The Chamber VoiceJune 2015
Bennington Area Chamber of Commerce100 Veterans Memorial Ave.
Bennington, VT 05201P: 800-229-0252 | F: 802-447-1163
www.Bennington.com
Executi ve BoardChad Schmidt President
Ed Woods 1st Vice PresidentStuart Hurd 2nd Vice PresidentTom Dailey Treasurer
Brenda Jones Past PresidentJoann Erenhouse ExecutiveDirector
Marie Shutt s OperationsDirectorLindy Lynch ExOfficio
Art Whitman ExOfficio
Board of Directors Mike Baker
Mike BarriereSueCongdonDavidEvans
JohnDrzewieckiLynnFrost
DimitriGarderMicheleHoganLindyLynch
Mike McKenna ShannonMcLenithan
MaryMorrisseyTR Paquin
JohnReddingTraceySchwarzPattySurdam
PJVentiPat WarnerArtWhitman
Ad Hoc MembersMichaelHarringtonJohnShanahan
Staff BarbaraBlutoCarolCameronGaryDormanKathyGallett
MaddieHadden
Welcome Center Staff PJDeVito
MelissaHunterPaulKennedyLeslieKnappLowreLaCroixFrankNolin
TommiOutwaterJohnReed
JosephRussellNancySmith
RobertaStange
MemberoftheMonthWCWCarpetWarehouse
IWCWCarpetWarehousehasbeeninbusinessfor35years.SteveBellemaretookoverasthemanag-erlastyear.StevehasworkedinflooringandintheBenningtonAreaforalmost30years.Ifthenamesoundsfamiliar,heranBellemareFlooringandWindowTreatmentsforhisfatheranduncleforthe14yearsbeforeitclosed.YoumightsayStevegrewupinthehomedécorbusiness.
JasonCampbellhasbeenasalesassociatewithWCWforthepast10years.ThisincludesthispastyearwithSteveandtheyarestilltalkingandjokingwitheachother.
Betweenthemyouhavealotofyearsofflooringexperience!
WCWhasalargeinventoryofcarpet,vinyl,andrugs.Theyserviceresidential,commercial,andin-dustrialapplications.Theycarryallthemajorbrands.Whenaskedaboutnewtrendsinflooringtheybothanswered“vinylplank”.Why?Becauseitiswaterproof,durable,andcanbeinstalledaboveorbelowgrade.
WCWCarpetWarehouseservicesnotonlyBenningtonbutalsoacrosstheNewYorkborder,DeerfieldValley,theBerkshires,andtheManchesterarea.Theyhavequitealotofsecondhomeownerclients.Checkouttheproductsandlearnfromthepros.
WCWCarpetwarehouseislocatedat211RiverStreetinBennington.Theyareopen8-5Monday–Fridayand9–2onSaturdays.Call802-447-1166forFreeIn-Homeestimates.
GarlicFest
211RiverStreet|Bennington,Vermont05201|802-447-1166–OurProudPartners–
Relay For LifeJune 20, 2015
Mount Anthony Union High School Track
Join us to celebrate survivors, remember those we have lost and fi nd a cure for cancer!
Opening ceremonies starting at 6 p.m. This year we will have laser tag, a dunking booth and so much more. Come join in the fun for a great cause. You don’t need to be on a team to participate, but it’s not too late to form a team if interested.
The 20th Annual Southern Vermont Garlic and
HerbFestivalisonlythreemonthsaway.SoIamaskingyoutothinkabout
anitem,coupon,etc.thatperhapsyouwouldliketoinsertintoourVendor
Bagsthisyear.
Thisisaveryspecialyear,markingthe20thAnniversaryoftheFestival
andwewouldliketohaveourmemberspromotethemselvesandtheir
businessesbyinsertinga“goodie”intotheVendorBags.Someideascould
beadiscountcoupon,afreesmallgiftatyourplaceofbusiness,afree
dessert,etc.Lastyearwehadjustover180vendorsandhopetohave
thesamenumberthisyear.Sobethinkingaboutideasandletmeknow
ifthereissomethingthatyouwouldliketohaveinsertedintotheVendor
Bagsthisyear.Iwillcontinuetoputoutremindersbutthesooneryoude-
cide,youcanjustletmeknow.Whatafreewaytoadvertiseasweknow
thevendorsdoventureoffsitetoeat,shop,sleep,etc.Whynotgivethem
anincentivetocometoyourbusiness,whateverthatmaybe.
