Elizabeth “Beth” Cullen, a candidate for Newport School Committee, is emphasizing the need for new educational approaches and improved collaboration between city officials and educators as she campaigns for one of the open seats in the upcoming election. Cullen, a self-proclaimed fourth-generation Newporter with 30 years of experience in the local school system, believes her […]
People & Profiles
Posted inElection
Incumbent Stephanie Winslow seeks re-election to Newport School Committee
Stephanie Winslow, an incumbent Newport School Committee member, is seeking re-election for what would be her third term. Winslow, who was initially appointed to fill a vacancy in March 2020, has been a key figure in policy reform and equity initiatives within the Newport Public Schools system. Winslow, a Newport native and computer programmer by […]
Posted inElection
Becky Bolan seeks re-election to Newport School Committee to see Rogers High School project through completion
Newport School Committee Chair Becky Bolan has announced that if she is re-elected in November that her next term would be her last, citing a desire to see the Rogers High School project through to completion. Bolan, who has served on the committee for approximately 17 years, made the announcement during an interview with Ryan […]
Posted inElection
Newport School Committee candidate Dr. Robert B. Power emphasizes need for auto tech and cosmetology at Rogers High School
Dr. Robert B. Power, a candidate for Newport School Committee, is making the inclusion of vocational programs at the new Rogers High School a central issue in his campaign. Power, who has a doctorate in school administration and has served as superintendent in three Rhode Island school districts, says he entered the race primarily to […]
Posted inCity & Government
Mark Aramli seeks re-election to Newport City Council, emphasizes financial challenges and tourism management
Mark Aramli, seeking re-election to Newport’s City Council At-Large, is sounding the alarm on the city’s financial challenges and calling for a new approach to managing tourism. In a interview with What’sUpNewp on Thursday, October 3, Aramli highlighted the fiscal imbalance he discovered during his first term and outlined his priorities for addressing these issues […]
Posted inBusiness
Salve Regina professor awarded NIH grant to research new treatments for common infection alongside undergraduate students
Salve Regina University today announced that Dr. Susan Meschwitz, a chemistry professor at the university, has been awarded a grant from the National Institute of Health to research treatments for urinary tract infections — which are experienced by 50-60% of women in their lifetime and highly recurrent. More from the announcement According to the National Institute […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Newport Folk Festival taps Nathaniel Rateliff for new pioneering role
Newport Folk Festival today announced the creation of its Stewardship Program, appointing Nathaniel Rateliff as its inaugural steward. The program aims to identify individuals who enrich and support the festival’s legacy, challenging and celebrating the “Folk Family” through meaningful initiatives. Rateliff, chosen for his artistry, perseverance, and allyship, will serve a three-year term. He plans […]
Posted inElection, People & Profiles
Penny Hunt hopes to bring funding and leadership experience to Newport School Committee
Penelope “Penny” Billington Hunt, a newcomer to Newport politics, is running for a seat on the Newport School Committee with a focus on addressing funding challenges and leadership needs in the district. Hunt, who moved back to Newport in 2020 after living in the Boston area for 15 years, brings a background in nonprofit fundraising […]
Posted inCity & Government
Talkin’ Tourism: A conversation with Evan Smith, President & CEO of Discover Newport
Evan Smith, the President and CEO of Discover Newport, will join What’sUpNewp for a one-on-one live video conversation on Thursday, September 26, at 10:30 am. During this conversation, we’ll discuss the 2024 summer travel and tourism season, what’s ahead for the fall and winter, travel and tourism trends, the impacts of tourism and traffic, and […]
Posted inCity & Government
Newport City Manager addresses infrastructure, $98 million bond, and residents’ concerns during What’sUpNewp conversation
Newport City Manager Colin Kennedy addressed residents’ concerns about utility bills and infrastructure needs during What’sUpNewp’s Wednesday monthly “Ask the City Manager” session. What’sUpNewp’s newsletter allows supporters to listen to this conversation as a podcast. Become A What’sUpNewp Supporter Kennedy acknowledged the city “missed the mark” in rolling out recent changes to sewer and stormwater […]
Posted inBusiness
Aquidneck Community Table names Tuni Schartner as its first Chief Innovation and Development Officer
Today, the Aquidneck Community Table (ACT) announced Tuni Schartner’s appointment as its first Chief Innovation and Development Officer. The nonprofit said in a press release, “ACT is laser focused on building a local food system and economy in Newport County that is fair, resilient, and reflective of the diverse communities it serves. ” Schartner is […]
Posted inCity & Government, News, People & Profiles
Ask The City Manager: Colin Kennedy joins What’sUpNewp for a one-on-one interview on Sept. 18
Newport City Manager Colin Kennedy will spend thirty minutes with What’sUpNewp on Wednesday, September 18, at 10 am, answering our and your questions about what’s happening in the City. What questions do you have for the City Manager? Post them below or here. Loading… Watch the interview live or anytime afterward below. Ask The City […]
Posted inMusic & Entertainment
What’s Up Interview: Comedian Tom Cotter on ‘No Apologies’ tour, coming to Jane Pickens Sept. 26 with comics Jim Florentine and Tammy Pescatelli
