J.T. Commons Pizza & Eats will donate 10% of every sale to the Middletown Public Library on Tuesday, Nov. 17, from 4 to 10 p.m., in a fundraiser organized with the Friends of the Middletown Public Library. The restaurant is at 1037 Aquidneck Ave. Construction funding for the new library is already secured, according to […]
Nonprofit
Posted inNonprofit
MLK Community Center opens registration for Thanksgiving, holiday meals and Santa’s Workshop
Registration is open for the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center’s holiday programs, which provided Thanksgiving groceries, holiday meal gift cards and children’s gifts to thousands of Newport County residents last year. Registration is in person only and requires a photo ID, proof of Newport County residency and proof of household size. Thanksgiving registration […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Newport Public Education Foundation screening ‘Counted Out’ at Rogers on Nov. 2, with a new math initiative to be announced
The Newport Public Education Foundation will host a free community screening of the documentary “Counted Out” on Monday, Nov. 2, at 6:30 p.m. at Rogers High School, with a discussion afterward. The foundation and Newport Public Schools will also use the evening to announce a new initiative aimed at changing how math is taught in […]
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All-trans drag cast headlines TRANSylvania Halloween brunch at Stoneacre on Oct. 25
Newport OUT will present TRANSylvania, a Halloween drag brunch with an all-trans cast, on Sunday, Oct. 25, at Stoneacre Brasserie, 28 Washington Square. Performers are Ladda Nurv, Ninny Nothin, Rickey Diamonds and ZonLegacyPhoenix, according to Newport OUT. Seating times are 10:30, 10:45 and 11 a.m. Tickets are $60 for standard reservations and $65 for Splash […]
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An accessible community table is now at the Fort Adams visitor center
A fully accessible community table has been installed outside the visitor center at Fort Adams State Park, donated to the Fort Adams Trust by the Rhode Island nonprofit RAMP. Tina’s Table differs from a conventional picnic table by building accessible spaces into the design rather than leaving wheelchair users to sit at the ends. It […]
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Salve Regina promotes Lynne Mello and Michael Pimental to vice president roles
Salve Regina University has promoted two senior administrators to vice president, President Kelli J. Armstrong announced Wednesday. Lynne Mello becomes vice president for marketing and communications, and Michael Pimental becomes vice president for institutional affairs. “Lynne and Mike have both been transformative in their roles; Mike in professionalizing our internal operations and Lynne on how […]
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Heritage Restaurant Group matching $30,000 for Newport restaurant manager’s glioblastoma treatment
A GoFundMe campaign for Jake Pelagalli, general manager at The Reef in Newport, has raised more than $78,000 toward a $90,000 goal, with Heritage Restaurant Group matching the next $30,000 in donations dollar for dollar. Pelagalli was 31 and had recently been promoted when he developed sudden partial blindness and confusion after a shift in […]
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Edward King House names Isidro “Tj” Thomas executive director, filling the post Carmela Geer left in September
The Edward King House Senior Center’s board of directors has appointed Isidro “Tj” Thomas as executive director, filling the position Carmela Geer vacated last month after 13 years. Thomas will oversee the center’s programs, operations, staff and partnerships, according to the organization. “The Board was impressed by Tj’s warmth, passion for community and program engagement, […]
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Gaudet PTG hosting a nighttime color run on the Middletown track Oct. 24
The Gaudet Parent Teacher Group will hold “A Wave of Color,” a community color run, on Saturday, Oct. 24, at the Gaudet track, 259 Turner Road. Check-in begins at 5:30 p.m. and the run starts at 6 p.m. Participants run a mile around the track, according to the organizers. The event runs until 7:30 p.m. […]
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Looking Upwards honors Rep. Terri Cortvriend, the Mello family and SWAP Inc. with Awards for Excellence
Looking Upwards has presented its Awards for Excellence to a state legislator, a Middletown family and a Providence-based housing nonprofit, recognizing contributions to the organization’s work with children, families and adults living with disabilities. State Rep. Terri Cortvriend, D-Portsmouth, who represents District 72 in Portsmouth and Middletown, received the Governmental Service Award. Cortvriend contacted the […]
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Women’s Resource Center served more than 1,100 survivors last year across Newport and Bristol counties
The Women’s Resource Center served more than 1,100 survivors of domestic violence last year, answered 1,211 hotline calls and provided 1,729 nights of emergency shelter, the organization said as it marks Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The center is joining domestic violence agencies statewide under this year’s theme, “One of Us.” “The people experiencing abuse are […]
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Vernon House lands $749,250 federal preservation grant, the largest in the foundation’s history
The Newport Restoration Foundation has received a $749,250 Save America’s Treasures grant from the National Park Service for stabilization and rehabilitation work at the Vernon House, the largest grant in the organization’s history. The foundation says it is the only Rhode Island organization to receive a 2026 award from the competitive program. The house at […]
Posted inArts & Culture
IYRS seeking vendors for its Dec. 5 Artisan Holiday Market
