1. It's the start of Newport Winter Festival! Today's line-up of activities includes Newport Storm tours, mother-daughter makeovers and Frank Santos Jr., comic hypnotist. For full details, go here. 2. Speaking of Winter Fest, the 17th annual Chili Cook-Off is Saturday from 11 to 3:30 p.m. Taste a variety of chilis for $8, or $6 with a button. 3. The Newport Health and Wellness Expo is all day Saturday as well, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Hotel Viking. 4. The much-anticipated Beatlemania concert returns to Newport Saturday night at 9 p.m. Tickets are $25, or $20 with a button. 5. The Casino …

1. Middletown Police Chief Anthony Pesare will speak about his new book "They Always Win" at the Middletown Public Library tonight at 6 p.m. This event was rescheduled to this date after an earlier postponement. 2. It's Pub Trivia Night at the Atlantic Grille starting at 8 p.m. 3. The RI International Film Festival will host "Films for Lovers," selections from the 2011 festival, at the Jamestown Arts Center tonight at 7 p.m. A $10 donation will be accepted at the door. 4. The Newport Art Museum's monthly book group will be held at noon. 5. The SVF Foundation's first lecture in its new series …

Have a heart, and how could you not for the cute pooches and other rescue animals at the Potter League for Animals? Their Have A Heart Fundraiser begins at 5:30 p.m. tonight at the Hotel Viking. Tickets cost between $60-$100. Join Le Maison de Coco for Francophile Fridays today at 4 p.m. Practice your French skills with native French speakers all while enjoying some chocolate. Win, win! Are you a man? Do you hate to shop? Never fear, Isherwood Gallery, is here, and they’re holding a Valentines Shopping Party for Men Who Hate to Shop this Saturday at noon. Chow on chili, enjoy beer or wine, …

The Middletown Public Library will have representatives from AARP on hand from 12 to 3:30 p.m. to assist senior citizens with their tax preparations. The assistance is available on a first come first serve basis to those seniors who bring in all of the proper documents which include an ID, social security card, all wage and earning statements for 2011, and their previous year’s tax return if possible. This program will be available every Monday through April 16 along with every Wednesday from 4 to 7 p.m. and every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The Middletown Town Council will meet for a …

The Norman Bird Sanctuary will host Bird Tales for children ages 3 ½ to 6 years old at 10 a.m. This session’s story will be Crickwing and it will be followed by a craft and a nature hike weather pending. Admission is $4 for members and $6 for non-members. Call 846-2577 to register. Rogers High School senior Michael O’Connell will present a screening of Give Me a Shot of Anything: House Calls to the Homeless as part of his senior project at 7 p.m. at Rogers High School. The documentary takes a look at the way society treats its least fortunate members and a question and answer session will …

It’s the first of the month and that means when you buy a coffee today at Custom House Coffee you’ll receive a coupon for a free cup of coffee or $2.00 off a pound of beans. The Middletown High School Girls Varsity Basketball Team will take on Central High School at 4:30 p.m. at home. The Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge will host Nature's Still Life, a chance to explore and seek your artistic ability. You will get to know one another as you paint or draw a still life scene provided by the FWS staff of the Sachuest Point NWR Visitor Center. This program is self-led, and no instruction …

Barnes & Noble will hold Storytime with Miss Lynn at 10:30 a.m. featuring the book “Ten Grouchy Groundhogs” by Kathryn Heling and Deborah Hembrook. An accompanying craft will be part of the hour. Newport Cooks! will host a cooking class with the theme Versatile Vegan led by Christian Pieper, chef at Salvation Café at 6 p.m. Whether you are vegan or not, this class will offer more information on eating this way as well as some delicious ways to incorporate it into your lifestyle, even if not full time. The menu to be prepared includes vegan versions of Buffalo Wings with Blue Cheese Dressing, …

The Middletown Public Library will host a free drop-in Funtime Storytime from 11 to 11:30 a.m. for children ages 3 to 5 years old. All Saints Academy will hold Open Houses today through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day for children entering pre-school through grade 8. For more information, call 848-4300. The Newport Public Library will hold a Bilingual Storytime for children ages 4 and up at 3:30 p.m. The program features stories in English and Spanish along with activities. No registration is required. The Aquidneck Island Multiple Sclerosis Support Group will meet at Newport Hospital …

The Middletown High School Boys Basketball Team will compete against North Smithfield at 7 p.m. on Friday night at home. Friday is National Girls and Women in Sports Day. To celebrate, Salve Regina University will welcome girls in grades 2 through 6 for its 4th Annual Sports Clinic from 5:15 to 7:30 p.m. Attendees will have the chance to work with Salve Regina coaches and student athletes to learn the basic skills of various sports. Following the activities, pizza will be served. This event is free, but please call Lisa at 341-2247 to register in advance. The Middletown Public Library will …

The Norman Bird Sanctuary will hold an Owl Prowl at 6 p.m. The program, which is appropriate for those ages 8 and up, will start in the classroom where attendees will learn about native owls before heading out for a night hike to listen for their calls. The cost is $8 for members and $10 for non-members. Pre-registration is required and can be done by calling 846-2577. The Middletown High School Boys and Girls Varsity Swim Teams will compete against East Providence High School at 7 p.m. at the Newport YMCA. The Preservation Society of Newport County will present the lecture “Highlights from …

