Gaspee Days
2013
Celebrating 85 years of colonial tradition
2 • Gaspee Days • May 2013
Celebrating
The Taste of Summer Has Arrived!
Gaspee Days 2013
•Cumberland 2077 Diamond Hill Road, 401.333.7979 STORE HOURS: Monday - Saturday 7am - 9pm, Sunday 7am - 8pm
•Warwick Hoxsie at Hoxsie Four Corners, 401.738.8300
AIRPORT RD., STORE HOURS: Monday - Saturday 7am - 9pm, Sunday 7am - 8pm
•Quonset 105 Gate Road, 401.295.0019
STORE HOURS: Monday - Saturday 7am - 9pm, Sunday 7am - 8pm
•Wickford 125 Tower Hill Road, 401.268.3991
STORE HOURS: Monday - Saturday 7am - 9pm, Sunday 7am - 8pm
•Warwick 2687 West Shore Road, 401.737.5860
•East Greenwich 1000 Division Street, 401.558.0190
STORE HOURS: Monday - Saturday 7am - 9pm, Sunday 7am - 8pm
•Smithfield Crossing 371 Putnam Pike, 401.830.5650
STORE HOURS: Monday - Saturday 8am - 8pm, Sunday 7am - 7pm
STORE HOURS: Monday - Saturday 7am - 9pm, Sunday 7am - 8pm
•Greenville 4 Cedar Swamp Road, 401.231.1620
•Coventry 23 Coventry Shoppers Park, 401.615.9975
STORE HOURS: Monday - Saturday 8am - 8pm, Sunday 8am - 7pm
STORE HOURS: Monday - Saturday 7am - 9pm, Sunday 7am - 8pm
Gaspee Days • May 2013 • 3
Upholding Tradition By MEG FRASER
A blues festival, an open house, fundraisers, a walking tour, arts and crafts, a block party, colonial encampments, a road race, fireworks, a special WaterFire, an ecumenical service and 48 years of parades. The to-do list of the Gaspee Days Committee is long, but it is tackled by a group of volunteers dedicated to highlighting the history, tradition and sense of community in their part of the world. “Our volunteers are very special; they’re very dedicated to Gaspee. It’s a special little place,” said Publicity Chair Erin Flynn. According to his personal journals, George Washington celebrated the Gaspee affair in 1774. While celebrations have not been consistent since then, modern Rhode Islanders have made a point of observing the act of patriotism and its significance in the Revolution. The Gaspee Days Committee was formally established in 1965 by David Stackhouse, and the first modern parade took place the following year. Ever since, the celebration of this historic occasion has captured our attention. The Gaspee Days Committee meets monthly for most of the year, adding additional meetings as May and June, the heart of the
celebrations, near. There are roughly 40 members, who come to Gaspee for a variety of reasons. “It’s a variety of things; for a lot of people it’s history, for some people it’s community involvement, for some people it’s how to meet your neighbors,” Flynn said. “Everybody sees the importance of keeping the magic, that special feeling we have in the village.” Flynn also says the committee will accept any contribution of time, no matter how small. “We’re very lucky in that we have this category that we joke about called Gaspee elves, which are folks that help and volunteer but don’t necessarily come to every meeting,” she said. And that’s fine for the committee. They need one-day and even single-task volunteers for each fundraiser, all of which support the annual parade, a $45,000 endeavor that is a cornerstone for tourism in R.I. All of the events, all of the efforts, are what make Gaspee what it is - a story that transcends time and engages a community. “We’re celebrating a moment in history,” Flynn said. “It makes our community better.” For more information, e-mail info@gaspee.org, call 781-1772 or visit Gaspee.com, or find them at Facebook.com/GaspeeParade or on Twitter @GaspeeDay.
