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Newport mourns loss of music luminary
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Newport Now Staff Report
Memorial Day 2010 in photos,on page 2 and online.
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Dockwise’s Super Servant 4 (seen here in 2009) is making its first delivery of the season this week, offloading 45 yachts worth over $56 million into Newport Harbor just in time for the start of the summer boating season. Be sure to visit Newport-Now.com for photos and video of the semi-submersible in action.
Touro Synagogue: Symbol of Liberty Taking a tour of America’s oldest synagogue By Anita Rafael What do the Spanish Inquisition, the Reverend Roger Williams, President George Washington, Jews from the Netherlands, and an English merchant-captain who loved classical architecture all have in common? They are part of the story of how Touro Synagogue came to be an important and beloved National Historic Site. It is also a local landmark, a remarkable architectural jewel, the temple of an active Orthodox congregation of about 100 Jewish families, and an outstanding tour experience. Don’t even ask, “But will I like it?” – you will. The tour guides are wonderful and the esteemed Rabbi Eskovitz himself occasionally steps in as a host, too. After the self-guided tour of the Loeb Visitors Center, which is the prelude to the tour of the synagogue (plan to spend about 30 minutes there), walk the few yards through Patriots Park to the door of the temple. As visitors enter, men and boys are asked to cover their heads in respect. Each one takes a yarmulke (skull cap), although some guests bring their own. Everyone is seated in rows of large, black reproduction Windsor chairs and on the original benches that line the walls of the large room. The tour begins with the story of the Jews who escaped the Inquisition in the late 1400s in Spain and Portugal by fleeing to the Netherlands. During the approximately 25-minute presentation, visitors learn how and why the descendants of those refugees became the first
more than 30,000 visitors from all over the world. This is what President John F. Kennedy said on September 15, 1963: “It is not only the oldest synagogue in America but also one of the oldest symbols of liberty. No better tradition exists than the history of Touro Synagogue’s great contribution to the goals of freedom and justice for all.”
When You Go
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Jewish families to come to Rhode Island in the 1600s. Later arrivals led rather prosperous lives in 18th century Newport and built this synagogue. President George Washington’s visit in 1790 is a poignant and important part of the synagogue’s history, as well. The tour ends with information pertaining to the site today: its ongoing use as a synagogue and its designation as a National Historic Site in 1946. Ten years ago, Touro Synagogue became one of the 29 properties under special protection by the National Trust For Historic Preservation. Although the commentary of the tour guides at Touro Synagogue is compelling and always well-delivered, the interior of the temple has such classical beauty that it is sometimes hard to concentrate on the speaker because your eyes want to take in all the details. The Palladian-style décor is the exceptional achievement of
Newport’s gentleman-architect Peter Harrison (who also drew the designs for the Redwood Library and the Brick Market building). The sacred meanings of the architectural elements throughout the high-ceilinged room are fully explained by the guide. Remember to look up – the five brass chandeliers are not only more than 250 years old, they are magnificent and, for special events, the large candles blaze. After only a few minutes of sitting quietly in the synagogue, most visitors come to realize that Harrison thoroughly succeeded in designing a refined, tranquil and inspirational place in which to worship. When the talk ends, visitors may look around the synagogue, but it is not always possible to linger and ask a lot of questions because the next tour must begin promptly and people are waiting outside to enter. Annually, the synagogue receives
The Loeb Visitors Center on Spring Street is the prelude to the tour of Touro Synagogue – combined admission to both sites is $12/ adults; $10/seniors; $8/ with I.D.- students, military, members National Trust For Historic Preservation; children 12 and under are free. Always check the seasonal tour schedule on the related websites – www.loeb-tourovisitorscenter.org or www. tourosynagogue.org, or by looking at the large signboard inside the gate at the synagogue. Tours begin every half hour. Limited seating – 60 persons per tour. Duration in the Synagogue –25 to 30 minutes. Closed – Jewish holy days and Saturdays. Location – 85 Touro Street. (401) 847-4794. Gift Shop – no. Universal access – Loeb Visitors Center -yes; Synagogue no. Restrooms – at the Loeb Visitors Center. Parking – metered spaces on the streets near the site.
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NEWPORT – Dr. Mark P. Malkovich, the longtime artistic director of the Newport Music Festival, and one of the most well respected members of the city’s artistic community, died over the weekend in a fatal car crash in Minnesota. He was 79. Police in North Branch, Minn., said that Malkovich, a Portsmouth resident, was driving at a high rate of speed when he crashed his car along Interstate 35, about 40 miles north of Minneapolis, and rolled several times. The 2010 festival, scheduled for July 9–25, would have marked the impresario’s thirty-sixth season. Malkovich’s son, Mark Malkovich IV, told the Associated Press on Tuesday that the show will go on – and will be dedicated to his father’s memory. News of Malkovich’s death shocked the state’s arts scene. “Mark Malkovich was an internationally-respected music impresario, a nurturer of young musical talent, and a presenter without equal,” Randall Rosenbaum, executive director of the R.I. State Arts Council, said in a statement. “He was a leader and visionary, and we here in Rhode Island have suffered a great loss.”
Council race heating up Three-term former councilor Winthrop is in, McLaughlin to run at-large By Tom Shevlin NEWPORT – With the deadline approaching for candidates to declare themselves for this November’s elections, the race for City Council is getting rather interesting. Harry Winthrop, a lifelong Newporter and a former three-term member of the Newport City Council, announced his candidacy on Tuesday for an atlarge seat in what is suddenly shaping up to be a rather robust race. Earlier in the day, Second Ward Councilor Justin S. McLaughlin announced his decision to seek an atlarge seat, forgoing what seemed to have been a clear path to re-election. Both stories were reported first on Newport Now (Newport-Now.com). Winthrop, 60, is no stranger to politics, having served on the council from 1990-1995 representing what was then the Fourth Ward. Now recently retired having served as the Director of Planning for Design and Construction of Nuclear Submarines at Electric Boat in Groton, Conn., where he worked for 33 years, Winthrop says the city needs to focus on improving its infrastructure and ensuring that Newport remains an affordable place to live for future generations. “Newport is one of the best cities on the east coast in which to live and we must continue to make it better as well as affordable for all our residents,” Winthrop said. “We must also develop and execute an affordable comprehensive
SEE ‘COUNCIL’ ON PAGE 7