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th Annual Virtu Art Festival

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Chamber News & Views June 2015 westerlychamber.org info@westerlychamber.org 401.596.7761

Westerly was well represented on Wednesday, May 27

th at the State House,

testifying on House Bill 6070, initiated by The Chamber. Thank you to State Representative Sam Azzinaro, George Nicholas from Watch Hill Business Association, MBA reps Caswell Cooke and George Tattersall, and especially Lauren Sposato, who served as a proxy and delivered powerful testimony crafted by our Executive Director Lisa Konicki. Great job rallying! Next step: The issue will be addressed in a meeting with House Finance Committee Chair and these reps, along with the leader of the PWCVB. It is unfair that funds generated in our town, from tourists staying at hotels in our town, continue to be sent to Providence to an organization that does absolutely nothing to promote hotel stays in our community. A review of their website shows a section on “HOTELS”. When you “click” on that tab, there are 4 categories of hotels listed: 1st category- Providence Hotels- all are listed, 2

nd category- Warwick Hotels- all are

listed, 3rd

category- “Other Hotels in Rhode Island” – NO WESTERLY HOTELS ARE LISTED despite the fact that a large portion of Westerly hotel taxes fund this very website. Not the Ocean House, one of the largest revenue generating hotels in the state, not the Breezeway Resort, not the Sandy Shore Motel, Pleasant View Inn, etc., 4

th category – is “Nearby Massachusetts

Hotels”- Incredibly, and horribly unjust, hotels in Mass that do NOT generate hotel taxes for this organization are listed, but hotels in Rhode Island that DO generate hotel taxes are not listed. There is no justification for RI hotel taxes to be used to promote a MA hotel, and simultaneously shortchange and completely DISCRIMINATE AGAINST the Westerly hotels that generate the very funds they work with. Simply stated, Westerly hotel taxes are funding an organization that promotes competitor hotels with dollars we generated. It needs to be corrected. Please review the Providence Warwick Convention and Visitors Bureau site for yourself to confirm:

FUSION SUCCESS

Fusion was an incredible success thanks to the generosity of the Valenti Family of Auto Dealerships and the donors; Haversham Tavern, Bridge, Behan Family Farm, Dunn’s Corner’s Market, Jonathan Edwards Winery, Cottrell Brewery, Grey Sail Brewing, Gourmet Galley Catering, Stonington Vineyards, Octagon, Mystic Schooners, M.J. Sauchuk, Levine Distributing Co., St. Pierre Photography, Carole Drong Photography, and Maria Scaglione Photography. We would also like to thank Eric Pivco at the Velvet Mill Studios for hosting once again, and the talented artists who created incredible works of art on the bodies of local volunteers. Pictured here is Anna Lenihan of Woodees who looked incredible in a Picasso inspired design. Fusion celebrated the visual, performing and culinary arts in a unique setting. The Velvet Mill Studios houses 40+ artists’ studios and galleries and is the ideal venue for this creative display. Sue Adam of GIRA! did an incredible job designing the interior of the event and providing flowers, furniture and a theme. We appreciate the partnership of the Greater Mystic Chamber of Commerce on helping us produce this event.

http://www.goprovidence.com/hotels/rhode-island. Further review of the web site of the Providence Warwick Convention and Visitors Bureau reveals there is no link to the Westerly Chamber of Commerce or any entity that promotes tourism in Westerly. Not once in history has the PWCVB contacted our Chamber of Commerce on a single partnership marketing opportunity or program that would benefit the Town of Westerly. Not one bus has been directed our way with tourists. Not one conference in Providence has sent people to our community or even promoted our community in the smallest of ways. Not one PWCVB brochure or ad, paid for with Westerly funds, does a single thing to promote WESTERLY. Typing the word “Misquamicut” in the search tab on the PWCVB home page reveals “Zero results”.http://www.goprovidence.com/search/?searchString=misquamicut&submit=GO Typing the words “Watch Hill” in the search tab on the home page reveals events in Federal Hill, not Watch Hill. The PWCVB mission is to bring conventions and sporting events to the state. They have not brought one to Westerly. The only sporting activities that take place here are produced locally by our Chamber (Electric Eve), co-sponsored by our Chamber (Bold R Dash) or by Hartford Marathon and other race groups (Rhode Island and the Chamber). This travesty has gone on too long and we are advocating that it be corrected in the legislature. It clearly equates to taxation without representation. After Superstorm Sandy, 8 hotels were

RI STATE LEGISLATION – BILL 6070

L to R: Lauren Sposato, George Nicholas, State Rep. Sam Azzinaro, George Tattersall and Caswell Cooke

devastated and over 300 rooms were affected. The PWCVB did not bother to check on any of those hotel properties, offer them assistance, or provide marketing support once they recovered (partly due to the support of this Chamber’s $420,000 grants and the volunteers provided by the MBA and Serve RI. The PWCVB has developed a sense of entitlement without accountability when it comes to Westerly’s hotel tax. We can do better with the money in the Town’s coffers.

