MARCH 2015
Spring Must Be Coming! St. Patricks Breakfast March 17 Being named the Chamber’s Honorary Irish Couple of the Year last March was special for both Joe and Barbara Cohen, but especially Barbara. Barbara’s biological mother Maggie, who was an Irish immigrant, put her up for adoption when she was 3 months old. “I am the real deal,” Barbara says. “I’m the descendant of an Irish immigrant. The award really had great meaning for me.” The award will go to someone new on March 17 during the Peter B. Mathews breakfast, scheduled for 7:30-9 a.m. at the Best Western Plus in Kingston. Be sure to register early since this breakfast always sells out quickly. Chamber President Ward Todd said the Kingston AOH Pipers will again start the breakfast as the past recipients of the “Royal Order of the Blarney Stone” are introduced. Meanwhile, Tom Keehn will be directing the
Joe and Barbara Cohen Kingston Lions Club Roarin’ Pride Band. “This group has been a staple at the St. Patrick’s Day breakfast for decades,” Todd said. The children from St. Joseph’s School will also sing several Irish favorites accompanied
by the school’s violinists. Guests will also be treated to opera star Maria Todaro of the Phoenicia International Festival of the Voice. Todd was giving no hints as to who might be chosen to receive this year’s Royal Honor of the Blarney Stone except to say the person—or persons—must be in attendance. “This year—who knows?” Todd said. “Will we honor someone who is of Irish heritage from among our Chamber members or will it be someone who wishes they were born Irish?” The Cohens were the first couple ever chosen for the honor, so the message is you never know who might get picked. Joe, who is Jewish, is a well-known and respected Kingston optometrist. Barbara, who operates the Schwartz Inn in Uptown Kingston, is a tireless volunteer and advocate for several Continued on page 10
March Breakfast Tues., Mar. 17
7:30-9:00 am
Held at: Best Western Plus (Formerly Holiday Inn)
Kingston Sponsor:
March Breakfast Sponsored by The Reis Group The Reis Group Insurance Agency is proud to celebrate nearly 50 years in the Hudson Valley in 2015 and well over twenty years of sponsoring the Chamber’s Honorary Irishperson of the Year breakfast. Since 1966, The Reis Group has provided personal and trusted insurance solutions for the individuals, families and businesses of the Hudson Valley and beyond. Built on a strong reputation of exceptional customer service, our employee-owned agency takes pride in providing real insurance solutions that meet the
needs of each and every client. Our employees are your neighbors – taking pride in protecting and promoting the communities we serve. More than agents, we are “advocates” for the families and businesses that make our region great. In 2009 The Reis Group expanded into the Capitol District and is cur-
rently licensed to write insurance in 38 states. At The Reis Group, we do more than offer you insurance; we offer you the peace-of-mind that comes with personalized solutions. In 2014, our employee-owned company was named Business of the Year by the Ulster County Regional Chamber of Commerce. For this recognition, we are very proud and honored. That is insurance worth having. Visit us online at www.reisinsurance.com.
Featured this Month: • Woodstock H-D Mixer • Annarella Ristorante • WAKA Kickball & Social Sports • Viking Industries • Milne’s At Home Antiques
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ChamberNews
Daily Freeman Advertising Supplement • Wednesday, March 4, 2015
The Official Publication of the Ulster County Regional Chamber of Commerce
(845) 338-5100 Fax (845) 338-0968 www.UlsterChamber.org
[email protected]
214 Fair Street • Kingston, NY 12401 CHAIR............................................................................................ Terry M. Parisian .................................................................................................. Hudson Valley Mall PRESIDENT......................................................................................... Ward D. Todd ������������������������������������������������������Ulster County Regional Chamber of Commerce CHAIR ELECT...................................................................................... Larry Begnal ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� LT Begnal Motor Co. VICE CHAIR........................................................................................ Donald Verity ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Pamal Broadcasting WBPM SECRETARY............................................................................ MaryRose Warcholak ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ Ulster Savings Bank
Upcoming Chamber Events March 12 NEW MEMBER MEET & GREET 9:00 - 10:30 am Courtyard By Marriott 500 Frank Sottile Blvd. Kingston, NY No cost to attend. Open to New Chamber Members. Reservations required. SPONSOR: Hudson Valley Federal Credit Union
TREASURER......................................................................................... Scott Jordan ��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������Rondout Savings Bank Timothy Allred ................................................................The Williams Lake Project Joseph Beichert.................................................................Timely Signs of Kingston Joe Charmello.....................................................................Brad’s Barns & Gazebos
March 17 7:30 - 9:00 am
Jeremy Ellenbogen.............................................................. Ellenbogen Group, Inc. David Gagnon................................................................Daniel D. Gagnon, CPA, PC Brian Ginty........................................................... Hudson Valley Financial Services Shiona Howe.......................................................................... Courtyard by Marriott Jeff Lowe............................................. Lowe Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning Cecilia Madden......................................... U.C. Office of Employment and Training Su Marcy...................................................................... United Way of Ulster County
