Features

Charter School Hearing Reveals Mixed Opinions

It was standing room only at the Newport Public Library on Monday, June 17, as the Rhode Island Department of Education conducted the first of two public hearings on the proposed Newport County STEAM Academy Charter School more »

Jun 19, 2013 in Education Beat (1 Comments)

Alma Gilmore

(Photo by Meg O'Neil)

After 66 Years, a Diploma for Gilmore

As students from the Aquidneck Island Adult Learning Center walked across the stage at Rogers High School on Monday, June 10 to receive their high school diplomas and general equivalency degrees, one graduate stood out: 83-year old Alma Gilmore. more »

Jun 13, 2013 in Education Beat

City Receives Grant to Study Sea Level Rise

With Hurricane Sandy still fresh in the minds of business owners and policy makers, City Councilors on Wednesday accepted a $75,000 grant award from the van Beuren Charitable Trust to study the potential threat of rising sea levels. more »

Jun 14, 2013 in News & Features (3 Comments)

Council Faces Tough Budget Choices

When the Newport City Council meets later this month to finalize next year's spending plan, they'll be voting on an amended version of a proposal first presented by City Manager Jane Howington in April. more »

Jun 13, 2013 in News & Features (1 Comments)

Capital Fund Tapped to Plug School Budget Hole

In order to avert a $452,000 deficit in the current school year budget, the Newport School Committee voted to allocate monies from a capital improvement fund to reduce the budget shortfall. more »

Jun 13, 2013 in Education Beat (7 Comments)

City Taking Stock of Leased Properties

After years of debate over the management of the Lower Thames Street Armory, City Council members are expected to provide the tenants of the antiques consortium a bit of stability at their next meeting on Wednesday, June 12. more »

Jun 6, 2013 in News & Features

Shipyard Crane

(Photo by Billy Black)

Shipyard Gets an Upgrade

In what is being described as a potential game changer for the city's yachting industry, the Newport Shipyard began assembly on a new 500 Metric Ton marine Travelift at their Washington Street facility. more »

Jun 8, 2013 in News & Features

Farley: School Committee Violated State Law

After a budget session between the Newport School Committee & City Council last week, councilor Michael Farley released a statement claiming the school committee and Supt. John Ambrogi have “grossly neglected” budget oversight responsibilities. more »

Jun 5, 2013 in Education Beat (3 Comments)

(Photos by Meg O'Neil)

“The Meeting Room” Officially Opens

Queen Anne Square is back in business. ‘The Meeting Room,’ an installation by world-renowned artist and architect Maya Lin, was dedicated and opened to the public on Friday morning. more »

May 31, 2013 in News & Features (4 Comments)

And The Winners Are…

The Newport Yachting Center has released the winners of the 31st annual Great Chowder Cook-Off, which took place on June 2. Visitors braved the elements to indulge in over 3,000 gallons of varied chowder recipes from restaurants near and far. more »

Jun 4, 2012 in News & Features (2 Comments)

Furlough Notices Hit Newport Naval Complex

More than 700 civilian employees at the Newport Naval Complex received furlough notices this week as part of automatic budget cuts at the U.S. Defense Department, and additional furlough letters are on the way. more »

May 29, 2013 in News & Features (5 Comments)

Washington Letter Award Winners

Sophomores from Rogers High School recently participated in the George Washington Letter Essay Contest sponsored by the Loeb Visitors Center at Touro Synagogue. more »

May 29, 2013 in Education Beat

The Best Laid Plans

A pair of efforts aimed at helping city leaders chart a better course for Newport's future played out inside City Hall this week. more »

May 25, 2013 in News & Features

Ocean State Soap Box Derby Winners

The downward slope of Memorial Boulevard became a raceway on May 18, as nearly 30 young drivers competed in the 17th Annual Ocean State Soap Box Derby for the change to represent Rhode Island in the Derby Nationals in Akron, Ohio this July. more »

May 29, 2013 in Community

Tennis Hall of Fame Earns Top Honors

The International Tennis Hall of Fame & Museum has achieved accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums (AAM), which is the highest professional achievement in the museum industry. more »

May 22, 2013 in News & Features

Committee Members Spar Over Budget

The Newport schools’ Liaison Subcommittee, which is made up of members of the Newport School Committee and the City Council, met on Tuesday, May 21, to discuss the school budget for Fiscal Year 2013-14. more »

May 25, 2013 in Education Beat (2 Comments)

CRMC Approves Ann Street Pier

The City of Newport scored an important victory this week in its plan to expand its Ann Street Pier facility into a full-fledged public boating center. more »

