Mardi Gras 2015
21st Annual!
Saturday, February 7th
5:00 pm - 11:00 pm
(Doors open at 5 pm, Dinner served from 6-8 pm, Cash Bar)
St. Ann Arts & Cultural Center
84 Cumberland Street,Woonsocket, RI
Live music by
Jeff Gamache and Runaway Train
(Country)
and
Slippery
Sneakers
(Zydeco, Blues & Soul, Cajun Waltzes)
Emceed by Jeff Gamache
FULL CAJUN BUFFET CATERED BY
RUSSELL MORIN CATERING
MENU
Mixed Greens Melange with Dressing Buffet
Asiago Bread with Whipped Butter
Whipped Idaho Potatoes
Meat Pies
Seafood Jambalaya
Mini Muffaletta
Beef Burgundy Buffet
Creole Green Beans
Spiced Cake with Frosting
Oven-Roasted Cajun Potatoes
Coffee (Regular And De-Caf)
The Hall ... awaiting Mardi Gras revelers
King Jace contest
sponsored by Dave Richards of WOON
Radio
Clues to King Jace XXI's Identity
1. Likes it Hot!
2. Has always been very active.
3. His favorite color is RED.
4. Once worked as a newspaper delivery boy.
5. Grew up in the suburbs.
6. Loves a good story.
7. Tuna fish and veggies are his favorite fruits. Fruit, too!
8. Also worked in the galleys.
9. Loves an ocean view.
10. Has a good day—everyday!
King Jace XXI Around Town!
At Barry Field
At City Hall
At CVS
At Woonsocket Harris Public Library
At Landmark Medical Center
At Market Square
At the War Memorial
At The Call
At Walnut Hill Plaza
And King Jace XXI is.....
Woonsocket Fire Chief Paul Shatraw
Surrounded by
Princess Michelle Collette Graham, Queen Tracey Parenteau, and Princess Holley Antaya
A fire chief fit to be King by Joseph B. Nadeau
(Woonsocket Call, 2/8/15)
MARDI GRAS QUEEN'S CORONATION
Was held on Sunday, February 1, 2015 at 1 pm
at Our Lady, Queen of Martyrs Hall
Park Square, Woonsocket, RI
Our Queen Contestants are now selling
raffle tickets
to benefit this year's Mardi Gras Raffle
This year's contestants:
2015 Mardi Gras Queen
TRACEY PARENTEAU resides in Woonsocket and is employed as an Executive Assistant to the CEO at Dassault Systemes SIMULIA in Johnston. She has been actively involved in the community supporting the Stadium Theatre Performing Arts Centre, R. I. Food Bank, United Way, Vietnam Veteran’s Moving Wall and other great non-profit organizations. Tracey enjoys reading, entertaining, event planning and working in her garden. She was first princess in Mardi Gras 2004 meeting many new friends and supporters along the way and strongly believes in helping local non-profit organizations by giving back and giving more of yourself to those who need your experience, time and energy and help promote arts and education in our community. She has been married for 15 years to Jeffrey Parenteau. You can visit Tracey’s website at www.traceyparenteau.com.
2015 Mardi Gras Princess
MICHELLE COLLETTE GRAHAM resides in Pawtucket and is presently employed at Landmark Medical Center as a RN in labor and delivery, medical surgical and mental health. She also is medical discharge planner for Community Care Alliance. She is presently studying to become a Family Nurse Practitioner. A graduate of R. I. College in 1991 with a BS in general management and Johnson & Wales University in 1993 with MBA in international business. She returned to R.I. College in 2012 earning BS in nursing. Prior to becoming a nurse, she was a mortgage consultant for 20 plus years. She loves cooking and traveling. She would like to become Mardi Gras Queen because Woonsocket is rich in culture, traditions and history and Mardi Gras is a celebration which incorporates all three of these aspects in our community. Recently married to Attorney David Graham in June, 2014, their blended family includes Tracy, Molly and Myles. She is the daughter of Paul and Jeannette Collette of North Providence and Prudence Island.
