United Regional Chamber Announces Person, Business of the Year & ATHENA Award Recipients

The United Regional Chamber of Commerce Announces Its 2014 Person of the Year,    Business of the Year and ATHENA Award Recipients  The United Regional Chamber of Commerce announces its recipients of the 2014 Person of the Year, Business of the Year and ATHENA awards. The awards will be presented at the Chamber's Annual Meeting & Luncheon on Nov. 13 at Franklin Country Club, 672 East Central St., Franklin, 11:30 a.m. The cost is $45; pre-paid registration required. RSVP by calling the Chamber at 508-222-0801.   PERSON OF THE YEAR Ted Dion Edward A. "Ted" Dion has been named the Chamber's Person of the Year. Owner and president of E.A. Dion Inc., Ted serves in an array of volunteer and charitable activities. He is a director/incorporator of Bristol County Savings Bank, and serves on the boards of Attleboro YMCA, Bishop Feehan High School, St. Mary's Foundation, United Way of Greater Attleboro/Taunton, and Sturdy Memorial Hospital Foundation. He is a Good Scout Award recipient from the Anawon Council Boy Scouts and established the E.A. Dion Memorial Golf Tournament to benefit St. Mary's Sacred Heart School. "Ted is the most philanthropic individual I know," wrote nominator Todd Richardson. "He is extremely generous with his time as well as finances. He has no agenda and very quietly does more than most. He does this all in generosity and not for accolades."     BUSINESS OF THE YEAR Attleboro Jewelers will be recognized as the Chamber's Business of the Year. Based in Attleboro, the jewelry store has been in business for 19 years. Founded by Nancy Young in 1982, G. Austin Young (dba Attleboro Jewelers) was originally established to advise five of the leading jewelry manufacturing companies in the Providence-Attleboro area. The company now attracts thousands to downtown Attleboro annually and employs 25 people. "Attleboro Jewelers supports myriad community and civic causes," said nominator Kelly Fox. "In spite of very challenging times for the jewelry industry, Attleboro Jewelers has experienced consistent growth, often in the double digit range annually. It is a business that is here to stay and is an anchor for the downtown business district." Attleboro Jewelers was also nominated by Ken Abrahams for Business of the Year.    ATHENA AWARD RECIPIENT Candace Sallale Candace Sallale will be awarded the international ATHENA Award at the Chamber's annual meeting. The ATHENA Award is presented to individuals who have achieved a high degree of professional excellence and have assisted women in developing their full potential. Founder and owner of Sallale Financial Services, LLC, Candace founded the Trust Alliance of Professionals in 2011 and serves on boards at the Central Congregational Church of Attleboro Falls and the Hockomock YMCA Board of Directors. Additionally, Candace has conducted several workshops advising women on their financial needs and how to protect their assets. An active member in the Women's Success Network (WSN) since 2003, Candace played a pivotal role in the WSN Scholarship Program which supports non-traditional female students who wish to continue their education. Since 2005, when Candace personally undertook a number of fund-raising initiatives to expand the WSN scholarship program, the organization has distributed $75,000 in scholarships. "Candace is an advocate, mentor and a role model for other women," write nominators Maureen Wilkinson and Roxanne Richard. "She has demonstrated her 'can do' attitude time and time again and clearly embodies ATHENA award attributes."

Forward email The United Regional Chamber of Commerce | 42 Union Street | Attleboro | MA | 02703

THE BLACK BOX to Present Live Music Series Events

THE BLACK BOX, downtown Franklin’s new theater, music, and event venue, presents a wide-ranging lineup of live music entertainment this November. Events are slated to feature children’s programming, cabaret and a Big Band Brunch. The broad-based calendar of entertainment offers something for everyone. THE BLACK BOX, the home of the Franklin Performing Arts Company (FPAC), is located at 15 West Central Street.

THE BLACK BOX Children’s Series kicks off at 2 p.m. on Saturday, November 8. Franklin’s Jamie Barrett, singer-songwriter, guitarist and music teacher, and Nick Paone, actor, writer and director, join forces to present an engaging mix of family-favorite songs and animated storytelling. The afternoon delivers a fun and interactive program for audiences of all ages. THE BLACK BOX Children’s Series is sponsored by Middlesex Savings Bank.

