Warwick Business Notebook: On the town with the ladies this Aug. 24

Warwick - No sooner had the Warwick Merchants pulled up stakes after their Annual Sidewalk Sale than they began planning for the next downtown business district event, “Ladies Night Out.” The 9th Annual “Ladies Night Out” and “Queen for a Day” has been scheduled this year for Thursday, Aug. 24, from 4 until 9 p.m. The rain date is Friday evening, Aug. 25. “Ladies Night Out” generally buzzes with activity and excitement and for the past nine years, the popular summer event has attracted visitors from near and far. Although the evening sales specials and treats offered by participating merchants are geared primarily for the ladies, everyone is invited. This year, the attractions will include music and dancing, Tarot Card readings, make-overs, massages, a fashion show, a women’s self defense demonstration, a Karaoke contest, antique appraisals and street vendors. One of the most popular features of “Ladies Night Out,” however, is the crowning of a “Queen for a Day” by Warwick Mayor Michael Newhard. “Queen for a Day” is an opportunity for a special lady to be recognized by her family or friends for her generous spirit, caring heart and selfless nature. The winner, who will be crowned in Railroad Green Park at 8 p.m., will receive an assortment of gift certificates and merchandise valued at more than $1,000. The most important note is that for consideration by the Warwick Merchants, completed nominations must be received by Aug. 18. Entry forms are available at Style Counsel, 19 Main St., Warwick. If you need more information or are interested in participating in the 9th Annual “Ladies Night Out” as a vendor, contact Tim Mullally at 986-9588. Kitchen & Bath Works of Warwick Anyone planning to remodel or improve a kitchen and bath or do other remodeling doesn’t have to travel beyond Warwick for the best results and value. Kitchen & Bath Works of Warwick, 314 Route 94 South, between the Village of Warwick and Vernon, N.J., can offer complete custom remodeling of kitchens, baths, basements and additions from A to Z. And according to owner Mechelle Casciotta, you’re not only shopping locally, you’re getting the best expert advice from people with roots and involvement in this community. “We won’t leave a job until our customer is satisfied,” said Casciotta. “We will work with you from beginning to end and hopefully, establish a lifelong friendship.” Casciotta has been building homes with Scott Rothamel, whom she describes as her “managing partner,” for five years. Rothamel, she explained, has been building homes for the past 25 years and brings experience and knowledge from beginning to end of all phases of any building or remodeling project including excavating. “He knows everything about this business,” said Casciotta, “and you can’t pay for that anywhere.” Kitchen & Bath Works of Warwick offers clients expert installation of quality flooring, cabinetry, tile, fixtures, appliances and other materials at competitive prices. The company recently opened a companion business, Warwick Valley Appliances, which will be the subject of a future business column. Kitchen & Bath Works of Warwick is open Tuesday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. as well as evenings by appointment. Call 988-5522. More pancakes, please. One of the most entertaining features of Warwick’s Annual Sidewalk Sale this year was the pancake-eating contest at the Willow Café on Main Street. Owner Gia Adamis loves to cook and pancakes are a specialty. The Willow Café offers 10 different pancakes and besides its extensive lunch menu, serves breakfast all day. For the contest, however, each large pancake was standardized at eight to nine inches in diameter and about one inch thick. Among the runner-ups were Walter Dearing, only a few bites behind the winner, and then Dan Kleinman, Jerry Holt, Ray Rogers, Joe Manno, Phil DeGennaro and Nick Carbone. The winner and title holder for the Willow Café 2006 pancake eating contest, however, was Tony Rudinski who wolfed down four and one-half of the huge pancakes. Meet the artists The Bertoni Gallery, 1392 Kings Highway, Sugar Loaf, will present an exhibition from now to October 1 of a collection of unique pieces by a trio of artists titled, “The Man and his Roots.” This Saturday, August 5, the Gallery invites everyone to meet the artists: Jacinthe Battaglino, Livan Castro and L’OR, Louise Rouleau to an opening of the exhibit from 6 - 8 p.m. Warwick artist Jacinthe Battaglino, a print maker of lithography, contributes her series of the “Black Dirt Region,” described as a vivid interpretation of the agricultural fields. Livan Castro is a Cuban painter and sculptor who expresses his art through the afro-Cuban culture and L’OR, Louise P. Rouleau is a signature member of the Pastel Society of Eastern Canada. For more information, call phone: 845-469-0993.