By Brian Barrett
     PR Committee

     Trafford Restaurant opened in June 2011 by William Kane, Margauerite Kane, and RussellGoyette. In November 2012 Russell Goyette took full control of restaurant operations and things have been soaring ever since. Russell was nice enough to meet with me for this write up and provide an inside look at his pride and joy beautifully located on waterfront in Warren’s historic district. From our conversation it was clear to see his passion for the restaurant and the people who work there. 
     When I mentioned I’ve heard good things about the restaurant Russell replied “a company is only as good as the people it employs.” Most of the employees at Trafford have been there for several years. There is a family like atmosphere among staff and he has a very hands-on approach to running the business. Throughout our discussion multiple employees stopped by to check in and comfortably ask him questions. Many of his workers will be heading back to college soon and although he’s not thrilled about being short staffed he’s proud of how smart they are. Many of his workers have been there since they were in high school and he’s enjoyed watching them grow into young adults with promising futures. 
     I asked how he’d classify the style of food they make and he replied simply “fresh”. From the quality cuts of meat to the produce to the fish right off the docks; Trafford puts an emphasis on using only fresh, mainly locally sourced, ingredient’s. In addition to the exceptional food the location of this venue is top notch. 
     Trafford has a large sunset facing deck on the water in the back with a bar and plenty of dining tables, a spacious inside dining area with large windows and an upstairs with addition seating and another bar. The upstairs can be rented for private functions (seats 60 comfortably for sit down dining and 100 for buffet style eating). It’s a popular location for baby showers, birthdays, work functions, engagement parties and other such festivities. While we were talking in his office I heard a surprise party unfold in the background, everyone sounded to be enjoying themselves very much.
     This restaurant is absolutely worth checking out for a nice meal with loved ones or a drink on the deck with a beautiful panoramic view of the water. There is plenty of parking, valet provided during the busy season, and a dock slip available to customers with boats, make sure you call in advance for dock availability. 
So stop by Trafford Restaurant at 285 Water St, Warren, RI and let Russell know the East Bay Chamber of Commerce sent you! 

In 2009, Lisa Raiola and Waterman Brown approached the Warren Economic Development Board with the idea for a community-based incubator for food businesses located at the Main Street School (then owned by the Town of Warren).  They asked the EDB what hopes they had for the school, and the EDB stated that they wanted a place that spurred new businesses and job growth in  Warren, engaged the local   community and created a destination to encourage others to visit Warren and the East Bay. 
     Their hard work and dedication are paying huge  dividends for Rhode Island.  Since opening its doors in October 2014, Hope & Main now houses 59 active businesses, or nearly 40% of all active Rhode Island-based food processing businesses and about 16% of all food processors operating in the state overall.  The impacts from these businesses reach beyond food entrepreneurs to food producers, packaging companies, designers, etc. and represents exciting, new economic development for the state.
Beth Carter, owner of Beth Carter Enterprises, was named the 2016 Chamber Member of the Year. Since joining the Chamber in 2014, Beth has joined the Board of Directors and also chairs the Public   Relations Committee. With her extensive marketing background and a “members first” motto, Beth    oversees the member spotlight stories and the   chairman’s  message, as well as being a standout leader in our women’s group, WEBOND.
     The Annual Awards Dinner also serves as our installation of new board members, and the election of new officers. Bette Walpole, Chamber Membership Director, will serve as the new board chairperson for a two-year term; and Lou Victorino, owner of East Bay Manufacturing, will serve as      chair-elect. Other new board members include Joe Hozempa of Round Two; Luca Carnevale of Hope & Main; and Jessica Pflaumer, Economic Development Coordinator for the Town of Bristol. Mark DeVine of DeVine and Associates, will assume the role of secretary/treasurer, relieving Joe Farmer. 
      All Chamber members are encouraged to celebration our honorees at the Annual Awards Dinner, to be held on Thursday, Oct. 20, at the Ramada Banquet and Conference Center, 213 Taunton Ave., in Seekonk. The event starts at 5:30 p.m., with dinner served promptly at 6:30. Tickets are $50 per person. As this is a seated dinner, reservations are required, and can be made by calling the office,      401-245-0750; or emailing Suzanne Munroe. Deadline for reservations is Oct. 7.
     The Chamber is also accepting sponsorships for this event. For    details and to take advantage of this highly publicized dinner, email Suzanne Munroe.

The East Bay Chamber of Commerce is partnering with Google to help put every business in the East Bay on the map.
Businesses that have complete business information online are twice as likely to be considered reputable by consumers. When people can find info about local dentists, dry cleaners, and your business, our community becomes even stronger.
Getting all of your business info online is free and easy. Get started at gybo.com. Download the program handout below.