May 16, 2013

Rogers Students Study Geology at Ballard Park

As the school year rolls into spring time and sunshine, Rogers High School students are being given the opportunity to explore the natural beauty of Ballard Park. more »

May 21, 2013 in Education Beat

Van Zandt Billboards at Issue

Is it time for the billboards that line Van Zandt Avenue to come down? At least one nearby resident thinks so... more »

May 17, 2013 (1 Comments)

Newport Gulls Looking for Volunteers

The Newport Gulls organization is holding its annual Volunteer Information Meeting at the Newport County YMCA at 5 p.m. on Thursday, May 30. more »

May 21, 2013 in News & Features

Focus Groups Describe Ideal School Chief

Several focus groups met this week to provide input on what characteristics they would like to see in the new superintendent of schools when current Supt. John H. Ambrogi retires from the position in January. more »

May 16, 2013

Community Input Wanted in School Chief Search

With the search for Newport’s new school superintendent officially underway, community stakeholders are being invited to attend a series of upcoming focus groups to discuss what kind of characteristics they would like to see in a new school chief. more »

May 10, 2013 (4 Comments)

Mooring Fee Hike Floated

Boat owners could face a slight increase in their annual mooring fees if a proposal floated earlier this month as part of a potential fiscal year 2014-15 budget proposal takes hold. more »

May 9, 2013 in News & Features (4 Comments)

Proposed STEAM Charter School “Aces” Completeness Review

An application for the Newport County STEAM Academy (NCSA) has successfully passed a “completeness review” by the Rhode Island Department of Education. The charter school could open by Aug. 2014. more »

May 2, 2013 in Education Beat (27 Comments)

Police, Fire Budgets Discussed

The city council's budget process continued on Wednesday with a review of the city's public safety departments. The evening was the second in a series of planned public budget presentations scheduled through June. more »

May 3, 2013 in News & Features (1 Comments)

City Calls for Cooperation, Consolidation With Schools

Earlier this week, City Manager Jane Howington sent a letter to Superintendent John H. Ambrogi calling for a "cooperative dialogue" to try to consolidate services between the schools and the city. more »

May 2, 2013 in Education Beat (2 Comments)

Bike Newport Fathers Day

Photo by Casey Farley

Bike Newport Announces Fathers Day Ride

Bike Newport has announced that the first annual Elliot Kaminitz Fathers Day Ride will take place on Sunday, June 16. more »

Apr 25, 2013 in Community

Traffic Light Study

Navigating the city's bustling streets in the summer can be a bit of an art form. But now, the city is hoping to ease congestion at four of the city's busiest intersections with a decidedly scientific approach. more »

Apr 29, 2013 in News & Features (2 Comments)

Prescription Drug Take Back Event

The Newport Police Department will be collecting potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs for destruction at the Newport Police Department’s Assembly Room on Saturday from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. more »

Apr 26, 2013 in Community

Who Will Pay for Pell?

Shortly after City Manager Jane Howington released a proposal for a $114.63 million budget for fiscal year 2014 last week, attention turned to the school department's finances, a critical piece in the council's overall spending plan. more »

Apr 25, 2013 in Education Beat (12 Comments)

Sakonnet River Bridge

Source: RIDOT

Toll Rates Set

Over the objection of area opponents, the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority approved on Wednesday a schedule of toll rates for the new Sakonnet River Bridge. more »

Apr 17, 2013 in News & Features (11 Comments)

Budget Deliberations Begin

The city's annual budget process began in earnest last week after City Manager Jane Howington presented a proposed FY2013-14 budget during a special meeting of the City Council on Wednesday. more »

Apr 25, 2013 in News & Features (1 Comments)

breakers

(Rendering courtesy of The Preservation Society of Newport County and Joplin-Epstein Architects)

Breakers Welcome Center Plans Unveiled

The Preservation Society of Newport County this week took the lid off its plans to construct a permanent welcome center on the grounds of The Breakers. more »

Apr 11, 2013 in News & Features (2 Comments)

Photos by Tom Shevlin

Repairs to the Easton's Beach Pavilion are on the Way

After sustaining significant damage from Superstorm Sandy, City Council members last week approved a contract bid for just over $400,000 to restore the lower level of the popular pavilion. more »

Apr 22, 2013 in News & Features

Council Denies Entertainment at Barking Crab

For the second time in as many years, City Councilors shot down an application by the owners of the Barking Crab restaurant for an outdoor entertainment license. more »

Apr 22, 2013 in News & Features

House Finance Committee to Hold Hearing on Proposed Toll at Sakonnet River Bridge

The Sakonnet Toll Opposition Platform group, known as STOP, is inviting the public to the Rhode Island State House in Providence on Thursday, April 25. more »

