What Do You Like About Newport?

Please take a moment to think about the question asked in the title. While you are thinking I will let you know just a few of the things that I like about Newport.

The first thing I like about Newport is that when there is a need the community comes together to fill the need. Guys & Gals, one of the hair salons in town is holding a benefit yard sale this month to raise money to help pay medical bills for one of the women who works there. When the Newport Historical Society and the Newport Library decided that they needed a new home they worked to raise the money for a new building. Many people, businesses and organizations were involved in this project.

The Sebasticook Valley Community Center has many programs for the children and the elderly in town. There is everything from summer day camps to different sports programs for the children and bingo games or “Meals on Wheels” for the elderly. They are in the process of getting approval to start a day care center right on their facility.

Pathway Community Church is opening a KidCare America Center at their facility. This is an after school mentoring program that will reach up to 20 children from kindergarten to fifth grade.

As I talk about what I like about Newport I can’t leave out the school system. Yes there are some things that need improvement but there is a lot going for the new RSU19. First off, the Middle Schools are doing a great job of introducing the technology our children need. The High School has many programs geared to draw the children into the classroom. There is Taxidermy, an Agricultural class and a great Audio/Video class. The RSU is also looking to the future. There is going to be a conference in early October called "Future Search" where many people will be invited to discover where the education of our children will be going in the next five or six years. The information gathered will then be used to strategically plan the future. This conference alone can be a key factor in building community in the Newport Region.

On the classroom side the RSU will be implementing “Response to Intervention” which looks at the educational level of each student and gears the lessons towards the individual. This will make sure that children who have a hard time in class can still learn without falling behind. It will also give a challenge to those who are at a more advanced level.

The Newport Community Food Bank is another great example of what a community working together can do to improve life for its neighbors. The food bank started out as an idea of the High Street Congregational Church. They were looking for a way for the congregation to help their neighbors. Fifteen years later it is an independent organization supported by many churches, organizations, businesses and individuals in the area. The food bank is fully staffed by volunteers only and serves between 30 and 50 families a week. They disburse food every Saturday starting at eight. The process is kept fair by a stringent application process so that those in most need are able to get food. They support not only the town of Newport, but Plymouth, Dixmont, Etna, and Palmyra as well.

Now let’s imagine what Newport would be like if everyone worked together as neighbors. More would be accomplished as it would be more than just a few key people working towards community.