Ponderosa Steakhouse remodeling to Ground Round
Tom Maniery’s new Ground Round Grill & Bar restaurant is taking applications for more than 75 employees as it transforms from the former Ponderosa Steakhouse at 559 U.S. Route 7 South to an all-new restaurant. Maniery touts a “new facility and ambiance, expanded menu, and a new and unique casual dining option” that will open in late May.
Families can congregate in the dining room, while adults watch sports in the new sports bar and lounge with HD TVs. Both rooms will offer the same menu common to Ground Round restaurants in the Midwest and Northeast. Ground Round Independent Owners’ Cooperative President Jack Crawford said the arrangement has been under discussion for “probably a couple years.” The location is between Plattsburg, N.Y., and Maine, and close to Killington.
CSJ pres. forecasts modest growth
College of St. Joseph’s sixth president, Lawrence Jensen, said he anticipates a short tenure leading the school toward a sustainable future. Jensen sees the school’s plan for the future as relying on three pillars: financial sustainability, academic excellence, and the college’s engagement at all levels. The budget plans for each fiscal year to end with a small surplus to funnel into rebuilding the school’s endowment.
Increasing the size of the student body figures into Jensen’s vision of CSJ’s destiny. He sees the student body of 210 growing to 250 in the coming year, and reaching an optimum level of 300 before long. The faculty size and classroom infrastructure need not increase, but increasing the number of students necessitates expanding student housing.
There is growing competition among small liberal arts colleges because the pool of students is not expanding vigorously. CSJ must recognize its assets that will help attract students. Among those are a renewed commitment to athletics, programs for students who have been in Vermont’s foster care program, and the Provider Program with its lowered tuition cost. The first four-year Provider Program students will graduate this spring and have contributed more than 16,000 community service hours to Rutland area nonprofits.
Sullivan asks for bail, review of release conditions
As he waits for a new sentencing hearing, former Rutland City attorney Christopher Sullivan has asked for bail review and a review of his conditions of release. The sentencing review is scheduled for June 29. Convicted of DUI With Death Resulting and leaving the scene of a fatal pedestrian accident, Sullivan received his current 4-to-10-year sentence in 2015.
After being arraigned in early May 2013, the 57-year-old was released on a $10,000 unsecured appearance bond. After his conviction, pre-sentencing bail became $500,000. On appeal, the state Supreme Court reduced bail to $50,000 awaiting late July sentencing.
Town plans town-wide community building celebration
RUTLAND TOWN—Rutland Town plans to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the town fire department’s founding and begin an annual tradition of community spirit-building July 1, Select Board Chair Josh Terenzini announced Apr. 27. A day of family-friendly activities at the Northwood Recreation Center will include fun runs, old-fashioned games, evening swimming with glow sticks, a free movie, softball, an afternoon deejay and wagon rides. The fire department’s 50th birthday party calls for safety activities and a display of the town’s fire trucks. Volunteers are welcome; call Terenzini, 802-353-7749 or email jterenzini@yahoo.com.
West Rutland rec entrance under construction
WEST RUTLAND—West Rutland Town Manager Mary Ann Goulette had anticipated the new entrance to the town recreation area south of the town center would be open for the May 1 baseball season opening.
When the new Route 4 was built, the interchange closed the former access road at the foot of Boardman Hill, forcing the public to use Fairview Avenue, a residential street. The new access road will also provide for a planned bike path by way of Boardman Hill Road. The rec area hosts a soccer program and volleyball in addition to baseball. It provides access to town forest hiking trails and will also host a dog park planned by the nonprofit group, Parks for Paws.