“Everybody sees the importance of keeping the magic, that special feeling we have in the village.” - Erin Flynn
4 • Gaspee Days • May 2013
Rhode Island’s chapter in history
By MEG FRASER
In history books, the Gaspee affair is paid little attention. Sandwiched between the Boston Massacre of 1770 and the Boston Tea Party of 1773, its significance to the American Revolution is largely overlooked. Most Americans and even many Rhode Islanders are ignorant of that evening in 1772 when a group of men led by Abraham Whipple and John Brown attacked the British customs schooner, the HMS Gaspee. But in the area of Warwick and Cranston, the incident is as significant as any in the story of America’s quest for independence. “This goes back to getting Americans to think of the need for independence from the mother country because of the infringement of the British authorities on rights that were awarded all Englishmen,” said Dr. John Concannon, webmaster for and member of the Gaspee Days Committee. “That is one of the essential rights of being a citizen of any country - to be treated fairly when you’re accused of a crime.” In the case of Gaspee, that crime was smuggling. The HMS Gaspee, under the command of Lt. William Dudingston, was sent to Rhode Island by King George III to enforce trade laws. In particular, Rhode Island was suspected of trading with enemy France to sustain the demands for rum,
d , t
Gaspee Days • May 2013 • 5 according to University of Connecticut Professor Dr. Steven Park, the Gaspee Days Committee’s guest historian who wrote his doctoral dissertation on the incident. On June 9, 1771, the Hannah left Newport for Providence, but the HMS Gaspee stood in its way. When the Gaspee gave chase, Hannah’s Captain Lindsey lured the larger boat over a sandbar, trapping them, and reported the incident back to John Brown. Brown and his fellow patriots met at Sabin’s Tavern to discuss a plan, and under Whipple’s direction, they rowed longboats out to the schooner, shot and wounded Lt. Dudingston and took the crew prisoner, killing no one. The ship was burned, and despite efforts by the crown, the culprits were never turned in. Park believes the motives that night were simple. “They claimed they were taking things from the Gaspee in retribution for the seizure of Jacob Greene’s rum. If you were able to talk to the men in Sabin’s Tavern that night … they were trying to settle local scores.” While Rhode Islanders call the incident “the first blow for freedom,” Park says that might be overstating things. Still, he hopes that Gaspee someday gets the attention it deserves as a historical event. “It is Rhode Island’s claim to fame,” he said. “When you look through a history textbook, whenever they say New England, they really mean Massachusetts and whenever they say Massachusetts, they really mean Boston. Maybe the Gaspee will still get its day.”
n
n o i t a r b e l e C s y a D e e
Gasp
48th Law Offices of John T. Carroll AUTO ACCIDENTS • INSURANCE CLAIMS PERSONAL INJURY Free Initial Consultation
401.461.9977 www.johntcarrolllaw.com
Rhode Island does not have a procedure for certification or recognition of specializing by lawyers.
- Former Insurance Adjuster -
Looking for a new AC system?
SAVE UP TO UP TO
Here’s the deal! LIMITED TIME OFFER!
2,000
$
*
when you buy a qualified AC system.
$0 down & affordable monthly payments**
-
n
,
SM
The First Blow
for Freedom
Hurry! Call now! 855.217.7846 *$1,000 rebate applies to qualifi ed systems only. Limited time offer, expires 7/31/13, equipment must be installed by 8/15/13. Local, state and utility tax credits and rebates of up to $2,000 vary by state and must meet SEER and EER criteria to qualify. Call your local representative for complete terms and conditions. **Subject to credit approval by GE Money. Must present ad at time of quote; cannot be combined with other offers. Additional terms and conditions may apply. RI Lic. No. 00006433. RI Lic No. 00006469. ©2013 Petro. P_13295
petro.com
6 • Gaspee Days • May 2013
Man in white led parade for 21 years By JOHN HOWELL
Gerald Goldstein still has the white suit that made him a Gaspee parade standout. The suit must fit, too, for after all these years, Gerry hasn’t changed. You can count on Gerry. It’s that quality that earned him the privilege of carrying the mace that reportedly is made from wood recovered after the burning of the Gaspee in 1772. “I’m going to have to incriminate someone,” Gerry says with a laugh when asked how he came to lead the parade for 21 years and how he got to carry the mace. Now 85, Gerry, who served as the Warwick Ward 1 councilman for 16 years, tells the story carefully, leaving out names. He didn’t incriminate a soul. The mace is privately owned and was loaned for the parade on condition that its owners remained anonymous and that it was promptly returned. That worked for a brief period, but when the mace wasn’t returned until its owners made calls, they refused to loan it. Gerry didn’t want to see a tradition lost. He visited the owners and told them he would be personally responsible for its care and return. “I made a contract with them that I would pick it up before the parade and bring it back the same day.” It worked. The owners – Gerry still honors their request not to be identified – put their trust in Gerry. Gerry kept his word and became, for lack of another word,
Submitted photo
Gerry Goldstein charts a course for the Gaspee Day Parade in his signature white suit.
