizens
NARRAGANSETT — By noon on Christmas Day, while most are nestled indoors with leftovers and long-distance calls, one man pulls on a beard, zips up a wetsuit, and straps on candy-cane skis to deliver joy by water. That man is Matthew Maruska, and for...
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URI fall graduates celebrate their unorthodox academic journey
The vast majority of students attending the University of Rhode Island walk the stage in May. However, the 550 or so students who just walked the stage at URI’s fall commencement all have had a bit of an unorthodox path to success, whether they’re...
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GLASS MENAGERIE
SOUTH KINGSTOWN – Whether it’s hanging from a tree, on the walls of a church, or leaning against your kitchen windowsill to catch the light, stained glass is a hot commodity during the holiday season. That’s why students at Bosgraaf Studio in Peace...
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South County celebrates the start of holiday season festivities
From the Narragansett Pier to the shops of Wickford and the village streets of Charlestown, South County is about to flip the switch on the holiday season. The first full weekend of December brings everything from old-fashioned parades and church...
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South County Health mulling partnership with healthcare system
South County Health has announced that it will be evaluating a potential “transformational partnership” over the next several months. In a press release issued by the hospital, officials said that the Board of Trustees has secured a letter of intent...
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SK park installs new features in memory of local skater
Old Mountain Field Skate Park in South Kingstown recently underwent a major upgrade, and for some in the skating community, the process of installing it also provided healing. Ana Koukas, Chapman Beekman, Austin Steele, and Mason Silkes have been...
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Cold case investigation was about giving closure for local detective
NARRAGANSETT – Police Detective James Wass found a box no one had opened in years and refused to let it go. He worked the case of Debra Stone, whose body was found in 1984 by boaters in the Narrow River, for the last seven years because he wanted a...
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Family of man who died in crash keeps his memory blooming
On a sloping roadside where Route 4 northbound bends toward the Oak Hill Road interchange, a bright heart blooms each spring. Daffodils — hundreds of them now — were first planted in 2010 to remember then-37-year-old Terry Ashworth, a young father,...
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Area troop marks 115th birthday amid uncertainty for scouting
SOUTH KINGSTOWN — At the Scout cabin in Wakefield, the walls tell a story. Photographs curl at the edges. Plaques list names that echo through South County and through the years. Smoke from campfires infuses the wood. Even miles away at Scout Camp...
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WHEN A PET PASSES
Flickering candles and velvet covering are missing from this ordinary shelf, yet it holds the meaning of “shrine” anyway. “I typically just kept them in the closet,” said I, Michael Grossman, 82, recalling the containers of ashes from the dogs who...
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BREAKING GROUND
SOUTH KINGSTOWN — There’s no turning back now. Construction on South Kingstown’s brand-new $150 million high school project is officially underway and dozens of local and state leaders met up in the senior parking lot of the current high school on...
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GOURD’S WORK
About 150 volunteers helped unpack, sort and display 49,000 pounds of pumpkins and gourds on Sunday. The event held at the Peace Dale Congregational Church grounds was in preparation for the 10th annual Pumpkins for a Purpose, a month long sale of...
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SQUID PRO QUO
Hundreds gathered at Veteran’s Park in Narragansett this past weekend for the 8th annual Calamari Festival and Cook-O . The event was sponsored by the Narragansett Chamber of Commerce with proceeds from the event benefiting the chamber’s community...
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BARK ON THE BEACH
On Sunday, September 14th, Animal Rescue Rhode Island (ARRI) hosted its 14th annual Bark on the Beach dog-walk and fundraiser. More than 250 dogs and their humans enjoyed a one-mile walk along Narragansett Town Beach. Festivities included a blessing of...
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FOLLOWING THE THREAD
Patrons of the Maury Loontjens Memorial Library in Narragansett got a lesson in back to basics this week as they learned how to sew a festive table top runner. Clockwise from top: Sewing instructor, Lynn Murphy explains the steps; Claudette Jardine...
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STEPPING UP
A new school year means new adventures for Narragansett students. Kids headed back to school on Tuesday ready to start the year o right. Clockwise from top: Madison Kearney steps o the bus, ready to start her day; Avery Lagasse and Sasha Swanson...
