Enjoy the Chamber-sponsored fireworks show at the Vermont State Fairgrounds on Friday, July 1. Get an early taste of fair food (the fair is only 2 months away) and watch the afternoon's demolition derby beforehand.

Friday Night Live takes a hiatus while all the action heads for the fairgrounds. Among the new volunteers in the FNL Ambassador line up are Bill Notte and Peg Andrews.

When you're on Center Street downtown, look up and to the south to see the Paramount Theater's new sign. Paramount Theater executive director Bruce Bouchard credits Joe Giancola and Awesome Graphics for its installation. Good job, all around. It should make the Paramount much easier for out-of-town visitors to spot. The next trick will be pulling more traffic off Routes 4 and 7 to downtown activities and shopping.

Rutland aldermen chipped away at the city's budget, holding the combined water and sewer rate to a 2.8 percent increase and the projected 2009 tax rate (scheduled to be set next month) to a 2.08 percent increase. The aldermen managed to trim or correct about $100,000 of spending from the total, and slashed in half a line item for a capital improvement sinking fund for the water treatment plant.

Bless their hearts, they left in place a $108,000 appropriation that is half of a city match to replace water pipes under Woodstock Avenue. There's another $100,000 needed to constitute the city's portion to be able to obtain a federal grant for pipe replacement. The aldermen and the city are still in a damned if you do and damned if you don't position. A fire on this major city artery could put enough pressure on the existing pipes to cause failure, yet residents are already financially stressed.

The projected increase in the cost of water -- in and out of each household -- has been held to a reasonable level, only $4.63 a quarter for an average 4-person household.

Other budget trims impact the police budget, roof replacement at the Rutland Free Library, and two public works budgets.

Rutland's waterlogged downtown is receiving federal help in the form of low-interest federal loans. No doubt, you are familiar with some of the mini-horror stories: basements never fill with clean water, you know. Damaged merchandise, carpeting, electrical items, drywall, supplies . . . let alone the moisture in the walls and floors that is likely to ripen into mildew left to its own devices.

The Small Business Administration admitted that we are a disaster, um, sort of. Rutland County, and Addison, Bennington, and Windsor county commercial property owners and homeowners may apply for low-interest loans (as low as 2.687 percent for homeowners, 4 percent for businesses and non-profits if they have no other credit available). SBA officials plan to be in Rutland's City hall Tuesday, July 1, through Thursday, July 3, and Monday, July 7, through Thursday, July 10, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. More info and applications are available at (800) 659-2955 or disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.

Although the Asa Bloomer building, in general, will re-open with the beginning of July, not so for Three Tomatoes restaurant. Owner Allen Frey lost not only restaurant supplies, but also office equipment, files, refrigerators, its electrical control panel, a transformer, and even sheetrock.

However, Frey's staff of 42 (amazing how many people work there, isn't it?) appear to be largely unemployment benefits-eligible. For info on unemployment, visit www.labor.vermont.gov.

Center Street Alley may yet transform into a plaza with walkways, railings, lingering businesspeople and vacationers, outdoor seating, and a great waterfall. Needed is that relatively rare green stuff -- it has weeds already, thank you -- funding to the tune of $100,000 in design and $1.5 million for the construction.

Thanks to the young people who took part in the non-profit HOPE (Healthy choice, Ownership, Pride and Excellence) operation that picked up streetside trash in northeast Rutland. Expect future similar projects from this faith-based effort. To get involved, call Rob Townshend, pastor of Calvary Bible Church, (802) 775-0358.

Don't forget to enjoy the wonderful array of outdoor music available this summer. On Saturdays, shop at the downtown farmers market and enjoy our local musicians while you purchase fresh produce, baked goods, meats, and gifts. Sunday evenings, the Rutland City Band performs from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. in Main Street Park. Wednesday, July 9, Chad Hollister - Party Rock will be in front of the microphones; for a sample, visit cdbaby.com/cd/chad2.

Other fun stuff: the Rutland Free Library book sale, Monday, July 7, and consecutive Mondays through the month, 4:00 to 8:00 p.m.; Rutland Region Chamber of Commerce mixer at the Chaffee Art Center, Tuesday, July 8, 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.; or trail running in the Summer Sunset Running Series, at Pine Hill Park/Giorgetti Athletic Complex (info at 773-1822 ext. 13).

More informative than fun: a program on Wellness and Chronic Lyme Disease at the Rutland Free Library, Monday, July 7, 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. It's a discussion of using nutrition and exercise to control the effects of this illness. Call 773-1860 for more info.

Wee folks benefit from the Babies and Toddlers Rock program at the Rutland Free Library's Fox Room, Monday, July 7, 10:00 - 10:45 a.m., a music and pre-literacy program. Slightly older youth may enjoy Tales to Tails, wherein children read to trained therapy dogs, and consequently become better readers. Participants register for 15-minute sessions on Wednesday, July 9 (and 23), 4:30 - 6:30 p.m., and Friday, July 11, 18, and 25, 2:00 - 3:00 p.m., at the Rutland Free Library. The library also shows the movie A Bug's Life in the Fox Room from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 10. For more info on these offerings at the library, call 773-1860.

Inn One Theatrics presents Aida written by Elton John at the Paramount Theatre on Thursday through Monday, July 10 - 12, at 8:00 p.m., and also matinee performances Saturday and Sunday July 12-13, at 2:00. The cast toured last week's Friday Night Live in costume and contributed three songs from their production to the mix of FNL activities.