With an eye toward reducing the City’s cost of living, the City of Newport today issued a press release seeking applicants to serve on a 6-month ad-hoc committee to study tax policies that could help make living in Newport more affordable for year-round residents. The new Taxation Relief Ad-Hoc Committee, which will be comprised of […]
Newport
Posted inReal Estate
‘Normandie’ estate on Ocean Drive hits the market for $15 million
Gustave White Sotheby’s International Realty today announced that the“Normandie” estate at 232 Ocean Avenue in Newport has hit the market for $15 million. Located on Ocean Drive, this property sits on almost four and a half secluded oceanfront acres and includes three separate private swimming coves. According to Gustave White, the house was built in […]
Posted inCity & Government
Newport Harbor rules, permitting programs returning to normal this summer
Boating season is just around the corner and Newport’s Harbormaster’s Office is advising boaters that all normal harbor rules will be in effect this year, including the City’s dinghy permitting program and mooring usage requirement, both of which were suspended last year due to COVID-19. Applications for the City’s Stone Pier dinghy sticker program, which is intended to […]
Posted inArts & Culture
What’s Up at the Movies: We Review “Mortal Kombat”
Hollywood has a troubled history with video games. While they sometimes generate nice returns at the box office, video game adaptations never score above mixed with critics (the best reception I found was for Detective Pikachu in 2019). Never mind that the first Pirates of the Caribbean turned a theme-park ride into a fun adventure […]
Posted inOpinion
Op-Ed: U.S. has pivotal opportunity to reclaim leadership on climate
U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) joined Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) to push for American leadership on climate change, repairing the international agreements and commitments severed by the Trump administration over the past four years. Their op-ed outlines a plan to restore U.S. credibility on climate issues and get the country […]
Posted inCity & Government
City of Newport awarded $180,000 grant to help protect Almy Pond
As Aquidneck Island celebrates Earth Day, the City of Newport, working in partnership with a number of community stakeholders, today announced that it has been awarded a $180,000 grant to help protect and restore one of Aquidneck Island’s most threatened bodies of water. The grant, which was submitted in partnership with the Aquidneck Island Planning Commission […]
Posted inNews
Preservation Society Fellowship deadline approaching
via The Preservation Society of Newport County The closing date to apply for The Preservation Society of Newport County’s 2021-2022 Social History Fellowship is May 1. This is a one-year, residential fellowship for a scholar or emerging professional to examine the experience of enslaved and free Africans and African-Americans in Newport and Aquidneck Island in the […]
Posted inNews
International humanitarian Dr. Carolyn Y. Woo to present commencement address during Salve Regina’s May 9 ceremonies
via Salve Regina University Dr. Carolyn Y. Woo, Distinguished President’s Fellow for Global Development at Purdue University and the retired president and CEO of Catholic Relief Services, will offer pre-recorded commencement remarks when Salve Regina University celebrates its 71st commencement, staged in three separate ceremonies on Sunday, May 9, beginning at 10 a.m. beneath the oceanside tent at McAuley Hall. […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Aquidneck Growers Market returns to Pell School on May 1, Memorial Boulevard on May 19
Spring is in full swing and Aquidneck Community Table has announced the dates and details for their upcoming summer markets. Saturday Winter Market at Newport Gateway Center This Saturday (April 24) will be the final Winter Market of the season at the Newport Gateway Center. Stop by the market one more time to stock up […]
Posted inNews
EPA: Settlement will result in improved stormwater controls at Naval Station Newport
The U.S. Navy has agreed to make more than $39 million in repairs at Naval Station Newport that will ensure the facility is in compliance with laws regulating the discharge of stormwater into Coddington Cove, an embayment of Narragansett Bay, according to a news release published today by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). […]
Posted inCity & Government
City of Newport offering bonuses to lifeguards, beach staff
In an effort to increase the pool of applicants interested in working at Easton’s Beach this summer, the City of Newport today announced that it is offering a pair of financial incentive programs for both lifeguards and general beach staff. Under the 2021 seasonal employment incentive program, the City writes on their website that any […]
Posted inCity & Government
City of Newport: Paid parking season begins on May 1
The City provided the following information in a press release on Tuesday regarding the upcoming paid parking season; The City of Newport is gearing up for the start of its annual parking season and this year is aiming to make it a little easier to park around town thanks to some new technology. Motorists are […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Consider a staycation this spring
