All hands on deck against Middletown CenterOn June 23 and June 30 the Middletown Town Council has scheduled public hearings on the zoning changes requested by the developers of the proposed No-Longer-Your-Town-Center project on West Main Road In light of the significant community interest and opposition expressed at previous meetings on February 24 it is crucial that residents attend the upcoming meeting to show support for preserving the community's interests Residents have requested but were denied a second Public Hearing on April 24 before the Planning Board after discussion between Planning Board members and developers at the April 3 Public Hearing took up two full hours of time meant for public comment resulting in many residents leaving the meeting without having commented due to the late hour residents want an opportunity to comment on any new changes before the Town Council makes a decision Please do not give the Town Council an empty Gaudet Cafeteria Bring your neighbors and Middletown family Colbea Enterprises has been pushing Tiverton to allow it to build a regional multi-use and drive-through restaurant with non-compliant conspicuous Shell signs on a lot specifically designated for general commercial (GC) use only Its Seasons project must be granted three special use permits because it does not fit the zoning requirements developed by our townspeople That general commercial (GC) lot was designated for a single florist) designed to serve the area residents not a regional business designed to serve significant volumes of traffic from Route 24 Tiverton’s Comprehensive Community Plan is the guiding document for growth and development in our town Its relevance and importance cannot be dismissed out of hand either by the person testifying for Colbea or by anyone charged with reviewing this proposal against the six clearly stated criteria for each of the special use permits required The overarching principle of Tiverton’s Comprehensive Plan is preservation of the historic small-town look and feel of the town by careful application of all of the ordinances intended to control the nature and extent of development The lot at the corner of Main Road and Souza should not be developed as if it were a highway commercial (HC) lot all hours of the day and night business is not an allowable use for a GC lot Their intent is to wear the people of our community down and to run roughshod over our small town without consideration of the damage their business would do to our community Countless times their testimony has glossed over the serious and valid safety concerns raised about this project Their approach implies they have a right to do this even though they absolutely do not By permitting such a non-conforming and unsuitable project to go forward we would be disregarding the parameters of the Comprehensive Plan and five other criteria designed to prevent just this kind of manipulation of our planning and zoning ordinances You cannot convert a GC lot into a HC lot just because you have a team of attorneys and deep pockets You cannot endanger the health and welfare of our community just to make a profit Plenty of evidence to deny this project exists in the recorded testimony of Preserve Tiverton’s expert witnesses and town residents who know this dangerous intersection and know the negative impacts they will suffer if this project is permitted Members of the Zoning Board of Review have the capacity and mandate to protect our town Let Zoning Board know your feelings on Seasons proposalOn Wednesday the Tiverton Zoning Board will vote on whether to allow a Seasons gas station store and drive-up restaurant to be built at the corner of Main and Souza roads In public hearings and in letters published over nearly two years citizen comment on the proposal has been unanimously negative it is fitting and proper for citizens to know who are the officials deciding matters that affect those citizens Tiverton’s website lists these five current members of that board: George S Tiverton residents should feel free to express their feelings respectfully to those members by LEANNA FAULK Officers responded to Country View Estates just before 11:30 p.m after receiving reports of an erratic driver Witnesses told police a gray SUV with Massachusetts license plates had driven over several lawns and knocked down a light post Officer Joseph Barek located the SUV stopped at the intersection of Blackbird Street and Lark Lane and the driver was slumped over the steering wheel with his foot on the brake and the doors locked Body camera video shows Barek banging on the window and yelling commands for several minutes before the driver later identified as 35-year-old Brian Brown of Raynham “He’s about to drive into a house,” Barek can be heard yelling in the footage as he chases the SUV on foot across a residential lawn Fearing the vehicle was going to strike the home reached into the SUV and placed it in park Police said Brown attempted to put the vehicle back into drive multiple times before Barek removed the keys from the ignition and forcibly pulled him out Brown was placed in handcuffs and taken into custody Brown admitted to drinking earlier in the night and initially told officers he believed he was in Raynham Several empty alcohol bottles were found inside the SUV “I’m down the street.” An officer responded You’re like an hour away from where you live.” Brown refused field sobriety tests but consented to a preliminary breath test which showed a blood alcohol content of .211 He was charged with driving under the influence of liquor Police said Brown was later transported to Newport Hospital for an unrelated medical condition The case remains under investigation and additional charges are possible Two neighbors who spoke with NBC 10 said the incident was shocking for their quiet “I mean anybody could have been walking their dog or just walking and been hit,” said Kathleen Moore “But thank God it didn’t happen that way.” Thankfully no one’s house got destroyed or messed up and no one got hurt.” This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page CRANSTON — Lexus-Alyn Boissonneau needed a jacket to stave off the plummeting temps. But she remained ready in Tiverton softball’s eight hole An opportunity to play hero didn’t present itself through nine innings against Cranston East. A 10th frame added an extra chance for Boissonneau to make Tiverton’s early claim as Division III’s darling as the senior found the right-centerfield gap for a two-run single on April 21 It provided the needed cushion for the Tigers after Caroline Durost handed Tiverton the lead in extra innings Boissonneau’s heroics held through a nervy bottom half of the 10th as Tiverton (8-0) remains perfect on the year with a 6-5 triumph on Monday night at Brayton Ave Softball Complex “I wasn't doing my best hitting and usually I'm on my game,” Boissonneau said And [Cranston East’s Lexi Montalban] is a great pitcher.” The win exacts a bit of revenge for Tiverton after Cranston East toppled the Tigers in the Winners' Bracket Final of last year’s playoffs the Tigers can earn gritty road triumphs against the defending champions but this proves that we really can be a good team,” Sara Poland “[The playoff defeat] was a really tough loss for us But they lost a few players and we lost a few players It was going to be a good game no matter what.” Cranston East didn’t go away quietly in the home half and had the winning run at the plate Montalban pulled the Thunderbolts to within one run on her two-RBI single to center The shot up-the-middle scored Aniah Parker and Jaeda Viveiros who started the inning on second after the international tiebreaker rule was enacted in the 10th inning But Lia Doster fanned the last batter as part of her complete-game win that included 10 strikeouts and just three walks Doster also managed three hits at the plate “They can make plays,” Doster said of Cranston East “That's the only thing we knew coming in and that there's a different pitcher [from last year] It’s a sophomore-heavy lineup for Tiverton with four of the first seven hitters all in their second year It’s a positive sign for the present and future of the program that it has contributions from each class “This game really meant a lot to us because it lasted so long and our focus was in it more than it has been,” Boissonneau said Cranston East lost its ace this offseason when Isabella Sousa transferred to St Sousa struck out 16 in the Thunderbolts’ championship win last year And on the same night of the Tiverton game Sousa twirled a no-hitter and homered in the Saints’ win against Johnston Her former Thunderbolt teammates would surely welcome her back but they also had a star of their own on Monday Montalban went the distance in the circle for Cranston East with 11 strikeouts to just three walks She also finished 3-for-5 with two RBIs and a double Montalban’s double rolled on the yellow capping of Brayton’s left-field fence in the eighth inning The drive was 199 feet on the complex’s 200-foot venue and on a warmer night “It was fun and scary at the same time,” Montalban said of the extra-inning thriller “It’s fun and I feel like the stress and the pressure kind of makes you perform better.” In a game where two contenders were scouting each other in person for the first