the official keeper of the mace. When the mace was used for official events, such as inaugural ceremonies for Gov. Lincoln Almond, Gerry brought it to the State House and didn’t leave it out of his sight until it was returned. In that instance, Gerry said, the high sheriff carried the short staff that has a purple ribbon tied around its base.
Gerry became friends with the owners of the mace and would deliver vegetables from his garden and drop by for occasional visits. Gerry’s wife, Joan, even played a role. She made a ribbon to replace what “looked like an old rag.” As for his distinctive white suit, Gerry doesn’t recall what prompted him to wear it. “It was a little outlandish that was the idea,” he said. The suit was always spotless, which isn’t surprising as Gerry ran the former Town and Country Cleaners at Hoxsie Four Corners. Gerry recalled those times when it poured and he wore a rain coat and there was one year when he wore a colonial outfit. It didn’t last. He went back to the white suit. He also remembers the Gaspee Days clambakes at Salter Grove, the many friends he got the see along the parade route and the walk back that always took longer because of all the parties along Narragansett Parkway. When it came time to retire, Gerry vouched for Milton Wrath who assumed the role of the mace bearer. Now living in Cranston, Gerry keeps tabs on Gaspee events. Earlier this year when a painting duel between Mayors Scott Avedisian and Allan Fung was arranged in Pawtuxet to raise $5,000 to paint the red, white and blue stripe down the middle of the parkway, Gerry was there. He made a contribution, too. Being the diplomat and having lived in both communities, not to mention leading the parade in both cities, he split the donation between the competing teams.
Gaspee Days • May 2013 • 7
Lifespan Laboratories* Highest Quality, Easiest Access
• Complete range of the most advanced laboratory tests • 45 locations – No appointment necessary Now Accepting Blue Cross/Blue Shield MEDICARE ADVANTAGE (BlueCHiP)
For information on our Patient Service Center Lab locations: Call 401-793-4242 or 1-800-980-4244 or visit www.Lifespanlabs.org *RIH Ventures d.b.a Lifespan Laboratories
8 • Gaspee Days • May 2013
Keeping
139 Ocean Avenue, Cranston, RI 02905
Gaspee Days Ecumenical Service Trinity Episcopal Church Saturday, June 8, 2013 at 8:00 a.m.
Join your neighbors, the Pawtuxet Rangers and the West Bay Chorale in prayer and song. Dogs in training for the Canines for Combat Veterans Program will also be present.
Pancake Breakfast-7 a.m.- 10 (Before and After Service)
a.m.
Donation $5.00 pp Don't miss it! www.trinitypawtuxet.com
Pay less for propane. ✓NO TANK LEASING OR DELIVERY FEES ✓24-HOUR EMERGENCY SERVICE Lower your propane prices and get better propane services from Petro, including: • Dependable automatic delivery • Local and reliable customer service • Professional installation
Call now to lower your propane price!