ST. PATRICK’S DAY BREAKFAST BEST WESTERN PLUS 503 Washingrton Ave. Kingston, NY
$20 Members • $30 non-members. Reservations must be paid in advance for this event. SPONSOR: The Reis Group
Christopher Marx......................................... SUNY Ulster-Business Resource Center Mark Mulpeter........................................................... Central Hudson Gas & Electric John F. Murphy........................................................................ Murphy Realty Group Kevin Quilty............................................... Community Foundation of Ulster County Greg Riley........................................................................................... Citizens Bank Dave Scarpino................................................. HealthAlliance of the Hudson Valley STAFF Ward D. Todd.............................................................................................President Robert Hirsch............................ Director of Business Services and Communication Carol Ricken.........................................................................Director of Membership Valerie Walsh.................................................................................... Office Manager
March 19 5:00 - 7:00 pm
MEMBERSHIP MIXER Woodstock Harley-Davidson 949 Route 28 Kingston, NY
No cost to attend. Open to Members and Prospective Members. Reservations required. SPONSOR: Kingston Collision
Cindy O’Connor..................................................................................... Bookkeeper Robert Mitchell.......................................................................Chamber News Editor Ingrid Kulick.............................................. Chamber Foundation Executive Director
ChamberNews
The official publication of the Ulster County Regional Chamber of Commerce is a special advertising supplement to the Daily Freeman 79 Hurley Avenue, Kingston, NY 12401 – A 21st Century Media publication Robert O’Leary, General Manager Tim Tergeoglou, Advertising Director Cheryl Nekos, Graphic Design To advertise, please call (845) 331-5000. To subscribe, please call (888) 699-7699
April 8 BUSINESS CARD EXCHANGE 9:00 - 10:30 am Courtyard By Marriott 500 Frank Sottile Blvd. Kingston, NY No cost to attend. Open to Chamber Members. Reservations required. SPONSOR: Begnal Motors Register for all Events (845) 338-5100 www.UlsterChamber.org
ChamberNews
Wednesday, March 4, 2015 • Daily Freeman Advertising Supplement
The Official Publication of the Ulster County Regional Chamber of Commerce
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‘We Are Not Scary Bikers’ Woodstock Harley-Davidson Hosts Mixer
Woodstock Harley-Davidson’s “core customers” are men age 35 to 60, but that may be about to change as women are the company’s fastest-growing segment. The dealership would like to reach out to more women, young adults, African-Americans, Hispanics—and even local business leaders. That chance will come during the next Business-AfterHours Mixer from 5-7 p.m. March 19 at the dealership at 949 State Route 28. The sponsor is Kingston Collision. “Woodstock Harley-Davidson would like to introduce ourselves to yet another new demographic, the local business community,” says owner Bill Nugent, who bought the business in 2012. “We want you to know why we are happy to go to work everyday! “As the premier dealership situated on the Route 28 corridor between Woodstock and Kingston, we are the gateway to the Catskills through Ulster, Greene, Dutchess, Columbia and Schoharie counties.” Joi Becker, the event and community outreach coordinator for the dealership, said Ursula Woinoski and Michael Rozman of The Wine Hutch would be serving their best party wines, while Tommy Keegan of Keegan Ales will provide the beer for the mixer. Becker said there would be music playing as business leaders mingle and network and some informational videos will play on monitors. Nugent said the dealership is opening its doors to the community to “experience what Woodstock Harley-Davidson has to offer.” “Contrary to the myth, we are not scary bikers!” he said. “We are motorcycle enthusiasts. Woodstock Harley-Davidson is not just motorcycles, parts or accessories.” Nugent said Woodstock Harley-Davidson offers a wide range of service options and “Motorclothes,” including fashion and riding gear, collectible gifts and rentals. Nugent, who has spoken in the past about the potential of the Catskills as a motorcycle-tourism mecca, said Woodstock Harley-Davidson rented 137 motorcycles this past year. Those riders racked up 64,515 miles, a 34,000mile increase over 2013. And he was quick to note that those riders stopped at many Chamber-owned businesses. “They may have stayed in your hotel or bed & breakfast,” Nugent said. “They may have booked your spa at the end of the day. And of course, they ate in the wonderful award-winning restaurants dotting the Hudson River. “We have become a destination dealership alongside our current local customer base. We not only provide rental motorcycles, but all gear needed to enjoy your touring experience of Ulster County.” Meanwhile, at the dealership itself, Nugent said riders can sign up for monthly learning workshops that are geared to a specific topic around the motorcycle rider.
Thursday, March 19 • 5-7 pm
949 Route 28 Kingston
Hosted and Sponsored by:
of riding. After all, ‘We Deliver Freedom.’ ” Woodstock Harley-Davidson can be reached at (845) 338-2800, 1-855-RIDE-WHD or www.woodstockharley. com. The dealership is also on Facebook and Twitter.
