Business notebook

Warwick - Grand opening . . . This past June, Ed and Charlotte Cummiskey, owners of the Card Spot, 51 Main Street., decided to retire and close the doors on the popular shop at 54 Main St. that they had owned and operated for approximately 41 years. But the desirable space in downtown Warwick did not remain vacant for long. On Saturday, September 15, Paul Massie and Rose Dwyer along with Mayor Michael Newhard and others officially cut the ribbon to “Iyengar Yoga Center of Warwick.” Co-owner Massie and Dwyer, director of Iyengar Yoga Center, with members of the faculty, including Nancy Preston and Kim Peralta, collectively boast over 40 years of teaching experience. Director Rose Dwyer has been teaching yoga for adult education programs, senior centers, libraries and yoga centers for 10 years. Kim Peralta has been teaching the Iyengar method of yoga for over 20 years. According to Dwyer, the Iyengar method of Yoga, initially learned through the in-depth study of posture and breath control, is a step-by-step system of yoga, which focuses on musculo-skeletal alignment. A Center instructor, Kim Peralta, has trained in India under Belur Krishnamachar Sundararaja Iyengar, more commonly known as B.K.S. Iyengar. The famous yoga master has been featured in Time Magazine’s, “100 most influential people of the twentieth century.” Peralta emphasizes that the Iyengar method is ideal for all body types, including people who are not naturally flexible. In addition to a weekly schedule, specialized classes for chronic back pain and weight control will be offered. For additional information call 987-2076. Anniversary . . . Bakers Laura Vreeland and Susan McEnerney-Braiser are celebrating the first anniversary of their unique bakery business, Lovely Sweets Bakery. The physical evidence of their success is that since starting the business last fall, they’ve purchased a delivery vehicle and developed a Web site: lovelysweetsbakery.com Vreeland and McEnerney-Braiser offer custom- baked goods that are always unique. And that’s because they refuse to use molds. Everything, including the two- and three-dimensional cakes, is hand sculptured. “This is a true artisan bakery,” said Vreeland, who installed a professional kitchen in her home. “We do everything from scratch with our own hands and we use all natural ingredients.” Customers can choose the theme, the colors, the lettering, the icing and even the number of servings for a special occasions, and the cake will be creatively customized for that one event. For a house warming, for example, the cake could feature a three-dimensional replica of that particular house. If it’s for a child, familiar characters will look pleasant and friendly, not wooden or scary. Vreeland, who lives in Warwick, is both a baker and a commission artist. Her partner McErney-Braiser, is well known in Warwick for her reputation as a baker as demonstrated by her pie-contest awards at major events such as Applefest. “Our business has taken off in an amazing way,” said Vreeland. “And with our new delivery vehicle, we can save our customers the trouble and anxiety if picking up the cake for an important occasion.” For more information or special orders call 988-9334 or 986-9181. Fall Festival at Sugar Loaf . . . The 35th Annual Sugar Loaf Fall Festival is slated for Columbus Day Weekend, Oct.6, 7 and 8, and, according to the organizers, should be bigger and better than ever. The free event celebrates art, crafts, food, cultural performances and live music each day. On Saturday, the line-up will include Elissa Jones, Improvisation Comedy Group, (with audience participation), Blues Xpress, poet Jim Eve and the John Bendy Group. Sunday will feature Project Mercury, poets Ingrid King and Jim Kenny and Tony Rivera and the Mike Quick Trio. Monday’s schedule includes Gregg Woods, Bill Davis Solo Acoustic, Jeremy Langdale, John Reddan and poets William Seaton, Rhodora Penaranda and Robert Milby. Festivalgoers will be able to enjoy dozens of visiting vendors, as well as Sugar Loaf Village’s boutiques and artisans famed for a wide array of unique handmade crafts and creations. Local restaurants promise great food, tasty treats and performances conducted by area musicians and poets. The popular “Fastest Kid on the Block” foot race, will take place on Monday, Oct. 8. Race participants register at 8 a.m. in front of the Barnsider Tavern. The race starts at 9 a.m., rain or shine. To pre-register and for information about the foot race, call 469-9382 or email zungoli@optonline.net. For more information about the Sugar Loaf Fall Festival, visit the Website at www.sugarloafnychamber.com or call 469-9181. Sign language . . . Lisa Montanaro, owner of Warwick’s LM Organizing Solutions, is inviting everyone to learn what she describes as one of the most beautiful and expressive forms of communication, sign language. Montanaro, a former instructor and interpreter at the New York School for the Deaf, will be teaching a seven-week American Sign Language course at Orange-Ulster BOCES on Thursday evenings from Oct. 4 to Nov. 29. “Sign language is a valuable skill for teachers, parents, employers and students of education or languages,” said Montanaro. To register call 781-6715 or visit www.ouboces.org RIP . . . George Antoniades, 57, co-owner of G’s Restaurant on Main Street, passed away on Sept. 22. Antoniades was a strong supporter of the community, a good friend and longtime business owner. He will be sorely missed.