Valley Breeze

2 woonsocket / the valley JANUARY 22-28, 2015 | vAlleY bReeze | NoRth smithfield blAckstoNe wooNsocket editioN A memorial service gathering was held in honor of the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday at the MLK Sculpture Garden in Woonsocket. The event was coordinated by the Woonsocket Martin Luther King Community Committee. Dora Wilson, cen- ter, of Woonsocket, lays a wreath dur- ing services on the anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday on Monday. Standing with Wilson is U.S. Rep. DaviD CiCillini, left, and Woonsocket Mayor lisa BalDelli- Hunt and Woonsocket Police Chief tHomas Carey. Wilson was one of the earliest organizers of the civil rights protests in the city of Woonsocket. vAlleY bReeze Photos bY chARles lAwReNce. MLK Day memorial By marCia Green valley breeze editor mgreen@valleybreeze.com LINCOLN – More than 200 people, many of them colleagues in the cross-over media and political worlds of Jim Baron, gathered last Saturday, Jan. 17 to celebrate the life of this esteemed Rhode Island writer who died Jan. 5 at the age of 57. At the Bellows Funeral Chapel on Old River Road, friends and family members greeted his wife, journalist Denise Perreault, and swapped stories among themselves about the thoughtful man who had touched their lives. Baron, who was the award- winning Statehouse reporter for the newspaper chain that includes the Woonsocket Call and Pawtucket Times newspa- pers, was raised in Lincoln, attended Syracuse University, and had been living in Cumberland. The brief speaking period, by Lt. Gov. Daniel McKee, House of Representatives Communications Director Larry Berman and long- time Woonsocket Call reporter Russ Olivo, was hosted by Woonsocket radio personality Dave Richards. Berman, who was an editor of the Woonsocket Call before taking the Statehouse position, told the group, "Everyone will tell you the great respect and admiration they had for Jim Baron. "Even when he was criti- cal of the General Assembly, which he often was, he was on target." So great was his influence, Berman said, that when he looked around on the opening day of the General Assembly, "and Jim wasn't there it was surreal. It kind of took all the energy out of the room." "Jim did what he did because he loved it," added Berman. "He was dedicated to the citizens of Rhode Island." Olivo talked about the early days when the two were com- peting as Lincoln reporters, Olivo for the Call and Baron for the Times, before the news- papers were merged. Even as a competitor, said Olivo, "he was a hard guy not to like." Olivo said Baron managed to gracefully play the role of reporter and columnist, dual roles that few journalists do successfully. The newly-elected McKee, who graduated from Cumberland High School with Perreault, said Rhode Island "lost a voice with reason. Someone on top of his game." Journalists, politicians salute Baron's 'on target' writing WOONSOCKET – The Woonsocket Lodge of Elks will host a craft beer tasting on Saturday, Jan. 24, in the lodge hall, 380 Social St., from 1 to 5 p.m. Event co-chairmen Gary Lanctot and Ron Vilandre are inviting the public to come participate and taste the many brews that Rhode Island has to offer. Participating brewer- ies include Woonsocket's own Ravenous, Bucket Brewery, Narragansett, Foolproof, Grey Sail, Union Brewery, Revival, Brutopia, BBC and more. Tickets are $20 each, avail- able at the lodge bar or at the door. There will be food avail- able for an additional charge, along with raffles. Proceeds will benefit Elks charities. Craft beer tasting this Saturday at the Elks Lodge T A R D I F Come See The Difference 617 Elm St. Woonsocket, RI 769-6129 Come visit our expansive showroom to see our selections of fine quality Traditional, Contemporary and Country Furniture. Carpeting and Vinyl Flooring…for less. F U R N I T U R E

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