In a final act of service to the community,

the remaining principals involved with the

Westerly Pawcatuck Joint Development

Task Force have recommended a fund

distribution proposal to the Attorney

General. The plan, if approved, would

spread funds to several worthy non-profit

organizations involved in downtown

revitalization, the arts, and historic

preservation. For many years, the Task

Force had made significant contributions to

all of these areas. The Greater Westerly

Chamber Foundation, the group whose

mission and projects most closely match that

of the Task Force, stands to receive an

estimated $22,500. Those funds would be

used to address initiatives that continue the

works outlined in the Task Force 20 Point

Action Plan. Priorities have been

established through community meetings

that were led jointly by the Downtown

Business Association and Chamber of

Commerce.

Projects such as a summer trolley, additional

wayfinding signs, marketing, bike racks, and

others will come to fruition thanks to the

generous allocation of the Westerly

Pawcatuck Joint Development Task Force.

“We are very appreciative and know that we

can accomplish a lot of good for downtown

with these funds” stated Rudi Hauser,

Chamber President.

Newsletter July 2011 www.westerlychamber.org info@westerlychamber.org 401.596.7761

INSIDE - Member News

- Scenes from Annual Dinner

- Business After Hours

Two additional wayfindng signs would be

purchased to help define the downtown

district and assist visitors in finding their

way around. One would be at the corner of

Granite and Elm, and one would be at the

corner of Railroad and High Street.

1 or 2 Bike Racks are needed downtown to

encourage cyclists to patronize downtown

without damaging the historic lamp posts

and signs with their chains. The racks

would be placed on private property as a

new Town ordinance prohibits bikes and

skateboards from being on the sidewalks.

A Facade Improvement Program is also

needed and will be reviewed. The DBA and

Chamber will continue to work in concert to

address improvements downtown.

Business is Blooming

Downtown Beautification

There are now 21 pots throughout

downtown thanks to the great response to

this Chamber initiative. Thanks to the Villa

B&B for donating a pot to be placed

downtown. The Artists Cooperative Gallery

was the very grateful recipient of that

donation. There is still time to support the

program. Call Lisa today with a pledge of

$150 and another flower pot will be added to

downtown.

ATHENA Award

Nominations Sought

Annually, a group of 4-8 individuals are

nominated for consideration of this

tremendous honor. Nominees are

recognized at a wonderful dinner and one is

selected to receive a sculpture and a trip to

Chicago for the annual ATHENA awards.

Take a moment to consider the people you

know. Are you familiar with someone who

has extensive community service, who has

helped other women achieve leadership

roles and who has excelled in their own

career or vocation? Complete the

nomination form in this month’s newsletter.

The event will take place October 26th at

Lake of Isles Golf Club.

Greater Westerly Chamber Foundation to

Receive 37.5% of Task Force Funds

Buckley Heating & Cooling and

Belmont Market Announce “Heat

and Eat” Campaign to Benefit the

Jonnycake Center of Peace Dale.

Federal research shows that while all

families increase their expenditures on home

heating fuel during the winter, low-income

families offset this cost by decreasing food

purchases. In response, Buckley Heating &

Cooling and Belmont Market are partnering

in a new “Heat and Eat” Campaign to

benefit the Jonnycake Center of Peace Dale

and increase awareness of its efforts to

create hunger-free communities. The

campaign will award a minimum of 25 new

automatic delivery fuel customers a $25

Belmont Market Gift Card. A matching gift

card will be donated to the Jonnycake

Center of Peace Dale. Buckley Heating &

Cooling Fuel Sales Representative Steve

Maciel, who also runs the non-profit End

Congratulations to Casa Della Luce for

winning the Chowder Cook Off for the

Rotary Club of Westerly. Their chowder

was sampled by hundreds of guests who

voted them tops among 20 local restaurants.

Stop by the restaurant today and sample

some for yourself!

MEMBER NEWS

The Westerly Community Credit Union,

through their Investment in Youth

Program, recently rewarded the Pawcatuck

Middle School for their community service

with a check for $3000!

Warehouse Beer-Wine-Liquor received

the “Employer of the Year Award” from the

Frank Olean Center at their Under the Tent

2011 Annual Meeting. Congratulations to

Frank, Donna and Tim Celico on this

noteworthy recognition.

Stonington Vineyards’ Cabernet Franc

wins Award from CSFA. The CT Specialty

Food Association announced the winner of

the 2011 Connecticut Product Awards. A

panel of 40 judges voted that the best red

wine produced in CT went to Stonington

Vineyards!

A joint ribbon cutting ceremony was held by

PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for

the Elderly) and Adult Day Center of

Westerly at their new location on 5 Union

Street. Pictured left to right are Westerly

Town Manager Steve Hartford, Board

Chairman Ann Lain, PACE CEO Joan

Kwiatkowski, Executive Director Kelly Lee,

Lt. Gov. Elizabeth Roberts, Town Council

President Diana Serra, and Rep. Sam

Azzinaro.

George Kent, founder of the Chorus of

Westerly, announced at the June 16, 2011

Annual Meeting of the Chorus of Westerly

that he will be stepping down and retiring

from his position as Music Director of the

Chorus effective at the end of the

ensemble’s 53rd concert season in June

2012.

