News

More registered voters than ever are voting early, either in person or by mail. Here we are keeping an eye on how many have voted, and how many haven’t, in Newport County. This data will continue to be updated as it is received from the Rhode Island Board of Elections and Rhode Island Secretary of […]

 Ocean State Job Lot (OSJL), a privately-held, family-operated discount retail chain with 143 stores in New England, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, is pleased to announce the return of its annual ‘Buy, Give, Get’ program to benefit veterans in need. Beginning Thursday, October 29th, any customer who buys a warm winter coat at OSJL for $40 (retail […]

The Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) is alerting customers of the Westerly Water System that they should boil their water before consuming it because of a water main break that could cause loss of water pressure in multiple areas of the water system. (This announcement is unrelated to COVID-19.) All water used for consumption […]

After a brief hiatus, the Newport Historical Society (NHS) today announced that it will provide a professionally researched house history and wooden plaques with the new NHS Logo, for a fee. If you already have a house plaque in Newport from NHS that is in disrepair, old, or has a historical person who you would like […]

Via Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management The Department of Environmental Management (DEM) announced today the award of $130,008 in farm viability grants to four Rhode Island-based groups working to support local agriculture; the grants are made possible by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Specialty Crop Block Grant Program and will support efforts to […]

Common Fence Music will present the internationally acclaimed fingerstyle guitarist Duck Baker with Helen Roche in an online concert at 7 p.m. on Sunday, November 22. The event is free,  and all tips go to the artists. A link to the online concert will be provided at commonfencemusic.org prior to showtime. Duck Baker is one of the […]

Rhode Island State Police today released details of three, separate early-morning incidents on Route 95 that resulted in fatalities. Two of the incidents were single-car crashes that resulted in the death of the driver. The third fatality was a good Samaritan who stopped to help at another crash. At approximately 1:31 AM, State Police responded […]

With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic; the upcoming election; and generally a lot of news, October was a very busy month for What’s Up Newp. In October, our website was visited more than 238,000 times! Thank you to all of our readers for their support and for counting on us! Here’s a look at what was […]

While most everyone is focused on Tuesday’s election – national, statewide and local – it’s also a week in which the Small Business Administration celebrates veteran owned small businesses.             This is the seventh year, the SBA has focused on businesses owned by service veterans and members, National Guard and Reserve members, and military spouses. […]

This year’s Newport City Council race is among one of the most competitive races that we’ve seen in recent years. Twelve candidates announced their candidacy for an At-Large seat at the end of June, Derek Grinkin, Elizabeth Cullen, Elizabeth Fuerte, Councilwoman and Mayor Jamie Bova, Councilwoman Jeanne-Marie Napolitano, Councilman Justin McLaughlin, Kevin Michaud. Councilwoman Lynn […]

In an era of stark political division, what’s it like to vote for the first time? What might seem like a routine task for an experienced voter, no different from going to the bank or the doctor’s office, can be downright intimidating for first-time voters. With concerns swirling nationally about voter suppression and intimidation at […]

Locavores and lovers of fresh local foods will be excited to learn that Aquidneck Growers’ Market, a program of ACT, will hold their winter market in downtown Newport at the Gateway Visitors Center, 23 America’s Cup Avenue, the city’s public transportation hub and steps away from waterfront attractions. “We’re delighted to have found a downtown […]

Norman Bird Sanctuary is pleased to announce the winnersand runners-up for the first annual NBS Scarecrow Competition. The enthusiasm displayed by the community manifested in impressive creations and a great turnout for the competition. Forty entries were submitted for judging from all over Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. The winners were announced on Channel 10 […]

The Arts & Cultural Alliance of Newport County (ACA) today announced that What’s Up Newp’s Ryan Belmore as the recipient of their 2020 Dominique Award. According to the ACA, the Dominique Award annually recognizes an individual who has contributed above and beyond to the cultural community. The Arts & Cultural Alliance of Newport County’s Dominique […]

Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts –  The Narragansett Council, Boy Scouts of America are hosting their 33rd annual Scouting For Food Drive from November 7th through November 14th. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Narragansett Council has pivoted to a new online donation model instead of the annual in-person event. This food drive will support both […]

“The moment you doubt whether you can fly, you cease for ever to be able to do it.”― J. M. Barrie, Peter Pan One publication, from Scotland, ruminating on conditions for most businesses – calls it VUCA, “a world filled with volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity,” and that even before the pandemic. During this pandemic, as COVID-19 […]

via Rhode Island Marine Archaeology Project (RIMAP) On Saturday October 31, from 10:30 a.m. to noon, the Rhode Island Marine Archaeology Project (RIMAP) and Functional 3D, will offer the public an opportunity to observe online the digital documentation of artifacts recently excavated from an 18th-century Newport Harbor shipwreck.   The direct live link is https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyR6ORVxEEuKM3WYbHhC1kw/live/            RIMAP and […]