Locals tout it as two towns, one community – Westerly in Rhode Island and Stonington in Connecticut. They share a trail of murals, painted by mural painters from around the world that tell the story of a region steeped in the granite industry, maritime trades, tourism and farming. And with heroes dating back to the […]
Columns
A look at What’sUpNewp’s latest columns.
Posted inColumns
In Rhode Island, women-led ventures are redefining adventure and innovation
Welcome to Part I of a 2-part Series featuring the voices and origin stories of a few Adventure and Experience Women Entrepreneurs who are making Rhode Island even more fun and exciting for both residents and visitors alike. Innovation, passion, and discovery are at the heart of these 5-star experiences! 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Rail Exploring in Our […]
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Helen Hames: Where you live matters–even in a nursing home
I first heard from Michael in April. He called me from Los Angeles, and we met virtually not long after. That first call lasted over an hour. Soon after, I met with Michael and his sister, Kristin and that’s when I got to know more about their 83-year-old mom—a woman they described as a force […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Charles L. Roberts: America’s Second Independence Day
Earlier this week, I had a difficult decision to make. I was running myself ragged planning the 3rd annual Juneteenth in Newport in Washington Square for next weekend, and it was beating me down. I know some of you know the feeling! A wise advisor and friend sat me down and said, “Charles, you have […]
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Gerry Goldstein: Chiseling away at liberty’s bedrock
A centuries-old promise: No free man shall be taken or imprisoned…or exiled, or in any way ruined,…except by the lawful judgment of his peers, or by the law of the land. There’s irony in that pledge, given that we’re witnessing men and women, including a physician at Brown University, summarily scooped up and deported without […]
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Dr. Michael Fine: What’s crazy about RFK Jr. and the ACIP
The news from Monday is that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (RFK Jr.), the Secretary of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), just “retired” all 17 members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). He published an editorial in the Wall Street Journal to explain this. I’m not sure which is worse, his […]
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From Suffrage to Solidarity: The League’s enduring call for equality and inclusion
Rise up and unite. Like democracy, it’s a rallying cry that has stood the test of time. It goes beyond partisanship and borders. It’s a call that is rooted in decency, equality and inclusion. In February 1920, at the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA) convention in Chicago, a critical turning point occurred when 61-year […]
Posted inArts & Culture, Business, Columns, Instagram, People & Profiles
Provence sur Mer serves up elegant French-inspired hospitality
A Celebration of Vision and Place Karen Pinelli is enjoying her second act. And she has created the perfect backdrop: an 1850 historic building overlooking Washington Square in the heart of Newport. Pinelli was a sales executive in Boston for more than 30 years, working in the HR & Employee Benefits industry. As she helped […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Charles L. Roberts: We don’t always know if something is fragile, until it’s broken
“Freedom is very far from being the natural state of mankind; on the contrary, it is an extraordinarily unusual situation.” – Milton Friedman on Freedom. Reflecting on the Fragility of Freedom It’s curious to me that Milton Friedman – a lauded American economist, statistician, and 1976 Nobel Prize winner in Economic Sciences, is nearly as […]
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Dr. Michael Fine: What’s crazy about medical school debt
Holy Harry and Louise, they are at it again. Now, everybody is talking about the health care mess in Rhode Island. You know it’s a mess when politicians, who are almost all lawyers, give news conferences and talk about how they are going to fix health care, and the experts they trot out are all lawyers as well, none […]
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Gerry Goldstein: A ‘square’ navigates cool new slang
In a recent newspaper obituary, a daughter described her late mother thusly: “She was a dope mom.” A dope? Well, hardly. A little research reveals that “dope,” as used by youth these days, is a replacement for what my much older generation would say was “cool.” So I suppose this makes me, in contemporary parlance of […]
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Helen Hames: The strength to Age: Movement, mindset and meaning
77% of adults age 50 and older want to age at home as long as possible (AARP). While much of the focus has been on modifying homes and managing costs, there is another piece of the puzzle that is often overlooked: building the strength and the confidence to stay at home. And for some, “home” […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Veronica Bruno: Newport gallery report
Newport, RI has a pretty vibrant gallery scene. Dwarfed by perhaps Providence, we feel that the intimate art galleries throughout Aquidneck (and Conanicut Island) don’t get quite the attention that they deserve. Maybe it’s just that there’s so much to do here—especially during the popular summer season—that these art house gems can sometimes get lost […]
Posted inHistory
This Day in RI History: May 18, 1652 – Rhode Island becomes the first colony to pass an anti-slavery law
On May 18th, 1652, Rhode Island became the first of the thirteen colonies to ban slavery. The good intentions of those who wrote the law, however, went unheeded – the statute was largely ignored for over a century, as many merchants in the state became leading slave traders in colonial America. The act read, “Whereas, […]
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Dr. Michael Fine: What’s crazy about the Surgeon General of the United States
We have a new Surgeon General nominee, Casey Means, a health influencer and former doctor who replaces Janette Nesheiwat, an urgent care doctor and Fox News host, as the nominee. Dr. Nesheiwat was suddenly reassigned to help RKF Jr., the erstwhile HHS secretary, in other ways, because she was criticized by Laura Loomer (who apparently […]
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Charles L. Roberts: Newport can follow ancestors’ footsteps, learn their stories
I’ve always been inspired by James Baldwin’s quote – and perspective – “We carry our history with us. We are our history.” Baldwin argues that history is not a distant, finished event, but a living force that shapes our lives and informs our present reality. It’s not something that we can ignore, leave behind, or take for […]
Posted inColumns, Opinion, Real Estate
Tyler Bernadyn: Why listing with a local real estate professional is worth every penny
Selling your home is one of the most important financial decisions you’ll ever make and in a market like Newport County, where price points are significantly higher than the national average, the stakes are even greater. There’s a common misconception that listing your home For Sale By Owner (FSBO) will save you money. But the […]
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Gerry Goldstein: Holiday time, for short stanzas that rhyme
A limerick is funny, but terse, A short and succinct piece of verse. In only five lines The humor it mines Runs from ribald to bawdy to worse. So there you have my home-made contribution to one of the least known May holidays, which arrives each year on the 12th: National Limerick Day. The date […]
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Helen Hames: More than music, a CHIME to open hearts
One recent afternoon, a little-known musical debut occurred at The Edward King House Senior Center in Newport. It featured a new maestro of sorts and a most unusual orchestra–made up of a human keyboard, if you will. The conductor, 25-year-old Lauren Ceres of Newport, made her debut as an apprentice to Heidi List Murphy, founder […]