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Sunday, May 30, 2010

Quick Article Index . . .

Mr. Contractor, tear down that fence!

Ellie’s Restaurant reopens with little fanfare and a lot of panache.

Mr. Contractor, tear down that fence!
EverythingWestport.com
Friday, May 28, 2010
And so the security fences came down as Exquisite Landscaping of Canton put the finishing touches on the new fire station’s grounds; planted saplings acting as sentinels over the newly paved entranceways. The Westport River Gardeners’ “Rockery” is ready for the green thumbs of the guardian gardeners of Westport.
Chief Legendre announced that July 30 will be the official ribbon cutting ceremony for introducing Westport’s largest public works project ever to Westport citizenry. The building is first class, and internal systems and communications are state-of-the-art.
“Subcontractors have performed well,” Owner’s project Manager Peter Koczera said. “There are always a few glitches in executing a project of this size, but overall I’m pleased with the effort.”

Left: Doreen of Signature Signs, Dartmouth got the nod to produce the ceremonial bronze plaque that will hang in the station’s foyer. Right: Workers for Air Cleaning Specialist out of Hanover, MA install exhaust venting equipment, featuring a PlymoVent vehicle exhaust ventilation system, in the apparatus bay.

Left: Lance of Buote Painting Company from Middleboro applies a finish coat of, what else, fire engine red to the stairwells. Center: Bob Fournier of Simplex/Grinnel (a supplier of access control, security, CCTV, fire alarm, audiovisual, and PBX telephony) finishes up the installation of emergency fire alarm equipment. Right: David of Griffin Electric “pings” out the Ethernet cables while Owner’s Project Manager Peter Koczera enjoys his new digs on the fire station’s second floor.

Left:Vitaly of Ayotte & King Flooring Contractor out of Chicopee lays down a stunning charcoal grey granite floor in the station’s foyer. Right:The southend fire station’s elegant yet simple design is both pretty and practical.

Left:Bob Fournier of Simplex/Grinnel conducts a generator cutover test by tripping the newly installed main electrical disconnect to insure the station’s 230,000 watt generator (right) transfers to backup power within a few seconds of a complete power loss to the fire station. The Kohler powerhouse, not your average household generator, powers the entire station’s electrical system. Safety first starts with a fully-functional fire station.

Ellie’s Restaurant reopens with little fanfare and a lot of panache.
EverythingWestport.com
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Things have been quiet for the last year at the corner of Main and Cornell Roads. But all that is about to change. Ellie’s Place is back in business.
Frank V. Formisano of Taunton, Massachusetts is leasing Ellie’s Place, and reopened the longtime Westport restaurant last weekend, continuing a family-operated eatery that was started in 1977 by the late Ellie Taylor.
Ellie’s closed December 2008 when the chef/manager left for another opportunity in the food service business. Victor and Deanna Vieira ran Ellie’s for about seven years until their lease expired. The lease was not renewed.
Peg and Kerm Dessert of Westport were long-time owners prior to the restaurant’s sale to Paul and Joan Amaral.
Owner Joan Casey Amaral had intended to sell Ellie’s, the Main Road restaurant that has been in her family since 1999. She instead decided to lease it to Formisano.
Kerm and Peg Dessert had run Ellie’s for 20 years, taking over from the late Ellie Taylor who founded the restaurant in 1977 and ran it for about three years.
Formisano, a former manager of Quito’s Restaurant and Seafood Marketplace on Thames Street in Bristol, began working at age 8 in the kitchen of his parents’ restaurant, the Old Venice Restaurant in Warren, R.I. He helped run that restaurant until the mid-1990s, and then ran Quito’s in Bristol, R.I., until selling his half-share to his business partner, Al Quito.He plans to be open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Once the restaurant had cleaned up a few outstanding issues like emergency lighting, the stoves’ ventilation system and a few plumbing issues, it was allowed to open by the town. The interior basically remains the same.
Ellie’s Place was granted a full liquor license by the town early this year. Their menu will include Italian and seafood, burgers and sandwiches, salads and fried foods. An enclosed outdoor seating courtyard with five to six tables is planned with an awning covering the area.
The Amaral family, who has owned the property at the corner of Main and Cornell roads since 1999, had planned to take over and operate the 60-seat family-style restaurant. Some minor modifications were made to the interior, but essentially the building remains the same.
Running the restaurant will continue to be a family effort. Formisano’s wife, Michelle, will manage the dining room, assisted by three of his daughters Rosa, Sofia and Ginamarie.
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