IYRS School of Technology & Trades is accepting applications from artisans and small businesses for its Artisan Holiday Market on Saturday, Dec. 5, part of the school’s annual Holly Jolly Weekend on its Thames Street waterfront campus. The market is open to makers selling handmade goods, fine art, jewelry, home décor, specialty food products and […]
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More than 5,000 runners expected for the Amica Newport Marathon on Sunday
The 17th Amica Newport Marathon and Half Marathon runs Sunday, Oct. 11, bringing more than 5,000 runners to Newport and Middletown. Both races start at 7:30 a.m. at Easton’s Beach, with runners going off in waves by pace. The shared first half covers Memorial Boulevard and Thames Street, past King Park and Fort Adams, around […]
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Land trust protects Coggeshall Avenue parcel that grows Newport’s heritage trees
The Aquidneck Island Land Trust has permanently conserved 0.77 acres on Coggeshall Avenue, protecting the site where the Newport Tree Conservancy grows the specimen trees it plants around the city. Minnie Cushing Coleman donated the conservation easement, which covers several greenhouses and a lawn area. The conservancy will keep operating its nursery there under the […]
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CCRI and URI launch online RN-to-BS program for working nurses
The Community College of Rhode Island and the University of Rhode Island have launched a fully online program allowing registered nurses with CCRI associate degrees to earn a bachelor of science at URI while continuing to work. The schools announced the RN-to-BS program Thursday, saying it carries lower tuition than URI’s standard rate along with […]
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Potter League CEO Brad Shear resigns after nine years; two former leaders step in as interim directors
Brad Shear has resigned as chief executive officer of the Potter League for Animals after nine years, and two longtime former leaders have been appointed interim executive directors, the organization’s board announced Tuesday. M. Christie Smith, who spent 35 years at the Potter League including a tenure as executive director, and Amy Chamard, who was […]
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Public panel on kratom set for Oct. 27 in Portsmouth
Strategic Prevention Partnerships and the Newport County Prevention Coalition will host a free public panel on kratom on Tuesday, Oct. 27, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Green Valley Country Club, 371 Union St. Check-in starts at 5. The event arrives amid a sharp split between neighboring states. Rhode Island overturned its ban on […]
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Miramar and the Bailey’s Beach clubhouse honored at Doris Duke Preservation Awards
The Newport Restoration Foundation honored two Bellevue Avenue-area preservation projects at the 20th annual Doris Duke Historic Preservation Awards, held Sept. 11 at Rough Point. Miramar received the award for Excellence in Historic Preservation. The Spouting Rock Beach Association Historic Clubhouse was recognized for resiliency and floodproofing work. Tom Perkins received the President’s Award for […]
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People’s Credit Union closed every branch for a day of mental health volunteering
People’s Credit Union closed all of its branches and its member service center on Thursday, Sept. 17, so employees could spend the day volunteering with organizations working on mental health across Rhode Island. Staff logged more than 500 hours at more than a dozen nonprofits, schools and police departments, and an all-branch drive collected more […]
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IYRS launching a women’s maritime leadership program in 2027
IYRS School of Technology & Trades is starting a leadership program for women working in maritime industries, with the first cohort beginning in 2027. The Women’s Maritime Leadership Academy runs six months and is the first program from the school’s Maritime Leadership Institute. It’s aimed at emerging and mid-career professionals across boatbuilding and repair, marine […]
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Newport Historical Society reports record year, with 1,300 visitors to its new Center for Black History in three months
The Newport Historical Society told members at its annual meeting Tuesday night that 2026 has been its busiest year on record, driven by the opening of the Edward W. Kane and Martha J. Wallace Center for Black History and the nation’s 250th anniversary. The society has run 74 programs and 237 walking tours so far […]
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Salve Regina climbs to 16th in U.S. News regional ranking
Salve Regina University rose eight places to 16th among regional universities in the North in the 2027 U.S. News & World Report college rankings released Tuesday. The university also appeared on U.S. News lists for best value, social mobility, undergraduate teaching, and undergraduate nursing and psychology programs in the region. In the Princeton Review’s 2027 […]
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Newport Restoration Foundation adding student mentorships to its climate and preservation symposium
The Newport Restoration Foundation is launching a mentorship program for students at next month’s Keeping History Above Water symposium, pairing three of them with local professionals in preservation, architecture, city planning or climate science. The Rising Practitioners program is open to undergraduate and graduate students studying historic preservation, architecture, city planning, site management, climate science […]
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Rhode Island Foundation offering up to $10,000 for Newport County community projects; deadline is Sept. 24
The Rhode Island Foundation is accepting applications through Wednesday, Sept. 24, for neighborhood grants of up to $10,000 for Newport County projects that bring residents together. The program is open to libraries, schools, neighborhood groups and nonprofits, and targets resident-led efforts — neighborhood gatherings, improvements to shared public spaces, green space projects, preservation of cultural […]
