Take a peek behind the scenes of the Blackstone River Valley

 Residents and visitors to Rhode Island’s historic Blackstone River Valley can enjoy a fun and relaxing way to experience the wonderful heritage, culture, nature and recreation of the Valley, with Blackstone Valley Leisurely Bicycle Tours.

 These tours last 3 ½ hours, but no need to worry-participants will ride at a very unhurried pace, stopping often and is appropriate for all fitness levels. 

Wheel through four Blackstone Valley communities and discover the history, culture, manufacturing background and other little known facts and stories while riding through charming back streets. 

 Cyclists will stop at a bakery, a sausage factory, and a museum and feel the Blackstone River Valley come alive in the process!

 Tours depart from the Blackstone Valley Visitor Center, 175 Main Street Pawtucket, RI and travel north to the Blackstone River State Park Visitor Center, Lincoln, RI and then return to Pawtucket.

 Following each tour, enjoy the many local cafes, museums and activities that will be pointed out.

 Participants are required to bring their own bicycles, helmets and know how to ride bicycles.

 Space is limited to keep groups small. We require reservations in advance.   Alternatively, you can turn up at our meeting point and take your chances.

 Cost is $20/person, and includes free parking, bottle of water and energy bar.

Reservations are required in advance. Reserve your space on the tour by going to www.tourblackstone.com or call 401 724 2200 for more information

 Here are the dates for 2012 Leisurely Bicycle Tours. All tours run 9 am -12:30 pm departing from and returning to Blackstone Valley Visitor Center, 175 Main Street, Pawtucket, RI

Saturdays, May 12 & May 26

Saturdays, June 9 & June 23

Saturdays, July 7 & July 21

Saturdays, August 4 & August 18

Saturdays, September 15 & September 29

Saturday, October 13

STANDISH, ME:  Taylor Allison of Rumford, RI, recently completed a weeklong service trip to Haiti sponsored by Saint Joseph’s College of Maine.

In cooperation with Partners in Development of Ipswich, Mass., a team of three faculty members and eight students began construction of a new house, volunteered in a health clinic, and worked on children’s programs. Allison is a nursing student at the college.

Saint Joseph’s College of Maine is a Catholic liberal arts college located on Sebago Lake in Standish, Maine. The college serves an undergraduate enrollment of 1,000 students and offers 40 academic programs on campus. Saint Joseph’s also offers an online program for working adults. www.sjcme.edu

Caroline Mahoney 5th Grade Maggie Mahoney 3rd Grade from Riverside

Bay View Academy Lower School students participated on Monday, January 30 and Wednesday, February 1, in an optional, after-school project to make baby blankets for McAuley Village, a two-year transitional housing program for homeless single parents and their children and Hasbro Children’s Hospital. The project, which reinforces the Academy’s Mercy Core values of compassion and service and collaboration, was run by Lower School teacher, Janine Cooney. Twenty-three students ranging from grade one through grade five participated and 24 blankets were created. “The girls gave up their afternoon activities to be a part of this project. They love doing it because they really feel they are personally doing something to help someone else, and they are. It was a wonderful afternoon” stated Ms. Cooney. The girls who participated were: 

Sonia Dady, Attleboro, MA

Tessa Foley, Bristol

Parker Kern, Cranston

Gabby Osorio-Palo, Cranston

Malena Corso, Cranston

Caroline Mahoney, East Providence

Magggie Mahoney, East Providence

Orla Feld, East Providence

Grace Bourassa, Greenville

Chloe Marsella, Johnston

Celia Macari, North Providence

Erin Donovan, Pawtucket

Molly Donovan, Pawtucket

Christina Obrien, Providence

Abbie Greene-Sermak, Rehoboth, MA

Lizzie Cooney, Rehoboth, MA

Daniella Olivares, Seekonk, MA

Jane Maciel, Seekonk, MA

Gina Khiami, Warwick

Caitlin Blanco, Warwick

Amera Khiam, Warwick

Jenna Inglehart, West Warwick

Lily Gucfa, Rehoboth, MA 

St. Mary Academy-Bay View is an independent Catholic School for girls open to all faiths, Pre-kindergarten through Grade 12, located in East Providence, Rhode Island. In existence since 1874, Bay View endeavors to provide a quality education preparing girls and young women for the challenges of the global community. St. Mary Academy–Bay View is a college preparatory school accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.  

The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) will temporarily close portions of I-95 South and I-95 North in Pawtucket during the early morning hours on Tuesday, February 7 and Wednesday, February 8, 2012.  The temporary closure is necessary for continued work on the installation of the new beams that will ultimately carry northbound traffic on George Street.  RIDOT is replacing the George Street Bridge as part of the Pawtucket River Bridge Replacement Project.

The scheduled closure of I-95 South and I-95 North in Pawtucket is as follows:

Tuesday, February 7, 2012 from 12 a.m. to 4 a.m.

