Chamber Connections BLOG
Chamber Connections BLOG
Located at 1 State Street in Bristol, the Judge Roy Bean Saloon offers casual dining with beautiful views of the bay. It’s understandable that co-owners, Zack Rivers and Randy Ross fell in love with the location. On a nice summer day, the windows come out so that you can enjoy the summer breeze and view. The beautiful woodwork and inviting ambience make Judge Roy Bean Saloon, a great place to meet friends while enjoying exceptional food and drinks. The food is made from scratch using local ingredients. Chef Randy Ross has created an interesting menu with items such as the Truffled Wellington Burger, the JR Burger complete with bacon jam, fried egg & cheddar cheese and the Grilled Atlantic Salmon.
There’s live music offered 3 or 4 nights a week. There’s also an event room on the second floor. It’s great for rehearsal dinners or surprise parties and can accommodate 45 people for a sit down meal or up to a 100 people for a buffet. There are many different meal and buffet options offered. So, if you haven’t been to the Judge Roy Bean Saloon recently, check it out. It’s a great location and the food is wonderful.
0 Comments
By Beth Russell
PR Committee The Children’s Workshop prides itself on providing children and their families with high quality care and learning. The Warren location is just one of their 19 early learning centers. Their main objective is to ensure excellent programs, dedicated caregivers and classrooms that are warm and inviting. The Warren location is very proud to be a NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children) accredited center. Their experienced team of early childhood professionals is committed to the unique and individual development of every child in their care. Each of their teachers is a professional in the field of early childhood education and has been carefully selected through an extensive interview and orientation process. In addition, all of the teachers receive ongoing classroom support, supervision, continuing education, and extensive opportunities for professional development. A research and evidence based curriculum created by their bright and talented education team, provides enough flexibility to be tailored to each child’s interests and the needs of the families. Their mission is based on the belief that ‘family always comes first’. The Children’s Workshop is actively engaged in the community. They have partnered with RI Mentoring Partnership to form their own Mentoring Program. Mentors spend 1 hour a week mentoring children on-on-one in the local schools. They have also partnered with Head Start to provide additional resources to children and their families. The Children’s Workshop has also collaborated with other local organizations to help those in need in the community. In addition to their many year-round program, the Warren location offers an exciting summer camp program that includes weekly themes, multiple field trips and a variety of activities for every child. Did you know that they have a swimming pool? They have a certified lifeguard on duty every day and they offer weekly swim lessons to the campers, which are also open to the public. Local Bristol resident, Abbie-Jo Francis is the Director of the Warren Center. She has an Associate’s Degree in Elementary Education and a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education. She is a RI certified teacher and has 20 years of experience teaching and working with children. She has been with The Children’s Workshop since 2002. Abbie invites you to “stop by and visit, so we can show you the newly renovated school and introduce you to their fantastic teachers”.
By Dena Davis
PR Committee Americans have always viewed education as our bridge to the future and as the means to create a better society peopled by responsible, productive citizens. For our state truly to succeed and progress, we must improve the education we provide to all Rhode Island children. Highlander offers school choice for families who do not have the means to afford a private school education for their children and often live in communities with failing public schools. Its values include education, accessibility, empowerment, and excellence. Jeanne D'Agostino (Development Director) says: "As an independent charter public school, Highlander is its own district. Our charter requires that 75% of our student come from Providence and the rest throughout the state. This is helpful for poor families who may move frequently, allowing for consistency for their children. Students are enrolled through a blind lottery that takes place the first week in March. We had over 2000 applications for 73 opening throughout the school." Named after the Highlander Folk School in Tennessee, the focus of our organization is social justice. The circumstances of living in poverty create obstacles that affect students' ability to come to school each day ready to learn. The lack of basic necessities and often living in dangerous environments create a condition of chronic stress for our youngest learners. A lack of early exposure to language skills and pre-school further hampers many students' readiness to learn. "Students living in poverty need more from their schools, not less." What Has The Highlander Charter School Accomplished? "Despite the challenges that many of our student and their families face, our educational successes have been considerable. By 7th and 8th grade, Highlander students not only outperform their peers at other urban schools, but also score at or above the statewide average in reading, math and writing." Highlander is able to meets the needs of students by providing them with small class sizes, differentiated learning and support for all students, and a mixed method approach to teaching styles. Highlander creates a learning environment based on the best practices set by elite Rhode Island private schools. Highlander creates structures that reinvigorate those disenfranchised by the mainstream educational system.