See you on the web,
Christine O'Connor
Marketing & Communications Manager
East Bay Chamber of Commerce
Official City Partner, Let’s Put Our Cities on the Map

BankNewport extended a $10,000 grant to East Bay Community Action Program (EBCAP) to help fund digital literacy courses for students enrolled in their Workforce Development programs, An Even Start in Newport and the East Bay Skills Alliance.  

Computer literacy is essential to the present and future success of adult education students, since job searches are conducted online and most employers request that applications, resumes, cover letters and references be submitted electronically.  Earning digital literacy certification will aid adult learners in job searches, improve their marketability to potential employers, and build the skills necessary for completion of the new computer-based GED exam and pursue higher education.

BankNewport’s grant helped fund the delivery of two new computer literacy courses for the Even Start and East Bay Skills Alliance students.  The topics comprised keyboarding, use of a mouse and navigation, basic computer use, internet safety and the World Wide Web.  Classes were held in the Virtual Learning Lab at the Florence Gray Center in Newport and taught by Even Start GED Instructor, Heather Sullivan and Even Start Parent Educator and Case Manager, Marisa Ellin. 

The total number of certificates earned was 107. In order to earn a certificate, a student must pass the exam with a score of 85% or higher; 100% of the students improved their pretest scores when they took the proctored exam. 

The courses were offered through the Northstar Digital Literacy Project, which defines the basic skills needed to perform tasks on computers and online. The ability of adults to perform such tasks is assessed through online, self-guided modules.  Included are basic computer digital literacy standards and modules in ten main areas: Basic Computer Use, Internet, Windows Operating System, Mac OS, Email, Microsoft Word, Social Media, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, and Information Literacy.

About Even Start
An Even Start in Newport is a family literacy program that helps improve the academic achievement of young children and their parents, especially in the area of reading. Even Start provides family literacy services in Newport County to low-income families that have at least one child between birth and ten years old.  East Bay Skills Alliance educates, trains and empowers Rhode Island residents to embark on career pathways to become employed in available jobs and provides Rhode Island employers with skilled, work-ready employees who contribute to the economic development of their community.

About BankNewport 
Founded in 1819 and headquartered in Newport, BankNewport offers a full suite of loan and deposit products and services for families and businesses throughout Rhode Island.  In addition, OceanPoint Insurance Agency, Inc., a subsidiary of BankNewport, offers a broad range of property casualty insurance products and a full array of financial services.  With 15 banking offices and $1.4 billion in assets, BankNewport is one of the oldest community banks in the United States and, as a mutual organization, is committed to the financial success of its customers, employees and communities. 

Save The Bay is recruiting volunteers to serve as site leaders for its 2016 International Coastal Cleanup. In particular, the organization is looking for site leaders who can help identify and lead cleanups at small, neighborhood beaches, fishing areas, boat launches and rights of way. “These areas don’t have city or park staff to maintain them, so littering and even dumping can be a big problem,” said July Lewis, Save The Bay’s volunteer and internship manager. The official date of the International Coastal Cleanup is Saturday, September 17, but cleanups held anytime during September or October can be counted as part of the global event. Save The Bay will hold site leader training on Tuesday, August 23 from 5:30 – 7 p.m. To become a site leader, contact Lewis at [email protected].
“The success of this event truly depends on community members stepping up to take the lead on cleanups,” said Lewis. “I encourage anyone who has a shoreline site they care about to step forward. It doesn’t have to be a big, public event, and it doesn’t have to take long. A family, a group of friends, even one person can do a cleanup.”
The International Coastal Cleanup, organized by the Washington, D.C.-based Ocean Conservancy and locally by Save The Bay, is the largest global volunteer effort on behalf of the ocean. Last year, beach captains led 2,199 volunteers in the cleanup of 69 miles of Rhode Island shoreline, at 85 sites throughout the state. Volunteers picked up 19,469 pounds of litter and debris, recording what they collected along the way. At the end of the cleanup, all the data from Rhode Island’s shoreline is sent to Ocean Conservancy, where it becomes part of an annual report on marine debris around the globe.
Rhode Island’s International Coastal Cleanup is supported by local business and corporations offering financial support and volunteer teams. Save The Bay thanks current sponsors - Citizens Bank, National Grid, Aquidneck Employment Services, Blum Shapiro, Clean Ocean Access, Graphic Innovations, MetLife, Providence Autobody, Roy Carpenter’s Beach, StoneRidge and ZipCar – who make the cleanup possible. For more information about the International Coastal Cleanup, visit http://www.savebay.org/icc.
 
About Save The Bay
Founded in 1970, Save The Bay works to protect and improve Narragansett Bay and its watershed through advocacy, education, and restoration efforts. It envisions a fully swimmable, fishable, healthy Narragansett Bay, accessible to everyone and globally recognized as an environmental treasure.