time An encore between the Tigers and Thunderbolts is welcomed with more than just bragging rights up for grabs “I think that'll be good competition,” Montalban said (WLNE) — The Tiverton Police Department said it and the State Fire Marshal’s Office are requesting the public’s assistance in an arson investigation The investigation pertains to a fire that occurred on the porch of a home on Main Road on April 19 Investigation by the Tiverton Fire Marshal the Rhode Island State Fire Marshal’s Office and Tiverton Police Detectives revealed the cause of the fire to be arson Anyone with information on the fire is asked to contact Detective Sergeant Stephen Parrillo at 401-816-4425 or sparrillo@tivertonpoliceri.com Deputy State Fire Marshal Investigator Kevin Morris at 401-889-5449 or kevin.morris@dbr.ri.gov or the Rhode Island State Fire Marshal’s Office Arson Tip Line at 401-383-7723 A reward of up to $5,000 is being offered for any information that leads to an arrest (WJAR) — Career and Tech students at Tiverton High School are getting a lesson in some of the most intense police work there is: crisis and hostage negotiations “Rapport is building a relationship with someone," said Lt Ryan Huber of the Tiverton Police Department He taught the complexities of crisis negotiations to the group of high school students Thursday “Letting them know that it’s okay to talk to someone does care and he wants to help me," said Huber Each student has their own reason for taking this Career and Tech class “I’m studying criminal justice so I feel that this is going to help me a lot for college next year," said student Brendan King “Helps me feel comfortable around them," said student Nicholas Gilkeson While some know firsthand what experiencing a crisis feels like so go and get the help that you need," said student Charli Deusel take your time with things," said Huber talking to students So much goes into police work that many of us will never see "It kind of opened their eyes to how things are in the real world," said public safety teacher Andrew Gacioch A real world that isn’t always puppies and rainbows but these students said they’re better prepared for what life may bring “It definitely makes you feel a lot safer learning and gaining all of that knowledge over the past few months," said King TIVERTON – Longplex Family and Sports Center owner Jim Long has reached a deal with the town to bring two more sports facilities to the Industrial Park – two ice rink complexes that will also offer pickleball and other activities as well as a car storage/car enthusiast club facility Town officials and Long’s representative and attorney Dan Reilly said there are also talks of building a hotel within the industrial park Reilly said that two of the proposed facilities would include two ice hockey rinks which would also include golf-related attractions on-site a pickleball court and other recreation activities It would be an extension of the Longplex Family and Sports Center and be known as Iceplex Another building would include an indoor car storage facility which would host events for car enthusiasts “The Iceplex and indoor car storage facilities will be constructed first and initial planning applications are being submitted for all three projects within the coming days,” Reilly said “The purchases will close upon receiving master plan approval for each project and all of the property will move onto the tax rolls.” In past years, Long has made proposals of this sort to the town, but they have stalled He has cited personal issues between former council members and Long as a possible reason for unsuccessful expansion talks he mentioned that Long had not been invited to subcommittee meetings looking to expand and brainstorm the Industrial Park’s use town officials now appear to be embracing Long’s proposals “Jim [Long] is a great tenant and pays a tremendous amount of taxes,” said Town Council president John G adding that 90% of tax revenue is through residential properties which Edwards says is “not sustainable.”   “We are in dire need to expand the commercial [tax revenue].”  Edwards said that the deal in place is beneficial for all parties especially considering that the businesses are complementary ones He said the town can expect close to $1.3 million per year in tax revenue and without the strain of using resources to build roads These facilities would be adjacent to the current and only commercial entity on-site with roads and lighting in place around the facility The Longplex facility offers a variety of recreational youth and adult sports as well as live music and sporting tournaments The facility also has a restaurant and other entertainment opportunities “It helps shape what the purpose of the park is … Things that focus on recreation and benefits the kids are helpful,” Edwards added “He is well on his way to becoming the biggest taxpayer in Tiverton,” Edwards added Edwards said a hotel would also bring "ancillary tax revenue” to the town.” Reilly mentioned that Longplex is acquiring 72.7 acres of land in the Industrial Park – 42.3 acres are buildable and 30.4 acres are considered non-buildable open space “The total purchase price is $1,236,817.78 We are continuing negotiations with the town over an option agreement for some of the remaining parcels and infrastructure improvements,” Reilly said Reilly said the council is also open to moving its temporary recycling facility away from the sports facilities Reilly said that having a waste facility near a sports complex where patrons park is “not good for business.” “Longplex is entering into a $1 per year lease so that the operations of the temporary recycling center can continue with the longer term plan to have the town build a new recycling center and Public Works facility elsewhere in the park,” he added (WLNE) — The Tiverton Fire Department said that a car fire extended to a house on Russell Drive on March 22 Crews responded to the home around noon to find two vehicles were burning The department said the fire was able to be brought under control without extension to the interior of the home Tiverton gas station proposal does not meet criteria for special useThe future of Tiverton and the continuation of the quality of life we appreciate as expressed in our Comprehensive Community Plan is in the hands of a very inexperienced Zoning Board (ZB) This was made quite clear to us at their March meeting Only one member could state why a gas station will not work at the Souza/Main/Schooner intersection due to his 40 years of experience in that business traffic tie-ups on a two-lane road when deliveries are made and frequent accidents occurring in front of his own station where there are straight lines of sight (unlike this intersection) his facts were not expressed the right way to have any merit Instead of holding a workshop to train them on the six criteria needed to permit a special use at the beginning of this years-long public hearing on the three special use applications by Colbea/Seasons the ZB members were given a sheet listing the six criteria for each SU application by the ZB solicitor at the meeting they were supposed to make this decision The ZB members have listened to testimonies given by experts on both sides expressing facts about why it does or does not meet each SU criterion at each meeting Most of the public who spoke at the January hearing knew to speak facts about why the SU application did not meet a particular requirement The summary briefs submitted by both sides’ attorneys were worded to prove the criteria were or were not met by certain testimonies because the non-attorney members were not told at the beginning to have the SU criteria in mind during all these meetings If they had been trained in the SU permitting procedure it would have been an easier decision for them to make at the March meeting and a cheat sheet would not have been necessary Our safety and quality of life depend on having a ZB that understands the applicant must prove that the project meets all the criteria for each special use It is obvious from the facts presented by residents Preserve Tiverton experts and the experienced ZB member that this has not been proven it’s long past time to demand term limits for all American politicians Is it really such a difficult concept to understand Rhode Island is a prime example of elected officials who are unwilling to give up any perceived power that they have and refuse to allow anyone else the opportunity to bring new ideas into state government Why can’t you people just go away with some semblance of dignity Are we really not sick of seeing the same names on ballots every election cycle Why would you want to literally die in office The world has moved on from what was relevant 70 years ago and if you need to bring someone in to explain what the internet is TIVERTON, R.I. (WJAR) — A 52-year-old woman is dead after a crash in Tiverton Thursday night along Lake Road The sole occupant of the car was 52-year-old Jennifer Sylvia of Tiverton Police said she was transported to Saint Anne’s Hospital in Fall River where she died who said he heard the crash and rushed to the scene to help Turcotte said he opened the car door and tried to save Sylvia “I went to the driver side and opened the door and asked for somebody to respond,” he