By Lani Duke
posted
Sep 5, 2012
WEST RUTLAND HONORS MARBLE WORKERS
The Town of West Rutland and the West Rutland Historical Society
plan to dedicate a stone block bearing the names of local marble
workers while the Carving Studio and Sculpture Center hosts an
opening reception for its annual SculpFest at 5 p.m. Saturday,
Septe. 8, at the Carving Studio. The stone's dedication and
SculpFest also coincide with the Carving Studio's 25th anniversary
celebration.
The "Heritage Wall" is a work in progress, as more names
continue to be added to its roster in the future. It was one of the
projects conceived by the Dimensions of Marble campaign a few years
back; a similar commemorative stone is also in the Vermont Marble
Museum in Proctor.
GENEROUS HEARTS
Nearly 100 individuals gathered on a recent Saturday to raise
funds for efforts to help prevent child abuse. The local contingent
was taking part in a "Walk to End Child Abuse," following a
three-mile course from the Howe Center through Rutland.
LEAKY CAPITOL DOME LINKED TO RUTLAND
Congress recently observed that the dome that links the House to
the Senate is leaking and noted that a thorough rehab would be
expensive, perhaps as much as $61 million. Few noted, however, the
history that ties Rutland to the story of the dome, completed
during the Civil War with much credit going to Vermont Senator
Solomon Foot, chair of the Buildings and Grounds Committee. Foot
joined President Abraham Lincoln in viewing the dome's completion
as a symbol of the reuniting of the country that would come after
the war concluded. Foot's political skill was often called into
play to keep the work going on the project, completed December 2,
1863, when the last part of the Statue of Freedom was set and
secured in place.
CLINIC DELAY COSTLY
Delays in opening a planned methadone clinic may cost the city of
Rutland its federal funding for the project. Over the next two
years, the feds could kick in 90 cents for every dollar spent on
the clinic in Rutland and on opiate treatment centers in
Burlington. No one seems sure of how much money Vermont may lose if
the clinic does not open on time.
Initial projects called for a start-up date of October 1, but
that projection appears unrealistic even though the date is nearly
a month away. The site the clinic will occupy, Building 10 at the
Howe Center, is vacant, but finding it took a big bite out of the
allowable time built into the project's Medicaid funding.
WEST RUTLAND UPGRADING TOWN HALL
A new cooling system and wiring will make the West Rutland town
hall auditorium more usable through the hot weather season,
courtesy of the Friends of the Town Hall. Smalley Contractors
expects to complete the project, installing the new AC units over
the stage before November.
Thanks to the good folks who donated more than $144,000 to
enable the project.
Construction in historic structures often turns up interesting
bits of history. This project is no exception. Among the finds are
old musical scores, school production booklets, and other ephemera
that were delivered to the town historical society.
LANI'S PICKS
Saturday, Sept. 9 - Participants in the Walk to End Alzheimers
meet at Main Street Park in Rutland at 9 a.m., and start walking at
10. Call 316-3839.
Tuesday, Sept. 11 - Stafford Technical Center, 8 Stratton Rd.,
hosts the Rutland Region Chamber of Commerce's September mixer,
beginning at 5 p.m. It's a great opportunity to sample work by
students in Stafford's culinary arts program. Call 773-2747.
Thursday, Sept. 13 - Holder of five Grammy Awards, two CMA awards,
and two Academy of Country Music awards, singer Mary Chapin
Carpenter performs at the Paramount Theatre, 30 Center St., at
8 p.m. Call 775-0903.
Tagged:
News Briefs, Rutland Region
