Public Workshop: NAVSTA Newport & Aquidneck Island Compatible Use Study

The Town of Portsmouth is encouraging residents to attend a second public workshop for the Aquidneck Island and Naval Station Newport Compatible Use Study, set for Tuesday, March 3 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Innovate Newport, 513 Broadway, Newport.

The study is examining opportunities to improve transportation, land use and water-related infrastructure as Naval Station Newport and the surrounding island community continue to evolve in the coming years. The workshop will focus on strategies to better support quality of life on Aquidneck Island and throughout the region, with particular attention to transportation, land use, and water and sewer infrastructure.

The Newport County Development Council is leading the effort in partnership with the City of Newport and the towns of Middletown and Portsmouth, with consulting firm Stantec supporting the work.

The session marks the second opportunity for the public to engage directly with the study and provide input on the findings and strategies being developed.

Innovate Newport is located at 513 Broadway in Newport. The workshop is free and open to the public. Tickets and additional information are available at eventbrite.com.

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 is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, Online News Association, and Local Independent Online News Publishers. He is committed to the codes of ethics of these organizations: accuracy, independence, accountability, and transparency.

In Newport, Ryan served on the boards of the Fort Adams Trust and Potter League for Animals, and hosted a daily radio talk show for four years.

In 2021, Ryan moved to Alexandria, Virginia, to support his wife Jen's career. He launched The Alexandria Brief in 2025, applying what he learned in Newport to a new community. With the help of some talented on-the-ground contributors, he still runs What's Up Newp — and always will.

Contact: ryan@whatsupnewp.com.