Emy Westerberg was named 2025 Newport Volunteer of the Year at the Thursday, July 23 Newport Parks Board meeting. Westerberg joined the parks board in 2023 and has been volunteer with Newport Pioneer Day, helping come up with several new ideas. Westerberg was presented the olunteer of the Year award by Newport Mayor Laurie Elliott in a brief presentation. The award was delayed from last year as it had not previously been ready. Newport Pioneer Days meanwhile arrives Friday, Aug. 7 with a free movie and continuing Saturday, Aug. 8 with a host of events.
“She brought some great energy to the committee, some great ides. They added the Friday night movie, they added the 5k run, the kids run, the Friday night movie,” Elliott said. “Her enthusiasm and a lot of great ideas have come as a result of her involvement.”
Westerberg is returning this year as well.
“We are excited that a lot of the standing traditions are continuing again this year,” Westerberg said of the annual event. Planned for Newport Pioneer Days this year are a host of activities including a parade, car show, vendors, bingo, and kid’s activities. The 5K and kid’s fun run will take place in the morning before the main event on Saturday, with live music and a DJ included in the day’s festivities.
Taking place on Friday the night before will be a Movie in the Park with free popcorn. The movie this year is called “Hoppers,” a Disney and Pixar animated featured rated PG that follows a college student named Mabel as she makes the ‘hop’ into a life-like robotic beaver that allows her to understand what animals are saying. Things turn dark when the local mayor wants to build an infrastructure project through animal habitat, leading to a confrontation between animals and humans that ends with a truce, and mutual respect.
Always in needs of volunteers, anyone who signs up for a shift gets a free t-shirt.
“If you’re interested, go to the Pioneer Day website,” Westerberg said for volunteering. Those interested in volunteering must be age 18 or older, with sign up via the Pioneer Day website at www.newportpioneerday.com. Friday night events are filled, but volunteers are still needed for the road race and 5K events on Saturday.