Business Notebook: New business, ski swamp and hauntingsBy Roger Gavan

WARWICK-There’s a new business coming to downtown Warwick. Music teacher Peter Holmgren realized that there are lots of musicians and would be musicians in the Warwick area but no convenient location to repair or purchase an instrument or to even find a replacement for a broken guitar string. And so when Traditions Celtic Imports vacated its prime location at 31 Main St., Holmgren, a musician/ composer/singer as well as a teacher, seized the opportunity to lease the space. If everything goes according to plan, Village Music will open Nov. 1. Like many retail music stores, Village Music will offer instrument sales, parts and repairs. It will also offer individual and group lessons. However unlike your average music store, Village Music will also serve coffee, cake and other refreshments and feature student performances on its newly constructed stage. “I’ve been performing for 24 years,” said Holmgren, who plays both guitar and mandolin. “And I’ve been teaching music for 15 years. I love music and I’ve always wanted to do something like this.” Village Music will be open Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturdays 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays noon to 4 p.m. For additional information or to arrange for lessons call 988-5225. Great American Ski Swap After a solid week of rain, a big yellow ball appeared in the sky on Saturday, Oct. 15, just in time for the start of the Mt. Peter Ski Area annual Great American Ski Swap & Sale. In a departure from previous years, the all day event was held on both Saturday and Sunday. And based on the size of the crowd enjoying a welcome relief from the week long rain and the huge inventory of new equipment on sale by Ski Barn of Paramus, N.J., it was a good idea. The pre-owned equipment swap, run by the Mt. Peter Ski Patrol, was also an opportunity for sellers and buyers, especially those with fast growing youngsters, to save money. Profits from the sale will be used to purchase much needed equipment and supplies for the area’s volunteer ski patrol. Mt. Peter has earned a great reputation for sponsoring fun events on weekends for the entire family and this season will be no exception. The mountain will open sometime in December and this January, it will also celebrate its 70th anniversary. Helping fight breast cancer October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and to assist in the fight against this disease, Frazzleberries gift shop, 24 Main St., Warwick, is participating in the Vera Bradley Time for a Cure promotion. Through Oct. 31, Frazzleberries customers will have the opportunity to purchase a limited-edition folding travel clock in Vera Bradley’s “New Hope” pattern. Two dollars from each sale will be contributed to the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer Research. Last year, the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer raised nearly $1 million to aid research efforts. Pennings Haunted House We’re told it’s not for tiny tots or anyone with a weak heart. The conventional wisdom is that Pennings Haunted House, 161 S. Route 94, Warwick, may spook even the bravest of souls and that the Halloween season is the perfect time to test your courage. Two years ago, Steve and Jill Pennings, owners of Pennings Market, turned an existing structure, an actual old house, into a “Haunted House” complete with its own graveyard. Live actors will scare the daylights out of you this Saturday and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. Next weekend the Haunted House will be open noon to 6 p.m. from Friday through Halloween, which is Monday, Oct. 31. (Photos from the Haunted House are on page 50.)