Westport in Brief!
EverythingWestport.com
Saturday, March 13, 2010
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Ribbon cutting
at State Road CVS.
|
Ribbon cutting at State Road CVS. EverythingWestport.com
Tuesday, March 02, 2010
“We sent flyers throughout this store’s
marketing area over the last three days,” store manager Regina Sheldon told
EverythingWestport.com. “We are giving a $25 gift card for every new or
transferred prescription,” she said, “and will have an open-ended $5 off any
purchase of $15 or more.” The store had face paintings, raffles of
items like autographed Patriots shirts and lift tickets to Jiminy peak, and
other fun-filled activities, including a visit by the Easter Bunny. At 3:00 p.m. the sheriff’s department
conducted a Child Identification Program where parents or guardians of those
children voluntarily processed at the grand opening will be presented a brief
videotape, a set of fingerprints, a ToothprintsTM
bite impression and a DNA swab, free
of charge.” Click
here to read more about this important safety
program sponsored by law enforcement agencies. "Since opening our first store in
Massachusetts in 1963, CVS/pharmacy has evolved from a health and beauty aids
retailer to the nation's leading retail pharmacy with operations in 41 states
and the District of Columbia that are staffed by dedicated pharmacy professionals
who work hard every day to take care of our customers," said CVS
Pharmacy President Larry Merlo. “Our new store in Westport adds to the over
7000 locations now operated by CVS Caremark,” said Sheldon. Currently 45% of
the store’s staff lives in Westport, including Sheldon and CVS Pharmacy
district manager Roger Michaud.
Pictured from the
left: Ernie Orlando, CVS district manager; Caren Sousa Aguiar, lead
technician, pharmacy; Kim McGrath, Pharmacy Manager; Paul Vasconcellos Sr.;
Mrs. Vasconcellos; Regina Sheldon, store manager; State Representative
Michael Rodrigues, Laurie Pacheco, staff pharmacist; selectman Steven Ouellette; selectman Paul Schmid; selectman Brian Valcourt;
former selectwoman Liz Collins; Mary Foley, Minute Clinic representative
(subsidiary of CVS); and Roger Michaud, CVS district pharmacy manager. CVS Caremark is only the second large chain
retail operation now in Westport; Cumberland Farms being the first.
Westport’s lack of a public sewerage system has been a deterrent to business
expansion along the Route 6 corridor, and until recent times there was no
town water as well. The lack of these services and the town’s shyness over
large box store development has discouraged the kind of retail store
expansion of the type that has occurred in neighboring Dartmouth. Selectman
Steven Ouellette, a member of the Economic Development Task Force, said the
Selectmen were happy with the safety improvements and sidewalks incorporated
at the busy intersection; the CVS Pharmacy is located at the intersection of
Route 6 with Gifford Road. “The
task force prefers business growth to be office space or light commerce,”
Ouellette said, “and the selectman would rather see industry that could offer
more full-time positions. But CVS is a welcome addition to our community.”
Left: CVS Caremark’s latest store in Westport. Right:
State Representative Mike Rodrigues with the Easter bunny. Sorry Mike, Easter
bunnies can’t vote.
Left: Mr. and Mrs. Paul Vasconcellos Sr. with Economic
Development Task Force member Mike Sullivan. Right: Mike Sullivan trying his
hand at winning a raffle prize.
Left: CVS’ modern and spacious layout invites shoppers
to browse while filling prescriptions. Right: The friendly CVS crew flanking
store manager Regina Sheldon. 45% of Sheldon’s staff live in Westport. Opportunity comes
knocking on a door. “A
man knocked on our door two weeks before Christmas, 2007,” Mrs. Vasconcellos of
Westport said. “He made us an offer on our property. We turned him down.” “There
were five property owners on State and Gifford Road that CVS was trying to
acquire,” said Mr. Paul Vasconcellos, Sr. “Our house at 605 State Road was
built by my grandfather in 1947, the same year I was born. We were very
attached to that house.” Eventually
they sold their property to the developer who had worked with CVS to select
the Westport location. “We got a price we felt was very fair, and why should
we hold up these other people and property owners? CVS is a very welcome
addition to the community, and we’re very happy they’re here,” the
Vasconcellos said. According
to Mr. Vasconcellos, Mike Sullivan of the Economic Development Task Force was
a major factor in getting this project done. “We
simply guided the neighbors through the long process,” Sullivan modestly
said. “CVS was an important business acquisition for our town. We had to make
it work.” - - - - - End - - -
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