Rhode Island

Does a new state law block a pending Tiverton oyster farm? State regulators will weigh in Monday. • Rhode Island Current

Published

1 year ago

September 23, 2024

Does a new state law block a pending Tiverton oyster farm? State regulators will weigh in Monday. • Rhode Island Current

Not even the state lawmakers who sponsored 2024 legislation limiting development along the Sakonnet River are confident that the now-law bans an oyster farm proposed for the area.

The question is now left to state regulators, who will consider, and potentially decide, on whether the law applies to the pending project application Monday.

It’s set to be just as contentious — and confusing — as the last four-and-a-half years of hearings, letters and organized protests over the Sapowet Cove oyster farm.

The one-acre lease application submitted in 2020 by John and Patrick Bowen, if approved, would be one of the smallest commercial oyster farms in the state. Yet it has drawn a mountain of opposition from waterfront residents, fishermen and even the state aquaculture association who insist the wade-in cages will get in the way of fishing, boating and recreation along the shoreline.

Aquaculture applications are down. The battle for Tiverton’s Sapowet Cove might be why

The latest twist came in a July 25 joint motion by a group of waterfront property owners, who asked state regulators to end the public review and reject the proposal. The memo specifically cites the law passed on the final day of the legislative session which prevents a section of the Sakonnet River — including where the oyster cages would go — from being used for anything other than “passive outdoor recreation.”

Rep. Jay Edwards, the Tiverton Democrat who sponsored the House version of the bill, insisted during legislative hearings that the policy was not about the oyster farm. Instead, Edwards, and Sen. Lou DiPalma, a Middletown Democrat and bill cosponsor, stressed the need to preserve the sensitive waters directly adjacent to the federally recognized Sapowet Marsh Management Area.

The bill passed overwhelmingly in both chambers, becoming law on June 29, sans Gov. Dan McKee’s signature. This was despite objections by the Bowens, and by Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council Executive Director Jeffrey Willis, who warned lawmakers the policy would “usurp” the regulatory agency’s authority and muddy its review.

Willis reiterated the sentiment in an interview Friday.

“The agency still feels we need to move forward on this [review],” he said.

Waterfront homeowners, through their attorneys, don’t share Willis’ concerns.

“This language could not be more clear,” the July 25 motion reads. “A commercial aquaculture lease located in Sapowet Cove would be a direct violation of the statute’s prohibition of commercial development. The CRMC is now statutorily prohibited from granting an assent to a commercial aquaculture lease in Sapowet Cove.”

DiPalma also said in an interview Friday that he “assumed” the law would block the oyster farm, though he had not consulted with the Assembly’s legal staff.

Patrick Bowen points to the area of Tiverton’s Sapowet Cove where he and his brother want to open a one-acre oyster farm. (Jocelyn Jackson/Rhode Island Current)

Protecting the ‘freedom to fish’

John and Patrick Bowen argued just the opposite. In an Aug. 5 response, they wrote that regulators must consider their application based on policies in place at the time of the 2020 application. The response also contends that the new law violates state constitutional protections for the right to fish, and incorporates provisions under the 1663 Rhode Island Royal Charter.

“Under the heading ‘Freedom to fish the New England Coast’, the Rhode Island Royal Charter declares: ‘that these presents, shall not, in any manner, hinder any of our loving subjects, whatsoever, from using and exercising the trade of fishing upon the coast of New England, in America,’” the complaint states.

Objectors in the motion asked the council through its hearing officer to end the review and dismiss the application with a condition preventing the applicants from refiling.

But Patrick Bowen alleged their underlying motivation is to continue to drag out the debate, in the hopes of wearing him and his brother down.

“The reason this has taken so long is because objectors have hired attorneys to delay this,” Bowen said in an interview on Friday. “If they want to hire lawyers, let them spend their money. We are not going away.”

Bowen also accused the objectors of dipping into their pockets to sway lawmakers. Campaign finance records show that one of the leading objectors, Kenny and Elizabeth Mendez, donated $150 apiece to DiPalma in May. Another objector, Donald Libbey, donated $250 to DiPalma that same month.

DiPalma denied Bowen’s accusations.

“I don’t do something because somebody gave me a dollar, $1,000, or 50 cents,” he said. “This law was seeking to codify federal grants received decades ago that are meant to protect this area.”

DiPalma instead faulted state coastal regulators for allowing a proposal to build an oyster farm in such an ecologically sensitive area, forcing lawmakers to introduce new policies.

“The CRMC is not listening,” he said. “We felt legislation was the only thing that was going to help them see what needs to happen.”

Willis declined to comment on DiPalma’s statement.

Libbey, and Marisa Desautel, the attorney representing the Mendezes, also did not return inquiries for comment. Attorney Dean Wagner, who is representing a group of other area property owners included in the joint motion, said he could not comment without his clients’ permission.

A Sept. 16 update on the opposition-created website, Save Sapowet for All, provides some additional commentary on the “common sense” argument to reject the application.

“A continuation of the administrative process being run by the CRMC is a waste of the state’s administrative and legal resources in addition to the legal costs incurred by private citizens to enforce a new state law,” the post, which does not list an author, reads. “Our community has been waiting over four years for the CRMC to dismiss this application because of the significant conflict the proposed location would create with recreational use of those waters among many other issues.”

The CRMC meets at 4 p.m. Monday at the William E. Powers building in Providence. The meeting will also be streamed over Zoom.

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Rhode Island

RI school superintendent resigns amid antisemitic hazing investigation

Published

12 hours ago

December 13, 2025

Press Room

RI school superintendent resigns amid antisemitic hazing investigation

A Rhode Island school superintendent has resigned amid an investigation into alleged antisemitic hazing in the district, NBC affiliate WJAR-TV reports.

