By Lani Duke
updated
Wed, Feb 1, 2012 07:50 AM
CITY SUPPORTS UTILITY MERGER
Rutland's aldermanic board recently gave formal approval to the
proposed merger of Central Vermont Public Service and Green
Mountain Power. In return for that support, both the Downtown
Rutland Partnership and the Rutland Economic Development Corp.
(REDC) will receive $100,000 for development projects.
The Partnership would split its share among a façade grant program,
an economic and business development strategy, and a program to
help market downtown parking. REDC's plans are less defined, but
are described as a "Green Growth" fund. Other provisions of the
agreement are to also be included in any Public Service Board order
approving the merger.
Customers are to save $144 million over 10 years. There are to be
no layoffs or forced relocations other than a few at executive
level.
The agreement also includes a promise of no layoffs or
forced relocations, except "some executive officers" and plans to
keep a certain percentage of employees headquartered in Rutland.
Other plums for Rutland include an operations center in either
Rutland City or Rutland Town, and an energy program development
center. One of these two centers is to be downtown.
Carving Studio at milestone
The Carving Studio & Sculpture Center in West Rutland
celebrates 25 years of providing sculpture workshops, residencies
and exhibitions to developing artists of all ages and proficiency
levels. This year, a matching Cultural Facilities Grant enables
putting Americans with Disability Act-accessible restrooms in the
former Vermont Marble Company Coping Shop, the third building that
the Carving Studio has purchased as it continues to thrive and
expand.
The first classes of the semester are underway. Students come for
Castleton State College and Green Mountain College to take courses.
Papier mache sculptor, a former CSSC trustee, is February's artist
in residence. Abstractionist painter Rita Fuchsberg opens a gallery
exhibit at 259 Marble Street on February 3.
The Carving studio anticipates raising much of its winter operating
costs through its annual Marble Mardi Gras Dinner and Auction,
scheduled for March 3.
Remembering Mark Blucher
Rutland Regional Planning Commission executive director Mark
Blucher died recently at age 71. His death is a loss to Rutland
County and the state and his wisdom and leadership will be greatly
missed.
Among the many community contributions he fostered were the Rutland
Farm & Food Link, the Creative Economy, Rutland Office on
Aging, and public transportation via the Marble Valley Regional
Transportation District (The Bus). He also served his community as
executive board member of the Rutland Region Workforce Investment
Board. He was also a member of Vermont Association of Planning and
Development Agencies, the National Association of Development
Organizations, and the Barbershop Society of America.
Flory's Plaza plan released
A recently released state plan proscribes what steps are necessary
to remove Flory's Plaza, on Route 4 in Center Rutland, from the
state's list of contaminated properties. The corrective plan issued
by the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources calls for removing
septic tanks, a dry well, and areas of contaminated soil, plus
closing the on-site water supply, a floor drain, and monitoring
wells. The select board may now formally request a property
clean-up.
Locals and out-of-town visitors have complained about the site's
decaying buildings and unkempt appearance for some time. Roofs have
collapsed on at least two buildings; walls have appeared ready to
collapse. The town could take steps to declaring the property a
public nuisance.
RUTLAND MUSIC TEACHER TOPS STATE
School Band & Orchestra Magazine recently named Peter Miller,
director of fine arts at Rutland Intermediate School, in its 14th
Annual 50 Directors Who Make a Difference list. Congratulations,
Mr. Miller.
Miller has been teaching in the Rutland City Public Schools for 14
years, building the largest stringed instrument and orchestra
program in the state (200 students). He also is music director for
the Lakes Region Youth Orchestra and teaches at Castleton State
College.
POLICE CORPORAL RETIRES
After 26 years in the Rutland City Police Department and 30 years
in law enforcement as a whole, Corporal Chuck Hall is retiring. His
service to Rutland has included street patrol and school corridors;
he's saved lives and counseled young people. Now he's on to
something different, planning a new career.
Road work on Routes 4 and 7 schedule for
2013
Routes 4 and 7 will receive two inches of replacement paving during
the 2013 construction season, the Vermont Agency of Transportation
plans. Also Business Route 4 will receive repaving from the Rutland
town line to Route 7, as will about 1.5 miles of Route 3.
The
project list also includes curb cut consolidation, a two-way left
turn lane on Route 7 between Strongs Avenue and Jackson Street;
lane reconfiguration, lighting and sidewalk repair from Wales
Street to Route 7 on West Street; and restriping on Route 4 between
Deer Street and Stratton Road so that there are three lanes.
The state also has $100,000 in engineering work on Center Street
Alley scheduled for 2013, plus $10,000 in right-of-way work.
