By Lani Duke
Thanks
to Josh Butler, sales manager at Bailey Motors in West Rutland, who recently organized a chicken barbecue fundraiser for a planned World War II memorial in town. The stone memorial is to bear the names of everyone from town who served in the war.
to Merchants Hall for hosting the 2014 Rutland Walk to End Alzheimer’s Kickoff Rally.
to all the volunteers who work with the Mentor Connection, providing positive adult role models and promoting community values while encouraging the attitude of serving their community.
Rutland city rumbling
Rutland City recently created a blighted-property review committee, charged with deciding whether a property meets the criteria for blight and is therefore eligible for residential tax stabilization. Some folks around the city are questioning how truly independent this body can be–upon its creation, the aldermen selected the mayor, the city clerk, and the president of the Rutland Redevelopment Authority board to fill the committee’s three seats. According to alderman William Notte, “independent” only means independent of the alder board. Once the committee certifies a property is indeed blighted, it’s the aldermen who must give approval to stabilization of its taxes.
Historic property for sale
The Wallingford School Board is looking for buyers to purchase a building known as the Little Red Schoolhouse, 91 Homer Stone Rd., South Wallingford. There is considerable history associated with this structure, owned at one time by the Rotary District 7870 Foundation, and associated with Rotary founder Paul P. Harris. Harris long proclaimed the life lessons he learned here were what gave him the ideals on which to base and expand the Rotary organization. Its fate is now in the hands of Wallingford’s school superintendent, David Younce. Call 775-3264 to find out more.
Arts development
Loren Sylvester is offering a Rutland Youth Theatre workshop, “Developing Your Character Through Song,” Tuesdays and Thursdays, August 26-October 2. Participants learn lyrics interpretation and conveying emotion through song, character development and self realization through musical expression. Call 773-1822 for details.
Retired Castleton State College art prof Bill Ramage recently won a Vermont Arts Council grant for his pencil drawing of the downtown Rutland streetscape. Working from photos, Ramage has been drawing an 18-panel cityscape that will be 11-1/2 feet high and 43 feet long. The piece, “Rutland: Post-Piero Ideal City,” will be finished in October.
Disappointing sight
Wallingford residents are disgusted about the graffiti spray paint disfiguring the town’s recently renovated basketball courts. Vandals sprayed the court surface, hoop backboards, park entrance sign, and sides of the Recreation Department utility building. They also burned and melted the rubber coating on both picnic tables. Cost for the freshly completed renovation project came to nearly $4,000. The town has not yet replaced the hoop backboards, a project that will require an additional $1,000. The town is still concerned about a recent blue paint spill on the footbridge connecting the recreation fields to the Stone Meadow Park.
Keeping the lights on
A 7,700-panel solar array is taking shape on the former Rutland City 9.5-acre landfill, in a project that is believed to be the first U.S. construction utilizing a brownfield site for a solar storage project and the first self-contained micro-grid powered solely by solar energy.
Power generated at the Stafford Hill Solar Farm will link to Rutland High School, the city’s designated emergency shelter, assuring uninterrupted power to the shelter in powerful storms. Stored energy will also meet peak electricity demand when less sunshine is available.
Officials at GMP expect the project to be completed by year’s end.
Project cost for solar and storage components is about $10 million, much of it funded by the U.S. Department of Energy and the state’s Clean Energy Development Fund. South Burlington-based Dynapower will supply the batteries; White River Junction-based groSolar will provide the panels.
Removing the ban
Open Door Mission director Sharon Russell and West Ridge Center for Addiction Recovery have come to an agreement to deal with unruly ODM clients. Russell has the support of the center and can call it to remove those clients who cause disturbances at her facility.
Lani’s weekly picks
Sunday, August 24–Rutland County Humane Society hosts the Dog Days of Summer Pool Party at White Pool in Rutland to raise funds for Rutland County’s homeless animals. The free swim and games are for dogs only, including fastest doggy paddle and a jumping contest. 1 to 3 p.m. 483-9171.
Sunday, August 24–Evelyn’s Fund Benefit Concert in Main Street Park raises funds for Evelyn’s Fund Scholarship Program. 7 to 9 p.m.
Sunday-Monday, August 24-25—Rutland Youth Theatre auditions for October production of “Stuart Little.” Sunday, 3 to 6 p.m. and Monday, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Tuesday, August 26–E.T. won’t leave the Paramount Theatre screen until he makes his phone call home during the Solar Powered Summer Film Series. 7:30 p.m.
