News Corridor Commission Annual Dinner: Thursday March 30, 2006 2005 John H. Chafee Heritage Award Winners Announced On March 30, 2006 the Corridor Commission held their annual dinner and Symposium at Holy Cross College in Worcester, Massachusetts. The theme of the evening was “Making Things Work . . . by Working Together: 20 Years of Progress,” a celebration of the Heritage Corridor Commission’s accomplishments since its establishment in 1986 and a look towards the goals of the future. Kicking off the day was a poster session highlighting student displays on the Environment, Culture and History of the Blackstone River Valley. This was followed by three simultaneous scholarly presentations. Professor James Conrad spoke on “Moses Brown and the Beginnings of Industry in the Blackstone Valley”, Professor William Sobczak presented “Ecology and Biochemistry of the Blackstone River’s Headwaters”, and Professor Thomas Doughton presented “Packachoag and Mount St. James: Nipmuc Indians & the Blackstone Valley. During the dinner, the Corridor Commission presented several awards. Orville Harrold, former President of the Providence and Worcester Railroad received the Community Stewardship Award for his years of partnership with the Corridor Commission. Also, the Massachusetts Highway Department was recognized with the Blackstone River Bikeway Partnership award for their continued efforts to build the bikeway. Finally, the 2005 John H. Chafee Heritage Award Winners were announced at the end of the evening. This award commemorates the late Senator John H. Chafee’s contributions to preserving and improving the natural and cultural resources and the quality of life throughout the Blackstone Valley. The winners this year are Daniel and Elaine Malloy of Hopedale, Massachusetts and John Scanlon of Lincoln, Rhode Island. The student recipients are Nora Schachte of Woonsocket, Rhode Island and Alexander Thompson of Northbridge, Massachusetts
Dan, who taught history in neighboring Mendon, has researched Hopedale’s history and written his findings on his website. Dan shared his love of local history with his students and encouraged them to learn more about the vibrant stories of their hometown. Both Dan and Elaine are members of the Hopedale Historic Commission and continue to help preserve Hopedale’s historic record while teaching these stories to new generation during classroom visits and through a book on Hopedale they published in 2002.
John has also been instrumental in developing new interpretive tours at Hearthside and re-stoking the fires at the Hannaway Blacksmith Shop where he initiated on-going blacksmithing demonstrations and a weekly class in hand forging.
Alex has been a member of the Northbridge High School science club for four years and has been active in clean ups and water testing for over three years. He coordinated his efforts with the Blackstone River Watershed Coalition, The Massachusetts Audubon Society and Wild Bird Gardens and shared his test results with partners across Massachusetts. Reflecting on the Past, Looking to the Future What would be the impact of the Corridor Commission terminating in November 2006? What is the ideal system to sustain the Heritage Corridor into the future? What are the essential ingredients that make this collective partnership work? What is missing? How much time is needed? These are some of the questions posed at a series of public meetings over the past several months in an attempt to understand those elements that are seen as important to sustaining the Corridor's mission. To answer these questions, the Corridor Commission initiated the Blackstone Sustainability Study, to evaluate the past 18 years of work and to look at some possible strategies for the future. In order to have an external review and a transparent evaluation process, the Commission requested that the National Park Service Conservation Study Institute conduct this study, using input from partners and the general public. This report, Reflecting on the Past, Looking to the Future, was produced by the Conservation Study Institute (CSI) with participation by the NPS National Heritage Areas office, the consulting firm of Phil Huffman; and Cause & Effect, Inc.,on particular aspects. Sustainability Study Report 2005 Annual Report Available
Commission News To find out more about what's new in the Corridor check out the most recent issue of the "Commission News" below. Commission News December 2005
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Daniel and Elaine Malloy: Dan and Elaine Molloy have been tireless in their efforts to preserve and share the rich history of Hopedale. While director of the Bancroft Library, Elaine helped to collect and conserve historic images of the town, as well as getting the library itself placed onto the National Register of Historic Places. Elaine took it upon herself to make the public aware of the wonderful resources that are housed at the Bancroft Library.
John Scanlon: John Scanlon has been a key to the current renaissance of the Great Road Historic in Lincoln. John is the Vice President of Friends of Hearthside, and since 2001 has served as the property manager for both Hearthside and the adjacent Hannaway Blacksmith Shop. His love of Hearthside inspired him to enroll in graduate courses in Historic Preservation at Roger Williams University at the age of 57. Since then, he has been hard at work learning preservation skills, and then putting his new found knowledge to work while restoring Hearthside. 
Nora Schachte: Nora Schachte is a senior at Woonsocket High School where she has been a member of the Woonsocket High School River Club for five years and currently she serves as the club President. In that time, Nora has volunteered hundreds of hours with the Heritage Corridor Commission and other partners. She has worked on numerous Earth Day clean ups, and has shared her passion for protecting the Blackstone with other students through the Clean Water festival and also the Woonsocket High School trout release program. 
Alexander Thompson: Alexander Thompson, is a senior at Northbridge High School. Here he has channeled his passions for science and community service by performing water quality monitoring, invasive plant removal and trash cleanup on the Mumford River. 
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