Middletown will hold a Budget Open House from 3 to 8 p.m. with representatives from various town departments on hand to meet with the public, offer tours, and hear their ideas for the Fiscal Year 2013 budget. Administrators will be on hand at the Middletown Town Hall, Middletown Police Station, Middletown Fire Department, Middletown Public Works Department, Middletown Senior Center, and Middletown Public Library. Copies of the current budget and capital improvement plan will be available for the public to review at each of these locations. The Sachuest Point Wildlife Refuge will host Nature’s…

Barnes & Noble will host Storytime with Miss Lynn featuring “You” by Stephen Michael King at 10:30 a.m. An accompanying craft will follow. Local author Ann Hood will launch her book tour for her new children's book series, The Treasure Chest, featuring eight books that are set in Newport at Island Books beginning at 4:30 p.m. today. The books are geared towards children ages 9-12 and follow the stories of twins who have recently moved from New York City into an attic apartment of a Newport mansion where they discover their great-grandfather's hidden study and its power of time travel that …

The Middletown Pay as You Throw Trash and Recycling Pick-up has been delayed by one day this week as a result of the snow storm. Those residents who typically have a Friday pick-up, which was last week scheduled for Saturday due to the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, will now have their refuse and blue bin recycling picked up today, Jan. 23, due to Saturday’s snow. The remainder of residents will have their service delayed by one day this week. The Middletown Library will offer a Chinese New Year craft program for children ages 4 and up at 4 p.m. There will be stories, crafts, and fortune …

The Deblois Gallery will host the 15th Annual Newport County Student Art Exhibit this weekend, featuring works from students of Rogers High School, Middletown High School, Portsmouth High School, Portsmouth Abbey, and St. George’s School. An opening reception will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday night, and the gallery will also be open from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free. The Norman Bird Sanctuary will offer a workshop on Winter Tree Identification on Saturday at from 10 a.m. to noon. Certified arborist Jacqui Mitchell will lead the group and teach them how to …

The Norman Bird Sanctuary will offer Bird Tales, a nature themed story hour for children ages 3 ½ to 6 years old. This week’s story is Owl Moon. Admission is $4 for members and $6 for non-members. Please call 846-2577 to register. Aquidneck Restaurant and Pizzeria will offer a free screening of Monsters, Inc. on their 92” HD Projector at 5:30 p.m. No outside food or drink is allowed, but guests can order food and drinks if they like. Newport Cooks! will offer a class in Simple Indian Curry & More at its new kitchen at 796 Aquidneck Avenue beginning at 6 p.m. The class is $55 per person. To …

The Middletown High School Girls Varsity Basketball Team will compete against the Rocky Hill School at 4 p.m. at home.   Relay for Life of Aquidneck Island will kick off the organization of its 2012 campaign tonight at 6:45 p.m. at Gaudet Middle School. The event, which brings people together to walk around the school track in remembrance of those who have had cancer and raises money for the American Cancer Society, will take place on May 18. This initial meeting is to gather those who are interested in volunteering or participating in the event. For more information, contact Kerry Seibert at…

The Middletown High School Boys Varsity Basketball Team will compete against Prout at 5 p.m. at home today. The Arts & Cultural Alliance of Newport County will hold its monthly Arts Around the Fire gathering at Spanglish at 6 p.m. Steven Feinberg, Director of the RI Film & TV Office, will be the guest speaker. Anyone who wants to learn about what's happening in the local arts community or who wants to share their work and accomplishments is welcome to attend. There will be complimentary hors d'ouvres and a cash bar. The Salvation Army is holding a free workshop on “Mother’s Organization and …

Does your dog have moves? Bring your pup to a free trial Dancing with Your Dog Class at the Potter League on Friday at 6 p.m. for first time attendees. Registration is required by calling 846-8276. Newport Cooks! will offer a class in The Art of Baking Bread & Brioche on Saturday at 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. The class will be led by Chef Christy Erickson-Prior. Participation costs $55 and you can register by calling 293-0740. The Newport County YMCA will screen Cars 2 on Saturday at 6:15 p.m. Families are encouraged to bring blankets, chairs, and light snacks and refreshments to watch this film on …

The East Bay Patriots, and independent Tea Party group, will meet at 7 p.m. in the Middletown Police Department Conference Room. All are welcome. Tonight is Pub Trivia Night at the Atlantic Grille. The games begin at 8 p.m. and prizes will be awarded to first and second place. Visiting Nurses of Newport and Bristol Counties will host a Diabetes Support Group for anyone living with diabetes at the Edward King House at 1 p.m. The group is led by a certified diabetes instructor and no doctor’s note is required to attend this free support group. Just because the forecast calls for rain doesn’t …

The Sachuest Point National Wildlife Refuge will host Nature’s Still Life, an opportunity for artists to come together to paint or draw a still life scene offered by the refuge. No instruction is provided and all levels are welcome. The program begins at 10 a.m. and participants are encouraged to bring a brown bag lunch. Participation is free. The Middletown Planning Board will hold its monthly meeting tonight at 6:30 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers at Town Hall. The Middletown Recreation Department’s Men’s Pick-up Basketball League will meet from 6 to 9 p.m. at Gaudet Middle School. …