Westport
in Brief!
EverythingWestport.com
Monday,
June 11, 2012
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River Day returns to Head of
Westport!
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River Day returns to Head of Westport! The celebratory event first started in 1984. EverythingWestport.com Monday,
June 11, 2012 Photos/EverythingWestport.com Click here to view the
hi-resolution photo album. Need
Adobe Flash to view album? Click here! New! Just
released YouTube video of River Day 2012.
Fair weather drew a large crowd, and many
learned firsthand why the Westport River is a special resource for current
and future generations. The theme was
"Celebrating the Westport River - a resource for generations." The WRWA started
the annual event in 1984 as a festival meant to bring the community together
to celebrate Rivers Month and the Westport River. It became the
WRWA's flagship event for the next 20 years. In 2004, the WRWA
modified River Day into a family-fun an competitive paddle aptly named River
Run, which continued the spirit of celebrating the river.
Above: Over 40 boats and SUPs
(stand up paddlers) participated in the Fun Paddle. Here they assemble at Hix Bridge for the start of the run.
Above and below: kayakers and
boaters were treated to pastoral scenes along the East Branch of the Westport
River on the annual 3.5 mile Fun
Paddle from Hix Bridge Landing to the Head
of Westport Landing.
River Day 2012
Massachusetts Commissioner of Fish and
Game, Mary Griffin, read a proclamation from Governor Devol
Patrick declaring the month of June as National Rivers Day that stated in
part: Where the rivers and streams of
Massachusetts have been essential to the prosperity of the commonwealth; Whereas rivers provide roots for commercial
and social interchange as well as
lending inspiration and enjoyment to
generations of philosophers, poets, artists, sportsmen and women, and
citizens from all walks of life; I, Devol Patrick,
Governor of Massachusetts, declare June, 2012 to be Rivers Month.
Above left: Donna Mitchell, on-stage with Native American Spoken Word using
poetry and story. Above right: Merry-Go-Music,
songs for children with the Carrie Rowan and Adrienne Fawkes duo - a truly
high-energy concert.
Left: the Paul Cuffe
School of Providence sponsored a “wee boat” building demonstration. Center: Miracle Fish Puppets - Bubble Fish and Baboo (pictured here). Right: a
demonstration of an early game called "rings and sticks." Entertainment included: Merry-Go-Music, songs
for children with the Carrie Rowan duo; Miracle Fish Puppets- Bubble Fish
and Baboo; Donna Mitchell, Native American Spoken
Word using poetry and story; Spindle Rock River Rats, local
chantey chorus; and Wild Nites and the C&B
Horns, the southcoast's "funnest"
band.
Left: Roger and Gail Greene of
Little Compton dance to the music of the Spindle Rock River Rats. Right: Westport artist Susan paints
the River Day scene at the Head of Westport. Activities included: Annual 3.5 mile kayak and canoe paddle from Hix Bridge Landing to the Head of Westport Landing; 4th
graders from the Paul Cuffe School in Providence
built boats to celebrate their maritime charter and launched them at River
Day in the very river where the real Paul Cuffe, a
Westport resident, launched the whaling ships he built in the late 18th
/early 19th century; and the Westport Historical Society held walking tours
of the historic Head neighborhood and the restored Wolf Pit Schoolhouse.
Left: May pole dancing was
extraordinarily difficult to organize but a delight to watch. Right:
Westport Fishermen's Association selling raffle tickets for their annual
kayak raffle. Also on hand were exhibits celebrating
Westport’s farming and fishing heritage; green businesses demonstrating
energy options (solar/wind), wastewater solutions, and sustainable practices
for everyday living; and children’s games including stilt making, May-pole
dancing, fish printing, “wee boat” building, old fashion hoop rolling, face
painting, paper airplanes, sand molds, and much more.
Left: Bubble Fish! Right:
The Westport Art Group was on hand with an exhibit and sale.
Above: First through fourth
grade poster award winners were announced by State Senator Michael Rodrigues
and State Representative Paul Schmid. The overall winner was fourth-grader
Ethan Garcia.
Above: Thanks to sponsors
and the tireless efforts of volunteers, River Day 2012 was a day to remember.
© 2012 Community Events of Westport. All rights
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