By Lani Duke
posted
Aug 1, 2012
SAVING ENERGY, CUTTING EXPENSES
Rutland Regional Medical Center is half way to its energy use
reduction goal, already saving enough to supply 40 'typical' homes
each using 11,000 kilowatt-hours a year. After the first year of
the Efficiency Vermont's Energy Leadership Challenge, the hospital
has trimmed its electrical use by some 440,000 kwh.
The campaign has already saved the hospital more than $250,000 a
year, a savings that goes into improving the quality of care. To
make that savings, the hospital replaced lighting fixtures, and
switched heating and air conditioning controls; it also put in
control sensors in the main kitchen's exhaust hood.
RRMC is not the only business that has accepted the Challenge;
68 other businesses and institutions are attempting to trim 7.5
percent from their energy budgets during a two-year period. Ten of
those participants exceeded their entire target, trimming close to
15 percent already. Together, those ten saved $7.6 million after
spending $1.2 million for improvements.
Local organizations enrolled in the Challenge include Castleton
State College, Carris Reels, GE Aviation, Green Mountain College,
Killington and Pico Ski Resort and Rutland Plywood.
WORKFORCE INVESTMENT BOARD
Lucia Boatman has become the new chair of the Rutland Region
Workforce Investment Board's Adult Workforce Council.
During the upcoming year, RRWIB is concentrating on the area of
health care, looking at already existing shortages in primary care,
with the knowledge that these shortages cannot be addressed locally
but local educators can encourage young people who are interested
in sciences to consider the health care industry. RRWIB has offered
to develop a "teacher in-service training" on labor market trends,
fast growing occupations, and other information that would help
grow the local work force.
Direct contact with young people includes a Learn to Earn Day at
Rutland High School, planned for June 5, to cover the six career
tracks of Health Careers, Engineering and Technology, Energy
Generation and Sustainability, Business /Accounting/Finance, Public
Service/Safety, and Hospitality /Tourism. Later next year, RRWIB
plans a larger Sophomore Summit at Castleton State College in
October; it will feature 17 career tracks.
FED UP AND STRIKING BACK
Operation Fed Up, a recent series of raids, has resulted in more
than 20 individuals being entered into custody, and removed 16
firearms and large quantities of crack cocaine and heroin were
pulled from Rutland bars and neighborhoods. Involved agencies
included the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and
Explosives in Vermont, the Vermont Department of Liquor Control,
federal Drug Enforcement Agency, the U.S. Marshals Service,
Immigration and Customs Enforcement, State Police, Rutland Police
and the Rutland County Sheriff's Department.
Investigations are continuing, to be unannounced and
sporadic.
POLICE CHIEF SEARCH CONTINUES
Although interim Rutland police chief James Baker's decision to
apply for the open permanent chief position pleased the members of
the search committee, they decided to continue their nationwide
search. They planned to bring in the top four out-of-state
candidates for interviews as well as accepting Baker's application.
The out-of-town candidates were scheduled to arrive in Vermont
Monday, July 30, for two interviews and a tour of the area.
VETS CLINIC OPEN, BUILDING CLIENTELE
The Veterans Administration's new Rutland Community Based
Outpatient Clinic formally 'cut its ribbon' recently and is looking
to attract more veterans to use its services. Currently, the West
Street clinic serves some 1,200 veterans, but can provide for far
more, working now in a facility twice the size of the space it
formerly occupied on Stratton Road.
Patients may receive evaluations and therapy, as well as virtual
services such as learning how to use equipment for specific
conditions. Surgery will continue to be provided at the VA facility
in White River Junction.
MORE WATER PURIFYING OPTIONS
Rutland City has more water purifying alternatives than chloramine
disinfectant, a choice that city officials have recommended after
reviewing a number of possibilities, a prominent consultant told a
recent community forum. The city has been forced to consider other
possibilities than the chlorine it has used for many years after
the Environmental Protection Agency reduced acceptable byproduct
levels,
The EPA is extremely unlikely to fine Rutland if levels are too
high; it has not levied a fine to any community in the 50 states,
only to the Virgin Islands and Guam, protectorates without
Congressional representation.
Chloramine is unacceptable because its byproducts are one
thousand times as toxic as chlorine byproducts. He recommended
considering using activated carbon filters instead. The city's
aldermen will discuss the water treatment issue Monday, August
6.
LANI'S PICKS
Thursday, Aug. 2 - Local band The Space Monkey performs classic
rock on West Rutland's Town Hall Green at 7 p.m. No admission fee
but please bring non-perishable food items for the West Rutland
Food Shelf. 438-2263.
Fri.- Sat., Aug. 3-4 - Two-time Obie winner and Broadway veteran
Martin Moran presents his one-man show All the Rage at the
Paramount Theatre. 775-0903
Fri.- Sat., Aug. 3-4 - Friday Night Live and the city's annual
sidewalk sales/food festival enliven the weekend. Friday Night
entertainment begins with dance by Cobra Dance Studio, followed by
the Stafford All-Stars and the Bobby Dick Show. More than 100
vendors present a variety of foods, apparel, jewelry, books, toys
and games, fine art and antiques both days.
Call 747-7900.
Mon.-Tues., Aug. 6-7 - The Marble Valley Players will hold
open auditions for their Fall 2012 production of Baby, the Musical
at 6 p.m. in the West Rutland Town Hall Conference Room.
Wednesday, Aug. 8 - Satin & Steel performs in Rutland's Main
Street Park.
Tagged:
News Briefs, rutland
