Tag Archives: Windjammer

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Pints For Paws: Friends of the Westerly Animal Shelter

“Friends of the Westerly Animal Shelter” or FOWAS is a group of local volunteers that are dedicated to supporting animal care at the Westerly Animal Shelter. They are a 501-C non-profit, whose mission is “Supporting Westerly Animal Shelter in it’s quest to promote the health/welfare of lost/abandoned pets and to educate and assist those who care for them.”

Through fundraising, FOWAS uses 100% of its proceeds to take care of situations that the town doesn’t pay for. There are 3 major categories where these funds may be directed.

1. FOWAS will pay for non life-threatening surgeries that an animal may need to make them more adoptable. For example, a dog with the condition ‘cherry eye,’ which is a disorder of the Nictitating Membrane, could receive the surgery needed to fix the eyelids, therefore making the dog more adoptable and able to find a suitable home.

2. A portion of the proceeds from fundraising also goes to behavioral training, which will teach animals basic commands and help control anxiety, and anger or aggression, which often comes from the animals being caged for long periods of time. Like cosmetic surgery, this training will also greatly improve the animal’s ability and likelihood to be adopted.

3. Finally, FOWAS also helps save animals deemed “non-adoptable” and finds Rescues for animals on the “Euthanasia List.” For the animals that do not meet the criteria for adoption, the FOWAS will make donations to the Rescues that will accept these animals into their shelters; essentially saving them from being euthanized.

The "Pints for Paws" flyer, which promotes the event.

The “Pints for Paws” flyer, which promotes the event.

So how can you help?

Sally Trefes Sorensen, FOWAS volunteer, and manager of the Windjammer, a popular beach bar located in Misquamicut, RI, has created the “Pints for Paws” event.  This fundraiser allows “Celebrity Bartenders” the chance to hop behind the bar and show off their bar tending skills. Every Thursday in August, from 6pm-8pm at the Windjammer a celebrity bartender will join a veteran Windjammer bartender, and the duo will donate all their tips to the FOWAS. At certain events, there will also be live music, and the opportunity to purchase tickets for the annual FOWAS raffle, which offers a first place prize of $1,500, a second place prize of $1,000, and a third place prize of $500, with a $3/ticket purchase.

The first “Pints for Paws” of the summer went off without a hitch, and it is expected that each and every Thursday will bring in more and more money for FOWAS.

For more information on the “Friends of the Westerly Animal Shelter” and for an up-to-date list of the celebrity bartenders participating in the event, follow them on Facebook.

 

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Sommelier in Training Practices Her Craft

Erin Burke, Bartender and Sommelier in Training from Ryan Jacobson on Vimeo.

For fifteen years, Erin Burke has been passionate about serving her customers. After tending bar around the world, Burke has settled at Westerly, Rhode Island summer hot spot, The Windjammer.

Now in her fifth summer at the Windjammer, Burke has loads of regular customers that come to visit her from far near and far. She has dabbled in other professions, but has come to find that she is happiest when she is behind the bar, and helping others have an enjoyable experience.

“Every day is a good day” says Burke, citing “the ocean, and the beach” as her office window views.

Now, at the age of 34, Burke has began the long process of becoming a certified Sommelier. A Sommelier is a trained wine professional, normally working in fine dining restaurants, and specializes in all aspects of wine knowledge.

Burke hopes her new title will help her grow in the field that she has chosen to make her profession. There are four stages to becoming a Master Sommelier, and Burke hopes to complete step one this June when she takes the Introductory Sommelier Course and test, in St. Louis, MO. Burke has been studying for the first step for months now, and often visits wineries and vineyards to get first hand experience and knowledge. She has also been reading many wine encyclopedias, and the popular Wine Bible.

“Many people think that training to become a Sommelier is fun and easy” says Burke. And while it does have it’s fun moments, like sampling all the wines, and visiting all the wineries, it is anything but easy, and is quickly turning into one of the biggest challenges of my professional career.

For more information on The Windjammer, visit their website at http://www.atlanticbeachpark.com/

or follow them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/WindjammerRI?fref=ts

For more information on becoming a Master Sommelier for yourself, visit their website at http://www.mastersommeliers.org/

 

 

 

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Preparing for Another Season at the Windjammer

In just a few weeks, the Windjammer Surf Bar will open it’s doors for the summer. In an on-going struggle to remain a competitor in the beach bar scene we interviewed the owner, and manager of the Windjammer, Sally Trefes Sorensen, to see what this summer will bring for returning locals, and Windjammer newbies that are experiencing the bar for the first time.

“The Windjammer is a laid-back, easy-going establishment that focuses on the patrons having fun, and enjoying their time off” says Trefes Sorensen. “From loyal customers that live in the area, to “annual regulars” that visit the bar as a yearly tradition, the Windjammer is a summertime favorite, and a home away form home.”

This summer, the “Jammer”, as referred to by many of the locals, will test the waters with new themed nights, and exciting events. With both outdoor, and indoor bars, the Windjammer is accommodating for any New England weather scenario.

Mondays will continue to be “Mondays Minis” which offers patrons $1 mini bud, bud lights, and bug light limes.
On Tuesdays the Windjammer will host cribbage/pitch tournaments.
Wednesdays will be devoted to Bar Bingo, with host DJ Chris Caswell, of Trivia Time USA.
On Thursdays, the Windjammer will try its hand at karaoke.
And Fridays and Saturdays will continue to be half-priced appetizers.

As always, the Windjammer will continue to have live music on the outdoor patio on Saturdays and Sundays, and live bands inside on Friday and Saturday nights. Returning favorites, such as Jason Cardinal, Sugar, and Never Enuff, will again preform at the Windjammer this summer, as well as first time artists that are sure to get the crowd dancing, and singing along.

For more information on what else is happening at the Windjammer this summer, be sure to follow them on their Facebook page, or check out their website at atlanticbeachpark.com

https://www.facebook.com/search/str/Windjammer%20Beach%20Resort%20/keywords_top