Congressman David Ciccilline stopped by The Open Forum with Ryan Belmore on AM 1540 WADK today from 12:30pm to 1pm to chat about manufacturing, jobs, Make It In America Campaign, gun safety and much more. Following the departure of the Congressman, we shared audio from Newport City Council’s meeting last night where they discussed the […]
Ryan Belmore
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.
Posted inBusiness, News
Panera Newport Preview Party Dinner Benefit Generates More Than $500 for Bike Newport
Panera Bread Newport, located at 49 Long Wharf Mall, announces that a recent Preview Party Dinner to benefit Bike Newport raised $591 for its bike-friendly initiatives. Those who participated in the fundraiser made a $10 donation, all of which went to Bike Newport, and enjoyed a delicious meal that included either a sandwich, a salad […]
Posted inBusiness
FatFace Hosts Opening Celebration in Newport on Wednesday Night
FatFace, a UK-based company that specializes in lifestyle clothing and accessories, hosted an opening party on August 10 at the company’s new location in Newport at 172 Thames Street. Guests enjoyed fish and chips with mustard slaw, crispy mushroom purses, zesty duck pies and house made charcuterie and cheeses, all provided by The Wharf Pub. […]
Posted inBusiness
Newport-Based Attorney and Current Assistant City Solicitor for City of Newport Starts New Law Firm
Girard Galvin, Esquire, a Newport-based attorney and current Assistant City Solicitor for the City of Newport, has started a new law firm. Galvin Law will focus on civil litigation criminal defense. Mr. Galvin is formerly a partner of Corcoran, Peckham, Hayes & Galvin, P.C. He joined the firm as an associate in 2005 and became […]
Posted inNews
Obituary for Richard M. DesRoches
Richard M. DesRoches, 49, of Bristol passed away Sunday, July 31, 2016 at Rhode Island Hospital in Providence. Born in New Bedford, he was the son of Linda (Bisaillon) Retallic and her husband Warren and Michael DesRoches and his wife Margaret all of Fairhaven, MA. Rick also leaves his children Jacob R. DesRoches, Maggie R. […]
Posted inCity & Government
Newport City Council Decides to Delay Vote on New Fire/Rescue Boat
After receiving ten documents on the day they had to make a decision and after almost a thirty minute discussion, the Newport City Council unanimously decided to delay the vote on the proposed Port Security Gran/new Fire/Rescue boat until their next meeting on August 24th. Mayor Napolitano started the discussion right from the introduction of the resolution that […]
Posted inCity & Government
Newport City Council Provided With Some Answers to Questions Regarding Controversial Fire Boat
With review, discussion and a vote on the controversial Port Security Grant Award just hours away, an informed source has provided us with a communication that Chief Connerton and Newport City Manager Joe Nicholson sent to Newport City Council at approximately 10:15 a.m. today. Approval of the resolution/communication tonight will allow the City Of Newport to acquire an approximately […]
Posted inThings To Do
Due to Wet Weather Indiana Jones & The Last Crusade at Ballard Park Will be Shown on Thursday, August 11th
Due to Wednesday’s wet weather, the screening of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade at Ballard Park is reschedule for Thursday, August 11th. The short Chateau de sable by Quentin Deleau will be shown prior to the movie and is provided by Flickers Rhode Island International Film Festival. The screenings is free and open to […]
Posted inThings To Do
Exhibition Photographers Feature Special Needs Children, Newport’s Grand Society
The work of two prominent photographers with local ties, Elizabeth Ann Kahane and Nicholas Mele, will be featured at Salve Regina University when a summer gallery exhibition, “The Face of Grace: Photographic Portraits,” opens this evening (Wednesday, Aug. 10) on campus. Both artists will attend the opening reception (and be available for media) from 4-6 […]
Posted inNews
Unmanned Life Raft Found in Potter’s Cove Triggers Multi-Agency Search on Monday
A report of an “unmanned life raft” in Potter’s Cove triggered a multi-agency search of the area shortly after 5 p.m. on Monday. Portsmouth Fire Department and responding crews were tied up for 1 hour during the search. The “life raft” was located and determined to be a recreational flotation device by first responders, they […]
Posted inThings To Do
Opera House Theater Will Host Community Open House on August 10th
The Opera House Theater and Performing Arts Center will be opening the doors for two community open houses in August to give the public a closer look at the construction that is under way. The public is invited to stop in for a quick tour on Thursday, August 4th between 5:00 to 7:00 pm or on […]
Posted inOpinion
Letter To The Editor: Response to Proposal to Preemptively Prohibit Legal Sales of Marijuana in Middletown
The following Letter To The Editor was written and submitted by Mike Simpson, a resident of Middletown The views and opinions expressed within this piece may not be those of What’sUpNewp’s staff, advertisers or sponsors. As Rhode Island and the rest of the country progress toward more sensible policies regulating the use of cannabis, a member of the […]
Posted inNews
Obituary for Audrey Pearl (Hull) Silvia
