Mardi GrasJeffery Broussard


Slippery SneakersSaturday, February 6, 2010

 

BANDS: Featuring

Jeffery Broussard & The Creole Cowboys 
  and Slippery Sneakers

TICKETS: $25 in advance, $30 at door.  Call Lorraine Cloutier at (401) 762-9072

PLACE: CYO Center

TIME: Doors open at 6 pm, Buffet served from 6:30 - 8 pm

BUFFET CATERED BY: Gary McLaughlin

EMCEE: WNRI's Jeff Gamache


King Jace contest sponsored by Dave Richards of WOON Radio

This year's Mardi Gras is dedicated to

Paul "Jack" Lawhead

who died on December 21 following a long battle with cancer.

Lawhead was a founding member of the Opera House Society which was established in 1972 with the intention of restoring the Woonsocket Opera House to its former days of glory. After a suspicious blaze destroyed the historic landmark in 1975, the group focused on ways to up-grade the community by means of the arts for the benefit of the common good by re-organizing itself as the Northern Rhode Island Council of the Arts {NRICA). One of its major contributions was the establishment of the Beacon Charter School. The NRICA sponsors the French Farmers Market held each fall as well as the annual Mardi Gras celebration which takes place every winter in Woonsocket. Lawhead taught English and Theater Arts for many years as a member of the faculty of Woonsocket High School.

Our friend and colleague will be missed.

King Jace XVI

Clues to King Jace XVI’s Identity

More clues to come!

1. The king of more than his castle.
2. Loves the Red Sox and spaghetti with red sauce.
3. Wears a different costume to work.
4. King Jace is a Leo.
5. His favorite color is blue.
6. Cleaned up on the south shore.
7. Will hash it out with anyone, but hates it.
8. Never was a snow bird.
9. Used to whistle at passersby.
10. King Jace will protect you.

And King Jace XVI is:
Woonsocket's Chief of Police, Thomas S. Carey



 

WOON Radio

Emcee Jeff Gamache
Mardi Gras Emcee
Jeff Gamache



MENU (Buffet served 6:30-8 pm)

(menu subject to change)

Catering by Gary McLaughlin


French Onion Soup
Hot Red Bliss Potato Salad
Red Beans and Rice with Spicy Sausage
New Orleans Style Pork
Steamed Crawfish

Creole Chicken
Chicken Gumbo
Cajun Style Catfish
French Bread
Tossed Salad
Hot Bourbon St. Pudding

Coffee


Mardi Gras Children's Celebration


Saturday, February 6, 2010, 2-4 pm
The Museum of Work and Culture, 42 South Main Street, Woonsocket, RI
Food provided by Gary McLaughlin


Free admission (limited to the first 60 children), free refreshments
And a free film will be shown!

Sponsored by Catholic Family Life Insurance, Chapter Martel No. 2


Our Sponsors

 

Gold Sponsors ($1000+)


Wal*Mart
WalMart Store #2225, 1919 Diamond Hill Road, Woonsocket
      

Rhode Island State Counciil on the Arts



Green Sponsor ($250+)

Soucy Insurance Agency

J.J. Caillier at the NRICA Mardi Gras
Fun at last year's Mardi Gras!
J.J. Caillier leads a conga line (2009)




Friends of Mardi Gras (up to $250)


Diane and Romeo Berthiaume

Blackstone Valley Tourism
Blackstone Valley Tourism
, 175 Main Street, Pawtucket 

Catholic Family Life Insurance
Catholic Family Life Insurance, Woonsocket Regional Office

Club Lafayette

 

Senator Marc A. Cote

Coventry Credit Union, Operations Center, 2006 Nooseneck Hill Road, Coventry

Raymond Gaboury

 

Kiwanis Club of Woonsocket

Best Wishes, Gary McLaughlin

Roxanne Menard

Milford Federal Savings and Loan
Milford Federal Savings & Loan Association
, 246 Main Street, Milford, MA

RSVP (Retired and Senior Volunteer Program), 84 Social Street, Woonsocket

Ye Olde English Fish and Chips, Market Square, Woonsocket


Previous Kings & Queens

1954 •
Pauline (Nadeau) Miller


1955 •
Maureen (Mazzarella) Kennedy
1956 •
Beverly (DiCesare) Russell
1957 •
Pauline (Gagnon) Riendeau
1958 •
Rita (Laliberte) Nadeau
1959 •
Claire (Paul) Lafrance
1988 •
Michelle (Lefort) Wheeler
Owen Bebeau
•1995 •
Gloria Jean Roy
Roger Nault
• 1996 •
Paula Rezendes
Al Auclair
• 1997 •
Roxanne Menard
Leo Fontaine
• 1998 •
Dianna Glassey
Roger Jalette
• 1999 •
Donna Gallant
Ken Bianchi
• 2000 •
Nancy (Melvin) Beauregard
Noel Pincince
• 2001 •
Suzanne Beaulieu
Dave Richards
• 2002 •
Lorraine Jacob
Roger Petit
• 2003 •
Stacey (McCutcheon) Fitzsimmons
Roger Bouchard
• 2004 •
Roberta Baillargeon
Tom Ward
• 2005 •
Joyce Laperle
Brian Blais
• 2006 •
Lorraine Guilbault
Marcel Desroches
• 2007 •
Nancy Phillips
Ray Gaboury
• 2008 •
Monique Noel
Steve Moreau
• 2009 •
Irene Blais
Thomas S. Carey
• 2010 •
 

 



2010
Mardi Gras
Committee

 

Connie Anderson
Sue Beaulieu
Sue Bernier
*Romeo Berthiaume
Irene Blais
Roger Bonin
Sharon Charette
Lorraine Cloutier
Jeannette Cousineau
Marlene Gagnon
Joan R. Gahan
Wil Godin
Monique Jean
Jack Lawhead
Clara L’Heureux
Bill Marrah
Ray Nolan
Ray Rivet
Patrick Ryan
Brenda Viscione-Ryan



*Committee Chair



A SHORT HISTORY OF MARDI GRAS


Many of the traditions of Mardi Gras have their roots in a Roman festival called the Saturnalia which celebrated the end of winter and the coming of spring. Over time, and with the spread of Christianity, the festival became a final binge of feasting Mardi Grasand self-indulgence before the sacrifice of Lent. In 17th century Paris, the celebration came to be known as Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday – a way for Christians to fatten up before the long Lenten season.

French settlers brought their traditions to Louisiana in 1766. By 1857, New Orleans began to develop its own traditions of masked balls, organized parades, and “throws” (favors such as beads, doubloons, and cups thrown from parade floats). In 1872, the King of Mardi Gras selected the celebration’s official colors of purple, green, and gold. The colors’ meanings were defined as justice (purple), faith (green), and power (gold) in 1892.

In 1954, the Mardi Gras tradition was started in Woonsocket by the Junior Chamber of Commerce. The four days of festivities earned the celebration the title of “Mardi Gras of the North.” The Jaycees’ involvement in Mardi Gras gave our king his name – King Jace.

Since 1995, the NRICA and the Mardi Gras Committee, with the invaluable help of our sponsors, have worked hard to bring the authentic feel and the fun of a traditional Mardi Gras celebration to Woonsocket.