September 7, 2013
Aldi supermarket opens in Rutland By Elicia Mailhiot newmarketpress@ denpubs.com RUTLAND Ñ Rutland residents had the moment they had been waiting for on Aug. 15 after the anticipated Germanowned discount grocery chain, Aldi USA, finally opened its doors. More than 50 individuals gathered at the building, located at 263 South Main St., eagerly waiting to see what the store had to offer. City and town officials were on hand for the ribbon cutting ceremony, including Mayor Christopher Louras. Ò IÕ m not going to give a speech,Ó he said. Ò I just want you guys inside this building shopping.Ó Currently, the store has roughly 16 full-time employees, as a well as a couple who work part-time. The international chain carries Ò 1,400 itemsÓ in an Ò averageÓ store, but uses private label items to keep the products low in price without sacrificing the quality. Shoppers can expect to find meat, fish, produce, as well as spirits. Aldi operates 1,200 stores in 32 different states. The Rutland location is the second for Vermont; the Bennington store opened several years ago. The chain has a different customer experience than their local competitors Price Chopper, Hannaford, Tops (formerly Grand Union), and ShawÕ s. Aldi customers are encouraged to bring their own shopping bags and they pay a refundable 25 cent charge to use a shopping cart. Payment methods are also different. CONTINUED ON PAGE 7
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Vermont State Fair under way By Lou Varricchio newmarketpress@denpubs.com RUTLAND Ñ The Vermont State Fair in Rutland runs through Sunday, Sept. 8. The state fair boasts a large midway with amusements, eateries, free shows, national entertainers, and agricultural exhibits. Star performer Travis Tritt will top the state fairÕ s charts during a grandstand performance Sept. 7 Kim, of LeonÕ s Breakaway Outfitters, arrived at the Rutland fairgrounds last week fresh from the Champlain Valley Fair. LeonÕ s, based in Edgewater, Fla., sells a wide selection of hats and leather goods including cowboy and cowgirl hats, classic Civil War kepis, belts, purses and other country wear. The traveling hat and apparel business is making its debut at the Vermont State Fair this year. The owners hope to add to its new Vermont fair schedule next year. For a copy of the EagleÕ s 2013 Vermont State Book booklet, with a complete schedule of events and fair shows, check out most local stores or drop by the Eagle office at 16 Creek Rd. in Middlebury. The booklet is free thanks to local advertisers.
Leon’s Breakaway Outfitters of Florida makes its Vermont State Fair debut this week. Kim is pictured here with her amazing selection of western hats, Civil War kepis, and all things leather. Photo by Lou Varricchio
ACTR opens new transportation center By Alice Dubenetsky newmarketpress@denpubs.com
Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin brandishes the ceremonial shears next to U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy, immediately following the ribbon cutting marking the official opening of Addison County Transit Resources new Community Transportation Center. Photo by Alice Dubenetsky
MIDDLEBURY Ñ More than 100 people gathered Aug. 29 at the Creek Road site in Middlebury of the new Addison County Transit Resources Community Transportation Center for a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the official opening of the center. The new facility cost approximately $4.3 million, paid for with federal, state, local and private funding. The facility is adjacent to the Vermont Agency of Transportations maintenance garage. The large, new facility provides ACTR with administrative office space, a dispatch center, an indoor maintenance facility, meeting space, a neighborhood transit stop, and commuter park-and-ride space. ACTR provides regular transit route service, connecting Rutland, Middlebury and Burlington, with stops in between, on Routes 7 and 116. The also provide demand-response service for all Addison County towns. ACTRÕ s claims its combined ridership is more than 172,000. Gov. Peter Shumlin (D) and U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy (D) attended the ribbon cutting ceremony. Leahy said that the Federal Transportation Agency Ò didnÕ t need a lot of convincingÓ when he submitted a request for $2.85 million in CONTINUED ON PAGE 11