The Kenny Hadley Big Band headlines a special Big Band Brunch

On November 9, BLACK BOX Jazz presents a Big Band Brunch, featuring the renowned Kenny Hadley Big Band. The critically-acclaimed 16-piece juggernaut, led by drummer Kenny Hadley, boasts masterful musicians with performance ties to Big Band legends Woody Herman, Count Basie, Stan Kenton, Maynard Ferguson, Buddy Rich and more. The Kenny Hadley Big Band has shared the stage with such notables as the Count Basie Orchestra and the Duke Ellington Orchestra and has hosted guest soloists including Clark Terry and Louie Bellson. Franklin’s Artistry Kitchen serves up the morning’s inspired brunch, featuring a pastry table, waffle station, vegetable frittata, Applewood smoked bacon, home fried potatoes, coffee, tea and juice. A cash bar is also available. Savor a memorable pairing of sublime Big Band music and delicious fare. Brunch begins at 11 a.m., with entertainment starting at noon.

The inaugural evening of BLACK BOX Cabaret will be staged at 8 p.m. on November 14. Spotlighting the vocal stylings of talented FPAC performers, entertainment is presented with live accompaniment in an intimate night-club atmosphere. A cash bar is available and BLACK BOX meals from Artistry Kitchen may be pre-ordered. BLACK BOX Cabaret is sponsored by Milford National Bank and Trust.

For tickets and more information, visit www.theblackboxonline.com or call (508) 528-3370.

November 4th - Election Collection - 2014

** Results of the 2014 election -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/11/franklin-election-results-1142014.html

The listing of candidates for the State election on Nov 4th can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/11/state-election-nov-4th.html

Commentary on voter turnout based upon historical data from Franklin's elections from 2003 through 2013
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/11/will-you-be-one-of-12418.html


To help prepare to vote on the ballot questions for the state wide election on November 4th, these links bring in one place all that has been published here regarding the specific questions. (As I find anything else worthy to add as the election approaches, I'll also include the links here.)


I put together a ballot question cheat sheet. You can print it out, make notes on it, mark you choice and bring it with you to the poll on Tuesday
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/11/my-franklin-ballot-questions-cheat-sheet.html


Ballot Question 1 (state wide question on elimination of gas tax indexing)

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/10/ma-election-nov-4th-ballot-question-1.html

Ballot Question 2 (state wide question on expanding the beverage container law)

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/10/ma-election-nov-4th-ballot-question-2.html

Ballot Question 3 (state wide question on expanding the prohibitions on gaming)

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/10/ma-election-nov-4th-ballot-question-3.html

Ballot Question 4 (state wide question on earned sick time for employees)

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/10/ma-election-nov-4th-ballot-question-4.html

Ballot Question 5 (local to Franklin - dedicated override to fund road repairs)

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/10/ballot-question-5-dedicated-override-to.html

Ballot Question 6 (local to Franklin - not binding on repealing the Citizens United decision)

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/10/ballot-question-6-resolution-on.html

Boston.com has a good explanation of the ballot questions in 'plain English' (well worth reading!)

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/2014/10/07/the-massachusetts-ballot-questions-explained-plain-english/G9yuz9ltOp3EYsTe9ZxGYL/story.html

MCAN Climate Hawk take on the Ballot Questions

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/10/ballot-questions-for-all-climate-hawks.html

Ballotpedia has information on the four state wide questions here
http://ballotpedia.org/2014_ballot_measures#Massachusetts

You can also spend some following the links to review their information on the gubernatorial election and other state wide positions on the ballot Nov 4th
http://ballotpedia.org/Massachusetts_Gubernatorial_election,_2014#Race_background


MassBudget has published a series on Ballot Question #4 on Earned Paid Sick Time

Health implicationshttp://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/10/massbudget-public-health-implications.html 

Data for Franklinhttp://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/09/massbudget-local-data-on-earned-paid.html 

Frequently Asked Questionshttp://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/08/kidscount-faq-earned-paid-sick-time.html

Voices of Franklin

Sean Slater on Question One
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/10/voices-of-franklin-sean-slater-vote-yes.html

Carla Lievano on Question Four
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/10/voices-of-franklin-carla-lievano-vote.html


Where does Franklin vote now that the Field House is gone?
Vote at the high school gymnasium. Parking is available in front of the building at 218 Oak St. Signs will direct you to the community entrance (see photo) and into the gym.

community entrance to Franklin High School, gymnasium located on the left inside the doors

Absentee ballot information:
http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/eleifv/howabs.htm

http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_Clerk/2014%20Nov.absentee%20notice.pdf

Halloween Safety Tips and the Teal Pumpkin

With Halloween coning up on Friday, the MA. GOV blog has a timely posting on Halloween Safety Tips where they write in part:

You can help make everyone’s Halloween enjoyable by looking after children and establishing a safe environment, whether for costumed characters visiting your home or if your kids are out scaring up sweets.

