Woonsocket Radio News Room

Rediscover the

Blackstone Valley

 

 

We hope you will find some fun ideas and ways to rediscover the valley with our redesigned newsletter!

 

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Autumn is Blackstone Valley's

Time to Shine

 

Ah, the smell of pumpkin spice and apples waiting to be picked in the orchards, sweater weather and changing leaves are all signs that Autumn is near... actually just around the corner.

 

The air is crisp and the sun is still warm with lower humidity. This is the perfect time to visit our region, get outside and enjoy the fall harvest as well as biking, hiking and just plain old meandering through fallen leaves.

 

The Blackstone Valley is the perfect place for all things Fall. From the “Apple Valley” along Route 44, to a drive on country roads like Great Road and hiking Lincoln Woods and Chase Farm Park, biking the Blackstone Valley Bikepath or taking this last little bit of time before it gets too cool for some kayaking and meandering along our rivers in search of wildlife. There is something for everyone to do at this time of year.

 

Smithfield is known as the “Apple Valley” of Rhode Island, and it is no wonder with the many orchards to choose from for some great apple picking. We made our way to Jaswell Farm, one of the oldest orchards in Smithfield, on a beautiful Sunday afternoon to pick some apples. With safe physical distancing, there were families spread out among the rows of trees, McIntosh and Gala varieties now available. Of course, if you are looking for other varieties like a local all-time favorite - Macoun apple - we were advised to check back in a couple of weeks.

 

In addition to apples, the farm stand was open, and the staff accommodated those who had ordered curbside pick-up as well as those heading back to their cars from the orchards to add some cider, some fresh vegetables, as well as sweet treats to our take away that day. Reservations are required for apple picking. Click here.

 

There are several other orchards and farms in the area so you might want to check out some of the others like Steere Farm with pick your own apples available daily, Appleland Orchard  and Leach Farm and Orchards in Smithfield, Leach Farm also has pumpkins ready for picking.

 

We also recommend checking out Phantom Farms in Cumberland for apple picking and afterward enjoy a slice of apple pie and coffee on the porch. Call for more information

(401) 333-2240.

 

Speaking of apples, did you know that William Blackstone, for which the river and valley takes its name, actually planted his own variety of apples along the river in the proximity of the Lonsdale Marsh. It was known as the yellow sweeting and was the first apple variety named in America!

 

Cumberland is also home to Adams Farm, and we took the opportunity to kick off their season on a drive-thru scavenger hunt while munching yummy apple cider donuts as part of the package. They have many more activities planned for this Fall season from daily visits to their pumpkin patch and farmyard or their weekend mega-admission that includes kid-friendly mazes, hayride, animals and pumpkin patch. Online ticketing is required to enable social distancing. If their scavenger hunt is a testament to their creativity, then this will be a blast for families! Get Tickets

 

As we mentioned, Fall is a perfect time for hiking and just down the road from Jaswell’s, we stopped at Powder Mill Ledges for a quick hike, home to the Audubon Society of Rhode Island. You can find a calendar of available programs on their website, ASRI.org.

 

Chase Farm Park is now open and this is a great place to take the kids for a hike or even just a saunter to check out the leaves as they begin to change. Coming up on September 26th is Great Road Day offering a chance to get outdoors and visit several historic sites along the way including Chase Farm, the Hannaway Blacksmith Shop,and Hearthside House all for FREE. However, advance registration is required. More Info.

 

Read On

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

·     Friday, September 18 @ 6:00 - 8:30 pm - Back Rhodes - Levitt Amp Millrace Series, Millrace Kitchen, South Main Street, Woonsocket. More Info

 

·     Sunday, September 20 @ 1:00-4:00 pm - Live Music at Mulberry Vineyards, Pound Road, Chepachet. More Info.

 

·     Wednesdays & Saturdays @ 10:00 am - 4:00 pm - Veterans Memorial Museum is now open, 78 Earle Street, Woonsocket More Info

 

·     Thursday, September 24 @ 5:30 - 7:30 pm - Pandemonium Pawtucket Arts Collaborative Member Show Opening, a virtual exhibit, Pawtucket. More Info

 

·     Sunday, September 27 @ 9:30 - 10:30 am - Yoga in Deerfield Park, SmithfieldMore Info. 

Looking Ahead

·     Thursdays-Sundays, nightly, starting October 1st - Swamp Scare aboard The Explorer, Central Falls Landing, Central Falls. More Info.

