Valley Breeze

2 CUMBERLAND / LINCOLN MARCH 24-30, 2016 | VALLEY BREEZE | CUMBERLAND LINCOLN EDITION A look back at the news of 20 years ago CUMBERLAND – Twenty years ago this week, 85-year-old Dave Johnson of Cumberland was pictured with a shov- el over his shoulder on the cover of the very first issue of the Valley Breeze news- paper. The spirited Johnson was stand- ing in the Berkeley space redesigned by the Cumberland-Lincoln Boys & Girls Club as an athletic complex. It was Wednesday, March 27, 1996. Two decades later, Johnson has passed on, while a young generation has grown up claiming The Valley Breeze as its hometown paper. The mission statement in that first Breeze said it all: "to facilitate a posi- tive sense of community among the residents of Cumberland and Lincoln by providing a forum for the free exchange of ideas, and to provide information on local events and neigh- bors." The statement went on to talk about the only financial support this paper has ever counted on: "It is our further mission to provide the highest quality advertising at the lowest possible cost to retailers, profes- sionals, tradespersons and other service providers in order to enhance the eco- nomic well-being of our community." We're a five-edition chain of news- papers now, but the addition of the Woonsocket-North Smithfield edition was still several years ahead of us in 1996, and our purchase of The Observer in Smithfield, renamed The Observer and Valley Breeze, wouldn't happen until 10 years ago, when we also began dis- tributing the separate North Providence Breeze. Our Pawtucket paper was launched in 2009. We'll mark this 21st year of The Breeze every week with a look back to the Cumberland-Lincoln news of 1996. Here's a sampling. Reminders of a time gone by fill the first paper, starting with notices throughout that urged readers to fax us their news. The blessing of email, of course, was several years away. We're more sensitive now to diverse family situations, but back then, Cumberland High School was planning its annual father-daughter dance, a ver- boten term these days, and scheduling it for April 4 at a place we've now for- gotten – the King's Inn on Route 116 in Lincoln. We learned that week that Cumberland's Mayor Edgar Alger III was promising a tax decrease in upcoming bills thanks to increased businesses around town, including Stop & Shop and RoJack's. Who knew that with coming change in administra- tion, Cumberland was on the brink of financial difficulties that would see the town's credit rating drop into the junk bond status? In that first issue, schools Supt. Robert Wallace announced he was resigning after four years as superin- tendent out of frustration with voters' reluctance to invest in education. Police officers signed a contract that brought them 13-percent raises over three years, but required a contribution to their health insurance for the first time. Lincoln was advertising kindergarten enrollment for those born as late as Dec. 31. The change to a Sept. 1 cutoff was still years away. Lincoln Town Council members were talking, as they would again and again, about abolishing Lincoln's Financial Town Meeting – but could summon only four citizens to a special meeting called to discuss it. Finally, not to be overlooked was the prototype that featured news of Lincoln's 125th celebration and Cumberland High School's "Putting on the Glitz" gala show. In the cover photo of that limited edi- tion were CHS actors Kristen Allenson, Jason Ereio, Pat Condon, Kimberly Allenson, Joseph Lamagna, Jeremy Boudreau, and teacher Carol Hoyle. By MARCIA GREEN Valley Breeze Editor mgreen@valleybreeze.com The very first issue of THE VALLEY BREEZE, published March 27, 1996. Learn about shade plants at garden club meeting CUMBERLAND – The Blackstone Valley Garden Club will meet on Monday, March 28, at 6:30 p.m. at the Arnold Mills Community House, 75 Hillside Road. A Master Gardener will speak on shade gardening. New mem- bers are welcome. Call Derry Ellston at 401-333-6932. CUMBERLAND – The annual Easter Egg Hunt at Calvin Presbyterian Church,126 Angell Road, will be on Saturday, March 26, at 11 a.m. All are welcome at this fun-filled family event. Call 401-333-0355 for more information. Join in Easter Egg Hunt at Calvin Presbyterian IN BRIEF LINCOLN – Get a head start on a successful garden by attending a seed starting workshop at the Lincoln Public Library, 145 Old River Road, on Wednesday, March 30, at 6 p.m. URI Master Gardener Claire Golembewski will share her tips for the best ways to start seeds. Stop by the Reference Desk to register or call 40-333-2422, ext. 17. CUMBERLAND – The Cumberland Fire Department is reorganizing its finance department and is looking for applicants with a strong tax collec- tion background and some municipal finance experience, according to Frank Matta, who heads up the elected board's personnel subcommittee. Among the qualifications for this paid position are a familiarity in working with the Rhode Island Department of Revenue and Rhode Island Pension Board, experience in general accounting and tax collection procedures and knowledge of payroll functions. Submit resume with a letter of interest to Frank Matta at FMatta@ CumberlandFire.org . Cumberland fire board seeks financial expertise Seed starting workshop at Lincoln library

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