Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: How a $7.5 million Forest Elementary upgrade will affect families

And on the Middletown Patch calendar - Joe Rocco's Newport Comedy Series

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Coffee in hand, Middletown? We've got the latest town updates for you. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • How a $7.5 million Forest Elementary upgrade will affect families
  • Why Middletown plans to scrap most development impact fees
  • How Middletown's comfort dogs helped power a countywide mental health day

Also on today's calendar: Joe Rocco's Newport Comedy Series and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: Who's in favor of bringing back Roman Numerals? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

  • Friday: Cloudy and windy; p.m. rain, with a high of 65 and low of 57 degrees.
  • Saturday: Very windy; rain, temps: high: 61, low: 57.
  • Sunday: Very windy; occasional rain, with a high of 65 and low of 58 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Town Council Approves $7 Million Renovation to Forest Elementary (newportthisweek.com) — Middletown's Town Council has approved $7.5 million from existing school bond funds to fully renovate Forest Avenue Elementary by 2028, preparing it for pre‑K through first‑grade students and securing strong state reimbursement. The meeting also green‑lit preschool bathroom upgrades, expanded a liquor license, advanced protections around short‑term rentals, and backed a tax exemption measure for families of first responders who die in the line of duty.
   

2. Middletown Town Council to Slash Development Fees (newportthisweek.com) — Middletown's Town Council is moving to eliminate most development impact fees, keeping only a sewer fee to support critical projects like the Coddington Highway sewage upgrade. Local leaders argue the change will make it easier and cheaper to build new housing, especially accessory dwelling units, while still funding essential sewer improvements that serve most of the town's wastewater needs.
   

3. People's Credit Union closed every branch for a day of mental health volunteering (whatsupnewp.com) — Middletown residents may have spotted local community police officers and their comfort dogs visiting the Middletown Senior Center as part of People's Credit Union's Day of Purpose focused on mental health. Volunteers also supported Newport Mental Health, Lucy's Hearth, the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center, and other area nonprofits, logging more than 500 hours of service across Rhode Island.
   

4. Middletown's MIKEL Inc. wins $64 million Navy engineering contract in Washington state (whatsupnewp.com) — A Middletown-based engineering firm, MIKEL Inc., has secured a five‑year, $64 million Navy contract supporting undersea warfare work at the Naval Undersea Warfare Center in Keyport, Washington. While the work is out west, the deal strengthens a woman‑owned small business headquartered in Middletown and could mean more local jobs and investment tied to the company's growing national Navy portfolio.
   

5. Sports must go on, even as storm bears down on RI. Here are the scores (newportri.com) — Middletown High's boys soccer team pulled off a dramatic 4-3 comeback win over Toll Gate, capped by a late penalty kick from Hugo Lyman. The roundup also lists other Rhode Island high school scores and Friday's game schedule, including several matchups involving Aquidneck Island and nearby schools that local fans may want to catch.
   

📸 Around Middletown

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Middletown

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📣 Middletown Shout Outs!

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Roadside table at 206 Peckham Ave.
    Middletown, restocked full of bouquets and organic Romano beans, shishito peppers, jalapeños, Serrano peppers , husk cherries, scallions, basil and… (Nextdoor Mitchell Ln)
  • I am looking for someone to core aerate my lawn.
    Does anyone know of someone local who does that? (Nextdoor W Main Rd / E Main Rd)
  • OLH Technical Services posted a job opening for NUWC Code 25 Incumbent Employees in Newport. Apply here.
  • TJX posted a job opening for Backroom Associate in North Kingstown. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Middletown here.

Ok Middletown! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I for 1. (Thank you Bill L. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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