Portsmouth Police and the Rhode Island State Police are investigating an incident involving a 65-year-old-man being found dead on Wednesday morning outside of his home on Mare Terrace in Portsmouth. Portsmouth Police issued the following statement just after 5 pm on December 31; “On December 30, 2020 at approximately 8:30am the Portsmouth Police responded to […]
December 2020
Posted inBusiness
RIDOH, RIDBR reminds Rhode Islanders to celebrate safely this New Year’s Eve
The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) and the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation (DBR) today issued a press release reminding all businesses, customers, and residents about the need to follow Rhode Island’s COVID-19 health regulations this New Year’s Eve. “While we’re all looking forward to the start of a new year, COVID-19 is […]
Posted inArts & Culture
The icy backstory to that ‘clink clink’ you’ll hear when raising a toast to the end of 2020
Tulasi Srinivas, Emerson College If ever there was a year to toast drawing to an end, it’s 2020. Over the festive period, people around the world will be raising a glass to better times ahead. Accompanying sighs of relief will likely be the subtle tinkling of ice. In researching a book on the social, medical […]
Posted inArts & Culture
What’s Up 2020 Top 10: The Music (Folk, Roots, Rock)
It’s never easy to pick the best music of the year, particularly when there are so many worthy releases in numerous genres. Below are ten of my personal favorites from 2020 in Americana – that elusive spot where folk, roots, rock, and county collide. Drive-By Truckers – The Unraveling. One of the great rock […]
Posted inNews
Restore RI Small Business Grant Program exceeds the $50M Mark
Governor Gina Raimondo and Rhode Island Commerce today announced that more than 4,100 Rhode Island small businesses have received Restore Rhode Island grants totaling more than $51 million in awards. Total payments by the program are therefore exceeding the $50 million goal laid out when the program was announced, Rhode Island Commerce confirmed in a […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Passim Awards 2020 Iguana Music Fund Grants
(Cambridge, MA – December 28, 2020) Passim has awarded $40,141 to 24 musicians through its Iguana Music Fund. The Iguana Music Fund awards gifts annually to musicians for career building projects and for projects that provide community service through music. Established in 2008 after an anonymous donor approached Passim with the idea to start a […]
Posted inObituaries
Obituary | Inez Bliven
This obituary originally appeared on Memorial Funeral Home. Inez Bliven, 97, of Newport, RI passed away on December 20, 2020 at Village House in Newport, RI. Inez was born May 12, 1923 in Newport, RI to Thomas R. Bliven and Ruth Elise Taylor Bliven. Inez had one sister, Ellen Montgomery of New Orleans, LA. Inez […]
Posted inNews
What’s Up Newp’s most-read stories in 2020
What’s Up Newp more than doubled our readership in 2020 – more than 1,126,470 users visiting our site, racking up more than 3.05 million page views. Our busiest year ever. We published more than 3,612 stories in 2020 – 52% more than in 2019. Many of these stories we broke. Many more of these stories […]
Posted inNews
From The Editor: A year of accomplishments, growth, and challenges – 2020 was a year that What’s Up Newp won’t soon forget
2019 was our busiest year every for What’s Up Newp and to be honest, I wasn’t sure how we would ever “beat it”. I mean, what could possibly happen that would see our website traffic more than double, our team produce at least 10 stories every single day of 2020, and a year of accomplishments, […]
Posted inNews
People to Watch in 2021 – Newport County
As this bizarre year ends, we have compiled our top lists. To help us, we asked some current legislators, current and former general officeholders, retired journalists, and individuals active in some of the state’s most connected non-profits. Over the next few days, we will list, beginning today, the people to watch statewide in 2021 (yesterday), […]
Posted inNews
Edward King House to serve as COVID-19 Rapid Test Site
Beginning on Thursday, January 7, 2021, the Edward King House Senior Center will serve as RIDOH/RI National Guard COVID-19 Rapid Test Site. Free Rapid BinaxNOW Tests will be given on Thursdays and Fridays from 12pm to 4pm at the Edward King House located on 35 King Street in Newport for the month of January. According […]
Posted inNews
Newport City Council will interview three residents for vacancies on Planning Board
Three more residents have thrown their name into consideration for the vacancies on Newport Planning Board. Newport City Council will interview William Lloyd, Thomas J. Gibson, Jr., and Vincent Marcello on Tuesday, January 5. According to a meeting notice from the City Council, the candidates will be interviewed in the following order; 6 pm – […]
Posted inNews
What’s Up Newp’s Authors’ Series continues with fiction writer Julien Ayotte (Dec. 31 at 11:30 am)
Julien Ayotte, the author of 7 books, six mystery thrillers, and one historical fiction, joins WhatsUpNewp for a live video interview in our authors’ series at 11:30 am on Thursday, December 31. What’s Up Newp’s Authors’ Series is sponsored by Charter Books, opening at 8 Broadway in 2021. Shop them now, online, at https://www.charterbookstore.com/ Jon […]
