Lots to celebrate

Glasses were raised as the Greater Barryville Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting. The occasion was the opening of the new 200-seat hall at the Catskill Mountains Resort.

“You must be so delighted to have a wedding hall in the Town of Highland,” I gushed to Cathy Daboul, one of the chamber’s movers and shakers.

 “Yes,” she said. “There’s The MountainView Manor in Glen Spey, and now we have something.”

I thought about how fulfilling it will be for local brides and grooms to have this facility in their backyard. How out-of-the-area folks would enjoy the cabins and the Main House rooms, 30 or so in all.

And more than that, it’s an interesting story. The Zaccarri brothers, who grew up in Narrowsburg, have returned to their community roots.

What Paul, one of the seven brothers, told me was that their father told him and his brothers that they needed to move from the area in order to make something of their lives. And they did.

They left. And now they are back. Here to pursue a dream. Run a family business.

And they are gathering help. They hired Andrew Filone, longtime owner and manager of the Mt. Haven Resort as General Manager. 

Husband Stephen was delighted to see Andrew because, in a former life some 20 years ago when Stephen had a carpet cleaning and water restoration company, Andrew and the Mt. Haven Resort was one of his clients.

Anyone who runs a small business knows that there are deep relationships that form when we do business with each other.

This is a foundation of rural community and local commerce.

I heard more stories of connections through business as I worked on calling winners of the annual Readers Choice Awards, commonly referred to as The BEST! (Watch for the February 14 edition.)

I caught Sandy Grande at Mary Beth Bridals in the midst of sewing appliques on tole. She had been at it for hours. When I told her she was voted the BEST she laughed and said she was probably the last bridal shop standing. And then she told me stories, a prom dress, an unexpected nosebleed. A close and mutual relationship with the local dry cleaner.

She said that she goes to some of her bride’s weddings. She arrives five minutes before the bride to make sure that her dress is perfect and she looks her absolute best. She’s been at it for 35 years, and she still loves it. She’s going to write a book, in the Erma Brombeck genre, when she retires.

Stories of connection.

Joe Blaskiewicz was delighted with the call and shared that he had recently lost a dear friend who also had a small business. The idea that his customers voted for him was welcomed news at this time of loss.

Local commerce, deep connections.

There is possibility in our interactions together, especially at this time of national turmoil. Here we can celebrate our connections and our commitment to community living.

To this, we can all lift our glass.