Valley Breeze

By JESSICA BOISCLAIR Valley Breeze Staff Writer jessica@valleybreeze.com PAWTUCKET – Applause resonated through the auditori- um at William E. Tolman High School's graduation ceremony on June 12, where the Class of 2014 was lauded by all for their hard work and dedication the past four years. Following the procession of the 217 graduates, math teach- er and president of the Rhode Island Military Organization, Timothy Howe, invited four Tolman alumni on stage who enrolled in the armed forces after graduating. He introduced Lance Cpls. Sean Bergeron and Zachary Feeley of the U.S. Marine Corps, and Airmen 1st Class Christine Rego and Amanda Barlow of the R.I. Air National Guard. "Tolman High School has a long and honorable tradition of service to our country, and By ETHAN SHOREY Breeze Online News Editor ethan@valleybreeze.com PAWTUCKET – The wall that helps protect one of the most recognizable landmarks in the Northeast is being torn down and rebuilt as part of a major reconstruction project along the Blackstone River. The "mighty Blackstone" needs to be properly contained, say city officials, and the wall along the west bank of the river, bending around the Slater Mill and behind Pawtucket City Hall, will help do just that for decades to come. The wall was already in pretty tough shape when floods in the spring of 2010 landed a knockout blow, said Andrew Silvia, civil engineer for the Pawtucket Department of Public Works. A large sand bank has been protecting the base of City Hall since the 2010 floods, which caused a substantial collapse of the wall behind the city's main building. The new wall won't be sus- ceptible to floods like the old one, said Silvia, as it won't have the same issues with design and poor drainage that the old one had. With portions of stone and cement wall knocked over and others bowed way out, officials had no choice but to start the process of studying how to replace the wall, said Silvia. The base cost for the wall's restoration will be no more than $2.557 million, said Silvia, after Cardi Corp. won the early spring bidding for the job. After other fees are added in, the $2.7 mil- lion total will break down to $1.82 million from community development block grant funds and another $903,000 from the Natural Resources Conservation Service, meaning no funds will come out of the city's general fund. The wall, which is required to look as it did before it fell into disrepair, should be "sub- stantially complete" by early November, said Silvia. "Collar dams" are being used to hold back water in spots where the wall is being taken down to particularly low points, he said, Downtown river wall gets $2.6 million redo Tolman High School Class of 2014 celebrates years of hard work SILvIA VallEy BrEEzE phOtO By DaViD WuErth TOLmAN HIgH SCHOOL graduated 217 seniors during its 86th graduation ceremony on Thursday, June 12. Seniors cheer after receiving their diplomas. See TOLmAN, page 6 See WALL, page 4 valleybreeze.com ©2014 BrEEzE puBlicatiONS iNc. JUNE 18-24, 2014 Showing their Spirit Leon Mathieu Center celebrates Flag Day. PAgE 16 Serving Pawtucket Breeze THE vALLEY @ FREE Like us on Follow us on 573 Armistice Blvd., Pawtucket, RI 02861 401-728-0896 Heather's Cornerstone Café Now serving Fish & Chips and Clam Cakes & Chowder on Fridays 12-7pm SoundS of Summer BRT's Solstice Fest offers music, dance, fun. PAgE 16

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