• Halloween safety tips include accompanying children around the neighborhood and carrying a flashlight.

• Inspect all candy when trick-or-treating and throw away anything that was possibly opened or otherwise not in its original packaging.

• Ensure there is a clear path to your front door and that your lawn is well-lit to protect trick-or-treaters.

• Remind your child about street safety and to never enter a stranger’s home or get in their car.

Continue reading the article here
http://blog.mass.gov/blog/safety/halloween-safety-tips/

Halloween Safety Tips

One of the other measures to ensure a safe Halloween is to offer non-allergic choices to the trick or treaters. Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE) is promoting the Teal Pumpkin Project:

This Halloween, FARE is encouraging communities to start a new tradition that will help make this holiday season less scary for children with food allergies: the Teal Pumpkin Project. This campaign encourages people to raise awareness of food allergies by providing non-food treats for trick-or-treaters and painting a pumpkin teal - the color of food allergy awareness - to place in front of their house along with a free printable sign from FARE to indicate they have non-food treats available.

The Teal Pumpkin Project page provides a variety of resources:

• Download FARE’s "Non-Food Treats Available Here" Poster
• Download FARE’s "We Have Candy and Non-Food Treats Here!" Poster
• Download a flyer about the Teal Pumpkin Project and share it to spread the word
• Download a sheet of stickers that say "I Support the Teal Pumpkin Project" (Print on Avery Template #8395)
• Questions and Answers About the Teal Pumpkin Project

Teal Pumpkin Project

The NBC video clip from Philly has a summary of the Teal Project:



Hat tip to Renata for sharing this video clip!

Yard Waste Curbside Pickups Scheduled for this week (beginning Oct 27th)

Yard Waste Curbside Pickup Schedule: Week of October 27 and November 17.

Pickup will be on your regular curbside pickup day. Yard waste must be out at curb by 7:00 am. Please contact the DPW if you have questions 508-553-5500

You can find the full schedule in the recent curbside chronicle here
http://franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_News/I01EE7D74.0/2014-2015%20Curbside%20Pickup%20Calendar.pdf

Franklin's Dept of Public Works

For additional information you can visit the official Franklin DPW webpage here
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_DPW/index

Franklin is not immune from hunger. You can help!

Do you have experience in Human Resources, Marketing and/or Public Relations, or Law?

Have you considered using these skills to help your Franklin neighbors?

How can you help?

Franklin is not immune from hunger. Real hunger. The kind where you don’t know where your next meal is coming from.

A variety of reasons bring people to the Franklin Food Pantry. A temporary job loss. Lingering financial hardship caused by the recession. Underemployment. A reduction in SNAP (food stamp) benefits.

This is an exciting time of growth for the Food Pantry. We have an amazing Executive Director, Erin Lynch, who has put together a dedicated team of part-time staff and volunteers. They are busy strengthening support and services for our Food Pantry clients while fostering new and exciting community partnerships.

The Food Pantry has an active Board of Directors who are fully committed to ensuring that Erin and her team have the resources and support they need. The Board Governance Committee is now developing a pool of interested individuals who are ready, willing, and able to help in this effort.

During the months of October and November, we will be accepting applications submitted by seasoned professionals in the fields of Human Resources, Marketing and/or Public Relations, and Law.

In December and January, the Governance Committee will be conducting interviews with selected applicants. The Board will review the vetted applicant pool at the January 27th Food Pantry Board meeting.

Successful new Board members are scheduled to complete the board orientation prior to attending their first meeting on February 24, 2015. Other candidates are scheduled to be notified of their status during February.

If you would like to learn more about what it means to volunteer for the Board, you can visit the Food Pantry website.

If you have the skills, desire, and time to volunteer we ask that you express your interest by completing this form and following the instructions to submit it to Mary Gianakis

Franklin Food Pantry

About the Franklin Food Pantry

We provide immediate hunger relief and healthy sustainable solutions by empowering our community through resources, education, and collaboration.

