Turning 50

Joint celebration held for Gaspee Days, Avedisian

Kelcy Dolan
Posted 1/22/15

Believe it or not, both Warwick’s Mayor Scott Avedisian and the Gaspee Days celebration turn 50 this year.

In honor of the mayor’s birthday, which was Jan. 16, a fundraiser was held Tuesday at …

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Turning 50

Joint celebration held for Gaspee Days, Avedisian

Posted

Believe it or not, both Warwick’s Mayor Scott Avedisian and the Gaspee Days celebration turn 50 this year.

In honor of the mayor’s birthday, which was Jan. 16, a fundraiser was held Tuesday at the Shiner’s Imperial Room in Cranston to benefit the Gaspee Days Committee, with which Avedisian has been very involved over the years.

“I had made it very clear that I wanted my birthday to benefit the community, and it was just a perfect fit that myself and Gaspee Days were both turning 50,” Avedisian said. “I was president of the committee 20 years ago and have been on the committee for 35 years. It was a natural way to make it all work together.”

“We are excited to be celebrating with Mayor Avedisian,” said Erin Flynn, president of the Gaspee Day Committee. “He has been a past president and an honorary chairperson. It is just a fun coincidence that we could celebrate him and all the work he’s done alongside Gaspee Days.”

“Scott was only 14 when he joined the committee,” said Janet Russell, chairwoman for the fundraiser. “He has been very much a part of Gaspee days. He has been a very good friend for many years.”

More than 80 friends and family members of both Avedisian and the committee were in attendance at the event, enjoying appetizers and cake. Before cutting the two cakes – one for Avedisian and the other for Gaspee Days – Cranston Mayor Allan Fung, shared a few words.

“He’s an old guy!” Fung joked of his counterpart.

Fung thanked Avedisian for all the work he has done for Warwick, and also for being a mentor when Fung first took office. He delivered two citations from the city of Cranston in the name of the Gaspee Days and Avedisian.

“We have here tonight two important institutions for both of our communities. I’m proud to be a part of tonight, and of course have a little fun at Avedisian’s expense,” Fung said. “In recognizing the Gaspee Days, we need to keep our history alive for future generations. It’s a part of Rhode Island history that has a lot of significance beyond just our state, but for our whole country.”

Avedisian then presented a gift to the Gaspee Days Committee because, he said, “no birthday party is complete without birthday gifts.”

Flynn, as well as Carol Demming and Pat Peshka, who chair the 50th Anniversary Committee, opened the gift to find a prototype of the bright blue banners that will be hung throughout Pawtuxet Village to promote the 50th anniversary celebration.

“The Gaspee Days Committee has so many wonderful people that do amazing work and incredible things for our community,” Avedisian said. “It is solely run by volunteers that are concerned enough to make sure that Gaspee Days happens every year, and it’s a wonderful thing to see communities come together to celebrate our history.”

History was a major topic of the night, as people excitedly discussed the 50th celebration of Gaspee Days.

“Gaspee Days is about Rhode Island claiming their rightful place in history as the first colonial effort that resulted in the Revolutionary War,” state Rep. Joseph McNamara said. “The Boston Tea Party gets all the fame, but in comparison to the burning of the Gaspee, the Tea Party is barely an act of vandalism. We have to work hard to gain our claim as the birthplace of the revolution for not only ourselves, but future generations.”

Besides a claim to fame, everyone agreed that Gaspee Days is a great way to celebrate the Cranston and Warwick communities, and is the result of hard work on the part of the individuals throughout both cities.

Flynn said the committee is trying to make this year special. They came out with a new logo and plan to do more advertising of the event and start promoting Gaspee Days earlier in hopes that this year can be one of the biggest celebrations yet.

“This area always amazes me. It is so family and community centered,” she said. “Gaspee Days add a uniqueness and improved quality of life for the community. That’s why fundraisers like this are so important for our organization. Most people don’t know it, but it costs over $40,000 to put on the parade every year to keep that uniqueness coming every year.”

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