MassRemembers: September 11, 2001 - 10th Anniversary

Event:         MassRemembers 2011

Location:     Institute Park

                     Worcester, MA 01609

Date:           September 11, 2011

Who can believe that it has been 10 long years since our world was forever changed as a result of the September 11, 2001 attack and the loss of so many lives.

I think everyone can say they remember exactly where they were when it all happened. I was enroute to Maine to attend the funeral of my college roommate’s father who had died unexpectedly when the first plane hit the South Tower. I remember the day vividly as we all listen to the radio intently about the tragedy that was unfolding in NYC, Washington DC, and Shanksville, Pennsylvania. We were all already in a somber mood while we comforted a friend who had just had a loss in the family while so many more people were losing loved ones.

With several wars still not over and the capture and killing of Osama Bin Laden we are no closer to a safe and peaceful world then we were before. We do not let fear or uncertainty keep up from moving forward. We are a stronger nation today then we have ever been. However, today we pause as people and as a nation to remember those lost and commemorate that event in ways to help us remember. The state of Massachusetts held several such events. One of those events was the MassRemembers – Voices of Hope event. The goal of the event is to raise 1,000 voices in song to pay tribute and to honor those who lost their lives, sacrificed, and responded to the tragedy.

Many choruses including the Assabet Valley Master Singers, Blackstone Valley Community Chorus, Master Singers of Worcester, Nashoba Valley Chorale, Salisbury Singers, Sounds of Stow, Worcester Chorus and choral students from Assumption College, Clark University, Holy Cross College, WPI and the Worcester Public Schools. It also included church choirs including All Saints Church, Worcester Epworth Methodist Church, Wesley Methodist Church, Worcester’s Shrewsbury Congregational Church, First Unitarian Church, Unitarian Church of Worcester, Unitarian Church of Framingham and the Unitarian Church of Concord.

Before the choruses began to sing there was a short Parade on Humboldt Ave followed by the singing of the Star-Spangled Banner by WPD Officer Thomas Hurley. Lieutenant Governor Timothy P. Murry then gave a short speech followed but the reading of the names of each person who was a victim of September 11, 2011. Additionally representatives from various religions were given an opportunity to speak and sing. They included Christian, Jewish, and Muslim members of our community.

It was a very touching event and you could sense the mood as people quietly listened. The music was beautifully sung and I have attached a small slideshow of pictures with the music.

Task 38 – Open Road Music + Arts Festival (Worcester, MA)

(38) Visit 10 Festivals of Fairs (03/20)
Festival: Open Road Music + Art Festival
Location: Worcester, MA

Website: http://www.openroadfestival.com/

When: September 10, 2011

Rating:  3-Stars

Today was the 1st Open Road Music + Arts Festival. It was held in Worcester’s Institute Park and is Worcester’s first sustainable and earth-friendly music and arts festival. It had over 30 Vendors and 11 Bands. The goal of Open Road is to raise the awareness of alternative and sustainable lifestyles while bringing the Worcester community (and beyond) together to enjoy local art and extraordinary music.

 I didn’t even know the festival was happening until a co-worker of mine called to tell me to come out and enjoy. Her boyfriend’s band was one of the groups performing in the festival’s lineup. Their group is called WHAT and they played a 30 minute set of great music. They played on the newly renovated main stage in Institute Park. It was under construction for a large portion of the spring and early summer. It was nice to see it being used and looking great.

The festival was definitely a very different festival. There was one vendor Vegware who specialized in sustainable packaging and utensils and others who sold nothing but organic clothing and apparel. Of course there was also the food vendors including Cedar’s who was there offering free samples of their humus and a new type of organic chips they are working on. Evo from the Living Earth was also there providing some of their organic creations many of which I have sampled in their dining room and love. Another interesting vendor was the Vegetable Circus who were performing with hula hoops and doing face painting. It was a very eclectic group of patrons including families, college students, hippes, and professional types alike. Everyone seems to have been really enjoying the entertainment and vendor offerings. I also think that many people turned out because they too believe in what the Festival’s organizers have stated as the principles of their group.

I hope to attend the 2nd Annual Open Road Music + Arts Festival next year.

Task 38 – Woodstock Fair (Woodstock, CT)

(38) Visit 10 Festivals of Fairs (03/20)

Festival: Woodstock Fair
Location: Woodstock, CT

Website: www.woodstockfair.com/

When: September 3, 2011

Rating: 3- Stars

I usually go to a couple town or county fairs every summer but sadly this year I had not gone to any before this trip to the Woodstock Fair. It is held every year on Labor Day weekend and with the sun shining brightly we all got together and made the journey south to the little town of Woodstock, CT.

We easily found parking for the bargain price of $3 for the day in someone’s back yard. I am not sure the damage to the yard is worth the $3 per car these people get but their yard was packed with easily 75 cars. I suppose if they park 100 cars a day over 4 days that would be $1200. Maybe it is worth it.

After a short walk we hit the first entrance. Marked a service entrance and surrounded by fire trucks and other safety vehicles we found that patrons could also but tickets and enter the fairgrounds here. It actually was a perfect place to enter as it brings your right to the main building and is centrally located in the park.

Given that it was now lunch time and none of us had eaten the first thing we did was explore the concessions for something tasty to satisfy our grumbling stomachs. My mom took the first thing that sounded good and got a crab sandwich. I settled on pad thai and garlic chicken like my dad and Dan choose a corn dog.

After getting some food we explored the better living building and took in the sites at the Ox pull. I learned that an Ox is nothing more than a castrated bull. We watched as they pulled the tremendous weight some easily and some not so easily. We watched and it was obvious that team work was important as they slowly increased the weight in increments of 500lbs.

The sun was warm and we were drinking water faster then we could keep our water bottles full. After an hour or so of that in the hot sun we decided to move along and explore more of what the fair had to offer.

We enjoyed the Health Craft demonstration of their waterless cooking pans and sampled the food they cooked. We also explored some of the vendors and their novelty items. We saw everything from lint rollers and vacuums to security systems and heaters.

Tired of people trying to sell us things we really don’t need or want we headed to the kart racing track. We found a great spot along the fence with a view of the track and the grand stand. It was pretty exciting as we watch the field of drivers racing around the small track. The roar of their little motors and the strong smell of burnt rubber in the air you couldn’t help but cheer for a driver you didn’t know but was leading the pack.

The unmistakable smell of fried dough distracted us from the sounds and excitement of the track and we wandered off looking for that powdered sugar covered fried dough. No fair is complete unless I have fried dough and this surely didn’t leave me anything but satisfied. After a long day in the sun and walking around we all decided that after a quick walk through the crafts tent we were ready to leave.

On our way out the crowds were starting to increase as the fair really comes alive at night when the amusement rides are running at full steam and the temperatures are cooler and more comfortable. For us the experience was over.