Bill Nugent, owner of Woodstock Harley-Davidson. “Garage Parties” and “Boot Camps” are designed to help introduce the Harley lifestyle to non-riders, and guide them to obtain a motorcycle license. For those coming to the Mixer, the dealership will be displaying a Jumpstart, which Nugent called a “safe and easy way for anyone to be on a bike without having to take it on the roadway.” “Any bike can be secured to the Jumpstart which eliminates the need to balance a bike while trying to go through the actual process of shifting and braking,” Nugent said. “It takes the fear of the road away from the test ride. “The simulator allows a novice to just get on a bike to teach them the basics, and show them that they are able to do these operational functions with just a little instruction. This allows the user to be up and running on their own in no time.” Nugent said he is looking forward to the Mixer and showing off his business. “It is fantastic that the Ulster County business community will be here in the dealership!” he said. “Having the Mixer here gives people the chance to experience our dealership up close and personal, whereas they may not have come in on their own before. “The staff is looking forward to seeing many new faces and introducing a new group of people to the experience
Chamber mixers are a great way to network and promote your business. Be sure to bring plenty of business cards. This free networking event is open to Chamber members and prospective members. Reservations are a must and can be made by calling the Chamber office at (845) 3385100 or by registering online at www.ulsterchamber.org.
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ChamberNews
Daily Freeman Advertising Supplement • Wednesday, March 4, 2015
The Official Publication of the Ulster County Regional Chamber of Commerce
A Real Italian Restaurant Anna’s ‘Spirit Is Here,’ Owner Says
Annarella Ristorante in Saugerties is a warm and inviting place and owner Joseph DeGrezia knows exactly why. Located at the former Kaatsban Inn at 276 Malden Turnpike, the restaurant was decorated by his late wife Anna Vozzo DeGrezia, who died last year on the couple’s wedding anniversary. “She was the owner,” DeGrazia says with a deep appreciation in his voice. “That’s why I named it after her. I wanted to put it in her name so she felt the beauty of the restaurant. Everything here is from her.” Another thing DeGrezia wants customers to know is that Annarella Ristorante is a slightly different type of Italian restaurant. “Our food is with a Tuscan flair,” he says. “It’s a little bit different from anybody else who has an Italian restaurant. I consider myself an Italian restaurant. Not American-Italian. There’s a little bit of a difference.” Among the big sellers off a menu that features homemade items are Polpo alla Griglia, a grilled Portuguese octopus with spicy potato, black olives and celery salad; Salsiccia, a sweet Italian sausage with creamy polenta and broccoli rabe; and lobster.
The staff at Annarella Ristorante (left to right) Sterling Shay, Victoria Palcher, Chris Keff, Mary Alberts and Sarah Pebler. However, the menu also features grilled New York sirloin steak, spaghetti, roasted pork chops and much, much more. “My menu is unique because there’s a little bit of everything,” DeGrezia said. “I try to satisfy everybody. We like to keep it as Italian as we can.”
MEMBER PROFILE “Our food is with a Tuscan flair. It’s a little bit different from anybody else who has an Italian restaurant. I consider myself an Italian restaurant. Not American-Italian. There’s a little bit of a difference.” – Joseph DeGrezia The reviews for Annarella on social media sites are all positive, such as this one from Trip Advisor: “Menu was varied and interesting. Most items were prepared in a Northern Italian manner with excellent quality and taste. Joseph, the owner, was pleasant and spent time with us explaining his menu and his goals as a new restaurant in the area. Many items on the menu are not available in this rural area and certainly will be appreciated by the patron looking for something different. Certainly worth a visit.” DeGrezia, who opened last December, said business has been good. The restaurant employs about a dozen and can seat 65. “Considering that I’m brand new and I’m in an awkContinued on page 6
ChamberNews
Wednesday, March 4, 2015 • Daily Freeman Advertising Supplement
The Official Publication of the Ulster County Regional Chamber of Commerce
Playing Kickball, Meeting Friends
MEMBER PROFILE
It’s Not Just A Schoolyard Game Anymore You might remember kickball from your days in grade school, but a group from the Mid-Hudson Valley is using the game as a way to meet people and have fun. Welcome to WAKA Kickball & Social Sports. “WAKA Kickball & Social Sports started in 1998 in Washington, D.C., as the World Adult Kickball Association,” explains WAKA Co-Owner & CIO Johnny LeHane. “It was just a few friends and we started a kickball league for adults.” “It was really more about being a social club and all the teams went to the same bar at the end of the games each week. It was huge hit.” WAKA started with just one league in Washington, D.C., but now there are several leagues across the country with thousands of players. LeHane explained that the games are largely for fun and not for the ultra-competitive. “We provide over 400 leagues a year in kickball, dodge ball and volleyball and other events,” he said. “It’s all really centered around a more social form of laid-back games and sports. “It’s really a way to meet people. We say there are three primary reasons that people play with WAKA: They want to meet new friends, get a new job or find a spouse.” LeHane, who grew up in LaGrange in Dutchess County, earned a degree in electrical engineering from Catholic University in Washington, D.C., and was working for America Online in quality assurance when he and some friends started WAKA, which now boasts 300 full-time and 200 part-time employees across the country. “We started this as a hobby on the side and, lo and behold, it became a business,” LeHane said. “When I could live anywhere I wanted to, I chose to move back to the Hudson Valley.”
