Spotlight On New Business

Jordan Antiquarian Books

Jerard (Jerry) Jordan, owner of Jordan Antiquarian Books, is newly open for business at 3033 Route 30 in Dorset. His antiquarian book business was first established in 1989 in Cody, WY, then relocated to Sante Fe, NM, and is now in Dorset, VT. "We were familiar with Dorset and had established a clientele here; it seemed like a good location to settle."

Jordan Antiquarian Books' areas of interest include non-fiction Americana including historic ephemera and manuscripts. Other interests include military American history up until the First World War, particularly the American Revolutionary War and the Civil War. Jordan issues a quarterly, complimentary catalog of items available for purchase, which include books on western exploration and art; ranch histories; Native Americans; the railroad; outlaws and lawmen; Lewis & Clark, and George Armstrong Custer. "The collection documents in its broadest sense the history of human activity in North America. Recently, we've been interested in genealogical records, which would include city directories, Indian captivities, and Vermont history." In the catalog, Jordan briefly explains the historical and cultural importance of many of the items.

Loyal individual collectors and institutional clientele are based throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, England, Germany and Australia. Jordan is in the process of having an office built to house his merchandise.

Jordan is a member of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America (ABAA), the Ephemera Society of America and the Manuscripts Society of America.

The office is open by appointment only.

The mailing address for Jordan Antiquarian Books is P.O. Box 386, Dorset, VT 05251. The telephone number is (802) 867-0425.

Neshobe Counseling

Ken Smith, MA, and his wife, Kate Schirmer-Smith, MS, recently named their new company Neshobe Counseling at the same time they opened for business in Brandon. However, Brandon area people may be familiar with the two mental health counselors. Smith and Schirmer-Smith have provided counseling services in the past few years at their Union Street location in conjunction with Dr. George Fjeld's medical practice, performing an intermittent outreach service from the Middlebury headquarters of Counseling Services of Addison County.

The couple offers professional treatment for adults, adolescents, couples, and families as Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselors. Schirmer-Smith is nearing 20 years in her profession. Ken Smith, with 15 years in the counseling field, is also a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor and is approved for counseling in DWI/Crash cases.

"We are both committed to community mental health," says Smith. His wife adds, "We saw a need in the Brandon area. We've had calls from here looking for our services." She points out that Brandon is in Rutland County, at the southern edge of the territory served by Counseling Services of Addison County.

The team will collaborate with local doctors as well as providing counseling for Otter Valley Union High School students. The National Bank of Middlebury assisted them in financing the new enterprise.

Smith earned his Master of Arts degree in counseling psychology from Antioch College at Keene, NH, and worked at Rutland Mental Health Services early in his career. Schirmer-Smith received her Master of Science degree in community mental health from what was then Trinity College, and is now called Southern New Hampshire University. She is especially interested in counseling adolescent girls.

Neshobe Counseling's offices are in a downtown Brandon house at 3 Union Street. The two partners feel that the historic, mid-19th century house makes a more comfortable setting for clients than a modern office building ever could. Building owner Dr. George Fjeld is making major renovations while preserving the original architectural details inside and out, and will soon have office spaces for additional tenants. Once done, Smith and Schirmer-Smith will occupy larger quarters, affording separate offices for them and, for their clients, a more pleasant waiting room.

The telephone number for Neshobe Counseling is (802) 247-3136; the mailing address is 3 Union Street, Brandon, VT 05733.

Enviropro Refrigeration

Jerry and Lauren Liverette of Brandon have recently started a new business called EnviroPro Commercial Refrigeration, Inc. EnviroPro services and installs commercial ice machines and refrigeration systems as well as air-conditioning systems, with the emphasis of the business being on service. "My client base consists of restaurants, convenience stores, grocery stores, any type of business that would have refrigeration equipment," explained Liverette.

With over 30 years of experience in the industry, Liverette was a licensed contractor for over half of that time in various states as well as a mechanical engineering technician with the federal government. He is currently licensed in commercial refrigeration and air-conditioning in five states, including Vermont. He is also the service representative of western Vermont for Hoshizaki of America, a Japanese company that designs and manufactures commercial refrigeration equipment. "If one of their customers in Vermont calls them for service, I'm in a computer database and Hoshizaki will call me to service the equipment for their client," explained Liverette.

