Robert J. McKenna Boulevard to be Dedicated Friday

State and local officials will dedicate the road in honor of former Newport mayor Robert J. McKenna.

President of the Senate M. Teresa Paiva Weed and members of the McKenna family will be joined by Governor Lincoln D. Chafee outside the Fort Adams Visitor Center on Friday for the dedication of the new Robert J. McKenna Boulevard. The pedestrian roadway, from the Fort Adams Park Visitor’s Center to the west gate of the fort, honors the former Newport Mayor, state Senator and Representative, who was a highly respected member of the higher education community. Restoration of Fort Adams was among the many causes to which he dedicated his time and energy. The ceremony will take place outside the Visitor’s Center at Fort AdamsState Park at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, September 21. Follow Fort Adams Drive to the end, at the fort. Following the ceremony…

• Photos (1)

Newport Folk Festival Announces Schedule

The Newport Folk Festival has released the times and stages each band will play.

• Documents (1)

Civil War Comes Alive at Fort Adams

The Civil War Living History Weekend will run this weekend on July 14-15.

The Civil War Living History Weekend kicks off Saturday July 14 and continues Sunday July 15 at Fort Adams. Two days of action and events bring the sights and sounds of the Civil War to Newport Events begin at 10 a.m. on both days and include re-enactors simulating dramatic assaults on Fort Adams as well as recreating the daily life of soldiers and civilians during the 1860s.  Throughout the day soldiers and civilians in authentic 19th century uniforms and dress will invite the public to spend a day in their life, and to learn about everything from military tactics to cooking and family life during the Civil War.  Re-enactors from all over New England and beyond will be in attendance, representing soldiers from the Union and the …

• Photos (6)

America's Cup World Series on the Horizon

We've put together everything you need to know about the America's Cup World Series, going on from June 26 to July 1 at Fort Adams.

In less than a week, thousands of sailing enthusiasts will flock to the America's Cup Village at Fort Adams to watch nine teams compete in the last stop of the America's Cup World Series races. The circuit of regattas is the culmination of a year's worth of work from Newport and the entire state of Rhode Island. “It's a team effort, but we have been working with literally hundreds of people to prepare for various festivities,” Discover Newport CEO Evan Smith said. “One of the real wow factors here is seeing the transformation of Fort Adams. I'm really jazzed for everyone to see it.” For several months, crews have turned Fort Adams into a state-of-the-art home base for the teams and spectators. This year, nine crews from seven countries …

• Photos (1)

Bill Naming Road After Late Mayor Sent to Governor

Legislation naming part of Fort Adams Drive after Newport Mayer Robert J. McKenna passed in the RI House.

The Rhode Island House passed legislation, sponsored by President of the Senate M. Teresa Paiva Weed, to rename a portion of Fort Adams Drive in Newport after Newport Mayor Robert J. McKenna, who passed away on Jan. 15. The Senate bill (2012-S 2817A)  – co-sponsored by Senate Majority Whip Maryellen Goodwin and Senate Majority Leader Dominick J. Ruggerio – will now be sent to the governor. It renames the portion of Fort Adams Drive that runs from the Fort Adams Visitor’s Center along the north perimeter to the West Gate as “Robert J. McKenna Boulevard.” “Bob McKenna was a mentor and friend to many. His devotion to serving our community was surpassed only by his devotion to his family,” said President Paiva Weed (D – Dist. 13, Newport, …

• Photos (1)

Renovated Fort Adams Opens May 19

The newly renovated Fort Adams will open for the season this Saturday at 10 a.m.

Famous for exciting sailing and water sports, Newport Rhode Island also offers fun and adventure on land with the re-opening of Fort Adams on May 19 at 10 a.m. The Fortress underwent extensive construction over the winter and for those looking for things to do in Newport, there is more going on than ever. Historic Fort Adams is a National Historic Landmark, and the largest and most complex coastal fortification in North America. Visitors to the Fortress can explore the fort and outer defensive works, take a two mile walk around the peninsula on the Bay Walk, relax on the grass overlooking Narragansett Bay, fly kites or play Frisbees, even picnic. The park is dog friendly. “Fort Adams was started in 1824, motivated by the British attack and…

• Photos (3)

America’s Cup World Series Tickets On Sale Now

General admission tickets are $10 per day.

Tickets are now available for the America’s Cup World Series races in Newport this summer. General admission tickets grant access the America’s Cup Village at Fort Adams, which features a jumbotron, live race TV feed and other amenities during the races, as well as to view the team bases, also known as “pit row.” The World Series races run from June 26 to July 21. Tickets are not required from June 23 to 27.  Practice racing days will be June 26 and 27, with the championship racing taking place from June 28 to July 1. The Newport stop of the America’s Cup is the final destination of the World Series circuit. Tickets are $10 per day. Order them here. 

•  5 Comments
• Photos (2)

Senate Approves Bill Naming Roadway for Robert J. McKenna

A bill that would rename a portion of Fort Adams Drive after former Newport Mayor Robert J. McKenna was passed in the Senate today.

The Rhode Island Senate today passed legislation sponsored by President of the Senate M. Teresa Paiva Weed to rename a portion of Fort Adams Drive in Newport after Newport Mayor Robert J. McKenna, who passed away on January 15. A member of the Fort Adams Trust, McKenna was deeply involved in his hometown community of Newport. He served as the city’s Mayor from 1988 to 1994. He was a State Representative from 1969 to 1973, and a State Senator from 1974 to 1985. McKenna made significant contributions to higher education as a teacher and administrator at Salve Regina University for 30 years and as a member of numerous boards and associations. He worked for 17 years as President of the Rhode Island Independent Higher Education Association. He …

• Photos (1)

Stokes Says He Didn't "Lose" The America's Cup

Patch met up with Keith Stokes at the State Fishing Pier to get a first-hand look at the initial plans Fort Adam's State Park infrastructure improvements that he said are required to attract and sustain sailing events such as the America's Cup.

“Being a Newporter, and old Newport family, I think the greatest mistake we have made in the last 30 years is allowed our waterfront to move away from a working waterfront that was marine dependent, into a residential lifestyle waterfront. Because of that we have lost shipyards, we have lost craftsmen and craftswomen who worked on boats and marine trades and commercial fishing...” - Keith Stokes, Executive Director of Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation Although local sailing fans might be disappointed that the 34th America’s Cup race will take place in San Francisco and not Newport, for Keith Stokes, Executive Director of Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation, it presented an opportunity to accelerate plans for …

• Photos (1)
• Documents (1)