WAKA is a great way to meet new friends, get a new job or find a spouse. WAKA started a summer league called NY Fire (www. Kickball.com/nyfire) playing kickball games at the fields at the bottom of Esopus Avenue in the town of Ulster. For the past few years, the sponsor has been Keegan Ales in Kingston and all of the teams gather there after the games to socialize. The games were played on Sundays, but LeHane said a Thursday night league is possible this year. WAKA also has a league across the river in Poughkeepsie, where one realtor told LeHane she gets 20 percent of her business from her kickball contacts. LeHane said WAKA is not for fitness. “Join a gym if you want to get in shape,” he said. Instead, couples use WAKA as a date night and many younger couples meet there. The league’s motto is: Best Parties. Best Games. Best Friends. “It’s a lot of socializing and new relationships forming,” LeHane said.
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“I work from home alone all day and the Chamber is a great outlet for me to dig some roots and get back into my community. I think joining the Chamber was valuable for me just to get awareness out about my brand.”
– Johnny LeHane
“We’ll have social events throughout the winter and then pickup games probably in late March and April and the league will start in May,” he said. LeHane said he tries to get the word out to the 21-35 age group. “Once people find out about us, they’re clamoring for something to do,” he said. “It resonates very well.” LeHane said he’d like to urge Chamber-member businesses to form corporate teams. Last year, WAKA fielded five teams and he would like to see that double. He also would like to expand and form leagues in New Paltz and Newburgh. “We’ve always been a grassroots, word-of-mouth organization and that’s where the Chamber can help us,” he said. “We really think that with the Chamber, we can be one of those central social hubs for Kingston and Ulster.” LeHane, who recently joined the board of the Chamber Foundation, said he has made invaluable contacts by joining the organization. “I work from home alone all day and the Chamber is a great outlet for me to dig some roots and get back into my community,” he said. “I think joining the Chamber was valuable for me just to get awareness out about my brand.” WAKA Kickball & Social Sports, 67 N. Parsonage Street in Rhinebeck, can be reached at (845) 678-3122 or
[email protected]. The Kingston League’s web page is www.kickball.com/nyfire.
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ChamberNews
Daily Freeman Advertising Supplement • Wednesday, March 4, 2015
The Official Publication of the Ulster County Regional Chamber of Commerce
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Anna’s ‘Spirit Is Here,’ Owner Says Continued from page 6 ward location, we’re doing OK,” DeGrezia says. “Word of mouth is the best publicity.” DeGrezia said he gets customers who make the drive from Albany and Newburgh. “When I see people traveling to come here, I know I have a good reputation,” he said. “We’re very friendly. I’m very particular about our service. We have great service. We’re very knowledgeable about our food. My food is very authentic and Italian.” DeGrezia was born in Greene County, where his father worked at the Shady Grove resort. The family moved to Brooklyn, but DeGrezia’s father sent him to a boarding school on Long Island to get him off the streets of Bensonhurst. In 1977, at the age of 24, DeGrezia got his start in the restaurant business working at the Vesuvio in Hensonville near Windham. DeGrezia moved to Manhattan in 1982 and owned three Italian restaurants, two in
the Wall Street area and one in Midtown. When his wife of eight years became ill, DeGrezia looked for a quiet place to live where the couple could relax and run a small restaurant. “I came here to have a better quality of life and for my wife, especially,” he says. “I looked all over the Hudson Valley, but I fell in love with Saugerties. I love the people. It’s a great little town. It’s a real town.” DeGrezia’s wife died last summer, but he has carried on with her restaurant and plans to add a small party room to the building. Anna’s photo graces a wall near the entrance and greets each new customer. Her husband still talks lovingly about her to many of his guests. “Her spirit is here,” DeGrezia says. “Her essence is here. Her energy is here. I dedicate my restaurant to her.” Annarella Ristorante is located at 276 Malden Turnpike in Saugerties, can be reached at (845) 247-7289 or visit online at www.annarellaristorante.com.
