Blackstone River Watershed Association In This Issue TIP OF THE MONTH BRWA NEWS BRWA Education Program Presents Watershed Model Remembering Larry Fournier Donation “Wish List” CALENDAR IN YOUR COMMUNITY Blackstone Valley Prioritization Project June Regional Forum At the State Parks Mill Villages Park Officially Opens 2nd Annual Red Rock Warrior Challenge Triathlon OF GLOBAL INTEREST Great Works Dam Removal EPA’s “Water is Worth It” Video Project BRWA Online About the BRWA JOIN the BRWA Volunteer SUBSCRIBE TO THE BRWA NEWSLETTER Issue 30 June 2012 Summer night-- even the stars are whispering to each other Summer Night - Kobayashi Issa TIP OF THE MONTH Check into an Energy Star hotel Excerpt from EPA News Brief: EPA's Fifteen Hot Tips for a Cool Summer On average, America’s 47,000 hotels spend more than $2,000 per available room each year on energy. Look for an Energy Star certified hotel--they perform in the top 25 percent of hotels nationwide, use an average of 35 percent less energy and emit an average of 35 percent less greenhouse gas emissions than their peers. http://www.energystar.gov/buildinglist BRWA NEWS BRWA Education Program Presents Watershed Model For the second year in a row board member Tammy Gilpatrick and volunteer Michelle Walsh presented the watershed model program to four fourth grade classrooms at the H. P. Clough Elementary School in Mendon. Although it was the last week of school, and extremely warm, the students were eager to help pollute the model and brainstorm on ways homeowners can minimize pollutants that can get swept up with runoff and deposited in local waterways. The Watershed Model is a component of the BRWA “Watershed and Us” Education Program. Contact us at info@thebrwa.org or 508-278-5200 for information on BRWA Watershed & Us programs for your school or youth organization. top Remembering Larry Fournier Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Larry Fournier who died suddenly Mon. June 4, 2012 after being stricken ill at home. Larry was a BRWA supporter and a long-time Water Quality Monitoring volunteer. He will always be remembered for his dedication to water quality improvement in the Blackstone River Watershed. top Donation “Wish List” The BRWA is in need of tall, 2 door storage cabinet for our office. We’re looking for a sturdy, 6’tall by 3’ wide by 18” – 24” deep, metal or plastic cabinet with shelves. If you have one in need of a new home, email Mike at mike.sperry@thebrwa.org. top CALENDAR OF EVENTS 6/22 Benefit Earth Bash at Southwick’s Zoo hosted by Earth Ltd., 6pm   info 6/23 Great American Backyard Campout   info 6/24 Concert - Blackstone Valley Community Concert Band 3:30pm-5pm River Bend Farm, Uxbridge   6/26 Blackstone Valley Prioritization Project June Regional Forum Open House 5:30 - 6:30pm, Public Meeting 7:00 - 9:00pm Blackstone Valley Regional Vocation Technical High School Cafeteria   see article 6/28 Ranger Walkabout - "Roger Williams' Providence" Meet at Roger Williams National Memorial, 282 North Main Street, Providence   info **** July is National Ice Cream Month   **** Alternatives, Inc. Free Summer Concert Series Thursday Nights 6pm, July - Sept   info 7/5 Ranger Walkabout - "Blackstone and the War of 1812" Meeting place TBA   info 7/12 BRWA Board Meeting 6:30pm 271 Oak St., Uxbridge   info 7/12 Ranger Walkabout - "Millbury: Asa Waters, Armory Village, and the Building of a New Nation" Meet at Asa Waters Mansion, 123 Elm Street   info 7/13 - 8/19 Worcester Shakespeare Company presents Othello, Alternatives at the Whitin Mill   info 7/14 BRC Water Quality Sampling   7/19 Ranger Walkabout - "Historical Cemetery Walk" Meeting place TBA   info 7/22 Family Canoeing at Ekblaw Landing, Grafton Sponsored by Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm   info 7/26 Ranger Walkabout - "Rogerson's Village, Uxbridge" Meet at Progressive Club Parking Lot, 18 Whitin St   info 7/30 National Cheesecake Day (Mmmmm...cheesecake)   info 8/2 Ranger Walkabout - "Great Road and the War of 1812" Meet at Hearthside House, Great Road   info top IN YOUR COMMUNITY Blackstone Valley Prioritization Project June Regional Forum Contribute to the vision for the Blackstone Valley region. The Blackstone Valley Prioritization Project June Regional Forum will be held on Tuesday, June 26, 2012 - at the Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School Cafeteria. There will be an open house from 5:30 - 6:30pm and a public meeting 7:00 - 9:00pm. The objective of the Blackstone Valley