Fashion Trashion Event Earth Day – April 22nd Granite Theatre 7pm

FUSION MAY 9

Fusion is coming back for a third time. Mark your calendars for May 9 and get ready for a night that is a feast for the senses. More than 10 models will have their bodies painted live, literally using themselves as a canvas for talented artists. Fabulous foods will be provided by Bridge, Foxwoods, 84 Tavern on Canal, Haversham Tavern, Pizza Place and many more to be announced soon. Beer and wine samples are available, live music to a terrific band and numerous special surprises are in the works to make sure this year’s event is amazing! Last year we sold out and had to turn people away. Tickets this year are $40 until April 30 and then $50 after that. Buy yours in advance so you don’t miss out.

Plastic Eggs Needed We are trying to Go Green at the Chamber and would love for our friends to donate any plastic Easter Eggs for the Annual Easter Egg hunt held in Wilcox Park. This annual event is tons of fun for the children! Please bring your refillable plastic Easter Eggs to the Chamber (1 Chamber Way) by Wednesday, March 12th. Please share this post so that we can collect as many eggs as possible! Thank you. For more information please call 401-596-7761.

INSIDE - New Members

- Member News

- Business After Hours

-40 Brightest Stars

Chamber News & Views March 2014 www.westerlychamber.org info@westerlychamber.org 401.596.7761

You’ve heard of Project Runway no doubt. Well this is Westerly’s version of Project FUN-WAY! The Chamber of Commerce is producing a fun, funky fashion show of 40 FABULOUS FROCKS made out of 100% trash or recycled materials! Local businesses are

Vote for Watch Hill! Coastal Living named Watch Hill as one of "America's Happiest Seaside Towns". The 10 winning towns will

using items they normally discard to create incredible, outrageous and darn right ingenious designs. Artists and even a few residents with creative flair are also submitting entries. Some will be beautiful, some shocking, and some will make you laugh. Enjoy designs by Katie Lombard of Copolla’s, Brigitte Hopkins of the Westerly Library, Maria Allen of Bella Vita Salon, Susan Adam of Gira!, Jenn Brinton of Grey

Sail Brewing, Faye Parenteau of Grace Magazine, Stephanie Shawn of Westerly Airport Association, Christina Pimental of Christina’s, Tina Pugliese of TLC Boutique, Tiffany Luzzi of ServPro, and many other talented ladies. The fashion show will truly knock your socks off! It starts at 7:00 pm and tickets are $20. Proceeds will be split between The Chamber and The Granite Theatre, as we are attempting to help them raise funds towards their needed building repairs. Limited seating available for this incredible event, so do not wait. IT WILL SELL OUT! Tickets on sale at The Chamber, Bella Vita and with Jeanne Abate at Westerly Community Credit Union.

be named in the March 2014 issue of Coastal Living (page 57) on newsstands February 14. Voting to name the country's #1 town will take place Feb 15-March 31 and you can vote hourly for your favorite. Results will appear in Coastal Living July/August issue. Help us garner tremendous free publicity for our community by putting Watch Hill on the TOP of the nation's tourism radar screen. Please vote often at www.coastalliving.com/happytowns2014 and share this post on your Facebook page. Come on Westerly-- we can do this!! http://www.coastalliving.com/

Vote for Watch Hill America’s Happiest Seaside Town

The Education Exchange 33 North Road C-1, Peace Dale, RI 02879 (401) 783-0293 Contact: Mary Patton EdExRI.org Since 1948, EdEx has helped more than 20,000 adults increase their educational levels, earn high school equivalency, improve job skills and improve access to workplace opportunities. We are proud to provide adult learners in Southern Rhode Island the opportunity to acquire the skills and competencies they need to succeed. The Education Exchange is the largest provider of literacy and the only GED testing site in Washington County. Additionally we offer a wide variety of adult education, computer training, and work readiness programs. We continue to develop and enhance our programs to meet the ever-changing needs of our adult learners and local businesses in Southern Rhode Island, offering training in Westerly, South Kingstown and North Kingstown.

JRV Woodworks Contractors - Renovations, Remodeling 22 River Rd. Pawcatuck, CT 06379 860-389-7797 jrvwoodworks.com Contact: John Vickerman Quality, service, craftsmanship, and integrity including kitchens, baths, libraries, built-ins and garden structures. Practicing an eco-friendly approach to offer you rooms and pieces you will be proud to live in and share. Residential custom cabinetry including kitchens, baths, closets, garden trellis', arbors, gates, fences and raised beds, yacht interiors, moldings and crowns, designed, manufactured and installed. Complete kitchen upgrades including tile work, electric, countertops and lighting as well as design services.

