Mayor Elorza Invites Residents to Celebrate the Pedestrian Bridge During PRONK!

Culture and community collide during the City’s annual celebration of art and activism

PROVIDENCE, RI – Mayor Jorge O. Elorza will join Department of Art, Culture + Tourism Director Stephanie Fortunato, WaterFire Providence Executive Artistic Director Barnaby Evans, BIG NAZO’s renegade circus family, PRONK! (Providence HONK!) artists and community members for a music-filled extravaganza on the pedestrian bridge. The celebration will kick off on the steps of the bridge (South Water Street side) at 6:00 PM, where a moment of silence will recognize the native inhabitants of the land. Following the land acknowledgement, a torch procession across the bridge, courtesy of WaterFire Providence, will illuminate performances by visual artists and PRONK! bands.

For over a decade, PRONK! has drawn national acclaim for its signature blend of art and activism. Every October, musicians from around the globe descend on Providence as part of a national street band movement.

Residents are encouraged to enjoy PRONK! festivities, including a parade around the City, before the bridge celebration begins. For more details on PRONK!, including a full schedule of events, visit: http://providencehonkfest.org/

WHO:                   Mayor Jorge O. Elorza; Department of Art, Culture + Tourism Director Stephanie Fortunato; WaterFire Providence Executive Artistic Director Barnaby Evans; PRONK! artists, BIG NAZO; and community partners

WHAT:                 A celebration of music, public space, and community

WHERE:               The Providence River Pedestrian Bridge

WHEN:                 Monday, October 14, 2019, from 6 PM to 7 PM

Youth to Senior Snow Shoveling Program Continues in Pawtucket

Pawtucket, Rhode Island – Mayor Donald R. Grebien and the Pawtucket City Council have announced that the Pawtucket’s Youth to Senior Shoveling Program is now accepting requests from Pawtucket seniors to be placed on the list to be matched with a snow shoveling volunteer for this winter. After another successful season last year matching dedicated youth volunteers with senior citizens from the Pawtucket community who need assistance in shoveling their stairs and sidewalks, the City of Pawtucket is proud to continue this program for the 8th year.

The program was spearheaded by Beth Roberge who will be stepping aside after seven years as Senior Liaison.

“I cannot put into words how thankful I am for her service to our community and the senior population as she began and elevated the program. It truly flourished under her leadership and care, gaining notoriety from various media outlets and questions from other cities throughout the country on her template for success,” said Mayor Donald R. Grebien.

For this year, Homeless Liaison, Thomas Hodge, will take on the responsibility of the Senior Liaison

Pawtucket to Form New Charter Review Commission

Welcoming Interested Residents to be Join the Commission

Pawtucket – Mayor Donald R. Grebien announced that he is seeking applicants to serve on the Charter Review Commission that will review the governing document of the city and make recommendations for potential changes that would go before voters on the November 2020 ballot.

“The Charter Review Commission will play a truly important role in our city moving forward through the evaluation of our Charter. We ask our residents interested in community involvement to take part in serving,” said Mayor Grebien.

The commission will consist of nine or eleven members, chosen so as to be broadly representative of the residents of the city. Meetings of the charter review panel will be duly posted open meetings that will include opportunity for input by the general public.

In 2016, voters approved two of the Charter Review Commission’s recommendations: Replacing charter language related to ethics reviews with a simple requirement that elected officials comply with the Rhode Island Code of Ethics and eliminating references to certain city positions that are no longer filled while adding other positions that have been created.

“Since that time, there may be other charter sections that may now warrant thorough review and potential changes,” said Mayor Grebien. “For the benefit of transparent and responsive city government, I firmly believe it’s well worth undertaking this effort.”

Letters of interest and resumes will be accepted through August 28, 2019 with the commission to hold its initial organizational meeting on or about October 1^st. Residents who served on the last charter panel, will also be considered and are invited to update their resumes. Applicants must be at least 18 years of age and a resident of the city. By charter, members of the commission serve without financial compensation and the panel must conclude its work within one year of when it is formed. Draft amendments to the charter must be submitted to the Mayor and City Council for consideration to appear on the ballot

Any resulting recommendations for charter changes would require approval by voters on the November 2020 ballot in order to take effect.