I-95 South between Exit 27 (George Street, Cedar Street, McCoy Stadium, Downtown Pawtucket, North Providence) and the on-ramp from Cedar Street.

Wednesday, February 8, 2012 from 12 a.m. to 4 a.m.

I-95 North between Exit 27 (George Street, Cedar Street, McCoy Stadium, Downtown Pawtucket, North Providence) and Exit 28 (RI Route 114/School Street, Slater Mill, McCoy Stadium, Memorial Hospital, Pawtucket) will be closed.

The current truck detour will not be affected.  The car detour is as follows:

I-95 South Detour:

• Take Exit 27
• Go straight on Cedar Street
• Slight left onto I-95 South

I-95 North Detour:

• Take Exit 27
• Go straight on Marrin Street
• Continue straight through the traffic signal at George Street (Marrin Street becomes Grace Street)
• Continue straight through the signals at Pleasant Street, Water Street, and School Street
• Left on Prospect Street
• Right on Vernon Street on-ramp to I-95 North

Motorists with questions can contact RIDOT’s Customer Service office at 401-222-2450 weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Additional information will be available on RIDOT’s website (www.dot.ri.gov) and its social media sites on Twitter, Facebook, MySpace and Blogger.

The cost to the city for the $39,750 study was reduced by contributions of $15,000 from private companies which are members of RIPEC, for a total maximum cost to the city of $24,750.

The study will cover all city departments including schools as well as fire, police and other municipal departments. The analysis will include an assessment of existing employee labor agreements, potential consolidation of services, any duplication of functions and overall administration. Other areas to be looked at include training, technology improvements and infrastructure upgrades.

“RIPEC offers a wealth of expertise in this area and we are pleased to partner with them in this citywide study of how to improve all the departments in the City of Pawtucket,” Grebien said. “Their analysis, conclusions and recommendations will help us to better serve the public in the most cost efficient manner possible while still maintaining the level of services our taxpayers deserve and expect.”

Under terms of the agreement, RIPEC will also formulate a five-year financial forecast for the city by analyzing current expenditures, estimated spending needs and projected revenue collections.

A requirement of the study is that any recommendations should seek to maintain or improve current levels of service while seeking cost reductions.

Established in 1932, RIPEC is an independent, nonprofit and nonpartisan public policy research and education organization with a stated goal of advancing “effective, efficient and equitable government in Rhode Island,” according to its website. Its policy areas include public finance, education, human services and economic development.

The study is expected to commence in March 2012.

Debbie-Cylke

Pawtucket, RI –  Deborah Cylke has recently become a member of the Board of Trustees of Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island.

A Pawtucket resident, Ms. Cylke was appointed the Superintendent of the Pawtucket School Department in July, 2010.  Pawtucket serves 8,500 students in 15 schools in an urban setting.

Prior to her appointment in Pawtucket, Ms. Cylke had a 32 year career in the Washoe County School District in Reno, Nevada.  WCSD is the second largest school district in Nevada with 63,000 students in 95 schools.  There Ms. Cylke served as a teacher, middle school assistant principal, high school assistant principal, middle school principal, Area Superintendent and Superintendent of Secondary School.  As the Secondary Schools Superintendent, her responsibilities were for 29,000 middle and high school students in 11 comprehensive high schools, an alternative high school, a career and technical high school, an early college high school and 14 middle schools.

Following her career with WCSD, Ms. Cylke represented Creative Learning Systems of Longmont, Colorado, an education technology company which designs stimulating learning environments for middle and high school students in robotics, control technology, circuitry, pneumatics, mechanics and pre-engineering, alternative and renewable energy and publishing and multi-media tools.

Improving academic achievement, creating safe school environments, supporting principals and teachers, and closing the achievement gap have been primary goals throughout her career.

            Ms. Cylke earned a Masters degree from the University of Nevada at Reno and a Bachelors degree from California State University, San Jose, CA.

 in Pawtucket and Central Falls

The Blackstone Valley Tourism Council (BVTC) and the Rhode Island Cherry Blossom Festival Committee has announced the 2012 Rhode Island Cherry Blossom Festival, a signature annual cultural event held in Pawtucket, and Central Falls, RI.

This year’s festival is taking place May 18-20, with the theme of Celebrating the Revitalization of Roosevelt Avenue in Central Falls & Pawtucket.

This annual celebration highlights the area known as “the mill district” adjacent to the historic Blackstone River in the two cities, along with being a signature event of local Asian cultural heritage.

Also, the 2012 RI Cherry Blossom Festival will honor the 100^th anniversary year of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, annually held in Washington, DC, which honors the 1912 gift of 3000 cherry trees from Mayor Yukio Ozaki of Tokyo, Japan.

