August 3 ~ 16, 2011 the Resident 860.599.1221 www.theresident.com


9


residentWesterly All Aboard! “Shop & Dine” Trolley


resident in biz


Local busi ness es find “Res i dent In Busi ness” an ef fec tive way to ad ver tise. By tell ing the com mu ni ty about yourself, you will at tract loy al cus tom ers. Res i dents prefer to shop and ob tain ser vic es in a friend ly en vi ron ment. Add your smile to the Resident in Business. 860.599.1221.


(l-r) Lisa Konicki, executive director, Greater Westerly-Pawcatuck Chamber of Commerce and Grant Simmons III, Citizen of the Year, cut the ribbon on Westerly’s “Shop & Dine” Trolley on July 20.


story & photos by Jessica Youngblood


O


n Wednesday, July 20, over 70 people gathered in front of Bruna’s Table at Bentley


Square for the inaugural ride of the Westerly’s “Shop & Dine” Trolley. The Westerly Band Ensemble played as volunteers poured lemonade and gave out trolley-shaped cookies. Mystic Paper


Beasts Theatre


Company wanders through the crowd in their sea themed costumes. Marya Ursin, co-founder, Mystic Paper Beasts, dressed as a fairy, offered wishes. Westerly’s “Shop & Dine” Trolley project includes two trolleys, which connect historic downtown with Watch Hill and Misquamicut. They will operate noon to 9:00 pm, Wednesday through Sunday, every 30 minutes. The outbound route departs Bruna’s Table on Canal Street and stops at McQuade’s Market/E-Z Midway Liquors, Heart of Avondale, Watch Hill Yacht Club, Pleasant View Inn and Maria’s Seaside Café. The inbound route departs from Maria’s and follows the outbound route in reverse, but takes the back way into Town, skipping McQuade’s, giving visitors a more scenic view of Westerly. Lisa Konicki, executive director, Westerly-Pawcatuck


Greater


Chamber, handed out “limited edition” t-shirts to sponsors and supporters, which proclaim, “I got on board the Westerly Shop & Dine Trolley.” She said, “The KeepSpace


Westerly process served as the incubator for the shop-dine trolley idea. It emerged as the number one priority item identified by a diverse group of community members who participated in that process. The goal is to circulate tourists and residents amongst the three business districts with a convenient, fun and free transportation system that is in keeping with our historic community.” In addition to connecting the different areas of Westerly, the trolleys are expected to alleviate parking issues, especially during the summer beach season.


(l-r) Bruna’s Table crew: Pedro Ponce, Caitlyn Rice, Kourtnie Fristcher, Taylor Caputo, Jim Steadman, manager, and Yvonna Lovely are excited to be the first stop on the “Shop & Dine” Trolley. “We hope it’s going to help business pick-up,” said Jim.


Lisa acknowledged media support


from WBLQ, The Resident and the Westerly Sun. “Getting the word out to the public is a crucial element of the trolley program. I would like to thank our Media Partners who have agreed to donate ad space or air time. ” “The Town Council got on board financial,” said Steven Hartford, Town Manager, “and today they will get on board literally.”


The trolleys, running through September 3, are free to ride because of $40,000 in donations made by the Greater Westerly Chamber Foundation, Watch Hill Business Association, Westerly-Pawcatuck Downtown Business Association, McQuade’s Market, KeepSpace Westerly, E-Z Midway Liquors, the Town of Westerly, The Westerly Land Trust and the Misquamicut Business Association. Donations are accepted on board. The Town band played as Grant Simmons III, Citizen of the Year, cut the ribbon. Zippo the Clown, Brad Hvolbeck Jr., invited about 25 media sponsors, supporters and officials to ride the trolley for the very first time. The trolley pulled onto the road for its inaugural trip, followed by a parade made up of a horse-drawn wagon from Allegra Farm Horse & Carriage Rides, the Mystic Highland Pipe Band and Mystic Paper Beasts. During the inaugural ride, Mark


Berardo, KeepSpace Westerly, talked about expanding the project into Pawcatuck. “I’m always in favor of treating this as one community in two towns. It’s why we invited Pawcatuck’s First Selectman Ed Habarek to be a


part of KeepSpace Westerly.” The trolleys, provided by South


County Trolley Co. in Narragansett, fit 30 comfortably in the larger of the two and 22 in the smaller one. Local businesses that show their support with advertisements that line the inside of the trolley include: WBLQ, The Resident, The Westerly Sun, The Devine Touch, Cleats Sports Club, Cold Stone Creamery, The Gallery on High Street, Nature’s Wisdom Wellness Center, Carrie’s Shoes and Westerly Community Credit Union. To post your comments, visit


www.theresident.com or follow us on Twitter @Resident_News


resident On the Street


Blanchard Pierre Norwich


“Rihanna because she’s a good singer and a beautiful girl.”


James O’Grady


asks area residents:


“Who would you choose to be


shipwrecked on a deserted island with and why?”


Lou Froand Norwich


“Pam Anderson, because she’s smoking hot.”


Taylor Allen Old Lyme “Bob Dylan


because we would be able to play the banjo all day.”


Judy Ames Brooklyn “Bear Grylls because he knows how to survive in any circumstance.”


Maria McCarty Groton


“I would choice my husband because he inspires me in ways that no one else can. I can talk to him about anything.”


Dale Norman Erie, PA


“My girlfriend, Mary Jane, because she always keeps me relaxed.”


Josh Palmer Ledyard


“David Hasselhoff because he will get me off the island.”


Jon Brammer Bozrah “My wife. Wherever we are we have fun together.”


RI Senator Dennis Algiere is one of the first to ride Westerly’s “Shop & Dine” Trolley. “I encourage residents and visitors alike to take advantage of this trolley service,” said Dennis. “I appreciate the hard work that was put in by many people to make this happen.”


Since 1947, the Adams family name has been synonymous with integrity, uncompromising service, and quality in the business arena. Many locals remember Frank and Doris Adams, owners and operators of Adams Radio and Television Company and Adams Wayside. Both businesses resided at 727 Boswell Avenue in Norwich, which since turned into Adams Restaurant Equipment. Frank and Doris’ youngest son, Robert Adams, owner and operator of Adams Restaurant Equipment and Adams Auctions LLC, has been upholding their high standards since he opened business in 1993. He has owned and operated several restaurants and bakeries in the area, including Treats Bakeries Inc. / Colonial Maid Bakery, which ran from 1972 – 1989, then from 2000-2006, and Only Pizza Company, from 1993 – 2000. Adams Restaurant Equipment benefits from his vast knowledge of the food service world.


Robert Adams


Adams Restaurant Equipment is a family-owned and operated business that specializes in the buying and selling of new and used restaurant equipment. Adams Auctions LLC, a separate business, deals with the auctioning of restaurant equipment and full, operational restaurants. Robert is a certified auctioneer and a member of the National Auctioneers Association. He is a firm believer in continual education, and attends many seminars and trade shows to better understand how to serve his clients and patrons.


Robert believes whole-heartedly in a sense of community and good will towards others. He’s an active member of the Norwich Rotary and has been named a Paul Harris Fellow; a high honor for any Rotary member. Robert and his wife, Paula, help run a charity auction for the Norwich Rotary every March, so please come enjoy a great evening for a wonderful cause!


860.887.8052 • 727 Boswell Avenue, Norwich AdamsLiquidators.com • AdamsRestSupply.com


www.theresident.com


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24