As a way of spreading the word and expanding his business, Liverette is contacting local plumbing and heating contractors to collaborate work. "What I'm trying to do is call them and get referrals for cooling services and I in turn would refer them for heating services, which I do not do."

Although Liverette concentrates on commercial work, he also services and installs central air-conditioning systems in residential settings. In particular circumstances, he will service window air-conditioning units as well. "I have a client who has a Hoshizaki ice machine and if it ever breaks down he will call me for service. He also has two window units which I would be happy to service while I'm servicing the ice machine."

The mailing address is 752 Prospect Street, Brandon, VT 05733. The telephone number is (802) 247-0062. The email address is enviropro1@verizon.net.

Shawna Snyder, acupuncturist

Shawna Synder is an acupuncturist and practitioner of Oriental medicine who has recently joined the staff of Flower Brook Acupuncture & Massage in Pawlet. She is working with Patti Weisser, a well-known acupuncturist in the area. "I'm finding the clinic very interesting. I'm shadowing Patti, meeting patients, learning the filing system and office procedures. I grew up in this area, so many patients already know me," says Snyder.

Snyder took premedical courses at the University of Vermont. Her focus was a self-designed study of women's health and medical botany. "I spent a year in Boulder, Colorado studying Western herbal medicine. Then I worked with Vermont Cares, a wellness program for patients with HIV. I met many acupuncturists there and found their profession fascinating. I visited the New England School of Acupuncture in Boston. It is the oldest school of acupuncture in the country and has an excellent faculty. I moved to Boston and began studying acupuncture and Oriental medicine, and I earned a master's degree. After graduating from the program, I called up Patti Weisser because I knew she was very busy and needed more staff. I moved back to the Pawlet area to work at her clinic.

"Acupuncture can address many problems and improve quality of life. I deal with pain management, musculo-skeletal imbalances, infertility, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, and other chronic conditions. Acupuncture is often a good complement to Western medicine. It is nice to be able to bring both medical systems together. Acupuncture helps people undergoing chemotherapy by addressing side effects such as nausea. It can speed recovery from broken bones. Many people on pain medications experience stomach problems and mental acuity difficulties. Acupuncture can help them reduce their dosages. They are still comfortable and experience fewer side effects. I'm encouraged that more hospitals in Vermont are developing integrative therapy departments." Hours are by appointment on Wednesdays and Fridays.

People may reach Shawna Snyder at Flower Brook Acupuncture & Massage at (802) 325-3535. The address is 162 Church Street, Pawlet, VT 05761.

Mountain Wear

Businesswoman Lynn Acker has recently opened her newest Killington venture, Mountain Wear, featuring what she bills as the area's largest selection of t-shirts and sweats. Mountain Wear is located in the former Blue Moon Sports shop, adjacent to Wally's American Grill (formerly Ppeppers), in the Killington Mall in Killington. Acker, having owned and operated a local gift and souvenir shop called Accents & Images for the past 23 winters, believes her new store is in a prime location and will fill a niche market on the mountain. The 2,610-square-foot space was renovated and restructured.

Acker says, "This is a great location. There are so many other new things happening in the Killington Mall, with Wally's, Tabu, Outback, and Vertical Bliss rounding out the mall. There is a new energy that's happening here, this whole area is exciting." Acker, along with manager Mary Pfanne and employee Judy Dougherty, are looking forward to a busy winter season. While Acker's other store "is a gift shop that carries shirts, Mountain Wear will specialize in shirts, sweats, and kids' clothing, but will have a variety of gift items, including glassware, maple syrup, Champlain chocolates, picture frames, mugs, bathing suits and towels."

Working with Acker, Craig Hanson of Hansson Construction and Remodeling in Killington did the interior renovations. As part of the interior work, walls and a staircase were realigned to better facilitate the display of merchandise. The second floor is used for office space and storage. Following Hanson, Craig Cunningham of Teak Painting, finished the interior color changes. The interior walls are a white-painted wood barn board. Acker notes, "This is very functional as far as decorating," adding, "The rustic Vermont look is what people want to see and experience." The walls are lined with bushel baskets, the same as used in apple orchards, accenting the t-shirts and making them easily accessible when sizing and purchasing. The walls and ceiling feature older-era pictures of Killington and Pico. A skiers' T-Bar from Pico Mountain, originally used by the Acker family, hangs next to an older-style single chair lift. Skis with no cable bindings and original snowshoes are also on display.