In addition, the festival will feature Rhode Island’s first ever Cherry Blossom Princess, Kara Fulgniti, Kara will be participating in Rhode Island’s Cherry Blossom Festival in May as well as several other activities, and will represent Rhode Island at the 100th Anniversary of the National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C. from April 7-14, 2012.

Festival events planned to date will include a day and evening family carnivals, tree planting, park dedication and more.

For updates on the 2012 RI Cherry Blossom Festival, visit the official website at www.richerryblossomfestival.com  or call the BVTC at 401-724-2200.

No matter how you feel about what is contained in the recently-proposed state budget, practically everyone agrees that the document itself looks terrific.

That’s because this year’s budget contains cover art by Rhode Island artist Mark Davis of Pawtucket, part of an annual collaboration between the State Budget Office and the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts to feature original works of art by Rhode Island artists on the state budget document.

The cover of the State FY2013 budget books features a fall scene of the footbridge in Roger Williams Park in Providence. The work was chosen by Governor Chafee from dozens of images gathered by the State Arts Council for his review.

Randall Rosenbaum, Executive Director of the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts, said that such collaborations are important. “The State Budget represents the life and livelihood of all Rhode Islanders. It’s not a sterile set of charts and numbers. Art helps to humanize this important document.”

Thomas Mullaney, Budget Officer for the State of Rhode Island, agrees.  “We value our relationship with the Council on the Arts,” said Mullaney.  “We appreciate their help in finding artwork from Rhode Island artists for the cover of our annual budget documents, and we particularly thank Mark Davis for allowing us to use his photograph.“

Davis, a Pawtucket-based commercial and fine art photo and RISD graduate, whose website is http://markdavisprints.com, is quoted as saying, “Living in the smallest state in the country still amazes me as to how many beautiful places we’re surrounded by.  My photos represent the large gems that can be found in our small state.”

About the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts

The Rhode Island State Council on the Arts is a state agency supported by appropriations from the Rhode Island General Assembly and grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. RISCA provides grants, technical assistance and staff support to arts organizations and artists, schools, community centers, social service organizations and local governments to bring the arts into the lives of Rhode Islanders.

The Charles & Agnes Kazarian Foundation announced it had agreed to be a founding member and supporting organization for the initiative, which is aimed at making Pawtucket become “a creative center for vegan, vegetarian, and macrobiotic culinary arts.” 

According to the foundation, besides a number of new vegan, vegetarian and macrobiotic restaurants the initiative envisions “state of the art culinary classes and educational facilities, health food grocery stores [and] compatible retail stores,” along with related musical and  theatrical events. The foundation said it is seeking “best-fit locations” for the planned activities.

Paul Kazarian Sr., for whose parents the foundation is named, said “a creative culinary arts center will capture the pioneering spirit of the city.” Kazarian grew up in Pawtucket, where his parents settled after emigrating from Armenia in 1921. 

“Pawtucket has long been a creative home for the mechanical and industrial arts even before the start of Slater Mill in 1793. In recent years we have also become widely recognized as a welcoming destination for the ‘Creative Economy’ and creative professionals across a very wide spectrum,” Grebien noted. 

“This initiative will extend Pawtucket’s creative ‘brand’ in an even more unique and potentially far-reaching way. It’s got the kind of major economic and cultural potential we can be truly excited about.” 

Grebien also noted the city’s ready accessibility off I-95 in close proximity to Providence and Boston, the continued availability of mills and other historic buildings that could make for unique food-related venues for anyone seeking a unique food experience, as well as multiple spinoff developments. “This independent initiative as conceived and promoted by the Charles & Agnes Kazarian Foundation will help spur small business creation to a new level in Pawtucket. The city looks forward to assisting in every appropriate way we can,” he said.  

Grebien also praised the work of Richard Kazarian, the city’s economic development director, a well-known art and antiques dealer and a cousin of Paul Kazarian Jr., in helping to bring the initiative about, which he will co-chair. “Richard has connections that run wide and deep in the creative, business, financial and other communities. He is ideally suited to assist the foundation and the city to maximize the potential this initiative offers,” Grebien said.

David Ashley, MD

Pawtucket, RI –  Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island recently appointed David Ashley, MD, to its Medical Staff as the medical director of the Family Care Center.

A Saunderstown, RI resident and fluent in Spanish, Dr. Ashley earned his medical degree at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI. He completed a family medicine residency at Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. Dr. Ashley is a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Family Medicine at Brown University.

Dr. Ashley is board certified by the American Board of Family Practice. He is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians, Rhode Island Academy of Family Physicians, Rhode Island Medical Society, National Guard Association of the United States and National Guard Association of Rhode Island.

In his role as medical director of the Family Care Center, Dr. Ashley will co-lead the new resident rotation in patient-centered medical home practice management. He will work with residents as they provide care to their patients. Dr. Ashley can be reached at (401) 729 – 2304.