Business

The smell of smoldering wood and smoke forced the evacuation of JP Doyles, a popular Sleepy Hollow restaurant on June 11 at 9:30 p.m. but quick action helped avert serious damage.

“We were so busy that day with a couple of catering jobs that the oven where we make roast pork and chicken had been on all day,” said co-owner Nick Bell. “In the evening, we started to smell wood smoke. Even though we couldn’t see a flame, we evacuated the restaurant.”

When fire department crews arrived, the restaurant and the basement were filled with smoke, according to Sleepy Hollow Fire Chief John Korzelius.  more »

Energy efficiency. Perhaps what you need is someone to explain more about how it might benefit your building or business.

That’s where R3 Energy of Tarrytown (1 Central Avenue, Suite 311, (914) 909-3940, www.r3energy.com), a team of highly qualified energy efficiency consultants who educate consumers with a clear, not cloudy, energy reduction plan, comes into play.  more »

The owners and supporters of a popular coffee house in Tarrytown are anxiously awaiting what would be a precedent-setting decision in Westchester County and New York State regarding the allowance of dogs in the dining area of food service establishments.

Coffee Labs Roasters, which has been located on Main Street since 2003, is seeking a waiver or a variance from the provisions of Section 14-1.183 of the New York State Sanitary Code that prohibits live animals from food service operations. Only exceptions are patrol dogs accompanying security police officers or guide dogs accompanying blind persons.  more »

Jamie Kudla, owner of seven-year-old Tarrytech Computer Consultants (www.tarrytech.com, 828 South Broadway, Tarrytown, 914-432-3056), majored in Mechanical Engineering in college because he liked “all things technical.”

“For me,” he explained with a smile, “I like a little human interaction. I find tech exciting. You get to know people, and it’s very interactive. And I like to reach out to people.”  more »

When Kendal On Hudson celebrates its fifth anniversary this month as a continuing care retirement community in Sleepy Hollow, its residents will receive an award for a program that is characteristic of the practices and values that guide Kendal’s activities.
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Sasha and Olga Bylim arrived in the United States in 1996, with one suitcase and very little money. But they possessed prodigious dancing talents, a tough-minded work ethic, professional expertise and ambition. It’s a typical immigrant’s dream, and in this case the dream came true: the Bylims have turned their thriving dance studio into a Cinderella success story, recently becoming the #1 Fred Astaire Dancing Studio in the New York/New Jersey region.  more »

Of the nearly 16,000 nursing homes in the nation, only 173 are rated as “America’s Best,” by U.S. News & World Report based on rankings by a federal agency. Within that distinguished tier is Clearwater, the skilled nursing facility at Kendal on the Hudson, in Sleepy Hollow. The criteria and rankings are established by Nursing Home Compare, a program operated by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

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Viviana, Tarrytown’s newest Main Street boutique, will be instantly recognizable to clients of Fiamor in Dobbs Ferry ( because they’re “all in the family.”) Both classy stores feature designer clothing imported from France and Italy, both have a distinctive European flair, and both feature an abundance of stylish accessories. Owner, Mimi Markisic has named her shop for her eight-and-a-half year-old daughter, Viviana, and she did so six years after her own mother, Lily, opened Fiamor in Dobbs Ferry. While Viviana was inspired by Fiamor and her mother’s fashion vision, Mimi has brought her own taste and touch to her “little offspring,” as she calls it.  more »

A charitable organization, two restaurateurs, an insurance person and a pharmaceutical company have received special recognition. Bob Kimmel has the story:

A visit to Kentucky was the inspiration for Hennessy Home Accents, a new Sleepy Hollow business selling home décor items “imported “directly from the Bluegrass State.

“We went to Kentucky on vacation and saw there was an abundance of this beautiful vintage furniture and it was so cheap,” said Tarrytown resident Anita McGovern. “We thought there would definitely be a market for these unique items in New York.”

Open since November 12, McGovern and her friend and business partner, Briarcliff resident Karen Doyle, sell primitive and vintage items from Kentucky on the second and third floors of the Hennessy House, at 16 New Broadway in Sleepy Hollow.  more »

An expanding pharmaceutical company, two Mexican restaurants, an insurance agency executive, and a charitable organization will be honored at the Sleepy Hollow Tarrytown Chamber of Commerce Annual Awards Breakfast March 18 at Tappan Hill.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Hudson Valley will be recognized as the Chamber’s “Organization of the Year” at the event. The charitable organization is dedicated to “grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.”  more »

Studio A Gallery, Tarrytown’s newest addition to its ever-expanding fine arts scene, provides the opportunity for art classes and commissioned portraiture, as well as an expansive display space for artworks for sale. Artist and owner Athena Bing has completely renovated her space on Main Street, inside and out; look for the storefront with extensive gleaming copper, framing over-sized windows, that gives you a glimpse into her spacious rooms displaying art on every inch of wall space.
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The AIA Westchester/Mid-Hudson chapter of the American Institute of Architects recently presented the firm of Earl Everett Ferguson Architect and its client, Eileen Fisher, with a High Honors Award at its 2009 Design Awards Program and Celebration of Architecture Gala.

The Awards Program honors projects that have made a positive aesthetic and social contribution to the built environment while increasing public awareness and appreciation for architectural design.

The honor given to Fisher encompassed two locations, including the expansion of offices in Irvington, which occupy a rehabilitated greenhouse factory built in 1902 on the shores of the Hudson River.

