Blackstone Valley: Things to do in August

Having trouble viewing this email? Click here

August: Things to do in the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor For a complete, detailed listing of events, see the event calendar.  Ranger Walkabouts Continue Through August 28 Manville Dam Thursday, August 7 Manville: Mill Village on the Blackstone Cumberland, RI  Start time: 6:30 pm Manville has been a manufacturing center since 1711 when Israel Wilkinson opened the Unity Furnace to produce iron. Later, it was briefly home to the largest cotton mill under one roof in America, and Manville village spanned both sides of the Blackstone River to house the 2,000 mill workers who toiled here.  Parking: The tour begins at the Manville Landing, at the foot of Manville Hill Road, Cumberland, RI, adjacent to the Blackstone River. See the full schedule Greenway Challenge Saturday, September 27 Rain Date: October 4 The UniBank Blackstone River Valley Greenway Challenge. An Adventure Race... Like No Other! Check out the 2014 course Registration information The mission of the UniBank Blackstone River Valley Greenway Challenge is to promote the recreational quality of life in the Blackstone River Valley.  Coordinated by he Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor, Inc, the UniBank Greenway Challenge supports clean water campaigns, hiking and biking trails, wildlife projects, environmental education and development of waterway access. Read more Worcester Shakespeare Festival 2014 July 18 - August 25 The GB & Lexi Singh Performance Center Alternatives' Whitin Mill 60 Douglas Road Whitinsville, MA The Worcester Shakespeare Festival on Alternatives' Community Plaza at the Historic Whitin Mill proudly presents The Merry Wives of Windsor in repertory with The Winter's Tale.  For the performance calender and to purchase tickets online, visit WorcesterShakespeareCompany.org.  Tickets are also available at the door.  Read more Public Informational Meeting and Public Hearing: Proposed Cleanup Plan Thursday, August 7, 2014 Cumberland Public Library 1464 Diamond Hill Road Cumberland, RI Start time: 6:30 pm The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is holding a public informational meeting on the proposed cleanup plan for a portion of a Superfund site, in Cumberland, RI. The site is known as the Peterson/Puritan site, and the clean up plan being reviewed relates to "Operable Unit 2" of the site. Thursday, August 21 Cumberland Public Library 1464 Diamond Hill Road Cumberland, RI Start time: 6:30 pm The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is holding a public hearing on the proposed cleanup plan for a portion of a Superfund site, in Cumberland, RI. The site is known as the Peterson/Puritan site, and the clean up plan being reviewed relates to "Operable Unit 2" of the site   Information is available on the web at www.epa.gov/region1/superfund/sites/peterson. The proposed clean up plan will be posted on that web site some time after July 31. Museum of Work & Culture to host Ciné-Francohone, Flickers: Rhode Island International Film Festival Thursday, August 7 Museum of Work & Culture 42 South Main Street Woonsocket, RI Start time: 7:15 pm The Museum of Work & Culture in partnership with Flickers is hosting a Rhode Island International Film Festival (RIIFF) screening. The Museum will show a collection of new and dynamic films by newly discovered Québécois filmmakers currently in competition in this year's 18th Annual RIIFF. All films have English subtitles.  For more information about the festival please visit: www.RIFilmFest.org or contact the Museum of Work & Culture at (401)769-9675. Cumberland Fest Friday, August 8 - Sunday, August 10 Cumberland, RI CumberlandFest™ is 24 years old and it is an all volunteer organization that raises funds for sport programs in Cumberland, RI. Each organization receiving funds must provide volunteers throughout the 3 days of the fair to help with tickets, cleaning, parking, setup, security etc. Many of the volunteer committee members have been there since year one. CumberlandFest™ is the largest family entertainment draw in Northern RI. Read more 7th Annual Barbara J. Walker Butterfly Festival at Broad Meadow Brook Saturday, August 9 Rain Date: August 10 Broad Meadow Brook Conservation Center & Wildlife Sanctuary 208 South Great Road Lincoln, MA 10:00 am - 4:00 pm Enjoy educational fun for all ages at the 7th Annual Barbara J. Walker Butterfly Festival at Broad Meadow Brook, where butterflies fly free in their natural habitats. Read more Downtown Sundown Concert Series Roger Williams National Memorial 282 North Main Street Providence, RI Saturday, August 9 Michelle Cruz Lily Faith Milne Dylan Sevey Vudu Sister Saturday, August 23 Marc Douglas Berardo Allysen Callery Bob Kendall Ed McGuirl Read more Pawtucket Foundation and Foolproof Brewing Company Partner for Second Annual Augtoberfest Saturday, August 9 Foolproof Brewing Company 241 Grotto Avenue Pawtucket, RI 2:00 - 6:00 pm The second annual Augtoberfest will feature live music, food trucks, and of course...beer! Attendees will receive four beer tickets and a commemorative plastic beer stein. Foolproof will be releasing their new Augtoberfest beer - a delicious fester. Tickets are $30 and include four beer tickets, a commemorative Augtoberfest stein, access to food trucks and live music!  