Prioritization Project is to “create a shared framework for identifying regional and local priorities for growth, development, higher education and land preservation, as well as transportation and other infrastructure investments.” Regional Forum Event Flyer Blackstone Valley Prioritization Project top At the State Parks Join us in welcoming Jessica, the new Seasonal Interpreter at Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park. Jessica can be found at the River Bend Farm Visitor Center in Uxbridge. Programs for all ages are offered at the park including Kidleidescope Kids, Walking the Blackstone Canal, Farm to Factory, Changes in the Valley and WALK…A LOT…HERE…. See the June calendar for details. Also in the area is Purgatory Chasm State Reservation in Sutton where Park Interpreter Kathryn has a number of great programs including Art at the Brook, Hiking Beyond Purgatory, Chasm Hike, Creatures of the Chasm, Junior Naturalists, Kidleidoscope Kids, Skull Science, Rock Detectives, Timeline Tour, Woodland Walk and a special Family Adventures children's program presented by the Metacomet Land Trust. See the June calendar for details. All programs are free and open to the public. top Mill Villages Park Officially Opens Last Thursday evening, the Mill Villages Park in South Grafton officially opened. Located at 61 Main St, the long neglected site was once a parking lot for the former Fisherville Mill, which was destroyed by fire in 1999. The new 2 acre park, situated between the Blackstone River and the Blackstone Canal, includes river access, walkways, benches, parking and open space for farmers' markets, exhibits and live performances. Mill Villages Park is part of the Fisherville & Farnumsville Streetscape Project. top 2nd Annual Red Rock Warrior Challenge Triathlon The annual Red Rock Warrior Challenge Triathlon (RRWCT) will be held on Saturday August 18, 2012 at the Red Rock Grill & Bar in Upton. The race consists of a 3.5 mile road run, a 12.5 mile road bike and an out and back 1.15 mile Kayak leg in Lake Wildwood. Proceeds from the race will benefit the Wounded Warrior Project and the Nipmuc Warriors Football Boosters. Visit http://www.redrockwarriorchallengetriathlon.com/ for details. top OF GLOBAL INTEREST Great Works Dam Removal On June 11 work began on the removal of the Great Works Dam on Maine’s Penobscot River. The Great Works dam removal is the result of years of collaboration between the Penobscot River Restoration Trust, federal, state and local government, dam owners, and environmental, business and cultural organizations. The removal is a key component in the Penobscot River Restoration Project, one of the biggest and most significant river restoration projects in the nation. The removal of two dams combined with the installation of fish passages will open access to 1,000 miles of habitat for Atlantic salmon and other native sea-run fish and create recreational and economic opportunities. Visit the American Rivers website for details. top EPA’s “Water is Worth It” Video Project The EPA is hosting a video project asking Americans to send in a 15-second video clip explaining the important role that water plays in their lives. Selected clips will be featured on the EPA "Water Is Worth It" website and Facebook page as part of the celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the Clean Water Act. Videos will be accepted through September 14, 2012. Visit the video project website for details. top Views & opinions expressed in linked websites do not necessarily state or reflect those of the BRWA. Your input is crucial to this eNewsletter. If you have a local watershed-related story, information of interest to our subscribers, or comments about this publication, drop an email to the editor. The Blackstone River Watershed Association (BRWA) has a mission to engage, educate and advocate for improved water quality in the Blackstone River Watershed; its objectives are to: Engage the public in watershed stewardship activities, Educate members, supporters and watershed residents on watershed protection strategies, and Improve the water quality and esthetics of the Blackstone River Watershed’s water bodies. The BRWA eNewsletter is published monthly by the Blackstone River Watershed Association. BRWA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Editor: Michael Sperry mike.sperry@thebrwa.org Mailing address: BRWA, 271 Oak Street Uxbridge, MA 01569 Phone: 508-278-5200  Web: www.thebrwa.org Click here for back issues.