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ChamberNews
Wednesday, March 4, 2015 • Daily Freeman Advertising Supplement
The Official Publication of the Ulster County Regional Chamber of Commerce
7
Thinking Outside The Box Viking Industries Marks 42 Years The children’s book “Not a Box” features a cartoon bunny that imagines a box as everything from a castle to a rocket ship. “In a lot of ways that is what makes Viking Industries different,” says Richard G. Croce, the New Paltz-based company’s vice president. “There are a lot of those who view corrugated as just a box, but we think of it differently. First, we are not just boxes.” Croce said Viking Industries, a manufacturer of corrugated cardboard and other packaging products, still produces the corrugated partitions that gave the company its start. “We also have custom-made folders and inserts that provide cost-effective protection for our customers,” he said. Croce said Viking Industries also focuses on “taking away our customers’ pain.” “We find out how we can improve their business through packaging,” he said. “Sometimes that is redesigning a box to make it more efficient to pack or to take up less space on a pallet. Richard G. Croce “We also look at our customers’ packaging as both advertising and a first impression they are making with their customers.” Croce said Viking Industries is also “obsessed with exceeding our customers’ needs.” “That means we over-deliver on our promises of service and quality,” he said. “My father [company president Richard Croce] instilled in me that our business needs to be more reliable than if we were a machine on our customers’ floor and those values are in everything we do.” The Croce family has been in packaging since Ferdinand Dominick Croce began F.D. Croce Co. in Brooklyn in 1892. The business evolved and in the 1970s was providing produce crates with corrugated partitions to apple farmers in the Hudson Valley. The partitions were difficult to source reliably and cost effectively so Russell Croce started Viking Industries to provide these partitions to F.D. Croce Co. in 1973. “From there the business has grown by responding to customer needs and in some cases anticipating their needs,” Croce said. Viking has grown with additions in 1978, 1988, 1998 and 2006. In 1998, Viking Industries invested in a box-making machine that allowed it to produce smaller-sized boxes than most of the other plants in the Northeast. “It proved to be a sound investment and Viking was
MEMBER PROFILE
the first U.S. installation of the machine to achieve their century club, producing 147,000 boxes in an eight-hour shift,” Croce said. “I think the Chamber is an excellent When it comes to feedback, Croce said clients have told him Viking is the “standard” by which they evaluate their organization for supporting economic other suppliers. growth in our community. Whenever “We have become known as the company to call when it we face a business issue, I can seems like it is impossible to get what they want,” he said. immediately think of another “We have always taken that approach that we are problem solvers, and the fact that we make corrugated packaging, Chamber member who I know is simply the method with which we solve the problem. I can talk to and get help “We talk to our customers about their businesses and navigating that challenge.” how we can help them achieve their strategic objectives with packaging. They often tell us that we allow them – Richard G. Croce to focus more on their business because they know they don’t need to worry about packaging.” Croce is the third-generation Croce at Viking and the to the company in 1998 as a customer service rep and has fifth-generation in packaging. Growing up, Viking was a climbed the ladder to vice president and general manager. “I have always been drawn to the problem-solving parts summer and after-school job. He attended Union College to study engineering, but of the business,” he said. “Figuring out ways to help our Continued on page 8 “couldn’t escape the packaging in my blood.” He returned
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ChamberNews
Daily Freeman Advertising Supplement • Wednesday, March 4, 2015
The Official Publication of the Ulster County Regional Chamber of Commerce
Viking Industries Marks 42 Years Thursday March 12 9:00 - 10:30 am Courtyard By Marriott 500 Frank Sottile Blvd Kingston, NY Each New Member will have an opportunity to talk about their business and hand out business cards. Reservations required. Call the Chamber office at 338-5100 or reserve online at www.UlsterChamber.org Sponsor
Continued from page 7 customers pack their products more efficiently, faster, with less cost, or in a way that better presents their product, is what I really enjoy about our business. “I tell our new employees that making boxes for a living may sound a bit boring, but this business is never dull. We are presented with new challenges every day and it is a thrill to figure out how we can rise to them.” Croce said Viking Industries has made a lot of connections through the Chamber to help his business grow. “I think the Chamber is an excellent organization for supporting economic growth in our community,” he said. “Whenever we face a business issue, I can immediately think of another Chamber member who I know I can talk to and get help navigating that challenge. If I don’t immediately know of one, [Chamber President] Ward [Todd] and his team will always point me in the right direction.” Viking Industries, Inc., 89 S. Ohioville Road in New Paltz, can be reached at (845) 883-6325 or www.vikingindustries.net.