Oldcastle Theatre331 Main Street, BenningtonJune 5th through June 21st
Time Stands Still
“Time Stands Still” - focuses on Sarah and James, a photojournalist and foreign correspondent trying to fi nd happiness in a world that seems to have gone crazy . Theirs is a partnership based on telling the toughest stories, and together, making a diff erence. But when their own story takes a sudden turn, the adventurous couple confronts the prospect of a more conventional life. Sarah is loosely based on Lynsey Addario, prize winning photographer who covered the Afghanistan and Iraq wars for the New York Times and others. Her book, “It’s What I Do” has been a major bestseller. Pulitzer Prize winner Donald Margulies has written a powerfully contempo-rary , searing story of an heroic female journalist wounded covering the war in Iraq. Can you be a dispassionate, uninvolved observer of horrifi c events, recording them for posterity and still keep a sense of right and wrong? That is just one of the intriguing questions in this smart, timely, stylish and compelling play.
For more information, call The Box Offi ce at (802)-447-0564
HappeningDollhouse and Toy MuseumFairy Houses at the Dollhouse and Toy Museum Thefairiesoflegendgenerallyhidfromrealpeopleandcouldbemischievousandmalevolent.ThefairiesnowattheDollhouseandToyMuseumofVermontareneither.Instead,theyaretinywingedpixieslikeTinkerbellwhoareanxioustoshowofftheirhomesinthenewcollectionoffairyhousesnowonexhibitthere. ThefairyhousesareimaginativeandenchantingcreationsthatwerecarvedmainlyfromgourdsbyHelenGreene,whoisretiringthisyearafterhavingbeenanartteacheratBenningtonElementarySchoolandMonumentElementarySchoolsince1998.Photographsofthemwillformthecoreofachildren’sbookaboutfairiesandfairyhousesthatshehopestopublish,alongwithpoemsaboutfairiesbyherhusband,MitchGreene,anddrawingsoffairiesbyAdrianSweeney,whohasbeenteachingartattheVillageSchoolinNorthBenningtonsince1992.Thepermanentcol-lectionofthedollhousemuseumincludesmanylargeandfully-furnisheddollhouses,frommodestCapeCodstoelaborateVictorianhomes;alargecollectionofMadamAlexanderdolls;anexcitingcollectionofpuppetsandmarionettes,oneofwhichhasarabbitmagicianpullingamanoutofahat;andsuchtoysforboysasvintagetrains,planes,circuswagonsandErectorsets. Themuseumislocatedat212UnionStreet(atthecornerofValen-tineStreet),andisopenSaturdaysandSundaysfrom1to4p.m.Admis-sionis$2forchildrenthreeandolder,$4foradults,and$10forfamilies.Formoreinformation,pleasevisitthemuseum’swebsiteatdollhouseand-toymuseumofvermont.comorcall802681-3767.AdmissionforChamberMembersisFree.
Kimalie WassickKimalie WassickisjoiningtheranksoflocalauthorswiththeintroductionofherBasil&Pruneseriesforchildren.Hertalentasanartisthasbeengreatlyadmiredandnowshehasturnedherhandtocraftingengagingandlovelypicturebooksfortheyoungersetofchildrenuptoabout5yearsofage.ShewillhaveherworkshowcasedattheSouthernVermontGarlicandHerbFestivalonSeptember5thand6th.Makesureyoustopbyearlyandgetcopiesforyourfavoritelittleones.
The Clark Art InstituteThe Clark Art InstitutehasappointedChristopherP.HeuertoserveastheassociatedirectorofitsResearchandAcademicProgram(RAP).HeuerwilljointheClark’sstaffonJuly1.Heuer,anotedEuropeanandbaroqueartscholar,wasanassistantprofessorintheDepartmentofArtandArchae-ologyatPrincetonUniversityfrom2007–2014andiscurrentlytheSamuelH.KressSeniorFellowattheCenterforAdvancedStudyintheVisualArtsattheNationalGalleryofArt,Washington,D.C.HeisawidelyrecognizedspecialistinearlymodernEuropeanartandarchitecture,withanempha-sisonpainting,architecture,andprintcultureinnorthernEurope. AlsoattheClark:theJamesMcNeilWhistlerclassic:Whistler’sMotherdisplayopensonJuly4thalongwith23otherworksbytheartist.VanGoghandNatureopensonJune14th.Checkwww.clarkart.edu/eventsformoredetails.