With spring weather teasing warmer days ahead and the start of Rhode Island Hotel Week, why not take advantage of a less crowded Newport and treat yourself to a staycation in the city-by-the-sea? Let’s be honest, everyone deserves a break. This past year has been extremely stressful and mentally taxing for so many people in […]
Posted inNews
Celebrating one year of literature and learning for Newport County’s littlest
by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center (MLK Center) The Imagination Library program at the MLK Community Center launched in April of 2020, during a time when all of us were coping with the first challenges of the Coronavirus pandemic. But as we’ve seen time again at the MLK this past year, acts of kindness […]
Posted inNews
Newport Country Club will host the 2024 U.S. Senior Open Championship
The United States Golf Association (USGA) today announced that Newport Country Club will host the 44th U.S. Senior Open Championship. The venue was originally scheduled to be the host site of the 2020 championship, but it was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This will be the fifth USGA championship to be held at Newport […]
Posted inNews
Public invited to help clean gravestones around Newport
The Newport Historic Cemetery Advisory Commission is inviting members of the public to help clean gravestones around Newport this May and June. According to the commission, cleaning stones improve the look of the burial site and helps preserve the monuments. The first gravestone cleaning will take place at 10 am on Saturday, May 8 and […]
Posted inCity & Government
City of Newport to offer pop-up vaccination clinic for BIPOC community on Wednesday
The City of Newport today announced that it is hosting a pop-up COVID-19 vaccination clinic on Wednesday, April 21st for members of the City’s BIPOC community. BIPOC is an acronym that stands for Black, Indigenous, and People Of Color. The city says that the one-day event is being held as part of a statewide effort by […]
Posted inNews
Rhode Island news briefs: April 18
Rhode Island News Briefs is a regular feature of WhatsUpNewp, selecting interesting stories from around the state, gathered from various news organizations, and other sources from business, government, and non-profit organizations. April 18, 2021 Fire displaces several in Providence PROVIDENCE — A four-alarm fire at a 16-unit apartment complex on Chatham Street on Saturday afternoon displaced […]
Posted inCity & Government
Rhode Island Department of Health provides COVID-19 vaccination update
The Rhode Island Department of Health provided the following COVID-19 vaccination update on Friday. Rhode Island COVID-19 Vaccination Update Governor Dan McKee and the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH) are writing to provide an update on Rhode Island’s COVID-19 vaccine efforts. As of this afternoon, 448,768 people have received one dose of vaccine. A total of 316,983 people have received […]
Posted inCity & Government
City of Newport: Annandale Road Water Main Improvement Project set to begin
Residents of the Annandale neighborhood as well as motorists passing through the area are being advised that the City of Newport’s Water Division has contracted with Biszko Contracting Corporation to clean and line the 20” water transmission main running below Annandale Road from Memorial Boulevard to Narragansett Avenue beginning next week. The work, which is […]
Posted inNews
BankRI collects 7,078 books for Books Are Wings during its annual book drive
Bank Rhode Island (BankRI) recently wrapped up its annual children’s book drive to benefit Books Are Wings. During March, the bank collected 7,078 books through its 20 branches, corporate office, and operations center, making 2021 BankRI’s most successful book drive. In Middletown, the bank’s local branch was among the effort’s top performers, generating 463 books. […]
Posted inThings To Do
Three Miss Daffodils named to lead Annual ‘Driving Miss Daffodil’ car rally on Sunday (Updated)
This year, the Audrain Automotive Museum is honored to have two reigning Rhode Island pageant winners and an honorary Miss RI’s Outstanding Teen as “Miss Daffodils” in leading the Audrain’s 7th Annual Driving Miss Daffodil car rally, part of Newport’s Daffodil Days this Saturday, April 17th. Update: Due to weather, organizers announced on Friday morning that the Driving Miss Daffodils car rally has […]
Posted inNews
Pliking in Newport for Aquidneck Island Earth Week
Have you ever stopped to pick up trash on a bike ride? Turns out there is a term as well as an entire movement behind this activity – “Pliking” is the action of picking up litter while biking; and this eco-friendly trend is gaining popularity all over the world. Where does the term come from? […]
Posted inCity & Government
Rep. Ruggiero legislation would explore the possibility of reorganizing CRMC
Following two high-profile development decisions that landed in court and have been criticized by the attorney general, Rep. Deborah Ruggiero on Thursday submitted legislation to explore the possibility of reorganizing the Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC). More from a press release from the General Assembly; “The CRMC is a citizen zoning board that’s made up […]
Posted inCity & Government
City of Newport offering compost bins at reduced rates
The City of Newport is encouraging its residents to help eliminate excess food waste by providing backyard compost bins at a “dirt cheap” price thanks to a grant from the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation. The grant funding, which the City said in a press release was secured by the Department of Public Services, allows […]