Hair Expressions, Sleepy Hollow’s newest salon and day spa for women and men, provides professional full-service care at affordable prices. Owner Maribel Illescas opened her salon in August, and has been expanding services ever since. Not only does Hair Expressions provide hair styling, manicures and pedicures, an esthetician is on staff for facials, waxing, body polishes, and body scrubs; massages and eyebrow threading are available, all at a reasonable cost. Children’s haircuts are specially priced, and first-time clients get a discount on any salon service.  more »

“My passion is teaching dance,” said Marissa Salemi, the 28-year-old owner of Breaking Ground Dance Center, a 7,500-square- foot studio in Pleasantville. Voted Favorite Dance Studio in Westchester for Tweens by InTown Magazine, Breaking Ground Dance brings in teachers and choreographers from all over the country to instruct more than 350 students in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical and musical theatre dance, plus hip-hop – the most popular class offered.  more »

The Nearly New Shop is a Tarrytown institution, having operated continuously in the same charming Victorian house at 35 South Broadway for 67 years. The 100-member Junior League of Westchester-on-Hudson (JFWOH), a women’s service organization committed to improving our local communities, operates this women’s resale shop. Proceeds from the shop fund projects in the rivertowns and part of Rockland County. Locally, the renovation of the Town Hall Theater in Irvington, the Open Door Medical Center and Career Closet are just a few examples of the League’s high-profile past projects.  more »

SoHo East is back! Owner Stacey Higgins has re-opened her popular contemporary giftware and home collections store in Irvington. But this time, her new venue is “just a little bit different,” she said. With two new partners, she is expanding her accessory offerings to include artisanal baked goods from Big Girl Bakery, as well as a changing artwork exhibit.

Big Girl Bakery, run by sisters Aimee, Jody, and Regina Milano, offered their goodies at Irvington’s farmers market, but now you can purchase their honey almond biscotti, sweet nut mixtures, sugar cookies and ginger snaps at the store any time.  more »

October marks the beginning of the 3/50 Project in Tarrytown, Sleepy Hollow and Irvington and with it comes the opportunity for shoppers and diners to win a prize for patronizing local businesses.

The 3/50 Project also is a reminder of the advantages accrued through shopping locally.

Beginning this month and lasting through the end of the year, shoppers will see “3/50 Project” emblems displayed in many businesses in the three villages. They indicate participation in the shop locally campaign organized by the Sleepy Hollow Tarrytown Chamber of Commerce and the Irvington Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with The Hudson Independent.  more »

Eileen Fisher and her company of the same name are celebrating 25 years in the clothing business with a number of events, including the opening of a new store. At Eileen Fisher LAB, which opened September 16 in the same building complex as EF corporate headquarters on Bridge Street, fans of Fisher’s clothing and those new to the label are discovering a different kind of shopping experience. Although the location is unusual for a retail store, Eileen Fisher customers are having no problem finding it on the west side of the train tracks in Irvington, near the Hudson River.  more »

Few people would bring as varied a background to the job of executive director of the Sleepy Hollow-Tarrytown Chamber of Commerce as has John Sardy. He took over the part-time position in June, but will also continue to work as a local realtor. Before taking his present post, Sardy had leadership positions with the Chamber, as co-president this year and as treasurer for the two prior years.

One of his primary goals now is “to utilize my software, internet and managerial experiences to enhance the development of effective marketing and networking campaigns,” he said. “I worked on a patent for e-commerce and very much enjoy surfing the internet and utilizing Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter.”  more »

It’s called the 3/50 Project. It is the basis for a “shop local” campaign that has burgeoned in villages and towns across the country and is making its appearance in Tarrytown and Sleepy Hollow, spurred on by the villages’ local Chambers of Commerce, and business groups and supported by The Hudson Independent.

The premise behind the project is a straightforward point; maintaining a vibrant local business district is important to the resident consumer in many ways. The 3/50 concept translates into each resident pledging to spend at least $50 among three local, independent, merchants within a month’s time. “Save Your Local Economy Three Stores at a Time” is the campaign’s mantra. The pledge generally is an informal vow made to oneself.  more »

Local resident, Matthew Gullotta, together with his wife, Cynthia, eight-year-old daughter Amilie, and five-year-old son Matthew have all become enthusiastic supporters of the new all-in-one green home cleaning solution that is safe, effective and all natural: WOW Green. They want everyone to know that it is possible to green your home overnight, and that it is easy.  more »

Hitachi America’s 10th annual Food Drive in Tarrytown will benefit The Food Bank for Westchester.

Tarrytown community groups that have joined Hitachi’s efforts and will be accepting food donations include Village Hall, the Tarrytown Police Department, the Sleepy Hollow/Tarrytown Chamber of Commerce and The Warner Library.

“We are especially grateful to Hitachi and the surrounding Tarrytown community for hosting this drive during the summer when so many children do not have access to the meal assistance they would normally receive in school,” said Christina Rohatynskyj, executive director of The Food Bank for Westchester.  more »

Dobbs Ferry is now home to the conveniently located Oasis Day Spa, the largest health spa in Westchester County. With 15 treatment rooms, a couples room, space for special events, a boutique and rooftop garden, Oasis is designed as a destination day spa that provides a comprehensive array of health and beauty treatments and services.

Owners Bruce and Marti Schoenberg feel strongly that, “the spa experience should be a wellness experience,” and, with that in mind, they have created a one -stop mecca, an affordable place to relax, rejuvenate and reinvigorate in any number of inviting ways.  more »

Spring is here, and Tarrytown’s Farmers’ Market opened for business on Saturday, May 30 in Patriot’s Park. All the vendors from last year returned, in addition to a variety of new producers providing a broad selection of prepared foods, wines, dairy products, specialty items, herbs and flowers, fresh fruits and vegetables, meats and poultry.  more »