We are a registered not-for-profit organization that has served thousands in our community since 1987. As part of the Greater Boston Food Bank network, we depend entirely upon support and donations from volunteers, corporate partners, schools, churches and community members.

The Franklin Food Pantry is a 501©(3) non-profit organization FEIN# 04-3272663. FranklinFoodPantry.org/

Reminder: FEF Casino Night - Nov 1, 2014

The Franklin Education Foundation (FEF) will hold their annual casino night on Saturday November 1, 2014.

Held at the Franklin Elks Hall, 1077 Pond St, from 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM. There will also be a Texas Hold-em Tournament beginning at 6:00 PM which will require a separate entry fee.

Franklin Elks - 1077 Pond St, Franklin, MA 02038

Tickets for the Casino Night are $25 each or 2 for $40.





From the About us page on the FEF website

We are an independent, non-profit, community-based organization developed to support to innovation and excellence in education. We do this by funding grants for teachers and other staff within the Franklin public school system. 

Since 1997, FEF has funded hundreds of grants totaling over $300,000. These grants have touched students at all levels from the early childhood development center through the high school.

For more information on the Franklin Education Foundation, visit their website here
http://www.franklined.org/

Ballot Question 5 - Dedicated Override to fund repairs to Roads and Sidewalks for Franklin

Ballot question 5 has been in discussion for several years with the discussion finally moving to action this year. The DPW has been updating their inventory of road conditions and coordinating the rebuilds with water/sewer work for the roads at the same time. 

A good number of the 200+ miles of roads in Franklin are all coming due for repairs around the same time. not surprising for those who were here to witness the explosion of Franklin's growth during the 1980's and 1990's.

The Town Council voted in June to put the question to the votes at the November 4th election. The 'official' explanation for the vote and associated links covering the details behind the question can be found here:

This question requests the voters to consider a $1,500,000 dedicated override specifically for the improvements to roads and sidewalks and the extension of sidewalks in Franklin. A dedicated override means that the funds can only be spent on roads and sidewalks and for no other purpose without the approval of the voters at a future election. The dedicated override is a permanent increase in your taxes unless the citizens vote to reduce or eliminate it. The Town Council cannot appropriate the money for any other purpose. 

The $1,500,000 will help address the nearly $50,000,000 backlog in road and sidewalk repairs as outlined in the 2012 BETA Engineering Study. If the voters approve the dedicated override, then starting in fiscal year 2015, the annual cost to the average single-family home assessed at approximately $360,000 would be $130 per year.

This text can also be found on the official Franklin webpage here
http://franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_News/01EC7020-000F8513



Ballot Question 5 text

***      ***      ***

Shall the Town of Franklin be allowed to assess an additional $1,500,000 in real estate and personal property taxes for the purpose of funding a stabilization fund as provided in GL Chapter 40 Section 5 B, said funds to be expended solely for roadway, sidewalk and related drainage work for the fiscal year beginning July first, two thousand and sixteen?

The text was included in the Town Council resolution approved on June 4, 2014
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/06/resolution-14-45-dedicated-override-to.html

***      ***      ***

Lincoln St road work during Aug 2014

Related posts

Road updates around town this year (2104)
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/07/road-updates.html

The "Initiative 2014 Plan" as presented to the Town Council June 2014
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_DPW/Town_Council_Presentations/June_4_TownCouncilmeeting.pdf

DPW Upcoming projects updated for 2014
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_DPW/General_Pages/DPW_Upcoming_Projects.pdf

The road condition inventory as of Jan 2013
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/01/franklin-road-conditions-from-worst-to.html

From Apr 2013, DPW work planned for 2013 - 2015
http://www.slideshare.net/shersteve/council-dpw-upcoming-projects-april-13

From Aug 2013, the initial proposal
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/08/live-reporting-dpw-proposal-on-road.html

The presentation document from the Aug meeting
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_DPW/General_Pages/2013%20Roadway%20Presentation.pdf

From Mar 2014, the updated listing of road projects already being planned
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/03/live-reporting-dpw-update-road-projects.html

Ballot Question 6 – Resolution on Amendment to U.S. Constitution - Not Binding

Franklin voters will see six ballot questions at the November 4th State Election. The first four ballot questions are the same for all Massachusetts voters. The 5th and 6th questions are unique to Franklin.