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Where there’s a will, there’s a wave
Standing at the edge of Narragansett Town Beach, Nicholas Curran of Providence tried to catch his breath. The 36-year-old’s red surfboard twisted in the foam swallowing his feet on the sandy shore, rising and falling as if tethered to the pulse of the...
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‘ LIVES UNFINISHED’
On a bright September morning in 2017, the ordinary calm of a Rhode Island neighborhood was broken by the sound of anguish. With her windows open, Melissa DeJoseph heard the cries of a grandmother just steps away. “Oh my God!” the woman screamed...
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SALT OF THE EARTH
On most summer mornings, the 25-foot Sea Salt II rocks gently in its slip at the Point Judith Yacht Club, the blue hull glistening in the early light off Salt Pond. For its owners, Donna Benson and Bob Ireland, this boat is far more than a weekend...
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Officials finalizing plans to partially demolish CCMS
According to the project officials, plans to partially demolish Curtis Corner Middle School are currently being finalized. At Monday’s South Kingstown Town Council Meeting, Kate Turner — who’s one of the project managers on both this project and the...
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HANDS- ON EXPERIENCE
St. Peter’s By the Sea Episcopal Church offers visitors an unexpected sanctuary of stone, shrubs and symbolism just steps from Narragansett Bay in the church’s gardens that are part of a local tour. Gardens around the area opened their gates July 19...
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SANDY SOUNDCHECK
NARRAGANSETT — His voice booms over the loudspeakers. It shatters the chatter. Suddenly out of nowhere, it seems like a deity is speaking from the heavens. “Good morning, and welcome to Scarborough State Beach. To make your day safer and more...
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THE FAMILY BUSINESS
S O U T H KINGSTOWN — Irish Pub lovers, re-“Joyce.” After a nearly 20year hiatus, The Joyce Restaurant & Pub is back in business and better than ever at 195 Main Street in Wakefield. The menu might look a little different, but the family who runs it...
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Matunuck Oyster Bar reopens with an outdoor dining tent
SOUTH KINGSTOWN — Matunuck Oyster Bar is one of the most iconic restaurants in Rhode Island, and even makes many national lists as one of the best dining spots in the U.S. Now, it likely holds a few new titles, such as fastest re-opening after a...
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South Kingstown Police Department achieves accreditation
SOUTH KINGSTOWN — It was a year of setbacks and triumphs for South Kingstown Police Chief Matthew Moynihan, who worked to restore both his department’s accreditation and public confidence in his leadership. When Moynihan was placed on probation last...
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South Kingstown High celebrates Class of 2025
KINGSTON — Not all high schools have an entire symphony orchestra at their disposal to perform at their graduation. However, South Kingstown does, and it’s made up of their own students. The melodious strings and impressive range of choir voices on...
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Class of 2025 gives a fond farewell to Narragansett High
Of all the graduating high school classes in South County, Narragansett High School might be the toughest goodbye as students go off to college both far away and closer to home. In such a tight-knit community, most students spent the last 12 years...
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Jennison, Shafts named top scholars at Narragansett High
Narragansett High School’s valedictorian and salutatorian are embarking on two very different adventures this fall, one closer to home and one on another continent. Valedictorian Elizabeth Jennison is sticking to her New England roots and attending...
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Community pitches in to help Matunuck Oyster Bar
SOUTH KINGSTOWN — A community of friends — from near and far — is rallying around the Matunuck Oyster Bar to help owner Perry Raso and over 300 employees with financial losses following last week’s fire at the culinary landmark. Collections of money,...
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Local legislators seek fixes to state’s health care woes
PROVIDENCE – It may have been Rhode Island Health Care Day during National Hospital Week and a time for celebration, but numerous state legislators congregated with health care leaders at the State House library on Thursday afternoon to discuss a...
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South Kingstown High School’s Brandon Pearce named RI Civic Education Teacher of the Year
SOUTH KINGSTOWN — Teaching civics education and American government is to teach lessons in real life, says teacher Brandon Pearce. That is the premise of South Kingstown High School teacher Pearce who has been named Rhode Island Civic Education...