Read more 6th Annual Memorial Car Show at Waters Farm Saturday, August 16 10:00 am - 2:00 pm   Contact Dan Farnham at 508-865-2373, email: danfarnham112@aol.com. Read more Come & Play Games of Old at the Smith-Appleby House Sunday, August 17 Smith-Appleby House Museum 220 Stillwater Road Smithfield, RI 1:00 - 4:00 pm Enjoy a colonial fun-filled family day of yard games and watermelon at the Smith-Appleby House. Show your skill and challenge others at tug-o-war, sack race, hoops, graces, 9 pin bowling, and "how far can you spit that seed?" Then tour the historical Smith-Appleby House to see and hear what daily life was really like in Colonial Rhode Island during the American Revolution. Tours are led by educators and history enthusiasts in Colonial dress. Read more The Little Red Shop Museum "In Days Gone By" The Story of the Draper Company Sunday, August 17 The Little Red Shop Museum 12 Hopedale Street Hopedale, MA Start time: 1:30 pm Come and enjoy a lecture by Professor William Mass of the University of Massachusetts-Lowell, followed by a discussion of the loom pictured in Cotton Chats with Deb Adamczyk, Seth Blackwell, Cathy Blackwell, and Liane Speroni.  Little Red Shop Museum is located in scenic downtown Hopedale, MA, and sits amid the town's extensive National Register (historic) district. They are located about 10 minutes from Rte. 495 exits in both Milford and Bellingham, at the corner of Freedom St. and Hopedale St.  Phone: 508-478-2926  Email: curator@littleredshopmuseum.org  Circus - Design the Night Celebration Henri Matisse, The Nightmare of the White Elephant (Le Cauchemar de l'éléphant blanc), 1947. © Henri Matisse. Mary B. Jackson Fund. Friday, August 1, 2014 - Sunday, February 22, 2015 Works on Paper Galleries Design the Night Celebration: August 21 5:00 - 9:00 pm, free RISD Museum 20 North Main Street Providence, RI The spectacle of the American and European circus takes center stage this summer in Circus, a glimpse into the visual world of this phenomenon during the height of its popularity, 1850 to 1960.  Approximately 40 circus-themed paintings, drawings, prints, photographs, and posters by artists such as Alexander Calder, Marc Chagall, Henri Matisse, James-Jacques-Joseph Tissot, and Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec delve into life under the big top and its wider connections to culture and society. Read more "Mrs. Asa Waters" To Host Grand Tea Luncheon Honoring General Lafayette Thursday, August 21 Asa Waters Mansion 123 Elm Street Millbury, MA Start time: 1:00 pm The Friends of the Asa Waters Mansion and "Mrs. Asa Waters" cordially invite you to a Grand Tea Luncheon in celebration of the 5th Anniversary of the return visit to America of the great Marquis de Lafayette.  Read more (PDF) Event Calendar Check out the event calendar for a more complete, detailed listing of Blackstone Corridor Events: Event Calendar  We are glad to include Corridor-related news and events, both on our web site calendar and in our monthly newsletter, Corridor Currents. Send us your stuff! About The Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Congress established the National Heritage Corridor in 1986 to restore and preserve the nationally significant heritage of the Blackstone River Valley, where the industrialization of America began. It has become a successful program of partnerships between federal, state and local government agencies, as well as nongovernment organizations, pooling their resources and pursuing a common agenda of preservation and revitalization.  Ongoing Blackstone Corridor programs and projects include historic preservation, river cleanup, land conservation and stewardship, visitor centers, ranger walks, programs with schools, recreational programs and events, support for arts and cultural events, training for partners and volunteers and assistance to towns trying to preserve their heritage while also improving the local and regional economy. Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor One Depot Square Woonsocket, Rhode Island 02895 Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor 401-762-0250

