Author: Tim Blankenship

The 2015 WaterFire Salute to Veterans

WaterFire Ignites Rhode Island Radio Show –
underwritten by National Grid
supported by Lifetime Medical
Hosted by Bronwyn Dannenfelser

On to day’s show we talked about this weekend’s upcoming event: The 2015 Waterfire Salute to Veterans with the following guests:

1.) David Graves, media relations specialist at National Grid. David, also an Army Veteran, talked about National Grid’s commitment to the armed services and veterans and the many different ways that National Grid supports Veterans, through their hiring programs and support programs for employees serving in the National Guard.

2.) Robert (Bob) Dalton:Enlisted -U.S.Air Force Feb. 2, 1953. Bob did two tours of duty in Guam, Oct. 1954 – Jan. 1955, April 1956 – July 1956. He was a crew chief on a B-36 Super Bomber.

Bob will be at the Salute to Veterans with his organization on Saturday. His organization: The Sampson Air Force Base Veterans Association – Rhode Island Squadron is a non-profit organization composed principally of veterans who did their basic training at Sampson Air Force Base during the period 1950 – 1956 when the base was active.

They have a Monument Committee whose members are working to build an Air Force Monument at the Veterans Cemetery in Exeter, RI The Air Force is the only branch of service that does not have a monument.

3.) The Rev. Dr. Richard Dannenfelser – Vietnam Veteran who was the head of an army LRRP team in Vietnam describes his experience as a soldier and Veteran.

Visit the WaterFire Salute to Veterans website to learn more about Saturday’s event.

Podcast:

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Episode Segments

Part 1 – David Graves

Part 2 – Bob Dalton

Part 3 – Rev. Dr. Richard Dannenfelser

Continue reading The 2015 WaterFire Salute to Veterans

Gearing up for the 2015 WaterFire Salute to Veterans

WaterFire Ignites Rhode Island Radio Show –
underwritten by National Grid
supported by Lifetime Medical
Hosted by Bronwyn Dannenfelser

Today’s show is all about the 2015 WaterFire Salute to Veterans lighting which is coming up on November 7th. We have the pleasure of chatting with two key members of the team that his helping up to plan and organize this event. First we speak with Salute to Veterans executive committee member Lt. General Reginald “Reggie” Centracchio (ret.). Our second guest on the show is Lynn St. Germain, Gold Star Mom of USMC Sgt. Brian St. Germain and also Family Readiness Support Assistant for the RI National Guard.

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Rolling out for WaterFire’s Salute to Veterans | Accessible Boat Rides with Captain Mark Karas

WaterFire Ignites Rhode Island Radio Show –
underwritten by National Grid
supported by Lifetime Medical
Hosted by Bronwyn Dannenfelser

rolling thunder John Nickerson
Rolling Thunder RI 1 members at the 2014 WaterFire Salute to Veterans Event. Photo by John Nickerson.

Today on the show we’ll be speaking with Larry Brunell, president of Rolling Thunder RI 1. Together with WaterFire Providence they have been an integral part of our Salute to Veterans event, helping to honor our veterans and performing the Soldiers Cross ceremony in Memorial Park.

Our second guest on this show will be WaterFire Providence volunteer Mark Karas. Mark has been the captain of the WaterFire Access Boat for the past two seasons. We are currently booking rides for the November 7th lighting so if you or someone you know is a veteran with limited mobility and would like to unique way to experience WaterFire contact us to get sign up for a ride.

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WaterFire’ Salute to Veterans | Ten31 Productions’ Masquerade

WaterFire Ignites Rhode Island Radio Show –
underwritten by National Grid
supported by Lifetime Medical
Hosted by Bronwyn Dannenfelser

On this program we have a chat with Heather Oberg from the Providence VA Medical Center about our November 7th, 2015 Salute to Veterans Event. Interested listeners can learn more about this event and veterans can sign up to be torch bearers by visiting the WaterFire Salute to Veterans website.

Our second guest is Ten31 Production’s co-founder Joe Pari. Joe joined us to chat about the history of their living statues and their upcoming Mysterium the Eternal Masquerade event at the Providence Public Library. This is event will held on Friday, October 30th, 2015. Tickets are available now.

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The Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation’s Flames of Hope a Celebration of Life™

WaterFire Ignites Rhode Island Radio Show –
underwritten by National Grid
supported by Lifetime Medical
Hosted by Bronwyn Dannenfelser with co-host Reverend Dr. Richard Dannenfelser

We’ll be speaking with Felix Cavaliere of Felix Cavaliere’s Rascals. Felix and his band will be performing on Sunday, October 4th at The Vets (tickets are available at the VMARI website) as part of the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation‘s Flames of Hope Celebration of Life Weekend.

The second guest on today’s show will be Carol Ann Donnelly, the office manager at the Gloria Gemma Breast Cancer Resource Foundation. Carol is a breast cancer survivor and will be filling us in on all of the special events happening in Station Park at this weekend’s Flames of Hope ‪WaterFire‬.

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Episode 45 – Broadcast: September 30th, 2015 | Featured image: Flames of Hope, photo by Drew Christhilf.

Talking WaterFire with: Lifetime Medical and Webster Bank

WaterFire Ignites Rhode Island Radio Show –
underwritten by National Grid
supported by Lifetime Medical
Hosted by Bronwyn Dannenfelser

On today’s radio show we will be discussing this weekend’s Full Lighting of WaterFire.