June23,2015theChamberMixerwillbeheldattheBenningtonMuseumfrom5:30–7:00p.m.Thisissuretobeanenjoyableevening!RSVPtoMarieat447-3311.
LodgingandAttractionsectorswillwanttocontactreceptivetouroper-atorstoupdatethemonanynewandinterestingexperiencesyouareofferingtothetravelingpublic.ChrisDonnellyatSugarTours:[email protected]:gwendy48@comcast.netandwww.notch-abovetours.comLindaEdemanatCustomTours:lindacustomtours@comcast.netandwww.customtoursinc.comThesereceptivetouroperatorsworkwithinternationaltouroperatorsandhelpstructuretheiritinerarieshereinNewEngland.
Director’sMessageSouthern Vermont College (SVC)ispleasedtoannouncethatitsBaccalaureateNursingprogramhasrecentlybeenawardedaccreditationbytheCommissiononCollegiateNursingEducation(CCNE).SVCPresidentDavidEvansmadetheannouncementwithastatementtotheCollegecommunitypraisingtheprogramandSVCnursingleaders--DivisionChairMaryBotter,Ph.D.,andthefacultyandstaff,whodevelopedthenewBSNpro-gramandshepherdedtheaccreditationprocess.“ThisDivisioniscommittedtoexcellenceinnursingandhasworkeddiligentlytomeetthestandardsofarigorousnursingandhealthcareprogram,”Evanssaid. “WeareproudofthenewBachelorofScienceinNursingdegreeprogram,”Botterstated.“TheCCNEaccreditationaffirmsthequalityofourcurriculum,facultyandtheCollege.Ourstudentsbenefitfromastrongacademiccurriculumbasedontheartandscienceofnursingaswellasoutstandingclinicallearningopportunitiesinlocalandregionalhealthcareorganizations.” TheCCNEgrantedtheaccreditationatitsApril2015meetingwiththedeterminationthatSVCfullymettheStandardsforAccreditationofBaccalau-reatePrograms.TheaccreditationisretroactivetothedateofthesitevisitinOctober2014,andex-tendstoJune30,2020,themaximumtimeperiodgrantedtonewprograms.
CONGRATULATIONS toallofourcollegeandhighschoolgraduates.WeareveryfortunatetohaveBenningtonCollege,SouthernVermontCollege,CCV,NortheasternBaptistCollege,WilliamsCollege,andMCLAamongourChamberMembers.Theseinstitutionsofhigherlearningenrichthecultural,intellectual,economicandsocialfabricofourcommunity.Iapplaudallofthemforcontinu-ingtoexpandinnovativeprogramsandprovidingtheirstudentsandthepublicopportunitiestolearnandvaluemoreofthisworld.
Senator Richard Searsannouncedsomegoodnewslastweek.HewasabletoinsertthebudgetitemtofundTheShiresRegionalMarketingOrganizationthroughthe2016FiscalYear.ThisisaboutthebestnewsIhaveheardinawhile.NotexpectingittheRMOisverygratefulandwilldevelopour2016GrantWorkPlantoonceagaingetthewordouttomarketsbeyondVermontthatthisistheplacetocome.WhetherforbusinessorpleasureVermontwelcomesvisitorstoourmanyattractions,schools,downtowns,inns,restaurants,galleries,recreation-alfacilities,shopsandevents.
ThereissomuchgoodnewsIoftenthinkeveryoneknowsaboutit.Justincaseyoudon’t:1.Bennington’sMtAnthonyHighSchoolhasthehighestpercentageofseniorsparticipatinginthedualenrollmentprogram.Thatmeanstheyaretak-ingcollegecoursesalongwiththeirregularclasses.
2.OurSouthernVermontMedicalCenterhasre-ceivedanumberofhighmarksandrecognitionasaBestPlacetoWorkandHighPatientSatisfactionallwhileexpandingtheirdiagnosticcapabilityandtreatmentequipmentupgradeswiththeirassocia-tionwithDartmouthHitchcock.
