Left to Right: BankNewport Senior VP/Director of Community Relations & Charitable Giving, Kathleen Charbonneau; BankNewport Charitable Foundation Board Chair and BankNewport Board Member, James Wright; BankNewport Chairman of the Board of Directors, Peter Capodilupo; Jamestown Community Farm (JCF) Founders Lynda Sutton and Bob Sutton; JCF Intern, Ceriana Carnevale; BankNewport VP/Residential Loan Officer and JCF One Chance Campaign Committee Member, Mark Carnevale; JCF Farm Manager, Maia Ashley; JCF Board President, Dick Steinbach; BankNewport President & CEO, Jack Murphy; and BankNewport VP/Jamestown Branch Manager, Brian Cunningham.

Good morning, Newport! 🗓️ Today is Friday, Aug. 8, the 220th day of 2025. There are 145 days left in the year.

🚨 You need to know

BankNewport’s Charitable Foundation has awarded a $50,000 grant to Jamestown Community Farm to support the nonprofit’s “One Chance Campaign,” an effort to permanently acquire 15 acres of farmland on Conanicut Island that has housed the organization’s operations for more than two decades.

The grant will help the farm meet annual payment obligations under a purchase agreement as part of a broader $4.45 million campaign goal to secure the land and establish an operational endowment. The farmland has served as the base for operations that deliver 11 to 14 tons of fresh vegetables annually to food pantries across Rhode Island, including locations in Providence, Newport and South Kingstown.

“Jamestown Community Farm has become a vital food source and a model of grassroots community resilience,” said Jack Murphy, president and CEO of BankNewport. “We’re proud to invest in a project that not only protects essential farmland, but also guarantees a steady supply of healthy, local produce to Rhode Islanders who need it most.”

Founded by Bob and Lynda Sutton more than 20 years ago, the farm operates year-round using sustainable practices without pesticides or commercial fertilizers. The organization relies on interns and volunteers to harvest and distribute produce to partner organizations including McAuley House in Providence, MLK Community Center in Newport, Johnny Cake Center in South Kingstown and the Jamestown Community Pantry.

Beyond food distribution, the farm maintains community connections through a weekly farm stand, holiday programs and educational opportunities. The One Chance Campaign represents what organizers call a transformative opportunity to preserve the farmland and ensure continued operations for future generations.

Here’s what else you need to know

Gov. Daniel McKee has recognized Newport Mental Health for its crisis response following a tragic June incident in Portsmouth that killed a 15-year-old student and critically injured a 17-year-old.

Forty-seven Marines from the USS Arlington toured The Breakers mansion Thursday morning as part of celebrations marking the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps.

It’s back to the drawing board for the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority. The agency’s Board of Directors voted Thursday morning to table a proposal that would have slashed or reduced services on the majority of its bus routes, all in the hope of repairing a $10 million hole in the agency’s budget for fiscal year 2026.

Reminder: The Mount Hope Bridge will close to all traffic for four days starting Thursday evening as crews work to resurface the span connecting Bristol and Portsmouth.

On tap this weekend: Aquidneck Night Out, Wet Paint at Newport Art Museum, Race 4 Chase, and more. Things to do this weekend.

📰 The Latest from What’sUpNewp

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📈 Yesterday’s most-read

The following were yesterday’s most-read What’sUpNewp articles.

  1. Obituary: Chris “Mad One” “Mad1Had2” Walker
  2. Elephant sculptures find permanent home at Newport’s Aquidneck Park
  3. Aquidneck Night Out returns to Eastons Beach Thursday evening
  4. Safe Harbor Race Weekend sails into fifth year with record fleet
  5. Three arrested in Rhode Island operation targeting child exploitation
  6. Obituary: Joan Kendall
  7. Obituary: Leonard Silvia
  8. Newport Folk, Jazz festivals announce 2026 dates
  9. Preserve Rhode Island announces 2025 Rhody Awards, recognizes 10 historic preservation projects
  10. Letter to the Editor: Newport’s housing paradox – we can’t have it both ways

📅 What’s Up Today

Weather Forecast

  • Today: Sunny, with a high near 75. Calm wind becoming southeast 5 to 9 mph in the morning.
  • Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 59. Southeast wind around 6 mph becoming calm after midnight.
  • Tomorrow: Sunny, with a high near 76. Northeast wind 5 to 8 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.

Marine Forecast

  • Today: Variable winds less than 5 kt becoming SSE 5 to 8 kt in the afternoon. Sunny. Seas 1 ft or less.
  • Tonight: Variable winds 5 kt or less. Mostly clear. Seas 1 ft or less.
  • Tomorrow: Variable winds less than 5 kt becoming SE 5 to 7 kt in the morning. Sunny. Seas 1 ft or less.
  • The coastal water temperature is 70 degrees.

Sun, Moon & Tide

  • Sunrise at 5:47 am. Sunset at 7:54 pm. 14 hours & 6 minutes of sun.
  • High tide at 7:42 am & 8:02 pm. Low tide at 1:30 am & 1:12 pm.
  • The lunar phase is a Waxing Gibbous.

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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...