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Carpionato CEO departing as company markets Newport Grand site as retail
The Carpionato Group announced Monday that CEO Kelly Coates and outside counsel Angelo Marocco are ending more than 30 years with the company, removing the executive who has been its public voice on the former Newport Grand property. Both retire as trustees in October, with Coates stepping down as CEO and Marocco as outside counsel […]
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Norman Bird Sanctuary taking entries for Harvest Fair home and garden competition
The Norman Bird Sanctuary is accepting entries for the home and garden competition at its 52nd Harvest Fair, held Oct. 3 and 4. The competition is open to anyone — gardeners, cooks, families, businesses, school groups — and entrants can compete in as many categories as they want, so long as they grew or made […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Newport Mansions sets its fall calendar, with the Newport Symposium asking “What Makes It American”
The Preservation Society of Newport County has released its fall program schedule, anchored by the two-day Newport Symposium on Nov. 5 and 6 at Rosecliff and Marble House. This year’s symposium theme is “What Makes It American,” examining the origins of American art, architecture, landscape and design. Robyn Asleson, curator of prints and drawings at […]
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IYRS taking applications for scholarship supporting women in the marine trades
IYRS School of Technology & Trades is accepting applications through Nov. 15 for the 2026 Glo Tech Scholarship, a professional development award for women working in the marine trades and advanced manufacturing. The scholarship is open to women 25 and older with at least four years of experience in those fields. The money can go […]
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Naval War College Foundation to honor former Chief of Navy Reserve John Mustin
The Naval War College Foundation will present its highest honor, the Sentinel of the Sea Award, to retired Vice Adm. John Mustin at a gala Thursday, Nov. 5, at the New York Yacht Club in New York City. Mustin served 34 years in the Navy, joining the Navy Reserve in 2001 and supporting operations in […]
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FabNewport opens a free year-round school for 14 students
FabNewport launched Endless Summer this week, a free year-round learning program for students ages 10 to 14 that is registered with the state as a private school. The first cohort has 14 students, many of whom came to FabNewport through its after-school and summer programs. The program runs 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays […]
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Preservation Society names Nick Kepley communications manager
Nick Kepley has joined the Preservation Society of Newport County as communications manager, leading marketing communications across the organization and serving as its primary media contact. Kepley, a Providence resident, comes from Jacob’s Pillow, the dance festival in western Massachusetts, where he was director of marketing and communications. There he built a public relations strategy […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Newport Art Museum names Emily Manocchio director of advancement
Emily Manocchio starts Monday, Sept. 14, as director of advancement at the Newport Art Museum, where she will lead fundraising and philanthropic strategy alongside Executive Director Harry Philbrick and the board of trustees. Manocchio comes from Newport Hospital, part of the Brown University Health system, where she was interim philanthropy director and coordinated a $2.6 […]
Posted inSports
Sail for Pride marks 25 years with a race around Conanicut Island on Sept. 26
The 25th Sail for Pride, the race organized in the weeks after the Sept. 11 attacks and held every year since, returns Saturday, Sept. 26, with a course around Conanicut Island. Proceeds from entry fees and an after-race social at Safe Harbor Newport Shipyard will be divided among Folds of Honor, which provides scholarships to […]
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AgInnovation names co-founder Margie Brennan education director
Margie Brennan, who co-founded the AgInnovation Farm Program, has taken on an expanded role as education director for the Eastern Rhode Island Conservation District, which runs the program. Brennan, a science educator and curriculum specialist, will work with schools and community organizations on curriculum-aligned agriculture programs, and help other schools build their own farm-to-school and […]
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Newport Historical Society lands $245,000 federal grant to digitize Revolutionary-era documents
The Newport Historical Society has received a $245,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to rehouse, catalog and digitize 2,000 documents from its 18th and 19th century collections. The award comes through the NEH’s “Rediscovering Our Revolutionary Tradition” initiative, and the society is one of two Rhode Island recipients. The project, called Newport’s […]
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BankNewport grants $22,000 to Star Kids and FabNewport
The BankNewport Charitable Foundation has awarded $15,000 to the Star Kids Scholarship Program and $7,000 to FabNewport’s Healthy Meals Program, the bank announced Tuesday. The Star Kids grant supports tutoring, supervised after-school and summer programs, school transportation, textbooks and uniforms. The program works with low-income students who have a parent with a history of incarceration […]
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Blood center asks for donors over Labor Day weekend after a thin summer
The Rhode Island Blood Center is asking for donors over the Labor Day weekend, saying donations typically fall off around holidays just as travel and back-to-school schedules pull people away. During Labor Day week last year, the center collected more than 40 percent fewer donations than the 2,100 it needs weekly to meet hospital and […]