Audrey Pearl (Hull) Silvia, passed away surrounded by family after a brief fight with cancer. She was the loving wife of Richard Silvia for 59 years. A native of Block Island she was the daughter of George and Mary Hull, the sister of George Hull, Winifred Johnson, William Hull and Monica Hull-Shea. She is survived […]
Posted inArts & Culture
‘Indiana Jones’ Will Take on Ballard Park on Wednesday Night
Friends of Ballard Park’s 11th Annual MOVIES ON THE ROCKS continues on Wednesday, August 10th with a screening of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. The short Chateau de sable by Quentin Deleau will be shown prior to the movie and is provided by Flickers Rhode Island International Film Festival. The screenings is free and open […]
Posted inCity & Government
Agenda for Newport City Council Meeting on August 10th
The following items of business, filed with the City Clerk under the Rules of the Council, will come before the Council at its regular meeting to be held on August 10, 2016, at 6:30 p.m. at Newport City Hall. For links to any of the applications, visit here. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG CITIZEN’S FORUM: […]
Posted inOpinion
Letter To The Editor: Politics Trumps Questions – Approval of Fire Boat Expected
The following Letter To The Editor was written and submitted by Mike Cullen, a resident of Newport. The views and opinions expressed within this piece may not be those of What’sUpNewp’s staff, advertisers or sponsors. “While many community members have raised solid questions that should have been prepared by city staff weeks ago, it’s dawned on me […]
Posted inThings To Do
20+ Great Things To Do This Week in Newport: August 8 – 12
Looking for something fun to do this week in Newport, RI? Discover some great events, activities and things to do this weekend in the City-By-The-Sea. Looking for live music, comedy, entertainment, trivia, karaoke, a movie or some other form of entertainment this week? Here’s where to find live music and entertainment around Newport this week. […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Where To Find Live Music and Entertainment This Week: August 8 – 12
Wondering where to find karaoke, trivia, live music, dancing, comedy or some other form of fun entertainment this week in Newport, RI? Here’s what’s happening around the City-By-The-Sea…. Wondering what else is up this week around Newport? Here are 20+ great things to do this week in the City-By-The-Sea. Monday, August 8th Fastnet: Live music […]
Posted inNews
At Annual Fiesta Verde Event, Aquidneck Land Trust Celebrates New Acquisition Project and Raises $194,000 for Conservation
Over 350 people attended Fiesta Verde on July 23, 2016 in support of Aquidneck Land Trust (ALT), a non-profit dedicated to open spaces and natural character for the lasting benefit of the Aquidneck Island community. The fundraiser, which was held at Sweet Berry Farm in Middletown, RI, has become one of the most-anticipated summer bashes […]
Posted inNews
Podcast: Made In Newport, Fire Boat, Newport Gulls and More…
Usually on the second Monday of the month I’d be joined by Evan Smith from Discover Newport, because Evan is on vacation this week, I had a full show to talk about whatever need to be talked about (or what I wanted to talk about). The show started off with a conversation about locally made […]
Posted inThings To Do
LT. General Michael T. Flynn Will Host National Security Briefing and Book Signing in Newport on August 22nd
Lt. General Michael T. Flynn, Author of the New York Times, USA Today, Washington Post, Ingram, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon Bestseller, “The Field of Fight: How We Can Win the Global War Against Radical Islam and Its Allies” and Native Rhode Islander, will speak and present his winning strategy in Newport, RI on Monday, […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
5-Person Team Takes Top Overall Time in 2016 ‘Race the State’
It was a great day yesterday as 75 athletes competed in the second edition of Race The State sponsored by BankNewport and Ocean Point Insurance! Individuals and teams ran 3.8 miles through Tiverton, paddled 1 mile across the Sakonnet River, ran 12.3 miles from Portsmouth to Newport, kayaked 5.6 miles to Narragansett via a portage in Jamestown and […]
Posted inNews
Obituary for Lucia M. Arruda
Lucia M. (Amaral) Arruda, 63, of Peleg Road, Portsmouth, passed away peacefully on Sunday, August 7, 2016. She was the beloved wife of Jack Arruda. Born in Newport, RI on June 24, 1953, she is the daughter of Ermelinda (Andrade) Amaral of Newport, RI and the late Jose Amaral. Mrs. Arruda was a 1971 graduate […]
Posted inOpinion
Editorial: Residents Right To Be Concerned About Purchase of New Fire Boat
At a time when families and businesses of Newport are concerned about keeping their taxes, water rates and expenses down, and when aid to local nonprofits and public services are at risk after grants have been cut, it makes sense that there has been a lot of public outcry and support over an upcoming resolution […]
Posted inArts & Culture
newportFILM Will Screen ‘Betting on Zero’ on Lawn Of Ochre Court
newportFILM has announced that writer William Cohan will talk with hedge fund titan Bill Ackman and director Ted Braun following a screening of Braun’s film “Betting on Zero” on August 11th on the seaside lawn of Ochre Court in Newport, RI. Close to a thousand people are expected to attend. “Betting On Zero” is a documentary about Ackman’s crusade […]