Sparkling Lights at The Breakers. Photo Credit: The Preservation Society of Newport County

Good Morning! Today is Thursday, December 7, 2023.

More than $2.4 million in the form of checks will be sent out to nearly 9,000 Rhode Islanders this holiday season, thanks to the Treasury’s Your Money program, announced Rhode Island General Treasurer James Diossa. Read More

Dr. Michael Fine, a former Director of the Rhode Island Department of Health, with his latest column for What’sUpNewp → Dr. Michael Fine: What’s Crazy About Hepatitis C, HIV, and Colon Cancer

The Rogers Theatre Company and the Middletown High School Drama Club are presenting “A Christmas Carol” in the Middletown High School cafetorium at 7 pm this Friday and Saturday, December 8 and 9. Tickets will be available at the door. $5.00 general admission

WHAT’S UP TODAY

WEATHER

  • Today: Mostly sunny, with a high near 37. West wind 7 to 10 mph.
  • Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low of around 30. West wind 5 to 7 mph.
  • Extended Forecast: 7-Day Weather Forecast
  • Surf Forecast: 3-day Surf Forecast

MARINE FORECAST

  • Today: WNW wind 6 to 9 kt. Mostly sunny. Seas 1 ft or less.
  • Tonight: WNW wind around 6 kt becoming variable and less than 5 kt after midnight. Partly cloudy. Seas 1 ft or less.
  • Coastal Water Temperature: 50°F.

SUN, MOON, & TIDE

  • Sunrise: 6:58 am | Sunset: 4:15 pm | 9 hours and 17 minutes of sun.
  • High tide at 2:58 am & 3:07 pm | Low tide at 9:11 am & 9:10 pm.
  • Moon: Waning Crescent. 23.7 days, 34% lighting.

THINGS TO DO

Organizing an event? Submit events to What’sUpNewp!

LIVE MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

  • Discover Newport: Newport Tourism Marketing Management Authority at 1 pm
  • Little Compton: Town Council at 6:15 pm
  • Middletown: Roads/Utilities Advisory Committee at 4 pm, School Committee at 4:30 pm, Affordable Housing Committee at 6 pm
  • Newport County: Regional Special Education Program at 9 am
  • Tiverton: Board of Canvassers at 5:30 pm
  • See the agendas and a complete list of public meetings across Rhode Island here.

HAPPENING THIS WEEK

Stories that recently appeared on WhatsUpNewp.com that are relevant to this week.

Singing For Shelter: Local musicians to raise funds to support the area’s homeless shelters

RIDOT to permanently close old Downtown Newport exit on Dec. 8

Jamestown Arts Center to host Holiday Arts Market Dec. 8 – 9

SantaCon returns to Newport on Dec. 9

Choral Collective of Newport County will present its annual Winter Concert on December 9

ESPN’s College GameDay to broadcast Dec. 9 show from Army-Navy Game at Gillette Stadium

ON WHATSUPNEWP.COM

THE LATEST

Engineers claim conference victory over Seahawks, 64-50

Salve Regina hosts Clark University on Saturday, December 9, with a 1 p.m. tip-off.

Lilly scores 22 in Brown’s 67-64 victory against Rhode Island

Kino Lilly Jr. scored 22 points as Brown beat Rhode Island 67-64 on Wednesday night.

Bryant defeats Siena 67-51

Daniel Rivera’s 20 points, seven rebounds, four assists and six blocks helped Bryant defeat Siena 67-51 on Wednesday night.

US Coast Guard service members don’t feel safe, new review says. Officials are promising changes

U.S. Coast Guard officials are promising reforms after an internal review sparked by reports of sexual assault and harassment found that “too many” of its members don’t feel safe and trust in leadership is eroding.

Pittsburgh looks to avoid another home upset against a 2-win team when reeling New England visits

The Patriots (2-10) are simply looking for something — anything — to build on amid a five-game losing streak that has a team that used to pick last in each round of the draft nearly every year at the height of the Tom Brady era to somehow perhaps pick first.

