By: Maria Moore

This past Tuesday, it was the business community’s turn to kick back a little and share some holiday cheer! The New Hartford Business Council members had recently sponsored two major holiday events in the community: the Holiday Marketplace on November 6 for the benefit of the Beekley Library, and Light New Hartford on December 6 celebrating the lighting of the town Christmas tree. So it was great for them all to kick back a little and celebrate the holidays with friends new and old at the Holiday Mingler which was once again hosted by the great people at Northwest Community Bank.

Steve Reilly of Northwest Community Bank and Paul Samele of Chatterley's Restaurant

Approximately 75 business owners mingled at the bank, catching up with each other, or meeting new members for the first time ~ from both Canton and New Hartford ~ while waitstaff circulated among them, tempting all with platters of hors d’oeuvres.  And at an improvised bar at the back, a bartender stood ready at his post.

Bart Baxter, Co-President of the Business Council, gave a short speech, as did Steve Reilly, the soon-to-be president of Northwest Community Bank.  And then it was back to celebrating the holidays, and yes, even talking a little business, at this annual Holiday Mingler.

A Few Tidbits of Business News From The Holiday Mingler:

• Realty Works will be moving to a new office in the Chatterley’s building in New Hartford Center, taking over the corner location presently occupied by Sally Fitzpatrick;
• Sally Fitzpatrick will be moving her practice into the old library building at 2 Central Avenue which is almost at the end of its extensive renovations;
• A thrift shop may be opening up in town, location not yet known;
• And Henry Bahre is ramping up the marketing of the commercial mall he’s had approved for a number of years, located opposite River Run Condominiums on Route 44 in Pine Meadow.   The first benefit to our local economy resulting from the wastewater treatment plant under construction?

A great evening was had by all, especially those members of the Business Council who have volunteered so many hours recently to bring holiday cheer to our community.

To read more: About the Holiday Mingler, please see Dawn Whalen’s December 13 update in the New Hartford Business Council’s Business Notes section.

Many Thanks: To Carol Monroe and her great staff at Northwest Community Bank for hosting this wonderful event for the business community.

Many Thanks: To Gayle Moraski, Vice President of Branch Administration at Northwest Community Bank for graciously sharing with us her photos of the Mingler.

Many Thanks: To the Friends of NewHartfordPlus who where kind enough to share information about the Holiday Mingler with our reporter, who half-way through the event had to leave to attend a meeting at Town Hall.

Michael and Deb Kuszaj of Blue Sky Foods talking with Julius Fialkiewicz from Realty Works. Amy Mongeau from Northwest Community Bank is in the background. Photo courtesy of Northwest Community Bank

Judge Skip Rogers with Lee Tangarone of Tangarone Prelli Insurance (in white), Mary Sage (in blue). In the background are Bill of Eastern Accents and Tom Hinman of Foothills Delery. Photo: Courtesy of Northwest Community Bank

Some of those present at the Holiday Mingler were (from left to right) Kenny Dahill of Mar-Win Farm, Betsy Whittemore of the Beekley Library, Norma Richmond of New Hartford Junction (catch her at craft shows, etc.), Joanne Dahill (turned towards Norma), Anita Barden of Barden Farm and Marshall Janes of Prospect Designs. Photo: Maria Moore