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Steve Marcham
Feb., 20,
1949 - March 19, 2009
Mayor,
Councilman, businessman, volunteer, husband, father, friend.
Thank you for all
you've done for your community.
- The people -
Calling Hours - Ladd &
Turkington Funeral Home - 1-5 PM Sunday, March 22, 2009
First Congregational Church of
Vernon - 1 PM Monday March 23, 2009
more information click here Steve
Marcham
Vernon — 03/03/2009
Future of town’s image
discussed
at ‘Rockville Roundtable’ meeting
BY ANNIE GENTILE ReminderNews
We’ve got to stop planning.
We’ve got to do,” said Bryan Flint, president of the Rockville
Community Alliance, at the “Rockville Roundtable” meeting on Feb.
24.
Flint’s comments – made to a
gathering of business owners, religious organizations , non-profits ,
local elected officials, town employees and others from the Greater
Rockville community – were a call to join forces to help promote the
positives and reduce or eliminate the negative perceptions that often
define the Rockville section of town.
The meeting was held at the Bev’s
Corner annex of Union Congregational Church and was moderated by RCA
Communications Officer Jim Sendrak. A two-year resident of Rockville,
Sendrak said he and his wife moved to the area from a nearby community
specifically because they were drawn to the unique history and texture
that defines the 1.75-square-mile section of Vernon called Rockville.
“[ Rockville is] a diamond in the
rough,” said Sendrak. He pointed to the city’s impressive
architecture and historic value – Victorian-era homes, government
buildings and former mills. He called on community groups to find ways
to promote its other plusses, such as the Civil War Museum, and to use
Rockville’s status as birthplace of prolific rock’n’roll singer
and songwriter Gene Pitney to push for its selection by the state to
house a future Connecticut Music Hall of Fame.
“We should make noise about Gene Pitney. He was a class act, a brass
ring,” said Sendrak. “A Music Hall of Fame would anchor the town
theme, ‘Rockville Rocks,’” he said, adding that such an
attraction would pave the way for other businesses, including shops
and restaurants, to move into the area.
State Rep. Claire Janowski reported the town has been using a
Department of Culture and Tourism grant to do a feasibility study on
the reconfiguration of the Citizen’s Block building for such a Hall
of Fame. “We have their ear,” Janowski said about the state
officials.
The Alliance’s presentation
demanded accountability and performance from both its town employees
and its residents to get behind the town’s Neighborhood
Revitalization Campaign by cleaning up blight. By not addressing
problems, Sendrak said, it sends the wrong message to people outside
the community that those who live here don’t care.
Most importantly, Sendrak urged stakeholders to work together toward
common goals, explaining that a prosperous Rockville benefits the
entirety of Vernon. Increasing the value of downtown buildings and
adding vibrant businesses will help reduce the mill rate for all
taxpayers in Vernon, Sendrak said. “Rockville really should be a
jewel,” he said.
The meeting also provided an opportunity to brainstorm ways people
might collaborate and to share what they have been doing. For example,
Matt Reardon , executive director of the New England Civil War Museum,
said a shortage of volunteers has created difficulties in keeping the
museum open more hours, and Town Council member Marie Herbst, noting
that high schools may be adding a community service requirement for
graduation, suggested Rockville High School history students might
provide volunteer time for this purpose.
George Arthur of the Hockanum River Linear Park Committee and Bruce
Dinnie, director of Vernon Parks and Recreation, demonstrated how
groups can work together to promote historic Rockville. With the help
of a grant award, Dinnie said they will be rolling out a series of
historic signs along a walking trail from the former Saxony Mill site
on West Street up along West Main to the Paper Mill Pond Park. The
signs at various historic sites along the trail outline the many
aspects of Rockville’s rich history. Dinnie said the Linear Park
Committee and members of the Gene Pitney Commemorative Committee
cooperated with them to provide historic information.
Vernon resident and Rockville Downtown Association member Bill Breslau
also reported that the RDA has been working on incremental projects to
redevelop Rockville and to look at possible zoning changes that would
allow a different mix of businesses in the downtown area.
