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ECRWSS PRESORTED STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE PAID NEW MARKET PRESS/ DENTON PUBLICATIONS P.O. BOX 338 ELIZABETHTOWN, NY 12932 POSTAL CUSTOMER
December 30, 2009
A New Market Press Publication
Pets
New book
Local Flavor
Dusty is an all around good dog who will fit well into almost any home.
Local photographer showcases his other talent of writing.
The Killington Film Festival will focus on Vermont moviemakers.
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Local donors break record in annual blood drive By Angela DeBlasio newmarketpress@denpubs.com
See DRIVE, page 8
Above: Rose Switch and Kate Leene, of the American Red Cross, help process blood donors and manage volunteers at last week’s Gift of Life Marathon at the Paramount Theatre in downtown Rutland. Right: CVPS helped organize the event in conjunction with the American Red Cross and the theatre where hundreds of donors visited Rutland’s Paramount Theatre for the 7th Annual Gift of Life Marathon.
Giancola, businesses receives REDC awards RUTLAND — Rutland Economic Development Corporation’s honored Peter Giancola of Giancola Construction Corporation with the REDC Member of the Year award for his service to the organization. In addition, two REDC Business Excellence awards were presented to Central Vermont Eye Care and Vermont Wood Pellet Company. Central Vermont Eye Care was recognized for job creation, high-tech services and green building. The Vermont Wood Pellet Company received its award for job creation and development in the new “green” economy. REDC is a private, not-for-profit whose mission is to encourage and enhance business success in Rutland County. It offers assistance in areas such as financing, site location, business expansion, business recruitment and business counseling.
Students find meaning of Christmas in Project Help
Student Ben Smith and others sort food and gift donations Monday in the school gym during Project Help. The school will fill 112 boxes for needy families.
RUTLAND — They braved arctic-like windchills and battled an ailing local economy, but Mount St. Joseph Academy students were undaunted in their mission to help provide food to 112 families in need during Project Help last week. Project Help is more than a tradition that spans 39 years, according to MSJ Principal Paolo Zancanaro, “it’s about fostering the spirit of unconditional giving.” And it's an event that inspires community wide support. When word circulated Dec. 18, that the Project Help coffers were low, and only $150 had been donated to pay the $1,000 bill for its turkeys and chickens, funds began flying in from resi-
dents, businesses and especially parishioners at St. Peter's, Christ the King and Immaculate Heart of Mary. “When we said we were concerned, this community really came through,” Sarah Fortier, Project Help faculty advisor, said. “These parishes are incredible.” By the next week that figure had swelled to over $4,000, she said, adding that the balance will be used to purchase foods that students were unable to collect in their door-to-door campaign Dec. 21 The students looked forward to the project, said Kate Zambon, chairperson of the Office of Student Life, which spearheads the event. “We look forward to this to start off our Christmas va-
cation,” Zambon, a senior, said. “The students are always enthusiastic each year." Zambon said the MSJ students also enjoyed “teaching the Christ the King eighth graders the ropes,” so they can take over when they ascend to MSJ. It takes a lot of planning and work, but it’s well worth it, Zambon said. What starts as a planning session early in November burgeons into a communitywide effort as time progresses. The students draw street maps delineating collection areas, set up teams, pick up boxes from area merchants and send out 600 letters to area businesses asking for monetary contributions.
See HELP, page 8
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During the first 15 minutes of the seventh annual Gift of Life Marathon, 97 volunteers were on hand to donate blood at a busy American Red Cross station set up inside the Paramount Theatre in downtown Rutland. Sponsored by CVPS and local radio stations WJJR and WSYB, this popular event seems to bring out the spirit of giving here in Rutland County. Even a holiday visitor to Rutland got in the mood; this full-time resident of Florida heard about the Red Cross drive and signed up immediately to donate blood. By all accounts, the record-breaking downtown