Blackstone Valley Interpreters Present at NAI Region I Workshops
Staff and members of the Blackstone Valley Interpreters Network (BVIN) attended the National Association for Interpretation (NAI) Region I Spring Workshop from March 31 – April 2 at the Rowe Camp & Conference Center in beautiful Rowe, Massachusetts. The workshop theme was Surviving Fiscal Hard Times: Creative Interpretation Under Budgetary Constraints and the Blackstone River Valley participants presented five workshops offered to the 50-plus participants. Volunteers in Parks Coordinator Suzanne Buchanan offered "Have Story Will Volunteer: Creating a Sustainable Interpretive Volunteer Program" while Valerie Paul, co-founder of the Blackstone Valley Sugaring Association and President of Catalyst Consulting, presented her excellent "Wow Your Audience: Surefire Techniques for Interpreters". Patricia Perry, BVIN President offered two workshops: "Interpretation for Children" and "Historic Costuming 101". The Heritage Corridor’s media relations consultant, Lisa Mosczynski, offered "Get the Word Out! How to Publicize Your Event" to those interested in attracting more participants to the programs offered at their sites.

Concurrent workshops as well as field trips that tapped the area’s history and natural resources rounded out the offerings. Singer/songwriter Erica Wheeler shared her ability to put words to song to tell an interpretive story though her keynote presentation and with a very special writing workshop on “soulful places”. Participants were also treated to Yankee Lumberjack a very special event presented by Environmental Educator and Forester Dick Fortin who took the audience back to the days of logging in the “White Hills” of New Hampshire. He told the story of late 19th century logging through his presentation of tools, archival photographs and a captivating interpretive presentation.

The Blackstone Valley participants received a scholarship that went to off-set their costs and Region I capped the conference entertainment off with a silent and live auction of items donated from the various science centers, parks and museums represented by the participants. The auctions raised $2,000 that will go towards scholarships to future NAI events. A Region I day long event might be scheduled in the Blackstone Valley in early summer and the NAI’s national conference will be held in Hartford, CT in 2009. Participants from the Blackstone Valley look forward to playing a key role in that event as well and to suggesting local field trip sites for conference goers. For more information about NAI, please visit interpnet.com.

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Northern Gateway Visitor Center Design Well Underway!
Design is underway for the building and the site for the Corridor’s Northern Gateway Visitor Center, also known as the “Worcester Blackstone Visitor Center”. Corridor staff and project partners including the City of Worcester, Massachusetts Highway Department (MHD), the Worcester Historical Museum (WHM) and the Central Massachusetts Convention and Visitors Bureau (CMCVB) are working to keep the design of the project moving forward. Construction is expected to begin in the fall of 2008.

The City of Worcester, in partnership with the Worcester Historical Museum, executed a design contract with Lamoureux-Pagano Associates, Inc. (LPA) of Worcester, MA last September. Land Works Studio and designLAB Architects, both of Boston, MA, are working under the direction of LPA and have developed conceptual designs and cost estimates for the building and the site amenities. LPA anticipates that the final plans and specifications for the rehabilitation of the historic Washburn-Moen building located in Quinsigamond Village adjacent to the new Rt.146 connector will be completed this summer with construction planned for the fall.

In January, Museum Design Associates of Cambridge, MA started meeting with partners in the project to develop exhibits inside and outside the facility. Museum Design Associates are working closely with the both CMVVB and WHM to develop exhibits, public meeting spaces, education spaces and informational resources for the interior. When completed, this visitor center will complement the themes of the Corridor’s three other visitor centers located in Pawtucket and Woonsocket, RI and Uxbridge, MA. The goal of the Corridor’s network of visitor centers is to serve as “gateway” information centers with each focusing on the unique interpretive themes of the valley based on their site and setting. They will also promote north-south travel in the Corridor for visitors to gain a greater appreciation and understanding of the valley’s nationally significant heritage.