Forward this email This email was sent to shersteve@gmail.com by brvnhc@gmail.com |   Update Profile/Email Address | Rapid removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | Privacy Policy. Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor | One Depot Square | Woonsocket | RI | 02895

Win Red Sox Tickets From WMRC and Big Y!

Big Y and WMRC want to give you a chance to win tickets to a Red Sox game! 1 lucky winner will receive a 2-pack of tickets to a Red Sox game on August 16th (vs Houston), limo transportation to the game & food for the limo ride! Register by this Friday! Register Check Out The All New WMRC Daily News.com News, sports, entertainment, events, photos, and more! Forward this email

Forward this email WMRC Daily News | 258 Main Street | Milford | MA | 01757

In the News: break-in arrests, interest in Emmons St

In the Milford Daily News,we find two articles of interest today:

Two Boston men were arraigned Monday in connection with the theft of several thousand dollars worth of iPhones and iPads from an AT&T retail store Saturday. 

The Franklin Police Department arrested Edward Clarke, 21, of 14 Lindey St., and Shaqone Cazeau, 21, of 80 Edison St., late Saturday evening after responding to a panic alarm at the AT&T store on 25 Franklin Village Drive.

You can read the full article here
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20140806/NEWS/140808416/1994/NEWS

Dean College intends to respond to a request for proposal for the town-owned property on the corner of Emmons Street once the town issues one. 

The college sent on July 30 an expression of interest to develop the 150 Emmons St. property.
Brian Kelly, Dean’s assistant vice president for capital planning and facilities, wrote to the Franklin Planning of Community Development that, while the college does not yet have a specific proposal to offer, "it is our intention to respond to an RFP (request for proposal) when issued by the town of Franklin." 

Town planners received two other expressions of interest for the property, which many in the town consider a "gateway" to the downtown area.

You can read the full article here
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20140806/NEWS/140808350/1994/NEWS

Emmons St building

"All class gifts that could be saved, have been saved"

A thread of conversation around the demolition of the old high school has appeared again on Facebook discussing what could have been saved. Ed Cafasso, member of the School Building Committee replied to the thread as follows:

All class gifts that could be saved, have been saved. The obvious exception are things like wall murals. The Panther statue, the granite benches, the trophies and other awards, honors and gifts are all in storage. They will be put into the new school later this year, once students and faculty are settled in, and people have a chance to catch their breath. 

All of the schools in town, including Tri-County, had the opportunity to take used furniture and fixtures that were surplus. Technology items have been distributed to elementary and middle schools as appropriate. Other items that could not be reused by the Town were donated to charities. 

All of these actions have been discussed publicly by the School Committee, and recorded in their minutes and meeting videos. I hope these facts work to dispel continued rumors, but if you still have concerns, please feel free to contact members of the Franklin School Committee. 

Demolition will begin at 7 a.m., August 6, so no bricks are available yet as mementos. There will be a public open house at the new FHS on the weekend of September 20 and 21st. 