3.TheBenningtonMuseumhasbeenrecognizedbytheNewYorkTimesasaTopMuseuminthecountry.
4.TheCVNHPunveiledanimportantinterpretivepanelbytheHenryBridgelastweek.Thankstoourprojectpointperson,JonahSpivak,therearegrantopportunitiesavailableforprojectsthattieinwiththepreservationthemesoftheChamplainValley.TheShiresRegionalMarketingOrganizationandTheShiresBywayVolunteersallworktohelpourareashowcaseourmanynaturalandhistoricresources.Jonahdoesagreatjoborganizingandrepresentingusattheseimportantconferences.
5.TheARTSExposioninAprilbroughtmanyofourculturalpartnerstogether.ItwasnobigsurprisewhenwediscoveredthattheBenningtonAreahadbeenselectedasoneoftheTop20small/mediumsizedcommunitiesintheentirecountryforCulturalVitality.
6.TheShake,RattleandDrumNativeAmericanPowWowiscomingtoBenningtonafterseveralyearsintheBerkshires.ThisisanimportanteventthatwillrecognizeandhonorourVeteransandourNativeAmericans.ThelocationonthegroundsoftheVermontVeteransHomemakesitallthemorefitting.TherewillbeactivitiesandprogramsleadinguptotheAugust8thand9thevent.
7.TheBenningtonCommunityTheaterisgainingmomentuminitsquesttoprovidetheopportu-nityforourcitizensinterestedintheatertogetinvolved.Acting,scenery,technical,andmarketingaspectsareallavailabletothoseinterested.Any-
onecancheckthewebsiteandsignuptohelpwiththefirstproductionscheduledforOctober:Arsenic&OldLace.
8.TheJuly31,August1&2SouthernVermontArts&CraftsShowhasanumberoflocalvenueshelpingtocreateafestiveweekend.TheHomeBrewFestivalonAugust1stwillfeatureagreatmanycompetitorswithCountyStreetClosedforthedaywhileweallenjoythenewtastingfacilitiesatCatamountGlassandotheradjacentbusiness-es.TheluckywinnerwillhavetheirbrewmadeatMadison’sBrewingCo.,Pub&Restaurant.
9.ThePownalRaceTrackwillbethesiteoftheAugust22ndConcertTour,GreenMountainLiveThisispartofanationaltourfeaturingZZTop,theMarshalTuckerBandandothers.Itcouldbeawonderfulwakeupcallaspeoplecomeanddiscov-erourarea’sbeauty,friendliness,andaccessibilitytorecreation.Checktheirfacebookpageandsendouttheword.
10.The20thAnniversaryoftheSouthernVermontGarlic&HerbFestivalisSeptember5th&6th.AlwaystheSaturdayandSundayofLaborDayWeekendandweareplanninganotherfantasticex-perienceforfestivalgoers.Savethedateandbringyourfriendsandfamily.Wewillbebringingyouthelatestandgreatestthroughoutthesummer.
11.WCAXinBurlington,VPR,andEfficiencyVermontarealllininguptopartnerwithusonprojects.IwantthesetobemeaningfultoourMembersandwillbecheckingwithMemberstodeterminewhatwillbemostusefultothem.
12.TicketsatOldCastleTheatreperformancesareonly$25toChamberMembers.ThisisagreatM-2-Mbenefit.
Allthebest,JoannErenhouse
ExecutiveDirector
MembersoftheTrusteesforNorthBenningtonsitwithvolunteerJonahSpivakwiththenewhistoricalwaysideexhibitattheHenryBridge.ThewaysideexhibitwasfundedbyagrantbytheChamplainValleyNationalHeritageProgram.
Bennington MuseumMarch 28 through June 21
Alcohol in Vermont: Creation to Consumption, Tolerance to Temperance
Chamber MixerDate: June 23, 2015Time: 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM EDTWebsite: http://www.bennington.comLocation: Bennington Free Library Contact: Marie Shutts (802) 447-3311Email: [email protected] The June Mixer is being held on the actual date on which the Bennington Free Library was established 150 years ago. Staff will be on hand to demonstrate new library resources. Several activities are planned and Birthday cake will be provided for all. Remember to mark this on your calendars and please be sure to RSVP to Marie at [email protected] or 802-447-3311. It is very important to do so in order that our hosts will be prepared.
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