Dear Editor,
With Rutland Blooms’ biggest project to date now complete, thanks to the support of dozens of businesses, organizations and individuals, more than 200 trees have been added to the cityscape, improving it for generations. Flowering crabapples now dot streets throughout the northwest neighborhood, and majestic maples will shine bright this fall and for many falls to come along Main Street.
The trees are testament to the continually surprising level of volunteerism in Rutland, and the collaboration that seems to be part of nearly every success story in the region. Time after time, when asked to support a cause – a family in need, a local charity or the community at large – Rutlanders turn out in droves.
The tree planting, in fact, faced a big volunteer problem: So many turned out to help the first day, and worked so hard, by the second day, only a small fraction of the trees were left to be planted.
Planting 225 trees over three days – 75 trees last year and 150 this week – required extraordinary planning by City Forester Dave Schneider and GMP’s Bonnie O’Rourke. Volunteers from GE, Green Mountain Power, Neighborworks of Western Vermont, Rutland High School, Rutland Young Professionals, Stafford Technical Center, The Vermont Country Store, and a handful of individual volunteers, including Mayor Louras and Alderman Bloomer, worked hundreds of man-hours. Their efforts will make a lasting impression on residents and visitors for decades.
All of this was made possible by lead donors, including Casella Resource Solutions, General Electric, GMP, Rutland Regional Medical Center and The Vermont Country Store. Additional significant support was provided by AARP, All Earth Renewables, The Bakery, Gardentime, Carpenter and Costin, Chris and Judy Louras, Chris Keyser, Dave Wolk and Lyn Huntoon, Downtown Rutland Partnership, Foley Family of Businesses, Fucci and Associates, Engineering Services of Vermont, Enman-Kesselring Engineering, Fred and Jennifer Bagley, Fruition and Raw Honey, Godnick’s Grand Furniture, Green Mountain Marketing and Advertising, Greenscreen Graphics, groSolar, H. Hirschmann Ltd., Heritage Family Credit Union, Hop ‘n Moose Brewing Company, Hull Maynard Hersey Insurance, Joan Gamble and Chip Paison, John and Paula Valente, Magic Brush, Mary Powell and Mark Brooks, NBF Architects, Neighborworks, Omya, Pratico’s Fence and Landscaping, Project VISION, Rich Carlson, Rich and Monica Lloyd, Russell Construction Services, Rutland City Recreation Department, Rutland Redevelopment Authority, Rutland Young Professionals, Stafford Technical Center, Jane Costello, Tom Calcagni, Tom Valente, Vermont Gas, Vermont Railway, Vermont Electric Power Company, Wal-Mart, and Wilk Paving.
Watch for more Rutland Blooms projects in the months and years ahead!
Steve Costello
Steve Costello is a GMP vice president and one of the organizers of Rutland Blooms.
