Today we are featuring our interview with Alita Wilson, Executive Director of Pentangle Arts, a non-profit arts organization located in Woodstock, Vermont.  Since 1974, Pentangle has enriched the Woodstock, Pomfret, Barnard, Reading, and Bridgwater communities by presenting high-quality, affordable arts and cultural experiences.  Visit www.pentanglearts.org to find out more.  

Alita and Marketing Director, Angela Moore           Cast of Magic School  Bus                                       Dance Camp Quartet

Who are you and where do you live? 

Alita Wilson, Woodstock VT

What do you do?

I am Pentangle Arts Executive Director

How has your life and livelihood changed in the time of Covid-19?

I have taken a pay cut. I work from home. I am applying for loans to pay the bills that are still coming in. I do have to go into work to periodically to boot up the digital projector. Our three kids are doing online learning. Our oldest will not have a proper college graduation. 

What is the most important thing that people can do to help support you and/or your business?

Purchase e-gift cards at www.pentanglearts.org, or - if folks have the capacity to give - please donate to Pentangle so that we have the funds to pay operational expenses such as insurance, utilities, and web site fees.

What changes do you hope to see in a post-quarantine world?

I hope to see our community to come together to help those who suffered the most during the crisis, to support our area businesses so they can bounce back, and for kindness to be the norm across all demographics. I hope to once again open Pentangle’s doors for shared experiences for everyone to enjoy.

We can't wait to come together once more as a community to celebrate the arts - thanks, Alita!

Images courtesy of www.pentanglearts.org

During the Covid-19 crisis, we will feature interviews with as many local business owners, entrepreneurs, and non-profit directors as possible as a way to help support our communities through these strange and scary times.  First up, Sam DiNatale of Mon Vert Café!

Who are you and where do you live?

Sam DiNatale, Village of Woodstock Vermont.

What do you do? For how long have you been doing it? 

I’m a small business owner of a restaurant in the center of town, Mon Vert Café. I’ve owned it for five years and worked in the food industry for five years prior to that.

How has your life and livelihood changed in the time of Covid-19?

We closed the café due to concerns of exposure to the virus and contributing to the spread. Being a meeting place for the community has always been our passion, and we were worried that by staying open we’d be part of the problem, so we closed. Immediately putting 15 people out of work. Now that this looks like it will last longer than a few weeks, we’re looking at opening for limited hours and curbside take out.

What is the most important thing that people can do to help support you and/or your business?

As of right now, purchasing an e-gift card on our website: www.monvertcafe.com and spreading the word to the others to do the same.

What changes do you hope to see in a post-quarantine world?

We’re all a little more appreciative of our day-to-day lives, families, work, and community.

Thanks, Sam!  We can't wait until we can all meet for coffee again, and we'll look forward to hearing more about your curbside takeout.  Until next time, friends - be well, stay home, and stay safe.  

Photo courtesy of the Mon Vert Café website: https://www.monvertcafe.com/