We need a gluten free bakery.

Just a suggestion, perhaps food is not the way to go There are already so many eateries. How about a pet shop petsmart is really far away. Just a thought I hope something opens right away.

I think a bakery would be a great idea. I always said that this area needs a bakery. The last bakery was on Main Street and that closed about 14 years ago. Wouldn't it be nice not to get a price chopper cake for a birthday celebration? Or perhaps a fresh fish market where you can get fish to prepare at home or that serves up quick fried shrimp, fish, fries.

A small selection of gluten free products are available at the Cornwall Community Co-op, 208 Hudson St.
www.cornwallcoop.com

What about an Italian Deli. Somewhere we can get great imported cold first pressed olive oils, real aged provolone, sandwich meat, good Italian bread, olives etc..yum

Or how about an ALL Organic Market from food to clothing and personal items

Big Box Store mentality is precisely why our independent local businesses are struggling and failing. Why lament the necessity of buying yet another birthday cake from Price Chopper, when we have had Jones Farm in our midst for so many years with cakes and cookies to die for? Not to mention what a pleasant shopping experience it is to go there. Petsmart for pet supplies, when we have Positively Pets on Rt. 32? Not only is it so much closer, it's also a much nicer and hassle-free way to shop for pet supplies. In the grand scheme of things, whatever savings we've been programmed to think we're getting from these multi-national chains is more than off-set by the additional tax burden we all shoulder when we lose a local business and its contribution to our tax base. Think about it.

Right, Bill. And I'm scratching my head about the fresh fish frustration. How could you be living in this area and not know about Sally's Fish Store in Newburgh? No one in New York City is getting fresher or better selected fish than we have here. And those are the nicest bunch of guys up there. By choosing (and being disappointed with) the convenience of a Box Store, so much else is sacrificed: Satisfaction, a real connection with the community, and the security of keeping these businesses alive. Great local businesses don't usually just spring up overnight. Sally's is a second or third generation business. There's pride and tradition there. When we lose a hardware store, it's not so easily replaced. It would be a very rare individual, indeed, who would try to go up against Lowe's or Home Depot in our current economic reality. And yet I've spoken to many local people who would love to see a local hardware store return.

There are many businesses that villagers would "like" for convenience. In addition to those described above, we could add shoe repair, tailor, hardware, card shop...but, alas, we do have to confront the reality of the big box cornucopia.

It isn't easy for an entrepreneur to turn a profit with a small business in a small community, unless it is a labor of love, which can "grow" customers if it it comes with tenacity.

Speaking of Jones Farm, a couple of weeks ago I stopped in to browse, and Doris plied me with freshly made fudge.."now try the peanut butter one;" and as for Positively Pets, Judy knows which ingredient is best for this ailment or that...(and also offers samples so you can test her theories). I cherish these neighbors' commitments to our sense of "the way it should be."

The supermarket and big box store employees may also be neighbors, but they are not owners. Most of the owners are corporations located a few states away, and therein lies the difference.

Market-on-Hudson did not close because of big business, it closed because the quality declined seriously in the last year, which had stopped me from going. We now have the new Hudson Street cafe which is packed regulary. Small business in communities work when they are quality business. Tricia Haggerty Wenz

It's a bit of 'chicken or the egg'. Did the quality decline because of a general lack of community support or a lack of entrepreneurial energy. Without a doubt, Donna has transferred her vision and energy to Hudson Street Cafe, and I'm sure we're all happy she's still here.

Everyone has all these ideas of what "should" go there, but no one has mentioned wanting to be the one to open a business. SO, since this has turned into a forum for useless suggestions I would like to offer my own - I think that they should open up a gluten free animal bakery. Stocked with baked goods made out of gluten free animals. As I have three dogs I can attest they are definitely gluten free.