Posted inEducation
Newport Public Education Foundation names 2026 award recipients
The Newport Public Education Foundation has announced the recipients of its 2026 Noreen Stonor Drexel Education Awards, to be presented Oct. 22 at Innovate Newport during the foundation’s annual fundraiser. FabNewport receives the Friend of Education award. Founded in 2013 as a fab lab in the North End, it has grown into a youth development […]
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Sold-out Pell Bridge Run brings road closures to Newport and Jamestown Sunday morning
The Citizens Pell Bridge Run returns Sunday, Aug. 30, bringing rolling road closures to both ends of the bridge during the early morning hours. The 4-mile run and walk starts at 7 a.m. on Conanicus Avenue in Jamestown and finishes in downtown Newport. It is the only day of the year pedestrians are allowed on […]
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IYRS launches Maritime Leadership Institute, names Kristin Urbach managing director
IYRS School of Technology & Trades announced Wednesday the launch of a Maritime Leadership Institute and named Kristin Urbach its managing director. The institute will offer leadership development for maritime professionals, with programs aimed at building teams, managing change and problem-solving in maritime workplaces — an extension of the school’s technical training into management. “The […]
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Conexión Latina Newport receives Rhode Island Foundation’s Community Leadership Award
Conexión Latina Newport has received the Rhode Island Foundation’s 2026 Community Leadership Award, the foundation’s highest honor for community leadership. The award was presented at a recent Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra performance. The award recognizes an individual or organization demonstrating innovation, impact, commitment and leadership in one of the foundation’s priority areas. Conexión Latina runs […]
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Newport projects among 10 statewide Rhody Award winners for historic preservation
NEWPORT — Three Newport-connected honorees are among the 10 recipients of Preserve Rhode Island’s 2026 Rhody Awards for Historic Preservation, announced Tuesday. Agassiz Mansion at Castle Hill Inn receives a Community Impact Award for its restoration after the Feb. 5 fire that tore through the third-floor attic of the Ocean Drive landmark. The State Fire […]
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Newport Mansions offering free admission to county residents in September and November
The Preservation Society of Newport County will offer free admission to Newport County residents on two weekends this fall: Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 12-13, and Nov. 14-15. The offer covers residents of Newport, Middletown, Portsmouth, Jamestown, Tiverton and Little Compton, along with personnel stationed at Naval Station Newport and their immediate families and Salve Regina […]
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Tickets still available for Bike Newport’s 10-Spot Ride this Saturday
Bike Newport’s 10-Spot Ride returns Saturday, Aug. 29, and tickets remain available for the 5½-hour citywide ride connecting 10 locations, 20 live music acts and 16 chefs and restaurants. The locations stay secret until event day. Riders choose their own route and visit as many of the first nine stops as they like before everyone […]
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MLK Community Center collecting adult clothing donations through Sunday
The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center is collecting new and gently used adult clothing through Sunday, Aug. 30, for a giveaway open to Newport County residents the following day. Donations are being taken at two Newport churches. Channing Memorial Church, 131 Pelham St., accepts drop-offs anytime. St. John’s the Evangelical Church, 61 Poplar […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Newport Sings opens fall enrollment for teen and adult choruses
Newport Sings is enrolling teens and adults for two fall choral programs on Aquidneck Island, both free or offered on a sliding scale with no audition required. The programs are Aquidneck Singers, a multigenerational treble chorus for sopranos and altos, and Quorus, which the organization describes as the first and only LGBTQIA+ all-voices chorus in […]
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MLK Community Center hosting free karaoke competition Tuesday
The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center will hold a karaoke competition on Tuesday, Aug. 25, from 5 to 7 p.m. Each singer performs one song for the judges, with a second song prepared in case of a tiebreaker. First place wins a prize. Sing Your Heart Out Co. will emcee. The event is […]
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Potter League waives adoption fees for adult dogs and cats this weekend
The Potter League for Animals will waive adoption fees for all available dogs and cats over six months old from Friday, Aug. 21, through Sunday, Aug. 23, as part of NBCUniversal Local’s Clear The Shelters campaign. Fees for puppies and kittens under six months will be half off. The waived fees are covered by a […]
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People’s Credit Union donates $2,500 to Butler Basketball Club
People’s Credit Union has donated $2,500 to the Butler Basketball Club as a presenting sponsor of the club’s 10th annual golf tournament. “Our belief in what the Butler Basketball Club represents goes far beyond the game itself,” said Courtney Hunter, head of community development at People’s Credit Union. “Butler Basketball Club is about building upon […]
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Rhode Island Foundation awards $290,000 to Newport County nonprofits
