 
Janine Dethmers, owner of Corporate Impressions in Warwick, and attorney Rob Krahulik of Middletown and president of the Warwick Valley Chamber of Commerce, welcome visitors to the chamber”™s second annal expo.
Michael Johndrow, president of the Warwick Valley Chamber of Commerce, couldn”™t have been more pleased about the turnout for the chamber”™s second annual expo May 2. Despite a letter from the school district warning of a potential case of swine flu, nearly 700 visitors flocked to the Warwick Valley Middle School to visit with the nearly 100 vendors who participated in the day-long event.
Johndrow, whose tiny village of Warwick is a major tourist destination and known throughout the tri-state area for its annual Applefest held each October, said the expo is an opportunity for businesses to get to know people in the southern part of Orange County, particularly in the Warwick area. Vendors came from as far away as Poughkeepsie to participate, and Johndrow said it was a “great way for the community to meet businesses outside of the area as well as for our own businesses to network with others.”
Christina Tawpash of the Literacy Volunteers of Orange County encourages visitors to share their love of reading with others and gives a plug to this year”™s quadricentennial celebration.
Johndrow, who became full-time chamber president two years ago, has helped boost his community on the Hudson Valley radar screen. The village had its own “restaurant week” in February and the expo at the middle school was the second for the chamber. Johndrow hopes to do more to help promote local business.
“Frankly, I think we would have seen even more people come out to visit our vendors and try some great local food if people had not been concerned over the swine flu scare, which I totally understand; nevertheless, we had a good crowd, more people than last year, and are busy planning for next year”™s event already.”
And in keeping the with “green” theme so popular these days, the expo”™s keynote speaker was Carol Hurst, who offered a presentation titled, “Simple steps for a healthier life and cleaner planet.” Â
Malik Roberts of Black Dirt Gourmet at Rogowski”™s Farm in Pine Island, bringing a new line of organic food products to market.
That was followed by an organic lunch provided by the Black Dirt Gourmet, which farmer Cheryl Rogowski of Pine Island started three years ago.
“The most important thing we accomplished was introducing our community and our vendors to the idea of doing business locally,” said Johndrow. “The economy is hurting all of us, so it”™s an opportunity to learn who your neighbors are and to support our local vendors. There wouldn”™t be a Main Street without them.”
