Introduced with great fanfare, the state’s “re-energized” tourism marketing program turned into a debacle. With a slogan that was widely criticized, and a video discredited, the state trashed that program and 16 months ago began anew. Unlike the “trashed” version, this new initiative was introduced with little fanfare and has been seldom seen by many […]
People & Profiles
Posted inPeople & Profiles
Podcast: Working Cities Newport – What it is and how you can get involved
Last May, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston President and CEO Eric Rosengren and Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo announced that Cranston, Newport, and Providence won the Fed’s Working Cities Challenge, a competition for Rhode Island communities to improve the lives of low- and moderate-income residents. The three cities each received multiyear grants of $400,000 to support programs […]
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Podcast: A conversation with Paul Pence, Republican candidate for Lt. Governor
Paul Pence, the Republican candidate for Rhode Island Lt. Governor, joined Frank today on The Open Forum on AM 1540 WADK Newport. Pence is editor of RI Roads Magazine, a former reporter at the Westerly Sun, and senior quality management systems and food safety specialist at Toray.
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Podcast: Current and former Newport residents reflect on their experience in Hawaii during false missile alarm
Following the false missile alarm, it’s been absolute chaos in Hawaii. Patrick Murphy, a Newport native, a contributor to What’s Up Newp, the founder of The Kings Lens And Friends and (at least for this winter) a winter resident of Hawaii, called in to What’s Up Newp Radio Edition on WADK 1540AM recently to take us through what life was like […]
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Podcast: A conversation with Lara Salamano, Chief Marketing Officer of the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation
Remember the Rhode Island Tourism debacle of the late winter, early spring of 2016. Remember the slogan, Warmer and Cooler. Remember the video, with that skateboarder, yes, the skateboarder from Reykjavik. The state blew up that program and chose Lara Salamano, the Commerce Department’s Chief Marketing Officer, to fix the program. Some $4.3 million was […]
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Podcast: A conversation with Rhode Island Lt. Governor Dan McKee
Lt. Governor Dan McKee, a Democrat, joined me recently on The Open Forum on AM 1540 WADK Newport to talk about what appears to be a competitive primary election, in which he faces Progressive Democrat Aaron Regenberg, a 27-year-old who is in his second term in the House of Representatives. McKee also talked about his […]
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Podcast: A conversation with NIROPE – Nick, Ron, and Pete Cardi of Cardi’s Furniture
It was a leaky rowboat that Nick, Ron, and Pete named as kids, using the first two letters of their first names and that’s how the name NIROPE was born. The stores, Cardi’s was started as a general store by Nick, Ron, and Pete’s grandmother, Rosa. Now, some 90 years later it is among the […]
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Podcast: A conversation with Patricia Morgan, Republican gubernatorial candidate
Republican gubernatorial candidate and State Representative Patricia Morgan, R – West Warwick, the House Minority Leader, discusses her vision for Rhode Island with Ryan Belmore and Frank Prosnitz on The Open Forum on AM 1540 WADK Newport, and why she believes GOP voters should choose her above the two other Republican gubernatorial candidates, Cranston Mayor […]
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RI GOP gubernatorial candidate Morgan focusing on corruption, economy, and education
Characterizing herself as tough, informed and with a vision to root out corruption and spark the economy, state Rep. Patricia Morgan, R-West Warwick, is focused on becoming Rhode Island’s next governor. She is among three Republicans who will battle in a primary election for the right to challenge incumbent Gov. Gina Raimondo, a Democrat seeking […]
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Congressman Cicilline’s Jan. 13 Town Hall will focus on Democrats’ economic initiative: “A Better Deal”
Congressman David N. Cicilline, D-RI, will focus on what he characterized as the Democrats “bold economic agenda,” a program with a goal of creating 10 million good paying jobs, at a “BetterDeal Town Hall” at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 13, at the Pell Elementary School, 35 Dexter Street, Newport. The Congressman emphasized that he views […]
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Podcast: Giovanni Feroce discusses why he’s running for Governor
Former state senator, Alex and Ani CEO and Newport resident Giovanni Feroce said he will run for governor this year in a series of New Year’s Day social media posts. Feroce joined Frank Prosnitz and I on What’sUpNewp Radio Edition on AM 1540 WADK on Wednesday, January 3rd to discuss those posts, the Republican gubernatorial race, his plans […]
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REVIEW: What Cheer Brigade’s ‘You Can’t See Inside Of Me’
Adding to Providence’s musical variety, brass bands have come to prominence since the turn of the decade with rhythms that take hold of the soul. The Extraordinary Rendition Band and Kickin’ Brass are great examples by possessing an infectious sound that can start a party anywhere. With the Providence Honk Fest being one of the […]
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Newport’s BedJet is revolutionizing the sleep industry from small Brick Market headquarters