2015 Mardi Gras Princess
HOLLEY ANTAYA resides in Cumberland and is employed at DCHN in Woonsocket. She is an active member of St. Josephs Veterans Association, PARL, and Special Olympics of R.I. Holley enjoys volunteering for charitable causes and has special interest in animal rescue. She has played Santa for several events and took the "penguin plunge" for Special Olympics. Her hobbies include motorcycling, painting, sky diving and considers herself a do it yourself person. She would like to be Queen of the Mardi Gras to be an ambassador to the arts through friends and family. Supporting the arts is close to her heart since she is an artist herself and has friends who also have artistic inclinations.
Mardi Gras Queen 2015 Tracey Parenteau
Princesses Michelle Collette Graham and Holley Antaya
after their coronation.
AMANDA GIRARD is a resident of Woonsocket and theatre is one of her favorite interests. She has appeared in the Encore Repertory Company's presentation of A Christmas Carol which was her fifth play with Encore and finds time to spend at The Alive Program. Amanda enjoys arts and crafts, reading and spending time with family, friends and her pet dogs. She believes NRICA is a wonderful organization and wants to see Arts and Culture continue in the City of Woonsocket. She is the daughter of Sana Roderigues.
JENNIFER GROVER is a resident of North Smithfield and employed at Woonsocket Harris Library. She enjoys knitting and has run The Woonsocket Harris Library Knitting Circle@ Woonsocket Library for the past 6 years; also, Keeping Woonsocket Warm: A Community Service Project@Beacon Charter High School for the Arts for 3 years. Her special interests and hobbies include reading, hiking knitting and crocheting. She has become a contestant for Mardi Gras Queen because she believes in supporting the arts since it is an important component of the community to incorporate and strive to keep this into your everyday life. She loves spending time with her children; Kanisha Renee, 22, Tiahna Gabrielle, 18, and Indira Celeste, 7. She is the fiancée of Zachary Mann and sister to Andrew Bennett and wife Leanne who reside in Burrillville.
Previous Kings & Queens
(click on links to see Mardi Gras page from that year)
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
• 2008 •
• 2009 •
• 2010 •
• 2011 •
• 2012 •
• 2013 •
Bob Phillips
• 2014 •
Sheylon Lawson
Paul Shatraw
• 2015 •
Tracey Parenteau
Previous Queens in Attendance at Mardi Gras 2015:
(left to right) Irene Blais 2009, Lorraine Jacob 2002, Suzanne Beaulieu 2001, Jackie Boudreau 2012, Nancy (Melvin) Beauregard 2000, Nancy Phillips 2007
Costumes!
Our Sponsors
(click on logo or link to visit our sponsors' websites)
281 Harris Avenue,
Woonsocket, RI
362 Rathbun Street, Woonsocket, RI
American-French Genealogical Society
Romeo & Diane Berthiaume
Uxbridge, MA
Blackstone Valley Center For Internal Medicine, Inc.
Greigstone Yearwood, M. D.
191 Social Street, Woonsocket
175 Main Street, Pawtucket, RI
John Boucher Real Estate Property Management, Inc.