To apply to serve on the commission, send a letter of interest and resume to: Wil Arboleda, Mayor’s Office, Pawtucket City Hall, 137 Roosevelt Avenue, Pawtucket, RI 02860 or by email to warboleda@pawtucketri.com.

Local Musicians to Perform an Outdoor Concert of Music of the 1940s

Local Musicians Suzanne Sheridan, Greg DeTroy & John Mobilio to Perform an Outdoor Concert of Music of the 1940s at Norwalk Historical Society Museum

(NORWALK, CT) Travel back in time to the 1940s! Join the Norwalk Historical Society for an end of summer outdoor concert, “As Time Goes By...Music of the 1940s”, featuring local musician Suzanne Sheridan with Greg DeTroy on keyboards and John Mobilio on standup bass.  The concert takes place on Saturday, September 14, 2019 at 3:00pm outside on the new patio at the Norwalk Historical Society Museum overlooking the Norwalk River.  The trio will be performing classic songs of the era such as “I’ll Be Seeing You”, “As Time Goes By” as well as many others from Cole Porter and George Gershwin. 1940’s inspired refreshments will be served! Event also includes a viewing of the society’s new World War 2 exhibit, “Caught in the Crosshairs: The Secret of the Norden Bombsight”.  Tickets are $20 for adults & $15 for Seniors (65+) and can be purchased athttps://musicofthe1940s.brownpapertickets.com/, by calling 203-846-0525, and at the door. Advanced ticket purchase highly recommended. 

The Norwalk Historical Society Museum entrance and parking is available at Norwalk City Hall, 125 East Avenue.  The museum is in the red brick house with blue double front doors, next to the Norwalk Health Dept.  If there is inclement weather, the concert will be held at an alternate location indoors at the townhouse at Mill Hill Historic Park 2 East Wall Street in Norwalk. People will be notified via email, social media and the website.

About Suzanne Sheridan 
Suzanne is a professional photographer, professional singer/songwriter/philosopher & co-owner of The Legacy Project USA. For five years she hosted and performed at a series called “Coffeehouse at the Wheelers” for the Westport Historical Society. The concerts she developed – tributes to Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan, Pete Seeger, Carole King, Carly Simon, James Taylor, and the Great American Songbook – have gone on to other venues such as Voices Café and to other countries such as Canada and Australia. Her musical career began with singing jingles for Pepsi and Hasbro Toys and writing and performing her original songs in many venues. She has won awards and recognition for her music and many will recognize a song she co-wrote with her life partner Rozanne Gates – “90 Pound Suburban Housewife Driving in Her SUV.”  Ms. Sheridan performs many musical styles and genres including the American Songbook of classic American songs by songwriters such as Gershwin, Rodgers and Hart, and Cole Porter:https://www.suzannesheridanmusic.com & https://www.suzannesheridan.com.

For more information visitwww.norwalkhistoricalsociety.org, e-mailinfo@norwalkhistoricalsociety.org , or call 203-846-0525. The Norwalk Historical Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.  

Miss America Announces 2020 Competition Date!

The following is news shared from Miss America on the competition dates.

The 2020 Miss America Competition Live on NBC December 19, 2020 from Mohegan Sun Arena

Miss America friends and fans,  We are thrilled to join NBC in sharing the news that Miss America 2020 will air live on NBC on Thursday, December 19, 2019 from 8-10 PM ET from the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, CT.

Mohegan Sun is a premiere entertainment destination with plenty of entertainment options for Miss America fans. Mohegan Sun Arena is ranked consistently among the top venues in the world according to Billboard Magazine, Pollstar, Venues Now and the Academy of Country Music Awards. More information about this amazing property can be found HERE. Scroll to the bottom of the homepage for travel information.  An initial room block for Miss America Friends & Family is in place.

RESERVATIONS

More details on the show and competition week, including when tickets will go on sale, will be coming soon!   Miss America 2020 is underway!

High School Scholarship Foundation of Fairfield Celebrates 30 Years!

