Think June: River Festival Is Recruiting Volunteers and Sponsors

The Groton Greenway Committee has set June 23 for its 2013 Groton River Festival, and has started recruiting volunteers and sponsors to help with this year’s festival, the 24th annual event. It is a free, all-day community festival to celebrate the Nashua River held since 1989. The Festival is hosted by the Groton Greenway Committee and volunteers. At the center of the volunteers is local environmental activist Marion Stoddart.

A press release issued by Committee spokesperson Bobbie Lamont states that, “Stoddard is a true local hero for her leadership in the cleanup of the Nashua River. In the 1970s when the Nashua River was polluted by effluent from paper making and tanning mills, Marion Stoddart had a dream for a clean Nashua River and that dream was shared by her friend, Native American Onkwe Tase. Onkwe Tase and Marion are still friends and Onkwe Tase has led drumming and dancing at the Festival since its inception more than ten years ago. He and his group are perennial favorites of Festival participants and connect us to the Nashua River’s legacy and recent history.”

Held on the bank of the Nashua River at the Petapawag Boat Launch on Nod Road, River Festival 2013 will include the famous make-your-own cardboard canoe races, recreational canoeing all day courtesy of Nashoba Paddler LLC, nature displays, children’s crafts, and music and lunch. The River Festival is ~looking for additional volunteers, this means YOU. We have many fun ways you can help in any capacity. Volunteering is a great activity for individuals, families, student organizations other anyone to participate and meet other people who care deeply about the Nashua River, Lamont wrote.

• To volunteer to help plan the event or for opportunities at the event, contact Celia Silinonte, River Festival Volunteer Coordinator by phone 978-448-0515 or e-mail [email protected]
• The Groton Greenway River Festival is also seeking sponsors to keep this event free for all. To find out more about how a business can become a River Festival sponsor, contact Russ Murray by e-mail at [email protected].
• To stay informed and updated is to like the River Festival on Facebook, at http://www.facebook.com/GrotonGreenwayRiverFestival .