American Cancer Society 931 Jefferson Blvd. Suite 3004 Warwick, RI 02886 Phone: 401-243-2639 Cancer.org Contact: Heidi Thompson The American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life is a 12-18 hour event where teams of friends, family, co-workers, and loved ones, take turns walking the track. It’s the ACS’s biggest fundraiser and proceeds go back to those in the community to help support them and their loved ones fight this disease. The money raised helps with support, advocacy and research. Survivors are celebrated at the beginning of each Relay for Life, and they take our first lap around the track. Caregivers are then celebrated. We have a donated meal at the event for our guests of honor. There is entertainment, camaraderie, reflection, remembrance, celebration. We remember those who are fighting or who have fought with a luminaria ceremony. Luminary bags are purchased prior to the Relay and decorated in honor or memory of loved ones. Finally, toward the end of the Relay we fight back against the disease. Our closing often includes kickboxing demos, information on health and staying well and advocacy. The Relay for Life has raised over $1 million dollars since its beginning 18 years ago, and is a community event to be proud of. This year’s Relay For Life is to take place on Saturday, June 27

th from 12AM -12PM at

Stonington High School.

Better Daze Cafe 76 S. Broad Street Pawcatuck, CT 06379 Phone: 860-495-2044 Betterdazecafe.com Contacts: Ralph Arganese Serving hearty breakfast, delicious lunch, hot fresh mini donuts, breakfast and lunch pies. Pawcatuck’s newest neighborhood eatery specializing in breakfast and lunch. Come enjoy our friendly staff and home style cooking. Ask about our breakfast and lunch flaky pastry dough pies stuffed with your favorite filling. For a special treat try our hot, freshly made mini donuts available in chocolate or vanilla.

Surface Flooring & Fabric Gallery Cont… Surface is a flooring and fabric store. We offer a wide selection of wood, vinyl laminate flooring as well as carpets. Surface has products from Armstrong, Mirage, Quick Step, Godfrey Hirst, Mohawk, Hunter Douglas, Comfortex and Horizon Window. We also create custom window treatments, roman shades, cellular blinds, draperies, sheers, and shutters. We also have fabric from Maxwell, Carole, Duralee, Robert Allen that you can have custom pillows, slipcovers or upholstery created. Surface has its own installers that have been in the industry for over 20 years. We also offer design-consultants to help you with your project and will also come to your home to take measurements free of charge.

Synergy Holistic Solutions, LLC. 117 Bellevue Ave. Suite 202A Newport, RI 02840 Phone: 1-877-380-1199 Synergyholisticsolutions.com Contact: Edna Allen RN, LCSW, MSW, MPA, Certified Health Teacher I partner with clients providing supportive measures and health education, while they decide what behavior change is paramount to them. Nurses, as health coaches, are playing a major role in creating opportunities which offer a wide range of preventative services because of their professional knowledge and clinical expertise. My integrative philosophy is derived from years of holistic nursing practice. We can work together within mindfulness and an evidence-based framework to reach a new sense of wellbeing. We offer integrative health coaching, reiki treatments, Divine sleep yoga, Nidra, movement therapy, aromatherapy, and chronic management of stress, anxiety, migraine, fibromyalgia, women’s health issues, breast cancer recovery, and sleep issues. Together, I partner and support a client toward healing which can be a transformation of view rather, than a cure. By focusing upon a client’s goal, my mission is to provide that partnership of support aimed at exploring and articulating their optimal health vision and value.

Better Daze Cafe Cont….. We serve breakfast all day! Don’t miss our Friday night Fish & Chips Spectacular 4-8PM. Better Daze Café – “Come as our customer, leave as our friend”.

RLQ Designs 67 Roger Williams Dr. Johnston, RI 02919 Phone: 401-419-6050 Rlqdesigns.com Contact: Kim Liguori Quigley RLQ Designs Is A Full Service Interior Design Firm Committed To Design Excellence. Our unique approach to design promotes your brand identity and integrates it into your physical space. The spaces we create give a strong positive customer experience, provide an efficient workplace for your staff, and are executed with an eye towards beautiful aesthetics. Our signature design work takes the client’s vision and breathes life into it through Architecture, Marketing, and Aesthetics.

South County Trolley & Transportation P.O.Box #469 Wakefield, RI 02880 Phone: 401-932-7288 Southcountytrolley.com Contacts: Corey & Betsy Sullivan South County Trolley & Transportation, LLC is known for providing unique and charming trolleys for special events including: Weddings, Proms, Beach Parking, Custom Tours and Executive Functions. Our hospitable and commercially licensed drivers will chauffeur you to your destinations safely and with a smile.

Surface Flooring & Fabric Gallery 224 Post Road Westerly, RI 02891 Phone: 401-322-0100 Surfaceflooringandfabric.com Contact: Katie Roan

NEW MEMBERS

Theatre By The Sea 364 Cards Pond Road Wakefield, RI 02879 Phone: 401-782-8587 Theatrebythesea.com Contact: Karen Nascembeni Located in a historic barn theatre on Matunuck Beach, Theatre By The Sea (TBTS) is Rhode Island’s home of the best summer musicals. TBTS annually offers a summer season of four professionally produced Broadway musical subscription series, along with a Children’s Theatre Festival and camp program. Theatre By The Sea has had many incarnations since opening in 1933. Tommy Brent saved the theater from demolition in 1967 and ran it successfully until FourQuest Entertainment took over the lease in 1988. Following extensive renovations that fall and winter, Four Quest reopened the theater in the spring of 1989 and continued producing Summer Theater at the seaside playhouse until the fall of 2003. Bill Hanney purchased the property in 2007 and, with producing partners, successfully mounted a production of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, just six weeks later, reopening the historic theatre on August 8, 2007.