More than 50 nonprofits serving Newport County will share $290,000 in grants from the Rhode Island Foundation, the organization announced Friday. The grants come through the Foundation’s Newport County Fund, which awards up to $10,000 per organization to expand established programs, support advocacy, fund new projects or build partnerships. Funding decisions were made with an […]
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Aquidneck Resilience seeks public input on islandwide climate plan at four listening sessions
Aquidneck Resilience is inviting island residents to help shape an islandwide Climate Resilience Plan through a series of community listening sessions beginning Aug. 25. The plan is intended as a guidebook for reducing the island’s climate risks — flooding, extreme heat and cold, and severe storms that cross town lines. Aquidneck Resilience has engaged more […]
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IYRS to host international STEM clinic connecting women to marine tech careers
IYRS School of Technology & Trades will host one of two international Ocean Racing STEM Clinics on Aug. 24-25, a program aimed at drawing women into technical careers in the sailing and marine industries. The clinic is a partnership between The Magenta Project, a global initiative working to expand opportunities for women in sailing and […]
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Bike Newport’s 10-Spot Ride returns Aug. 29 with a new finale stop
Bike Newport’s 10-Spot Ride returns Saturday, Aug. 29, for its seventh year, with riders pedaling between secret locations across the city over 5.5 hours. The event pairs ten properties with 15 chefs and restaurants and 20 live musical performances, all reached by bicycle. Participants pick their own order and route and decide how long to […]
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Edward King House director Carmela Geer stepping down after 13 years
Carmela Geer, who has led the Edward King House Senior Center since 2013, will step down as executive director on Sept. 11 to become health services coordinator for the Town of Middletown. Under Geer’s leadership, the center expanded its programs and services, earned national accreditation through the National Institute of Senior Centers, and strengthened its […]
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MLK Community Center, Four Hearts Foundation host back-to-school clothing drive and giveaway
The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center and the Four Hearts Foundation are teaming up for a back-to-school kids’ clothing drive and giveaway, collecting gently worn clothing for children of all ages in Newport County. The Four Hearts Foundation will host the donation portion Sunday, Aug. 9, from 3:30 to 5 p.m. at the […]
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Biking to Newport Folk and Jazz festivals hits record numbers across all six days in 2026
Cycling to the sold-out Newport Folk and Jazz festivals reached new highs across all six days of this year’s events, with Newport Jazz Festival seeing its most dramatic surge yet — up 34% over 2025 and 70% over 2024, according to Bike Newport. Combined totals for the two weekends: 5,144 bikes over Folk Fest (Friday […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Norman Bird Sanctuary’s 52nd Annual Harvest Fair returns October 3-4 with early bird tickets now on sale
Tickets are now on sale for the Norman Bird Sanctuary’s 52nd Annual Harvest Fair, returning to the sanctuary’s 300-acre Middletown campus on Saturday, October 3 and Sunday, October 4. The two-day festival features live music, local food, artisan vendors, hayrides, games, children’s activities, and seasonal fun. More than 8,000 visitors are expected over the weekend. […]
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Newport Mental Health licensed to provide mobile crisis response for children and families across Rhode Island
Newport Mental Health has been officially licensed by the Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth and Families to provide Mobile Response and Stabilization Services, expanding access to community-based behavioral health crisis care for children, youth, and families statewide. MRSS provides 24/7 in-person crisis support, with trained clinicians responding wherever a crisis occurs — at home, […]
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Newport Show raises $4.6 million over nearly two decades for Newport Historical Society and Boys & Girls Clubs
The Newport Show wrapped up its 19th year last weekend at St. George’s School, drawing more than 1,000 visitors and adding to a cumulative fundraising total that has now surpassed $4.6 million for its two beneficiaries — the Newport Historical Society and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Newport County. The annual antiques and fine […]
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Biking to Newport Folk Festival hits all-time high with more than 5,000 bikes over three days
Newport Folk Festival 2026 set a new record for bicycle arrivals, with Bike Newport reporting 5,148 bikes over the three-day sold-out event at Fort Adams State Park — the highest three-day total ever recorded. Friday led the way with 1,816 cyclists arriving by bike, the highest single-day count in the festival’s history. Saturday drew 1,720 […]
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Gansett Run Club bringing Ice Bucket Challenge back to Providence to benefit ALS Rhode Island
More than a decade after the Ice Bucket Challenge swept the internet and raised millions for ALS research, a Providence running club is bringing it back. Gansett Run Club, ALS Rhode Island, and Narragansett Brewery will host a community Ice Bucket Challenge on Wednesday, August 12, at the brewery’s Providence location at 271 Tockwotton Street. […]
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MLK Community Center hosts free dinner and art workshop next week
The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center has two free community events on tap next week, including a sit-down dinner prepared by Stoneacre Hospitality and a poetry and art-making workshop led by a Jamestown Arts Center resident artist. On Tuesday, July 28, from 4 to 6 p.m., ceramic artist Kelly McDermott will lead participants […]
