Nick Lima, Director of Baseball Operations/Media Relations for Newport Gulls, joined us on The Open Forum on WADK 1540 AM to discuss the upcoming Newport Gulls season opener, their 2016 season, Cardines Field and much more. The Newport Gulls begin their season on the road tonight in Wakefield, R.I. versus the Ocean State Waves. 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 inEnvironment & Health
Newport International Boat Show Unveils New Education Series
New Courses Offer Hands-on Training and Informative Seminars by World-Renowned Instructors for Boaters of All Levels Newport Exhibition Group, owners and producers of the Newport International Boat Show, announced today the 2016 Education Series for this year’s Boat Show. Greatly expanding on past offerings, the Newport International Boat Show will host on-water courses, seminars and […]
Posted inNews
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center Will Host 2016 ‘Keeper of the Dream’ and Annual Meeting on June 20th
The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center will host its 2016 Keeper of the Dream and Annual Meeting on Monday, June 20th at its location at 20 Dr. Marcus F. Wheatland Blvd. in Newport. The event will start with refreshments and mingling at 6:00 p.m. with official ceremonies commencing at 6:45 p.m. and concluding […]
Posted inCity & Government
SENEDIA Launches Training Program for Cybersecurity Certification at CCRI Newport
The Southeastern New England Defense Industry Alliance (SENEDIA), a non-profit organization focused on national security issues, has developed five-day certification preparation programs for cybersecurity professional candidates in collaboration with the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI). Created through a Real Jobs RI grant, the next session for CompTIA A+ is scheduled to begin Monday, June 20, […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
Newport Gulls Will Open 2016 Home Season on Friday Night
The Newport Gulls begin their 22-game home schedule at Cardines Field on Friday, June 10, with Discover Newport Opening Night 2016. Gates open at 5 p.m., and the Gulls will be handing out free 2016 magnet schedules to the first 1,000 fans to enter the ballpark, courtesy of Blue Plate Diner. Newport is set to […]
Posted inNews
Seasons Corner Market Will Open on Lower Thames Street on Friday, June 10th
After several months of construction, Seasons Corner Market will open at 560 Thames Street on Friday, June 10th. The new location will have a brand new and state-of-the art Shell gasoline and diesel dispensers (including Shell V-Power NiTRO+ Premium Gasoline) and a new market that features Green Mountain Coffee, Nicole’s Gourmet salads and sandwiches by Pranzi […]
Posted inCity & Government
U.S. Navy Will Announce in Newport Today Who Will Become 14th Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy
Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson will announce who will become the 14th Master Chief Petty Officer of The Navy (MCPON) in Newport today. Master Chief of the Navy Mike Stevens las held the unique non-commissioned rate of the United States Navy, more on that here – MCPON Mike Stevens to retire after four years as […]
Posted inNews, Things To Do
newportFILM Reschedules Screening of ‘Gleason’
newportFILM has one 1 more “off-season” event before their big newportFILM OUTDOORS season begins, and it promises to be a good one. On Monday, June 13th, newportFILM will host a free community screening of GLEASON, a documentary about former NFL defensive back, Steve Gleason, who has been diagnosed with ALS, at Jane Pickens Theater. This event was originally scheduled for […]
Posted inNews
Look Who’s Talking About Newport: June 9, 2016
This is a daily look at where and why Newport is being mentioned locally and around the globe over the last 24 hours or so, for the latest news from What’sUpNewp, check out All The News. This story will be updated throughout the day to include new mentions and news. ABC News – With Women in Combat, Taking […]
Posted inThings To Do
American Heart Association Will Host Southern New England Heart Ball in Newport on Saturday
The American Heart Association will host its Annual Southern New England Heart Ball at the Marble House in Newport on Saturday, June 11th. This elegant affair will bring together 300 guests as we highlight the American Heart Association’s mission to improve the health of children in Southern New England. This year’s Heart Ball is inspired […]
Posted inNews
Obituary for Rev. John Howard Evans
John Howard Evans, an ordained minister who served the Episcopal Dioceses of New Hampshire, New York, New Jersey, and Rhode Island and who was the last Chaplain to serve Ellis Island detainees before the facility closed in 1954, died on May 31, 2016 at the age of 98. He was a resident of Brookdale Sakonnet […]
Posted inNews
Podcast #123: Frank Prosnitz, Ryan from Norton Point and Mayor Jeanne-Marie Napolitano
On today’s edition of The Open Forum, Frank Prosnitz and I chatted about a wide array of topics on a city, state, national and global level. Ryan from Norton Point joined us at 1pm today, which is World Oceans Day, to announce the launch of his company’s new line of sunglasses from recycled ocean plastic. […]
Posted inCity & Government
Mayor Jeanne-Marie Napolitano Will Run for Re-Election on Newport City Council
On The Open Forum with Ryan Belmore on WADK 1540 AM today, Newport Mayor Jeanne-Marie Napolitano announced her intention to run for re-election on the Newport City Council. Hear from the Mayor from 26:00 to 53:49 below; If successfully re-elected to Newport City Council, Napolitano then would need the support of the four at-large councilors […]
