NEWPORT - From the $111 million expansion of Newport's Navy base, to the , good news and bad pepper the pages of local and national press.

Nationally, Congress recently passed an economic stimulus package aimed at jumpstarting the economy while the Federal Reserve took the unprecedented step of slashing interest rates twice in nine days. And once again, the economy has trumped all others as Americans' number one concern going into their primary election booths. It's not terrorism; it's not the environment; it's the economy.

On a state level, Rhode Island is staring at a $600 million conundrum, and despite months of debate, our elected officials seem no closer to solutions than they did the day after it was learned someone in the state budget office underestimated just how much trouble we're in.

If there were ever a silver lining in our economic outlook, it's here on Aquidneck Island. Earlier this month, state leaders flocked like migratory birds south from the dreary top of Smith Hill to an oasis of economic good news.

One after another, elected officials trumpeted the Navy's expansion and lauded the state's defense industry. It is one of the state's few economic bright spots.

Even though the impact of the base expansion may not be felt for several months – if not years – it is nonetheless a good thing for the island and a good thing for our economy.

Another bit of good news came this week with the announcement of the landing of major national retail chain, J.Crew.

Taken in sum, the news of the last few weeks suggest that Newport and Aquidneck Island appear to be on the right track.

Yes, seasonal retail shops will come and go, but  just as an economy cannot be comprised soley of service sector or retail jobs, neither can the health of an economy be gauged from such a narrow view.