Your fellow FHS alumni work or volunteer on all of the Town and School boards that have been involved in the development and execution of these plans. Everyone involved respects the history of the school and the importance of class gifts. 

The priority at this moment is to make sure every aspect of the new FHS is ready for 1,700+ students, and for faculty, at the start of the school year. People are working hard, so your patience and support is appreciated. Thanks.

You can find the thread here on Facebook if you want to read the whole thread
https://www.facebook.com/groups/233787946659831/permalink/745366305501990/

front of new high school, taken on tour June 30th

The School Building Committee info on the Franklin page can be found here
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_BComm/School%20Building%20Committee

Video of prior School Committee (and other town meetings) can be found here
http://view.liveindexer.com/ViewCalendar.aspx?siteSKU=L7qhQ46xin%2fr3Z0jcDVCNw%3d%3d

Information on the School Committee can be found here
http://franklinschool.vt-s.net/Pages/index

Inside the new FHS (part 2 of 2)

As mentioned, I was able to join the School Building Committee meeting for their tour of the new Franklin High School on June 30th.

partial view of the new auditorium

band room with acoustical tiles

patio off the new cafeteria

interior courtyard 

some of the seats in the new lecture hall

scoreboard in the new gym

new gym, back to back full size basketball courts

"never quit" written in on the gym floor

varsity locker room

regular gym locker room

white walls in project room

new science classroom

Part 1 of the tour pictures can be viewed here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/08/inside-new-fhs-part-1-of-2.html

All the photos from the tour can be found here on Flickr
https://www.flickr.com/photos/steve_sherlock/sets/72157645748897659

Other photos taken the same night and posted to the New FHS Facebook page can be found here
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.498420113591225.1073741837.264913556941883&type=1


The entire collection of posts on the new high school project can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2011/12/collection-high-school-building-project.html

Ladybug Spots coming to the Town Common - Aug 9 and 10 from noon to 4:00 PM

Friendly reminder that the Ladybug Spots will be appearing on the Town Common this weekend. You recall earlier this year, the Franklin Cultural Council created the Ladybug Spots Project. The decorated Ladybug Spots are now ready to showcase to one and all.

The showing will be held on the Franklin Town Common Saturday and Sunday, Aug 9 and 10 from noon to 4:00 PM.

Ladybug

Davis Thayer's Ladybug

On the one hand you can combine a visit to the St Rocco's Festival with a visit to the Ladybug Spots. On the other hand, be aware that parking around the Town Common with St Rocco's underway will be challenging.


From the archive on Ladybug Spots

Jan 2014
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/01/community-will-gain-lot-from-it.html

Apr 2014
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/04/cultural-council-open-house-and-awards.html

Jun 2014
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/06/ladybug-spots-public-art-project.html

Emmons Street Discussion on Wednesday Town Coucil Agenda

An email from the Downtown Partnership

The downtown Emmons Street property discussion is on the agenda for both the 5:30 Economic Development meeting and the 7:00 Town Council meeting this Wednesday. 

A citizen's group called the "Gateway Committee" will be presenting their letter regarding suggestions for the RFP for this town property. 

Both meetings will be held at Town Hall.  The Economic Development meeting will be in the conference room or lecture room.

Emmons St early this year in snow

Dear Mr. Vallee: 

The future redevelopment of 150 Emmons Street, the site of the former Municipal Building in
downtown Franklin, is located at one of the key gateways to Franklin Center. The property has a rich, longstanding history. For these reasons, we as interested citizens would like to see the redevelopment of the site remain a key gateway into downtown Franklin, which will maximize short-term and long-term benefits to the Town and its residents. 

We would like to go on record, however, that this committee strongly urges the Town Council to wait on any development of this property until we can assess the true and real impact of the upcoming Streetscape project that will include a new two-way traffic pattern both on West Central Street and Emmons Street. 