NOVEMBER 4th STATE ELECTION

QUESTION 6 – RESOLUTION ON AMENDMENT TO U.S. CONSTITUTION

QUESTION SIX

The ballot question asks essentially whether your State Representative should be instructed to vote in favor of a resolution calling for an amendment to the United States Constitution, stating that the rights protected under the United States Constitution belong to natural persons only, not corporations. The resolution would also indicate that states may place limits on political contributions and political spending. This would be in response to the United States Supreme Court decision known as Citizens United v. Federal Election Comm'n, 558 U.S. ____ (2010), a case dealing with the regulation of campaign spending by corporations. In the Citizens United decision, the U.S. Supreme Court decided that the government may not keep corporations from spending money to support or denounce individual candidates in elections. It ruled that corporations, as virtual persons, have the same free speech rights as living, breathing persons. The ballot question seeks support for resolution to overturn the Citizens United decision by
amending the United States Constitution. 

The question appears on the Franklin ballot under Article XIX of the Massachusetts
Constitution, Part I and M.G.L. c. 53, section 19. Under the Massachusetts Constitution, the people have a right, in an orderly and peaceable manner, to give instructions to their
representatives on public policy matters. Over the summer, residents of the 10th Norfolk
District signed petitions, pursuant to M.G.L. c. 53, section 19, asking that the ballot question below be submitted to the voters in this community.

***          ***         ***

Question 6 is Not Binding

Shall the state representative from this district be instructed to vote in favor of a resolution calling upon Congress to propose an amendment to the U.S. Constitution affirming that 1) rights protected under the Constitution are the rights of natural persons only and 2) both Congress and the states may place limits on political contributions and political spending?

***           ***        ***

What does it mean by saying this is "not binding"?
The vote is form informational purposes and the representative (Jeff Roy) will take the information into consideration when he casts his vote in the MA House. He is not bound to vote according to the results of the question.


The information contained here can also be downloaded in a PDF format for printing here
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0wjbnXDBhczbzJpaWdyR2tVeXRwQS1zN3BQWGp1X01CQUtF/view?usp=sharing

Update: Ansh Tarafder's Community Service Project

UPDATES ON THE PROJECT WITH DEADLINES

Thanks to all who have supported  my project. I am accepting online donations for my YMCA Youth Membership Fund. I have to submit my project on November 20,2014. I have $149 in offline donations and $125 in this fund. So I need $326  by Nov 20,to reach my target.

Click here to support YMCA Youth Membership Fund by Ansh Tarafder

				Click here to support YMCA Youth Membership Fund by... My name is Ansh Tarafder and I am a 8th grader at the Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School In Franklin, Massachusetts. I am working on my...
				View on www.gofundme.com	Preview by Yahoo

Thanks.

Better than a trick or treat, take a chance on Patriots luxury box seats!

Thanks to Team Fitness Franklin for generously donating the following prize:

5 club seats and $50 parking pass to 

Patriots VS. Lions November 23rd at 1:00pm, Gillette Stadium

Face value of these amazing seats is $600 each, for a total prize value of $3,000!

Raffle Tickets $25 each, or 5 for $100, or 12 for $200

Drawing: 8pm Sunday November 16th at British Beer Company in Franklin

Winner will be notified and winning ticket posted to www.franklinfoodpantry.org

Franklin Food Pantry

All money raised goes directly to the pantry to help feed our neighbors, more than 600 households that can’t afford three meals a day, during the difficult winter months.

Tickets are available for purchase at the Food Pantry during business hours (Tu-Fri 9:30am-1pm, Sat 9am - 11:30am) or from our board and staff.






Disclosure: Steve Sherlock is honored to lead the Board of Directors for the Franklin Food Pantry. Board members and paid staff are not eligible to win the raffle.

Blackstone River Theatre - Irish piper Paddy Keenan!

