Race4Chase flyer (via Race4Chase)

Good morning, Newport! 🗓️ Today is Thursday, Aug. 7, the 219th day of 2025. There are 146 days left in the year.

🚨 You need to know

The Newport County YMCA will host the Race4Chase Youth Triathlon on Sunday at 8 a.m. at Fort Adams State Park, bringing together young athletes from across New England to honor the memory of a Sandy Hook Elementary School victim.

The triathlon is designed for children ages 6-12 and serves as a memorial to Chase Kowalski, a young triathlete who died in the Sandy Hook tragedy. The program provides participants with six weeks of training in a safe and empowering environment before culminating in the celebratory race. More than 25 children from the Newport County YMCA have registered for this year’s event.

The Race4Chase program extends beyond competition, promoting fitness, confidence and character-building among young participants. The initiative honors Kowalski’s memory through sport and community engagement, creating a positive outlet for youth development.

Sunday’s event will bring together athletes from YMCAs across Rhode Island, along with participants from Massachusetts and Connecticut locations. The triathlon takes place at Fort Adams State Park, providing a scenic backdrop for the young competitors and their families.

The public is invited to attend and cheer on the participants as they compete in this meaningful tribute event that combines athletic achievement with community remembrance.

Here’s what else you need to know

⚾ The Martha’s Vineyard Sharks completed a stunning semifinal comeback Tuesday night, defeating the defending champion Newport Gulls 6-3 in a decisive Game 3 at Cardines Field to advance to the New England Collegiate Baseball League championship series.

🗓️ The Middletown Town Council has scheduled two public hearings next month to gather community feedback on the proposed Middletown Center development, a mixed-use project planned for a prominent location along West Main Road.

🐘 A mother-baby elephant sculpture pair has taken up residence at Aquidneck Park, marking a permanent addition to the city’s public art collection.

🚔 The Newport Police Department will host its annual Aquidneck Night Out tonight at Eastons Beach, bringing together families and law enforcement for an evening of community engagement.

📰 The Latest from What’sUpNewp

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📈 Yesterday’s most-read

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

  1. Newport Folk, Jazz festivals announce 2026 dates
  2. The Newport Show sets fundraising record for local nonprofits
  3. Notes: Governor McKee signs legislation raising Rhode Island minimum wage to $17
  4. Newport Boat Show expands educational programming for 2025
  5. Rabid bat found at Beavertail State Park prompts health alert
  6. Comedian Hannah Berner, Tennis Star James Blake complete lineup for Hall of Fame Celebrity Pro Classic
  7. Woman, dog rescued from rocks at Beavertail State Park
  8. Gulls take game one over Sharks, 14-7
  9. Vertical Horizon, Leo Kottke and Richard Thompson set to perform at The JPT this fall
  10. Obituary: Barry Murphy

📅 What’s Up Today

Weather Forecast

  • Today: Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming sunny, with a high near 76. Northeast wind 6 to 9 mph becoming southeast in the afternoon.
  • Tonight: Mostly clear, with a low around 60. Southeast wind around five mph, becoming calm in the evening.
  • Tomorrow: Sunny, with a high near 75. Light and variable wind becoming southeast 5 to 9 mph in the morning.

Marine Forecast

  • Today: NE wind 5 to 8 kt becoming SE in the afternoon. Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming 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 SSE 5 to 8 kt in the afternoon. Sunny. Seas 1 ft or less.
  • The coastal water temperature is 67 degrees.

Sun, Moon & Tide

  • Sunrise at 5:46 am. Sunset at 7:55 pm. 14 hours & 8 minutes of sun.
  • High tide at 6:59 am & 7:21 pm. Low tide at 12:49 am & 12:26 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...