Newport Mansions will debut acoustic shows
Newport Mansions is expanding its digital content portfolio with a new series of music videos simply titled “Sessions”. The series combines live acoustic performances with some of the most significant historic architecture in the United States.
Guest musicians record messy sets inside or on the grounds of the organization’s 11 historic properties, seven of which are National Historic Landmarks. Each set is filmed without an audience and captured in a single take, using a condenser microphone to highlight the distinctive acoustics of each venue.
Calin Peters of The Ballroom Thieves performs with partner Martin Earley in the Gold Room at the Marble House in Newport.
Recordings will be posted in full on the Newport Mansions YouTube channel, @Newport.Mansions.
The series will debut on January 8, 2026, with a performance by Maine indie-folk duo The Ballroom Thieves, recorded last summer at the Marble House, a Gilded Age mansion that was once home to socialite and women’s suffrage activist Alva Vanderbilt.
Additional “sessions” will be released as follows:
• American roots trio The Wood Brothers on February 12, 2026, recorded live at The Breakers Stables & Carriage House.
• Local folk act Laden Valley on March 12, 2026, recorded live at The Elms (the summer home of George and Bertha Russell in the HBO series “The Gilded Age”).
Newport Mansions plans to release new installments every month throughout 2026 and is currently in talks with a number of nationally recognized artists to record new ‘Sessions’.
Newport Mansions partnered with Newport-based creative content agency Tandem to help produce the series.
A half-minute teaser video for the “Sessions” series can be seen on the Newport Mansions YouTube channel at youtu.be/QUxW3g0DddA. For updates on future “Sessions,” follow Newport Mansions on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok (@Newport.Mansions) or join the organization’s mailing list at NewportMansions.org.
IYRS Announces Glo Tech Scholarship Fund Award Recipient
The IYRS School of Technology & Trades announces that Marie Ostrand of Newport has been named the recipient of the Glo Tech Scholarship Fund award. Established in February 2024, the Glo Tech Scholarship honors the legacy of Gloria Aurora Borrego, a pioneer in the marine industry.
Marie Ostrand of Newport has been named the recipient of the Glo Tech Scholarship Fund award at the IYRS School of Technology and Trades.
Ostrand, an accomplished offshore sailor, will use the award to obtain his Yachtmaster certification. Her global experience and technical expertise embody the fellowship’s mission to empower women leaders in these evolving fields.
The scholarship, created by a gift fund from Gloria’s champions and friends, reflects her extraordinary career spanning high performance marine systems, motorsport and major expeditionary projects such as the Whitbread Round the World race and Diana Nyad’s record swim. The fund was established to support professional women advancing their careers in the maritime trades and advanced manufacturing, industries where Gloria has broken barriers and set new standards of excellence.
Next year’s applications will be accepted from September 1 to November 15, 2026. For more information about the Glo Tech Scholarship Fund and eligibility requirements, visit iyrs.edu/careers/glo-tech. To donate, go to iyrs.edu/give and enter “Restricted Scholarship – Glo Tech” in the “In Memory or Honor” box.
Newport seeks comprehensive plan advisory committee members
The City of Newport invites residents, business owners and community stakeholders to apply for the Newport Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee (NCPAC), a key advisory body supporting “Newport 2037,” the City’s update to its Comprehensive Plan.
From guiding land use decisions to encouraging policy change, the Newport Comprehensive Plan serves as the city’s primary planning document and is fundamental to establishing a shared vision for Newport’s future.
Being a part of NCPAC is expected to be a rigorous experience for those involved, and all are welcome to apply now through January 23 through the city’s website at CityofNewport.com/NCPAC.
NCPAC will consist of approximately 20 to 25 members representing a wide range of backgrounds, perspectives and lived experiences. Committee members will work closely with City staff and the City’s planning consultant, Interface Studio LLC, to assist with the preparation, public engagement and community advocacy efforts associated with updating the Comprehensive Plan. The committee, which will be appointed by a vote of the City Council, is designed to be separate and distinct from the specialty focus groups that will be established for specific chapters of the Comprehensive Plan.
The advisory committee is expected to meet roughly every two months, with members also participating in various public engagement activities with members of the public. The anticipated term of service will be extended to November 2026.
Participation in the advisory committee is one of many opportunities for the public to participate in the “Newport 2037” visioning process. Additional engagement opportunities include a series of community-wide workshops and open houses; subject-specific focus groups; community surveys; an interactive online mapping portal and a personal experience located at City Hall; and formal public hearings with both the City Council and the Planning Board.
In addition to applying to serve on NCPAC, residents are also invited to complete a short online survey and participate in an online interactive mapping exercise by visiting www.CityofNewport.com/Newport2037.
Applications for the Newport Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee, along with information on qualifications and responsibilities to be met, are available on the City’s website at www.CityofNewport.com/NCPAC or in person at City Hall through the Planning and Development Department.
This article originally appeared on the Newport Daily News: Shape Newport’s future, scholarship honor. The latest from Newport County