said and there was nobody else in the car and that’s when police showed up.” Turcotte showed NBC 10 where the crash happened He said the car veered off the road into a pile of mulch before going airborne “They had to use the jaws of life to get her out,” said Turcotte Sylvia’s ex-husband posted on Facebook on Friday: “She was a beautiful soul “I’m really sorry that they lost their mother I’ll get emotional on that I’m a family man,” said Turcotte Police said speed may have played a role in the crash Investigators are still trying to learn what caused the accident Anyone who may have witnessed the crash is asked to contact Tiverton Police (WJAR) — Parents in two different school districts received similar news this week that the school their student enrolled in will be closing at the end of this school year the Diocese announced that Saint Stanislaus School would be closing at the end of the academic school year An email addressed to parents said the reasons included significant debt Fort Barton parents in Tiverton received a similar message the same week we received an email that said that they made a decision to close the school "This is a town problem because now parents don't know what's going on with their students they're going to take their kids elsewhere and now the town is funding and paying more taxes to these children to have some sort of consistency." Superintendent Peter Sanchioni said the building will not be closing "Our enrollment has declined significantly and then secondarily we're facing a rather significant budget deficit well over a million dollars," said Sanchioni it's going to be an educational institution we're going to have some classes over there but a lot of people are going to get laid off but this changed the people who are going to get laid off." The Tiverton School Committee will meet on Feb and the Diocese of Fall River will schedule a parent meeting soon with school leaders The Rhode Island Department of Transportation said Tuesday that the on-ramp from Main Road to Route 24 north has reopened An image shared on social media showed rock debris strewn on the pavement and a mangled fence "We expect the process to remove loose rock and grade the base of the rock face to take two days followed by replacement of the fence," a RIDOT spokesman told NBC 10 News "We currently estimate the ramp will reopen on Thursday afternoon." The department initially estimated a few hours to clear the rockslide Officials urged drivers to find alternate routes TIVERTON – Familiar faces are back on the Town Council Interim Town Administrator Patrick Jones, the former police chief, was recently named as the successor of former administrator Chris Cotta The town approved a tentative three-year contract for Jones Councilor Mike Burk, a two-term councilor who placed eighth in the race for seven council seats in last fall’s election returned to the Council on April 7 after Hayden resigned in late March serving on the council for approximately four months Blake Hayden – who placed seventh in the 2024 election – did not detail his reasons for resigning but said he would continue to support the town in other ways He also said that during his short term on the council my commitment remains unwavering,” he wrote in his resignation letter Hayden could not be reached to comment further on his resignation but according to reports on town social media he has cited that strict state regulations have frustrated the work of local communities and officials who missed a council seat by 83 votes in last fall’s general election Burk was the next highest vote getter after Hayden he was asked and agreed to return to a seat on the council  Burk and Jones were officially sworn in on April 7 James Costa was sworn into the role of acting chief on April 9 “I have kept involved since then and I am a firm supporter of our town and in doing what I can to support our lives,” said Burk during a phone interview Burk was one of seven members on Monday who unanimously approved the contract of Jones who had been acting as both the police chief and the interim administrator since December will make $165,000 annually – a 50% increase over Cotta’s salary of $110,00 which commenced in December and will be completed June 4 If he successfully passes the probationary period his salary will increase to $175,000 on June 4 “I think there are increases here but the increases we have here are well justified to bring in a professional with Mr The rest of the contract looks fantastic,” said Councillor Craig Committo Committo had questions about Jones’ expense budget Citing his former contract as a police chief Jones said he is allotted $5,000 for training Council President John Edwards cited the higher salary but referenced football icon Tom Brady who left the New England Patriots because they did not increase his salary or sign him to a longer extension “It is my view – unlike (Patriots owner) Robert Kraft – that when Tom Brady is in the building This story was updated because an earlier version included an inaccuracy TIVERTON – The demolition of one of the most iconic and historic properties in town is sparking outrage and calls for stricter protections As the Sakonnet Times first reported, the Abraham Brown House was unceremoniously torn down on Dec shocking local residents and preservationists it was also known as the Lafayette House because it housed the Marquis de Lafayette during the 1778 Battle of Rhode Island "Everyone I've talked to is shocked," said Susan Anderson a member of the Tiverton Historic Preservation Advisory Board Owner David M. Rose, who indicated that he planned to do the demolition work himself when he applied for a permit did not return a phone call seeking comment "Tiverton lost a valuable piece of history and a valuable asset to our town," resident Zachary Guerette wrote in a letter to the Times "Surely locals would stand around and cheer if Four Corners still held the town whipping post." Property records indicate that the Abraham Brown House However, a list of Tiverton's historic buildings that was compiled by the Rhode Island Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission and Tiverton Historic Preservation Advisory Board suggests that it actually dates back to 1735 and was expanded over the years with additions Records show that Rose applied for a demolition permit on Aug answering "no" when asked if the property was listed on the National Register of Historic Places the Rhode Island Historical Preservation Register or the Tiverton Register of Historic Places On Dec. 23, after the farmhouse was torn down, the Sakonnet Times reported that it had been listed on Tiverton's list of historic properties the answer to the question about historic register status was belatedly changed to "yes." Priscilla Resendes, a clerk in Tiverton's building and code enforcement department, told the Times that she'd gone back and altered Rose's online permit application The answer was subsequently changed back to "no." but Tiverton officials should have checked to see if the address was on the historic properties list Local ordinances would then have required a mandatory 90-day waiting period before the town could issue a demolition permit who is serving as interim town administrator did not return phone calls seeking comment The demolition permit was signed by building official John M. Hoyle Jr. According to the Times Hoyle has been on leave for unspecified reasons since the first week of December when Jones took over as interim town administrator the Tiverton Historic Preservation Advisory Board suggested increasing the demolition delay for historic buildings to six months and requiring town officials to notify them about pending applications But the Town Council apparently never took up the advisory board's proposal board members didn't find out that Rose was seeking to demolish the Abraham Brown House until it was too late Anderson, who is also the outreach and education coordinator for the Tiverton Historical Society said that she at least has photos of the interior of the Wingover farmhouse before it was destroyed There are no such records from the Abraham Brown House She stopped by the day after it was demolished and found hand-hewn beams and horsehair plaster reduced to piles of rubble The 250th anniversary of the Battle of Rhode Island is just a few years away and the house was the last surviving piece of that history Rose is no stranger to local controversy: In 2017, he allegedly hired a contractor to pour truckloads of unwashed clam shells on his family's property on Main Road creating a crushed shell driveway that became a magnet for maggots and flies when it began to rot in the summer heat Neighbors complained that that the "putrid" odor was so intense that they had to hire professional cleaners to remove the smell from the upholstery inside their home The Department of Environmental Management eventually ordered Rose to get rid of the shells According to the Times the Rose family has owned the Abraham Brown House and surrounding farmland for many years signs posted along the roadside indicated that the property was for sale However, the farmhouse does not appear to have been advertised on the State-Wide Multiple Listing Service until Nov. 8, when it was listed for $6.8 million, according to Realtor.com. That listing was removed on Dec Rose hasn't publicly explained his motivation for tearing down the historic farmhouse, but residents speculate that his goal was to sell the land for development In a letter to the Times a Little Compton resident identifying himself only as "B Hagan" said that Rose was facing "stifling costs impossible renovations and mounting safety concerns," and paying taxes on an uninhabitable building Hagan said that he spotted a Craigslist ad offering the farmhouse for salvage in July and began working with another unnamed preservationist to dismantle it and reassemble it elsewhere in town The older portion of the building had been uninhabited and open to the elements for almost 40 years and "was rotted and beyond repair," he wrote Although the salvage process was in motion the owner abruptly decided to demolish the house," Hagan wrote "Perhaps that had been the intent all along?" Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that Susan Anderson said that pieces of Wingover farmhouse were saved It has been corrected to reflect the fact that she has photos showing the interior of the farmhouse (WJAR) — A Tiverton man has a passion of taking unwanted recyclable items and turning them into art a licensed arborist in Rhode Island and Massachusetts realized he had a passion for taking one person’s trash and turning it into a treasure “I started taking scrap metal taking glass anything I could find recyclable and creating new artwork with it,” said Vivieros “I was inspired by a four corner tree event in Tiverton where I entered the horseshoe Christmas tree my first year and I took first place and then the second year I entered the sea glass Christmas tree.” Vivieros not only began using unwanted tools but he began going for weekly walks with his wife to find sea glass wind chimes and just about any decor item one may think of He calls his side business ‘Yard Arts’ and sells pieces that can be used as decorative items for a yard “Doing this type of work it’s a lot easier of a job but the pay ain’t as good,” he said it’s a lot more relaxing to something like this than it is to climb a tree.” Vivieros’ yard along Brayton Road is home to many of his creations He has hundreds of strands of sea glass throughout his beautifully landscaped property which is also home to a few horses and horse shoes from other family and friends nearby to so create artwork by welding them into shapes and words and painting them is an American flag made out of horse shoes A horse shoes tree is proudly positioned on his front lawn I just started welding things to make people happy I make flowers I make wreaths I make just about anything you could want in your yard as yard art,” he said “I enjoy watching people’s reaction mostly and seeing the surprise on their face of stuff I make from scratch that would otherwise throw away.” he created a Christmas tree made out of thousands of pieces of sea glass including an angel the 58-year-old said he will be going bigger and better with a 15-foot tree that he will construct for the Westport Harbors Festival Something beautiful I guess is something that is a good challenge for me to do every single day,” he said Vivieros said he can be followed on Facebook Less than a month after being abruptly shut down the beloved cat cafe at 137 Main Road will be welcoming back its feline friends once again In a Facebook video shared Monday, Jan. 6, owner Amanda Souza introduced a handful of new cats ready to greet you at Bajah's Cat Cafe as she announced a grand reopening this weekend "We’re Back with Kitties! We’re so excited to share that we’re getting back to normal at Bajah’s Cat Cafe!," reads a post on their Facebook page Bajah's was forced to close Dec. 14 after Souza was found to have been taking in cats for adoption beyond the limits of her shelter license, which only allowed Bajah's to house cats in partnership with agencies like Forever Paws Animal Shelter in Fall River and Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals According to a Facebook live video posted by Souza she admitted that she found it difficult to “say no” when taking in other cats RISPCA initially responded to Bajah's following complaints that several cats at the facility were exhibiting upper respiratory infection symptoms A dozen cats were surrendered to the RISPCA as the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management investigated the complaints In a statement posted to the organization's Facebook page Dec RISPCA said the cats were "in good shape and well cared for," the facility was clean all cats had recent veterinary records and the owner was cooperative Bajah's shelter license was not revoked but they were required to pay a $2,000 fine for the license violation The coffee shop portion of the business continued operation during this time Cats removed from Bajah's last month won't be returning Thanks to some rallying on the part of Souza and her Bajah's community all cats that were surrendered have since been adopted "We have such a great community here at Bajah's," she said "It's so comforting to know that people were listening." When is Bajah's cat room reopening?Souza said Bajah's cat room is resuming normal business hours starting Wednesday She announced a grand reopening of the cat room is planned for this Saturday "Join us for some fun with raffles and surprises as we celebrate this exciting milestone together Come cuddle some kitties and enjoy the magic once again," the Facebook post reads Baja's will be welcoming more cats in from their partner for folks to play with or consider taking home "A weight has been lifted off my shoulder having some sort of normalcy back in here again," Souza said on Monday "It's been great having the cats back here I'm over-the-moon ecstatic that we are getting back on track to help get these cats adopted." Interested in checking out the cat room? Walks-ins are allowed Monday through Friday but reservations are recommended, especially on weekends. Reservations can be made on their website https://www.bajahscatcafe.com "Even if you don't want to come in and see the cats just coming in and getting a sandwich and a coffee helps us keep our mission alive," Souza said Souza said plans are in the works to expand their mission by converting the Main Road building into a complete rescue facility She is currently working on getting a rescue license — enabling Bajah's to take in surrenders and cats off the streets and get them rehabilitated and adopted out themselves — and plans to renovate the rear of the building A GoFundMe was launched amid Bajah's brief closure the nonprofit that operates the animal shelter part of the business Money raised through the GoFundMe will go toward the renovations Bajah's Cat Cafe opened in 2021 and has been a registered nonprofit since 2022 TIVERTON – Last year at this time, the community rallied to keep Fort Barton Elementary School open Recently, Superintendent Peter Sanchioni confirmed that – though the school will not be completely closed for the 2025-26 school year – it will be reconfigured as a much different institution talks are of using it as a pre-school building as well as servicing some special education students Sanchioni said that the School District is still debating the topic and how the building will be used but confirmed that it will still be used as an educational institution “We have had some significant drop in revenue and laid off 16 personnel in the district and we are looking at significant loss of revenue and may have to lay off 16 staff again,” Sanchioni said “When you look at loss of revenue and declining enrollment you’re looking at how to best maintain staff and use revenue the best way,” he added Sanchioni said that this practice is not uncommon and other Rhode Island districts have faced the same difficult decision – naming Middletown Newport and Bristol-Warren as some of the few “It’s sometimes a path we are forced to take,” Sanchioni added The Town Council last June agreed to allocate additional funds for the school to help keep that school open this year At a late June School Committee meeting, the committee voted on removing the athletic director position as well as other moves to keep the school open and call back more staff members both council and school committee members agreed that this tactic was a band-aid measure especially after the district in the spring of last year was considering laying off as many as 33 people The district managed to close the shortfall and approve a budget 1% over the 2023-24 school year school officials used one-time funds to balance the budget – a trend that officials throughout the town have cautioned against plans for using Fort Barton should be finalized but its days as a traditional elementary school appear to be coming to a close 'Bajah's Cat Cafe' located at 137 Main Road in Tiverton has served as a cat adoption facility and café (WJAR) — The Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has removed most cats from a cat café in Tiverton on Friday after a licensing issue The Bajah’s Cat Cafe on Main Road said the cafe is now empty after the Rhode Island SPCA the Department of Environmental Management and Department of Health crated most of the cats away The Rhode Island SPCA said the cats were voluntarily