Clothing selections cover all age groups from infants through adults. All popular name brands are featured including Eagle, Yesterdays, Too Cool, Ouray, Levelware, Ohiophyle, and Gildan. Acker adds that one of the hottest items, recently featured on "Good Morning America," are the fleece-lined zip-up hooded sweatshirts. "Fleece is the right weight for layering, it's soft and not heavy or bulky," notes Acker. Brown and pink, either individually or together, are the hot colors right now, although the standard heather, navy, black and gray still are on the popular list. Acker finds that both zip-ups and pullovers are equally good sellers.

Clothing items are moderately priced with t-shirts starting at $10. Sweat pants in various weights and material are prominent in the store. A full display of Killington baseball caps is available.

The mailing address is 2841 Killington Road, Killington, VT 05751. The telephone number for Mountain Wear is (802) 422-2050.

Spangler Development

Carl Spangler recently announced the formation of a new business service which will make him available to developers exploring the prospects for new construction projects in northern New England. With his office based in Killington, Spangler anticipates that in general, he will serve developers throughout northern New England, including the entire state of Vermont and the greater Rutland area in particular. He says he will "assist developers as they work their way through regulatory processes" leading up to starting new projects and carrying them through to completion.

Spangler Development Services, Ltd. was formed as a Vermont limited corporation, with headquarters located in the same building with the law offices of M. B. Niesner, Jr.

"My business is planning and consulting in advisory services to resort, residential, and commercial developers as they work their way through local, state, and regulatory processes," says Spangler, adding that he is currently working with clients in three of those categories. "I will represent them and be directing other, specialized consultants" working on individual aspects of a project.

Spangler, who lives in Pittsford, holds a master's degree in planning from Pennsylvania State University, followed by several years of continuing professional education at the Harvard Graduate School of Design. He is well known in the Rutland area as the former vice president of planning and development for the Killington Ski Resort and its parent company, American Ski Company. He was for 25 years responsible for planning and development at ASC ski resorts in Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire, and California. The years spent in those states gave him first-hand experience with regulations governing developments, which vary greatly from state to state, he notes.

"I'll cover the northern New England area, but my main focus is Vermont," Spangler explains. He's very interested in getting the state's economy moving, particularly in the Rutland/Killington region. He foresees time spent at the Statehouse in Montpelier talking with lobbyists about Vermont permitting processes and regulations as they relate to his clients. "I'll talk with lobbyists, and I'll probably have to register to become one," he said.

The mailing address for Spangler Development Services, Ltd. is 521 Orchard Hill, Pittsford, VT 0573. The phone number is (802) 282-3614.

Killington Yoga

Karen Dalury is the owner of the new Killington Yoga in Killington. She is also the instructor. Her studio, located in a brand new structure above a barn next to her home on River Road, can accommodate about a dozen students.

"I'm offering two classes: a basic class that is an introduction to alignment, and a mixed- level class that is more challenging, moves more quickly, and includes inverted poses. This is a local, hometown studio, and I have students ranging in ages from their 20s to their 70s," says Dalury.

Dalury began studying Eastern religions in college. "I found a book on yoga and began practicing by myself in my room. Then I took classes in Iyengar yoga and Ashtanga yoga. Later I was introduced to Anusara yoga, developed by John Friend. I find this type of yoga very inspiring. I study with Friend at every opportunity. He teaches a very clear method of alignment, and Anusara is a lighthearted school of yoga," explains Dalury.

Dalury has practiced yoga for 30 years and has taught for 10 years. She is a certified yoga teacher and is registered with the Yoga Alliance. "I've been an athlete all my life. In my 20s I began having back issues. I went to doctors and other therapists, but the yoga practice was the only thing that helped.

"I get many benefits from yoga: peace of mind, openness, a joyful heart, and an increased ability to focus. I'm more patient and compassionate. I'm able to see the big picture.

