Renovated Cafeteria Officially Opens at Rockville General Hospital

On Tuesday, with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting of hospital gauze and surgical scissors, officials of Rockville General Hospital and the Rockville Bank Foundation officially opened the newly renovated hospital cafeteria.

Every year, more than 45,000 visitors, staff and patients pass through the Eastern Connecticut Health Network hospital at 31 Union Street in Vernon, Conn., and most spend some time in the cafeteria. After many years, the cafeteria underwent a total renovation and even added seating to accommodate a growing number of diners.

The project was made possible as part of a $157,500 grant from the Rockville Bank Foundation, bringing its total donations to ECHN to more than $500,000 since the Foundation’s establishment in 1998.

The latest grant from the Rockville Bank Foundation also will be used toward renovation of Manchester Memorial Hospital’s lobby this spring.

“We are so appreciative of the funding for this major project which includes new floors, updated lighting, chairs, tables, and banquette seating, window treatments, wall coverings and paint, and updated murals,” said Nina Kruse, director of development for ECHN’s Foundation.

Speakers at the ceremony were: Peter J. Karl, ECHN president and chief executive officer; Tom Scanlon, chairman of the ECHN Foundation board of trustees, Dennis O’Neill, M.D., chairman of the ECHN board of trustees; and Rockville Bank/Rockville Financial, Inc. President and Chief Executive Officer William H. W. Crawford, IV. Also attending were Richard J. Trachimowicz, Rockville Bank executive vice president and president of the Rockville Bank Foundation, and members of the hospital and bank staffs.

“Rockville Bank and the Rockville Bank Foundation represent two distinguished organizations whose outstanding generosity demonstrates their commitment to the eastern Connecticut community,” Kruse said.

“Rockville Bank has enjoyed a long partnership with ECHN, and this project at Rockville General Hospital is our latest endeavor together,” Crawford said. “We are pleased to continue to join them as they provide quality care and support for the communities we serve.”