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ChamberNews
Wednesday, December 3, 2014 • Daily Freeman Advertising Supplement
The Official Publication of the Ulster County Regional Chamber of Commerce
9
A Believer In Kingston Milne’s Brightens Rondout, Midtown When Rebekah Milne waxes poetic about Kingston, it’s hard not to get caught up in her optimism. The owner of Milne’s At Home Antiques at 81 Broadway in Kingston, she and her family discovered the historic Rondout area while vacationing here in the 1980s. “I grew up coming to the Hudson Valley on the weekends,” Milne recalls. “We lived in Manhattan and we had a weekend house in New Paltz. We always loved this area of Kingston because we felt like it was a hidden gem. “We would come here and it was a little gritty, but there was this beautiful waterfront and we could take our boats on the water for nothing.” The Milne family, which started two antique stores in Manhattan 50 years ago, bought the building at 81 Broadway 14 years ago and used it for storage. When the family’s rent was about to skyrocket in New York City three and a half years ago, Milne, who had taken over the business and wanted to give it a rebirth, hatched a bold plan. “I took my parents aside and I said, ‘Guess what? I want to move to the Hudson Valley.’ They looked at me like I was totally insane,” Milne said. Milne made the move to Kingston’s Rondout, but gave the business one year to succeed. “I’ll never forget the very first day we got here, there was somebody waiting outside and they bought something,” Milne said. “That was kind of our way of knowing that it might work.” Milne’s parents dealt exclusively in high-end antiques such as unique weathervanes and textiles and not much furniture. “I knew that coming to Kingston and the Hudson Valley we would really have to expand more into the home furnishings market,” Milne said. “I really started bringing in more furniture and more kind of fun things that you can use to decorate with and appreciate.” Milne said while customers have to wade through a lot of “junk” at some antique shops to find the good stuff, that’s not the case at her store. “We only have the good stuff,” she said. “We have a very, very eclectic mix of
MEMBER PROFILE Milne, the president of the Kingston Waterfront Business Association, said the Chamber has been a “wonderful liaison” for her group.” – Rebekah Milne
Rebekah Milne, owner of Milne’s At Home Antiques in Kingston. 18th-, 19th- and 20th-century antiques. “We have a very curated collection here. Everything is displayed in a gallery setting. You can see where everything is and you don’t have to go through anything; you’re really just looking at these beautiful vignettes.” For example, Milne might display an antique coffee table near a sofa to show what it would look like in your home. “We’re very into people using their antiques and them being very functional,” she said. Milne, who is an interior designer, can help customers make the right choices. “They’ll bring me photographs of their house and I’ll spend hours with them picking what is best for them,” she said. “We really listen to people. We really work with people. We sit down and talk to them. “It’s a really different experience. You’re really buying into a lifestyle versus just walking into an antiques store.” Just seeing the inside of 81 Broadway is worth a visit. The building has a colorful history as a ship engine repair shop and also served as a fancy auto laundry in the 1920s, Milne said. The structure has been restored and the original girders are now visible.
lieve in the group of people we have working together in the Hudson Valley and in Kingston. “We’re all really invested in spending the rest of our professional lives in Kingston, and because we’re all so invested in doing that, and we all have so much energy, I truly believe this is the time. If Kingston is ever going to come back and go back to what it should be, this is the time it’s going to happen.” Milne, the president of the Kingston Waterfront Business Association, said the Chamber has been a “wonderful liaison” for her group. She further praised Chamber President Ward Todd for helping to secure a grant from Ulster County Tourism for new signage in the Rondout. “I couldn’t think of anything that could be better than having correct signage as a first step to growing this neighborhood,” she said. Milne said people are “sometimes shocked” her business is in Kingston, but she lets them know all the city has to offer. “They don’t understand that Kingston has everything you could ever possibly want,” she said. “We have amazing restaurants, we have a beautiful waterfront, we have an incredible historic district, and we have a really cool industrial district in Midtown. Once you start educating people on all the amazing things that are in Kingston, they go, ‘Oh. I get it.’ That’s so cool. I love when that happens.”
While she loves the Rondout, Milne and her husband, Seamus McCance, are expanding and have opened a fabrication factory at 72 Franklin St. in Kingston’s Midtown section to build a custom line of furniture and retail store displays. “We’ve really grown into the retail store market, where people will hire us to go into their retail store … and totally redesign their store based on our retail experience,” Milne said. The Midtown building near the Kingston Area Library was once a grocery store. “It’s definitely an up-and-coming neighborhood, but we hope as we were part of [the Rondout’s] rebirth, we hope to be part of that neighborhood’s rebirth as well,” said Milne, who employs 10 people between her antiques store and the fabrication factory. Milne says she is not only bullish on Kingston, but on the cadre of entrepreneurs making a mark on the city, including Renee Darmstadt of Cornell Street Studios; Michael and Theresa Drapkin of Kingston Wine Co.; and Nancy Donskoj of Broadway Photo Booth. “I believe in Kingston for sure,” she Milne’s At Home Antiques, located at said. “I believe in Ulster County and the 81 Broadway in Kingston, can be reached Hudson Valley in general. I also really be- at (845) 331-3902 or www.milneinc.com.
