Tall Ship with a Tall Mission
After port calls in Miami and New York City, the 278-foot, tall ship Statsraad Lehmkuhl continued on to Newport, arriving Jan. 4, where it docked for four days. With its home port in Bergen, Norway, the 107-year-old ship was named in honor of Kristofer Lehmkuhl, a prominent Bergen politician who served in the Norwegian parliament from 1903 to 1906. The […]
North End Gas Station Demolition Approved
The Newport Planning Board unanimously approved the demolition of four North End buildings, including a long-standing gas station, along with the development plan review of Colbea Enterprises to construct a new gas station, convenience store, car wash and gas pump canopy, improve stormwater drainage, and add landscaping and parking at 138 JT Connell Highway/ 184-186 Admiral Kalbfus Road. However, the […]
New Hospitality Leader Sees a Brighter Year Ahead
Portsmouth’s Jennifer Gullins has been named president and CEO of PEAK Events Services, New England’s largest event rental and tenting company. Most recently serving as senior vice president of sales and marketing, Gullins will succeed co- CEO’s Bob Traina and Larry Green, who will remain active in the company. Gullins joined PEAK in 2013 via a merger with Rentals Unlimited […]
Legislature Overrides McKee’s Short Term Rental Veto
The Rhode Island Legislature opted on Jan. 4 to override Gov. Dan McKee’s veto of a bill sponsored by Rep. Lauren Carson and Sen. Dawn Euer to create a statewide registry of property owners who list short-term rentals on third-party sites. It was the first time in a decade that the legislature has overridden a governor’s veto, which requires a […]
Group Proposes Restoring, Relocating Vanderbilt Memorial
When the monument built in honor of Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt was erected on Broadway in the early 20th century, it received national acclaim for its exquisite detail and was considered a fitting tribute to the late magnate. Now, the statue sits dilapidated and decaying, with many pieces eroded by time or lost to vandalism. A group of local citizens has […]
League of Women Voters Holds Voter Registration Drive
In was called a practice of “good democracy,” volunteers from the League of Women Voters of Newport County stood outside City Hall on Jan. 6, providing information on voter registration to the public. The event took place on the one-year anniversary of the insurrection in Washington, D.C. when supporters of former President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol. “Republican or […]
Climate Caucus Discusses Most Pressing Priorities
The Aquidneck Climate Caucus, a political advocacy group created by state Rep. Terri Cortvriend and state Rep. Lauren Carson, held a virtual discussion on environmental issues on Jan. 9, focusing on the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference attended by U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse and state Rep. Dawn Euer in Glasgow, Scotland. The Glasgow event brought together over 120 world […]
Commission Looks at City Charter
Newport is examining its government structure and internal policies with the creation of a Charter Review Commission, which was unanimously approved by the City Council in November. The last review of the charter was in 2014. “Over the last seven years, issues have arisen that have raised the question of a need for a timely review of the charter to […]
St. Patrick’s Parade Committee Seeks Vending Rights
The St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee is requesting that it serve as the sole vendor at this year’s parade, scheduled for March 12. In a Jan. 2 letter to the Newport City Council, parade chairman Dennis Sullivan said outside vendors have caused issues in the past. “They sold items that they were not supposed to sell, and they interrupted the […]
