Corridor News - June 20, 2023 |
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A Special Visitor to the Valley |
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On Friday, June 16, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland (pictured in the center above) completed a multi-day trip to Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Federal, state, and local leaders, including Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse, Congressman Seth Magaziner, RI Governor Daniel McKee, and Pawtucket Mayor Donald Grebien, were present at Old Slater Mill National Historic Landmark to greet the Secretary.
Secretary Haaland met with Blackstone River Valley National Historic Park and National Heritage Corridor staff, focusing on the partnership of the Park and the Corridor, and how both help to strengthen the local economy, increase access to outdoor recreation, and honor the rich history of the region.
Secretary Haaland also met with leaders from the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah), Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, and Narragansett Indian Tribe. The meeting included representatives of the Blackstone Watershed Collaborative and the Blackstone River Watershed Council/Friends of the Blackstone, and the discussion included restoring fish passage on the Blackstone - not only as an ecological issue but a cultural and economic one. She concluded her tour with a visit to Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park in Pawtucket, RI.
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John Marsland, a Volunteers-In-Parks volunteer from the Blackstone River Watershed Council/Friends of the Blackstone, also met with Deb Haaland during her visit. He presented Haaland with a portrait made with magpie, crow, wild turkey, goose, and peacock feathers, and silver dollar seed pods created by Vincent Vincini, BRWC/FOB board member and river advocate. |
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Kudos to the Blackstone Valley Paddle Club for a great rescue of a missing woman during their paddle on June 13th in Burrillville! Thank you for your fast thinking and for staying calm during this situation.
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Thank you to Whitinsville Christian School! |
Students from Whitinsville Christian School participated in a Volunteer Serve Day on June 2nd and helped out at Daniels Farmstead and Waters Farm! We thank them for helping our partners! |
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Plein Air Painting at Hunt's Mills
Saturday, June 24
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Volunteers Needed to Pull Invasive Water Chestnuts! |
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The Blackstone Valley Tourism Council is looking for volunteers to help pull water chestnut weeds in several water bodies this season. It is an invasive species, which spreads rapidly and is very difficult to control. To learn more about the water chestnut, watch this video: https://youtu.be/-kfzKm-TkEM.
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June 24 (rain date June 25) Uxbridge, MA, 9 am to 1 pm
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June 27 & 28 Turner Reservoir, E. Providence (if needed/rain dates) 5 pm to 8 pm
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July 8 Lake Quinsigamond (Shrewsbury, MA) 8 am to 11 am
To volunteer, send an email with the dates you would like to attend to [email protected].
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Volunteer Opportunities!
There are many volunteering opportunities coming up over the next several months. Volunteers should check their Inboxes. If you'd like to get involved with our Volunteers-In-Parks program, reach out to Molly Cardoza, Director of Volunteer and Community Engagement, at [email protected].
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News From Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park |
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James Nagaoka (left) has joined the staff as an Education Assistant this summer. He is an intern with the Mosaics in Science program, run in partnership with the National Park Service. James recently graduated from Ohio State University with a B.S. in evolution and ecology.
Brianna Stevens (right) is the Fish and Feathers Intern (Environment for the Americas) for Blackstone. Brianna is a student at the University of Tennessee Knoxville, majoring in Wildlife and Fisheries Management. Her plan is to become a game warden upon graduation. Welcome, James and Brianna!
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First Fridays Summer Concert Series |
Join us for an evening of free entertainment!
Come to Old Slater Mill National Historic Landmark for the First Fridays series. The next program is on Friday, July 7, 2023, at 5:30 p.m. The program starts with a free industrial archaeology tour! Bring a chair or blanket to enjoy music until 8 p.m.
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WWII Comes to the Valley
Commemorate the Blackstone Valley’s involvement in World War II during a special program this summer.
Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park and ValleyCAST will present an informative afternoon of history at the Whitin Mill in Whitinsville, MA, on Sunday, August 13, from 11 AM – 3 PM. Program will be presented with Open Sky Community Services.