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GREEN THUMBS
For more than two decades, the URI Master Gardeners have been holding an annual Spring plant sale. Hundreds attended this past weekend’s event on the URI campus. Hundreds of varieties of vegetables, herb, perennial and annual seedlings were available...
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Contemporary Theater Company’s latest show parodies Shakespeare
SOUTH KINGSTOWN — If all the world’s a stage, then the performers in The Contemporary Theater Company’s upcoming production of “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) [revised] [again]” are going to need to channel their inner “Will”...
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Local lawmakers react to death of Senate leader Ruggerio
Words of condolences and tributes have echoed around the state for state Senate President Dominick Ruggerio, 76, who died Monday from cancer. He fought the disease for the last year and had frequent absences from the Capitol as he tried to regain his...
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South Kingstown EMS department seeking new recruits
SOUTH KINGSTOWN — No parent ever wants to dial 911 for their child. However, when the unimaginable happens, South Kingstown’s Emergency Medical Service personnel answers that call. “When our child stopped breathing last week – that’s exactly what I...
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New study puts Rhode Island second in nation for boat crashes
Rhode Island ranks, according to one recent national study, as having a boat crash rate that is the second worst in the nation, just behind Washington, D.C. Kitchel Law, a Washington, D.C.-based personal injury law firm, said it analyzed U.S. Coast...
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Region’s real estate market shows signs of cool down period
Spring is peak buying and selling season in South County, but rising mortgage rates, growing debt, and nationwide costof-living hikes may cool the market. That’s the sentiment among some area real estate agents amid the February RI Association of...
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‘Super plungers’ raise over $140K for Special Olympics
Some would call it insane, jumping into the icy Atlantic at Salty Brine State Beach every time the clock reached 12 for 24 hours straight. Not to these folks, though. These people revel in participating in the annual Special Olympics Rhode Island...
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SPOKESWOMAN: NK High’s Maida Talancy organizes bike race
Now’s the time to sign up for the Ryan Park Spring Showdown, a new mountain bike race which will take place next month. Not only will it support a local organization, but it will also help Maida Talancy graduate from high school. Talancy, a senior at...
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New veterinary clinic in Narragansett eyes late May opening
NARRAGANSETT — A new veterinary clinic plans to open later this spring in Narragansett as needs for veterinary care increase following the aging of many pets acquired during the pandemic years. Many people during COVID acquired pets to ease the...
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Interest rising in chicken farming amid heightened grocery prices
These days, the great chickenor-egg debate feels irrelevant because backyard poultry enthusiasts have a simple answer: Why not have both? Cluck, cluck, ka-ching! Local chick suppliers are witnessing a feathery frenzy as more folks flock to raising...
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SKPD initiative will seek citizen- submitted video footage
What your door video shows could be a clue to closing down door-to-door scammers, mail thieves, and even burglaries or robberies. South Kingstown Police are launching a program through which residents can voluntarily submit video or pictures taken by...
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Local landlords say lead paint, water registration site is flawed
The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) has released online look-up sites for water lines and other findings of lead traces in registered rental properties. The databases, though incomplete in presenting information, can be found for rental...
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Local sailor training to make waves for America
Jamestown native Erica Lush is launching bow-first into a daunting task: bringing home a win in a prestigious individual sailing competition. If she conquers the waves, however, she could gain more than just an international prize. Lush, a graduate of...
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South County chocolatiers gearing up for Valentine’s Day
SOUTH KINGSTOWN — If you’ve started your window shopping for Valentine’s Day, you may have walked right past some award-winning chocolate with a Rhode Island twist. Gansett Craft Chocolate just opened their first storefront at 227 Robinson Street in...
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‘ MAIN’ COURSE
SOUTH KINGSTOWN — It is the end of an era for one business on Main Street and the beginning of another for two others. Phil’s Main Street Grille, starting over 60 years ago and five owners earlier as a sandwich shop, has closed its doors. Owner Ken...
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CARVING A PATH
$ 1.50 Hundreds hit the slopes on Monday and didn’t need to travel far to do so. Rhode Island’s only ski area, Yawgoo Valley, was open with newly fallen snow from the storm on Sunday night. The tubing park was also a popular spot and a good way to...
