~ THE NEW ~
Uxbridge Times
“Your Hometown News” VOlume 20 • issue 9
A FREE Monthly Publication
uxbridge • North uxbridge • linwood • Douglas • Northbridge • Whitinsville • sutton • manchaug
sePTemBer 2011
Hopes are high for National Park in Valley By Constance Dwyer There was a tremendous outpouring of support at a public hearing for the creation of a new national park in the Blackstone Valley, along the treasured waters of the river and canal that connect us from as far northwest as Worcester and as far southeast as Providence, Rhode Island. The hearing, organized by Jeannie Hebert, Executive Director of the Blackstone Valley Chamber of Commerce in Whitinsville, was held on Tuesday, August l6th, in the Singh Theatre at Alternatives in Whitinsville. The plan includes Whitinsville and Hopedale Historic Districts. The time period for public comment ended on August 26th. The theatre was filled with approximately 150 interested people, ordinary citizens, the press, rangers, politicians, and members of various groups with related interests, including the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Commission and many of its partners. Ms. Hebert especially thanked Dennis Rice, Executive Director of Alternatives, for attending and providing such a suitable space. Mr. Rice then shared his own appreciation for being included as a “part of the process to establish a National Park;” he mentioned how the history of the restored Whitin Mill has its proper place in this effort, especially, since it has been recognized nationally for its “use of green technology.” According to Donna Williams, Chair of the Heritage Corridor Commission, the newly prepared “Special Resource Study Report, SRS,” available to everyone who attended, suggests that Blackstone Valley sites and historic districts, together with the river and canal, meet the four criteria required by law (Public Law 105391) in order to become a new unit
POsTal PaTrON
of the National Park System. “Blackstone National Historical Park—it has quite a nice ring to it, don’t you think?” she said. In the SRS report, the chair added that the “preferred alternative,” Management Option 3, has two important components. First, it recognizes that the Valley possesses nationally significant resources; that those resources would be a suitable addition to the National Park system…and the “active management by the NPS is necessary to ensure proper protection of those nationally significant resources, located in both Massachusetts and Rhode Island.” These include the Blackstone River and its tributaries; the Blackstone Canal; Old Slater Mill National Historic Landmark District, Pawtucket, R.I.; Slatersville Historic District, North Smithfield, RI; Ashton Historic District, Cumberland, R.I., Whitinsville Historic District, Northbridge, and Hopedale Village Historic District, Hopedale. The second important component of this preferred option is that the National Historical Park “would be cooperating with a regional partner, specifically designated to play a lead role in preserving, protecting, and interpreting related industrial heritage resources throughout the Corridor….this would not be the existing Heritage Corridor Commission, due sunset in October, 2011, [with development funding through 2016], but would likely be the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor, Inc., a non-profit successor organization that we would have established.” Ms. Williams stated that ‘like the Commission, this entity focuses on empowering partners to help preserve heritage resources, promote recreation and tourism, restore and protect natural resources, and offer continued on page 28
BVT FirsT Day: Blackstone Valley Tech students board busses and head home after their first day of school. Freshmen reported for their first day on august 17th for a day-long orientation,
Incoming Freshmen welcomed at BVT Valley Tech’s class of 2015 were welcomed to the school on Tuesday, August 16th along with their families for the annual Freshmen Cookout. The class of 2015 began their high school careers with a full-day orientation on Wednesday, August 17th. Upon arrival at school on their first day, new students were greeted by enthusiastic high-fives from the school’s mascot, Sporty the Beaver, followed by welcoming remarks from Assistant Superintendent-Director/Principal Christopher Cummings and other members of the school’s leadership team. Well over 700 students from throughout Valley Tech’s 13 member towns applied for seats in the freshmen class, but only 300 are fortunate enough to now call Valley Tech home. Of those 300 students, 23 are from Bellingham, 8 are from Blackstone, 23 are from Douglas, 20 are from Grafton, 8 are from Hopedale, 25 are from Mendon, 38 are from Milford, 15 are from Millbury, 9 are from
Millville, 33 are from Northbridge, 22 are from Sutton, 31 are from Upton, and 45 are from Uxbridge. Orientation provides new students a
“You have all worked very hard to get here, and you should be very proud of that. As a group, you are from 13 different towns, but you will all blend together in no time. Valley Tech is your home now.” - Mr. Cummings Assistant SuperintendentDirector/Principal
chance to acclimate themselves to their new environment and meet other new students prior to the return of the remaining student body on Thursday, August
Business Bio:
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see story on page 41
18. Orientation included school tours, locker assignments, student ID photos were taken, and students received a complimentary lunch. Since 1997, Valley Tech has implemented a longer school calendar year of 193 days. This year, instructional staff returned on Monday, August 15th, 2011 to prepare for the 2011-12 school year. Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School serves the towns of Bellingham, Blackstone, Douglas, Grafton, Hopedale, Mendon, Milford, Millbury, Millville, Northbridge, Sutton, Upton and Uxbridge. Located in the heart of the Blackstone Valley, Blackstone Valley Tech creates a positive learning community that prepares students for personal and professional success in an internationally competitive society through a fusion of rigorous vocational, technical, and academic skills. The school’s website is www.valleytech.k12.ma.us.
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