1. Jason Gulisano, owner of the Green Cup in Waitsfield, said it
best: “Just because a few businesses are closed doesn’t mean the rest
of the businesses have to suffer.” We need visitors like craft fair
attendees, golfers, weddings and bicycle racers to come and spend their
money so our local economy can continue. Our economic situation is
strained as it is and we, as a community, need this spending. The race
receives significant public relations which will help get the word out
to the greater area that the entire state of Vermont was not devastated,
and that fall foliage visitors should still plan to come for autumn.
Consecutive days of national and international flood coverage focusing
on Vermont have had a huge negative impact on the state already reeling
from Irene.
2. The race brings over 800 people to The Valley, many of whom stay
three to four nights at local inns, eat out, fill gas tanks, buy from
the Farmers’ Market and spend much needed funds in The Valley.
3. At racer check-in, the race organizers had an extensive display of
photos of the destruction with a recommendation to give generously to
the Community Fund. A large jar was full of cash and checks by mid
morning on Friday.
4. The race course was altered significantly to minimize impact to
the local community so that on Friday bikes are (were) in Waitsfield on
East Warren Road for time trials, one single bike at a time – not in a
group. When reports were received at 11 a.m. that bikes were riding
three to four wide through Waitsfield, a state trooper was dispatched
to Tremblay Road to inform riders they must ride single file and my
observation at the Wait House indicated they rode single file at that
point.
Saturday’s race was moved to Champlain Valley and Sunday’s race started
at Mt. Ellen early Sunday morning, through Waitsfield to Duxbury, then
the backside of the river to Route 2, and on to Huntington, Hinesburg
and to the Route 17 finish. Monday’s race was in Burlington.
We appreciate the struggle and stress that Irene has caused and the
additional frustration the bicycles may cause travelers. We thank you
for your patience as we all work to getting back on our collective feet
as soon as possible.
Susan Klein is the director of the MRV Chamber of Commerce.
