Business notebook: Peck's celebrates double anniversaries

Warwick - Bill and Debbie Iurato celebrated an anniversary on Saturday, May 19, that marked 20 years of their ownership and management of Peck’s Wines & Spirits, Inc., at 1 Bank St. in Warwick. But it was more than a 20th anniversary. Peck’s is also one of the oldest businesses in Warwick and it’s been 50 years since Walter and Ruth Peck first opened their store on South Street in 1957. With this in mind, the Iuratos made a special effort to invite all former owners or their representatives to the celebration, which was also open to the public. Walter and Ruth Peck have passed away but their son Rod and his wife, Eileen, were on hand as was Bill Roe whose mother, Myra, purchased the business from the Pecks in 1972. Myra Roe, who was unable to attend the celebration due to illness, ran Peck’s as it has continued to be named, until 1980 when she sold it to John Umhey. And after seven years, he, in turn, sold it to Bill and Debbie Iurato. That was in May, 1987. Today, Rod Peck is retired from the real estate business. John Umhey, who worked for Seagrams when he purchased Peck’s, is now a commercial real estate appraiser. Bill and Debbie Iurato continued to operate Peck’s Wines & Spirits from the South St. location, now home to the Allstate Insurance Agency at 16 South St. But in 1992 they decided to move to larger quarters at 1 Bank St. “We needed more space,” said Bill Iurato. “When ShopRite replaced Lloyds and built the shopping plaza, the company knocked down the building in the corner of the property that had been occupied by Stan’s Liquor. That’s when our business increased 40 percent.” Under the new management of Bill and Debbie Iurato, Peck’s Wines & Spirits blossomed. The Iuratos studied wine and took educational tours of wine districts. They added more wines to their inventory and began holding wine tastings every Friday evening to introduce new discoveries. Peck’s also offered bar catering services and delivered soda, ice and whatever else the party needed with the order of liquors and wine, all at reasonable costs. In 1999 they purchased the building. Asked when they plan to sell the business and retire, Bill Iurato quipped, “I need another 20 years to pay it off.” To contact Peck’s Wines & Spirits call 986-963. Music in the courtyard On Thursday evening, May 24, Warwick’s Railroad Avenue Merchants introduced the third annual “Music in the Courtyard” series with live musical entertainment by “The Soul,” a Latin Jazz ensemble, from 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. During the Courtyard Music series, Zana D Restaurant will be serving dinners outdoors and as a special treat, the La Petite Cuisine outdoor café will also remain open. The music is not only free but participating merchants including B. Paige, Pear Tree, Sweetbriars, Style Counsel Men, Zana D, BiNK , La Petite Cuisine, Eclectic Eye, Jenna & Company and Gilsenan Designs will remain open late and offer special sales and incentives. Many of the shops will also serve refreshments. La Petite Cuisine, for example, will serve a complimentary glass of wine with each order. Prudential Rand Corp is a sponsor of the event. “We have a great line-up for the season,” said George Laurence, owner of the Garage at the Eclectic Eye. “We’ll be doing this on a Thursday evening every month and everyone is encouraged to come down and have dinner, visit the shops, stroll around and enjoy the music.” On June 28, well-known jazz artist Gerard Carelli and his orchestra is bound to draw a large crowd. Carelli, a cousin to La Petite Cuisine owner Pat Flynn, has played with the likes of Ray Charles, Rosemary Clooney, Johnny Mathis and Mel Torme. The following month, July 19, guests can relax and enjoy the music of another Jazz combo with David Crone and Frank Petrocelli. Other Thursday evening musical engagements throughout the summer and fall will soon be announced. Here we go again As summer vacation time approaches, the price of gas has been skyrocketing in Warwick as well as throughout the rest of the Country. It used to be some consolation to know that, adjusted for inflation, the price for a gallon of gas today was actually lower than it was in the 1980s. But recent reports are that the national average of $3.35 is now greater than the 1981 high point. “My wife just bought a hybrid,” said attorney Bob Krahulik, president of the Warwick Valley Chamber of Commerce, as he filled the tank of his own gas-guzzler. But Krahulik and other local citizens agree it’s a “Catch 22” situation. Talk up conservation measures like Hybrids and ethanol and you discourage refineries from expanding or investing in new plants. Use corn for fuel and you drive up the price of meat and other products. Cut the eight-cent profit per gallon that has produced the enormous profits for the oil companies and they stop investing in drilling and production. Some help is on the way. New York State Assemblywoman Annie Rabbitt, R-C-Greenwood Lake, and her colleagues recently released a three-point plan, which, among other actions, would cut the highest gas taxes in the Northeast as well as taxes that are well above those in neighboring New Jersey and Pennsylvania. “Our comprehensive three point plan,” she said, “provides immediate tax relief and at the same time promotes a long term strategy to reduce our dependence on foreign oil.” Rabbitt noted the plan would reduce gas taxes to the point where they will be more in line with the average Northeast state tax rate. This would be accomplished by cutting half the state sales tax and half the petroleum business tax. “Increasing gas prices will have an adverse affect on the Mid-Hudson Valley economy, in the upcoming summer months and for years to come if we stand idle and do nothing,” said Rabbitt. The measure, however, is expected to face an uphill battle in the New York State Assembly.