Business notebook: Schlichting named chair of Merchants' Guild

WARWICK - Mary Beth Schlichting, owner of Frazzleberries Gift Shop on Main Street, will chair the Warwick Merchants’ Guild in 2007. The Village of Warwick’s Merchants’ Guild is basically a committee within the Warwick Valley Chamber of Commerce. Committee members and participating business owners meet regularly and work throughout the year to sponsor events such as the April Springfest, the July Sidewalk Sale and Home for the Holidays. Schlichting and her husband, Tim, are longtime residents of Warwick where they raised their three children: Jerry, Greg and Megan. Eleven years ago Schlichting partnered with Gail Tilton to open the first “Frazzleberries” gift shop on Railroad Avenue. Their husbands choose the name to reflect the fact that the ladies were generally in a “frazzle.” Frazzleberries moved to Main Street in 1998 and, when the next door space became available in 2000, doubled its size. By that time Schlichting was the sole proprietor because her former partner, Gail Tilton, had moved to Cape Cod. Schlichting argues that Warwick’s downtown business district is a pedestrian environment and that a main goal of the Guild is to create an advertising campaign that will encourage people to visit and stay for two or three days. “We have great B&Bs and restaurants,” she said, “and there is so much to do in Warwick that a visitor can’t do everything in one day.” Schlichting recalled, for example, that after talking to a couple from Manhattan and showing them a visitor’s guide, they changed their plans to travel further north and stayed in Warwick for three days. “I told them about our ‘Farmer’s Market,’ nearby Sugar Loaf, our parks and other attractions,” she said. “They had no idea there was so much to see and do in this area.” Schlichting’s son Jerry manages another Frazzleberries in Newport, R.I. And that picturesque community serves as an inspiration for many of her ideas. “Jerry is the president of the Thames Street Association in Newport,” she said. “They have the beach and they have interesting promotions. But we have a beautiful village with many nearby attractions and we should make sure that we get the word out.” Schlichting will call on key members of her committee including Debbie Iurato, treasurer of the Merchants’ Guild, and Carol Bartnowski. “The three of us worked well together last year,” she said. “And now our top priority is to get everyone back on board. We need to create more of a united group.” The Guild members will meet once each month on a Tuesday evening. Other items on the agenda include having maps and directions available for visitors, opening late every Thursday and creating a logo for the Village. Schlichting is pleased that there are several new businesses and new faces in Warwick. “When you’re running a business and serving on committees there is a danger you will burn out,” she said. “We’re all very positive but we could use some help.” Hailey’s Comet The extra snow-making capability paid off. In spite of an unusually late start this season as a result of record warm temperatures and rain, Mt. Peter Ski Area has been open and in full swing for the winter season. Whenever temperatures drop, the crews are out making snow, increasing the base and grooming trails for the next day. And man made or natural, snow is snow. Known as “The Friendly One,” Mt. Peter is the oldest operating ski area in New York State, and one of the few remaining family-operated ski areas in the country. This is its 71st season. When Mt. Peter first opened in 1936 people carried their skis and climbed on foot to the top of the mountain. Later an automobile engine was used to power a rope tow and more recently, skiers and snow boarders enjoyed the use of two lifts and a rope tow. Still there were times, especially on weekends, when the lift lines were longer than usual and so owners Don and Gail Sampson decided to install an additional new lift for this season. It officially opened with a ribbon cutting ceremony on December 31. They named it “Hailey’s Comet” after their granddaughter Hailey. Hailey’s Comet can carry 1,198 people per hour at a top speed of 450-feet per minute. It can also be adjusted to move slower if required. And on weekends or other busy times, all four lifts can be operated at the same time. The result is more runs and less waiting. For conditions and operating hours listen to the Mt. Peter daily recording at: 986-4992 or visit www.mtpeter.com High speed WVT Communications (Warwick Valley Telephone Co.) recently announced that Internet service customers with a 128k DSL connection have been upgraded at no additional charge to 512k.