“Let’s be one of the first [communities ] to really do some
things,” said Sendrak. “Let’s create publicity that puts us on
the map.”
Stafford’s La Brioche bakery moves to
Vernon
t
By
Max Bakke
Journal Inquirer
Published: Friday,
January 9, 2009 12:08 PM EST
VERNON — The La Brioche Bakery, a
former Stafford staple, is now sharing its tarts, cakes, and
croissants with locals at its new home in downtown Rockville.
Owner Colette Berube found ...for the full story, click here
For more pictures of the Vernon Bicentennial got to www.Vernon2008.org
or click here
for Sticks & Stones Photography - Joseph Grunske
Grand
Opening for Two Downtown Rockville Businesses November 20, 2008
Rockville, CT
— The Rockville Downtown Association, Inc. (RDA) is assisting with
preparations for the Grand Opening on Thursday, November 20, 2008 at
11:00 a.m. of two new downtown businesses. ‘Shoe Explosion’
and ‘Things Not Forgotten’ are specialty retailers with new
stores adjacent to one another on historic downtown Rockville’s West
Main Street. Local dignitaries are expected to be on hand for a formal
ribbon-cutting ceremony followed by light refreshments and tours of the
new stores.
‘Shoe Explosion’
is committed to providing its clientele with affordable, high-fashion
ladies’ footwear. In addition to the season’s hottest contemporary
fashions, ‘Shoe Explosion’ also provides fashionable
traditional classics and hard to find styles not generally available at
local specialty stores and shopping malls. Debra L. (Debbye) Barry –
the company’s owner, CEO and a self-professed "shoenista"
– combines her keen fashion sense with leading shoe designers’
seasonal, traditional, and trendy offerings to ensure ‘Shoe
Explosion’s’ product line satisfies various customers. From
corporate classics to "blingy" contemporaries, ‘Shoe
Explosion’ is a one-stop shop for footwear needs. In addition to
the store’s main business, Ms. Barry and Tom Barry also operate ‘Sole
Princess’ – a unique offering of shoe parties for girls ages 5
and up. A full array of customized party packages are available that are
sure to satisfy any Princess or Diva. The focus of ‘Sole
Princess’ is to provide one-of-a-kind parties of the highest
quality, created just for girls and backed by world-class customer
service. All inclusive parties can be held in the comfort of your
location, or at the posh party surroundings at the ‘Shoe
Explosion’ store. ‘Sole Princess’ is committed to
providing creative party themes that are special and will leave everyone
with memories to cherish forever.
'Things Not Forgotten’
offers an eclectic display of antique merchandise, jewelry, furniture,
memorabilia and a wide variety of consignment items. Sections of the
store are set up for individual vendors who constantly bring in new
merchandise with an endless array of styles and price ranges. By
combining their own merchandise with that of outside vendors, ‘Things
Not Forgotten’ is worth the visit just to see the diversity of
product lines available in the store. Owner Rick Yatkin has made a great
effort to create a unique retail store in downtown Rockville.
The general public is
invited to attend the combined Grand Opening of these two stores and to
welcome these businesses into the historic downtown district.
For more information about
the Grand Opening, contact the RDA office at 875-7439.
###
Two new
businesses move to Rockville!
CELEBRATING
200 YEARS! 1808-2008
click here
for the official Bicentennial website
click here
for more photos
http://vernon2008.org/parade.htm
GPCC., Inc. -- Photo by Keith D. Edwards
click above for pictures!
It
was a great weekend in Rockville!
Sept
13 & 14
Events by;
the Vernon Bicentennial Committee, the
Rockville Downtown Assoc., Inc. (RDA), the Tri-Town Cruzers, the Gene
Pitney Commemorative Committee and the Rockville Community Alliance
(RCA)
 Vernon
Bicentennial's "ROCKVILLE
ROCKS" FESTIVAL
and TORCHLIGHT
PARADE Sept.
14, 2008
Click
here
for more pictures.
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