Following last week’s discussion on lead compliance, Rhode Island landlords now have another regulatory mandate to navigate—the newly launched Rhode Island Rental Registry. Managed by the Rhode Island Department of Health (DOH), this initiative is designed to track rental property compliance with health and safety regulations. With Rhode Island’s housing crisis in full swing and […]
Columns
A look at What’sUpNewp’s latest columns.
Posted inColumns
Tyler Bernadyn: What landlords need to know about Rhode Island’s lead paint laws
As Rhode Island’s focus on tenant safety continues to grow, the state has encouraged significant cooperation to lead laws that all landlords need to be aware of. These regulations, particularly affecting properties built before 1978, are intended to reduce lead exposure and protect the health of tenants, especially young children who are most vulnerable to […]
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Bob Cembrola: Matthew Calbraith Perry’s legacy extends far beyond Naval innovation
If the Perrys of Newport had been professional wrestlers, they would have been the tag team champs of the 19th century. It is difficult to imagine a more impactful brother act than Oliver Hazard and his younger brother Matthew Calbraith. Both achieved great fame in their lifetimes, but Mathew got to enjoy quite a bit […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Charles L. Roberts: If the world is one’s oyster – George T. Downing learned how to pry it wide open, enabling others to find a pearl
The famous saying “the world is your oyster” was originally written by Shakespeare in 1602 to be spoken as “the world’s mine oyster” by one of his swash-buckling characters in his comedy The Merry Wives of Windsor. The metaphor in that context was more about a money heist and less about a prosperous future life, […]
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Dr. Michael Fine: What’s crazy about saying Covid was a lab accident
So we’ve had regime change, and the new party line is that Covid was a lab accident. The CIA, which may or may not have anybody working there by the time this is published, now says they think the Covid was caused by a lab leak — but that is a “low confidence” determination, which is bureaucratic-speak […]
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Tim Jones: Sour Grapes – Freeze
Here’s this week’s latest Sour Grapes, enjoy!
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Tyler Bernadyn: Why now is the time to start getting ready for a successful spring market
If you’re considering selling your home in 2025, the time to start preparing is now. Many sellers wait until spring to list their properties, but the truth is, the most successful sales often begin months ahead of the busy season. By planning early, you’ll position your property to stand out in a market that is […]
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Tyler Bernadyn: How house hacking opened doors for me—and how it can create opportunities for you
When I purchased my first home on Bayview Avenue, I knew it wouldn’t be my forever house. My unit was a small, but comfortable one-bedroom apartment, and I saw it as a stepping stone to something greater. Ironically enough, I went to check out the house for clients of mine before eventually deciding that it […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Charles L. Roberts: Marking the landscape is key to understanding our collective history
When we talk about marking the landscape as an act of remembrance, we are referring to walking in the footsteps of the people and events that happened in that specific location decades, centuries, and in some cases, millennials, before us; exactly in the places our ancestors once stood, fought, and often died for our right […]
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Dr. Michael Fine: What’s crazy about answering the telephone
I’ve now tried twice to make an appointment for a colonoscopy with a gastroenterologist. I also had to call Blue Cross, got put on hold after having to enter a zillion numbers and pressing 2 for this and three for that, and then 25 minutes later got called back by a nice young human! These are the […]
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Gerry Goldstein: In older age, making room for puppy love
The author C.S. Lewis once noted, “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” And that is why, even though we are well past traditional retirement age, a puppy in Stowe, Vermont, will shortly take up residence at our little hobby farm in Greenville’s Apple Valley. For us, […]
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Bob Cembrola: Discovery of British frigates and the University of Rhode Island
After years of oppressive British policies which stifled commerce in Narragansett Bay and surrounding communities, the Colony of R.I. and Providence Plantations renounced allegiance to the Crown on May 4, 1776: “Whereas George the third, forgetting his dignity, instead of protecting, is endeavoring to destroy the good people of this colony by sending fleets and […]
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Tyler Bernadyn: Navigating the Newport County Real Estate Market – Here’s what you can purchase between $250,000 and $400,000
Affordability in Newport County has become a difficult reality for many buyers, particularly those in search of entry-level homes. The rapid equity appreciation during the pandemic has made it harder for first-time buyers and those looking for affordable housing options. With prices in the region continuing to rise, finding homes priced between $250,000 and $500,000 […]
Posted inColumns, Opinion
Bob Cembrola: The battle of Point Judith
On the evening of May 4, 1945, the officers and crew of the salvage and submarine rescue vessel USS Penguin ASR-12 were celebrating the apparent end of WWII in the Atlantic theater. Buoyed by the April 30 suicide of Adolf Hitler and the appointment of Admiral Karl Doenitz as Fuehrer, the Groton, CT. based vessel […]
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Helen Hames: Mission Possible – What Martin Luther King Jr. teaches us about aging
Martin Luther King Jr. would have turned 95 on January 20, 2025. Considered a Renaissance man and a leader ahead of his time, we continue to learn from his teachings and leadership. This year’s theme for the King Center’s annual Martin Luther King observance is “Mission Possible: Protecting Freedom, Justice and Democracy in the Spirit […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Tim Jones – Sour Grapes: Turkey
Here’s this week’s latest Sour Grapes, enjoy!
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Bob Cembrola: Newport and Navy diving
Mention Newport to most people and their first thoughts will be of mansions, yachting and colonial homes. Others will recall their time served at the Naval War College or at one of the many schools at Naval Station Newport, earning it the title of “Campus of the Navy.” Many others will fondly recall being stationed […]
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Dr. Michael Fine: What’s crazy about killing managed care executives in the street
Full disclosure: I hate United Health Care and have hated them for thirty-five years since they bought out Ocean State Physicians Health Plan and became the second-largest health insurer in Rhode Island in the late 1980s. I think they are predatory and manipulative and leverage market power inappropriately in pursuit of profit, making a critical public […]
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Gerry Goldstein: ‘Captain Molly’ set the tone for women in U.S. battles
The Trump nomination of Pete Hegseth to run the Pentagon has sparked talk about his argument that women should be barred from the front lines in battle. Actually, any remaining barriers to women serving in combat evaporated in 2015, when the Defense Department ordered the military to open all jobs to them, no matter how […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Charles L. Roberts: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. – The enduring power of his legacy
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his iconic “I Have a Dream” speech from the 1963 March on Washington are synonymous with the struggle for civil rights. His legacy transcends generations and racial lines, celebrated worldwide by people of all backgrounds. Like other American icons—JFK, LBJ, or Malcolm X—history has shortened King’s name to initials […]
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Tim Jones – Sour Grapes: Honestly
Here’s this week’s latest Sour Grapes, enjoy!
Posted inArts & Culture
What’sUpNewp expands coverage with weekly expert commentary series
What’sUpNewp is rolling out a new weekly series called “Voices of Rhode Island” to bring expert commentary on issues that matter to Ocean State residents. Starting this Sunday, the series will feature a diverse group of contributors sharing their insights on topics ranging from housing and the arts to women’s health, senior issues, and local […]