During the 1940s, many workers in the Blackstone Valley mobilized to contribute to the war effort. In historic Whitinsville, MA, the Whitin Machine Works was transformed by the war, with changes in personnel and in the manufacturing focus. Come to the Whitin Mill to explore exhibits on manufacturing, see uniforms from the 1940s, and listen to The Company Bees, a duo who will perform music from the era. Rangers and partners will offer short lectures at 11:30 AM and 1:30 PM inside the Singh Theater. Free, drop-in activities from Battleship Cove will be available for kids throughout the day.
This event will also include a station with information on America the Beautiful and Federal Recreational Land passes. Rangers will be onsite to distribute passes for eligible veterans and active-duty military personnel.
The Whitin Mill is located at 30-70 Douglas Rd., Whitinsville. There will be plenty of free parking and accessible spaces. Event is free and open to all.
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Old Slater Mill National Historic Landmark is open for the season on Thursdays through Sundays with free tours at 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 2:30 p.m.
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Towpath Walks
Take a walk with us this summer!
Join a ranger for a Towpath Talk on a Saturday afternoon (at 1 p.m.) this June, July, and August. Talks run 30-45 minutes.
Free to attend. Meet at 1075 Lower River Rd., Lincoln, RI.
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Ranger Walkabouts on Thursday evenings at 6:30 p.m.
Through August 31st
Find all the details on the NPS Calendar:
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Coming in July!
Join a national park ranger for a bike ride along the Blackstone River Bikeway on Wednesdays starting July 5 through September 27 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Each week will have a different theme.
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River Bend East Songwriters Festival
September 1 & 2
The 2023 River Bend East Songwriters Festival will occur Friday, September 1st through Saturday, September 2nd, outside at Slater Mill National Park, )67 Roosevelt Ave., Pawtucket, RI 02860), along the banks of the beautiful Blackstone River!
This year's festival will "kick off" with a Friday evening multi-media event and continue on Saturday afternoon, September 2nd, with the traditional showcase of the region's best singer-songwriters! Check back early and often for River Bend East 2023 line-up announcements and more information. Follow this link for more info and updates: https://fb.me/e/RzlDcQIp.
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Take a Hike With Our Trail Ambassadors |
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Save these dates to hike with Ernie:
Ernie also leads hikes at the Hunts Mills trail on the second Sunday of each month (March through November) at 1:30 p.m. during the East Providence Historical Society's Open House at 65 Hunts Mills Road, East Providence, RI.
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Join Us on a Ride of Discovery! |
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Join our Blackstone Heritage Corridor Bikeway Ambassadors on guided bike rides this spring to explore different sections of the Blackstone River Bikeway. Bring your own bike, helmet, and water. Rides depart at 6:30 p.m. and return by 8 p.m.
- Wednesday, June 21: Pollinator Bike Ride - Lincoln, RI
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Night Sky Program at
River Bend Farm
287 Oak St., Uxbridge, MA
Friday, June 30
8:00 p.m.
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Would you like to learn the constellations visible right now? Astronomers from Skyscrapers will be able to guide your way around the sky. Telescopes will be available for close-up looks of the moon and stars. Free event.
Photo by Jim Hendrickson.
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Historical Society & Museum Events |
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Tuesdays, June 20 to August 8
Smith-Appleby House Hosts Summer Music Series
Sunday, July 2
Daniels Farmstead hosts Fourth on the Farm
11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Saturday, July 8
North Smithfield Heritage Day
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
83 Green Street, North Smithfield
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Monthly Heritage Walks With NSHA |
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The North Smithfield Heritage Association (NSHA) offers its next Heritage Hike on Saturday, July 8, to tour the village of Slatersville, including Main St. Green Street, Slatersville Mills, and Centennial Park. Meet at the Memorial Town Building. 1 Main Street, at 9:30 a.m.