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BMX enthusiasts ask for help saving indoor bike park
SOUTH KINGSTOWN — When you witness the wide smiles and infectious enthusiasm that every helmet-clad BMX biker has while they’re rolling down one of the ramps at the Peace Dale Ramp Room, you’d have no idea their favorite hangout spot was in jeopardy....
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Penguin Plunge draws over 1,000 to Scarborough Beach
For a moment, it almost felt like summer again at Scarborough State Beach on New Year’s Day. The sun was shining, the swim trunks were on, and hundreds of folks packed the beach and flooded the parking lots to show their support for Special Olympics...
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January marks a chance for new beginnings for local residents
There’s that old tradition — like 4,000 years old — of making New Year’s resolutions, and various research says it’s still going strong — until keeping them rolls around. South County residents said they are joining again this year in the making of...
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2024 decisions will likely shape future of SK for years to come
The town of South Kingstown decided 2024 was a time to address its ailing public school system this year, both for the immediate and long-term future. Voters approved a brand-new high school building, and a new superintendent is already at work...
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Many say Christmas cards a tradition worth holding on to
Nicole Liscio Zelenak keeps a cherished tradition alive, sending about 70 Christmas cards every year. Her cards are a welcome sight for friends, family, and even the U.S. Post Office. “I send cards every year and have since I got married 21 years ago....
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Family and friends help local woman in battle against ALS
NARRAGANSETT — Rebekah Lloyd has a Christmas wish. It might be her last. She speaks her words with a halting fragility, her voice trembling under the weight of their truth. Tears streak her cheeks, the rawness of her emotions breaking through as sobs...
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Boon Street Market liquor license given conditional renewal
The Narragansett Town Council voted this week to conditionally renew the liquor license for Boon Street Market after the owners agreed to music restrictions during later hours. After hearing public concerns about their business, the owners of the...
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BLUE IS THE CLUE Local deparment’s ‘blue envelope’ initiative aims to help neurodivergent drivers communicate with law enforcement
The Narragansett Police Department is starting a “blue envelope” program found throughout the country in different police agencies to help drivers on the autism spectrum when stopped by officers. The specially designed envelope holds a driver’s...
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Wake eld’s Green Line Apothecary plans to close pharmacy business
For nearly a decade, downtown Wakefield offered a charming throwback to a bygone era — a pharmacy complete with a classic soda fountain and a cozy food counter, evoking the warmth and simplicity of yesteryear. Now, however, this cherished nod to a...
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Just in time for the holidays, the Beach Hut opens in Narragansett
When people visit a new town, it’s common for them to take souvenirs with them. These souvenirs don’t serve as just reminders of the place they visit, but the memories they made. Either they keep these things for themselves or give them to the people...
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Narragansett voters embrace change on Town Council
NARRAGANSETT — Narragansett voters have chosen a new slate of Town Council members, bringing fresh leadership to the town’s government at the expense of three incumbent candidates criticized by opponents for controversial rulings over the last two...
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Candidates discuss issues in Narragansett
Narragansett voters face key decisions this November, with five open seats on both the Town Council and the School Committee. This newspaper gave them up to 115 words to state their views on the most serious problems facing the community and ways they...
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Local residents turning out in droves to take advantage of early voting period
A strong outpouring of voters hit area town halls in the past week with the start of early voting ahead of Election Day. As of Tuesday night, South Kingstown ranked fourth in the state with combined in-person and absentee ballot voting, followed by...
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Longtime NK football coach mourned a er boat accident
NORTH KINGSTOWN — Disbelief hit many community members Tuesday as they learned about the sudden and tragic death of celebrated former North Kingstown High School Coach Joe Gilmartin, who died a day earlier after falling from his boat and into the...
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HAY THERE
Around Town ..............B4 Classifieds ...................C1 Comics ....................... D6 Letters ........................ A4 Obituaries ....................B8 Sports ..........................B1 Time Out .................... D1 Viewpoint...
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BARK ON THE BEACH
Around Town ..............B4 Classifieds ...................C1 Comics ....................... D6 Letters ........................ A4 Obituaries ....................B8 Sports ..........................B1 Time Out .................... D1 Viewpoint...
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