surrendered said the problem stemmed from a lack of proper licensing Bajah's Cat Cafe currently holds a shelter license which allows them to take in and care for cats coming only from the Massachusetts-based shelter Forever Paws A separate rescue license is needed to take in additional animals which the staff admittedly said they have done They know me and my team take great care of cats here and they want to surrender their cats," Souza told NBC 10 "Should I have probably told them to go to another shelter The owner said they are in the process of acquiring an amended license and that they were blindsided by the visit Friday morning Rhode Island SPCA said in a statement that it responded to the cat cafe at the request of local officials 18 were put under Rhode Island SPCA's care and two were taken to Potter League for Animals 18 cats were surrendered to the RISPCA and 3 of those were adopted immediately at the location to people who had planned to adopt them from Bajah’s Cat Café The balance are now at the RISPCA’s facility in Warwick Rhode Island where they will be seen by a RISPCA veterinarian and placed for adoption when cleared," Rhode Island SPCA told NBC 10 in a statement "The owner of the cat café has been informed by the officials from the Town of Tiverton and the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management of the permits and approvals that will be required for her to re-open as rescue facility that accepts surrenders and processes adoptions and she has indicated that she intends to pursue those licenses and permits." A spokesperson also said that regulatory and administrative fines may be imposed by other agencies but that the Rhode Island SPCA does not anticipate animal cruelty charges Tiverton police said the case remains under investigation NBC 10's Erin Coogan contributed to this report RI — Tiverton police have asked for the public's help in an arson investigation police and fire crews were called to a home on Main Road near the Little Compton town line for a report of a fire on the front porch But investigators later learned the fire was an arson Anyone with information is asked to call the Rhode Island State Fire Marshal's Office Arson Tip Line at 401-383-7723 or Deputy State Fire Marshal Investigator Kevin Morris at 401-889-5449 Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. S: Cwalts Alternative Loan T & Bk Of Ny Mellon Tr S: Roso Investment Rt & Ronald Oliveira Tr Real estate transactions are provided by the Warren Group Once ranked among the top 20 Rhode Island elementary schools Fort Barton Elementary in Tiverton will soon be closing its doors for good The school educates children from kindergarten through fourth grade and was at one point ranked No 15 in Rhode Island Elementary Schools by U.S that wasn't enough to keep its doors open sent a letter to parents in the community informing them on the recent closure I want to take a moment to acknowledge the difficult news shared tonight: The School Committee has made the decision to close Fort Barton as an elementary school but it was necessary due to financial constraints as the district faces another year with a $1.9 million deficit Fort Barton was selected based on logistical factors as the other two elementary schools offer more space and additional amenities I understand that this news is deeply upsetting and raises many questions Please know that I recognize the emotional impact this has on our students Fort Barton has long been a place of learning and this transition will undoubtedly be difficult I am committed to working closely with families and the community to ensure that we create the best possible learning environment for Tiverton's children Your dedication to you children and their education is invaluable and I sincerely appreciate your resilience and support during this challenging time no decision has been made regarding the reconfiguration of the district with two elementary schools This will be a key agenda topic at the School Committee meeting on Tuesday please don't hesitate to reach out to me The letter has caused quite an uproar for many on social media Community members are sharing their questions and concern on Facebook Some were wondering what will happen in regards to the new housing coming to the area Others are upset about having to saying goodbye to their former school and many are simply sharing their distain and disgust about the choice Gallery Credit: ASHLEY SOLLARS A Tiverton, Rhode Island elementary school announced it will be closing. The community took to Facebook to express its concern and disappointment.\nRead More (WJAR) — Tiverton fire officials responded to a fire at an residential building on Tuesday evening they received a report of odor of smoke at a residence on Main Road Firefighters observed a charred outlet and charring inside the wall when they arrived at the scene Fire officials said the fire was not active by the time they arrived The building was evacuated and residents were evaluated Authorities did not immediately say if anyone was displace or the cause of the fire Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application 2025 surrounded by the love and comfort of her family after a nine month courageous fight against cancer The daughter of the late Edward and Bertha Girza She met her spouse Henry Nadeau fifty three years ago when their parents lived across the street from each other in Tiverton They were married in 1976 and built a home in that same neighborhood where they continued to reside and to raise their family until she passed away She was an avid gardener and she enjoyed most of her free time making her yard look beautiful she loved her family deeply and would do absolutely anything for them including her grand “dogs” (Shane Anne’s Hospital for over forty years in the lab she made many close friends and co-workers everywhere she went Christine is survived by her husband Henry (“Hank”) Nadeau; her daughters Kari Miner (husband Mark Miner) and Elisha Morris (fiancé Anthony Ritacco); her grandchildren Garret Morris (wife Amber St Hilaire) and Trent Morris (partner Kyla Barnhart); her sister and brother in law Joan and Matt Landoch; her nephews David (wife Jennifer) and Bryan (wife Kelly) Landoch; and many other loving cousins She was lovingly referred to as “nana” Visitation will be held at Auclair Funeral Home with a Funeral Mass of Christian Burial at St Burial will follow at Saint Patrick Cemetery In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to: Brown University Health Cancer Institute. Donations can be mailed to: Brown University Health Cancer Institute Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (WJAR) — Two Tiverton residents are facing animal cruelty charges after a cat was found dead inside a residence Tiverton police said they were contacted by the property management for an apartment on 62 Main Road after a dead cat was found inside an apartment room in December An Animal Control Officer found that a tenant of the unit had posted a photo of her cat Zeke that matched the description of the dead cat Investigation revealed that the two tenants Officials said the police had also been called to the same unit five weeks prior after a report of an abandoned dog that had been whimpering Tiverton police said that the unit was vacant at the time Police said they interviewed the daughter during the investigation who said their cat Zeke had been given up to the Forever Paws animal shelter saying they don't take cats from Rhode Island per policy police said in the police report that both Velozo and Amalla showed "inability to provide adequate care and an inability to maintain accountability within their own home of Zeke." The two were charged with unnecessary cruelty to animals resulting in death and abandonment of animal The Newport Daily News reached out to candidates for Tiverton Town Council to learn more about why they are running for office and their position on key issues Questions were sent via email and candidates were given 250-word responses per question Responses were only edited for clarity and appear below in alphabetical order based on last names All candidates were asked to submit a photo of themselves There are 10 candidates in the Tiverton Town Council voters are asked to vote for up to seven on the ballot I come to the table with over 20 years of experience both in volunteer and elected roles in Tiverton and 25 years of professional experience in state government I also have experience in working as an advocate to influence with state government in Pennsylvania These experiences helped me gain an understanding of how to ensure government works to improve the lives of our residents I have a proven record of viewing issues from multiple perspectives before making a decision and five years previously on the Tiverton School Committee I have shown this during discussions about large and small issues and I believe most residents see me as fair in my decision-making my integrity and my willingness to put in the work needed to do the job successfully I have been the Council Liaison to the Harbor and Coastal Waters Management Commission the Recreation and Beaches Commission and the Economic Development Commission These have helped me to gain a better understanding of the needs of each of these