As a committee and a community, our overarching priority is to preserve the quintessential New England character and charm that downtown Franklin provides by including conditions in the future request for proposal that will define how the gateway to downtown will be developed. The following conditions help marry the principles that the Town has defined for the commercial district by creating a neighborhood identity that promotes pedestrian activity, human interactions, safety and livability. 

This parcel is in the heart of the proposed Franklin Cultural District. A community green space would offer economic benefits to the town by encouraging foot traffic and bringing people downtown to shop or dine. Additionally, this space could provide a venue for a multitude of cultural activities, for example outdoor art exhibits, an artisan marketplace, or music and theatre performances. 

● We request that approximately 20% of the property, roughly 8,000 square feet, be retained by the town of Franklin, specifically the southwest parcel of land, in
perpetuity, to be used as community green space. Maintaining the corner of this
parcel would allow the Town of Franklin to control the initial welcoming impression of visitors to the downtown area.
● We fully concur that a statue or monument in honor of Horace Mann is  appropriate and needed, and we support this measure that has been broadly talked about in discussion of the future use of this space. We recommend that the statue and green space project be designed and managed by a community committee in conjunction with the Town, rather than an outside developer, so the statue is done to the community's specifications. We suggest securing state funding for this important project.
● We suggest that the building frontage to Route 140 have limited setback, after landscaping provisions, to continue and enhance the New England style main street appeal that exists in the downtown area.
● We request that parking be sufficient and adequate for the building use but not a
primary focus of the development, with consideration given to the streetscape project and traffic pattern changes that have yet to occur.
● We explicitly request that no drive-through of any sort be permitted in this
development.

We feel strongly that these conditions above,incorporated in the request for proposal,
together with the long-term planning recommendations above, will lead to a welcoming
private/public investment to the gateway of downtown Franklin. 

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Signed, the Supporters of the Franklin Gateway Committee

Del Arnold, Michael Lucier. Karen M Young
Sue Bencuya, Christopher Lucier, Pamela Williams
Hannah Close, Amanda Lucier, Bruce Wood
Vicki Coates, Stephanie Miksis, Deborah Ryan
Jane Curran, Lisa Maxwell-Rounds, Raye Lynn Mercer
Alec Danz, Maxwell Morrongiello, Hallie Wetzell
Stacey David, Lisa Piana, Connie Jones
Gary Donelan, Nancy Rappa, Roberta Trahan
Gail Eckberg, Guy Rezendes, Lisa Carlucci
Barbara Evans, Joanne Roche, Karilyn Hammer
Tom Fahey, Rev. Carol Rosine, Selena Cousin
Alan Mercer, Marjorie Sardella, Maura O’Brien
Richard Fotland, Carl Scheinman, Claire Griffin
Denise Schultz, Theresa McDougall, Thomas G. Curran
Paul Guarino, John Sheridan, Wayne McDougall
Tina Guarino, Sue Sheridan, Robert Piana
Daydre Hamilton, Jean Sirois, Richard Guardabascio
Jim Kupfer, Chris Sternadore, Suzanne Sayward
Maria Lucier, Lynn Wetzell, Lisa Buccella
Kathleen M. Kirchmyer, Bill Buccella, Virginia Gillis
Claire Malette,. Kathleen Nosek, Rebecca Skinner
Jim Hill, Erica Luttazi, Bob Hamilton
Brenda Hutchinson, Kelly Luttazi, Rita Fahey
Joshua Close, Julie Dolan, Paul Peterson
Judy Luttazi, Katie Buccella, Sam Pasquantonio
Patricia Prewitt, Steve Luttazi, Terri Frank
Kevin Dolan, Kim Rezendes, Carolyn Marr
Tina Powderly, Bob Hamiilton

Franklin Library: Teen movie night - "Catching Fire"

The teens are invited to the Library for movie night, Friday at 5:00 PM. The Hunger Games "Catching Fire" will be the movie.

Movie night "Catching Fire"

This was re-posted from the Library webpage
http://franklinpl.blogspot.com/2014/07/teen-movie-night.html