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ChamberNews
Daily Freeman Advertising Supplement • Wednesday, March 4, 2015
The Official Publication of the Ulster County Regional Chamber of Commerce
Anniversaries:
55 Years: 40 Years: 30 Years: 20 Years: 15 Years: 10 Years: 5 Years:
St. Patricks Breakfast March 17
Brinnier and Larios, PC Time Warner Cable The Reis Group Veronica L. Kugelman, CPE, Electrologist Sickler, Torchia, Allen & Churchill, CP Simpson – Gaus Funeral Home Cable Trak Systems, Inc. Interstate Battery Jewish Federation of Ulster County, Inc. Jordan Trading, Inc. PEOPLE, Inc. Williams Lumber and Home Center Kingston Wok New Visions Schaffer Excavating Ulster Uniform Service Village of Saugerties Esopus Business Alliance Redeemer Broadcasting Expert Cleaning Service Schwartz’s Inn Lane Financial Management Town of Ulster Public Library Metroland Business Machines Ulster Insurance Services, Inc. Millens Recycling Ulster Payroll Services, Inc. Mohonk Preserve
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Continued from page 1 local not-for-profit organizations. “Together—they are a wonderful couple,” Todd said. Since the award usually goes to an individual, the Cohens had no idea what was about to happen before last year’s announcement. Barbara said the idea “wasn’t even on my radar screen.” When she heard the names Joe and Barbara Cohen called as the winners, “I thought, ‘Oh boy, they made a mistake.’ It usually goes to an individual. That threw both of us. I loved it. I thought it was just done so well. It really meant a lot to us. We were really shocked.” Joe recalls that he had an early patient that morning and attempted to leave the breakfast early, but the Chamber’s Fran DePetrillo-Savoca intercepted him and kept him from leaving. “It was a great bit of work on her part to make that happen,” Joe said. “I give her a lot of credit for being so diplomatic about it.” Joe said being the first couple honored meant a lot. “That was a very nice first for us and the Chamber,” he said. “That made it a little extra special. It was a great surprise from beginning to end. “Especially when you have dozens and dozens of friends in the audience of a couple hundred people who are going to get to see you highlighted and honored in such a great way.” Since receiving the award, the Cohens said people often bring up the honor. “When somebody would mention it to me, I would talk about the Chamber and the value of the Chamber in building business,” Barbara said. We’re big fans of this area and the Chamber for what they do in this community.” Joe said a patient will mention the honor
to him once every few weeks or so and he is happy to talk about it. “I get to relive some of that excitement right through the year,” he said. The Cohens, who have been married for 44 years, met while home on break from college. Barbara, after being adopted, was raised by Jim and Betsy Connelly and her family owned the Connelly and Connelly law firm for 50 years. Joe’s family owned Frank’s Sporting Goods and Ski Shop on North Front Street. “Her parents had an office about two blocks away,” Joe says of Barbara’s family. “We never knew each other until college.” The building on North Front Street that once housed the sporting goods store has been in Joe’s family since 1917 and today is home to his optometry business. The Schwartz’s Inn is upstairs. “We really have a connection to this community and a history,” Barbara said. She added that the St. Patrick’s breakfast is one of her favorite community events of the year. “I just love the spirit of everyone wearing green,” she said. “I love the music. I could just cry for every song the kids sing and play. It’s just beautiful. For a day, everybody’s Irish and they really get into it.” While she is looking forward to seeing the new honoree—or honorees—she admits it will be a little sad. “I hate to give it up,” she said. Chamber breakfast programs are a great way to network with other local business leaders and stay on top of current events. Pre-registration is required. For information or to register, call the (845) 338-5100 or www.ulsterchamber.org.
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ChamberNews
Wednesday, March 4, 2015 • Daily Freeman Advertising Supplement
The Official Publication of the Ulster County Regional Chamber of Commerce
WELCOME THESE NEW MEMBERS Cinetopia Media Group
Pentad People Solutions
PO Box 216 Lake Katrine, NY 12449 www.cinetopiamedia.com Phone (845) 943-2278 Tim McArdle, Co-Owner Category: VIDEO PRODUCTION Description: Compelling storytelling through stunning visuals. Cinetopia Media Group provides a cinematic quality to every video they feature.
1151 Flatbush Ave. Kingston, NY 12401 www.pentadinc.com Phone (845) 217-5333 Vicki Rogue, Director Category: EMPLOYMENT/HR SERVICES Description: Pentad is an employee search firm that focuses in recruiting and placement within the manufacturing, engineering and technology fields.
Emery & Webb, Inc.
Schain and Company, CPAs
346 Old Post Road Rhinebeck, NY 12572 www.emerywebb.com Phone (845) 876-4065 Karen J. McElrath, Client Service Rep. Category: INSURANCE Description: Independent insurance agent offering home, auto, business, life and health products.
70 North Putt Corners Road New Paltz, NY 12561 www.schainandcompany.com Phone (845) 255-5888 Marc Schain, President Category: ACCOUNTANTS - CERTIFIED PUBLIC Description: Full service accounting and tax preparation services with long term established relationships with our clients.
Hudson River Transports
Suburban Hospital Alliance of NYS, LLC
12 Van Wagner Road Highland, NY 12528 Phone (845) 691-9366 Alex Ibarra Sr., President Category: DELIVERY & COURIER SERVICE Description: Deliver and/or pick up in 5 Counties in New York.
