Newport Mansions to debut acoustic performance
Newport Mansions is expanding its digital content portfolio with a new music video series titled “Sessions.” The series features live acoustic performances with some of the most historically significant architecture in the United States.
Invited musicians record stripped-down 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 unique acoustics of each venue.
Cailin Peters of The Ballroom Thieves performing with partner Martin Earley in the Gold Room at Marble House in Newport.
The recordings will be posted in their entirety on the Newport Mansions YouTube channel, @Newport.Mansions.
The series will debut on January 8, 2026, with a performance by Maine-based indie-folk duo The Ballroom Thieves, recorded last summer inside the Marble House, once the home of socialist and women’s suffrage activist Alva Vanderbilt.
Additional “sessions” will be released as follows:
• The Wood Brothers Trio recorded live at The Breakers Stable and Carriage House on February 12, 2026.
• Local roots folk act Laden Valley recorded live on March 12, 2026, at The Elms (the summer home of George and Bertha Russell in HBO’s series “The Gilded Age”).
Newport Mansions plans to release new installments every month through 2026 and is currently in discussions with nationally recognized artists to record new “sessions.”
Newport Mansions has partnered with Newport-based creative content agency Tandem to help produce the series.
A half-minute teaser video for the “Sessions” series can be viewed on the Newport Mansions YouTube channel at youtu.be/QUxW3g0DddA. For updates on upcoming “sessions,” follow Newport Mansions on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok (@Newport.Mansions), or join the organization’s mailing list at NewportMansions.org.
IYRS Announces Inaugural Glo Tech Scholarship Fund Award Recipients
The IYRS School of Technology and Trades announced that Mary Ostrand of Newport has been named the inaugural Glow Tech Scholarship Fund award recipient. Established in February 2024, the Glow Tech Scholarship honors the legacy of Gloria Aurora Borrego, a trailblazer in the maritime industry.
Marie Ostrand of Newport has been named the recipient of the inaugural Glow Tech Scholarship Fund award at the IYRS School of Technology and Trades.
Ostrand, an accomplished offshore sailor, will use the award to pursue Yachtmaster certification. Her global experience and technical expertise embody the scholarship’s mission to empower women leaders in these evolving fields.
The scholarship, created by gift funds from Gloria’s champions and friends, reflects her extraordinary career spanning high-performance marine systems, motorsports, and major expedition projects such as the Whitbread Round the World Race and Diana Nydd’s record-setting swim. The fund was established to support female professionals in advancing their careers in maritime trade and advanced manufacturing, industries where Gloria is breaking barriers and setting new standards of excellence.
Next year applications will be accepted September 1 – November 15, 2026. For more information about Glo Tech Scholarship funding and eligibility requirements, visit iyrs.edu/careers/glo-tech. To donate, visit iyrs.edu/give and enter “Restricted Scholarship – Glow Tech” in the “In Memory or Honor” box.
Newport seeks Comprehensive Planning Advisory Committee members
The City of Newport is inviting residents, business owners and community stakeholders to apply to the Newport Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee (NCPAC), the lead advisory body supporting “Newport 2037,” the city’s update to its comprehensive plan.
From land use decisions to encouraging policy changes, Newport’s Comprehensive Plan serves as the city’s primary planning document, and is fundamental to establishing a shared vision of Newport’s future.
Being a part of NCPAC is expected to be a rigorous experience for those involved, and all are welcome to apply through the City’s website at CityofNewport.com/NCPAC now through January 23.
NCPAC will consist of approximately 20 to 25 members representing a broad range of backgrounds, perspectives and life experiences. Committee members will work closely with City staff and the City’s planning consultant, Interface Studio LLC, to assist in the preparation, public engagement, and community advocacy efforts associated with the Comprehensive Plan Update. The committee, which will be appointed by vote of the City Council, is designed to be separate and distinct from the special focus groups that will be established for specific comprehensive plan chapters.
The Advisory Committee is expected to meet approximately every month, with members also participating in various public engagement activities with members of the public. The expected period of service will extend till November 2026.
Serving on an advisory committee is one of many opportunities for the public to participate in the “Newport 2037” visioning process. Additional engagement opportunities include community-wide workshops and open houses; subject-specific focus groups; community surveys; An interactive online mapping portal and a personalized 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 currently invited to complete a short online survey and participate in an online interactive mapping exercise. www.CityofNewport.com/Newport2037.
Applications for the Newport Comprehensive Plan Advisory Committee, including information on qualifications and responsibilities to serve, are available on the City’s website at www.CityofNewport.com/NCPAC, or in person at City Hall through the Department of Planning and Development.
This article originally appeared in the Newport Daily News: Shape Newport’s Future, Scholarship Honors. The latest from around Newport County
