East Providence Heritage Days Ends Over 40 Year Run

“It is with a grateful heart that the Board of East Providence Heritage Days Inc. announces the conclusion of our flagship event, The Annual Heritage Festival.” And with that social media posting on Sunday night, February 26, 2023, over 40 years of a popular summer festival ended. The announcement, while a shock to many, came as just a mild surprise to those who followed the event closely. “We’re thinking out our mission,” long time Heritage Chairman Clarence “Junior” Butler told the Reporter in a brief conversation a couple weeks before the news broke. “It has been extremely difficult to keep this going at a level that people have come to know,” said a subdued Butler. “Since its inception in 1981, we have strived to bring arts and culture to our community and beyond,” continued the Heritage Days statement in late February. The event was held under the direction of the East Providence Recreation Department from 1981 and became incorporated in 2007 as a 501c3 nonprofit organization. “The past four decades have been an extraordinary learning experience for all of us. In celebrating ethnicity, we know that we are more alike than we are different.

In the early years of the summertime event, under the leadership of then Recreation Director, Joseph Crook and his staff, Heritage Days grew to become “the social event” of East Providence each year. Except for when the event was held at the old East Providence High School, the event was held at City Hall until eventually Pierce Stadium was transformed into a weekend of food, music, art and crafts, storytelling, antique car shows and something for everyone. Large crowds filled the football and baseball fields and the entire complex. A highlight was always which nationally known bands would perform on a big stage as well as some local musicians. Until 2007, the city helped with some expenses, but from 2007 on, Heritage Days was run by volunteers and a non-profit group. Many sponsors would help. The committee also donated funds to help with Pierce Stadium’s restoration and other costs.

As it got more difficult to attract quality vendors and big-name entertainers, the admission price grew steadily through the years. When some in the city perceived the cost as too high, the number of attendees started to drop. Several years ago, the Reporter met with the group’s Board of Directors and listened to the suggestions to improve attendance. The added publicity didn’t help enough. As the opinions on admission costs grew, the committee tried at least one year with no cost – free admission. But quality entertainment and vendors became harder to bring in and the attendance numbers weren’t there.

As the word circulated that the event was over, many expressed their sadness and appreciation to the committee. “Thank you to all those who worked so hard every year to put on this event. For those of us that were around for the very first and watched it grow year after year, it will be a fond memory. Thank you Alba (Curti) and company for your dedication,” wrote Valerie Perry.

“In my 28 years of employment with the city of EP, there was nothing I was more proud of than being involved with the hardworking dedicated people on the committee who were committed to bringing a family fun event to our city,” said long time Pierce Stadium guru Joe Medeiros.

“Thank you, Alba Curti, Joe Crook, the EP Heritage Days board and volunteers for your dedicated work in hosting this annual event over the last 40+ years. Thank you for the memories,” wrote Laura McNamara.

In November of 2022, Heritage Days Inc. was named a “2022 Top-Rated Nonprofit” by Great Nonprofits, the leading website for community recommendations of charities and nonprofits. “We are honored to be named a 2022 Top-Rated Nonprofit,” said Alba Curti, Secretary/Treasurer of EPHD Inc. at that time. “We are proud of our accomplishments this year and for the past 40 years in bringing art, culture and ethnic awareness to our community and to all of RI,” added Curti.

“East Providence Heritage Days Inc. is a great example of a nonprofit making a real difference in their community,” said Perla Ni, CEO of Great Nonprofits, “Their award is well-deserved recognition not only of their work, but the tremendous support they receive, as shown by the many outstanding reviews they have received from people who have direct experience working with their organization.”

The Reporter News Magazine group (East Providence, Seekonk, Rehoboth) also offers our sincere appreciation for the hard work and dedication of the Heritage Days volunteers. We were glad to play a small part through the years as a friend and supporter. A job well done!