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Women’s Resource Center raises more than $85,000 at Seaside Celebration, with 100 supporters gathering on Newport Harbor
The Women’s Resource Center welcomed more than 100 supporters to its annual Seaside Celebration on Monday evening, raising more than $85,000 to support free and confidential services for survivors of domestic violence in Newport and Bristol Counties. Co-hosted by Elizabeth Leatherman and Susan Sipprelle on a tented dockside terrace overlooking Newport Harbor, the evening featured […]
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IYRS launches new Yacht Design program, training the next generation of designers on Newport’s working waterfront
IYRS School of Technology & Trades has launched a new Yacht Design program, giving students the chance to train as yacht designers in Newport — one of the world’s foremost centers for sailing, boatbuilding, and marine innovation. The project-based curriculum, led by veteran yacht design educator Roland Saucier, takes students through increasingly complex design projects […]
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Newport Restoration Foundation names Miramar restoration and Bailey’s Beach clubhouse among 2026 Doris Duke Historic Preservation Award honorees
The Newport Restoration Foundation and the City of Newport have announced the honorees for the 20th annual Doris Duke Historic Preservation Awards, recognizing two outstanding preservation projects in Newport County and a lifetime achievement honoree. The ceremony takes place Friday, September 11, at Rough Point. Tom Perkins receives this year’s President’s Award for lifetime excellence […]
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Women’s Resource Center hosts Seaside Celebration fundraiser July 20 at The Bohlin
The Women’s Resource Center will hold its signature summer fundraiser, Seaside Celebration, on Monday, July 20, at 5:30 p.m. at The Bohlin, 20 Commercial Wharf, on Newport Harbor. The event is co-hosted by Elizabeth Leatherman and Susan Sipprelle — the same Susan Sipprelle who recently wrote about RENEWport’s volunteer library program at Pell Elementary — […]
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Rhode Island Foundation is offering three composers $30,000 grants — applications due Aug. 10
Rhode Island composers have until August 10 to apply for $30,000 fellowships from the Rhode Island Foundation, with three grants available to emerging and mid-career musicians looking to advance their work. The grants come through the Foundation’s Robert and Margaret MacColl Johnson Fellowship Fund and are unrestricted — meaning recipients can use the money however […]
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Newport Restoration Foundation brings ‘Keeping History Above Water’ symposium back to Newport for its 10th anniversary
The Newport Restoration Foundation will host the 10th anniversary edition of its nationally recognized Keeping History Above Water symposium in Newport this fall, bringing together historic preservationists, policy planners, and community leaders for three days of sessions, site visits, and hands-on demonstrations. Keeping History Above Water: Looking Back, Moving Forward runs October 21–23 at locations […]
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Rhode Island Beer Club and Foolproof Brewing release Honey Hound to benefit animal rescue league
Rhode Island Beer Club has partnered with Foolproof Brewing Company to create Honey Hound, a limited-edition Honey Kölsch benefiting the Providence Animal Rescue League. The beer will debut Saturday, Aug. 1, from 5 to 9 p.m. at Foolproof Brewing Company in Pawtucket, with a portion of every pint and can sold supporting the rescue league’s […]
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Rogers High School student redesigns Fort Adams ‘Tunnel Rat,’ creates youth scavenger hunt
The Fort Adams Trust has launched a newly designed youth scavenger hunt booklet created in partnership with Rogers High School Career and Technical Center’s Advertising, Design & New Media program. Charlie Johnson, a ninth-grade student at Rogers and a participant in the Newport Area Career and Technical Center, led the redesign of the Fort Adams […]
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Winners crowned at 24th Clagett Regatta and 2026 U.S. Para Sailing Championships
Twenty-five sailors have completed three days of racing at the 24th C. Thomas Clagett, Jr. Memorial Clinic and Regatta and 2026 U.S. Para Sailing Championships, capping five days on the water in Newport that began with a two-day coaching clinic. The 13 sailors in the 2.4mR class and six boats in the Martin 16 class […]
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Golfers brave the elements to raise funds for Newport Mental Health
Despite a few passing showers, golfers teed off for the annual Drive for Mental Health Charity Golf Tournament, presented by Horan Building Company, raising funds to support behavioral health and substance use services in Newport County. Held at The Aquidneck Club on June 22, the tournament benefited Newport Mental Health’s Annual Fund. Players embraced the […]
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Little Compton conservationist Abigail Brooks receives Rhode Island’s highest land trust honor
The Rhode Island Land Trust Council has awarded Abigail Brooks of Little Compton the Peter Merritt Award for Land Conservation, the council’s highest honor for volunteer service, recognizing more than two decades of commitment to protecting the land and character of her community. The award was presented at the council’s annual meeting on June 22 […]
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Potter League launches ‘Stars, Stripes & Second Chances’ adoption event as shelter reaches capacity
With its Animal Care & Adoption Center at capacity, the Potter League for Animals has launched its “Stars, Stripes & Second Chances” adoption event, offering 50% off adoption fees for all adult dogs and cats from June 26 through July 2. The discount applies to all adult dogs and cats 6 months and older. The […]
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AARP commits $143,000 in grants to strengthen Rhode Island communities, including Bike Newport
AARP has announced that nine organizations across Rhode Island will receive 2026 Community Challenge grants, including Bike Newport, as part of a national effort to make communities more livable for people of all ages, especially older adults. The grants, totaling $143,000 in Rhode Island, are part of an $8.3 million commitment by AARP nationwide — […]
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Charlie Holder Sr. Memorial race raises $32,000 for Newport County YMCA and MLK Community Center
A rainy start didn’t deter 357 participants from running and walking in the third annual Charlie Holder Sr. Memorial Race on Saturday, May 9, an event that raised $32,000 for two Newport County organizations. This year’s race added a new 10K alongside the 5K run/walk and virtual options. Again presented by BRS Building Company, the […]
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Norman Bird Sanctuary and Salve Regina expand conservation partnership, launch Kiernan Scholars Program
The Norman Bird Sanctuary and Salve Regina University welcomed 75 guests on June 16 for an evening of public engagement and scientific insight, celebrating a growing collaboration that is advancing ecological research and hands-on conservation training on Aquidneck Island. The program featured a lecture by Dr. Jameson Chace and the announcement, by sanctuary Executive Director […]
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Preserve Rhode Island awards $105,000 in historic preservation grants, including four in Newport
Preserve Rhode Island, in partnership with The 1772 Foundation, has awarded about $105,000 in matching grants to 13 nonprofit organizations across the state to support urgent repairs and long-term preservation at some of Rhode Island’s most treasured historic places, including four in Newport. The one-to-one matching grants will fund bricks-and-mortar work at sites ranging from […]
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Music in Middletown summer concert series set to launch July 1
Middletown’s popular Music in Middletown series returns this summer with a slate of free, family-friendly concerts running from July through August at Second Beach and Paradise Valley Park. The season opens Wednesday, July 1, with an America 250 celebration from 6 to 9:15 p.m. at Second Beach, 315 Sachuest Point Road. Hosted by the town’s […]
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Aquidneck Island Robotics team showcases talent at People’s Credit Union
People’s Credit Union recently hosted Aquidneck Island Robotics at its Middletown headquarters, where students showed their appreciation for the sponsor with a hands-on robotics demonstration. Aquidneck Island Robotics, known as AIR, is the largest community-based youth competitive robotics organization in the state. Open to all K-12 students in Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts from public, […]
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Newport Polo’s 25th annual gala to benefit five youth-focused charities
The Newport Polo Foundation has announced the five beneficiaries of its 25th annual charity gala, a Great Gatsby-themed affair set for Friday, July 31, at Rosecliff Mansion on Bellevue Avenue. This year’s proceeds will benefit World Pediatrics, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Newport County, TeamFAME, the Newport Historical Society and FabNewport, all organizations focused […]
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People’s Credit Union marks 18th year sponsoring Newport Gulls’ reading program
For the 18th consecutive year, People’s Credit Union has partnered with the Newport Gulls to sponsor the FANatic About Reading Program, which promotes reading among elementary school students on Aquidneck Island. Players on the Gulls, a collegiate summer baseball team, volunteer their time reading books to children in local classrooms. As part of the program, […]
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Sweet Berry Farm withdraws development proposal, weighs smaller-scale plan
Sweet Berry Farm has withdrawn its application for a major development project at its Mitchell’s Lane property and is stepping back to consider a smaller-scale plan, the farm and the Aquidneck Island Land Trust said this week. The farm announced the decision in a statement posted to Facebook on Tuesday, telling supporters it had chosen […]
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Sail Newport to dedicate racing education center in memory of Jason Titunik
Sail Newport will dedicate the building at 60 Fort Adams Drive as the Jason Titunik Racing Education Center in a ceremony Wednesday, June 24, at 2 p.m. The building, located at the sailing center in Fort Adams State Park, was Sail Newport’s original main office and has recently been fully remodeled for use by racing […]
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Bike Newport names Tuni Schartner director of partnerships and philanthropy
Bike Newport has named Tuni Schartner as its new director of partnerships and philanthropy. Schartner brings more than three decades of experience in community building, strategic partnerships, fundraising and organizational growth across Rhode Island’s nonprofit, entrepreneurial, economic development and civic sectors. In her new role, she will lead the organization’s efforts to strengthen philanthropic support, […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Arts & Cultural Alliance to honor local artists at Raise Up the Arts event June 24
The Arts & Cultural Alliance of Newport County will hold its annual Raise Up the Arts event Wednesday, June 24, from 6 to 8 p.m. in Easton’s Pavilion, upstairs at the Wyndham Newport Hotel, 240 Aquidneck Ave. The evening features live music, small bites and the presentation of four awards. The Newport String Project will […]
