Business notebook: A sparkling view from here

WARWICK - When Warwick Police Officer Peter Artusa retired last June, it didn’t take him very long to choose a new career. Artusa, who lives in Warwick with his wife, Tammy, and their son, TJ, 7, had also been a professional window washer since he was 15. An opportunity came along that fit in perfectly with his 25 years of experience in that field. Artusa discovered DirtyBlinds.com, one of the largest ultrasonic blind cleaning companies on the East Coast. The firm not only supplies the ultrasonic blind cleaning equipment but it provides each new business owner with extensive hands-on training and 24/7 support, especially useful when a new window shading product comes on the market. Although Artusa is listed on the DirtyBlinds.com Web site and participates in the company’s monthly discount coupon program, his business, “A Sparkling View/DirtyBlinds.com” is an independent company and not a franchise. Artusa has been professionally cleaning blinds with his new ultrasonic equipment since early January and he reports that his customers are amazed with the results. “This equipment hits every nook and cranny of the blinds in a much shorter time and in a way that washing would never accomplish,” he said. “It removes dust, grease, pollen, soot and whatever. The blinds come out looking like brand new.” And “A Sparkling View/DirtyBlinds.com” comes to you. The state-of-the-art equipment is installed in a special trailer that Artusa purchased in order to provide the service just outside your home or business. Unless you prefer having the blinds cleaned off site for some particular reason, he can usually clean every blind in an average size home or business on location and in less than two hours. Another advantage of ultrasonic cleaning is that it can be used to effectively clean and restore very expensive window shadings such as Silhouette style blinds where replacement could easily cost thousands of dollars. In addition to ultrasonic blind cleaning, A Sparkling View also performs repairs as well as supplying and installing custom blinds. And Artusa still offers professional window and screen washing by hand. His stated policy is also to protect the environment and run a “Green” service by only using biodegradable products. A Sparkling View is a member of the Warwick, Pine Island and Orange County Chambers of Commerce and Business Networking International. To make an appointment for a free demonstration and estimate call 988-5535 or e-mail: asparklingview@warwick.net Calling all young artists If you are between ages eight to 18 or know someone who is an artist in this age group, the Backyard Grill & Café, 31 Forester Ave. in Warwick, has an interesting offer. Beginning this weekend, Feb. 15-17, you are invited to drop off your artwork for public display in the restaurant until the end of March. Customers will be invited to vote by ballot for their favorite examples of young talent and winners from several age groups will receive gift certificates to the Backyard Grill & Café. The restaurant has traditionally featured the works of local artists such as that of Rosita Gilsenan, which is currently on display. “Rosita’s exhibit is ending and we wanted to do something different this time and give our young artists an opportunity to display their artwork,” said owner Andrea Huffman. “I think it will encourage them.” The artwork should be ready to hang but although framing is preferred, it is not necessary. For additional information call 987-1822 and ask for Oney. Chamber news On Tuesday, Feb. 19, the Warwick Valley Chamber of Commerce will host a “ Power Networking Buffet Breakfast” at the Pioneer Restaurant in Warwick from 7:30 - 9:00 a.m. The event will be open to all businesses in the area. The Program Committee of the Warwick Valley Chamber of Commerce will host this breakfast. Participants will be invited to speak about their businesses and what products and services each offers. The event is part of a monthly series of structured networking activities inclusive of breakfasts, lunches and after hour mixers. All current Warwick Chamber members are invited to attend at a cost of $10. Non-members are also welcome at a cost of $20. Advance reservations are requested. For more information about the networking events, to make a reservation or to assist the Program Committee with future events, contact Executive Director Michael Johndrow at 986-2720, e-mail the committee at info@warwickcc.org or e-mail Paul Rafanello at Paul@prcpa.biz. Ordering published photographs Many readers often ask how they can obtain copies of photographs that have appeared in The Warwick Advertiser. Basically it’s similar to ordering any product from the Internet. First go to www.warwickadvertiser.com Then click on to “Photos” from the selection on the top bar. If you wish to view all the albums of photos from all of the Straus publications in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, be our guest. But the easiest way to find a particular photograph is to do a search. If you enter, for example, “Memorial Day,” all the photographs that appeared that day in all of the Straus publications will appear as albums with a sample photo of each group and the name of the town. Click on the “Warwick” album and all the photos taken in this community on Memorial Day, not only those that were published, will be displayed. Choose the photo or photos you would like to have and you can purchase a print for a reasonable fee in any size ranging from snap shot to poster. The site will walk you through the checkout process. You can also send a digital preview of the photo to an e-mail address free of charge.