Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: Could your Middletown homeowner tax rate be unfairly higher this year?

Coming up: The Bit Players on the Middletown Patch calendar

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Saturday January 10th Patch AM
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Hello Middletown! Stay connected with the latest updates from around town. Let's dive in! ☕️️

In today's newsletter:

  • Could your Middletown homeowner tax rate be unfairly higher this year?
  • Middletown community mourns the passing of Stephen K. Quinn
  • How could Newport–Middletown school regionalization reshape local classrooms?

Also on today's calendar: Adult Ballet Basics and Stretch and 8 more events.

Find out what's happening in Middletownfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Today's riddle: What did one pirate say to the other? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

Find out what's happening in Middletownfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

  • Saturday: Cloudy with afternoon rain, with a high of 44 and low of 37 degrees.
  • Sunday: Rain and drizzle in the a.m., temps: high: 45, low: 27.
  • Monday: Breezy in the morning; sunny, with a high of 38 and low of 29 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. Short-Term Rental Ordinance Creates Costly Consequences (newportthisweek.com) — Middletown officials are wrestling with how a short-term rental ordinance and the town’s tiered tax classification system are unintentionally hiking taxes on full-time resident homeowners. Councilors acknowledged the mistake, sent the issue to the Tax Assessment Committee, and voiced support for reimbursing residents wrongly charged the higher non-owner-occupied rate while they search for a long-term fix.
   

2. Stephen K. Quinn (newportthisweek.com) — Middletown residents are remembering Stephen K. Quinn, 67, who split his time between Largo, Florida and Middletown and cherished summers sailing, golfing, and gathering with family in Renfrew Park. His family suggests memorial donations to the Potter League for Animals in Middletown, and a memorial Mass is planned at St. Mary’s Church in Newport on January 31, 2026.
   

3. Newport, Middletown regionalization talks to resume. What to know. (providencejournal.com) — Middletown and Newport officials are restarting talks on regionalizing their school districts, with a key joint meeting set for Jan. 12 and a possible 2026 ballot question. Middletown is now seeking volunteers for an Academic Integration Advisory Committee to study student impacts and equity, a shift from earlier debates that focused heavily on financial incentives and construction costs.
   

4. Islanders Sign Forward Ryan Staples from BCHL (oursportscentral.com) — A 19-year-old forward from Middletown Ryan Staples has signed with the Charlottetown Islanders after serving as an assistant captain for the Surrey Eagles in the BCHL. He’s posted 12 points in 19 games this season and is already committed to Yale for the 2026–27 NCAA campaign, giving Middletown hockey fans another local player to watch.
   

📸 Around Middletown

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Middletown

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

    Saturday January 10
  • The Bit Players
    Firehouse Theater, 4 Equality Park Pl, Newport
    8:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

📣 Middletown Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

 

Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Middletown PatchAM possible:

  • Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
    Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible!

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • Free tax service available!
    Please don't pay if you don't have to! No age limits and no need to be a member of AARP. I'm a 3rd year volunteer and loving helping others. Please… (Nextdoor Easton's Point)
  • Middletown Historical Society
    Lecture Series January 11, 2026@ 2PM An Azorean Family’s History By Keith Tavares Journey from the Azores to Middletown farms, late 1800’s Location:… (Nextdoor W Main Rd / E Main Rd)
  • Albertsons Company Inc. posted a job opening for Overnight Grocery General Duty Clerk in Middletown. Apply here.
  • Skechers USA, Inc. posted a job opening for Retail Sales Associate in Newport. 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 sea you!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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