855.247.6063 petro.com
Additional terms and conditions may apply. RI Lic. No. 00006433. RI Lic No. 00006469.©2013 Petro. P_13296
history alive
Gaspee Days • May 2013 • 9
Checking with us is a With the seeds of Revolution planted in the late 18th century, the Pawtuxet Rangers, or the Second Independent Company for the County of Kent, were chartered by the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations on Oct. 29, 1774 to protect the village of Pawtuxet. More than 200 years later, Pawtuxet is under no threat, but the Rangers continue to march the village streets during Gaspee Days each year. The unit was re-activated in 1972. The parade had already been established as an annual tradition, and the Gaspee Days Committee was in search of a local fife and drum corps. Two years later, in 1974, the Pawtuxet Rangers militia company was E-mail PawtuxetRangers@aol.com the fife and formed, and or visit drums corps was later integrated with the miwww.PawtuxetRangers.com litia. Today, the Pawtuxet Rangers are among the oldest chartered commands in the country, still operating under the original charter of 1774. The company includes a color guard, musket line and artillery, and the fife and drums corps. The Rangers are always looking for new members. Annual dues are $25 per year, and students join for free through college. Militia members must be 18 or older, though fife and drum applicants can join at 16. The Pawtuxet Rangers meet every Wednesday at the Remington Street Armory at 8 p.m., and participate in parades, encampments, battles and ceremonial functions throughout the year. For more information on getting involved, e-mail pawtuxetrangers@ aol.com or visit www.pawtuxetrangers.com.
day at the beach
Getting involved
Get a free RI State Beach Season’s Pass THE BEST CHECKING ACCOUNT VALUES AROUND: • Free debit card with rewards • Free online banking • Free mobile banking • Free ATMs** • And much more!
R h o d e
Open any new personal checking account at Washington Trust and receive a free Rhode Island State Beach Season’s Pass when you sign up for direct deposit.* To open an account, visit your nearest branch, call us at 800-475-2265, or visit www.washtrust.com. Member FDIC.
I s l a n d ’ s
B a n k
o f
C h o i c e
*A minimum $50 recurring direct deposit must be made to the account within the first 90 days of the account being funded. Offer available only for new checking account customers with funds from sources other than Washington Trust. Gift certificate for beach pass will be presented when first direct deposit is made to the account. Gift certificate can be redeemed for a 2013 Season’s Beach Pass at any of the following eight state beaches: Charlestown Breachway, East Beach, East Matunuck State Beach, Misquamicut State Beach, Roger Wheeler State Beach, Salty Brine State Beach, Scarborough North & South State Beach. Other offers and promotions do not apply. May be subject to IRS reporting. **Other banks may charge for use of their ATMs.
10 • Gaspee Days • May 2013
Get It For Less!
Why pay more to remodel your home? Visit Builders Surplus, where you’ll find over 100,000 sq.ft. of millwork bargains.
MAHOGANY DECKING
MAHOGANY POSTS 4x4
5/4x4
FIR DECKING
Tongue & Groove
DECORATIVE MOULDING
Gaspee affairs Memorial Day Weekend Arts and Crafts Festival
Saturday, May 25 and Sunday, May 26 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Monday, May 27 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Narragansett Parkway in Warwick The annual Arts and Crafts Festival attracts people from all over R.I. for three days of browsing and purchasing the wares of the approximately 100 craft exhibitors along Narragansett Parkway in Warwick. All while this is going on, there is a professional food court, free family music, entertainment and rides for the children located in Pawtuxet Park. Live music in the park each day from 1 to 4 p.m.
Block Party Fundraiser May 25, 6 to 11 p.m. Aspray Boat House and Patio, Pawtuxet Park Entry fee $5, Proof of age required PLEASE, NO CHILDREN Come on in and enjoy the beer, music and neighborhood camaraderie alongside Pawtuxet Cove.
HUGE SELECTION! EXTERIOR DOORS
SAVINGS up to
40%
Colonial Encampment BIG SAVINGS! SURPLUS WINDOWS
HARDWOOD BOARDS Hickory Honduras Mahogany Character Cherry Walnut Oak 2457 Post Road, Warwick 94 Industrial Lane, West Warwick 2 Conduit Street, Central Falls 6 Mathewson St., Jewett City, CT
True Divided Lite
OPEN MONDAY TO SATURDAY
June 7, 8 and 9 in Pawtuxet Park in Warwick. Open for people to walk through and visit life in 1772. The Encampment gives visitors a feel for colonial military life. Dozens of Militia camp out for the weekend in authentic Revolutionary style. Hosted by the Pawtuxet Rangers, RIM.