Nearly 9,000 Rhode Islanders to get $2.4 million in unclaimed property checks

Nearly 9,000 Rhode Islanders to receive nearly $2.4 million in unclaimed property this holiday season

U.S. Senior Open signage and e-bikes are on Newport City Council’s December 13 docket

City Council to consider zoning ordinance amendment, e-bike ordinance, and more at December 13 meeting

Levitate Music & Arts Festival announces 2024 dates

Levitate Music & Arts Festival returns to Marshfield Fairgrounds in 2024

52 sea turtles experiencing ‘cold stun’ in New England flown to rehab in Florida

Fifty-two endangered Kemp’s ridley sea turtles suffering from “cold stun” are rehabbing at four facilities in Florida after a flight on a private plane from the New England Aquarium in Massachusetts.

Middletown Council revives subcommittee to study short-term rentals

Middletown Town Council welcomes new deputy director of public works, revives subcommittee to study short-term rentals

Offensive struggles mount for the Patriots, Giants and Jets

It’s been more than a decade since the NFL featured three offenses as challenged as the ones for the New England Patriots, New York Jets and New York Giants.

Pressley, Welch introduce legislation to guarantee right to vote for people with felonies on record

Rep. Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts and Sen. Peter Welch of Vermont submitted the legislation, named the Inclusive Democracy Act, on Tuesday which would guarantee the right to vote in federal elections for all citizens regardless of their criminal record.

Decades after Europe, turning blades send first commercial offshore wind power onto US grid

Despite some recent financial setbacks, U.S. offshore windpower has hit a milestone. An 800-foot tall turbine is now sending electricity onto the grid from a commercial-scale offshore wind farm on pace to be the country’s first.

What’s Up Interview: Sadie Dupuis of Speedy Ortiz, playing Union Station in Providence on Dec. 15

Founder of indie rock band on touring, the workplace, and their new album ‘Rabbit, Rabbit’

DEM stocking Melville Pond next week with Sebago Salmon, Brook, and Rainbow Trout

Upper and Lower Melville Ponds in Portsmouth will be stocked after the recent lifting of Cyanobacteria alerts 

Portsmouth waterfront home sells for $2.7 million

The renovated Cape sits on nearly 1 acre of waterfront property, including three bedrooms and four full & 1 half bathrooms across 4,210 square feet.

Dr. Michael Fine: What’s Crazy About Hepatitis C, HIV, and Colon Cancer

It’s crazy we haven’t provided primary care to all Americans.

Salve Regina University launches $75 million fundraising campaign

Salve Regina University has launched the largest fundraising campaign in the school’s history, Our Mission. Our Moment, with a set goal of $75 million.

Newport Police reports for Dec. 5 – 6

Here’s a look at the Newport Police Department arrest and dispatch logs for Tuesday, December 5, through 7 am on Wednesday, December 6, 2023.

Home on Mount Hope Avenue in Jamestown sells for $1.92 million

101 Mount Hope Avenue in Jamestown recently sold for $1,920,000, according to Compass.

RECENT LOCAL OBITUARIES

Janet Ellen Wasilewski

Brenda Margolis

Jerome “Jerry” R. Kirby Jr.

Suzanne Reardon

Constance “Connie” Sullivan McAuliffe

ICYMI: POPULAR ON WHATSUPNEWP

  1. NOAA, U.S. Navy awards $146 million contract to build NOAA Marine Operations Center in Newport
  2. Eligible Rhode Island Works households to receive additional pandemic-related cash payment
  3. Newport Police reports for Dec. 4 – 5
  4. Newport County tops list of ‘Top 10 Markets With Biggest Increases
  5. Dr. Michael Fine: What’s Crazy About Hepatitis C, HIV, and Colon Cancer

FURTHER READING

ABC6: 2 plead no contest in Newport wedding brawl

WPRI: Bride pleads no contest in Newport wedding melee

ecoRI News: Ocean State’s First Park Offers Much

Ryan Belmore is the owner and publisher of What's Up Newp. He took over the publication in 2012 and has grown it into a three-time Rhode Island Monthly Best Local News Blog (2018, 2019, 2020). He was named LION Publishers Member of the Year in 2020 and received the Dominique Award from the Arts & Cultural Society of Newport County the same year. He has been awarded grants for investigative and community journalism, and continues to coach and mentor new local news publications nationwide. Ryan...