Last December, The Warwick Advertiser reported that a person or persons had stolen a Guiding Eyes for the Blind (GEB) Donation Dog statue that had been sitting outside Fetch Bar & Grill at 48 Main St. in the Village of Warwick.

The small donations collected by the Yellow Lab replica were intended to help defray the cost of Frontline and heartworm medications for puppies being raised by volunteers to become Guide Dogs for the blind and visually impaired.

Although Warwick resident Cheryl De Vine, an Orange County region volunteer “puppy raiser,” offered a $500 reward for information leading to the return of the Donation Dog, it was never returned.

The good news, however, is that the statue, which had been smashed to pieces, was eventually discovered by Guy Bogart, owner of Warwick Sanitation.

To read the entire article as originally published in the Warwick Advertiser, click ====> Here.

Last year’s “Winter Blues Weekend,” an event designed to fill in the gap between Home for the Holidays and Springfest, was another huge success. And so the Warwick Valley Chamber of Commerce and its Merchant Guild are hosting the third annual “Winter Blues Weekend” on Saturday and Sunday, March 3 and 4.

The “Blues” in the title refers not only to getting rid of any seasonal depression at this time of year but also to the music visitors will enjoy throughout the weekend. This year’s event will feature “Blues” music by Larrama along with the Black Dirt Band and Lee Delray and the Show Stopper Band in Railroad Green Village Park.

Other merchants and restaurants will also offer special events, entertainment and more “Blues.” And there are sales and promotional events as well.

A new event this year is the “Cook Off for Charity” to benefit the Warwick Ecumenical Council Food Pantry.

On Saturday, from noon to 3 p.m., participating restaurants will compete to see who makes the best Chili while raising funds for the Food Pantry. But the visitors who sample the Chili will all win. Winter Blues Weekend Chair Tim Mullally and Jennifer Haesche, owner of La Petite Cuisine came up with the idea and are organizing the “Cook Off for Charity” because they know that the Food Pantry is in greater need during this economy.

To read the entire article as originally published in the Warwick Advertiser, click ===> Here.

From left co-owner Daniel Laperuta, winner Gabriel Chaves and presenting his award, Town of Warwick Supervisor Michael Sweeton.

Gabriel Chavesí creation of sausage, egg, cheese and hash browns on a roll, is now on the menu at Bellaís Bagels, 42 Ronald Reagan Blvd. in Merchant Square. Itís called, Gabe’s, and Chaves is the first winner of a recent contest introduced by Bella’s Bagels owners Daniel Laperuta and Jared Satkin. The ongoing contest, introduced this January, invites patrons to design and name a breakfast sandwich. And winners receive fame plus a free sandwich, once a week, in each of the next four weeks.  To read the article as originally published in the Warwick Advertiser, click ===>  Here ]]> http://www2.warwickcc.org/2012/02/gabe%e2%80%99s-breakfast-sandwich-wins-at-bella%e2%80%99s-bagels/feed/ 0 http://www2.warwickcc.org/2012/02/the-vote%e2%80%99s-in-yesterday%e2%80%99s-burgers-are-the-best/#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=feed http://www2.warwickcc.org/2012/02/the-vote%e2%80%99s-in-yesterday%e2%80%99s-burgers-are-the-best/#comments Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:55:42 +0000 wccadmin http://www2.warwickcc.org/?p=2923

Times Herald-Record readers recently voted that Yesterday’s Restaurant, 29 Main St., Warwick, has the best burger in the Hudson Valley. Yesterday'€™s has been a popular spot for fine food and spirits at reasonable prices along with great service and a cozy atmosphere since 1984. Proprietor John Christison, dressed for the Super Bowl, points to his hamburger-winning banner.

Times Herald-Record readers recently voted that Yesterdayís Restaurant, 29 Main
St., Warwick, has the best burger in the Hudson Valley. Yesterdayís has been a
popular spot for fine food and spirits at reasonable prices along with great
service and a cozy atmosphere since 1984. Proprietor John Christison, dressed
for the Super Bowl, points to his hamburger-winning banner.

To read the article as published in the Warwick Advertiser click ===> Here.

Front, from left: Zero G Salesperson Barbara Paino, Eglie Antoniades, owners Vicky and Ken Garby, Elaine McCann and Pete Germano. Rear, from left: Cedric Glasper, president of the Warwick Valley Chamber of Commerce; Chamber Office Manager Sarah Armand, Executive Director Michael Johndrow, Pennings Farm Market owner Steve Pennings. Chamber Vice President Sherry Bukovcan, Congresswoman Nan Hayworthís District Representative Stephanie Sweeton and Town of Warwick Deputy Supervisor James Gerstner.

Zero G Deals, a local-based Loyalty and Mobile Marketing service provider, celebrated its first anniversary at Pennings Farm Market, on Monday, Feb. 6.

Owners Vikki and Ken Garby were both raised in Warwick and their two children – ages seven and five, currently attend Kings Elementary School. They sponsored the anniversary celebration and luncheon to thank family members like Vicky’s mother, Eglie Antoniades, and sister Elaine McCann, for their support along with clients and other supporters. And they selected Pennings because it was one of their first clients.

