There was a time when the great economic and cultural importance of the Blackstone River Valley proclaimed itself to the world. Now, if we do not raise our united voices on our region’s behalf, we are in danger of losing the quarter-century of progress that has brought the Valley back from a long period of neglect to the threshold of a brighter future.

From the very birth of our nation, it was the fast-flowing river that runs from Worcester, Massachusetts here to Pawtucket that spawned the American Industrial Revolution. Thousands of workers flocked to our massive brick mills to produce the textiles and other products that made their mark around the world.

In the first half of the 19^th century, the mills’ products were in such demand that a canal was built, basically by hand, to create a transportation link the railroads would later replace. 

Mill work was hard work, and there was a lot of family pride in it. Those families built many of the churches whose steeples still punctuate the Blackstone Valley’s landscape. They gathered in the villages that to this day form the core of so many of our communities. And it was their hopes for a better life for their children that became a driving force for social and economic change.

As the bustle of the mills slowed throughout the 20^th century, pride in the Valley’s history seemed to ebb with it. But when the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor was established by Congress in 1986, thanks to visionaries such as the late Sen. John H. Chafee and Bob Billington of the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council, the Valley’s wealth of economic, historic, recreational and cultural potential began to come into new focus.

They saw that a “return” to the past, with support from local governments, preservationists and the public, was the way back to the Valley’s future.

Today, the development potential along the Blackstone River is a major focus of Richard Kazarian, Pawtucket’s special economic projects coordinator, as our City looks to bridge its historic past to its economic future.

As parents of two young children, my wife, Laureen, and I typically think of what’s now become the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor as the home of the bike path that now runs from Woonsocket to Central Falls and, hopefully soon, through Pawtucket. The Blackstone Bike Path is one of the most tangible, and enjoyable, public benefits the federal government has ever brought to our region.

Just walking, biking or jogging along it lends an instant appreciation of how important it is to preserve our natural surroundings, and the enduring historical legacy that took root in them.

In the quarter-century since the Corridor was created, more than $25 million has been spent to bring visitor centers and museums, to preserve and restore historic structures, and create public access to long hidden vistas. By virtually every standard, it has been a great success.

But now that success is being threatened by the October end date for the Heritage Corridor’s funding, unless National Park status can be achieved to succeed it.

Any park is only as good the enjoyment it brings to the people who use it. By that measure, the region whose life was spawned by the powerful river running through it, and renewed by a visionary project whose planners well understood that again following that course was the way to its renewal, deserves the formal recognition of what all of us here already recognize it has become: Worthy of the designation of a National Park.

 Donald R. Grebien

Mayor

City of Pawtucket

Greetings! 

With one week to go until Election Day our spirits are high and we’re still working so hard to become the very first successful Write-In campaign for District 46!

But I can’t do this without your help!

Do you have 2-4 hours to volunteer on Election Day? Volunteers are still needed to make phone calls at our headquarters or greet people at the polls.

If you have the time we would love to have you join our team on Election Day! Please call me at 401-727-8982 or email me at maryannshallcrosssmith@gmail.com.

Thank you for all of your support; I could never have gotten this far without each of you!

Sincerely,

Representative Mary Ann Shallcross Smith

 November 2nd

Call the RIde Scheduler to arrange for your free Ride between 10 AM – 2 PM

461-9760 or 1-800-479-6902

It’s been another great week at Peter Kilmartin for Attorney General Headquarters.  As Peter’s message of protecting Rhode Island families as our next Attorney General continues to resonate with folks across the state, here is a re-cap of the past week:

Peter Continues to Gain Momentum: According to a new poll by Brown University, momentum in the race to become Rhode Island’s next Attorney General remains in Peter’s favor. Click here to read more about the poll

Back on the Airwaves: Peter is back on the airwaves spreading his message of protecting Rhode Island families. His television advertisement – titled “My Job” – highlights his proven record of leadership as a police officer, prosecutor and lawmaker. For Peter, protecting Rhode Island families isn’t just a campaign slogan; it’s a way of life. Click here to view Peter’s commercial.

Peter Releases Plan to Crack Down on Pension Fraud with Gina Raimondo: Peter, in collaboration with General Treasurer Candidate Gina Raimondo, released a three-point plan this week, which details their initiative for inter-agency cooperation in cracking down on pension fraud when they are elected. Click here to read the press release, or click here to read coverage from the Providence Phoenix.