600 Cass Avenue, Woonsocket, RI
68 Cumberland Street, Suite 202, Woonsocket, RI, (401) 765-8880
Cercle Laurier
165 East School Street, Woonsocket, RI
10 Nate Whipple Highway, Cumberland, RI
1098 Diamond Hill Rd. Woonsocket, RI 02895
phone: (401) 769-0462, toll free: (877) 237-6993, fax: (401) 767-3806
P. O. Box 1, Manville, RI
Italian Workingmen's Club, 947 Diamond Hill Road, Woonsocket, RI 02895, 401-762-9842
Manville Sportsmen's Rod and Gun Club
250 High Street, Manville, RI
2139 Mendon Road, Cumberland, RI, (401) 305-5555
Milford Federal Savings & Loan
246 Main Street, Milford, MA
Navigant Credit Union
2364 Diamond Hill Road, Cumberland, RI 02864, 401-333-3304
830 Cumberland Hill Road, Woonsocket, RI 02895, 401-769-8128
Woonsocket, RI
Gifts and Gift Certificates
With local stores in East Greenwich, Cranston, Newport, and Providence
Athena's Home Novelties
Jackie Boudreau (Mardi Gras Queen 2012)
North Smithfield, RI
The Broaster House
263 Pond Street, Woonsocket, RI, (401) 762-1717
with locations in Rhode Island (South Kingstown, West Warwick),
Massachusetts (Braintree, Hyannis, South Attleboro, Swansea)
Sharon Charette
North Smithfield, RI
2360 Mendon Road, Cumberland, RI 02864-3708, (401) 658-2626
Diana's Leather & Lace Boutique
98 Canal Street, Blackstone, MA
175 Eddie Dowling Highway, North Smithfield, RI
2378 Mendon Road, Cumberland, RI
Excel Beauty Salon (Sue Beaulieu, Mardi Gras Queen 2001)
800 Providence Street, Woonsocket, RI
970 Douglas Pike Smithfield, RI 02917, (401) 231-1100
Fleming's Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar
One West Exchange Street, Providence, RI
401-533-9000
Marlene Gagnon
Cumberland, RI
Joan Gahan
Woonsocket, RI
Clara Holding
"Life's Little Extras"
641 Blackstone Street, Uxbridge, MA
Image Makers Beauty Salon
37 Main Street, Albion, RI
Muriel Lahousse
Douglas, MA
Michelle Marandola – Designs by Mich
Woonsocket, RI
4077 Mendon Road, Cumberland, RI, (401) 658-0449
Museum of Work and Culture
42 South Main Street, Woonsocket, RI 02895, (401) 769-WORK (9675)
Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Church
1409 Park Avenue, Woonsocket, RI
1500 Diamond Hill Road, Woonsocket, RI
1204 Pound Hill Road, North Smithfield, RI 02896
401-766-2122
11 Dorrance Street, Providence, RI 02903, Call For Reservations: 800-294-7709
Carolyn Smith
Cumberland, RI
Stadium Theatre
28 Monument Square, Woonsocket, RI
Sue Tessier MacKenzie,
Seasonal Sweets
289 Summer Street, Woonsocket, RI
Therese Tessier
Woonsocket, RI
Woonsocket Historical Society
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
and 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.
St. Ann Arts & Cultural Center
84 Cumberland Street,Woonsocket, RI
Live music by
Jeff Gamache and Runaway Train
(Country)
and
Slippery
Sneakers
(Zydeco, Blues & Soul, Cajun Waltzes)
Emceed by Jeff Gamache
FULL CAJUN BUFFET CATERED BY
RUSSELL MORIN CATERING
MENU
Mixed Greens Melange with Dressing Buffet
Asiago Bread with Whipped Butter
Whipped Idaho Potatoes
Meat Pies
Seafood Jambalaya
Mini Muffaletta
Beef Burgundy Buffet
Creole Green Beans
Spiced Cake with Frosting
Oven-Roasted Cajun Potatoes
Coffee (Regular And De-Caf)
The Hall ... awaiting Mardi Gras revelers
King Jace contest
sponsored by Dave Richards of WOON
Radio
Clues to King Jace XXI's Identity
|
|
King Jace XXI Around Town! |
|
At Barry Field |
At City Hall |
At CVS |
At Woonsocket Harris Public Library |
At Landmark Medical Center |
At Market Square |
At the War Memorial |
At The Call |
At Walnut Hill Plaza |
|
And King Jace XXI is.....
