Good morning, Newport.

BankNewport Charitable Foundation announced today its award of over $470,000 in spring grants to nearly 50 Rhode Island nonprofits, supporting arts, basic needs, education and healthy lives & including $100,000 for Newport Hospital Foundation and $50,000 for Friends of Middletown Public Library.

98-year-old U.S. Navy veteran John Bernard Arnold III died on May 6 with no relatives.

The community is urged to attend his funeral on Monday, May 18 at St. Joseph the Worker Church in Hanson (10 a.m. visiting hour, 11 a.m. Mass) and burial at Cedar Knoll Cemetery in Taunton.

Rogers and Middletown High School Theater Company will present Chicago: Teen Edition on May 29 and 30 at 7 p.m. at Rogers High School (15 Wickham Road) in the new auditorium.

Tickets cost $10 at the door for the musical featuring a teen-adapted 1920s jazz-age story.

Rhode Island holds many historical firsts, including Newport Country Club hosting the first U.S. Open golf on Oct.

4 and early gas streetlights along Upper Thames Street; it also saw the nation’s first discount department store in Cumberland and had the pioneering female lighthouse keeper at Lime Rock.

Salve Regina University launches a new bachelor’s in tourism, hospitality and event management this fall to prepare students for travel careers; the school also offers minors in wealth management and public policy plus certificate programs in behavior analysis and creative writing (enrolling for fall classes) to provide learning in Newport.

Spring Watercolor Series with Artist Mary Ellen Dwyer

10 AM – 12 PM — Blithewold Manor, Gardens & Arboretum — Materials not included — Explore the basics of watercolor painting in this engaging six-class series.

Killer Night Out - An Interactive Murder Mystery Dinner

7-9 p.m. — Belle's — Ticketed event — Solve a murder before dessert in an engaging, interactive dinner experience.

2026 CCBA Annual Meeting & Conference

8 AM – 5 PM — Newport Harbor Island Resort — Registration required — Attend for professional development and networking opportunities with CCBA members.

Junior Toots Concert

9:00-11:59 p.m. — Ocean Mist — $92+ — Experience the vibrant energy of Junior Toots live in concert.

2026 Inorganic Chemistry Conference

8 PM — Salve Regina University — Check website for cost — Premier international conference advancing inorganic chemistry research.

Lived Experience: What Connects Us Across Generations

5-6:30 p.m. — Newport Elks Lodge #104 — Complimentary light appetizers — Engage in a live conversation with elders exploring wisdom and connections across generations.

Free Adult Aerial Silks Intro Class

5:30-6:15 p.m. — Attitude Academy of Performing Arts — Free entry — Experience the joy of aerial arts with simple poses and climbing techniques on silks.

Mudslide Island Cocktail Competition

2-4 PM — Newport Harbor Island Resort — $20 per person (+tax) — Experience a thrilling cocktail competition featuring creative mudslide concoctions.

Our House: The Music of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

8:00 p.m. — The Greenwich Odeum — Tickets available — Experience an immersive musical journey through timeless hits of CSNY performed by an extraordinary ensemble of musical friends.

Dave Matthews Tribute Band Concert

9:00 – 10:30 PM — Ocean Mist — Cost information not provided — Celebrate the music of the Dave Matthews Band in a vibrant atmosphere.

Valet

Now hiring Seasonal Valet Attendants at The Chanler. Must be 21+ with a clean driving record. Trade parking garages for ocean views and ordinary commutes for luxury vehicles. Join a fast-paced environment where every arrival is different and no two days are the same. Seasonal and part-time opportunities available. Apply through link or by emailing [email protected]