1383 Veterans Memorial Highway #26 Hauppauge, NY 11788 www.NSHC.org Phone (631) 963-4150 Kevin Dahill, President & CEO Category: HOSPITALS Description: Voice of the member hospitals in the Northern Metropolitan and Long Island Regions.
Sara W. McGinty, P.C.
The Writer Man
415 Main Street Rosendale, NY 12472 www.saramcgintylaw.com Phone (845) 658-7145 Sara W. McGinty, Esq., Category: ATTORNEYS Description: Elder Law, Wills & Trusts, Real Estate, Business Transactions, Litigation, Town and Village Courts.
1668 Route 9 Unit 10R Wappingers Falls, NY 12590 www.writer-man.com Phone (845) 616-6970 Dr. Ford F. Franklin, Owner Category: WRITERS/AUTHORS/JOURNALISTS Description: Newsletters, brochures, web pages, articles, press releases to promote businesses and professional practices.
Paradise Energy Solutions 4 Crotty Lane New Windsor, NY 12553 www.visitpes.com Phone (877) 851-9269 Joseph Zietz, Solar Energy Consultant Category: SOLAR ENERGY Description: Full service solar installer offering turn-key agricultural, commercial, residential and municipal solutions.
Ulster County S.P.C.A. 20 Wiedy Lane Kingston, NY 12401 www.ucspca.org Phone: (845) 331-5377 Cindy Caporale, Board President Categories: ANIMAL ORGANIZATIONS; NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION Description: Private, non-profit organization whose mission is to prevent cruelty to animals by providing temporary shelter and conducting humane law investigations.
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These Members Have Renewed ABC Fuels, Inc.
Kingston Lanes
ABC Pest Control, Inc.
Kingston Plaza
American Cancer Society
Kirchhoff Medical Properties LLC
American Made Monster Studios Americas Best Value Inn Anaconda Sports Andrade Architecture PLLC Aquarius Styling Center Ashokan Center, Inc. Keith Bennett’s Karate Academy Benny’s Pizzeria Birchez Associates, LLC Blair Collectibles Blue Mountain Bistro-to-Go Booked By Barthel Travel Bradley Farrier Service J. Michael Bruhn, Jr., Esq. C & C Unisex Hair Design Catskill Animal Sanctuary Close Out New York, Inc. Dr. Joseph Cohen, Optometrist CR Telecommunications & Data, Inc. D & J Distributors Eight Point Contracting Excel Auto Glass Corp. Globaltransol LLC Golden Hill Nursing & Rehabilitation Center
Lane Financial Management Thomas F. Lindgren, CPA, PC Local Economic Opportunities (The LEO Group) McDonald’s of Kingston #837 Meltzer & Hill Wealth Advisory, LLC Kenneth Mironer Construction, LLC Northeast Window Covering Inc. Peaceful Thunder Coaching Pestmaster Services Quality Inn and Suites Rondout Rowing Club Sam’s Club SCORE (Chapter 533) Senate Securities Sportsman’s Alamo Cantina, Ltd. Stewart’s Shops Sunrise Bagels & Deli Toshiba Business Solutions NY Town of Ulster The Valley Group Valuation Consultants, Inc. Vaz-Co Reclaiming Service
Green Heat Inc.
Verizon
H2M Architects & Engineers
Catello Viviani
Hickory Barbecue & Smokehouse
Walters-Storyk Design Group (WSDG)
Hudson Valley Resort & Spa
Waste Management
Johnson’s Signs and Tees
Westchester Medical Center
Kingston Conservatory of Music
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ChamberNews
Daily Freeman Advertising Supplement • Wednesday, March 4, 2015
The Official Publication of the Ulster County Regional Chamber of Commerce
February Mixer Sponsored By
February 24, 2015 All American Ford Kingston, New York
From our Mixer Host and Sponsor, All American Ford
(L-R) Bruce Noseworthy, Keegan Cianfoni, Nate Berg, Shawn Mackey, Bill Bohan, Lann Rubin, Jay Samuels, Guy Armeno, Keith Sneddon, Rob Vogt, Tammie Markle.
(L-R) Anne Larkin-Ede (Heritagenergy), Sara LaTorre (simply business), Leslie Karwacki (Heritagenergy), Aris Henderson (simply business)
(L-R) Peter Perry (Wiltwyck Web Design), Terri Ferris, Bryan Smith (Rondout Savings Bank)
(L-R) Brian Nowitzki (Hudson Solar), Christina Vasquez, Dan Johnston (Vaz- Co Reclaiming Service)
(L-R) Pat Valusek (Kathleen H. Dittus, Esq.), Adam Saunders, Jennifer Geuss (Ulster County SPCA)
(L-R) Anna Hammerl, Paul Hammerl (Simpson-Gaus Funeral Home), Chad Maes (Wiltwyck Golf Club)