|
|
MARDI GRAS QUEEN'S CORONATION
Was held on Sunday, February 1, 2015 at 1 pm
at Our Lady, Queen of Martyrs Hall
Park Square, Woonsocket, RI
Our Queen Contestants are now selling
raffle tickets
to benefit this year's Mardi Gras Raffle
This year's contestants: |
|
2015 Mardi Gras Queen
TRACEY PARENTEAU resides in Woonsocket and is employed as an Executive Assistant to the CEO at Dassault Systemes SIMULIA in Johnston. She has been actively involved in the community supporting the Stadium Theatre Performing Arts Centre, R. I. Food Bank, United Way, Vietnam Veteran’s Moving Wall and other great non-profit organizations. Tracey enjoys reading, entertaining, event planning and working in her garden. She was first princess in Mardi Gras 2004 meeting many new friends and supporters along the way and strongly believes in helping local non-profit organizations by giving back and giving more of yourself to those who need your experience, time and energy and help promote arts and education in our community. She has been married for 15 years to Jeffrey Parenteau. You can visit Tracey’s website at www.traceyparenteau.com. |
|
|
2015 Mardi Gras Princess
MICHELLE COLLETTE GRAHAM resides in Pawtucket and is presently employed at Landmark Medical Center as a RN in labor and delivery, medical surgical and mental health. She also is medical discharge planner for Community Care Alliance. She is presently studying to become a Family Nurse Practitioner. A graduate of R. I. College in 1991 with a BS in general management and Johnson & Wales University in 1993 with MBA in international business. She returned to R.I. College in 2012 earning BS in nursing. Prior to becoming a nurse, she was a mortgage consultant for 20 plus years. She loves cooking and traveling. She would like to become Mardi Gras Queen because Woonsocket is rich in culture, traditions and history and Mardi Gras is a celebration which incorporates all three of these aspects in our community. Recently married to Attorney David Graham in June, 2014, their blended family includes Tracy, Molly and Myles. She is the daughter of Paul and Jeannette Collette of North Providence and Prudence Island. |
2015 Mardi Gras Princess
HOLLEY ANTAYA resides in Cumberland and is employed at DCHN in Woonsocket. She is an active member of St. Josephs Veterans Association, PARL, and Special Olympics of R.I. Holley enjoys volunteering for charitable causes and has special interest in animal rescue. She has played Santa for several events and took the "penguin plunge" for Special Olympics. Her hobbies include motorcycling, painting, sky diving and considers herself a do it yourself person. She would like to be Queen of the Mardi Gras to be an ambassador to the arts through friends and family. Supporting the arts is close to her heart since she is an artist herself and has friends who also have artistic inclinations. |
|
|
|
Mardi Gras Queen 2015 Tracey Parenteau Princesses Michelle Collette Graham and Holley Antaya after their coronation. |
|
|
|
AMANDA GIRARD is a resident of Woonsocket and theatre is one of her favorite interests. She has appeared in the Encore Repertory Company's presentation of A Christmas Carol which was her fifth play with Encore and finds time to spend at The Alive Program. Amanda enjoys arts and crafts, reading and spending time with family, friends and her pet dogs. She believes NRICA is a wonderful organization and wants to see Arts and Culture continue in the City of Woonsocket. She is the daughter of Sana Roderigues. |
|
|
|
JENNIFER GROVER is a resident of North Smithfield and employed at Woonsocket Harris Library. She enjoys knitting and has run The Woonsocket Harris Library Knitting Circle@ Woonsocket Library for the past 6 years; also, Keeping Woonsocket Warm: A Community Service Project@Beacon Charter High School for the Arts for 3 years. Her special interests and hobbies include reading, hiking knitting and crocheting. She has become a contestant for Mardi Gras Queen because she believes in supporting the arts since it is an important component of the community to incorporate and strive to keep this into your everyday life. She loves spending time with her children; Kanisha Renee, 22, Tiahna Gabrielle, 18, and Indira Celeste, 7. She is the fiancée of Zachary Mann and sister to Andrew Bennett and wife Leanne who reside in Burrillville. |
|
|
|
Previous Kings & Queens
(click on links to see Mardi Gras page from that year)
|
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 |
• 2008 • |
||
• 2009 • |
||
• 2010 • |
||
• 2011 • |
||
• 2012 • |
||
• 2013 • |
||
| Bob Phillips | • 2014 • | Sheylon Lawson |
| Paul Shatraw | • 2015 • | Tracey Parenteau |
Previous Queens in Attendance at Mardi Gras 2015: (left to right) Irene Blais 2009, Lorraine Jacob 2002, Suzanne Beaulieu 2001, Jackie Boudreau 2012, Nancy (Melvin) Beauregard 2000, Nancy Phillips 2007 |
||
Costumes! |
||
|
|
|
Our Sponsors
(click on logo or link to visit our sponsors' websites)
281 Harris Avenue,
Woonsocket, RI
362 Rathbun Street, Woonsocket, RI
American-French Genealogical Society
Romeo & Diane Berthiaume
Uxbridge, MA
Blackstone Valley Center For Internal Medicine, Inc.
