It’s a doubleheader today for WhatsUpNewp, with Newport Mayor Xay joining WUN for a videocast at 10 a.m. and General Treasurer James Diossa at 1. The mayor joins us for his regular appearance the day after a council meeting, and now a day after City Manager Joe Nicholson announced his retirement after 37 years of […]
People & Profiles
Posted inPeople & Profiles
WUN-ON-ONE: A conversation with Evan Smith, President of Discover Newport
You may not know it but this week (May 7 – 13, 2023) is National Travel and Tourism Week. According to the U.S. Travel Association, National Travel and Tourism Week is “an annual tradition to celebrate the U.S. travel community and travel’s essential role in stimulating economic growth, cultivating vibrant communities, creating quality job opportunities, […]
Posted inPeople & Profiles
WUN-ON-ONE: A conversation with Newport School Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain
Across Rhode Island, school systems are finding that the bond issues voters approved only a few months ago to build new, modern school buildings, are millions of dollars short of what they now expect the projects to cost. And so it is in Newport, where for months now educators have been trying to fill a […]
Posted inCity & Government, People & Profiles
WUN-ON-ONE: A conversation with Newport School Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain
Colleen Burns Jermain, Newport’s Superintendent of Schools, joined What’sUpNewp on Wednesday, March 29, 2023, for her monthly live virtual video conversation. During our conversation, we discuss school safety, regionalization, construction at Rogers High School, mental health, teacher shortages, and more. Watch or listen to the conversation below; http://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/271114/private/0be5d6ef-e8ee-4c47-96c5-3fe1fed967d3.rss
Posted inNews, People & Profiles
WUN-ON-ONE: A conversation with Heather Hole Strout, Executive Director of the MLK Center
Heather Hole Strout, Executive Director of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center, joined What’sUpNewp at 11:30 am on Tuesday, March 28, for a virtual live video conversation. During the conversation, we chat with Heather about all that’s happening and new at the MLK Center, including an update on their big renovation, what services […]
Posted inMusic & Entertainment
What’s Up Interview: Dar Williams coming to Jane Pickens March 24
Aspiring songwriters, this show’s for you. Dar Williams, known as a “songwriter’s songwriter,” is coming to Newport’s Jane Pickens Film and Events Center for a show on March 24 at 8PM. Williams is out on tour in support of her latest album I’ll Meet You There as well as her new book How to Write […]
Posted inNews, People & Profiles
A conversation with Newport School Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain
Newport School Superintendent Colleen Burns Jermain joined What’sUpNewp on Wednesday, March 1 for our monthly live virtual video conversation. During our conversation, we touch base on regionalization, the new Rogers High School project, mental health issues, the COVID-19 learning gap, preparing students for the Blue Economy, and much more. Watch
Posted inMusic & Entertainment
What’s Up Interview: We speak with children’s musician Laurie Berkner on the ‘kindie rock’ movement and more
Award-winning recording artist Laurie Berkner, widely recognized as the queen of children’s music, is bringing her show to the Greenwich Odeum Saturday, March 4 at 3PM. With over 22 million monthly streams, and millions of CDs and DVDs sold, Laurie’s songs have become much loved classics for children worldwide. It’s her first major tour since […]
Posted inPeople & Profiles, Sports
Q&A with new NCAA President Charlie Baker
By RALPH D. RUSSO AP College Sports Writer Former Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker did a 30-minute interview with The Associated Press just days before he officially began his new job as NCAA president. He laid out goals for his first 100 days, including bringing in an independent firm to conduct a review of the NCAA, and touched […]
Posted inPeople & Profiles, Sports
New NCAA president says NIL rules could protect athletes
By RALPH D. RUSSO AP College Sports Writer As Charlie Baker takes over as NCAA president, he brings a different way of thinking about one of the most important and polarizing issues in college athletics: regulating how student-athletes monetize their fame. To Baker, athletes such as quarterback recruit Jaden Rashada and Miami basketball players Hanna […]
Posted inArts & Culture
4Qs with Deanna J. Conheeny: President of the Board of Directors for the Museum of Newport Irish History on 46th Annual Newport Irish Heritage Month
March is Irish Heritage Month, and Newport is gearing up to celebrate its rich Irish heritage and culture. The Museum of Newport Irish History, a non-profit organization established in 1996, is leading the effort to compile and sponsor the March calendar of community-wide events on its website. In a recent interview with What’sUpNewp, Deanna J. […]
Posted inPeople & Profiles
Dave Rosenberg reflects on the 35th Annual Newport Winter Festival
The Newport Winter Festival celebrated its 35th annual event from February 17 to 26, 2023, and Dave Rosenberg, Director of the Newport Winter Festival, was thrilled with the outcome. Fresh off the end of the festival, What’sUpNewp caught up with Rosenberg today for our “4Qs with” series. In the interview, Rosenberg reflected on this year’s […]
Posted inMusic & Entertainment, People & Profiles
Director of Marketing for Spectacle Live discusses the success of shows at The JPT and future plans