Fairfield, Connecticut - First Selectman Mike Tetreau is pleased to announce that the High School Scholarship Foundation of Fairfield (HSSFF) is celebrating 30 years of providing scholarships to graduating seniors at Fairfield's public high schools! In honor of this milestone, First Selectman Tetreau has issued town proclamations for both Fairfield Warde and Fairfield Ludlowe high schools.

The HSSFF has awarded approximately $2 million in scholarships to graduates since its inception and will present 140 scholarships to graduating seniors on June 13, 2019, the night before graduation, at Fairfield Warde and Fairfield Ludlowe’s annual Awards Night celebrations.

These scholarships are funded by contributions from individuals, families, service and social organizations, businesses and bequests. About 40 percent of its scholarships are needs based, while the remainder recognize students for academic pursuits, leadership, music achievement, athletic accomplishments, and community service, among other criteria. HSSFF also administers scholarships for each Fairfield school PTA, as well as the Fairfield PTA Council.

HSSFF President April Burggraf said, “We are grateful for the support HSSFF receives each year

City of Providence Releases First Annual RePowerPVD Report

Fogarty Elementary School distinguished as part of buildings participating in voluntary energy reduction program that realized savings of $345,000, reduced carbon footprint

PROVIDENCE R.I.- Mayor Jorge O. Elorza and Director of Sustainability Leah Bamberger today announced the release of the City of Providence’sfirst annual RePowerPVD report that highlights the successes of a voluntary energy reduction program for large buildings throughout the capital city. Energy used in buildings is one of the leading sources of climate pollution locally, accounting for roughly 70 percent of the city’s carbon footprint. The RePowerPVD program challenges large buildings throughout Providence to reduce their energy usage by 20 percent compared to a baseline taken in 2015.

“The threat of climate change is so great that we can no longer wait for Washington to lead the way,” said Mayor Jorge O. Elorza. “That’s why Providence is taking the initiative to reduce its climate footprint as part of our goal to become a carbon neutral city by 2050. I thank the participants for their commitment to a greener and more sustainable Providence.”

The RePowerPVD report, prepared by City’s Office of Sustainability, identifies $345,000 in total energy cost savings, a total energy use reduction of 17,769 MMBtu and a greenhouse gas reduction of 1042.5 Metric Tons CO2e realized by participating properties. The total measured energy reduction of participating buildings is equivalent to removing 221 cars from the road for one year or the annual average electricity use for 182 households.

The report identifies Mary E. Fogarty Elementary School in the South Providence neighborhood as the first-ever participating building to have reduced its energy usage by more than 20 percent by 2025 as compared to a baseline taken in 2015. The school achieved a 26 percent energy use reduction this year as compared to its 2015 baseline.

Mayor Elorza launched the RePowerPVD buildings energy challenge in 2018, which has since enrolled over 1,737,156 Gross Square Feet of Providence building space. In addition to highlighting the progress made during the first year of the program, the report also features three new projects that are enrolled in the RePowerPVD “Race to Zero” competition, where properties compete to become the first Zero Energy Building (ZEB) in Providence. Participants include Truth Box, Inc., Sheridan Small Homes by ONE Neighborhood Builders, and the Roger Williams Park Zoo Education Center.

“By committing to energy conservation, these RePowerPVD property owners are saving money and protecting the planet and future generations,” said Leah Bamberger, Director of Sustainability. “Retrofitting Providence’s existing buildings to be more energy efficient is critical to creating a healthier, cleaner Providence for current and future generations to enjoy.”

The RePowerPVD report complements the Municipal Energy Report for Fiscal Year 2018, which showcases multiple improvements in energy use within City-owned facilities. Some notable achievements include:

·         Reduction of building and outdoor lighting energy use by 15 percent since FY10

·         The City’s expenditures on energy have declined by 33 percent since FY10

·         Greenhouse gas emissions from municipal facilities have decreased 30 percent since FY10, a 2.4 percent improvement from last year

·         Recent investments in lighting and mechanical efficiency measures have reduced electricity consumption by 32 percent since FY10 and 13.5 percent since last year

·         The City has converted all its 16,800 streetlights to smart LED fixtures, estimated to save $18.9 million in the next ten years, and expected to reduce City carbon emissions by about 9,441 metric tons annually

·         15 buildings increased their Energy Star scores between FY17 and FY18