Waste

Management of

Rhode Island

Commercial Trash Services

(800) 955-0518

Virtu experienced record crowds this year and the highlight was the Kaleidoscope Tree project. More than 30 volunteers donated their time and effort! The Chamber wishes to thank Geraldine B. Cunningham Associates for their incredibly generous sponsorship of the Creation Station at Virtu Art Festival once again. Thanks to their community spirit and financial support, hundreds of children enjoyed free, hands on, creative projects! Thanks also to Westerly Public Library and Wilcox Park for hosting the event, and WBLQ 1230, EZ Waste, The Day, Sun Publishing, LeafFilter North of Massachusetts, Renewal by Andersen, Rescom Exteriors, Mystic Aquarium, First Physical Therapy, Paddy’s Beach Club, Wave Federal Credit Union, and InDesigns, and Maria Scaglione for the beautiful photos!

Like Us! Greater Westerly –Pawcatuck Area Chamber of

Commerce

18th ANNUAL VIRTU ART FESTIVAL NEW MEMBERS Continued…

Sponsors of the Creation Station

Thank You to all the Volunteers who created a

Kaleidoscope Tree: Sherry Quinlan, Laura Iafrancesco, Judy George Michelle Lessard Paula Rebelo, Nuno Rebelo, Juvenalia Pereira, Luisa Raposo , Maria Grace Brown, Paula Costa, Evangelina Leandro, Patrick Costa, Elise Rugens, Linda Mossberg JoAnn Bartholomew, Teresa Gauvin, Sherry Paige, Marsha Coatsworth, Phyllis Anderson, Sarah Fenstermaker, Sooo-Z Mastropietro, Pam Hussereau, Krystal Teft, Hope Teft, Christina Adair, Westerly Health Center, Carmen Messina, Pam Sierpinski, Mystic Aquarium: Tracy Camp, Josh Davis, Eric Fox, Bill Leuze, Sandi O’Brien, Ana Patricia Ortiz, Carol Sauers.

BUSINESS AFTER HOURS: MAY

RI Fast Ferry Awarded 20 Year Deepwater Wind Contract

Groundbreaking agreement enables high-speed catamaran ferry company Rhode Island Fast Ferry to commission the first US-built crew transfer vessel, to be built by Blount Boats, and launch Atlantic Wind Transfers, its commercial wind support services division. This long-term charter services agreement is the first deal of its kind to be signed in the United States. As part of the charter agreement with Deepwater Wind Block Island, LLC, a subsidiary of Deepwater Wind, Rhode Island Fast Ferry (Atlantic Wind Transfers) will build a dedicated wind turbine transfer vessel and develop an extensive training program for its transfer services crew. Rhode Island Fast Ferry will be investing over $4 million to build the vessel and provide training to meet the needs of the Block Island Wind Farm. The construction of the transfer vessel is being undertaken by local Rhode Island shipyard, Blount Boats, where the contract will secure employment for 70 workers throughout the 12-month build. Rhode Island Fast Ferry’s subsidiary brand, Atlantic Wind Transfers, will provide crew and equipment support during the construction phase of the Block Island Wind Farm, beginning in Spring 2016. Following completion of the 30MW five-turbine site, work will move into operations and maintenance support, to encompass a scheduled maintenance program as well as any additional crew transfer support required throughout the 20-year lifecycle of the first US offshore wind farm project.

MEMBER NEWS Chelsea Groton’s Paulette

Retsinas Named Elite Advisor

Paulette Retsinas, CFP®, CLTC, is a financial planner with Chelsea Groton Financial Services and an Infinex Investment Executive. She earned ‘Elite Advisor’ status by Infinex Financial Group. Paulette has over 30 years of experience in the financial services industry. At Chelsea Groton Financial Services, she works with clients in a number of categories, including: wealth management, investments, retirement planning, education funding, elder and estate planning, and insurance and risk management. A resident of Westerly, RI, Paulette is active in her community. She serves on the finance committee for the Westerly Library and Park and on the board of the Jonnycake Center of Westerly.

Benevides &

Turano LLC,

CPAs and Business Advisors

85 Beach Street Westerly, RI

401-596-9797

Above L-R: Wally Neuberger, James Burns, David Henley, Kim Wright, Bill Ferguson Below L-R: Stephanie Smith, Diane James, Joan Gradilone, Mary Ellen Buckley

Above L-R: Rachel Voicechovski, Christine Pawlina, Danielle Sisco, Jan Chamberlain, Jessica Chandler Below L-R: Kevin Owren, Rich Panciera, Sergio Cherenzia, Matt Cunningham