Five Things: First Day Of School!

First day of school: Lunches made, backpacks packed – this is the day when children all over town return to the classroom. If you have a good shot or two from the day, I invite you to add it to our Back to School blog here.

50 years ago today: On August 28, 1963, a quarter of a million black and white people – more than twice as many as had been expected – marched to the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. in a show of unity, racial harmony and support for the civil rights bill. Bob Dylan, Joan Baez and other folk singers entertained the crowd before John Lewis of SNCC and others made speeches. Civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. gave one of his best known speeches, inspiring the assembled crowd with the words, "I have a dream." Happy anniversary, America.

Langevin & Venture for America at NEIT: U.S. Rep. Jim Langevin (D-R.I.) continues his Classroom to Career jobs and skills training tour at a roundtable discussion with Venture for America professionals at New England Tech. Much like Teach for America, Venture for America engages enterprising college graduates and gives them hands-on work experience. Those graduates are placed in start-up and early-stage companies across the country and spend two years helping to grow those businesses while learning entrepreneurship skills. In    Room N103 (Media Presentation Room) at 6:30 p.m.

On Thursday …

Treasurer Raimondo's Smart Money Tour: State Treasurer (and potential gubernatorial candidate) Gina Raimondo will be at Swift Community Center from 10:45 to 11:45 Thursday morning.

On Friday …

Summer’s End! The U.S. Navy Band is back for a second year of great music, but that’s only part of it – there will be a variety of musical offerings at the concert at Eldredge Field Friday evening, with music beginning at 5 p.m. One word to the wise this year: NO ONE IS ALLOWED ON THE FIELD UNTIL 3:30 P.M.! Here’s the lineup: 5pm: Official Kick Off; 5:15-5:30pm: Children's Parade led by local circus troupers; 5:30pm The Lost Arts; 6pm The Three Amigos; 6:30pm: Harold Ambler; 7:00pm: The Hurricanes; 7:15pm: US NAVY BAND NORTHEAST'S POPS ENSEMBLE sound check; 7:30pm:  Colour of London; 7:55pm: Presentation of the Varnum Continentals Color Guard and recognition of US Veterans; 8pm National Anthem and US NAVY BAND NORTHEAST'S POPS ENSEMBLE.

And ...