MHD held a 25% Design Public Hearing for the Visitor Center on Thursday, March 20 at the Quinsigamond School in Worcester, MA. A presentation by Lamoureux-Pagano Associates, Inc. was followed by public comments and questions about the Visitor Center. The meeting was well attended by residents of Quinsigamond Village and by Corridor partners. Public comments about the project were supportive and people are looking forward to moving the design to the next stage. A ground breaking ceremony for the Visitor Center is expected to be scheduled next fall.

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Free Planning Workshops Offered in May and June
Interested in preserving the Valley's distinctive character? A series of workshops, "Protecting Special Places: How to Help Your Community Plan for Its Future," will provide valuable information for Massachusetts communities. Sponsored by the Corridor Commission, Quinebaug- Shetucket Heritage Corridor, Inc. and the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, the workshops are free and open to the public. Local historical commissions, planning boards, select boards, conservation commissions, municipal staff and landowners are particularly encouraged to attend.

"Local Measures to Protect Historic Resources"
Wednesday, May 14, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. at Sutton Town Hall, 4 Uxbridge Road
A variety of strategies are available to help protect the historic buildings, landscapes and neighborhoods that make your town special. Learn the ins-and-outs of three particularly effective, locally-initiated tools: Local Historic Districts, Neighborhood Architectural Conservation Districts and Demolition Delay bylaws. Presented by Christopher Skelly, Director of Local Government Programs, Massachusetts Historical Commission.

"The Community Preservation Act: Strategies for Success"
Thursday, May 29, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. at the Oxford Community Center, 4 Maple Road
The Community Preservation Act (CPA) is a powerful tool for historic preservation, open space protection, affordable housing and recreational opportunities. This workshop will discuss the benefits of the CPA and strategies for a successful CPA campaign, and provide information on a special initiative to help central Massachusetts towns pass the CPA. Presented by Kathy Roth, Associate Director, Community Preservation Coalition.

"Smart Growth and Preservation"
Thursday, June 5, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. at the Dudley Municipal Complex, 71 West Main Street
The “smart growth” approach to development focuses on sustainability, in part through zoning mechanisms that encourage concentrated development and support existing settlement patterns. Learn about two such tools: Smart Growth Zoning (Chapter 40R) and Village Center Zoning. Presented by Eric Hove, Acting Director of Land Use Policy, Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs and Bill Reyelt, Smart Growth Program Coordinator, Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development.

"What about Open Space? Balancing Development and Preservation"
Thursday, June 12, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. at the Douglas Municipal Center, 29 Depot Street
Municipalities across the Commonwealth struggle with how to preserve open space, especially with increased residential development. This workshop will focus on two tools that can help your community balance growth with preservation: Open Space Residential Design and Transfer of Development Rights. Presented by Eric Hove, Acting Director of Land Use Policy, Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs.

To attend a workshop, please RSVP at least two days in advance to Joanna Doherty, Community Planner (e-mail us or 401-762-0250). Directions to workshops are available upon request. This workshop series is a follow-up to the recently completed Heritage Landscape Inventory Project; more information about the Inventory, including links to reconnaissance reports for all of the participating communities, may be found by clicking here.

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Liz McConnell, Chief of Administration, Moves on to Colorado
After seventeen years at with the Corridor Commission, Liz McConnell is pursuing her long-standing goal of traveling and exploring more of our country’s magnificent parks. Since joining the staff in February 1991, Liz has served in several capacities including management, planning, administration and interpretation.

As a member of the Planning Team from 1996 – 1999, Liz spearheaded the development and installation of many of the interpretive, way-finding, and site identification signs. She also advised and assisted partners and staff in the development and management of partnership agreements. As the Chief of Administration for both Blackstone and Roger Williams National Memorial in Providence since November 2000, Liz coordinated all administrative activities for both sites and advised staff and commissioners on National Park Service policies and procedures. Since 2004, Liz was involved with region-wide and national committees for the National Park Service aimed at improving administrative services and at fostering a business-oriented workforce.

In March, Liz began her duties as the Chief of Administration for three national parks in the National Park Service Intermountain Region in Colorado including: the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Curecanti National Recreation Area and Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument.

“It is truly with mixed emotions that I leave the Blackstone Valley at this time,” she said. “The history, culture and the people here are a part of who I am and will be with me no matter where I travel.”

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