Zero G Deals was founded to help clients engage and communicate with loyal customers via text messages. The newest Zero G Deals’ tool is the Loyalty Kiosk, an android or touch-screen tablet which records customer check-ins so they can earn rewards for repeat visits at a particular business.

“The greatest part,” explained Vicky Garby, “is there is no need to carry around yet another card or worry about losing it. You receive your rewards right to your cell phone. And does anyone go anywhere without a phone these days? “  To read the entire article as originally published in the Warwick Advertiser click ==>  Here

Lisa and John Strazza with some of their recent work in their gallery at the Clocktower in Warwick.

John and Lisa Strazza of Vernon, N.J., escaped the fast pace and hype of the city art scene when they opened their Strazza Fine Art and Photography Gallery in the Hudson Valley back in 2007.The Strazzas’ dream was to provide a more personal experience for their clients, where people could get to know the artists along with their work.

In today’s economy a dual artist income requires a great deal of hard work, commitment and faith, they point out. But, against the odds, this husband and wife team have been able to flourish as individual artists and together as business owners. In 2010 they moved their gallery into a larger space in the historic clocktower building in Warwick, where they have been acknowledged as a valuable addition to the arts community.

On Jan. 29, Warwick public officials and representatives from the business community joined Luca and Peter Testino, their family and staff for the official grand opening of their restaurant, Luca Trattoria and Pizzeria. Peter Testino, to the right of his parents Luca and Elizabeth Testino, surrounded by staff and flanked by Michael Johndrow (left), executive director of the Warwick Valley Chamber of Commerce and (right) Chamber Vice President Sherry Bukovcan and Town of Warwick Deputy Supervisor James Gerstner, officially cuts the ribbon.

On Sunday, Jan. 29, Town of Warwick Deputy Supervisor James Gerstner, members of the Warwick Valley Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and the Chamber’s Executive Director Michael Johndrow, joined Luca and Peter Testino, their family and staff for the official grand opening of their restaurant, Luca Trattoria and Pizzeria.

The family-owned father and son restaurant and pizzeria, located at 153 Route 94 South in ShopRite Plaza, has been open for business since last October. The facility was formerly home to Pronto Pizza and Pasta.On Sunday, the public had an opportunity to sample Italian appetizers, pizza and soft drinks at no charge. The word was out and the free event was well attended.

Co-owner Luca Testino is a native of southern Italy who emigrated in 1961 from his home in the Province of Bari on the Adriatic Sea. And he stated that he has brought recipes from home, “Just like Mamma use to make.”

To read the entire article as published in the Warwick Advertiser click ===>  Here

The Board of Directors of the Warwick Valley Chamber of Commerce: Front, from left, Courtney Wright; Mechelle Casciotta; Mary McClurg; Cedric Glasper, president; Sherry Bukovcan; Paul Rafanello; and Michael Johndrow, executive director. Rear, from left: Jason Grizzanti; Janine Dethmers; Doug Stage; Nicole Repose; Steve Pennings; Souzie Miller; Erik Johansen; Mary Beth Schlichting; Virginia Quackenbush; Vikki Garby; Caryn Burke; Mark Kurtz; Marci Oakley; Jeff Reilly; and Rob Carney. Board members not available for the photo were Raymond Bryant, Rosemary Cooper and Sandy Glazman.

Members of the Board of Directors of the Warwick Valley Chamber of Commerce assembled for their first meeting of the new year on Jan. 6 in the Greenbriar Room conference hall at Mount Alverno Center on the Warwick Campus of Bon Secours Charity Health System.

It was an important meeting to update the organization’s vision, introduce new officers and new board members, propose events and identify central issues, according to the chamber’s executive
director, Michael Johndrow.

For example, the directors discussed the possibilities and the importance for the development of the now closed 772-acre Mid Orange Correctional Facility.

High on the agenda was a new tourism initiative with the goal of converting Warwick into a popular four-season destination. Public meetings on this plan will begin in February.

To read the entire article as originally published in the Warwick Advertiser click ===> Here

Warwick Ecumenical Council Food Pantry co-Chair Michelle Carter and Betsy Mitchell, co-owner of Track 7 Postal Center at 5 First St., Warwick, congratulate each other on the success of the store’s 2011 fund-raising program.

They called it the “5 and 5” campaign.

Last January, to mark its fifth year in business, Ken and Betsy Mitchell, owners of Track 7 Postal Center, at 5
First St., announced they were seeking to collect 5,000 pounds of food and raise $5,000 for the Warwick Ecumenical Council’s Food Pantry.

“At the end of the year we were just over our cash goal but a little under our pounds of food,” reported Betsy Mitchell. “I think it was easier for our customers to bring cash and they were more likely to forget a can of food.”

Track 7, known for its expert packing, US Postal services, mail box rentals, passport photos, copies and as an authorized shipping center for Federal Express and DHL, has also been serving as the drop off for Angel Tree contributions during Warwick’s annual celebration of Home for the Holidays.

To read the entire article as originally published in the Warwick Advertiser click ===> Here

It was business as usual at Mt. Peter Ski Area last weekend.

While local residents may appreciate the fact that there hasn’t been one major snowstorm this winter, skiers and snowboarders have a different view.  Snow on the road is a natural advertisement for ski areas and for
the most part, that’s the only problem they have.