Washington Trust recently received the

“2011 Community Partner Award for Major

Philanthropic Support” from the Chorus of

Westerly. The award was presented to

Joseph J. MarcAurele, Washington Trust

Chairman, President, and CEO, for the

Bank’s “3 decades of support as Major

Presenting Sponsor of Summer Pops, for

support of the Chorus of Westerly’s Capital

Campaign for the George Kent Performance

Hall, and for over 5 decades of support of

the Chorus’s programming.”

Congratulations to Casa Della Luce on their

one-year anniversary. In its first year, Casa

Della Luce was voted favorite restaurant of

2010 by the New London Day, and won the

Wood River Pasta Challenge and took first

place at the Westerly Rotary Club’s

Chowder cook-off. Owners Mark Lacz and

Kyle Beausoleil pledge that you can expect

bigger and better things including the

“Summer Chic”, a 1 ¼ lb lobster with

homemade pasta, scallops, shrimp and your

choice of sauce.

BAUERFINANCIAL, Inc., announced that

Chelsea Groton Bank has not only endured

the latest financial crunch, but has emerged

as a preeminent example of community

banking. BAUERFINANCIAL bestowed its

highest 5-Star Superior rating on Chelsea

Groton Bank denoting the highest level of

strength and performance that a bank can

receive. Chelsea Groton Bank has earned

this 5-Star Superior rating for the last 69

consecutive quarters.

Bank Collects More Than 94 Tons of

Peanut Butter Over 11-Years

During the 11-year anniversary of

Washington Trust’s PB Xpress, a statewide

drive to collect peanut butter for the Rhode

Island Community Food Bank, Washington

Trust collected more than 14,056 pounds, or

7 tons of peanut butter. Since 2001, the

Bank has collected nearly 94 tons of peanut

butter, enough to make 3 million peanut

butter sandwiches for Rhode Island families.

Rev. Dr. Cal Lord was officially installed

as the new pastor of the Central Baptist

Church on June 12. Dr. Lord served nearly

26 years at the First Baptist Church of

Norwich, CT where he was active in both

the civic and religious communities. He is

looking forward to getting involved in the

Chamber and Westerly Rotary Club.

Westerly Community Credit Union recently awarded (2) $2500 scholarships to

local students. Jill Levcowich of Westerly

was awarded the Westerly Community

Credit Union- Joseph N. Cugini Scholarship,

named on behalf of the Credit Union’s

former president, CEO and Chairman of the

board, Joseph Cugini. Ryan Keane of

Narragansett was awarded the Westerly

Community Credit Union- Robert M.

Bewlay Memorial Scholarship.

SCENES FROM THE ANNUAL DINNER

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CCI Computer Centers

On-site Computer Support

38 West Broad Street

Pawcatuck, CT 06379

860-599-1947

Waste

Management of

Rhode Island

Commercial Trash Services

(800) 955-0518

Benevides &

Turano LLC,

CPAs and Business

Advisors

85 Beach Street

Westerly, RI

401-596-9797

Board member Barbara Stillman of Atlantic Beach

Casino Resort is completing a 6 year term on the Board

of Directors.

Town Manager Steve Hartford saved the day

and stepped in as a replacement emcee for

the festivities. Thank you Steve for doing a

fantastic job with no advance preparation!

Chamber President Rudi Hauser Jr. presents an

original oil painting by local artist Donna Bodell as

one of Grant’s gifts.

Newly elected Chamber President Michelle

Pendola of Zoe & Co, at 69 High Street in

downtown Westerly. Michelle will continue

insuring that the Chamber keeps a close

relationship with the DBA and remains active

in downtown revitalization efforts. Michelle

is the youngest person ever elected as

Chamber Presdient.

A beautiful family- Whitney Krueger, Donna

Simmons and Grant Simmons, III

At Left: Chamber Vice

President Tim Ryan who is

leaving the Board after 7 years

is pictured with Rudi.

Below: Chamber Director Lisa

Konicki with Key Award

Recipient Tracey Wilson.

Scenes from Business After Hours

at the Windjammer in Misquamicut

Surfside Painting & Restoration

Suzi Leigh Miller

surfsidepainting@yahoo.com

401-339-3680

We are known for our quality painting

but have expanded our services and

insurance to cover minor carpentry as

well. We restore old plaster walls and

replace rotted wood. We have built

clothesline poles and their supports,

fences and fixed rotten door frames.

Last Call for Chamber’s Italy Trip!

July 12 is the deadline to register for the Chamber’s

trip to Tuscany and the Amalfi Coast. A $500

registration fee is required for each traveler by that

date. We hope you will join us for an incredible

adventure. In September, The Chamber will host a

free one hour meet-and-greet with all trip registrants at

Maria’s Seaside Cafe. We will enjoy foods, new

friends, and one hour of basic Italian lessons by

Catena Bellone.

Grand Reopening! Congratulations to Precision Fitness.

Located in Pawcatuck above the “old Higgins Building” and the

Downtown Creamery.