To our City Councilors: We, as parents of students in Newport Public Schools, volunteers and community leaders, vehemently oppose the latest effort to re-insert a failed plan regarding administrative integration. Resubmitting a failed motion from three years ago without any effort to engage the community nor find a better future for our kids is lazy […]
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Posted inCity & Government
Letter to the Editor: Governor McKee is no friend to RIPTA
Last week, Governor Dan McKee sent a letter to the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority Board of Directors that is one of the most hypocritical public statements I have seen during my time in the State House. In this letter, the governor says he recommended an additional $15 million in state funds to help fund […]
Posted inCity & Government
Letter to the Editor: Stop wasting millions on duplicate administration—our students deserve better
As a new school committee member, I’ve spent the past eight months learning our Newport School District inside and out—listening to teachers, students, administrators, and community partners. What I’ve seen makes one thing clear: we must refocus resources on student success in the face of declining enrollment and shrinking funding. Our children’s education is at […]
Posted inOpinion
Letter to the Editor: Newport’s housing paradox – we can’t have it both ways
Newport is in the middle of a housing crisis. Local teachers, healthcare workers, hospitality staff, and young families are being priced out of the city they serve. Yet time and again, new housing proposals—even those for affordable or workforce housing—are met with loud resistance, usually centered on one issue: traffic. To be clear, traffic is […]
Posted inOpinion
Letter to the Editor: Council member’s claims of ‘mass misrepresentation’ are themselves misleading
I am writing this rebuttal to the statements and claims of “mass misrepresentation” made by Town Council member Barbara Von Villas regarding the opposition to the current Middletown Center plan being pushed on the residents of Middletown. Additionally to her claims of “leading to misinformation and/or misinterpretation rather than fact. Ms VonVillas gives absolutely no […]
Posted inOpinion
Letter to the Editor: Change is inevitable
There has been a mass of misrepresentation related to Middletown’s West Main Road project. Most of it is built on emotional or personal bias leading to misinformation and/or misinterpretation rather than fact. As a result, productive action related to increasing housing within the project (as well as in other areas of the Town) has been […]
Posted inOpinion
Back to School Success Starts at Home: 10 tips for Rhode Island families
As Rhode Island families prepare to send children back to school, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all the variables: supply lists, bus schedules, after-school logistics, and the emotional ups and downs that come with major transitions. But behind the scenes, child behavioral experts across the country are pointing to one reliable predictor of success […]
Posted inObituaries
Obituary: Doris A. Sullivan
Doris Anne Sullivan, lovingly known to many as “Mamma D”, passed away peacefully in the late morning of Thursday, July 24, 2025, at Rhode Island Hospital, after a months-long struggle with heart complications. She was 77. A beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, life partner, and cherished friend, Doris’s heart both literal and symbolic was her compass. […]
Posted inOpinion
Letter to the Editor: Middletown residents should support Affordable Housing Committee’s recommendation on August 4
Recently, Middletown’s Affordable Housing Committee recommended that the Town Council walk away from the current deal with the developers for the Middletown Center project, and put true affordable housing for our low, moderate, senior, and workforce income level residents there instead. There is a chance that the AHC motion will be heard by the Town […]
Posted inOpinion
Letter to the Editor: Sunny Acres resident disputes association’s claims, backs Crown Communities purchase
Letter to the Editor: Sunny Acres residents rally to support Crown Communities in their purchase of Sunny Acres I read with great concern Sharlene Patton’s letter to the editor about the sale of Sunny Acres. The process she describes sounds scary and unfair. That is very different from what I experienced. I listened carefully and […]
Posted inOpinion
Letter to the Editor: Sunny Acres residents rally to secure their future through cooperative ownership
As a long-time resident of Sunny Acres and President of “Our Sunny Acres Association” (HOA), I am writing with deep concern and urgency for action to help keep our homes. Sunny Acres is home to many elderly, retirees on fixed incomes, veterans, working families, and people with disabilities — all of whom have found stability […]
Posted inCity & Government, Opinion
Letter to the Editor: Birthing Center closure could trigger community decline
Newport City Council held a Special Meeting on Tuesday, July 15th, and voted unanimously to pass a resolution in support of keeping the Newport Hospital Birthing Center fully operational. It was an honor to see so many people in attendance and amongst those in the audience were families, mothers, medical professionals, and Newport Hospital Foundation […]