groups and how they can collaborate with each other and other Boards and Commissions as our family is now 4th generation in Tiverton My children will be 5th generation here and we have been through the school system experience and education are transferable to help me excel as a public servant I am only here to serve the community and our community needs a change so I gladly stepped up to make positive change for the future generations to come mitigating risks and lowering costs for commercial I look forward making a positive impact for the town of Tiverton and its families I also will be donating any salary or pay I receive back to the town school I believe that my past 4 years on the Town Council have demonstrated that I want what is best for all our town Planning and Zoning commissions and member of Tiverton School Building and North Tiverton Revitalization committees and supported projects through out the entire town The decisions made today in regards to Planning and Zoning will impact Tiverton for generations Zoning needs to be updated to match new Rhode Island State Law and our town Comp Plan A Charter Commission will be seated after the election for seniors need to be revisited to allow our elders to remain in their homes I believe I am a good listener and fair in my choices I hope to remain on the Town Council to continue this journey I respectfully ask for the voters' support on Nov Being retired from public service has allowed me to actually continue serving the public in my current capacity Since being appointed to fill the seat of the late Joseph Perry I have made it my mission to vet current issues concerns and constituent questions and to follow through I do my best to view each issue with an open mind and make the best decision for all of Tiverton I also value our employees and respect their voices A municipality is a service and we need to support and respect the boots on the ground that provide a majority of our services be it professional employees or volunteers we should expect nothing less than the best service they can provide My background is unique in that I have worked for two municipalities and the US Postal Service I also have a vast history of volunteer experience including being the current HEARTSafe Community Coordinator for Tiverton and was a co-chair responsible for getting our incredible dog park built What do you believe is the biggest issue facing Tiverton and how would you approach improving the situation The critical issues facing Tiverton are similar to those facing most communities in Rhode Island and the nation – ensuring quality town services while addressing housing needs and development needs effectively Recent changes in state laws aimed at increasing each town's amount of affordable housing units has placed tremendous pressure on Tiverton's government especially our volunteer Planning and Zoning Boards to redesign Zoning ordinances to meet the state's expectations while also keeping the character of Tiverton I understand some of the changes have frustrated and angered some residents we did not have the choice to stick our heads in the sand and do nothing as doing nothing would put greater control in the hands of developers and potentially do further damage to the character of Tiverton Coupled with this is the recognition that Tiverton has limited infrastructure – sewer and water specifically – to handle any more significant inflow of residents and water-dependent businesses It is important to understand that the two water authorities and the wastewater management district are each separate legal entities that are not part of the town government The Council and the Town Administrator can only seek to collaborate and work with these entities to address these issues It is critical to note that these are only a few of the challenges the council faces and all demand attention I speak for the whole community when I say thank you to the current council for stepping up when no one else was over the past few years I am committed to improving our current town situation I have stepped up and am running for this positionto give back to our community Balancing the budget and providing for all departments in town There are so many areas to consider: grant writing (we really need a grant writer); controlled but smart growth (this increases the tax base but does not monopolize our resources (town services Continue to use casino money for capital and/or one-time purchases This provides us with much needed equipment for TPD Residents are not taxed on these items so this keeps the tax rate Lower Tiverton is a unique farm coast community that holds a lot of historical treasures It is a community that is seeing some expansion which is also causing our community to be divided People need housing and I trust that our Planning and Zoning Boards to do their diligence in their volunteer capacities Much of what they deal with is governed by R.I Law and out of their control but they can try for the best and most responsible developments Our business community is also extremely important and we all need to support what little commercial we have I am a proponent of getting rid of the Industrial Park land and getting it on the tax rolls to help all of Tiverton What type of balance between development and maintaining the current charm should Tiverton strive for and how would you advise accomplishing that?Michael Burk While I recognize and support the need to create more affordable housing statewide the General Assembly's one-size-fits-all approach fails to recognize the important role communities like Tiverton play in supporting a strong agricultural industry mitigating Climate Change's effects by preserving large areas of open space and keeping the charm that draws millions of tourists to Rhode Island annually The Council's decision last year to put in place a 6-month residential development moratorium gave our Planning Board and special Zoning Review Committee room to breathe and focus on rewriting much of our Zoning Code This led to the creation of R-120 Zones and Conservation Development Projects Both tools are intended to more effectively manage development while focusing on maintaining our charm I also have spearheaded a special subcommittee to look at how we can transform the north end of Tiverton - largely Main Road from Route 24 to the Fall River line - in a way that brings in additional desirable businesses expands housing opportunities through mixed used development enhances our streetscape and expands accessible open space for passive recreation purposes I fully support continuing these efforts and our ongoing efforts to collaborate with the two water authorities and the wastewater district These need to be coupled with looking at the affects Climate Change will have on our low-lying areas and how we can use Zoning and targeted development goals to mitigate against the most severe impact of Climate Change on our community There are plenty of properties zoned in Tiverton to meet and maintain the charming feel we all love about Tiverton We need to bring in more tax revenue from the already existing business parks which takes away zero of the existing charm There are many options for this land that would bring in revenues starting in 2025 The revenue would not only help the school systems and DPW with an added benefit of lowering our PROPERTY TAXES across the board … all while we sustain and improve all the other Charming offerings in Tiverton: Nature/hiking There is a fine line between growing our tax base and retaining our rural characteristic and creativity from our Planning and Zoning Boards we can assist in the development of  businesses that make sense for Tiverton and check all the boxes: safe for neighborhoods yet economically sound;  We have businesses already who give so much back to the community and can be role models for new businesses The North Tiverton/Industrial Park Revitalization Committee is also currently initiating a plan which seeks  to link business owners and increase customer flow in that area The project envisions an improved Main St we absolutely need to balance our unique charm without overdevelopment Currently our water use and sewage sent to Fall River are nearing agreed upon capacity New developments need approval from those responsible for water and sewer that they can be serviced I am a strong proponent of maintaining our infrastructure we must have a properly staffed public works Our residents and guests should be proud of our community and what we have to offer David Perry and Joseph Perry did not respond The Newport Daily News reached out to candidates for Tiverton School Committee to learn more about why they are running for office and their position on key issues There are six candidates in the Tiverton School Committee voters are asked to vote for up to three on the ballot As a former teacher I have an understanding of the profession This prior experience gives me insight to what the public education system means to a community My current career in biotech sales has also taught me the importance of planning Using these tools has given me a solid background to work with others which is a key component of working in public education This makes me uniquely qualified to return to the committee for 4 more years I have been a