Posted inNews
What’s Up in Newport County today: Thursday, December 31
What’s Up In Newport County Today Thursday, December 31 Good Morning, 2019 was our busiest year every for What’s Up Newp and to be honest, I wasn’t sure how we would ever “beat it”. I mean, what could possibly happen that would see our website traffic more than double, our team produce at least 10 […]
Posted inNews
Rhode Island General Assembly will open its 2021 session on January 5
The Rhode Island General Assembly will convene on Tuesday, January 5, for the purpose of opening their 2021 session. Due to the need for social distance necessitated by COVID-19, the Assembly will not be meeting at the State House, which remains closed to the public. The House of Representatives is scheduled to meet at 2 p.m. […]
Posted inBusiness
Audrain Group acquires Park Place Holdings in Portsmouth, announces the launch of Audrain Motorsport
The Audrain Group today announced the acquisition of Park Place Holdings, located at 75 Highpoint Avenue in Portsmouth, and the launch of their Audrain Motorsport subsidiary. As an integral part of Audrain Motorsport, The Audrain Group says it has acquired Park Place Holdings, a state-of-the-art automotive storage facility that will be added to their existing […]
Posted inArts & Culture
‘Rock Camp: The Movie’ coming to JPT virtual screening room in January
“Rock Camp: The Movie” from filmmaker Doug Blush will be released in January and will be available to screen in The JPT Film & Event Center’s Virtual Screening Room from January 15 – 28. Rock Camp is an institution and cultural phenomenon that has been going on in Los Angeles, New York, and other cities since 1996. Rock Camp is the […]
Posted inJobs
45 job opportunities available right now in the Newport area
Looking to kick off 2021 with a new gig, job, or career? Well, you may be in luck. What’s Up Newp is here to help in your job search with the following list of available job opportunities. All opportunities have been posted within the last seven days and are located within 10 miles of downtown […]
Posted inNews
Norman Bid Sanctuary to host a virtual workshop on ‘Hygge, Friluftsliv, and Winter’
Have you ever wondered how Scandinavians make it through the long, cold, dark winter? And did you know that they have some of the world’s lowest rates of depression? How do they do it? Join Norman Bird Sanctuary for a virtual workshop with Stanford University Interdisciplinary Graduate Fellow in Psychology, Kari Leibowitz, as she shares […]
Posted inNews
DEM will begin taking 2021 reservations for picnic areas, covered shelters, and recreational fields at state parks beginning on Jan. 4
The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) today announced that it will begin taking reservations for picnic areas, covered shelters, and recreational fields at Rhode Island state parks for the 2021 season beginning on Monday, January 4. Reservations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis, and can be made by phone or in-person […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Six Picks Music – New Year’s Eve Streaming Concerts: Ward Hayden, Lucinda Williams, Jason Isbell and more!
As we wrap up 2020, we’ll usher in 2021 musically at home and online. We’ve put together this list of streaming concerts for you to consider over the next few days. Happy New Year! Dec. 30: Patti Smith is celebrating her birthday with a live performance at 9PM from London. Details here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Z9G8BdnFGs Dec. 30: […]
Posted inArts & Culture
How locals plan to bring in the New Year
As COVID numbers remain high across Rhode Island, Governor Ramaindo continues to discourage large get-togethers this holiday season. With New Year’s Eve in just a few days, people are coming up with creative ways to bring in the new year. Parties, if you’re following the guidelines, are obviously out of the question. And even if […]
Posted inReal Estate
Home on Bluff Avenue in Westerly sells for $11.8 million
Mott & Chace Sotheby’s International Realty today announced the sale of 12 Bluff Avenue for $11,800,000. Perched on the oceanfront edge of Watch Hill overlooking the great Atlantic Ocean is this multigenerational dwelling. Donna Simmons, Sales Associate of Mott & Chace Sotheby’s International Realty represented the seller and facilitated the transaction on behalf of the buyer. […]
Posted inObituaries
Obituary | Wendy Ann Rydberg
This obituary originally appeared on Memorial Funeral Home. Wendy Rydberg, 55, of Newport, Rhode Island, passed away on December 26, 2020, after a long illness at Newport Hospital. She was the wife of the late Daniel Rydberg, Sr. Born in Newport on October 6, 1965, she was the daughter of the late Bruce Mumford and […]
Posted inNews
Top This: People to Watch in 2021 – statewide
As this bizarre year ends, we have compiled our top lists. To help us, we asked some current legislators, current and former general officeholders, retired journalists, and individuals active in some of the state’s most connected non-profits. Over the next few days, we will list, beginning today, the people to watch in 2021 (today), the […]