We awoke to a beautiful morning and meandered over for 7:00 mass in the chapel at Holy Family. Fr. John Baptist said mass. Fr. Terry and the team attended and it was a nice way to begin the day.
After mass we headed over to have breakfast. We had a nice selection to eat and the coffee hit the spot.
We also were supplied lunch meat and bread to make sandwiches for later in the day. Sometime if you ever get a chance ask Bob King about sandwiches and the beach.
After a good morning meal and some reflections on the previous day, we all gathered outside and prepared our bikes and ourselves for the day’s ride.
This would be our last ride on this year’s tour. The Finale.
We would be biking to Waterbury to a Naugatuck Valley Project site called ANAMET.
The NVP has embarked on a campaign to transform ANAMET, a Waterbury brownfield, into an asset for surrounding low income communities and all of the Waterbury area. NVP is asking for federal funding for assessment, remediation and redevelopment of the 17-acre site.
The area has some environmental problems but with the proper investment and funding, the intention is to build a Community Center that will not only serve the people of the area but will beautify the site as well.
We look forward to this finale as we did last year when we finished at PHRN, the Public Housing Resident Network. We were fortunate last year to be part of that celebration where PHRN was given a $35,000 grant from CCHD.
The ride from Holy Family was not bad at all. We would hit a few hills here and there but nothing like the hills in Bethlehem and New Milford. Kind of a piece of cake ride today. This was especially true when we came to the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail. This was a 2 mile bike path with beautiful smooth pavement. Very nice.
While on Old Waterbury Road, which had a nice hill, we came upon Epiphany Roman Catholic church. I wanted to go in but the doors were locked. It would have been nice to connect with somebody there and also to use their restrooms. Come to find out that Wendy and Joan did, in fact, get into the church and were able to leave some of our information with a person at the church. Who knows, maybe we will here from them. In any case, I can mention we stopped by and try to connect with them for an upcoming visit.
At this point we were a little more than 5 miles from our point of completion.
We began looking for a place to have lunch. We came upon a cemetery and parked ourselves under some trees at the entrance. We really were not infringing on their grounds. It was a great place to stop.
Out came the sandwiches, the fruit, the cookies, the chips, the Gatorade but best of all the chocolate milk from Subway. Yummy!!!
We relaxed while consuming our lunch. As it got nearer to 1:30 we decided it was time to get back on our bikes and head over to 99 Jewelry Street, the site of ANAMET.
John Ryan led the way. We arrived in plenty of time. We were greeted by Cori Thibodeau, Executive Director, Office for Catholic Social Justice Ministry and Bishop Peter Rosazza.
After a short while the Finale began. Cori introduced Bob King who represented the BTC Team. Bob, in his eloquent way, thanked everyone and mentioned how proud we were to be part of this finale and reminded Bishop Peter how he had told us back on the send off on our initial ride to Washington DC that he could not make the hills flat, as John Ryan had requested, but that we should think of the poor with every pedal stroke as we struggled up each hill. Those in poverty struggle 24/7 with no relief. We get fed, showered, and a place to sleep with a roof over our heads.
Bob did request of Bishop Peter that perhaps he could do something about those hills in Bethlehem and New Milford.
After Bob spoke Cori introduced Steve Schrag from the Naugatuck Valley Project and Western Connecticut Central Labor Council. He was very articulate in explaining the plan for the ANAMET site. He rattled off some statistics that further emphasized the need for this planned renovation.
After Steve came Ken Curran, a representative from Congressman Chris Murphy’s Office. Ken first commented on our cycling jerseys and how good looking they were. I had to pat myself on the back for that one. He then congratulated the BTC team and what we are doing and offered Chris Murphy’s assistance in the fight against poverty. We definitely have to hook up with Chris Murphy’s office next year. Looks like we will be biking those Waterbury hills again next year.
Finally Bishop Peter said a few words about the NVP and his connection with them. He also thanked us and everyone involved in making this happen. He then awarded the representative from NVP a $30,000 check to begin the work to be done here. What a great end to a 6 day tour for poverty awareness!!!
We rode in total about 240 miles. Not quite the 50 mile per day average we mention in our presentations but close enough. There is always next year.
Keep pedaling my friends and keep PEDALing too!
Lou
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment