Our weekday morning column, 5 Things You Need to Know, provides you with information that can help you plan your day and give you some fodder for water cooler conversations. 1. Visit Newport Vineyards for an evening of Comedy and Wine Tasting on Saturday, June 16. See Boston-based comedian Jimmy Dunn. The former host of NESN's "Fan Attic," Dunn is well known for his Red Sox sports humor, and has appeared on Comedy Central, Jimmy Kimmel Live, and CMT's Hit Parade, to name just a few. Wine tasting at 6 p.m.; show starts at 7 p.m. $30/person.  Price includes wine tasting, comedy show and logo …

  1. Newport resident Patrick Abrecht saw the positives of recent flooding due to high tides and instead of complaining, he took action. He grabbed his paddleboard and went up and down his street! 2. Newport Mansions announced Hunter House, Chepstow and The Breakers Stable & Carriage House are now open weekends and holidays through June 29, and will move to a daily operating schedule on June 30. 3. Mark your calendar for June 29 at the Bannister's Wharf store for a wine & cheese reception from 5 to 7 p.m. to meet Newport writer Herb McCormick, author of several sailing books, including One …

Our weekday morning column, 5 Things You Need to Know, provides you with information that can help you plan your day and give you some fodder for water cooler conversations. 1. Pabst Brewing is co-hosting a bass tournament with the Block Island Tourism Council through July 7. Any Rhode Island waters are eligible and there is nearly $30,000 at stake in prizes. Visit www.pbrfishing.com for rules and to register. 2. The governor has signed legislation that will allow Twin River and Newport Grand to award an additional $250,000, each, in promotional points for the remainder of the current fiscal …

Our weekday morning column, 5 Things You Need to Know, provides you with information that can help you plan your day and give you some fodder for water cooler conversations. 1. Bay View Academy announced the distinguished winners of its 2011-2012 athletics awards. These awards are given to Bay View student athletes in grades 9 through 12. Newport resident Rachel Clair, a senior, won the Sister Elizabeth McAuliffe, Sportswomenship Award, which is presented to senior athletes who exhibit all the qualities of good sportswomenship on and off the playing fields.  2. The following resident …

Our weekday morning column, 5 Things You Need to Know, provides you with information that can help you plan your day and give you some fodder for water cooler conversations. 1. Mary Grace Ilardi of Newport, was inducted into the Society of Women Engineers during ceremonies conducted by the College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences at the University of Vermont earlier this spring. 2. Jane McDurman was promoted to assistant vice president branch administrator and Theresa MacDaniel to training manager at People's Credit Union.  McDurman will direct and organize the operational and …

The 31st Annual Schweppes Great Chowder Cook-Off begins this Saturday at the Newport Yachting Center. Vote for Best Clam, Seafood and Creative categories. This Saturday is also opening day for Newport Polo. The Newport International Polo Series will begin at 5 p.m. at Glen Farm in Portsmouth. The opener will feature USA vs. Ghana. Sustainable Aquidneck will be holding a fundraiser featuring a silent auction on Sunday at the The Fifth Element. Admission is $20. Friday is Newport Community Outreach Day with staff of Senator Sheldon Whitehouse. The free event at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., …

There will be a  student Mythology exhibition by Thompon Middle School fifth-graders at Marble House today from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Youth for Understanding is looking for host families for an academic school year or a semester. To learn more about welcoming an exchange student into your home, get the details here. Tales of TMS Theater Production in the Thompson cafeteria will begin at 7 p.m. Rogers High School students are encouraged to recycle their old shoes to benefit the Physical Education program. Bring old shoes to the recycling boxes in the gym.  Today's Big Read Newport 2012 book …

The Newport Public Services Department’s Clean City Program reminds residents that due to the observance of Memorial Day, all collections for the week of May 28 will be delayed by one day. Make your own hand-blown glass ornament or paperweight at Thames Glass tomorrow at 1 p.m. If you sign up to volunteer to sit in a Secret Garden for one or more ships, you can visit a dozen more for free. From June 29-July 1, more than a dozen garden in the Historic Point Neighborhood will be open for viewing.  There will be a joint workshop between the Newport City Council and the Newport School Committee …

Common Fence Music presents its final concert of the season featuring Tom Rush at Channing Memorial Church. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Show begins at 8 p.m. and tickets are $35. The Read/Eat/Chat May Book Discussion at the Newport Art Museum begins at 12 p.m. Admission is 5 p.m.    Deb Caraco, P.E., Senior Watershed Engineer, Center for Watershed Protection, will speak about Holistic Watershed Protection: Lessons Learned from the Chesapeake at the CCRI Auditorium as a part of the Aquidneck Land Trust’s 2012 Conservation Speaker Series. The lecture begins at 5:30 p.m. and is a free event. …

According to the Rogers High School website, as of today, there will be no more charging of school meals. Those who pay for full or reduced price lunch must have money on their account or pay with cash. There will be a Wellness Workout at the high school today from 2:15 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. The book fair at Thompson Middle School continues this week throughout the day. Today’s Teen Time at the Newport Public Library will be in honor of National Chocolate Chip Day. Teens can make chocolate candies with traditional and colorful chocolates in the Program Room from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Want to get…

The Aquidneck Island Multiple Sclerosis Support Group meets today at 6:30 p.m. tonight at Newport Hospital. There will be a book chat at the Edward King House at 11 a.m. Be prepared to discuss are book you are currently reading. The   Newport Art Museum Member's Juried Show continues today at the Newport Art Museum. Want your voice to be heard? Learn more about blogging on Newport Patch at our Local Voices section.  Today’s forecast predicts a high of around 63 degrees and partly cloudy skies.