dedicated member of the School Committee since 2016 and a member of both the Finance and Policy Subcommittees I also serve as a member of the district’s Building Committee and have participated in multiple collective bargaining negotiations I know and abide by RI state laws concerning education I am a collaborator and encourage all to make their voices heard at our meetings I respect the people who work in our schools and celebrate the parents and community volunteers who give so much of their time and talents to make our schools great places for kids to learn and grow Beyond my experience is my deeply held belief that quality public education is the most crucial key to Tiverton’s long-term success We have the structure in place for a school system we can be proud of We need to continue building on this to attract families who are looking for a great place for their kids to grow and prosper nor am I an educator but I am a lifelong learner The lessons learned while serving on this committee make me the perfect candidate for this position but about working with and encouraging all to succeed There are several reasons why I am the best candidate for the School Committee The most important is the first-hand knowledge I bring to the table Having worked for the Tiverton School Department for over a decade has given me a background and desire to make multi-faceted I am a member of (S.P.E.A.R) Special Education Advocacy and Reform and Tiverton’s (SELAC) Special Education Local Advisory Committee I am leading a caregiver group through ARC RI to support parents of children with special needs I have had two children attend and graduate from the school system and a child currently in the district I want all of Tiverton’s students to receive the best possible educational experience using the resources the town provides I was lucky enough to spend just one year at Nonquit school (now closed) and it changed my entire outlook on education student-centric learning environment at Nonquit I vowed to one day send my own children to a school with a similar learning environment 9 & 7) with my husband Brett (born & raised in Tiverton) We made the decision to plant roots in Tiverton to enable our children to have the same educational opportunities we had (& more) Our children have had a wonderful elementary school experience thus far at the hands of our incredible educators here in Tiverton While I’ve never held a career in education I’ve always found that the key to a successful business and optimal productivity is adequately compensated happy employees who feel completely comfortable voicing their needs & enjoy working together toward a common goal There should be no fear or intimidation when it comes to leadership This shouldn’t be any different with our educators & administration as it pertains to our children I’m running for school committee in an effort to preserve our small community school structure and work with our wonderful educators to expand upon the opportunities & services for our students The best candidate for school committee is a candidate who has been actively involved in the schools and is fully engaged in the current events of the school system I first became interested in Tiverton Public Schools (TPS) by attending the Health & wellness subcommittee meetings in 2005 as a board member for the RI Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics when my oldest daughter started kindergarten at Pocasset I attended my first Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) meeting which began 12+ years of volunteerism in TPS I have been afforded the opportunity to witness first-hand the dedication of our educators in this town and their commitment to our students and building administrators work tirelessly to meet the needs of this community inspired me to do what I could in my capacity as a volunteer to support their efforts I became a member of the School Improvement Team at TMS and I am currently the co-chair of the School Improvement Team at THS I also began attending budget committee meetings to better understand the Financial Town Referendum and what I could do to support the best possible budget for our schools I have remained committed to understanding what the district needs to support both student success and professional development and a lifelong supporter of public education What do you believe is the biggest issue facing the Tiverton School system and how would you approach the situation?Michael DeCotis Public education across the country has been facing unique challenges especially since the COVID pandemic We have learned how important in-person learning is to students and with dropping enrollment rates in many districts including Tiverton Tiverton has had many years of rising costs and unless the state of RI (RIDE) changes its formula we will continue to cut crucially important programs and staff to meet the yearly budget crunch This challenge is taking away important programs for students and will place more strain on teachers and staff to maintain the same level of learning realized pre-pandemic I want to continue to serve on the School Committee to champion reform on the formula at the state level and also in Tiverton with our Town Council Tiverton’s Schools have the structure in place to be a high-performing district Our elementary schools have a long tradition of excellence and our older students have more options and opportunities than ever before Our CTE programs are a shining example of how real-world education is being delivered Our sports and extracurricular activities help give kids a connection to their schools and their peers delivering the latest in curriculum while working with each child to ensure that they get the best chance to succeed an issue state-wide for communities like ours coupled with outsized gains in Tiverton property values has led to a significant drop in state aid for education This has directly impacted the school department’s budget we were able to rely on one-time funds to maintain programs and most staffing levels we were forced to lay off several teachers and administrators and use what was remaining in our fund balance to avoid further programmatic cuts We will be embarking on a search for a new Superintendent to take the reins next summer We need to find a leader who can build on the quality of education we offer while working to build efficiencies in the delivery of education we need to come together as a community to support our schools The biggest issue facing the Tiverton school system is collaboration and transparency Transparency opens lines of communication and brings the facts needed for collaboration Employees need to have the opportunity to openly share their opinions and ideas Decisions and policies are made without the knowledge of what is actually taking place in our schools a school committee member rarely entered the building to observe day-to-day operations There should be visits made to each of the schools This would provide an opportunity to speak with teachers Faculty and staff input is an invaluable resource in many areas I have spoken with several employees as well as parents with so many great ideas for better student outcomes Ideas that can only come from those working with students These ideas need to be heard and seriously considered I believe the biggest issue facing Tiverton schools is the school department budget I hope to work side by side with administration fellow school committee members & the town council to reallocate a budget that’s both fiscally responsible and advantageous to our students & teachers The TPS budget is the biggest challenge for our school system at present It is a multi-faceted issue that needs constant oversight There are several contributing factors that have brought us to this point; previous years of level funding and recent changes in state aid to name a few For our students’ success and the continued professional development of our staff The goal is to strengthen 21st century skills while providing access and opportunity for all students My approach would be to review the operating budget on a regular basis in a collaborative way Evaluate spending while also seeking opportunities for increased funding Are we currently engaged with initiatives in our schools that could potentially add additional funding Are there more grant opportunities available to our district it is important that we continuously evaluate our budget in real-time Do you believe the School Department should continue exploring school consolidation What other options should be considered to ensure a balanced budget that places students first?Michael DeCotis Tiverton just completed a contentious budget season that wrapped up in June We had to trim around 15% of our total budget which is not sustainable The next set of options includes closing schools and possibly regionalization with another district if the costs keep skyrocketing and the state reduces aid to our community I am willing and able to have these tough discussions with state officials Tiverton must decide what kind of school model they wish to maintain within the budget parameters we are given This will be a most challenging year financially and the town needs the right elected officials in place to make these tough decisions I hope to be one of