First Night Worcester to honor Timothy P. Murray

Lieutenant governor named first ever grand marshal

Contact:  First Night Worcester
Howard McGinn, Executive Director
PO Box 351,Worcester, MA 01614
Phone(508)799-4909    Fax(508)799-0092

Worcester,MA–December 3, 2012: First Night Worcester announced plans today to honor Lieutenant Governor Timothy P. Murray for his longstanding commitment to the Worcester community.

“Tim is a Worcester native, and his unfailing dedication to the City has left positive marks all over town. We think that deserves recognition,” said Howard McGinn, executive director of First Night Worcester.

Prior to his election as lieutenant governor, Murray served three terms as mayor of Worcester, the Commonwealth’s second largest city. Under his leadership, Worcester experienced unprecedented economic progress, including $1 billion of new economic development projects which supported Worcester’s ongoing evolution from an older industrial city to a leader in the life sciences, higher education, financial services, and other 21st century industries. Key to the revitalization of the City’s downtown core is the new CitySquare development, which will replace a failed urban mall with a new mixed-use district that will include housing, retail and varied commercial uses, all within walking distance of Worcester’s Union Station.

“We are delighted to recognize Tim’s many years of service by appointing him the first-ever grand marshal of the First Night Worcester procession,” said McGinn.  The procession kicks off at 7 p.m.on December 31 in front of Worcester City Hall. As grand marshal, Murray will lead the procession through the streets around Worcester Common, ending at City Hall Plaza where he will accept an award from First Night Worcester and address the crowd.

Murray was first elected to public office in 1997, winning a seat on the Worcester City Council. He was elected mayor of Worcester in 2001. Prior to serving in public office, he was active for many years in a wide range of community initiatives. He is past president of the board of First Night Worcester. He has also served on the boards of the Worcester Public Library, Worcester Historical Museum, Worcester Community Action Council, the Worcester Working Coalition for Latino Students, and Preservation Worcester.

“I really appreciated my time serving on the board of First Night Worcester and working with a number of great people who were collectively committed to promoting the arts and its many different forms,” said Lieutenant Governor Murray. “First Night Worcester is a hallmark celebration and tradition for people of all ages to enjoy in Central Massachusetts.”

City Hall Plaza is the central gathering place for this year’s First Night Worcester celebration, housing a heated live music tent courtesy of Creedon and Co., Inc., catered food, skating on the new Worcester Common Oval, and a variety of family-friendly activities. There will also be two fireworks displays this year: one near the Plaza immediately following the procession and a second, larger show at midnight sponsored by Polar Beverages, which will be visible for the whole city to enjoy.

First Night Worcester Buttons are on sale now. Pre-sale price is $7 ($10 at the door). Buttons can be purchased at the following locations:  City Clerk’s Office (Worcester), CVS Pharmacy, DCU Center Box Office, Mechanics Hall, Price Chopper Supermarkets, and Tower Hill Botanic Garden. For a complete list of sale locations, visit www.firstnightworcester.org.

About First NightWorcester

Founded in 1981, First Night Worcester is a private, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to providing access to the Arts. Best known for its New Year’s Eve Arts Festival, the non-profit work of First Night Worcester continues throughout the year with educational programs and community outreach initiatives. Each year, workshops in art, music and drama reach hundreds of students from the Worcester Public School System and beyond.  Partnerships with like-minded organizations such as Polar Beverages, The Hanover Theatre, Mechanics Hall, Creedon and Co., Inc., and the Worcester Art Museum enable First Night Worcester to further its mission of bringing the Arts to the residents of Central Massachusetts. Taken together, the programs of First Night Worcester create a true spirit of community by providing shared cultural experiences, accessible and affordable to all. For more information, contact Howard McGinn, executive director at (508) 799-4909.

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December 3rd 2012 by FNW
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