A Tough Week for the Tea Party favorite: Erik Wallin, who once again has proven that he’ll say anything to get elected, ran into some well-deserved bad press this week. Click here to read the Providence Journal Politifact article regarding his false accusation against Peter, or click here to read the Golocalprov.com article about Wallin being soft on corruption.

The Campaign is running strong, but we still have a lot of work left in order to ensure Peter becomes our next Attorney General. When elected, he’ll move our state towards a stronger and more secure tomorrow. Thanks for your continued support and keep up the great work.

Best Regards,

Brett Broesder

Kilmartin for Attorney General

Manager – Communications, Research and Public Affairs

www.peterkilmartin.com

Dear Friend,

I want to share my thanks for your support. When I announced my campaign for Congress, I knew it would be an uphill battle. But together, we led the debate in the first district in Rhode Island and made waves across the country. We pushed my opponents hard and fast to call for an immediate end to the wars and to bring the troops home now. Together we fought to get corporate money out of politics — and with your support built an alternate model — with thousands of people giving our campaign low dollar donations. We raised the bar on what an elected official’s role can be in campaigns for worker’s rights and as a voice for all working people.

I am so proud of what we accomplished together. Fueled by the energy and enthusiasm of our local and national volunteer base, we built a powerful grassroots field campaign. We talked to tens of thousands of people across the district about the overwhelming power of corporations in our government — and the need to elect leaders who will fight to take back our democracy. We built a powerful organization and a new generation of organizers who are ready to stand up and take on the next fight.

This was a tremendous victory, but it’s not over.

We need to keep the pressure on: to organize to bring the troops home now. Here in Rhode Island we need to bring our base together to focus on winning justice for the Westin Hotel workers and to take on other local economic justice fights. We need to organize to get Washington to focus on ordinary people — not simply do the bidding of corporations and Wall Street. Our state and our country urgently need to change our energy policy — to focus on a green energy economy that can put Americans back to work and stand up for our environment. And we need to keep working to reclaim our democracy — with campaign finance changes that allow the voices of our communities to rise up above big corporations and the very wealthy.

I am so proud to have had your support over the last four months, and I know that together we will keep up the fight.

With my sincere thanks,

David Segal

Dear Editor:

Old habits die hard, the wise old saying goes. The same is true in Pawtucket for the tired old politics of the past which, even in its death throes, will do anything to hold onto its power.

Thus the recent letter to the editor by another political candidate, who had expressed his personal support for my campaign till the moment his School Committee candidacy was endorsed by the political machine he is now beholden to. What he failed to state is my campaign has been given four different deadlines to submit poll worker names and twice had to seek state Board of Elections input to overturn city “rulings” (never put in writing) that could only benefit my opponent.

His “controversy” over a local pastor has to do with photos of dozens of people taken at a church breakfast that included members of the city administration and people of all stripes. Another phony issue.

More recently came the anonymous letter from “Mary” – no last name, no address, no phone number – sent to parts of the city claiming the “criminal master-minds at Grebien headquarters” are behind an innocent voter registration mistake made by Tom Scanlon, a 76-year-old volunteer in my campaign. But this is what Tom himself said in a mailing to voters with his photo, signature and phone number on it: “This is a political dirty trick trying to take advantage of my name. I am now, and always have, supported Don. He is exactly what we need to move Pawtucket in a new direction.” No call to Tom from “Mary” yet though.

My faith in the good people of Pawtucket to embrace new and fresh ideas remains unshaken. On primary day Sept. 14,  I am confident they will join me in that effort.

Sincerely,

Don Grebien

Dear Friend,

Today, it is with great pleasure that the Latino Construction Workers Association of Rhode Island inform you that the LCWA Endorsement Committee have voted to endorsed your candidacy for Attorney General in the Primary Election on September 14, 2010, in appreciation of your support for the construction workers and their issues, that has distinguished you among your colleagues, and has benefited countless hardworking Latino Rhode Islanders.

The decision (to endorse) your candidacy was made by representatives of the  Latino general contractors and sub-contractor with an estimated work force of more of 3,000 journeymen, apprentices, laborers plus families across the state of Rhode Island.

We are counting on your continual commitment on our behalf to further economic development to bring good paying jobs to this community.

Sincerely yours,

Dr. Luis D. Martinez

LCWA Executive Director

Comment: A statement from Kilmartin Campaign spokesperson Brett Broesder: “Peter Kilmartin is honored to have received support from the Latino Construction Workers Association. He looks forward to working with the Association and its more than 3,000 members as he cracks down on violent crime, leads the charge against mortgage fraud and takes on public corruption as Rhode Island’s next Attorney General.”

Throughout the campaign, Peter has talked with Rhode Islanders across the Ocean State about his long history of fighting corruption and protecting families.

Unfortunately, his opponents have spent their time and money misleading the public by diminishing Peter’s substantive record while inaccurately inflating their own.  Joe Fernandez even went so low as to attack Peter’s family in a mail piece that reached voters last week.  Steve Archambault unbelievably claims to be the only police officer and prosecutor in the race.

We are going to set the record straight.  We released the second television advertisement of the campaign titled, “Trust.”  It highlights Peter’s record of fighting crime, which is one reason why he is the only candidate for Attorney General who has been endorsed by police officers.

Click here to watch Peter’s new television advertisement – “Trust.”

We know that Peter can be trusted to hold the office of Attorney General to the highest standards – we have to let others know the same. Rhode Islanders need to know that Peter has dedicated his life to fighting against corruption and “pay-to-play” politics.

Thirty years ago, in August of 1980, the Summer Olympics were ending in Moscow.

Thirty years ago, in August of 1980, Lech Walesa led the first of many strikes at Gdansk Shipyard.

Thirty years ago, in August of 1980, Jimmy Carter defeated Edward Kennedy to win the Democratic renomination for President.

And, thirty years ago, in 1980, Stone Soup Folk Arts Foundation and Coffeehouse was founded by musicians with a vision and a dream.

Stone Soup is proud of that beginning and proud of the music and musicians we have presented for 30 years, first in Providence and, for the last 10 years, in Pawtucket. We will be celebrating with special events throughout the year. This summer we began a new page on our website entitled “Founders’

Voices.” (http://www.stonesoupcoffeehouse.com/page1/FoundersVoices.html)

On behalf of the Board of Stone Soup I thank you for the support you have provided in publishing our press announcements.  We appreciate publicity honoring our thirtieth season providing live music in Rhode Island and our tenth season in Pawtucket.

Beginning this year our calendars will be mailed twice a year instead of three times. The first of these will be mailed this week. I am attaching a copy to this email; I have summarized the concerts below. Our season begins at the Pawtucket Arts Festival on September 11 and 12 and our first evening concert at St. Paul’s Church is on September 18. As I have done in the past, I will send press releases 2 weeks ahead of time. The publicity for the Stone Soup Fest at the Pawtucket Arts Festival is written by the Festival.

Please let me know if there are any changes that should be made regarding personnel who should receive press releases or if any addresses should be changed. We have been listing our events on the ProJo The Beat online calendar as well. Please contact me at the above email address with any questions. The current president of Stone Soup is Richard Walton and he can be reached at stone@soup.org.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Ellen FIngeret

Dear Chris,

I just wanted to take a moment to thank you and your colleagues, especially including Paul Williamson and Kevin Dunphy, who served as moderator, for inviting me to take part in the Social Studies Department’s mayoral forum Monday in the Tolman High School auditorium.

The questions posed by the students were so well thought out, and covered such wide ground, I think the local media could have probably learned a thing or two from them!

Hopefully the students themselves learned not only something about where I and my opponent, Mr. Kinch, stand on nuts and bolts issues like economic development and school funding as well as the core issue of leadership itself, but also will be inspired to personally take part in the political process, whoever their preferred candidate may be.

My favorite part was the opportunity to engage with the students during the rounds of questions as well as interacting with them one-on-one after the forum. It is truly an inspiration to be around young people who are excited about learning and who want to be involved in the future of their community.

Their courtesy, sincere interest and knowledge of the important issues facing the city are a fine tribute to what you and your colleagues are able to accomplish in class every day. While I recognize that confidentiality issues prevent sending each student a thank-you note, I trust that you will be able to communicate my sentiments to them.

Once again, thanks for the invitation, and hopefully we can look forward to similar events in the future, which I would certainly welcome.

Sincerely,
Don Grebien