Posted inCity & Government
Portsmouth and Johnston Will Host Household Hazardous Waste Collection on June 18th
In an effort to promote safe disposal of household hazardous waste (HHW), Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation (RIRRC) will host two Eco-Depot collections on Saturday, June 18. Rhode Island residents can bring household hazardous waste to the Central Landfill located at 65 Shun Pike in Johnston from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Additionally, Eco-Depot will visit Aquidneck Island for a […]
Posted inNews
IYRS School of Technology & Trades Receives Two Significant Grants for a Total of $680,000
IYRS School of Technology & Trades has announced that two impactful grants have been awarded to the school, one grant in the amount $670,000 from the van Beuren Charitable Foundation in support of the school’s Campaign for the Future of IYRS, and one grant in the amount of $10,000 from the Hagerty Education Program at America’s Car […]
Posted inNews
New Craft Brewery Signs Lease on Aquidneck Island, Hopes To Open This Summer
Aquidneck Island has Coastal Extreme Brewing (Newport Storm Beer) in Newport, Coddington Brewing Co. in Middletown and will soon welcome a new brewery in Portsmouth. Ragged Island Brewing Company has signed a lease, that begins on July 1st, at 200 High Point Ave unit B6 in Portsmouth. Matthew Gray, Owner of Gray Matter Marketing, is a partner in […]
Posted inStyle & Shop
WUN’s Founder Launches His New Company’s Line of Sunglasses Made From Recycled Ocean Plastic
Since launching What’sUpMartha and What’sUpNetworks back in 2009, Rob Ianelli went on to launch What’sUpTuck, What’sUpStowe and What’sUpNewp. After handing over the reigns of “What’sUp” to Ryan Belmore, Rob went on to launch Brewsees Eyewear and Norton Point, an eyewear brand based on the island of Martha’s Vineyard, MA Today, June 8, 2016 and in conjunction […]
Posted inNews
Headmaster of St. George’s Will Step Down in 2017
Eric Peterson, headmaster of St. George’s School, has informed trustees that he won’t seek to renew his contract, which expires June 30, 2017. Peterson’s resignation had been sought by many alumni during the last few months while the school has been embroiled in a sexual abuse scandal that became public in December of 2015, after Anne Scott and two […]
Posted inNews
Look Who’s Talking About Newport: June 7, 2016
This is a daily look at where and why Newport is being mentioned locally and around the globe over the last 24 hours or so, for the latest news from What’sUpNewp, check out All The News. This story will be updated throughout the day to include new mentions and news. Warwick Beacon – 300 Corvettes make for Newport […]
Posted inNews
Tyler’s Two Cents: Brace Yourselves, the Bachelorettes are Coming
Tyler’s Two Cents: Thoughts from Behind the Bar is a weekly lifestyle column, written by Tyler Bernadyn, that will appear every Tuesday on What’sUpNewp this summer. It’s a warm Saturday afternoon in June. You’re sitting at the Landing enjoying the live music and you see a group of women, dressed in matching “Last Sail Before […]
Posted inNews
Planet Aid’s Donation Center in Newport Experiences Record-Setting Surge in Donations
Planet Aid’s donation and recycling facility at 7 West Main Road, Newport, Rhode Island experienced one of the highest donation periods in its one-year history. “It was awesome to have so many people come out to support us. We received many thousands of pounds prior to and through the Memorial Day Weekend,” said Keith […]
Posted inNews
Rhode Island Supreme Court Rules Newport Family Can Sue RIPTA Over Alleged Harassment
The Rhode Island Supreme Court is allowing a Newport family’s lawsuit, that accuses the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority of failing to take reasonable steps to stop a trolley driver from harassing them over the course of 10 years, to proceed to trial, according to The Providence Journal. The Providence Journal reports; The high court […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
Newport County Chamber of Commerce Will Host Annual Golf Tournament on June 13th
The Newport County Chamber of Commerce will host their annual Golf Tournament at Wanumetonomy Golf and Country Club on Monday, June 13th, with registration beginning at 11:45 a.m. and a 1:00 p.m. shotgun start. During the tournament participants will have the opportunity to compete in putting, longest drive, closest to the pin and hole-in-one contest. A light lunch sponsored by […]
Posted inArts & Culture
NIMFest Will Kickoff 10th Season of Concerts at King Park on June 26th
The 10th Annual NIMFest Concert Series, which takes place at the Gazebo on Wellington Avenue in King Park, will get underway on Sunday, June 26th. The series is presented by the City Of Newport with a gift from Mrs. Dorrance H. Hamilton. All concerts are scheduled on Sundays from 3 p.m. – 6 p.m., there are no […]
Posted inNews
Cumberland Farms in Portsmouth Sells $100,000 Wild Money Winning Ticket
The $100,326 jackpot for Rhode Island’s own progressive jackpot game, Wild Money, was hit on Saturday night. Cumberland Farms, 3166 East Main Rd., Portsmouth, sold the winning ticket. The prize has yet to be claimed. Tuesday’s estimated Wild Money jackpot is $20,000. The Wild Money drawings take place three times a week: Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday nights, live […]