Stonington Human Services 166 South Broad St., Pawcatuck, CT 06379 (860) 535-5015 Contact: Leanne Theodore Stonington-ct.gov The Town of Stonington is fortunate to have a Human Services department that helps residents in so many ways! The mission of the department is to enhance the quality of life for Stonington residents from all age groups and all economic backgrounds by advocating for their basic needs and promoting self-sufficiency. From summer camp to energy assistance, four divisions (Recreation, Social Services, Youth & Family and Senior Services) exist within Stonington Human Services as a means of providing services to residents that are both relevant to their needs and beneficial in purpose. The divisions are interdependent in order to effectively utilize departmental resources to provide program excellence (whether after school, summer or large-scale community event) and offer advocacy, information and referral. How can we help you? Call (860) 535-5015 to set up an intake appointment or sign up for one of our many programs! “Like” us on Facebook to stay in the loop with current events and happenings.

WesterlyWeddings.com 62 Long Pond Rd., Ledyard, CT (860) 861-2520 Contact: Pamela Bartlett The original and ultimate wedding planning website for Westerly, Rhode Island. WesterlyWeddings.com offers the most comprehensive, up-to-date, and easy to use wedding planning website for brides and grooms-to-be planning a wedding in the picturesque coastal town of Westerly.

PHIL’S Main Street Grille 323 Main Street Wakefield, RI (401) 783-4073 Contact: Ken Tetzner philsmainstreetgrille.com We are located in the heart of Wakefield Village, where you can be sure your food is freshly prepared. Our regular customers have sworn by our varied selection of appetizers, salads, entrees, sandwiches and specialty offerings. From the VEGAN dishes to the prime rib of beef served with a huge popover, every dish is a healthy portion and prepared to perfection. The Fish N’ Chips are the best in Southern Rhody and along with our entire menu items are available for dine-in or to go.

Reforest The Tropics, Inc. 286 Cottrell St., Mystic, CT 06355 (860) 572-8199 Contact: Herster Barres reforestthetropics.org Our mission is to make a tangible contribution to global sustainability through education and applied research on carbon-offset farm forests in the tropics. Reforest the Tropics (RTT) aims to offset US-generated carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by planting new tropical forests. With donations from US sponsors, we work with participating farmers to reforest tropical pastures, sequester carbon, and reduce atmospheric greenhouse gases. RTT presently balances the CO2 emissions of over 70 participants with more than 338 acres of carbon-offset forests on 8 farms in Costa Rica. We manage forests for individuals and organizations including for the Superior Nut Company, Connecticut College, Home Depot, Mohegan Sun Casino, Curtis Packaging Company, and many more.

NEW MEMBERS

Wood River Health Services was honored at the State House recently in both the Senate and the House for achieving national recognition as a Patient Centered Medical Home by the National Committee for Quality Assurance.

Nurse Care Manager Michelle Schavoir and Blue Cross Blue Shield Health Educator Jeff

Rodrigues present donation from WRHS staff to WARM Executive Director Russell Partridge.

Recently, the staff at Wood River Health Services collected more than 300 packages of new socks and underwear, along with hats, mittens and gloves. The items were delivered to the WARM Center in Westerly Wed., Feb. 12, during a lunchtime blood pressure screening clinic held for WARM residents by the health center and Blue Cross Blue Shield of RI.

Citizen of the Year Nominations Sought

Know someone terrific who excels in business, has volunteered in the community and has helped improve the quality of life for Westerly? Nominate them for the Chamber’s prestigious Citizen of the Year Award. Nominations are in this month’s newsletter. A committee will review the confidential nominations and an honoree will be selected. We will laud their contributions at the annual dinner on June 10.

MEMBER NEWS

Business After Hours at

Bruce Ardente from

Ardente Supply Co./Waterspot Rich Stockman from Ginger’s Oil won an

adjustable hand shower head.

Richard Rossi from Rossi Music and Barbara Plummer from South County Life Magazine

The Bricault’s Pat from the Family Team at Coldwell Banker and Gil from

Succeswatchers.com

Thank you to Bruce Ardente and his staff for a successful event. For more photos go to our facebook page

Congrats to the 40 Brightest Stars Congratulations to the 40 people who were honored as part of Southern Rhode Island’s 40 Brightest Stars. Some of the local folks who received this award are pictured below:

Back row: Beth Eckel, Donna Simmons, Megan Moynihan, Ray Quinlan and Nick Stahl

Front row: Derek Lombard, Barbara Cardiff, Lydia Teixeira, Jeanne Abate and George McAuliffe