Our special guests today are:
Louis Paolino – President of Lifetime Medical and Gary Alexander, Healthcare Specialist at Lifetime Medical. Lifetime Medical is a WaterFire season sponsor and co-sponsor of this weekend’s full lighting and they are currently hiring. At the upcoming event they will have a tent where people can find out more information about their healthcare services as well as submit applications.

We will also be joined by longtime WaterFire sponsors Robert Twomey and Brenda Greene from Webster Bank, discussing Webster Bank’s commitment to community and new things happening in the banking industry.

Peter Mello, managing Director of WaterFire will be my co-host for the show. He will be telling us all about the new developments at WaterFire Providence and what we can expect to see in the future.

Podcast:

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Daughter of Dawn | IntraCity Geeks | Ten31 Productions

WaterFire Ignites Rhode Island Radio Show –
underwritten by National Grid
supported by Lifetime Medical
Hosted by Bronwyn Dannenfelser

Today on the show we will be speaking with Roderick Fraser about The Daughter of Dawn. The Daughter of Dawn is an 80-minute, feature silent film that was shot in May, June, and July of 1920 in the Wichita Mountains of southwest Oklahoma. Shortly after completion, and after only a few screenings, the film disappeared for nearly a century—without a trace. The film was rediscovered in 2005 and restored by the Oklahoma Historical Society.

Rhode Island College hosts Family of legendary Comanche Chief Quanah Parker for first screening in New England of critically acclaimed film The Daughter of Dawn and open panel discussion of native issues. Rhode Island College will be screening the movie on September 24th at 6:00 PM, the first time this movie has been shown in New England.

IntraCity Geeks

Also we will be talking with Claude Arnell Milhouse Founder, Executive Director <IntraCity> Geeks about their recent recognition from President Obama and the wonderful programs they have started here in RI. Including a monthly “Code Night with the Mayor”. Our Mission: To teach everyone in urban environments coding and entrepreneurship. <IntraCity> Geeks seeks to help people in urban areas become self sufficient. By doing this, we will reduce income and wealth inequality, bridge the digital divide and diversify technology. We work with people from all walks of life, however, we are recognize that the tech sector needs to have more women and people of color.

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Lastly a quick call in from a friend: Eric Auger of Ten31 productions about their work at our FireBall event, their new array of living statues and an upcoming event to support the Samaritans of RI. The Samaritans of Rhode Island are pleased to present their “New Life” exhibit – an afternoon of opportunities for teens to see, experience and connect with RI’s most awe inspiring artists – TEN31 Productions! New Life and a New Day on Park Place in Pawtucket, September 19th at 11:00 a.m.

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Northeastern Society of Orthodontists | The Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island | Little Bitte Artisanal Cocktails

WaterFire Ignites Rhode Island Radio Show –
underwritten by National Grid
supported by Lifetime Medical
Hosted by Bronwyn Dannenfelser

On today’s show we will be speaking with Chris Lundberg, DDS, MS Northeastern Society of Orthodontists President and sponsor of this weekend’s WaterFire lighting. He will be telling us about what is new with NESO, their annual 2015 meeting and how WaterFire served as inspiration for this years Annual Meeting theme: Spark Ideas. Fuel Success

Also we will be speaking with  Benjamin Sibielski, Director of Communications at The Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island about their 225th anniversary and celebration at this weekend’s WaterFire which will include musical performances and an interactive “Hopes for RI” station.

Our third guest will be Willa VanNostrand proprietor of Little Bitte Artisanal Cocktails, who along with the E&O Tap provided the signature cocktail at last week’s FireBall. She will be sharing some recipes as well as talking about her involvement in WaterFire’s newest addition in the Waterplace Park Basin – Gerbermühle: Biergarten unter den Weiden – Beer Garden Under the Elms

Podcast:

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Building Community | Providence Tango | RI Rally4Recovery

WaterFire Ignites Rhode Island Radio Show –
underwritten by National Grid
supported by Lifetime Medical
Hosted by Bronwyn Dannenfelser

On today’s show we had the pleasure of speaking with Karen Warfield, Community Affairs Manager at Textron, Inc. Karen joined Bronwyn to provide some background about how Textron, Inc and the Textron Charitable Trust work to sponsor and support non-profits in our community. This weekend’s WaterFire lighting is supported by the Textron Charitable Trust.

Steven Spura from Providence Tango called in to chat about Argentine Tango and the performances that his group will doing at this Saturday’s WaterFire lighting. Bronwyn closed out the show with Linda Mahoney from Rally4Recovery sharing their plans for their Recovery Month activities. Recovery Month begins on September 4th.

Podcast:

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Community Action and Engagement to Support our Youth

WaterFire Ignites Rhode Island Radio Show –
underwritten by National Grid
supported by Lifetime Medical
Hosted by Bronwyn Dannenfelser

Our first guests Kobi Dennis and Sean Holley Esq. will be on discussing Project Night Vision and the Providence Midnight Summer Basketball League. In the spring of 2010, in collaboration with state and local law enforcement, community members and local business, Project: Night Vision was created. The mission of the program begins with providing care and services for inner-city youth ages 12yrs.-18yrs. In June of 2015, Sean was named Coordinator of Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza’s Midnight Summer Basketball League.

Our second guest is Leo A Beliveau III who will be talking about all of the different resources and projects happening at Comprehensive Community Action. In December of 1965, Cranston Community Action Program was incorporated. At that time CCAP served Cranston, Coventry, Scituate and Foster. As many of their programs grew to include cities and towns outside that catchment area, they decided to change their name. In September of 1994 they officially became Comprehensive Community Action, but still CCAP.

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