Apr 19, 2013 in News & Features (1 Comments)

Newport in Bloom Spring Workshop

A special interactive workshop will take place on Tuesday, April 23, at 6:30 p.m. at Fenner Hall. more »

Apr 19, 2013 in Community

Open House Sheds Light, Reveals Rifts

The Alliance for a Livable Newport hosted an open house to discuss citywide issues with members of the School Committee and City Council on Tuesday. more »

Apr 19, 2013 in News & Features (13 Comments)

TMS rally

(Photo by Meg O'Neil)

Pep Rally Celebrates Improved Test Scores

The sound of Thompson Middle School students chanting “T-M-S! T-M-S!” echoed from the cafeteria on Friday afternoon as principal Jaime Crowley led an academic pep rally to congratulate the students on their recent NECAP test results. more »

Apr 17, 2013 in Education Beat (4 Comments)

Navy Cannot Host Save the Bay Swim

But the event will go on as planned, according to Save The Bay's executive director, Jonathan Stone. more »

Apr 12, 2013 in News & Features (1 Comments)

Council Urges State to "Save Ruggles"

Joining a groundswell of public support, City Councilors on Wednesday voted unanimously to approve a resolution urging state transportation officials to preserve the Ruggles Avenue surf break throughout its plans to repair the Cliff Walk. more »

Apr 10, 2013 in News & Features

paving thames

(Image courtesy of the Newport Historical Society)

Paving Newport - Nothing New

Our friends at the Newport Historical Society remind us that paving efforts have been going on in Newport for centuries. While Broadway is the current locus of most road maintenance, Thames Street has been worked on for hundreds of years. more »

Apr 9, 2013 in Community (2 Comments)

Newport Fire Department Receives $343,224 Grant

A $343,224 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) for the Newport Fire Department was awarded this week. The grant money will be used to purchase new Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus units for Newport firefighters. more »

Apr 12, 2013 in News & Features (6 Comments)

Ocean Drive to Re-Open

Five months after being ravaged by Superstorm Sandy, Ocean Drive was being readied to once again accept traffic this week. more »

Apr 11, 2013 in News & Features (1 Comments)

Report Sheds Light on School System

The 19th annual Rhode Island KIDS COUNT report, which provides statistics and information on the well-being of Rhode Island’s children, was released on Monday, April 8. more »

Apr 11, 2013 in Education Beat

Surfers: Ruggles At Risk

Plans to repair the section of the Cliff Walk near Ruggles Avenue damaged by Superstorm Sandy have caught the attention of surfers from around the world, stoking fears that one of the eastern seaboard's premier point breaks could be lost. more »

Apr 2, 2013 in News & Features (4 Comments)

Broadway Sewer Construction Begins

Work to replace and improve the water main and sewer system on a large stretch of Broadway began on Monday, April 1. The improvements are being addressed prior to the start of the Broadway Streetscape Project. more »

Apr 1, 2013 in News & Features

City to Consider Bus Tax

City Council members are expected to consider a proposal at their April 10 meeting which would place a tax on the scores of tour buses which traverse the city's busy streets. more »

Apr 9, 2013 in News & Features (4 Comments)

Council Increases Parking Penalty

Just in time for the city's annual parking pinch, city councilors voted on Wednesday to make it more expensive for violate Newport's residential parking ordinance. more »

Apr 1, 2013 in News & Features (8 Comments)

Street Light Hit & Run

Lamp down! Public services officials are looking for help solving a case of a hit-and-run. Anyone with any information should call the city's anonymous tip line at (401) 846-8626. more »

Mar 28, 2013 in News & Features (4 Comments)

Breeding Kennel Proposal is Denied

A proposal by a Homer Street couple to use their three-bedroom home as a canine breeding facility ran into stiff opposition from neighbors and zoning board members in a meeting held this week. more »

Mar 28, 2013 in News & Features (2 Comments)

School Budget Not Ready Yet

Newport School Committee members and City Councilors met on Tuesday, March 26 and again the following day to discuss the upcoming Fiscal Year 2014 budget, which is still in development. more »

Mar 28, 2013 in Education Beat

Photos by Tom Shevlin

Cliff Walk Repairs Could Cost $6.8 Million

The bids are in! Work to repair the city's fabled Cliff Walk is estimated to cost no less than $6.8 million. more »

Mar 22, 2013 in News & Features (3 Comments)

AARP

(Photo by Meg O'Neil)

Tax Help is Free from AARP Volunteers

Still need to do your taxes? Fear not - A group of dedicated AARP volunteers will review and file your tax returns at several locations around Newport for free. more »

Mar 21, 2013 in Community

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