Community Submission

The purpose behind the revisions to the Rules of Council – As the proposed resolution states, the current Rules of Council have not undergone any substantial revisions in over 10 years. My educational and professional background, among many things, deals with process improvement. That involves not only the analysis of a process but also the […]

In the September 9, 2021, issue of Newport This Week, Middletown was recognized on August 16, 2021, as becoming a Purple Heart Town.   The following quotes are from that article.  “The Middletown Town Council unanimously approved a resolution on Aug. 16 declaring the town a “Purple Heart” community, making it one of only nine in […]

What happened to a town center for Middletown residents?  1: Middletown Town Council negotiated with the “Middletown Center” developer for the 15 acres of open space at W Main/Coddington — a Development Agreement was signed and shared with the public in October 2024. 2: The developer is asking the entire 15 acres of “Public” land […]

When I was sworn in as a Middletown Town Councilor in December of 2024, one of my main goals was to do everything I can to make Middletown Public Schools (MPS) the best in the State.  We have a new Superintendent, new leaders of our schools, new schools on the way, and I am already […]

The following Letter to the Editor was submitted by Jo-Ann Thornton in response to this Letter to the Editor that was recently submitted by Barbara A. VonVillas, Middletown Town Councilor. This is the second time that Councilor VonVillas has scolded the residents/taxpayers of Middletown, like we were naughty children, misbehaved students, or underperforming employees. In […]

Last week, Spain and Portugal lost electrical power for a day. Communications came to a halt; there was plenty of confusion. This week, the National Weather Service is featuring “Hurricane Preparedness Week,” and it is important for Newport residents to consider all aspects of emergency readiness. Newport’s exposure to late-season hurricanes demands thoughtful preparation—not just […]

Middletown’s recent catalog of ongoing projects is impressive, reflecting a focus on improving a multitude of functions and expanding available resources. However, none of these projects could have been approved without the necessary funding. And, in a municipal government – notwithstanding possible grants-in-aid from private and public sources –  that funding comes from the taxpayers.  […]

There have been Planning Board public hearings, Town Council public hearings, and Citizens Advisory Committee meetings for public input on what Middletown residents want in a town center.  A resident-defined town center is described in both the Middletown Comprehensive Plan and in the Middletown Request For Information, sent to developers asking for input on how to […]

Happy Earth Month! As Earth Day approaches, it’s the perfect time to remember how fortunate we are to call Middletown home. Our town is a beautiful place to live, work, and play—thanks in large part to its natural surroundings. But preserving that beauty takes all of us. Whether you’re walking along the beach, enjoying a […]

The “Middletown Center” Planning Board Public Hearing at the Gaudet School cafeteria on April 3rd was packed!  Middletown residents showed up with a lot of facts, evidences, and concerns – BRAVO.   It was unfortunate that the meeting itself presented additional concerns for Middletown residents.  The following were reported to Middletown Town Council at their April 7th meeting:   1-The parking […]

To the editor and readers of Whats Up Newp:  We would like to start by thanking city council members Pinnock, Smyth, Carlin + Khamsyvoravong for passing the “Academic Integration Advisory Committee” resolution.  As PTO, School Improvement Team and Superintendent Advisory committee members and parents of two Pell school students, we are ardent supporters of public […]

West Main Road’s town center, once envisioned as community space for residents, is potentially being handed over to developers who are not considering our interests. Developers have removed all community amenities from their initial proposal, contradicting the town’s 2021 Request For Information (RFI) and the developers’ own RFI response, according to documents on the Planning Department’s Middletown […]

The Middletown Library Board of Trustees fully endorses the Town’s decision to relocate the Library to 110 Enterprise Center. After careful consideration, we find that this site offers the space, parking, accessibility, and flexibility of use spelled out in our Library Building Program Plan (presented to Town Council in 2023) and offers the quickest path […]

Rhode Island’s health care system remains in a deeply perilous place. For our constituents, and for the providers we all rely on, it is imperative that we act now to improve it. Unfortunately, the challenges we face are increasingly familiar: Extreme difficulty seeing – or even finding – a primary care provider or specialist. Coverage […]

Dear Editor,  The Newport City Council made the correct decision at its December 11th meeting when it rejected the Purchase and Sale Agreement for the Coggeshall School property proposed by the City and the developer, BCM Realty LLC.  Thanks especially to Councilors David Carlin, Ellen Pinnock, Xay Khamsyvoravong, and Stephanie Smyth who courageously voted against […]

A lot of Newport residents were pretty confused about the redevelopment of the former Cranston Calvert School into apartments.  There were lingering questions about whether the property was “affordable housing” or “workforce housing” or what.  As someone who works every day on affordable housing development, I can tell you definitively that The Calvert is not “Affordable […]