Greigstone Yearwood, M. D.
191 Social Street, Woonsocket
175 Main Street, Pawtucket, RI
John Boucher Real Estate Property Management, Inc.
600 Cass Avenue, Woonsocket, RI
68 Cumberland Street, Suite 202, Woonsocket, RI, (401) 765-8880
Cercle Laurier
165 East School Street, Woonsocket, RI
10 Nate Whipple Highway, Cumberland, RI
1098 Diamond Hill Rd. Woonsocket, RI 02895
phone: (401) 769-0462, toll free: (877) 237-6993, fax: (401) 767-3806
P. O. Box 1, Manville, RI
Italian Workingmen's Club, 947 Diamond Hill Road, Woonsocket, RI 02895, 401-762-9842
Manville Sportsmen's Rod and Gun Club
250 High Street, Manville, RI
2139 Mendon Road, Cumberland, RI, (401) 305-5555
Milford Federal Savings & Loan
246 Main Street, Milford, MA
Navigant Credit Union
2364 Diamond Hill Road, Cumberland, RI 02864, 401-333-3304
830 Cumberland Hill Road, Woonsocket, RI 02895, 401-769-8128
Woonsocket, RI
Gifts and Gift Certificates
With local stores in East Greenwich, Cranston, Newport, and Providence
Athena's Home Novelties
Jackie Boudreau (Mardi Gras Queen 2012)
North Smithfield, RI
The Broaster House
263 Pond Street, Woonsocket, RI, (401) 762-1717
with locations in Rhode Island (South Kingstown, West Warwick),
Massachusetts (Braintree, Hyannis, South Attleboro, Swansea)
Sharon Charette
North Smithfield, RI
2360 Mendon Road, Cumberland, RI 02864-3708, (401) 658-2626
Diana's Leather & Lace Boutique
98 Canal Street, Blackstone, MA
175 Eddie Dowling Highway, North Smithfield, RI
2378 Mendon Road, Cumberland, RI
Excel Beauty Salon (Sue Beaulieu, Mardi Gras Queen 2001)
800 Providence Street, Woonsocket, RI
970 Douglas Pike Smithfield, RI 02917, (401) 231-1100
Fleming's Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar
401-533-9000
Marlene Gagnon
Cumberland, RI
Joan Gahan
Woonsocket, RI
Clara Holding
"Life's Little Extras"
641 Blackstone Street, Uxbridge, MA
Image Makers Beauty Salon
37 Main Street, Albion, RI
Muriel Lahousse
Douglas, MA
Michelle Marandola – Designs by Mich
Woonsocket, RI
4077 Mendon Road, Cumberland, RI, (401) 658-0449
Museum of Work and Culture
42 South Main Street, Woonsocket, RI 02895, (401) 769-WORK (9675)
Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Church
1409 Park Avenue, Woonsocket, RI
1500 Diamond Hill Road, Woonsocket, RI
1204 Pound Hill Road, North Smithfield, RI 02896
401-766-2122
11 Dorrance Street, Providence, RI 02903, Call For Reservations: 800-294-7709
Carolyn Smith
Cumberland, RI
Stadium Theatre
28 Monument Square, Woonsocket, RI
Sue Tessier MacKenzie, Seasonal Sweets
289 Summer Street, Woonsocket, RI
Therese Tessier
Woonsocket, RI
Woonsocket Historical Society
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
and 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.