Gaspee Days Fireworks 738-7200 826-0100 475-6900 860-376-4400
www.builders-surplus.com
Prior sales excluded. While supplies last; some items are limited quantities. Not responsible for typographical errors. Merchandise may not exactly match photos shown. All items are not available in each store.
June 7 at Salters Grove in Warwick at dusk. Sponsored by the City of Warwick Department of Tourism, Culture and Development. In the event of rain, the fireworks will be held on June 8.
Gaspee Days • May 2013 • 11
12 • Gaspee Days • May 2013
Mayor Avedisian and the Warwick Tourism Department are pleased to support this year’s Gaspee Days Events!
Your guide for everything to do, eat and see in Warwick Rhode Island!
WARWICKMOBILE.COM 401-738-2000
Ecumenical Service June 8 at 8 a.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church, located at 139 Ocean Avenue in Cranston. Non-denominational service with music by the West Bay Chorus.
Alan & Edna Brown Road Race The race starts on Broad Street in Cranston at 9:45 a.m. on June 8. This statewide event has grown to become one of the great runs in New England, as participants compete in front of the crowds assembled for the Gaspee Days Parade. Register online at www.gaspee.com.
48th Annual Gaspee Days Parade
Gaspee Days • May 2013 • 13
O Rourke’s Bar & Grill “Historic Pawtuxet Village” 401-228-7444
www.orourkesbarandgrill.com
OUTSIDE
June 8 starting at 10 a.m. Parade runs along Narragansett Parkway into Cranston ending at Rhodes on the Pawtuxet. The parade features more than a dozen Colonial fife and drum corps as well as Civil War era units, modern day drum and bugle corps and the Mummers.
ENTERTAINMENT
S BREFFNY’ Function
All Weekend!
Saturday, Sunday & Monday
Room
Sunday in the Park
New Summ Menuer
On June 9, Pawtuxet Park in Warwick will be taken over from noon to 3 Beautiful Views of the Cove p.m. for music and relaxation for Gaspee friends and family. Please bring your own picnic. The Colonial Encampment will be open to visit.
Burning of the HMS Gaspee
Ending the Gaspee Days Festivities, the symbolic burning of the ship that sparked the American Revolution will take place on June 9 at 4 p.m.
Mark your calendar for
“Music in the Park”
Thursdays 6-8PM beginning in July through August Sponsored by O’Rourke’s Bar & Grill
2ND FLOOR
BREFFNY’S FUNCTION ROOM
Information on any of these events can be obtained by going to the Gaspee Days website at www.gaspee.com, checking the Gaspee Days Facebook page or by calling 781-1772. Committee meetings are held the first Thursday of each month at 7:30 p.m. at the Aspray Boat House in Pawtuxet and new members are welcome.
Beautiful Views of the Cove Available for Special Functions Darcy O’Rourke, Event Coordinator
23 PECK LANE, WARWICK, RI
Historic Pawtuxet Village
14 • Gaspee Days • May 2013
RT
A ST
Fo rgi ng a path to the pas t
By JENNIFER RODRIGUES
Wyman Elementary School helped kick off this year’s Gaspee Days celebration last Saturday with the 13th annual Walking Tour of Historic Pawtuxet Village, which took place immediately after the official proclamation of the celebration.“It is really special to [the students] to be the first event, kicking off Gaspee Days,” said Celeste Comeau-Mullane, co-coordinator of the event and member of the Wyman Elementary School PTA. More than 75 elementary students volunteer to portray residents of colonial Pawtuxet Village, dressed in period-appropriate attire, turning the area into what ComeauMullane calls a “living museum” for the afternoon. Tours take visitors to 16 historical homes and sites in New England’s oldest village. Pilgrim High School students and parent volunteers lead the tours, providing background and historical details for those who were not familiar with the area. Along the tour, the elementary students greet visitors and perform a short skit to show what life would have been like in the village when it was founded in 1638. Tour stops include the school, bank, blacksmith, graveyard and the Pawtuxet Rangers Armory.