There will be an Arbor Day Tree Planting today at 9 a.m. at Morton Park. The Rogers High School Horticultural Team will plant a memorial tree in honor of Peter Simpson. Spring Recycling Day will be held this Saturday, April 28, from 9-1 a.m. in the Easton’s Beach parking lot. Get the details here. The Newport Police Department’s prescription drug take-back will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Drop off expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs in the lobby. The service is free, anonymous, and with no questions asked. The Village Project, hosted by Child & Family Services, will hold a community…

Are you a Hunger Games fan? Debate what you thought was better, the book or the movie, at the Newport Public Library today at 3:30 p.m. As a part of Newport Arboretum Week, there will be a Colonial Tree Walk at Eisenhower Park at 5:30 p.m. Switch, an Energy Documentary will begin at 6 p.m. at the Jane Pickens Theater.  The Zoning Board will meeting at 7 p.m. at City Hall. There will be a Wellness Workout for students today in the cafeteria at Rogers High School from 2:15 to 3:15 p.m. 

The Rogues & Scoundrels History Walking Tour begins today at 11 a.m. at the Museum of Newport History at Brick Market. The Newport Public Library will hold a school vacation boredom buster at 2 p.m. There will be beading supplies in the Young Adult section for necklaces, bracelets, cell phones and charms. Salve Regina University will screen Kinderblock 66 at 7 p.m. at Bazarsky Lecture Hall. The Holocaust documentary will be followed by a Q&A with filmmaker Rob Cohen. The Newport Planning Board will meet at 7 p.m. in the City Council chambers. Artist Paula Visnoski will have a watercolor …

The Pennfield School will hold an Open House on Friday at 8 a.m. Stroller Strides is hosting a Spring kick-off Party on Friday at 9 a.m. at Fort Adams State Park. There will be a car wash to benefit the Cluny eighth grade Gettysburg Trip on Saturday at 10 a.m. at St Augustin's Church. Backseat Lover, a Pearl Jam tribute band, will play at Newport Grand Slots on Saturday. Tickets are $10/$12 day of show. “April in Paris” Afternoon Luncheon & Fashion Show will be held at noon on Sunday. Tickets are $35.  

The Newport School Committee/City Council Liaison meeting will begin today at 11 a.m. at the Newport Area Career and Technical Center.  Two sixth grade classes from St. Michael’s Country Day School will clean up the southern end of Miantonomi Park from 9:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Volunteers are welcome. Contact Petra Napolitano at 848-2750 or at pnapolitano@katherinefield.com for more information. There will be an E-Zone Workshop at the Newport Public Library for people to learn how to download free eBooks from the library and transfer them onto a Kindle, Nook, or other e-readers. The workshop …

The Harbor Center Working Group will meet today at 9 a.m. at the Newport Armory to discuss the final construction phase, a website update, operations planning and grand opening scheduling. The 2012 Atlantic Cup class 40 sailing race is currently looking for volunteers to work as event staff. Volunteers are needed to help as event staff, crowd control and answer questions about the race. Contact Kayla at Kayla@atlanticcup.org if you’d like to volunteer. The Newport School Committee will meet at the Newport Area Career and Technical Center at 7 p.m. for its regularly scheduled meeting. Youth …

The Newport Planning Board will meet tonight at 6:30 p.m. in the second floor conference room of City Hall to discuss stimulus funding for the FY 2012 Community Development Block. The activity for today’s Teen Time at the Newport Public Library will be bracelet braiding. Meet in the Program Room from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Get more information on the teen blog or the library’s Facebook page. The Newport Public Library will host a free theater performance of Caleb’s Crossing to commemorate Reading Across Rhode Island’s 10th Anniversary. The presentation begins at 7 p.m. There will be a …

The ”Fill the Plate" Art Show begins at 4 p.m. Local artists, students, and people use food pantries “filled a plate” with art dealing with hunger or poverty in the area. The plates will be displayed at the Newport Public Library. Green Drinks Newport will hold its April gathering at the Save the Bay Exploration Center and Aquarium at 5:30 p.m. The 4th Annual Food & Wine Expo starts tonight at 6 p.m. at The Safari Room. Tickets are $25.   Kick karaoke up a notch with a live band to back you up. Head to the Firehouse Theater tonight at 8 p.m. $5. Today should bring more clear skies with a high…

High school juniors must register for the May 5th SATs by this Saturday, April 6th to avoid late fees.  Go to collegeboard.com for registration information. Louis Escobar, co-owner of Escobar’s Highland Farm in Portsmouth, President and founder of The Rhode Island Dairy Farmers Cooperative (Rhody Fresh), and member Agrimark Legislative Education Committee, will give a lecture about local small farm viability and his experiences in agriculture. The lecture, at 152 Harrison Ave. at 7 p.m., is free, but pre-registration required.  The Newport Public Library will host Books & Babies at 10:30 a.m…