National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation returns to the big screen of Jane Pickens Theater this week.

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Good Morning! Today is Wednesday, December 20, 2023.

📺 Colleen Burns Jermain, Superintendent of Newport Public Schools, will join What’sUpNewp for a live virtual video conversation today at 3 pm. Watch

😷 Three years after the grips of the pandemic have loosened, Rhode Island and other states are now trying to deal with an excess of protective gear, ditching their supplies in droves. Rhode Island tells the Associated Press that it has shredded and recycled 829 tons of PPE. Read More

⛴️ The Rhode Island Department of Transportation yesterday announced that because of a mechanical issue with a crane being used to position a floating dock for passengers to embark and disembark at the ferry terminal at India Point Park in Providence, the first day of ferry service between Bristol and Providence will now begin on Thursday, December 21. Read More

🎄 What’s Up Newp and The JPT Present our annual National Lampoon Christmas Vacation Party tonight (Wednesday) and tomorrow night (Thursday)! Our awesome Christmas tradition has become so popular we’re doing back-to-back nights of the Grizwolds this year!

Your ticket includes an awesome pre-film concert by David Tessier’s All Star Stars (both nights) that will jingle all the bells off with their holiday-rock setlist! Live music 6:15-7:15, to be followed by the film at 7:30. As Cousin Eddy says, it’s gonna be a beaut! Enjoy complimentary Christmas cookies with admission! Tickets & More Info



WHAT’S UP TODAY

WEATHER

  • Today: Sunny, with a high near 43. North wind 10 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 24 mph.
  • Tonight: Clear, with a low of around 30. North wind 14 to 16 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph.
  • Extended Forecasts: 7-Day Weather Forecast & 3-day Surf Forecast

MARINE FORECAST

SUN, MOON, & TIDE

  • Sunrise: 7:07 am | Sunset: 4:18 pm | 9 hours and 10 minutes of sun.
  • High tide at 1:29 am & 1:52 pm | Low tide at 8:01 am & 7:53 pm.
  • Moon: First Quarter Moon. 7.6 days, 52% lighting.

THINGS TO DO

LIVE MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT

  • Buskers: Open Mic with Mike Warner at 9 pm
  • Fastnet Pub: Trivia at 9 pm
  • JPT Film & Event Center: Maestro at 2:30 pm, National Lampoon Christmas Vacation Party at 7:30 pm
  • O’Brien’s Pub: The Van Pelt Duo at 9 pm
  • Sardella’s: Live Jazz music at 7 pm
  • The Irish American Club: Mel at 8 pm

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

  • Jamestown: Tree Preservation & Protection at 6:30 pm
  • Middletown: School Building Committee at 4 pm, Open Space and Fields Committee at 5:30 pm
  • Newport: Cemetery Advisory Commission at 4 pm
  • Tiverton: Historic Preservation Advisory Board at 9 am, Zoning Revision Committee at 5 pm, Wastewater District at 5:30 pm, Housing Authority at 5:30 pm, Recreation Commission at 7 pm, North End and Industrial/Business Park Advisory Subcommittee at 7 pm
  • See the agendas and a complete list of public meetings across Rhode Island here.


ON WHATSUPNEWP.COM

THE LATEST

Watch: A conversation with Newport School Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain

Coming up at 3 pm on Wednesday, December 20

Ho-Ho-Hold on!: Unwrapping the most desired Christmas 2023 gifts

As the holidays approach, Way.com analyzed a Statista survey of over 1,000 US adults to discover the most desired Christmas gifts across America for this year.

Stephen Curry scores 33 points, rallies Warriors past Celtics 132-126 in overtime

Stephen Curry let fly a high-arcing 3-pointer just like those he practices time and again during his extensive pre-game routine, and swished it through the net right in front of his wild, celebratory Warriors teammates on the bench.

Kim English, like Ed Cooley before him, sends No. 6 Marquette to a loss in Providence

Kim English, like Ed Cooley before him, sent Shaka Smart and No. 6 Marquette home from Providence with a loss.

