By Lani Duke
updated
Wed, Mar 7, 2012 09:17 AM
Friday Night Live getting input
The Downtown Rutland Partnership and Creative Economy are gathering
ideas for Friday Night Live's sixth season this summer. One of the
goals is developing activities that appeal to young attendees. We
all know no event pleases everyone, but FNL planners keep trying to
make it better. A final report on all the community discussions
will come out in late March.
Tentative dates for this year's FNL are June 22 and 29; July 6, 13,
20, and 27; August 3, 4 and 10.
DOWNTOWN EATERY TO REOPEN
The restaurant/coffee shop at the corner of Merchants Row and
Center Street is scheduled to re-open in late March. Don Fleck is
leasing the street level facilities in the Mead Building and
purchased the restaurant equipment formerly used by Clem & Co.
and Clem's Café at auction.
With new ownership come new names and new hours. The restaurant
will be, simply, Clem's, while the coffee shop is to be refigured
to The Coffee Exchange, a name that hung over its door some years
ago.
Fleck, the owner of DellVeneri's Bakery, plans to keep the
restaurant open until mid-afternoon, for those who would enjoy
later lunches. The coffee shop will stay open until 8 p.m., later
on nights when there are special events downtown.
Once a pastry chef at The Coffee Exchange, Fleck is now becoming
his own customer, with plans to use baked goods from
DellVeneri's. He plans to re-employ former staff members,
including chef Scott Gero.
ON-THE-JOB CHANGES
Aaron Boynton moved up the educational hierarchy, from assistant
principal to principal of Rutland Town School. He replaces Patricia
Beaumont who recently resigned.
Jeffrey Wennberg is taking over leadership of Vermonters for Health
Care Freedom, a group opposed to single-payer health care insurance
and seeking answers on how the state's plan will affect quality,
availability, and cost. Wennberg had previously been Department of
Environmental Conservation commissioner and, before that, mayor of
Rutland City.
John Conlan recently received a promotion to the
position of chief investment officer for People's United Bank in
Vermont. The Manchester-area resident is responsible for the bank's
entire investment portfolio in Vermont, overseeing Vermont's seven
portfolio managers, and a member of several of the bank's corporate
committees that determine client funds management policies and
procedures.
Peter Werner recently received Kinney Pike Insurance's
2011 Dorsey Award, given for being the commercial insurance account
executive who produced the top sales. He works in the Rutland
office.
Pamela Keefe, former senior vice president and chief financial
officer at Central Vermont Public Service, is leaving to become CFO
of the Electric Power Research Institute, an independent non-profit
that performs research, development and demonstration in the
electricity sector. Officials credit her with substantial
responsibility for CVPS's financial recovery and return to
investment grade. Her job change takes place at the end of
March.
Fred Valastro takes over the principalship at Clarendon Elementary
in mid-summer. His background includes being a principal in Argyle,
NY, and assistant principal and teacher in South Glens Falls, as
well as retail management, and telecommunications work. Current
principal Ruth Anne Barker shifts to part-time work at Clarendon,
providing administrative support in curriculum development.
CHAFFEE SEEKS JURIED MEMBERS
The Chaffee Art Center recently issued an invitation to artists
residing in and close to Vermont, asking them to submit
applications for juried membership, and 2013 Featured Exhibits.
Both Chaffee members and non-members may apply; the submission
deadline is Tuesday, March 20.
Juried membership includes invitations to exhibit artwork in summer
and winter annual member exhibits and other exhibition
opportunities through the year, sales space in the Chaffee Gift
Shop, and other perks. Call 775-0356 for more info.
The Chaffee has also announced its Art in the Park early bird
deadline. Submissions are due from 12-noon on Saturday, March 31,
through 12-noon the follow day. There is absolutely no correlation
between that deadline and April Fool's Day.
REC DEPT OFFERS BOATING SAFETY
Those planning to begin boat driving are required to take a Boating
Safety class to receive a license. Rutland City's Recreation and
Parks Department offers the course Thursdays from 6 to 8 p.m.,
March 29 through April 26, at the Godnick Adult Center.
Pre-register; class is limited to 25 participants.
Thanks to Yankee Medical
Yankee Medical Inc., a medical supply, recently donated a
wheelchair to Robert Campbell, whose wheelchair was destroyed by a
hit-and-run driver. The company gave Campbell a new Ivacare Tracer
Ex2, a newer model of the damaged chair. Thank you, Yankee Medical,
for expressing your concern. Campbell's wife, Deborah Campbell,
died in the accident.
Miller & Ketcham Funeral Home is accepting donations for the
family. Call 247-5704 to help financially. If you have information
about the accident, call Rutland City police, 773-1816.
LANI'S PICKS
Friday, March 9-The four-part tight harmony plus vocal percussion
of Rockapella returns to The Paramount Theatre. Recognize their
sound, first popularized on PBS with 'Where in the World is Carmen
Sandiego.'
Sunday, March 11-The Vermont Symphony Orchestra performs
Prokofiev's Classical Symphony, Strauss's Horn Concerto No. 1, and
Beethoven's Symphony No. 3, "Eroica," at The Paramount. Tickets for
all three of the above, 775-0903.
Tuesday, March 13-Rutland Region Chamber of Commerce annual
Business Show at the Holiday Inn. More than 85 locally-based
exhibitors displaying their products and services. 773-2747.
Tagged:
Rutland Report, Rutland
