Rosario’s under new management

By MARGARET KILLOUGH | Milton Independent Staff Writer

Andy Dulac is now the owner of Rosario's in Milton and originated the People to People clothing and food drive for those in need in the community.

If you dine at Rosario's in Milton when Andrew Dulac is working, you will find yourself the recipient of plenty of attention. Dulac will check in with you periodically to see if the food is to your liking, if you need extra sauce, or want another helping.

An energetic young man with wire rimmed glasses, a ready smile and a friendly, polite manner, Dulac worked his way up from dishwasher to manager and now franchise owner and clearly loves his job.

His intention is to make Rosario's the best place in Milton for quality dining at an affordable price. This is proving to be a challenge in an increasingly difficult economy. He ruefully recounts how the price of flour went up just as he became manager.

Mindful of how people are struggling to make ends meet he strives to come up with specials that will give customers the best value for their dollar and tries to provide service that makes the experience enjoyable.

He hopes that promotions like the “all you can eat early bird special” and the “dinner for two for $11.95 meal” will entice people to stop in and give him a chance to earn their loyalty. Recently he also began providing an opportunity for customers to eat affordably while helping out others in their community.

Dulac has taken Vermont's economic struggles so much to heart that he started a drive to collect food and clothing for those hardest hit. The clothing is sent to The Salvation Army and the food goes to local food shelves.

“I think that most people are kind and generous and want to help but sometimes they just don't know how to go about it,” he says. He hopes to make it easy for them and, like ripples in a pond, the idea of reaching out to help will continue to grow and touch people throughout the community.

“We all have clothes in our closets that we're not using and something as simple as a clean, new shirt can really make a difference to a person who is struggling,” said Dulac.

That idea of reaching out and helping people is one that occupies his thoughts constantly. He even wakes up in the middle of the night thinking about it. A recent news story about the problem of winter heat this year made him “want to cry” and strengthened his determination to find new ways to help ease the financial burdens of his fellow Vermonters.

“In some ways,” he says, “it's kind of selfish. I do this because nothing else makes me feel as good as helping people.”

He also does it as a way to give something back in return for all of the kindness and support that he has received in his own life.

When pressed for details, he states simply “I was in jail” and goes on to talk about how while in jail for drug-related offenses, he learned how much of a difference the smallest acts of kindness could make in a person's life.

His tone remains light as he fills in a few details about this part of his past but his eyes cloud over and you can hear the regret in his voice.

He doesn't dwell on the subject but goes on to list the many friends and family members who have lent their support, people like Mike Barrett (the owner of the St. Albans Rosario's restaurant) who hired him two days after his release.

Barrett frequently hires young people such as Dulac and says that he “gives them all a chance because no one else will.”

He says that Dulac is one of the cases that seem to be working out well and he is pleased with how things are being handled.

His efforts have attracted the attention of Reverend Lane Williams of Unity Church in Essex Junction, and Reverend Williams has joined Dulac in collecting the donation items.

Reverend Williams was impressed not only with Dulac's great service and his ability to make a great pizza but also with his earnest desire to help others. “This man is some sort of evolved soul,” she says.

His goals include someday resuming his college studies and studying history and economics, and perhaps environmental studies.