Year of the River underway

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - Community groups in the Wabash Valley and around Indiana are marking 2013 as the Year of the River.

The year-long celebration, which is set to include dozens of special events and presentations, is meant to draw attention and visitors to the Wabash River. 

“(It’s meant) to bring people to the river and to engage with how it affects our community,” said Terre Haute Mayor Duke Bennett. “There are some really exciting things planned.”

Art Spaces, Inc., an artistic and environmental organization, is hosting a series of monthly discussions called “River Chatter” to focus on the role of art and the river on people’s lives.

The Sisters of Providence at St. Mary-of-the-Woods are also hosting monthly Taize prayer services to pray for water issues around the world and to give thanks for the river.

Jon Robeson of Arts Illiana says the Year of the River is meant to include a wide variety of groups and interests.

“You can have arts events; you can have environmental events; you can have opportunities for youth and different things,” Robeson said. “If everybody gets together around a central theme, we’re working together, and we think we’re adding value to the community.”

To learn more about all the events planned for the Year of the River, click here .