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RWU expands Blue Fellows Program in second year, adds Maine research partner
Roger Williams University has launched the second year of its Blue Fellows Program, expanding the marine research fellowship from seven to 10 students and adding a new research partner in Maine. The program, run through the university’s Center for Economic and Environmental Development, pairs undergraduates with faculty researchers and industry partners working on ocean-based projects […]
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Newport’s Secret Garden Tour returns June 26-28 with a focus on the Point
The Secret Garden Tour returns for its 42nd year June 26-28, opening the gates to 14 private gardens in Newport’s historic Point neighborhood for a series of self-guided walking tours. The tour, which begins at Storer Park near the causeway to Goat Island, features a mix of returning favorites and gardens new to the route, […]
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Rosalind Weir to receive Arts & Cultural Alliance’s 2026 Dominique Award
The Arts & Cultural Alliance of Newport County will present its 2026 Dominique Award to Rosalind Weir at its annual Raise Up the Arts celebration on Tuesday, June 24, at Johnny’s Restaurant at the Wyndham Newport Hotel, 240 Aquidneck Ave. in Middletown. The award, created in 2010, honors people who have contributed time, influence and […]
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Aquidneck Island Land Trust to host June 9 talk on island-wide climate resilience
The Aquidneck Island Land Trust will host a free public lecture on island-wide climate resilience on Tuesday, June 9, at 6 p.m. at the DiStefano Lecture Hall at Salve Regina University, 56 Lawrence Ave. in Newport. The talk, titled “Teamwork Makes the Dream Work: Collaborating to Build a Resilient Aquidneck Island,” will be given by […]
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People’s Credit Union donates $5,000 to Good Dad Gang charity golf tournament
People’s Credit Union has donated $5,000 as the lead sponsor of the Good Dad Gang’s annual charity golf tournament, the credit union announced. The Good Dad Gang x Sean Foley Invitational will be held July 28 at Fall River Country Club in Massachusetts. PGA golf instructor Sean Foley will serve as the special guest and […]
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MLK Community Center to host free Juneteenth 3-on-3 basketball tournament and barbecue June 19
The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center will host its second annual Juneteenth 3-on-3 basketball tournament and backyard barbecue on Friday, June 19, from noon to 3 p.m., the center announced. The free event is open to teams of four players in grades 5 through 12, with 128 youth players expected. Organizers said the […]
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Edward King House Senior Center to honor 2026 ‘Champions for Seniors’ at June 17 luncheon
The Edward King House Senior Center has announced the recipients of its 2026 Champions for Seniors Awards, which honor people and organizations for their work with older adults in Newport County. The honorees will be recognized at the center’s annual Mayor’s Luncheon on Wednesday, June 17, at noon at the Wyndham Newport Hotel, 240 Aquidneck […]
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Rhode Island Foundation invites Newport County residents to free community dinner June 2
The Rhode Island Foundation is inviting Newport County residents to share their thoughts about the issues that matter most to them at a free community dinner on Tuesday, June 2. The event will be held at Innovate Newport, 513 Broadway, from 5 to 7 p.m. It is free and open to the public, but seating […]
Posted inCity & Government
Newport Juneteenth celebration to mark fourth year at Fort Adams with RI 250 theme
The fourth annual Newport Juneteenth celebration will be held Saturday, June 20, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Fort Adams State Park, organizers announced. The event, presented by Rhode Island Slave History Medallions, will mark Juneteenth with a Rhode Island 250th anniversary theme this year and will be expanded to celebrate the history of […]
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Amo, Reed, Whitehouse announce $30,000 NEA grant for Newport Contemporary Ballet
Newport Contemporary Ballet has been awarded $30,000 in funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, U.S. Sens. Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and U.S. Rep. Gabe Amo announced Tuesday. The funding will support the ballet’s annual Newport Dance Festival, which this year will explore the theme of freedom in honor of the nation’s 250th […]
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IYRS offers support to students affected by The Landing School closure
IYRS School of Technology & Trades is extending support to students, applicants and families affected by the recent closure of The Landing School of Boatbuilding & Design in Arundel, Maine, offering guidance and a pathway for those looking to continue their marine trades education. “We are saddened to learn of The Landing School’s closing and […]
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High school senior’s charity car rally to benefit Hasbro Children’s Hospital rolls out from Newport today
A youth-led charity car rally benefiting Hasbro Children’s Hospital sets off from Newport today, the inaugural edition of an event organized by a local high school senior. Jack Masse, a senior at Providence Country Day School in East Providence and a longtime volunteer at the Audrain Automobile Museum, created The Rhode Rally as his senior […]
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People’s Credit Union named 2026 Bicycle Friendly Business of the Year at Newport’s Bike to Work Day
The first bikes rolled in at 7 a.m. and the camaraderie continued through the morning at the annual bike commuter breakfast in front of Newport City Hall on Friday, May 15, as the city marked National Bike to Work Day with coffee, snacks and swag from Bike Newport and RIPTA’s Commuter Resources. Later in the […]