National Heritage Corridor Commission Recognizes

Douglas Residents Leon & Shirley Mosczynski

 

Woonsocket, RI. Douglas residents Leon and Shirley Mosczynski were recently recognized for their ongoing contributions to their community and to the betterment of the Blackstone River Valley by the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Commission. Both Leon and Shirley were presented with Corridor Star Awards at the Commission’s meeting held in Douglas on November 15^th.

 

The Commission’s Chairman, Ted Sanderson, and its Executive Director, Jan Reitsma, acknowledged Leon’s involvement as the first Chair of the Town of Douglas Conservation Commission when he was elected to the position on April 20, 1970. “He has championed land protection throughout the Blackstone Valley for many years,” Reitsma said, “As an educator of high school science for 33 years he influenced many young minds with the importance of science and conservation initiatives.” He also credited Leon’s work to protect and preserve the Valley’s greenways and blueways adding that last spring the Town of Douglas recognized Leon’s conservation efforts by dedicating 44 acres of conservation land in his honor for his 37 years of service.

 

The Commission also recognized the efforts of both Leon and Shirley regarding their activism and dedication that helped to prevent a landfill from being situated near the Douglas State Forest and at the gateway to the Blackstone Valley nearly 10 years ago.

 

Warmly described as a “longtime citizen advocate”, the Commissioners recognized  Shirley’s tirelessly work on behalf of Douglas citing her service on a variety of boards and committees including the School Committee, Master Plan Implementation Committee and the Board of Selectmen where she was the chair for three of her nine years. She currently serves on the board of the Douglas Historical Society and supports the E.N. Jenckes Store and Museum. “Ms. Mosczynski has dedicated herself to her community and continues to protect and preserve the Valley’s natural and cultural resources,” Reitsma added.

National Heritage Corridor Commission Recognizes

Upton Resident Gene Bernat and Cover Technologies

 

Woonsocket, RI. Upton resident Gene Bernat and his company, Cover Technologies, was recently recognized for his ongoing contribution to the betterment of the Blackstone River Valley by the John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Commission. Bernat was presented with a Corridor Star Award at the Commission’s meeting held in Douglas on November 15^th.

 

Jan Reitsma, Executive Director of the Commission, recognized Bernat for his ability to work with others and for his vision for the future of the Blackstone Valley. “Gene Bernat has shown that preservation can be a passion and a success,” Reitsma said.

 

The Commission recognized Bernat’s accomplishments in South Grafton. After a fire destroyed the Fisherville Mill Complex, Cover Technologies turned the brownfield site into an opportunity. “The clean-up of the mill site and the reinforcement of the earthen dam behind it were critical to the future of the site,” Reitsma added, “and his willingness to work with the Heritage Corridor Commission, the Grafton Land Trust and the Grafton Historical Commission to undertake a historic structure report to investigate the site of Lock #30 on the Blackstone Canal and its surrounding industrial artifacts has also been a monumental success.”

 

In addition, Bernat has worked with the Town of Grafton to provide a 100 year lease of the Canal site for the creation of a public park. In Northbridge, Bernat has been instrumental in working with Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation to preserve a section of the Blackstone Canal that borders Plummer’s Landing and Blackstone River & Canal Heritage State Park in Northbridge. His work crew has cleared out the canal bed and and by the end of the year that section of the Canal will look as it did when the first canal boat made its way north from Providence headed toward Worcester back in October 1828.

National Heritage Corridor Commission Recognizes

Robert Largess of Sutton with Star Award

 

Woonsocket. RI. The John H. Chafee Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Commission presented its Corridor Star Award to Robert Largess of Sutton on November 15, 2007, at their Commission meeting held at the Douglas Massachusetts Municipal Center.

 

Jan Reitsma, the Commission’s Executive Director, explained why Largess deserved the Corridor Star. “With his team of horses, Emily and Jean, and with Wayne Whittier’s team of Andy and Buster, Robert Largess drove his vintage stagecoach from East Providence, Rhode Island to Worcester, Massachusetts to raise awareness of the Blackstone Valley-wide 3rd annual “Footsteps in History” program. The journey took citizens back in time and helped history come alive as the horses and carriage completed a trip that had not been made in over 180 years.”

 

“The stagecoach ride not only celebrated “Footsteps in History”, he added, but also brought awareness to one of Bob’s passions, the revitalization of the Blackstone Canal in Worcester.”

 

Largess gave credit to his support team and the many people who turned out to see the stagecoach along the route. He has been a key supporter of the Heritage Corridor for many years. He can be found at many Blackstone Valley events and tourism celebrations promoting the Blackstone Canal with his signature “Free the Blackstone” t-shirts. He is a member of Waters Farm Preservation, Inc. and serves on the Sutton Planning Board.