City
crews aren't involved in highway work but are scheduling sidewalk
changes to meet Americans with Disabilities Act standards in the
project area. Some began last summer, with more to follow during
the coming summer. Tripping hazards will be reduced by remedying
dislocation between adjacent slabs.
RUTLAND UNEMPLOYMENT LOW
Rutland area unemployment is slightly above the state average, at
5.3 percent last month compared to Vermont's 5.1. That's close to
full employment, the state Department of Labor contends. Rutland's
rate a year ago was 6.3. State officials attribute the local
figures to ski industry and holiday seasonal work. Some local
contractors have been staying busy, still cleaning up after
tropical storm Irene.
The state average unemployment during 2011 was 5.5, falling 0.7
percent from the previous year. Rates seem really good compared to
national figures, calculated at 8.5 percent. But the figures may be
misleading, according to the Public Assets Institute, saying that
the state has fewer employed workers and fewer unemployed workers
who were actively looking for work last month. The state's labor
force altogether lost more than 1,000 individuals.
Over the last 10 years, the state has lost more than 28 percent of
its manufacturing jobs, stolen by foreign competition. In December,
the private sector as a whole gained 5,050 employment positions,
while government shrank by 750.
LANI'S PICKS
Thursday, Feb. 2, and Friday, Feb. 3 - Classical pianist Charlie
Albright leads a residency/master class at the Paramount Theatre in
downtown Rutland on Thursday before presenting a Friday evening
concert. His honors are too numerous to attempt to list. Tickets:
775-0903.
Saturday, Feb. 4 - 10th annual Winter Fest, at Giorgetti Park,
begins at 11 a.m. Learn ways to be more physically active when it's
cold outside, and try your hand or back - or whatever -- in the new
"wife carrying" contest. Also new are the curling clinic and winter
paintball. Call 773-1822.
Saturday, Feb. 4 - Satin and Steel and the On the Rocks bands
perform at the Spark Your Winter Blues silent auction and dance to
benefit Rutland Catholic Schools, held at the Holiday Inn, Rutland.
Call, 236-3485 or 747-8199.
Tuesday, Feb. 7 - Come and hope you're chosen to participate in one
of the acts as the Masters of Illusion transport the Paramount
stage into a theatre of magic. This is the best-selling magic show
to appear on Broadway and you can see it in Rutland. Call
775-0903.
CCV-Rutland celebrates opening of new academic
center
RUTLAND-On Thursday, Feb. 2, the Community College of Vermont (CCV)
will welcome Governor Peter Shumlin, the CCV Board of Trustees, and
friends and community members to a ribbon cutting ceremony starting
at 3 p.m. at the College's newest academic center at 6o West Street
in Rutland, Vt.
Speakers at a brief outdoor ceremony will include Governor Peter
Shumlin, CCV President Joyce Judy, CCV Board of Trustees Chairman
Gary Moore, Rutland Mayor Chris Louras, DEW Construction Corp.
President Don Wells, and Vermont State College Chancellor Tim
Donovan.
The eight million dollar project was built to CCV specifications by
DEW Construction Corp. and will be leased to the college. The new
building's 32,000 square feet doubles the size of CCV's former
facility on Evelyn Street. Among the features offered are: 24 large
classrooms, 4 computer labs with 100 computers, two 900 square foot
science labs for anatomy and physiology, chemistry, and
environmental science classes, two 800 square foot art rooms with a
kiln and four pottery wheels, large learning center and a main
floor student lounge with smaller gathering spaces on upper
floors.
CCV- Rutland, the second largest of 12 CCV academic centers
throughout the state, has seen a 30 percent growth in students in
the past five years. It currently offers 140 classes, serves 800
students, and employs 20 full-time staff members and 90 part-time
faculty members.
Call for vendors for the 51st Annual Art In The Park
festivals
RUTLAND- The Chaffee Art Center is pleased to announce its 51st
Annual Art in the Park Fine Art & Craft Festivals for 2012. The
August 2012 Festival has been voted a Top 10 Summer Event by the
Vermont Chamber of Commerce. The Chaffee is currently looking for
vendors for the August 11-12 and October 6-7, 2012 shows.
Last year in honor of the 50th Anniversary Celebration, refinements
were made to elevate the shows to become signature events for the
Central Vermont area. Volunteers wearing 50th anniversary t-shirts
handed out commemorative bags at the event gate to remind attendees
that they were a part of "Vermont's Oldest Continuing Arts
Tradition."
Art in the Park Festivals are held in Main Street Park, at the
Junction of Routes 4 and 7 in the heart of Rutland. Estimated
attendance of 8,000 to 10,000.
A panel of professional jurists who are well versed in the various
mediums represented will ensure a high degree of quality from the
artisans and products that are represented at the events.
Space will be allocated on a first come.Visit
www.chaffeeartcenter.org to download an application.
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