The NSHA offers the Heritage Walks as a means to promote the town’s amazing multi-faced heritage. Admission is free.
NSHA is also offering Nature Walks with the following schedule:
1st Saturday - High Rocks Gorge 3-mile Loop meets at Martha Road.
3rd Saturday - Booth Pond Preserve Trail 2.4-mile loop meets in Aldi Parking Lot.
4th Saturday - Fort Wildlife Refuge 3.3-mile loop on Providence Pike.
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A group of volunteers with an interest in canoeing and kayaking formed the Blackstone Valley Paddle Club in 2000 in conjunction with the Blackstone Heritage Corridor and Rhode Island Canoe & Kayak Association (RICKA). The Paddle Club meets weekly from May through August on Tuesday evenings at different sites within and just outside of the Valley.
Volunteers act as members of the land crew, paddle club guides, and sweep person on the weekly paddles. They provide an important link to the exploration of the natural resources within the Heritage Corridor.
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To participate in the Blackstone Paddler's events, a RI Canoe and Kayak Association membership fee of $15.00 is required, as is a $10.00 membership fee for the Blackstone Valley Paddle Club. These fees provide a family membership and are good for the entire season. If you are a current RICKA member, you may join for the additional $10.00 membership fee. If you are not yet a RICKA member, you may join and pay your dues for both RICKA and Blackstone Valley Paddle Club by going to the membership page for payment options. Please pay your dues in advance. Inflatable boats and PFD's are not allowed on Blackstone Valley Paddle Club Trips.
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Kayak & Canoe Rentals
Central Falls Landing
15 Madeira Ave., Central Falls, RI
Prices
Single kayak: $20 (1.5 hours) / $30 (3 hours)
Tandem kayak: $30 (1.5 hours) / $50 (3 hours)
Canoe: $30 (1.5 hours) / $50 (3 hours)
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Book a tour of the Blackstone River aboard the Blackstone Valley Explorer riverboat.
NATURE & HERITAGE TOURS
Sundays at 1 PM, 2 PM, 3 PM & 4 PM
EVENING RIVER CRUISES
(unguided trip)
Saturdays at 4 PM, 5 PM, 6 PM & 7 PM
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Connecting with Canoes
Saturday, July 15; Saturday, August 19; Saturday, September 16, and Saturday, October 21.
Arrive at 9:30 a.m. for a 10 a.m. launch. A fee of $30 per person includes canoe and PFD. RSVP by text or call to 401-644-3215.
Meet at BRWC's Environmental Education Center at 100 New River Road (below the bikeway parking area), Manville, RI.
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Get Your Events on Our Calendar! |
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Share your events with us by listing them on the Blackstone Heritage Corridor's events page.
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"Explore, Discover, Protect, and GO!"
The Junior Ranger motto is recited by children around the country, each taking an oath of their own to protect parks, continue to learn about parks, and share their own ranger story with friends and family. Here in the Blackstone River Valley, Junior Rangers are called GearHeads. What's a GearHead, you might ask?
GearHead (n.): a kid, powered by the gears in their brain, who explores nature, discovers history, protects the environment, and goes on adventures throughout the Blackstone River Valley.
Click through the GearHeads website and claim your Junior Ranger status today! Submit a completed activity, and we'll send you a Junior Ranger badge!
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Navigate & Explore the Blackstone River Valley
With Our Interactive Map!
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What Should Be On the Blackstone Bucket List? |
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Share Your Favorite Things to See and Do in the Blackstone Valley |
Help us update our Blackstone Bucket List by sharing your favorite experiences in the Blackstone River Valley. Click to take our survey! Your feedback is most appreciated!
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Blackstone Heritage Corridor, working with community partners, provides strong leadership to preserve, promote, and celebrate the Valley’s historic, natural and recreational resources for current and future generations. |
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Stay Connected With Us On Social Media! |
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670 Linwood Avenue, Whitinsville, MA 01588
(508) 234-4242
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