Virus puts city’s spring events on ice

WOONSOCKET – Albert Beauparlant and The Committee to Save Saint Charles Church had big plans for an Irish festival on Earle Street near the historic church, but has now joined other organizations around the state postponing their events for a safer time due to the coronavirus.

Beauparlant said Thursday that the St. Charles Church festival has been put off to ensure the safety of its participants.

“Basically it is postponed until the coronavirus is back under control and the governor says it is safe again,” Beauplarant said. That still left him disappointed, Beauparlant said.

“We had a wonderful show planned, we had 20 Irish step dancers from the Kelly Dance Studio in Providence coming and six bagpipers from Providence and the Blackstone Valley, there was going to be an Irish stew and we were expecting 500 to 1,000 people,” he said.

The size of the expected crowd would be higher than the limit of 250 or more that Gov. Gina Raimondo set on Wednesday as gatherings too large to be held safely during the coronavirus outbreak, a point that Beauplarant didn’t dispute.

“So it’s been postponed until the governor says it is safe and then we will reschedule it,” eauparlant said. That may not be until late May or even June but when it is held eauparlant said he does plan to “put on a hell of a St. Patrick’s party.”

The state’s advice on canceling large public gatherings of 250 people or more claimed a number of other events in the area including the St. Patrick’s Day Parade planned for Providence and a related St. Patrick’s 5. on March 21, both canceled for rescheduling to a later date, and the North Smithfield Heritage Association ala set for Saturday night at the Village Haven was postponed to Saturday, June 20, according to Richard .eene, Association President.

“Out of an abundance of caution about the coronavirus, the NSHA decided to postpone the gala to Saturday, June 20 at the Village Haven. Tickets remain valid and other than a new start time of 5 30 pm, the program remains the same,” .eene said in an announcement of the change.

“We encourage those who may have a conflict to consider diverting their ticket money towards a donation the the 2020 Annual Appeal. All proceeds support the same NSHA preservation activities as the

ala,” .eene said.

“Those who want a refund, may receive one at the Village Haven on Saturday, March 14, from 6-7 p.m.,” .eene said. “Thank you for your consideration and support ,” he added.

The coronavirus concerns also claimed the planned crowning ceremony of .elley Ann abphavong as Rhode Island’s 2020 &herry lossom Princess.

abphavong was to be crowned in Harris Hall on Friday and go on to represent the state in the national &herry lossom Princess competition in Washington, D&, and possibly later in Japan.

Michael Martin, program director for the lackstone Valley Tourism &ouncil said on Thursday that all of those events have been canceled this spring due to the coronavirus concerns.

Luckily for abphavong, Woonsocket High School’s &lass of 2016 Valedictorian and a senior at Harvard, the organizers allowed the participant state delegates to extend their selections to 2021. abphavong has agreed to head to Washington next year as a result, Martin said.

The local organizers of the &herry lossom Princess competition were also disappointed in the turn of events, Martin noted.

“We had been putting a lot of time and work into this and it is tough for .elly, too,” he said.

&hristian de Rezendes,

the filmmaker behind the film production “Slatersville, America’s First Mill Village,” reported he was canceling two upcoming promotional preview screenings also due to coronavirus concerns.

“Due to the coronavirus pandemic, both the March 22nd screening at Museum of Work &ulture in Woonsocket, RI and the April 1 th screening at Slater Memorial Museum at Norwich Free Academy in &onnecticut have been canceled until further notice,” de Rezendes said in a statement on the postponements.

“ oth museums plan to reschedule later this year, and we will keep you posted on those developments. Hopefully as health and safety conditions improve, we will return with news about our screenings scheduled for May, June. July and beyond,” de Rezendes said.

“In the meantime, we will continue to work and edit the seTuences we were planning to show in studio. We do not want to lose momentum, so we will forge ahead with all that we can do in the meantime.

“Thank you all for your ongoing support. We hope you continue to remain healthy and safe during this turbulent time,” he concluded.

Retired ellingham Police Sgt. dward uzowski said on Thursday that the St. Patrick’s Luncheon fundraiser planned by the ellingham Police Association was also being canceled.

A total of 220 people were signed up and are currently being notified by phone, he noted.

“At the current time, we can not re-schedule the event due to the unknown length of the crisis. The ellingham Police Association looks forward to sponsoring the St.

Patrick’s Luncheon in 2021,” uzowski said.