BLACKSTONE VALLEY TOURISM COUNCIL CELEBRATES FARMS, RESTAURANTS, SHOPS AND MORE AT 31ST ANNUAL CELEBRATION HAPPENING OCTOBER 6TH, 2016
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Event at Pawtucket Visitor Center to highlight ???local to table??? experiences, recognize local business leaders and historians, and feature State Tourism officials
Rhode Island???s Blackstone Valley Tourism Council celebrates its 31st Anniversary with a celebration of ???Feed Us A Story???, honoring the Blackstone River Valley???s many farms, restaurants, shops, sites, storytelling and more!
The public event is happening Thursday night, October 6, 5 pm-8 pm, at the Pawtucket Visitor Center, 175 Main Street, Pawtucket, RI, across the street from the Slater Mill Historic Site.
Over 17 food establishments from the Northern RI region will be represented with their cuisine and beverages, showcasing the importance of culinary to the social and economic development of the area, now Rhode Island???s new National Historical Park.??
In addition, The Providence and Worcester Railroad, along with five area business persons and historians will be recognized by the tourism agency.
2016 Honorees:
Footprints in History Award??
Providence and Worcester Railroad is being recognized for its role over the last 170 years as the prime transportation service in the region, moving freight for area companies, along with serving the BVTC with its special annual themed rail excursions presented to the general public.
Rev. William Blackstone Society Induction
Don Leighton, BETA Engineering, Lincoln, RI
Mr. Leighton has over 38 years of practical experience as a landscape architect and has built an extensive reputation throughout New England. He possesses the unique ability to creatively unite the many aspects of a project. He has successfully completed many large scale planning projects that entailed a public opinion and consensus building process. His ability to share his vision through clear graphic communication is truly inspiring, and he is a master of building public support for community projects.
Mr. Leighton has been especially successful at working with state and local environmental agencies as well as developers to arrive at solutions that protect the interest of all. His projects, involving local community development in Blackstone River Valley have had a positive impact, especially in urban business districts.
Blackstone Valley Special Recognition
Margaret Carroll, Historian
Ms. Carroll is the president of the Millville, MA Historical Society, and a member of the Massachusetts Historical Commission. Ms. Carroll is being recognized for years as a strong supporter of historical preservation of her community in the Blackstone River Valley of Massachusetts, which borders Rhode Island???s Blackstone River Valley.
Blackstone Valley Excellence in Arts, Business & Design
Eric Delin, Delin Design, Pawtucket, RI
A Noted Pawtucket based product designer, Mr. Delin works on many advertising, branding, digital media and packaging for many local and nationally known clients. Also, Mr. Delin is representative of the many small businesses in Pawtucket???s creative community that have located into the city and support many of the live/work spaces that are helping to bolster urban revitalization in the city.
Blackstone Valley Support & Community Partnership
Ann Jallette, Cumberland, RI
Ms. Jallette is the owner/manager of Vose True Value Hardware and an award winning holiday display designer.
She is being recognized for her involvement as a founding member of the Blackstone Valley Independent Business Alliance, supporting the local small business community. Also, Ms. Jallette has volunteered with many local organizations including St. Ann???s Arts & Cultural Center; the organizing committee honoring Blackstone Valley???s tribute to the ???Greatest Generation;??? and the Wall of Hope Project at the Museum of Work & Culture.??
Roger Lapierre, Owner Lil General Stores
Based in Woonsocket, RI, Lil General Convenience Stores are a prominent site in the city and nearby towns of the Blackstone River Valley. Mr. Lapierre is being recognized for helping with other Woonsocket small businesses in supporting ongoing public campaign for customers to support and buy from local small businesses in their communities.
Also set to attend will be officials from the RI Commerce Corporation who will discuss the State of Rhode Island Marketing and Tourism Development.
Tickets for the event are $85/person and $75/person for groups of 10 people. Proceeds from the evening will support the Blackstone Valley Heritage Environmental Fund, which benefits the public and educational environmental tours offered by the Tourism Council on the Blackstone Valley Explorer riverboat. Advanced ticket purchases are strongly urged.
More information and details are available at www.BlackstoneValleyTourismCouncil.org or call 401-724-2200.