THANK YOU! This year's Solstice Fest was our biggest yet... stay tuned for more on the 2015 festival set for June 20!  COMING SOON TO BRT!                    Ongoing   Zumba with April Hilliker on Mondays, 6:30 PM     Saturday, Oct 25  Beginner/Continuing beginner mountain dulcimer session begins with Aubrey Atwater & Elwood Donnelly Saturday, October 25, 8 PM  PADDY KEENAN with Jimmy Noonan Saturday, November 1  Flynn Cohen & the Deadstring Ensemble / Kathleen Conneely & Mark Roberts Saturday, November 8  PEPPINO D'AGOSTINO Sunday, November 9, 4 pm  CONTRA DANCE with WHITE SQUALL and caller Paul Wilde Friday, November 14  Cumberland Land Trust Winetasting Fundraiser Saturday, November 15  KIMBERLEY FRASER & TROY MACGILLIVRAY Thursday, November 20  7 PM, FREE  AJAX - Greek tragedy by Sophocles presented by Providence College and Salve Regina University Saturday, November 22 CHANTERELLE featuring JOSEE VACHON Saturday, November 29  BRT HOMECOMING CONCERT & SILENT AUCTION FUNDRAISER Quick Links... BRT Website     BRT Classes       PADDY KEENAN Flynn Cohen & the Deadstring Ensemble Directions to BRT Tickets often available at door but to ensure a seat CALL FOR RESERVATIONS 401-725-9272 Please understand that when a show is SOLD OUT, it truly is! We must adhere to fire codes and it truly is not possible to fit "just one more"... especially when we have had several people ask to do the same! If a show at BRT has an advance price & a day-of-show price it means: If you pre-pay OR call in your reservation any time before the show date, you get the advance price. If you show up at the door with no reservations OR call in your reservations on the same day as the show, you will pay the day-of show-price. NOTE for prepaid tickets or if reservations have been made but not pre-paid: If you reduce the number of tickets requested or paid for at the box office on the night of the performance, that ticket must still be paid for! BRT requires 24 hour notice for cancellations or you will be charged for all seats reserved. Dear Steve, By the time most of you come to the theatre again, you will see our beautiful new parking lot and front walkway! Huge thanks to the Champlin Foundation and the Town of Cumberland for making this major improvement a reality! We are looking forward to having the amazing Paddy Keenan with us Saturday and we look ahead to next Saturday when we present a great split concert featuring Flynn Cohen and the Deadstring Ensemble and Kathleen Conneely & Mark Roberts. Don't forget to LIKE us on Facebook to get late-breaking news and really expensive gifts. Well, not that last one but definitely the first part... Please share what we do with your friends! www.facebook.com/pages/Blackstone-River-Theatre/165592431396    Hope to see you soon... Russell Gusetti, Executive Director   PADDY KEENAN with Jimmy Noonan Paddy Keenan, who has been referred to as "the Jimi Hendrix of the pipes," and "the King of the pipers," is generally acknowledged as one of the most accomplished, innovative uilleann pipers playing today. Paddy was the 2003 recipient of the Irish National Traditional Musician Award. Specializing in a wild, fluid style solely his own, Paddy was a founding member of the Bothy Band, one of the most influential Celtic bands of the 1970s. Keenan continues to tour in Europe and the U.S. and has released several solo albums.  Flute player Jimmy Noonan hails from Cleveland, Ohio but has been a proud Boston resident since 1985. A two-time US Western champion on both the tin whistle and concert flute, Noonan has played Irish traditional music for over thirty-five years and has been teaching Irish music in the US and Canada for over fifteen years. He has taught at Boston College since 1996. Paddy was born in Trim, Co. Meath, to John Keenan and the former Mary Bravender. The Keenans were a Travelling family (the wanderers of Ireland known amongst themselves as Pavees) steeped in traditional music; both Paddy's father and grandfather were uilleann pipers. Taking up pipes at age 10, Keenan moved to America at age 17 to play blues and rock and roll only to return to Ireland in the seventies. After several member changes, Paddy soon found himself with musicians who would go on to change the face of traditional Irish music. The Bothy Band forever changed Irish music, merging a driving rhythm section with traditional Irish tunes in ways that had never been heard before.  Paddy's virtuosity on the pipes combined with the ferocity of his playing made him, in the opinion of many, its driving force. Paddy's style has continued to mature in the intervening years since the break-up of The Bothy Band as he has pursued a solo career. In a live situation, Keenan is possibly one of the most exciting traditional musicians in the world. His inventiveness and willingness to take risks most players wouldn't even think of and pull them off, make his playing an endless source of fascination for traditional music lovers and pipers in particular.    Event Info Saturday, October 25, 8 P.M. $15.00 advance / $18.00 day of show at Blackstone River Theatre 549 Broad Street, Cumberland, R.I.  Call 401-725-9272 for reservations www.riverfolk.org

Forward email to a friend! Blackstone River Theatre | 549 Broad Street | Cumberland | RI | 02864