Comedian Tom Cotter makes no apologies … except for the time he had to apologize for a joke about the Pope. More on that later… The Providence native shared a few laughs earlier this week when I spoke to him on a call from his home in New York. With a career going back to […]
Posted inEnvironment & Health
What’s Up Interview: ‘Prescription for Pain’ author Philip Eil, appearing at Charter Books on September 10
The opioid epidemic in the United States continues to destroy American lives and families. Over the past 25 years, more Americans have died from opioid abuse (over 750,000) than American soldiers killed in combat since World War I. It’s no longer a dirty little secret – the epidemic has been chronicled in books, articles, and […]
Posted inNews
Concert recap and photos: 2024 Rhode Island Folk Festival a big hit down by the river
The Rhode Island Folk Festival celebrated its 10th anniversary on Sunday, August 26, with over 40 performers, dozens of vendors and food trucks, and a guitar giveaway at Crescent Park in East Providence. The free festival enjoyed its largest crowd yet, with an estimated 2,500 fans in attendance. Fans young and old filled the sprawling […]
Posted inBusiness
Stories From The Garden: How the Maher Garden Center is reblooming into success
The roots Residents of Aquidneck Island may be familiar with the Maher Garden Center from their hand-made wreaths and Christmas trees. But the roots of the center run much deeper than the Christmas season. “The Maher Center itself started 76 years ago as a resource for parents with special needs kids,” Lynn Maher, the executive […]
Posted inNews
What’s Up Interview: Meet Mark Stickney, Founder of Historic Music of Newport
Newport’s contemporary summer music scene is dominated by three internationally known festivals: Newport Folk, Newport Jazz, and Newport Classical. But the city’s musical heritage runs deep. Live music on the island is a tradition going back almost two hundred years, when classical musicians and military bands entertained summer visitors and year-round residents. One organization working […]
Posted inColumns
What’s in Season: Sweet corn and tomatoes from Fales Farm are classic end-of-summer staples
Crunchy, juicy, sweet, and acidic, corn and tomatoes are must-haves for a stocked summer pantry. Barbeque might come to mind first with this combination – thick slices of tomatoes stacked on a juicy burger, corn on the cob on the side. Corn cobs might be used in Cajun-style seafood boils, or, for those who have […]
Posted inCity & Government, News, People & Profiles
WUN-ON-ONE: A conversation with Newport School Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain
Newport School Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain provided updates on teacher contract negotiations, school construction, and plans for the upcoming academic year during her monthly virtual conversation with What’sUpNewp on July 31. Newport Schools Near Full Teacher Placement After Layoffs The Newport School District is close to fully placing teachers following recent layoffs, with only six […]
Posted inCity & Government
Exploring 2024-25 vision with Newport School Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain on Wednesday videocast
This may be the dog days of summer, but for school administrators they are days filled with planning for a new school year, which in Newport begins September 6. Superintendent of Schools Colleen Burns Jermain joins WhatsUpNewp for her monthly videocast tomorrow (July 31) at 1:30 p.m. And there’s no shortage of subjects to address. […]
Posted inArts & Culture
What’s Up Interview: Folk Festival artists Steve Poltz and John Craigie reflect on their Newport Folk Festival experience
John Craigie is an L.A.-born singer-songwriter who infuses comedic storytelling into his performances. He’s been compared to Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger, and he has collaborated with artists like Jack Johnson, Gregory Alan Isakov, and the Shook Twins. Seattle Newspaper The Stranger has called Craigie “…the lovechild of John Prine and Mitch Hedberg with a […]
Posted inMusic & Entertainment
From Bike Stage to Harbor Stage: Palmyra’s Newport Folk Festival journey
Palmyra, a folk band, performed at the Newport Folk Festival on Sunday, marking their third appearance at the event. The trio has played approximately 150 shows and recorded a new album in the past year. “We’ve been keeping busy, for sure,” said one of the band members during an interview with What’sUpNewp on Saturday. After […]
Posted inNews
StoryCorps launches “One Small Step” to bridge political divide
Since 2003, when David Isay founded StoryCorps, he has been on a mission of finding hope, even at the darkest times. Now, more than two decades later, StoryCorps has just launched One Small Step, a project meant to bridge the political divide. The intent is to produce thousands, perhaps millions, of one-on-one conversations between political […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Chef Peter Carvelli reflects on culinary honor, celebrating Foglia’s second anniversary
Four of Rhode Island’s top chefs brought a taste of the state’s “Classic Coast” to New York City on Thursday, showcasing the region’s evolving culinary scene at a sold-out dinner. The “Cooking on the Classic Coast” event, presented by Discover Newport, took place at Platform at Pier 57 by the James Beard Foundation. More than […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Giusto Chef William Reitzel reflects on Newport’s culinary evolution
Chef William Reitzel of Giusto restaurant in Newport sees the city’s culinary scene evolving beyond its traditional seafood fare. “It’s definitely evolving,” Reitzel said. “I started in Newport about 15 years ago and to the point of where it is today is completely different. It’s not just this tourist destination for clam cakes and chowder […]