Business notebook: Business Directory revived

Warwick - The mayor of the Village of Warwick was Frank Lacalamita. Ken Durland was president of the Warwick Valley Chamber of Commerce and Moshe Schwartzberg headed the Merchants Guild. It was October 1994 and the three posed for a photograph alongside the newly installed business directory outside the Warwick Valley Telephone Company’s office on Main Street. Since then, the Warwick Valley Telephone Co. has been renamed WVT Communications but the same Business Directory has remained in place to this day. The original directory was the brainchild of Schwartzberg who reasoned that visitors, and even natives for that matter, searching for a restaurant or a particular type of business would find this a useful tool. And local businesses could also enjoy a permanent advertisement at a reasonable cost. The businesses were listed alphabetically in each category and numbered. The directory included a key and reference map, not drawn to scale so that people could also locate businesses outside the Village. Although the directory was a great idea, it was essential for the names and locations of the businesses to be reviewed and updated periodically. But after 13 years, local merchants and others, spearheaded by Sue Loughren, owner of The Toy Chest, realized it could use a face-lift. The Warwick Valley Chamber of Commerce and the Merchant Guild arranged with Nicole Repose, owner of Etched in Time, for brand new nameplates to be engraved. Michael Johndrow, executive director of the Chamber, also reports that the directory will soon be removed for a short time. John Johansen, co-owner of the Iron Forge Inn has offered to perform the necessary carpentry to recondition the frame. “One thing has always been missing, especially at this time of year,” said Johndrow. “The directory has never had a light. WVT Communications has offered to supply the labor and the electricity. All we have to do is buy the light.” Back to the future at Wadeson’s Last winter we mentioned that Wadeson’s Home Center, 60 Forester Ave., Warwick, was better prepared than necessary for what had been a mild winter. This year is starting out much differently but Wadeson’s is a Do It Best dealer and Craig Wadeson, vice president of the home center, explained that his local business has more than 70,000 items in stock. A computerized inventory system makes sure that a sufficient supply of seasonable items such as ice melt, sand, shovels and the like will be available in sufficient quantities throughout the winter. And with conveniently located warehouses, restocking a popular item within a day or two is not a problem. Wadeson’s has also increased the size of its yard, which allows the company to purchase larger quantities of supplies at discount and pass those savings on to the consumer. One item, wood pellets, can be purchased in 40 lb. bags but the economical way is to buy it by the ton. In the old days most of the people in this area burned wood to heat their homes. Then they converted to coal, oil and gas. But beginning with the energy crises of the 1970s, interest in wood heating resurfaced as a renewable energy alternative. Today, many of our local residents own stoves which burn small pellets that look like rabbit feed and measure 3/8 to 1 inch in length. The pellets are made from compacted sawdust, wood chips, bark, agricultural crop waste, waste paper, and other organic materials. “The new generation of wood- and pellet-burning appliances are cleaner burning, more efficient, and powerful enough to heat many average-sized, modern homes,” said Wadeson. “And since some of our customers are also burning coal, we also keep plenty of that on hand.” Only one week to go Bertoni Gallery in Sugar Loaf has been holding its seventh Annual Small Works Juried Exhibition since November 1. However the interesting exhibit, which features the original small artworks of local and regional artists, in a variety of mediums will close January 6, 2008. Chamber news The Warwick Valley Chamber of Commerce is planning a networking dinner event to be held at the Iron Forge Inn in January. Members will be notified when the date and time is scheduled. Merchants Guild news Mary Beth Schlichting, president of the Warwick Merchants Guild will propose a winter event for the merchants in the downtown business district. Details to follow. Happy New Year!