States are trashing troves of masks and pandemic gear as huge, costly stockpiles linger and expire

Rhode Island said it shredded and recycled 829 tons of PPE

Kirill Kaprizov’s second of game in OT lifts Wild to 4-3 win over Bruins

Kirill Kaprizov scored his second goal of the game with 2:06 left to play in overtime, lifting the Minnesota Wild to a 4-3 victory over the Boston Bruins on Tuesday night.

BankNewport awards $115,000 in grants to 31 Rhode Island charities

BankNewport awards more than $115,000 in grants to 31 local charities

The Sailing Museum And The National Sailing Hall Of Fame: Celebrating a successful year

The Sailing Museum, home of the National Sailing Hall of Fame, is celebrating the end of a successful year – the first full year in its new space, the historic Armory Building in the heart of Newport, Rhode Island.

Food bank volunteer opportunities near Providence

It can be difficult to know where to go if you want to help, as many do during the holiday season in particular. To help guide you, Stacker compiled a list of food bank volunteer opportunities near Providence using data from VolunteerMatch.

How much “Twelve Days of Christmas” costs in every state

This year, the national average cost of all gifts listed in the “Twelve Days of Christmas” is $31,243.

Northeastern US mops up ahead of holidays after deadly storm slams the region, killing at least 5

Just days before the Christmas holiday, people across the northeastern U.S. were mopping up Tuesday after a major storm dumped torrential rains and brought damaging winds from Pennsylvania to Maine, killing at least five people.

Schedule Change: RIDOT to begin offering free ferry service between Bristol and Providence on Dec. 21

RIDOT today announced that because of a mechanical issue with a crane being used to position a floating dock for passengers to embark and disembark at the ferry terminal at India Point Park in Providence, the first day of ferry service will now begin on Thursday, December 21.

Aquidneck Island communities seek residents’ input on internet connectivity

Newport, Middletown, and Portsmouth seek residents’ input on internet connectivity

$30K grant to support tractor shed at Portsmouth AgInnovation Farm

AgInnovation Farm receives grant for tractor shed

Newport Classical will present Pianist Eric Lu on Jan. 26

Newport Classical presents “poet of the keyboard” Eric Lu in next Chamber Series Concert

Business Recovery Center opens in East Providence as part of Washington Bridge response

In addition to SBA disaster specialists being on-site, businesses needing further assistance can meet with the local SBA Resource Partners: the Rhode Island Small Business Development Center, SCORE Rhode Island, and the Center for Women & Enterprise.

RI Hospitality Association & Salve Regina University unveil results of student-developed post-COVID-19 economic impact report

Study reveals that Rhode Island’s hospitality and tourism industries show resilience post COVID-19

Obituary: Terrence “Terry” Finn

December 13, 2023.

RIPTA to run on a Sunday/Holiday Service Schedule on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day

All RIPTA Offices Will Be Closed on Monday, December 25, 2023 and Monday, January 1, 2024

Caleb Porter hired as coach of Major League Soccer’s New England Revolution

Caleb Porter was hired as coach of the New England Revolution on Tuesday after leading Portland and Columbus to Major League Soccer titles.

$5.9 million in federal funds awarded to Rhode Island communities

Newport, Middletown, and Portsmouth are among 14 Rhode Island communities to receive $5.9 million in federal housing, community development grants

Two arrested in Newport on Monday

Newport Police arrest two on drug, other charges

Shop Local! Last-minute gift ideas in and around Newport for 2023

Check out these local businesses to finish off your holiday shopping


ICYMI: POPULAR ON WHATSUPNEWP

  1. Two arrested in Newport on Monday
  2. Obituary: Terrence “Terry” Finn
  3. Newport Restaurant Group to open Celeste in Narragansett in early 2024
  4. Newport Police make 3 domestic-related arrests over weekend
  5. 2 Tiverton men arrested by State Police on larceny charges

FURTHER READING

ecoRI News: Public Transit in Rhode Island Deliberately Being Driven Off Cliff

Salve Today: The Newport MFA presents readings, craft talks with best-selling authors

The Public’s Radio: How should Rhode Island promote its heritage?

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...

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