Brick Market in Downtown Newport: home of boutique clothing stores, small eateries, Newport memorabilia shops, and… a globally renowned sleep technology start-up that’s currently out-engineering, out-innovating and outselling the billion-dollar brands in the mattress industry. That’s right. Quietly nestled among the shops in Goddard Row is the headquarters of BedJet, founded by Newport resident and […]
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A Conversation with Victor Wooten, Bassist for Béla Fleck and the Flecktones
In the world of bass players, few can match Victor Wooten’s mastery. He’s well-versed in the stylings of jazz and funk while also dabbling in the realms of progressive rock and metal. Wooten is always on a mission to teach the younger generation while upholding knowledge to a high standard and encouraging artistic self-identity. To […]
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For The Ballroom Thieves, Newport Folk Festival Is Where They Found Their Identity
The story behind The Ballroom Thieves should give any child or adult who has ever dreamed of playing their favorite festival or the “big stage” hope. Just five years ago, two members of the Boston-based band were in the audience of the 2012 Newport Folk Festival without a proper name and dreaming of the day […]
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A Conversation with Christian McBride, Artistic Director of Newport Jazz Festival (Part 5 of 5)
The challenge of dwindling public funds to support the arts in school has inspired Christian McBride to join with his wife, Melissa Walker, founder of Jazz House Kids, to provide young musicians an opportunity to develop and grow as artists. And, with public funding for the arts in jeopardy, McBride believes musicians will not be […]
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A Conversation with Christian McBride, Artistic Director of Newport Jazz Festival (Part 4)
You could say about Christian McBride that the bass was in his blood – and it was. From a father and great uncle who played bass, to Julliard in New York City to study classical bass, to the stages of the most significant jazz clubs and festivals in the world – that’s Christian McBride. He […]
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Video: A Conversation with John Florez, Candidate for Senate District 13
Who to vote for in the upcoming primary and special election? That’s a question many of you may have, especially if you are a Democrat. I met up with John Florez, one of the four Democratic candidates, on Friday at his office on Bellevue Avenue to discuss his campaign, his priorities if elected, his thoughts on […]
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A Conversation with Christian McBride, Artistic Director of Newport Jazz Festival (Part 3)
An amazing bass player, band leader and composer, Christian McBride, the Newport Jazz Festival’s new artistic director, brings profound respect for the festival, and a keen sense of those who should be playing at it. He’s also not afraid to showcase young talent. “Some of it you just get excited by something that you hear, […]
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A Conversation with Christian McBride, Artistic Director of the Newport Jazz Festival (Part 1)
It was more than 25 years ago that Christian McBride played his first Newport Jazz Festival. Now, five Grammys later and considered among the best jazz bass players on the planet, McBride is taking on a huge challenge, following in the footsteps of festival founder George Wein and assuming the mantle as the festival’s Artistic […]
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Local Woman Recognized for Intervening in Thames Street Emergency
In the early morning hours of Thursday, May 18th, Amanda Tracy decided to go for a drive and clear her head. But as Tracy – an employee at Roger Williams Department of Public Safety and licensed EMT since 2009 – headed home, she came across a grisly emergency unfolding on Thames Street that put her […]
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‘Bikes and Beers Across America’ is Ready to Hit The Road to Fight MS with Hops, Hope and Bicycles
The idea behind Bikes and Beers Across America (BBAM) started out like many great ideas –a late night bar conversation scratched out on cocktail napkins. Hank Hank Whitin, owner of Pour Judgement Bar & Grill, became reflective on his upcoming milestone birthday. “I realized I didn’t want to turn 50, 25 lbs. overweight and drunk […]
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Photo Gallery: Newport String Project presents Dvorak, Maconchy, Mendelssohn at Ochre Court
On January 29th, the Newport String Project presented perennial favorite Mendelssohn’s Octet for Strings in the vibrant setting of Ochre Court at Salve Regina University. The concert brought together a dynamic group of musicians working at the leading edge of socially engaged chamber music in Rhode Island and beyond. The program also featured Antonin Dvorak’s […]
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A Conversation with George Wein: ‘You Have to Say You Did The Right Thing’ (Part 5)
A Conversation with George Wein: ‘…after all your life, and it is the last part of my life, to have reached that place. I guess, you have to say you did the right thing’ – Part 5 of 5 Throughout this five-part series, we’ve explored George Wein’s career from when he was working in what […]
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Tyler’s 1600 Miles Away: Exploring Aquidneck Island’s Ties to the Virgin Islands
I find solace in traveling each winter for a period of time to escape the cold and explore new destinations. Over the past 5 years, a small island that’s just over 1600 miles away from Newport has become my home away from home. I started visiting the Virgin Islands back in 2012 when one of […]