FIN
ISH
Music also plays a part in the event, with volunteers and students volunteering to sing and perform songs for the crowd. Over the years, the tour has been refined into a historically accurate and well-detailed experience. Comeau-Mullane explained that participation is voluntary, and students meet to practice once a week for six weeks prior to the tours. They also hear special presentations from or-
ganizations such as the Pawtuxet Rangers and Old Sturbridge Village. “We want them to have a good sense of colonial history,” said Comeau-Mullane. “It is theater and history-based.” Students in grades three through six from Wyman participate, as well as fifth graders from St. Peter School. Students from Aldrich Junior High School and Pilgrim volunteer as well.
Gaspee Days • May 2013 • 15 PAID ADVERTISEMENT
Tips & Tricks for Speaking in Public Your Audience • Know your audience. • Gear your message to your audience. • Relate to your audience through common experiences, even if it’s just today’s weather! Your Self • Develop confidence by practicing. • Develop confidence by planning ahead. • Know your role in each of your talks or presentations. • Use your character and personality to write and deliver your speeches and presentations. • Get coaching for particularly difficult or important talks. Your Speech • First, create a basic outline. • Keep your main points to 2 or 3, no more than 4. • Create your presentation using
your natural personality and character. Tell your story. • Choose from one or a couple of the following for a strong introduction: questions, quotations, stories, facts/ statistics, action, humor. • Use your conclusion to provide closure, review main points, motivate audience to remember and/or act. Pronunciation & Articulation • Practice articulating words correctly. Listen to yourself. • Speak into a recorder and listen to the words you mispronounce. • Sometimes a local accent is charming. Sometimes a foreign accent is charming. Just make sure you are understood. Before Delivering Your Speech • Practice, practice, practice. Then practice again. Then let it go.
Celebrating 48 years of Gaspee Days! The Revolutionaries fought to keep it local and so can you! Support local business.
Speak Easy public speaking training for everyone
Speak Easy Training has what you need to become a confident speaker. Our complete training method includes workshops, coaching, and practice sessions. You create the package that you need—we fit your schedule and budget.
www.speakeasytraining.com • info@speakeasytraining.com (401) 286-5486 • 1844 Broad Street, Cranston (hours by appointment)
• Show up early and mingle with your audience. • Start your warm up as you walk to the area of presentation. Make small talk before you begin your introduction. Dress for Success • Dress just one notch above your audience. • Don’t wear distracting clothing or accessories, unless that is part of your presentation. • Don’t be too sexy! Your audience won’t pay attention to what you are saying! Overcoming Your Fear of Speaking in Public • Control your environment. • Be yourself. • Focus on your message and the audience. • Write brief outline on a cheat sheet you will keep with you. • Write out your introduction. • Rehearse your introduction and first segue a million times. • Rehearse your last segue and conclusion a million times. • Rehearse the body of your speech one half million times. Ongoing Tips for Confidence Building • Join an ongoing group such as Fireside Chats or Toastmasters. • Ask questions in meetings and classes. • Answer questions and make suggestions in meetings and classes. • Volunteer to give small presentations and introductions at events. • Rehearse, not just practice. Out loud.
Creating Silence Between Words Alyson Arnold Claude Debussy once said, “Music is the sound between the notes.” This quote is also been said this way: “Music is the silence between the notes.” In public speaking, or speaking in general, we need to develop better the silence between our words. Through pauses long and short… we give the listener an opportunity to digest what we have said, and to anticipate what is coming. More often than not, the untrained speaker speaks too quickly. We feel the need to rush, whether it be to quell our nerves, fill the silence, or say what we need to say quickly lest we forget. The listener is left with a mind which is confused and clogged. When practicing your next presentation, or when sharing a story with a friend, pay attention to the silence between your words. Create the silence – allow the listener to engage by digesting your words fully. Get comfortable with that silence – the silence we sometimes fill with “ums” or “ahhs” or “ya knows” – listen to the silence between the words yourself. Feel how loud it can be. Enjoy the hum of the traffic outside or the ticking of the clock. It is within this silence that, together, speaker and listener hear the sound that is truly the music.
To improve your public speaking skills, contact Speak Easy: (401) 286-5486 info@speakeasytraining.com
16 • Gaspee Days • May 2013