Posted inObituaries
Obituary: Donald Michael Tymosko
Donald Michael Tymosko, 94, of Middletown, RI formerly of Oxford, CT, passed away peacefully on July 13, 2025. Born in Oxford, CT on July 30, 1930, He was the beloved husband of Florence Bernice Tymosko for 68 wonderful years. Their marriage was a true partnership, grounded in love, laughter, and mutual respect. Don is survived […]
Posted inNews, Nonprofit
Letter to the Editor: Making Newport a city for all to thrive
During the pandemic, while filming the documentary NEWPORT: In This Together, I discovered that the majority of Newporters managed to pull together, rather than apart, when faced with the challenges of COVID-19. As I conducted over 200 video interviews for the film, I realized that there are many people working in nonprofits, businesses, and government […]
Posted inNews
NUWC Division Newport employees, 250 children share in STEM demonstrations as part of Bring a Child to Work Day
Story by Public Affairs Office , Naval Undersea Warfare Center Division Newport NEWPORT, R.I. – Roughly 250 youngsters, ages 9 to 17, and 150 parents and guardians participated in Bring a Child to Work Day, which is designed to introduce family members of the Naval Undersea Warfare Center (NUWC) Division Newport employees to the science, technology, engineering […]
Posted inCity & Government
Letter to the Editor: UnitedHealthcare cuts major RI hospitals from network – patients face higher costs
If you are one of the thousands of Rhode Islanders with a Medicare Advantage plan through UnitedHealthcare, beware: As of July 1, 2025, the following Brown University Health hospitals are out of network for non-emergency care: Rhode Island Hospital, Hasbro Children’s Hospital, Miriam Hospital, and Newport Hospital. For the latest updates on this situation, go to Attorney General Neronha’s website. […]
Posted inSports
Rhode Island FC battles to 1-1 tie vs. Birmingham Legion FC
In front of a club-record, sellout crowd of 10,749 fans at Centreville Bank Stadium, Rhode Island FC and Birmingham Legion FC battled to a 1-1 tie on Saturday. After the visitors struck first, a brilliant curling effort from Noah Fuson leveled the game just before the halftime whistle as both teams shared the points in a […]
Posted inOpinion
Letter to the Editor: The purpose behind the revisions to the Rules of Council
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 […]
Posted inObituaries
Obituary: Remi Walter Vassallo
With hearts full of love and unspeakable sorrow, we announce that our so loved Remi Walter Vassallo completed his courageous journey on June 24, 2025 — a brave, bright soul who gave us more than we could have dreamed in his short time here. Just a week into his life, Remi was diagnosed with a […]
Posted inCity & Government
Letter to the Editor: Continuing to advocate for our children
This legislative session will be remembered for hard work, thoughtful deliberation and collaboration that made possible many improvements for the people of Rhode Island. Faced with a budget shortfall that made resources tight, the General Assembly focused on the fundamental needs that affect everyone, particularly health care and housing. We passed numerous bills to address […]
Posted inCity & Government
Letter to the Editor: CRMC reform – always good policy
Back in 2021 and 2022 when I was a member of the House of Representatives, I chaired a study commission that explored and recommended ways to reform the Coastal Resources Management Council. The council has long been criticized for both its decisions and its composition as a panel of political appointees without any marine, coastal, […]
Posted inSports
Experience shines alongside the Brightwork at 2025 Tiedemann Regatta
Photos: Stuart Streuli / New York Yacht Club A century ago, R Class yachts were the sports cars of the yachting world, sleek and low to the ground, nimble in the corners and quick around the course, and, above all, demanding to drive. A century later they still are, at least in the eyes of […]
Posted inArts & Culture
What’s new in Newport this Summer: HBO’s “The Gilded Age” returns, French cuisine flourishes, sporting history is made, and more
By Discover Newport Newport is turning up the heat this summer with a bold blend of historic grandeur, culinary creativity, and must-see events. From exclusive tours inside the mansions featured in HBO’s The Gilded Age to the return of a groundbreaking women’s tennis tournament, Newport promises a season unlike any other. Whether you’re drawn to […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Discover the world of “Ham” Radio: We’ll get you on the air
By Newport County Radio Club Join the Newport County Radio Club for an exciting weekend of exploring local, regional, and global communication at the annual Field Day event! Taking place Saturday, June 28th and Sunday, June 29th at Glen Park, Gilbert Barker Road, in Portsmouth, this event is a good opportunity to experience the world […]
Posted inCity & Government
Letter to the Editor: Why I voted against Newport’s budget and the accompanying property tax increase
If you attended or watched the June 25th City Council meeting, you know we held the second reading of the FY26 budget. The budget passed, and taxes will increase. I want to take a moment to explain why I voted against the budget and the accompanying property tax increase. First, I want to commend the […]