In a recent interview as part of the “4Qs with” series, Dan Berube, the Director of Marketing for Spectacle Live, discussed the success of the company’s shows at The Jane Pickens Theater and Event Center (The JPT) and its plans for the future. When asked about the decision to bring shows to Newport, Berube emphasized […]
Posted inNews, People & Profiles
Newport Police Chief Gary Silva reflects on his 40-year career and offers advice to future officers
In a recent interview with Newport Police Chief Gary Silva, he reflected on his 40-year career as a Newport police officer and his 12-year tenure as Chief. As part of our “4Qs with” series, Chief Silva answered questions about his proudest moments, advice for future police officers, and his retirement plans. When asked about his […]
Posted inMusic & Entertainment
Ticket Giveaway: We interview Teddy Thompson, playing Newport Live show Friday, Feb. 24
Singer-songwriter Teddy Thompson is coming to Newport’s La Farge Arts Center (at the Newport Congregational Church) on Friday, February 24. Thanks to sponsor Newport Live, we’ve got a pair of tickets to the concert to give away. To enter, just e-mail Ken Abrams at mrabrams11@gmail.com by Wednesday, February 22 at 5PM with “Thompson Tickets” in […]
Posted inArts & Culture
What’s Up Interview: Julie Knitel of ‘Come From Away,’ playing PPAC this week
When we chatted, Julia Knitel and the cast of “Come From Away” was in Philadelphia. It was Super Bowl weekend, and the Philadelphia Eagles were in the big game. She laughed about that. “I’m not a sports fan by any stretch. I didn’t even know they were in the Super Bowl.” Knitel’s been with “Come […]
Posted inArts & Culture
WUN-ON-ONE: A conversation with Dave Rosenberg, Newport Winter Festival
After taking a couple of years off due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Newport Winter Festival returns for its 35th edition from February 17-26, 2023. Dave Rosenberg, organizer of the Newport Winter Festival, will join What’sUpNewp for a WUN-ON-ONE conversation at 7:30 pm on Wednesday, February 15, 2023. During our discussion, Dave will chat with […]
Posted inPeople & Profiles
WUN-ON-ONE: A conversation with Jay Sweet and Dan Swain, Newport Festivals Foundation
Jay Sweet and Dan Swain, the Executive Director and Development Director of Newport Festivals Foundation, joined What’sUpNewp today for a conversation about the Foundation, the Newport Folk Festival, Newport Jazz Festival, and more. You can listen to our conversation here, or watch and listen below. More About The Newport Festivals Foundation Newport Festivals Foundation is […]
Posted inMusic & Entertainment
What’s Up Interview: Andrew Marlin of Watchhouse – duo coming to United Theatre in Westerly March 2
Roots/folk music fans should be looking west these days, at least as far as Westerly, RI. First up, keep an eye out for Watchhouse, coming to the United Theatre on March 2. (We’ll have previews of other shows scheduled there soon too!) The band consists of husband-wife team Andrew Marlin (vocals, mandolin, guitar, banjo) and […]
Posted inSports
AP Interview: Moltzan catching up to US teammate Shiffrin
By ANDREW DAMPF AP Sports Writer MERIBEL, France (AP) — When Paula Moltzan finished second behind Mikaela Shiffrin for the U.S. ski team’s first 1-2 finish in a women’s World Cup slalom in more than half a century, it was easy to assume that her more successful teammate was her main inspiration. Actually, it’s another American skier who Moltzan […]
Posted inPeople & Profiles
WUN-ON-ONE: A conversation with G. Wayne Miller, Ocean State Stories
G. Wayne Miller, an award-winning journalist who recently retired from The Providence Journal after 41 years, joined What’sUpNewp on Tuesday, February 7 at 1 pm for a live virtual video conversation, where he shared a glimpse into his next journalistic project. Miller, the author of 20 books and a host on the Pell Center’s “Story […]
Posted inArts & Culture
What’s Up Interview: RI’s The Benji’s to release new album ‘Kitty Pills’ on February 14
A band that’s been percolating on the local scene over the past several years is especially excited to be releasing their new EP later this month. The Benji’s, who first played together in LA in 2014 and were Motif Magazine’s “Favorite Breakthrough Rock Act” in 2019, will release Kitty Pills, on February 14. I learned […]
Posted inPeople & Profiles
WUN-ON-ONE: A conversation with Newport Mayor Xay Khamsyvoravong
What’s the latest with the Pell Bridge Ramps project? Is school regionalization between Newport and Middletown still being discussed? What are members of Newport City Council focusing on and what can we expect to change in 2023? Newport Mayor Xay Khamsyvoravong joined What’sUpNewp this afternoon to answer those questions and discuss much more. Listen or […]
Posted inPeople & Profiles, Sports
WUN-ON-ONE: A conversation with Brad Read, Sail Newport and The Ocean Race Newport Stopover
The Ocean Race fleet is expected to arrive in Newport on or around May 10-12, 2023, following an approximately 17-day trek from Itajai, Brazil. Before reaching the shores of the United States, the sailors will have completed 28,650 nautical miles, which is approximately 89% of the global race, which began on January 15, 2023. The […]
Posted inArts & Culture
What’s Up Interview: Meet Chris Swan, playing Daddy Warbucks in PPAC’s ‘Annie’
You could call Chris Swan a road warrior. Since 2014, he’s been traveling the road in one Broadway production or another. “The first was ‘A Christmas Story,’ where I played The Old Man,” said Swan recently. “That was the big one that got me into touring.” Next week, Swan comes to the Providence Performing Arts […]