the committee members having a say in the Tiverton Public Schools future Tiverton Schools have always put students first the School Department will have no choice but to continue to adapt While there are multiple housing developments in town that are in the works There is only so much funding we will receive and we have to approach this realistically We also need to have meaningful conversations around instituting operational efficiencies wherever possible Controlling costs and making smart decisions must be in the forefront of our thoughts and actions in order to continue putting students first we can also look for new ways to attract students We should be actively working to convince the town of Little Compton to send their students here and their current model is not sustainable for the long term We also need to better communicate all the great things our schools do in order to attract new students I will make it a priority to work with all stakeholders to ensure that happens and it was decided the consolidation of schools was neither feasible nor beneficial we can’t continue to lay off teachers and staff and expect those left behind to absorb the loss this will affect our children’s education and employee wellbeing The issue now becomes keeping all schools open and working within a budget that places our students first while supporting staff Proposed purchases must be carefully researched to make an informed decision and avoid wasteful spending Examination of the General Ledger and discussions with the newly hired Finance Director will ensure budget adherence the district needs to apply for academic and capital grants Grants have been instrumental in funding extracurricular programs It’s time to make a shift from extracurricular to academics and capital funding This was due in part to declining student enrollment The administration doesn’t know the reasons behind this We need to contact Tiverton families that are opting to remove their children from the district and ask why Every effort needs to be made to address and correct the reasons within our control Every attempt needs to be made to bring students back while retaining the students currently attending I do not believe consolidation is in the best interest of our students and educators given the dynamic & intricacies of our small town I strongly believe our students benefit & thrive from the learning environment and education provided at our five small community schools I believe there are many more untapped avenues & opportunities that should be explored over consolidation All avenues need to be explored before we turn to building consolidation Careful consideration of all current expenses should be evaluated initially Are there opportunities to examine existing contracts with vendors to see where we can realize some cost savings How recently have we completed a market analysis to review our compensation and benefits packages as it compares to other similar size districts throughout the state My goal is a balanced budget that offers the most opportunity for the student experience while compensating our educators appropriately all while supporting the SEL needs of our students is front and center Have we also considered further implementation of programs/initiatives in our schools that could perhaps give us access to additional funding knowing how the state funding formula works how can we address the variables that impact the formula for us Are there conversations we can have at the state level to better support the needs of our students in Tiverton Brendon Andrade recently took a position in the Tiverton school district and while his name will be on the ballot he would no longer be willing to serve This article was updated to remove a duplicate answer placed under the wrong candidate (WJAR) — Firefighters remained at the scene of house fire late Tuesday afternoon It was an all hands on deck effort with crews from all across the East Bay and Massachusetts called in to help all responding as mutual aid for the fire in a home on Beth Road The weather was a factor in bringing in more firefighters Tiverton’s chief said with it being an unseasonably warm October day neighbors said it’s a man and a woman who were both unharmed "Makes me really sad for the family to witness something like this on your own street that you grew up on," said Emilee Sando Officials said the fire was determined to be accidental and caused by a malfunction in a vehicle while parked in the attached garage TIVERTON – The destruction of the historic Abraham Brown House, also known as the Lafayette House represents a major failure on the town's part interim Town Administrator Patrick Jones said on Monday "I think we owe the citizens of our community an apology for failing them because we did not do our due diligence in preserving our character and our history," Jones who previously served as the town's police chief which was built before the American Revolution and housed the Marquis de Lafayette during the 1778 Battle of Rhode Island Rose obtained a demolition permit from the town in October but falsely stated in his application that the house was not on any local state or federal registers of historic properties Building official John M. Hoyle Jr., who signed the permit, was placed on leave for unspecified reasons after Jones became interim town administrator in early December. According to the Sakonnet Times Jones did not put the blame on any specific departments or employees but suggested that the town could have done better "When we’re going to hold our community accountable to the laws and ordinances I think we first and foremost must hold ourselves." Jones said that he would have liked to at least salvage the wood from the house and use it to build a council chambers or something else that would serve the town "so the spirit of that house continued to live on." town officials "did not communicate well" and didn't even notify the Tiverton Historic Preservation Advisory Board "could we have had an opportunity to make a difference?" Jones asked What we need to do going forward is be better and be able to protect the historic character of our community." Calling the fiasco a "valuable lesson," Jones suggested that Tiverton should strengthen its protections for historic buildings and noted that other communities such as Bristol and Warren have "comprehensive "Given all of the developments that are going on in our community I think we have an absolute necessity to look at our historic preservation," he said "We need to sit down with Historic Preservation and we need to come up with a plan so the character and identity of our town doesn’t get knocked down and demolished again." (WJAR) — Police responded to a deadly crash in Tiverton Thursday night Several police cruisers were seen in the area of 840 Lake Road Police found a 2014 Subaru Impreza had left the road and struck a tree and burst into flames The driver and sole occupant was trapped inside She was transported to Saint Anne's Hospital in Fall River she was identified as 52-year-old Jennifer Sylvia of Tiverton Anyone with information about the crash is asked to call police With two open seats on the Tiverton Town Council the board was set to include new members According to unofficial results announced Tuesday night Edwards V was the top vote-getter with 13.2% of the vote David Paull with 9.7% and Blake Hayden with 8.9% Candidates failing to finish in the top seven are Michael Burk with 8.7% Joseph Perry with 8.4% and John Chelo with 8.1% six candidates were vying for three seats with Diane Farnworth with 21.3% Kimberly Paquette with 20.9% and Jocelyn Sherman with 18% of the vote placing in the top three Falling outside of the top three spots are Jordan Lee Reilly with 14.8% Michael DeCotis with 14.4% and Brendon Andrade with 10.1% (WLNE) — A Raynham man has been charged with DUI after allegedly driving over multiple lawns in Tiverton and knocking over a light post was observed by responding police slumped over his steering wheel and unresponsive at the intersection of Blackbird and Lark Lane Thursday night at approximately 11:23 p.m Brown’s vehicle was observed to be running and in drive with Brown’s foot on the brake A responding officer banged on the vehicle’s window and instructed Brown to put his vehicle in park Brown raised his head and moved forward after several attempts to alert him to place the car in park Brown’s vehicle nearly collided with a police cruiser and continued toward a house An officer broke the driver’s side window put the car and park and ordered Brown to exit the vehicle Brown allegedly put the car back in park and moved forward again The officer reached into the car again and put it in park Brown was forcibly removed from the vehicle at this time and placed in handcuffs A strong odor of alcohol was detected on Brown’s breath according to Tiverton officers and Brown admitted to drinking alcohol earlier Brown told officers that he was in Raynham Several empty alcohol bottles were found inside Brown’s vehicle by officers which he failed with a blood alcohol content of .211 He was arrested and charged with DUI and transported to Newport Hospital for unrelated medical attention The incident remains under investigation and additional charges are expected to be filed against Brown