"My husband, Kip Dalury, did all the renovations on the loft of the barn. He obtained beautiful, huge old boards from David Ferm. Ferm's business, Vermont Restoration Materials in Norwich, takes down old buildings and sells the wood. He has all kinds of wood."

Dalury's basic class runs on Tuesdays from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. The mixed class is held Thursdays from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. Private sessions can be arranged. Students can sign up for classes or walk in. A flexible 10-class card is a somewhat more reasonable cost option.

The mailing address of Killington Yoga is 3744 River Road, Killington, VT 05751. The telephone number is (802) 422-4500. The Website is www.killingtonyoga.com. The e-mail address is kdalury@vermontel.net.

Breni's Home Bakery

Donald and Vera Lashway have opened Breni's Home Bakery in Rutland, offering European-influenced signature cookies for retail sale.

Mrs. Lashway, who hails from the Czech Republic, creates her own personal cookie recipes in the European tradition, which combines both taste and presentation. Friends encouraged the Lashways to offer their cookies to a larger audience, so they decided to do that.

Cookie varieties include Magdalenas, which have a specialty crust and coconut or vanilla crème. They also make coconut crème balls and "ninas," which are vanilla crème cookies with a raspberry filling within a crust and dipped in rich chocolate. The cookies contain no preservatives, and include certain organic ingredients, some of which are purchased at the Rutland Food Co-op. The Lashways make their own chocolate dipping sauce for their baked goods.

The cookies are presented and delivered in handmade boxes that contain nine treats. "Our cookies are beautiful to look at," opines Lashway. Breni's provides free delivery in the Rutland County and Stratton areas within a few days of ordering so the cookies will be fresh.

Both budding entrepreneurs have business backgrounds, and Lashway works at Stratton Mountain, where he hopes to canvass for customers who desire this type of service.

In the next five years, the Lashways would "like to be known nationwide" for their product, and may add new types of cookies or items such as a specialty rabbit cake for Easter. "In the near future, we would like our cookies in some nice restaurants or resorts," states Lashway. With this goal in mind, they may extend to baking commercially as well. Overall, they "will respond to the customers' requests," Lashway said.

A full list of cookies and ordering instructions can be found by e-mailing brenicookies@yahoo.com. The telephone number is (802) 775-0077.

Foggy Creek Folk Art

Donna Wilkins has turned a longtime hobby into a new venture with the opening of her Foggy Creek Folk Art business. The Wallingford resident offers clients unique hand-painted items ranging from simple holiday ornaments to one-of-a-kind framed art pieces.

Wilkins has worked the craft fair circuit for a number of years, frequently running out of stock soon after the doors open. Last September, she decided to establish her own business and plans to be a presence at farmers markets and even more craft fairs next year. In addition, Wilkins now takes custom orders for direct sales.

She will have more time to devote to the business once her full-time job at Wallingford Locker ends next February. "They have the business for sale, so I figured I always loved to paint and I need to so something. Hopefully, next year I'll do a lot more craft fairs and go from there," Wilkins said.

She explained painting started out as a hobby, and she presented many of her pieces as gifts to family and friends. "Everybody always told me to go into business, so I decided to give it a try," Wilkins said. Folk art was a natural fit for the artisan who prefers creating pieces that stir a sense of nostalgia among customers. "I like that style, it's colorful, it's homey and old-fashioned," she said.

Wilkins offers her trademark Santa Claus on an array of backgrounds from gourds and dishware to skis. "The thing I do the most is folk art Santas. I paint on anything that can be made into something. I do wine bottles, a lot of wood of course, and even those old-fashioned ironing boards. I do other stuff, too, I like doing still life," she said. The Wallingford resident noted she often gathers items from nature to be used in the studio. "When we go to Maine in the summertime, we find these smooth rocks and driftwood and I paint on those," she said.

Wilkins explained she also accepts specialty orders from customers who may want a painting of their home or a specific scene. "I can deliver it to them or send it to them," she said. Her pieces range in price from $4 for an ornament to $60 for a detailed painting on an ironing board.

Foggy Creek Folk Art can be reached at foggycrkfolkart@aol.com or by calling (802) 446-2494.