By Dena Davis Chamber PR Team Meet Lisa Griffith: Certified Professional Organizer, productivity coach, speaker and teacher, Lisa brings a unique perspective to her work with clients, both in individual and group settings, offering clarity, compassion and expert guidance. When you talk to Lisa, the first thing that resonates is Passion and Commitment! Lisa had a career change 9 years ago when she moved from being a full time middle school music teacher, to being a professional organizer. “Even when I was a teacher, people would always come to me to help them get organized!” When Lisa hit the age of 50 she decided she was ready for a new challenge, and went to a career counsellor to help her find a new direction. She was asked a particular question which set her off on her new path: If you had a day off with no commitments and you could do whatever you wanted, what would that be? Lisa, answered “I’d probably organize my closet!” It was then, that the possibility of becoming a professional organizer came about. Lisa joined NAPO (National Association of Professional Organizers), got her board certification and set up her business, THE ORGANIZED WAY in 2008. She started with residential organizing, and now specializes in office organization (both home office and businesses), focusing on creating paper flow, office systems and time management skills. Lisa is also a professional speaker/trainer and loves the energy of sharing her passion with others. I asked Lisa what her biggest challenge was, as a business owner and she stated that by far, it is finding balance in her life. “When you work for yourself, you are never really off the clock. I find that I have to force myself to create boundaries which allow myself time to enjoys some things for pleasure (a book or exercise) and to spend uninterrupted time with my family”. Great advice for any business owner! Something interesting that people may not know about Lisa is that she is a musician and a singer! Her background in performance and as a teacher have given her many of the skills she now uses in her public speaking and interacting with clients. Lisa’s favorite thing to do is to go and see a Broadway Musical. When asked what Lisa loves most about owning a business in the East Bay, she said that by far it is the community, character, support and local charm. “The East Bay will always be my home base.” By Bette Walpole Chamber PR Team Debbi-Jo "DJ" Horton has been an entrepreneur her entire life. She started selling painted rocks at the age of fours year old that started her career as a serial entrepreneur. DJ comes from a family of self-starters. Her grandfather founded a water pump and filtration company that she and her father both worked at. At 13 years old, DJ had found some accounting errors and so from that day on, she was responsible for handling all the company's accounting, including the corporate tax return, bookkeeping, payroll, and the personal tax returns of the family. In 1995, DJ passed her CPA exam and her accounting business took off. Although she was highly successful, her life changed in November 2012. Her friend had asked her to try a Nerium International Anti-Aging product and DJ was quite skeptical. The company had only been started in August 2011 and DJ thought that she would prove to her friend that the product did not work. How wrong she was and on top of it, when her friend asked DJ to prepare her tax return, DJ realized this was not just another start-up but one that had significant potential. DJ started marketing Nerium products three years ago. The products include Firming Body Contouring Cream, Age Defying Night Cream, and EHT Enhancement Formula Supplements. Within 62 days from when she started she earned her initial investment back and now works with almost 30 brand partners. DJ could not imagine working for anyone besides herself. She likes the freedom to set her own schedule so she can attend to the needs of her family and enjoy her outside interests. She feels very supported from Nerium and learns a lot from the many conferences and seminars they hold year round. Her passion is to make men and women feel wonderful - both inside and out. Tucked away in Thames Street Landing on the waterfront is a gift shop with an eclectic choice of goods. Jody O’Marra has operated Luna Sea since July 2012. Her inventory, she says, is based on personal preference, items she could not find locally, and customer requests. Jodi’s customers have found her to be not only knowledgeable about her products but also most accommodating when they are looking for a particular item. Her quest is to find Made in American, Fair Trade Merchants companies. You will find a full line of organic and natural items including spices, herbs, teas, chocolates, sauces and candles, and gift items for the home. One of the stores most popular items is by Badger Balms Essential Oils: If you’re looking for a good night’s sleep, use the Badger Balm for sleep. Always growing, last year she introduced a line of children’s toys, Melissa & Doug; and a smaller line, not as well known yet, called Dandelion, that features organic items for babies, soft rattles, dolls and animals, incredibly soft and cuddly. Again, Made in America! By training and education, Jodi was in telecommunications and emergency management. Wanting to get out of the corporate world, she decided to take her effort and intensity and put it in a more creative direction. Born and raised in Connecticut, she is one of 10 siblings. Family and friends are what ground her. Jodi’s brother lives in Bristol, so when looking to start on a new chapter in her life she thought what better place. “Bristol is closer to Connecticut,” she said. “I already have family here and there is no place else I would rather open a business” As soon as you walk in, you are embraced with a wide range of colors. The room is filled with art, including paintings, sculptures, printed t-shirts, mosaic pots, fabric covered books, and even felt fortune cookies. Some pieces are quite large and towered over the visitors. Others had such detail that it was quite evident it took many hours to create. Regardless of what you are seeking in a gift for yourself or others, The Brass is the place to go. The Brass consists of artists with development disabilities that are supported in partnership by the non-profit organization, Living in Fulfilling Environments. The art program was started in 2009 and currently there are about 60 clients who participate. Everyone is 21 years old or older; one is even 90! They are a friendly and welcoming group who are very proud of their work which is evident not only in their art but also in their smiles. One offered to show his work that included a stool with shoes attached of which one moved. A friendly monster looking sculpture created with bright green tape was one of his other creations. Besides their physical location in the Cutler Mill Complex in Warren, the art is displayed at craft shows and other places. The Brass has become better known in the East Bay since it started participating in Bristol Warren Art Nights. The artists receive a portion of the sale; prices can be a few dollars to more than $900 for larger pieces. The rest of the proceeds goes to The Brass for supplies, etc. Seamus Hanes explains that this is a wonderful opportunity for the clients/artists to have their "own voice". Although most work at tables with others, their work is self directed and very individualized. This is very evident when you see the woven tapestries. There were a few displayed but you could tell that each was made by different people. The Brass' artists are unique in many ways. Words cannot describe the energy, enthusiasm, creativity, and imagination of these artists so you will just have to go see for yourself. You wil be quite impressed! Lorrie Mendonca, owner, had long dreamed about owning her own floral shop. While as an executive assistant for a large bridal company, she never gave up on her dream. She studied floral design, took classes and when the opportunity presented itself for her to open a floral shop, she took it. Floral Symphony by Alexandrina's is a small, family-owned floral boutique located in downtown Bristol. Her goal is to provide custom floral arrangements that will inspire! The Boutique originally opened its doors October 2012 on Wood Street as Alexandrina's Floral Boutique, and January 2013 she acquired Floral Symphony of Thames Street. Along with her incredible floral designs, Floral Symphony offers fruit and gourmet baskets, gift wares, candles and a unique line of bird houses. "Our team is dedicated to exquisite floral design, attention to detail and unsurpassed customer service,” Lorrie said. “We understand that you have many choices in floral design and we appreciate you taking the time to visit Floral Symphony by Alexandriana's." |
Archives
March 2024
Categories
All
|