HERITAGE BOARD OFFICERS:

• Clarence Butler, Jr., Chairman

• James McKivergan, Vice Chairman

• Alba Curti, Secretary/Treasurer

• Diane Sullivan, Recording Secretary

DIRECTORS:

• Kim Carpenter Brown

• Rebecca Chace

• Kelly Costa

• Onna Moniz-John

• Mike Sisto

• David Tessier

• Tony Vieira

MEMBERS IN

MEMORIAM:

• Audrey Partridge, Chairman

• Sandra Soignoli, Director

• Samuel J. Abbood, Chairman

• Peter Holmes, Director

• Harry Mutter, Treasurer

Portraits of a City

The City of East Providence unveiled three new portraits at City Hall last month honoring four members of the community who have gone above and beyond for the City of East Providence. “We are thrilled to have such wonderful participation from the community on selecting four, truly wonderful members of our community to be featured as “Portraits of a City,” because these individuals represent all of the great work and dedication that goes on in the City of East Providence,” Mayor Bob DaSilva said.

East Providence-based artist Jennifer Gillooly Cahoon recently completed a series of paintings titled “Portraits of a City,” recognizing four important figures as nominated and voted on by East Providence residents. Cahoon, a self-taught painter, former Art teacher at East Providence High School and owner of the HeARTspot gallery on Pawtucket Avenue, received a Rhode Island State Council on the Arts grant to begin the project.

“It was a long time in the making but I think it was worthwhile as these are here for the long haul now,” Cahoon said. “This really was a labor of love.” She completed the series, with support from a Legislative Grant procured by former Rep. and now Secretary of State Gregg Amore (who recused himself from being a portrait subject), with portraits of the following members of our community:

The number one voted recipient was Dr. Isadore Ramos. Ramos, a product of the city’s school system, was a superb athlete as a young man who later became a noted administrator and elected official in East Providence. He served as the city council’s first African-American president/ceremonial mayor and also as an elected School Committee member before that. A formal unveiling of the Ramos piece took place during the Nov. 5, 2019 City Council meeting.

Runners up in the contest were:

David Kelleher, a former East Providence elementary school principal, is a noted historian in East Providence for many years and is the 2016 and 2022 winner of the Antoinette F. Dowling Volunteer Award for Historic Preservation in Rhode Island. Dave took on extracurricular preservation projects, working with the Historical Society to preserve a historic amusement park building and the pumping station at Hunt’s Mills. With the East Providence Land Conservation Trust, Mr. Kelleher helped to save historic Bridgham Farm. Some of his other initiatives included a demolition delay ordinance, saving historic Weaver House, and establishing the new Historic District Commission. Mr. Kelleher has focused years of his life to the historic Pomham Rocks Lighthouse. Mr. Kelleher co-established the Friends of Pomham Rocks Lighthouse in 2004 to restore the endangered building and has been working on programs and projects to support the lighthouse since.

Mildred Morris – Ms. Morris has devoted her adult life working with children in East Providence, especially in the school department. She has served on many committees that support the children in our community. She was first elected to the East Providence School Committee in 1996 and served for 12 years. During her time on the committee, Morris was named as a committee clerk, vicechair and board chairperson by her fellow committee members. She has been active in several volunteer groups, including the Crescent Park Carousel Commission and the Friends of Townie Athletics Organization. As vice president of the Friends of Townie Athletics Organization (FTAO), Morris has helped provide East Providence High School and middle school student-athletes with college scholarships, annual banquets, trophies, awards and equipment. Morris not only served on the East Providence High School Hall of Fame, but was also an inductee in 2015.

Valerie Perry, a third-generation Townie, is a member of the East Providence / Seekonk Rotary Club and former District Governor of Rotary District 7950. As a local Rotarian, Perry’s leadership has resulted in an annual Back-Pack Fair, providing backpacks and school supplies to East Providence elementary school children; Boys and Girls Club Christmas Party, providing gifts and pictures with Santa; and Scholarship program which provided $1,000 Scholarships to students of East Providence High School, Career and Technical School, Bay View Academy, and Seekonk High Schools. Perry exemplifies leadership and dedication through her many roles in the city helping residents and families. Perry, a former East Providence City Clerk, dedicated years of service to the city. Perry was also elected to the East Providence City Council. She has also dedicated years of service to the students of the city as the former secretary to the assistant superintendent of the curriculum with the East Providence School Department.