What's Up in Newport: Wednesday, June 19

Hello, today is Wednesday, June 19.

⚓ Today is Juneteenth. After decades of being celebrated at mostly local levels, Juneteenth—the long-standing holiday commemorating the arrival of news of emancipation and freedom to enslaved Black people in Galveston, Texas, in 1865—became a federal holiday in 2021.

On Jule 15, 2023, the Rhode Island General Assembly passed legislation establishing Juneteenth as a state holiday beginning this year.

Known as Juneteenth in Texas, Emancipation Days symbolized America’s attempt to free the enslaved across the nation. But those days were unable to prevent new forms of economic slavery. Read More - Juneteenth celebrates just one of the United States’ 20 emancipation days – and the history of how emancipated people were kept unfree needs to be remembered, too.

Of note, Newport City Hall and offices will be closed today for the Juneteenth Holiday. The Waste Management Transfer Station will also be closed, resulting in a one-day delay for all trash, recycling, and bulky waste collections.

The following forecast is courtesy of the National Weather Service.

The following forecast is courtesy of the National Weather Service.

What’sUpNewp stories related to this week.

What’s Up in Newport this week: June 17 – 23

Providence-Newport Ferry will kick off 2024 season on June 21

Newport Bermuda Race will kick off with fun and festivities at Fort Adams

Newport Flower Show returns to Rosecliff June 21 – 23

Carbon Leaf returning to The JPT on June 22

Puddingstone Music Series continues this summer with two live performances

Coming up next on the 2024 Cruise Ship Schedule.

Known as Juneteenth in Texas, Emancipation Days symbolized America’s attempt to free the enslaved across the nation. But those days were unable to prevent new forms of economic slavery.

In a game full of home runs, the Newport Gulls fell just short in a 7-6 loss at the Martha’s Vineyard Sharks. Newport overcame an early deficit but couldn’t complete the comeback on the road.

Ceddanne Rafaela had three hits, including a tiebreaking single in the eighth-inning, and the Boston Red Sox beat the Toronto Blue Jays 4-3 on Tuesday night to earn a third straight series win.

Today, Governor Dan McKee and Secretary of Commerce Liz Tanner announced the recipients of new grant funding under the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation’s Main Street RI Streetscape Improvement Fund and Site Readiness Program.

Music Recital to feature Rhode Island’s 12 finest high school musicians

Sour Grapes is a comic about “Aesop”, a miserable flying dog and his odd friends, all living in a problematic and troubled world.

New law allows electronic monitoring for safety, quality care

Newport Folk alumn The Lone Bellow returns to Newport for a performance at The JPT in October.

The heat dome is affecting a broad swath of the eastern half of the country, from roughly the Great Plains states up through Maine.

Events will be held every Thursday this summer from June 27th through September 5th at Aquidneck Island’s iconic mansion lawns, sports fields and public parks, including The Elms, Fort Adams and Newport Polo Grounds. 

Citywide effort to identify and replace lead service lines

East Bay RI: Reclaiming a piece of greenery at Portsmouth High School

Rhode Island Monthly: A luxury trip to the Newport Bermuda Race? For $65,000, it could all be yours.

The New York Times: John Everett Benson, Who Chiseled John F. Kennedy's Grave, Dies at 84

WLNE: Rhode Island celebrates Juneteenth