Business Notebook: Home for the holidays
Warwick - It’s that time again. The Warwick Valley Merchants’ Guild has been gearing up for the annual “Home for the Holidays” Christmas shopping season. And everyone is invited downtown for the opening festivities on Sunday, Nov. 20. Visitors are bound to get into the Christmas spirit as they stroll along Railroad Avenue, Main Street and the surrounding area. Most stores will be decorated with seasonal displays and some participating merchants will be hosting holiday events and serving refreshments including local wines, hot cider, cookies and hors d’oeuvres. And many shops plan to offer special early season sales. Members of the Warwick Chorale also will be strolling about, stopping in shops and entertaining shoppers with traditional Christmas music. “I’ll be serving wine that day and introducing my new Tea Room,” said Joanne Graney, owner of Greeting and Salutations. “Then I’ll be serving tea every weekend.” The traditional “Angel Tree,” to benefit the needy, will also be on Main Street between Akin’s Drug Store and Newhard’s. And the Nativity Scene will soon be on display in Lewis Park. Upcoming events during “Home for the Holidays” include the Nov. 19-20 “Harvest to Holly” tour sponsored by the Historical Society and the Nov. 25 “Christmas Tree Lighting” sponsored by the Warwick Fire Department at the Old School Baptist Meeting House. Later in the holiday season, we’ll have the “Festival of Trees” and “Winding Through Warwick” home tour sponsored by St. Anthony Community Hospital. There also will be a wassail party hosted by the Historical Society at Baird’s Tavern; a Christmas Eve sing at the Old School Baptist Meeting House and a Menorah lighting in Lewis Park. Other events still in the planning stage are horse and buggy rides and a “Santa’s Workshop” in the Village Green Park on Railroad Avenue. The Warwick Independent Business Alliance (IBA) encourages everyone to save gas and spend their Christmas shopping money in their hometown. You can meet your neighbors and enjoy personal service from live, experienced clerks. Village merchants offer a great selection of quality merchandise, a pleasant atmosphere and free gift-wrapping. And, if your aunt doesn’t like her gift or it’s the wrong size, you don’t have to take a 40 mile round trip to exchange it. Christmas at the Inkwell “It’s all the buzz,” said Carol Bartnowski, owner of The Inkwell office supply store at 46 Main St., Warwick. In her 23 years of doing business in the village, Bartnowski has prided herself and The Inkwell, one of the oldest shops on Main Street, for innovative ideas. And so this year, she turned the lower level of her building into a Christmas Store until Jan. 1. The new shop, which has everything you need to decorate your home and tree for the holiday season, has a separate entrance and showroom window at the bottom of the Carriage Path near the pedestrian bridge to the South Street parking lot. The Inkwell’s new Christmas Store features a popular selection of Fox Christmas cards, photo cards, invitations, place mats and tree ornaments. There’s also a unique collection of G. De Brekht hand painted figures and a large selection of “huggable” bears. “We have everything you need to decorate your home or send a greeting,” said Bartnowski. “But whatever you do, you must come in and hug one of our bears.” Spanish lessons for toddlers When her son Paul was a baby, Eileen Gagliano searched for a “mommy” group that offered some Spanish to support the teaching that she offered her son at home. “My search was fruitless,” she said, “but I did teach my son to speak Spanish.” Last year Gagliano ran a short “Spanish for Children” program at the Greenwood Lake Library. And since then she’s been developing a program suitable for toddlers. “I’ve decided to introduce it in Warwick at the Eyes of the World Yoga studio,” said Gagliano. Registration is now open and classes for ages 18 months to three years begin Nov. 15. The Eyes of the World Yoga Studio is in the Mechanical Rubber Building at 77 Forester Ave. For registration or additional information call 988-1729. Realtors Night Out Calling all real estate professionals including brokers, sales professionals, appraisers, lawyers and anyone with an interest in the industry. The sixth annual “Realtors Night Out,” co-sponsored by Mystic Valley Real Estate and Style Counsel fashion shop, 19 Main St., will be held from 5-8 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 12. That also happens to be the second Saturday of the month and, as recommended by the Warwick Independent Business Alliance, many downtown businesses will remain open that night. Real estate professionals and those with interest in real estate are invited to enjoy a glass of wine, refreshments and a preview of fall fashions.