News

Shout out to Block Island businesses doing it right. Sands Payne tells us that the state inspection of Mahogany Shoals last week resulted in zero violations. On Saturday, July 25, the staff was busy cleaning, and setting up to get ready for another summer day. A solid thumbs up for the staff and continued health […]

Ballard’s Inn received a straight A report from the state inspections office this past week. The state came out to inspect Ballard’s Inn last Friday, July 17 at 8:30 p.m. and issued the following report: “Establishment was in compliance with all Covid-19 regulations at time of visit.”   Owner Steve Filippi said he was on

COVID-19 Update from the Medical Center and Testing FAQs for July 24, 2020 This week we have seen an uptick in symptomatic individuals and received confirmation of one positive case. The COVID-19 positive individual was asymptomatic and tested at a mainland facility incidentally; the Medical Center was subsequently notified. We are working closely with the RI

UPDATE: Just a few days after closing and working with the Medical Center, the Old Post Office Bagel Shop in Bridge Gate Square has re-opened today, Friday, July 24. Also, Finn’s Restaurant and Seafood store in Old Harbor is fully re-opened after closing on July 7 due to a Covid-19 positive worker. The following update

The following was submitted by Town Hall: Financial Town Meeting is 7 p.m. on Monday, July 27 at the Block Island School, utilizing the gym, cafeteria and a designated outdoor space. The meeting will follow or exceed the Department Of Health safety guidelines. Attendees will be with their neighbors, family and friends and everyone must

The Block Island Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department, seeking financial assistance on a fire engine refit and upgrades to the aging Fire Barn, recently reached out to the Town Council to see if there were any funds available to do those projects. In the end, the Council and officers from the Fire Department agreed on

Given that testing of the town’s wastewater recently revealed the presence of COVID-19, Sewer Company Supt. Dylan Chase has asked for about $6,000 to do more testing in order to better track the virus. Chase’s request was approved by the members of the Sewer Commission at its virtual meeting on Monday, July 20. Tests taken

“We will need patience and flexibility to get through the next 12 months,” said Town Finance Director Amy Land. She was speaking about the fine line that the proposed 2021 municipal budget walks in what she called these uncertain times. “The budget acknowledges some pretty significant reduction in revenue and it is constrained on the

Claiming that she was unlawfully terminated from her position at the Block Island Medical Center, Liz Dyer, a nurse practitioner, has filed a lawsuit against the Medical Center. The lawsuit, which was filed in Superior Court in March, states that Dyer is “seeking injunctive relief, attorney’s fees and litigation expenses and other equitable relief, including

The building that now houses the Empire Theatre has been many things over the past 100 or more years. It’s been a skating rink, a live theater, a movie theater, of course, and now it has even another incarnation: artisan emporium. According to theater owner Gary Pollard, the movie business has been in steady decline