 

·     Daily starting October 2 - Turn Your Jog into a Plog, a KBVB event. More Info

 

·     October 7 - Home Brewers Club at Lops Brewing, Woonsocket More Info. 

 

·     October 14 - 15 - Boscov's Friends Helping Friends, shopping fundraising event to support nonprofits including Blackstone Valley Tourism Council, Providence. More Info. 

 

More Events

 

 

 

 

 

 

Working Towards a "Blue Mind" Frame of Mind

Have you heard of the term Blue Mind? If not it is a term that refers to the meditative state characterized by calm, peace and unity one gets when near or on water. It is a term coined by Dr. Wallace J. Nichols, marine biologist and best selling author of the book "Blue Mind: The Surprising Science That Shows How Being Near, In, On, or Under Water Can Make You Happier, Healthier, More Connected, and Better at What You Do." It is worth reading. More Info.

 

This is the precept behind some of the recent work going on over at Blackstone River Watershed/Friends of the (BRWC/FOB) Blackstone's Sycamore Landing in Manville. With support from a grant from the Rhode Island Foundation, the volunteers at BRWC/FOB recently completed a pollinator garden in the shape of a turtle, added an artificial beehive and improved the site and trail system to create a shared tranquil space for the community. It is truly a delightful spot to meander along the river. Learn more.

 

With World Rivers Day approaching on September 27, we applaud the many volunteers that spend time cleaning up the Blackstone River going back years, including the big ZAP Project that mobilized 10,000 volunteers in one day, on September 9, 1972 and collected over 10,000 pounds of debris. Nearing its 50th anniversary in 2022, we look to celebrate the river and the clean up efforts leading to the 50th anniversary with a Project ZAP Revival. Stay Tuned.

 

For now, celebrate World Rivers Day by visiting a nearby river or stream. If in the Blackstone Valley stop by Sycamore Landing at 100 Old River Road or visit some of the other places along the river to find some peaceful meditation and get your "Blue Mind" on. Here are just a few suggestions.

 

·     Festival Pier, School Street, Pawtucket

·     River Island Arts Park, Bernon Street, and Cold Spring Park, Katherine Road, Woonsocket

·     Valley Falls Heritage Park, Broad Street, Cumberland

·     Chocolate Mill Overlook Park, Roosevelt & Charles, Central Falls

·     And, of course, anywhere along the Blackstone River Bikeway

 

More Info
 
A new poll shows President Biden and former President Trump currently in a dead heat in the upcoming presidential race. Quinnipiac University's latest national poll found registered voters evenly split in their choice for president in 2024, with 46 percent supporting President Biden and 46 percent supporting former President Trump. In a five-way matchup including independent and Green Party candidates, Biden and Trump are still tied with 37 percent support apiece, while independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. drew 16 percent support.        More pro-Palestinian protests are breaking out on U.S. campuses. Texas state troopers on horseback are at the University of Texas at Austin campus today as the "Palestine Solidarity Committee" says it wants to establish a foot hole at the UT Austin campus. The school says the protesters will not be allowed to set up any camps.        Donald Trump's criminal hush money trial resumes Thursday. Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker is expected to continue testifying for a third day, after explaining to the court how he paid people for the rights to negative stories about Trump only to never publish them in order to protect the presidential candidate. He's also expected to be questioned about Stormy Daniels, the adult film star whose alleged affair with Trump is at the heart of the criminal case.       Millions of salaried workers in the U.S. will soon qualify for overtime pay thanks to a new rule from the Biden administration. The rule announced Tuesday by the Department of Labor changes the threshold under which salaried employees become eligible for overtime. The department estimates that an extra four-million workers will qualify for overtime once the rule is implemented in January.        Ohio is allowing breastfeeding mothers to be excused from jury duty. The law says that if a prospective juror can provide documentation to the judge that they're currently breastfeeding their one-year-old or younger child, they can be excused. The State Senate passed it unanimously in September and Governor Mike DeWine signed the bill into law Tuesday.       The NHL's Stanley Cup Playoffs features three games tonight. In the East, the Boston Bruins will head to Toronto to take on the Maple Leafs for game three. In the Western Conference, the Vegas Golden Knights will face off against the Stars in Dallas for game two of their series, and the Los Angeles Kings will play the Oilers in Edmonton in game two.        

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