Columns

It’s at this time of year that Emma Lazarus, whose New Yorker parents maintained a summer home in Newport, gets a lot of publicity for her Statue of Liberty poem and its image of “huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” But she wasn’t the first in her family to write immortal patriotic words, although the […]

If ever there was a time to rip the words “Providence Plantations” from Rhode Island’s official name, this would seem to be it. With the nation newly energized to confront not only police killings, but the widespread oppression of Blacks, it makes sense to remove this obscenity from the state’s public title. Still, I’m going […]

Twelve weeks ago, when Suzi Van Ness turned her picture window into a public billboard, she hoped that the messages she displayed would amuse, inspire and challenge the random audience that happened to pass by her Newport home. Most of the posters have featured a quotation: the words of saints, geniuses, coaches, chefs and poets […]

In these volatile times when any given day can produce unexpected upheaval, June has delivered its annual reminder to our little hobby farm that dedication and consistency have not abandoned us. As she has for years, our visitor recently appeared right on schedule – in the precise week that tiger lilies send up their graceful […]

This story was originally published on May 23rd. We’re re-running this column today on the 76th anniversary of the invasion of Normandy – D-Day We owe them. They stormed the beaches at Normandy – Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, and Sword. They fought battles at sea, in the air, and on the ground. And they liberated […]

The big news is the re-opening of The Breakers and The Elms today (Thursday, June 4) by the Preservation Society of Newport County (PSNC), beginning at 9 am at The Elms (Open 9-5 daily) and at 10 am at The Breakers (Open 10-6 daily). The Servant Life Tour at The Elms will be available from […]

Yes, our churches will re-open this weekend!  People are anxious to return to public worship. The long several month drought is over. Seating and the total number of people allowed into the building for services may be more limited than we are accustomed, but finally public worship returns for all. Check with the website of […]

You probably remember the news  President Trump made a few days ago – he’s taking hydroxychloroquine, the anti-malaria drug that he’s championed as a covid-19 countermeasure  but that doctors warn may cause heart problems. What caught my attention was his take on another subject: washing the dishes. That common household activity doesn’t seem to rank […]

If this pandemic has shown us anything, it’s that we are extremely fortunate to live in a community that rallies together in times of need to support one another no matter the cost.  A few weeks back, I wrote about local restaurants like Stoneacre Brasserie and The Reef that were providing free meals to restaurant […]

Yes, people are coming back to dine in Newport.  Outdoor dining has returned at a number of Newport’s restaurants and cafes. Take-out, delivery, and curbside pick-up continues at many establishments. A full list is posted at www.whatsupnewp.com. Watch this column and daily posts in www.whatsupnewp.com for additional openings of restaurants, cafes, hotels, museums, mansions, and […]

IT IS EASY to lose track of time since the Covid-19 pandemic forced drastic changes in the lives of Americans. But one way to count the weeks in Newport is by the inspirational signs that Suzi Van Ness posts every Friday in the big picture window of her Fifth Ward home. Sign Number 7 made […]

See if this snippet of history sounds vaguely familiar to what we’re facing today: Feisty, plain-talking Harry Truman, warned by scientists of his era that a major natural disaster was imminent, rejected their opinions and minimized the threat, hurling insults daily. Despite unmistakable clues that the situation was dire, Truman stood firm in his defiance, […]

I suppose we could get depressed about the closure and cancellation of nearly every summer event in the City-by-the-Sea by the state’s Governor this past week, but we have better things to do, better plans to make, and bigger dreams to dream. Soon, maybe in a few months, things will improve.  But there is something […]

As we struggle with the coronavirus, it’s common to hear people say this is our toughest fight since World War II.   Coincidentally, it’s been 75 years since an actual World War II battle played out within sight of our shores, and reminders of it still exist in Newport and off Narragansett. On May 5, […]

Chief Judge John J. McConnell, Jr. of the U.S. District Court in Rhode Island will hold a hearing Tuesday. April 28 – accessible to the public by telephone – on the state’s supports for adults with developmental disabilities during the coronavirus pandemic. McConnell oversees implementation of a 2014 consent decree and companion agreement mandating integration […]

“Creativity, innovation.” If anything is going to help small businesses survive the coronavirus pandemic it is just that. It is innovation that helps businesses set themselves apart from their competition even in the best of times.  Tom Peters, the very well-respected management guru, wrote about it in his book, In Pursuit of Wow, the WOW […]