Newburyport resident Geordie Vining named first recipient
Provident Bank President Charlie Cullen with Award Recipient Gordie Vinning and WNBP's Winn Damon
Newburyport resident and Senior Project Manager in the City of Newburyport’s Office of Planning and Development, Geordie Vining, has been named the first recipient of the “Local Legends Award.” Presented by The Provident Bank and The Legends AM 1450 WNBP, the Local Legends Award recognizes an individual each month who goes above and beyond to make a difference in the community and in the lives of others.
“We are so fortunate to live in communities where giving back is a high priority for many people,” says Charlie Cullen, president and CEO of The Provident Bank. “We also realize there are many citizens doing amazing work for the betterment of our community and for others whose efforts go under the radar of the broader public. This award is designed to show our appreciation for their accomplishments.”
“Local Legends Award recipients give their time and resources unselfishly to help others and make our communities better places,” adds WNBP Managing Partner Carl Strube. “Because these individuals do not seek out or expect attention is all the more reason to formally recognize them and give them some of the credit they deserve. We are pleased to present the first award to Geordie Vining.”
“I love Newburyport – its size and scale, its living history, its people, its downtown, its waterfront, its public spaces and parks,” says Mr. Vining. “I have lived, worked and traveled in many different parts of the U.S. and other countries and always appreciate coming home to Newburyport. I particularly enjoy working on tangible, unique, visible improvements to the community that my family and I live in. I feel very fortunate in my life, and the opportunity to make this corner of the world a better place for everyone.”
Among the many projects Geordie Vining has managed on behalf of the City of Newburyport are:
- Clipper City Rail Trail – A nearly 10-year project connecting the MBTA Rail Station to the Merrimack River with a paved and landscaped 1.1-mile pedestrian pathway.
- Harborwalk Extension – Multi-year effort to extend public access to the waterfront.
- Moseley Woods Renovation – A family friendly park with ample parking and play structures in Newburyport’s North End.
- City Hall Renovation – Restoration of one of the city’s most significant buildings.
- Brown Square Renovation – Transformation of a historic park to a pleasant oasis with benches and brick pathways.
- Boardwalk Renovation & Extension – “Ways to the River” walkways linking downtown to the Merrimack River as well as the extension of the Peter J. Matthews Boardwalk at the central waterfront.
- Somerby’s Landing Sculpture Park – Free public sculpture park on the Boardwalk with annually changing exhibits.
- Bartlett Mall Renovation – Re-establishment of High Street promenade and pedestrian pathway around the Frog Pond.
- Open Land Acquisition – More than 260 acres preserved as open space, including in the Common Pasture, rail corridor property and other property adjacent to Maudslay State Park.
- Other Projects – He is active in the Waterfront Strategic Plan; High Street renovation, dredging of the Fish Pier Embayment; Plum Island restroom facilities; and more.
“Geordie’s love for Newburyport is evident in everything he does which makes him the ideal recipient for the Local Legends award,” added Mr. Cullen. “On behalf of The Provident Bank and WNBP, we thank Geordie for his dedication to making Newburyport one of the most beautiful, welcoming and walkable cities in all of New England.”
The Provident Bank/WNBP Local Legends Award recipients will be selected from Newburyport, Amesbury and seacoast New Hampshire communities and announced monthly on The Legends AM 1450 WNBP; recipients will also receive a commemorative award and will be interviewed on the radio station. Suggestions for future recipients are welcome and may be emailed to: legends@theprovidentbank.com.
The Provident Bank is a mutually owned, independent community bank established in 1828 and based in Amesbury, Massachusetts, with full-service locations in Amesbury and Newburyport, Massachusetts, and Exeter, Portsmouth, Seabrook and Hampton, New Hampshire. The Provident Bank is dedicated to the delivery of quality financial products to its customers, providing the highest level of convenience, personal service and value. Service to the community and the professional development of employees are vital to The Provident Bank’s success.
All deposits are insured in full through a combination of insurance provided by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the Depositors Insurance Fund (DIF). For more information, please visit TheProvidentBank.com.
“The Legends” AM 1450 WNBP has been serving the Greater Newburyport area since 1957. Playing Legendary Songs by Legendary Singers, the station is locally owned and operated by Port Broadcasting, LLC. The station began broadcasting from its new downtown Newburyport studios in March 2009. Port Broadcasting managing partners’ primary order of business is to bring WNBP back to its home: Greater Newburyport and the Seacoast Region. For more information, please visit wnbp.com.