Smithfield Superintendent Dr. Dawn Bartz announced her resignation in a letter addressed to the school community. Bartz has been on leave since November after a report of hazing at Smithfield High School.

The Jewish Alliance of Rhode Island said five high school football players locked a freshman student in a bathroom, sprayed Lysol at the student and yelled antisemitic slurs.

In her resignation letter, Bartz focused on her successes surrounding academic outcomes, special education and STEM opportunities and other positives for the district, and thanked the community.

“As Smithfield moves forward, I am confident the district will continue to build on this progress
and momentum. I wish all our students, staff, and families continued success in the years ahead,” she wrote.

The letter did not specify a reason for the resignation.

WJAR-TV first reported on the situation on October, when the Bartz released a statement on its investigation.

“The investigation confirmed inappropriate conduct among a small number of students,” Superintendent Dawn Bartz said in a provided statement. “Disciplinary action has been taken in accordance with district policy, and several student-athletes will not participate for the remainder of the season.”

The statement went on to say that there would be mandated training and education in response. However, the involved players were back at practice, which didn’t sit well with the victim’s family. His parents said his son walked into practice and found himself face-to-face with his alleged assailants.

Five football players were initially removed from the team for the remainder of the season but were later reinstated. When asked about the reversal in October, Bartz issued a one-sentence statement saying, “The disciplinary process has concluded and we will not be discussing details involving students.”

Smithfield Town Council President John Tassoni said the situation has deeply divided the community.

“It’s a long time coming,” Tassoni said of Bartz’s resignation. “A lot of people are angry about what happened. A lot of people don’t know the truth of what happened, nor do I.”

An investigation is underway by the school committee’s attorney and a report is expected to be delivered to the school committee sometime next year, Tassoni added. However, some people have concerns about transparency and have floated the possibility of hiring an independent investigator.

The Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island said they want the focus to be on student safety.

“While we can’t speculate on the specific reasons behind the superintendent’s decision to resign, we remain focused on what matters most: that Smithfield schools become a place where Jewish students and all students feel safe, valued, and protected from bias and harassment,” President and CEO Adam Greenman wrote in an email.

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Rhode Island

Prosecutors in Rhode Island drop charge against former Bay View athletic director

Published

1 day ago

December 12, 2025

Press Room

Prosecutors in Rhode Island drop charge against former Bay View athletic director

Prosecutors in Rhode Island dropped a fugitive from justice charge against a former Catholic school athletic director.

John Sung was arrested in East Providence last month. He was wanted in Florida for a non-violent felony.

After his arrest, he was fired from his position at St. Mary Academy Bay View in Riverside.

Broward County court records show Sung was taken into custody last week. He posted bond.

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Rhode Island

The top returning girls wrestlers? Here are 10 to watch this season

Published

2 days ago

December 12, 2025

Press Room

The top returning girls wrestlers? Here are 10 to watch this season

Girls wrestling took off last winter in its second year of state championships.

Exactly 50 participants, across a dozen weight classes, competed in the March extravaganza at the Providence Career and Technical Academy. Each weight class was contested, unlike the first year of the tournaments, and new title winners were crowned.

Pilgrim’s Allison Patten was named Most Outstanding Wrestler for her win at 107. The Patriots’ star also finished runner-up at the New England Championships and is among this year’s returnees. But who else should we be keeping an eye on this winter?

Here are 10 standouts who we think might shine this year.

Enjoy!

Athletes listed in alphabetical order.

Yasmin Bido, Hope

Senior

Bido snagged her first individual crown with a 16-0 decision at 152 pounds. The Blue Wave grappler also finished runner-up at 165 in Year 1 of the tournament.

Irie Byers, North Kingstown

Sophomore

Byers stormed onto the scene with a title in her first year on the mat. She captured the 120-pound championship with an 11-1 win in the finals. The Skipper returnee is one of a few wrestlers who could repeat.

Jolene Cole, Scituate

Sophomore

Cole helped Scituate to the team title in the first year that the award was handed out. Scituate is a bit of a girls wrestling factory, and Cole added to that lineage with her pin at 114 pounds.

Alei Fautua, North Providence

Sophomore

Fautua breezed to the title at 235 pounds with a pin in just 25 seconds. She led the Cougars to a runner-up finish as a team as Scituate edged the Cougars by just seven points. Fautua then finished fourth at the New England championships.

Kamie Hawkins, Exeter-West Greenwich

Junior

This year is all about redemption for Hawkins. She was one of the first state champions and came back last year looking to defend her 120-pound title. It wasn’t meant to be, but make no mistake, Hawkins is one of the state’s best.

Abigail Otte, Exeter-West Greenwich

Junior

Otte was a repeat champion at 138 pounds as she seized the title with a pin in 24 seconds. It’s likely a safe bet that Otte might capture her third crown in three years.

Allison Patten, Pilgrim

Junior

A repeat season isn’t out of the question for Patten. She won the 107 pound title with a pin in 49 seconds. What’s next for the junior? End the season with a New England title, too.

Chloe Ross, Scituate

Sophomore

It was quite the debut for Ross. The state crown was a breeze as the freshman won via pin in 1:16. But then came the New England tournament where the Spartan star snagged second place. Might there be a different ending to her season this year?

Meili Shao, La Salle

Senior

Shao was one of the first wrestling champions when she captured the 132 title two seasons ago. A repeat crown wasn’t in the cards as she finished runner-up in the class. But the Ram has returned and could be out to avenge last year’s finish.