PRESS RELEASE
Founder of "RiverSing at Slater Mill" to Receive
Special Recognition at Rivers Day Celebration - Ray Warner of Pawtucket
Saturday, June 17, 2006 - Pawtucket, RI-The
Blackstone Valley Tourism Council will present the 2006 John H. Chafee
Rivers Day Award to Ray Warner at RiverSing as part of the Rivers Day
Celebration on Saturday, June 17, 2006 at 6:00pm in Pawtucket. Warner
will be honored for his tireless efforts in establishing RiverSing on
the Blackstone last year and this year’s RiverSing at Slater Mill.
The John H. Chafee Rivers Day Award, named in honor of
the late John H. Chafee, is annually presented on Rhode Island Rivers
Day to an individual who dedicate their efforts in preserving and
protecting the Blackstone River as the region’s prime environmental and
recreational resource. Senator Chafee served as Rhode Island’s US
Senator from 1976-1999 and as its Governor from 1963-1969 and in 1986,
Senator Chafee co-sponsored the legislation that created the Blackstone
River Valley National Heritage Corridor.
Last year, more than 3,000 people attended River Sing
sponsored by the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council. Inspired by the
Charles River Conservancy and Revels’ RiverSing on the Charles, this
year, under the auspices of Slater Mill, RiverSing 2006 will be bigger
and better than ever and will again feature over 80 performing groups
ranging from individual singers and instrumentalists to large bands and
choruses as well as extensive activities and entertainment for children
and a special stage for teens. Many of the performers are nationally
known and all are from Rhode Island and New England. A major event of
the day features choruses singing in call and response back and forth
across the river. At least three grand sings will be held, with audience
participation on both sides of the river.
About the Award Winner
An architect with over 35 years of experience with
historic preservation and adaptive reuse of older buildings, Ray Warner
and his wife Ranne designed and developed Riverfront Lofts in Pawtucket.
Warner and his wife converted the old textile/jewelry mill into
fifty-nine artist live/work condominium lofts. Currently residing at
Riverfront Lofts Warner and his wife are working with the Pawtucket
community to help make the city a better place to live.
As a singer and musician who has performed with Revels
in RiverSing on the Charles which inspired Warner’s conception and
development of RiverSing on the Blackstone with the Blackstone Valley
Tourism Council in 2005 and RiverSing at Slater Mill for 2006 as a way
to bring awareness of and celebrate the Blackstone River through music
and song. Robert Billington, President of the Blackstone Valley Tourism
Council says, “Ray Warner’s dedication to the community of Pawtucket and
to this wonderful event honoring the Blackstone River has added greatly
to the National Rivers Day Celebration on the Blackstone and promoting
the Blackstone Valley as well as the City of Pawtucket as a destination
place.”
The Rivers Day Celebration will kick off in Central
Falls and is hosted by the City of Central Falls, the Blackstone River
Watershed Council, Friends of the Blackstone River and the John H.
Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Commission,
the day’s events will include free public tours aboard the Blackstone
Valley Explorer, Fly tying demonstrations by United Fly Tyers of Rhode
Island and presentation of Environmental Education Scholarship awards,
and announcement of the John H. Chafee Rivers Day Award (a schedule is
attached).
For more details on this year’s Rhode Island Rivers Day
celebration along the Blackstone River, contact the Blackstone Valley
Tourism Council at 401-724-2200. For more information about RiverSing at
Slater Mill visit www.riversing.org
.
RIVERS DAY JUNE 17, 2006
CENTRAL FALLS LANDING SCHEDULE
10:00 AM – 3:00 PM United Fly Tyers Demonstration
11:00 AM Welcome
Dave Balfour, Chairman of Board of Directors, BVTC
Patricia McAlpine, Education Coordinator, BVTC
11:10 AM Lt. Governor Fogarty
11:20 AM Larry Mouradjian, Acting Associate Director,
DEM
11:30AM Mayor Iwuc, Town of Cumberland
11:40 AM Announcement of the John H. Chafee Rivers Day
Award
Award Winner: Ray Warner (to be Presented at RiverSing)
Dave Balfour, Chairperson BVTC Board of Directors
11:45 AM Presentation of Wayne Judd Scholarship Award
Presented to: Patricia McAlpine, Education Coordinator, BVTC for River
Classroom Scholarship Fund – By Delaney Assembly #1059 Knights of
Columbus
11:50AM Presentation of Environmental Scholarship
Awards
Watershed Excellence Award to Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Group
Presented by: Blackstone Watershed Council –
11:55 AM Closing Remarks – Patricia McAlpine, Education
Coordinator
12:00 PM – 3:00 pm Free 45 –Minute River Boat Tours on
the hour aboard the Blackstone Valley Explorer
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