Business blooms for Wassaic flower shop

WASSAIC — Images of butterflies and ladybugs are hard to avoid at Monarch Creations, a new flower and decorations shop located on Route 22 in Wassaic. They’re even a part of the store logo.The new business is owned by Melissa Conklin, and if a flower shop in that location strikes a familiar chord, it’s because she purchased the business from Judy Marshall, who ran Judy’s Flower Shop there for more than a decade and still owns the building.“It’s really just something I always wanted to do,” Conklin said. “I’m the crafty one in the family, and I have a lot of hands-on, self-taught experience.”Conklin said the goal for her business is that everything that comes out of the store will be a hand-crafted and unique piece.“Creation is part of the name,” she said. “It’s about creating gifts for people that you can’t just go to any store and buy.”In addition to flowers (and there are a wide variety that can be ordered daily), there are specialty baskets, candles and soaps, among other items.Going back to the theme of butterflies and monarchs, Conklin said the images are in memory of her father and close family members, several of whom she lost during the last year.“They really gave me the inspiration to go for it and open the business now,” she said.Although the store has opened its doors to customers already, there will be a grand opening Saturday, April 16, from 9 a.m. to noon, with refreshments served and gifts at sale prices.“This is where I bought my flowers,” she said of the store. “The location means a lot to me. One door closes and another one opens.”Monarch Creations is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon. Reach the business at 845-373-7053 or by email at monarchcreations11@gmail.com.

Latest News

Water main cleaning in North Canaan

NORTH CANAAN – Aquarion Water Company today announced a water main cleaning project in the company’s North Canaan system. The project is scheduled to take place from Monday, April 1 through Tuesday, April 16, and is being undertaken to ensure customers in North Canaan continue to receive the highest quality water.

The cleaning for April 1 and April 4 (subject to change) will take place on the following streets:

Keep ReadingShow less
Tuning up two passions under one roof

The Webb Family in the workshop. From left: Phyllis, Dale, Ben and Josh Webb, and project manager Hannah Schiffer.

Natalia Zukerman

Magic Fluke Ukulele Shop and True Wheels Bicycle Shop are not only under the same roof in a beautiful solar powered building on Route 7 in Sheffield, but they are also both run by the Webb family, telling a tale of familial passion, innovation and a steadfast commitment to sustainability.

In the late ‘90s, Dale Webb was working in engineering and product design at a corporate job. “I took up instrument manufacturing as a fun challenge,” said Dale. After an exhibit at The National Association of Music Merchants in Anaheim, California, in 1999, The Magic Fluke company was born. “We were casting finger boards and gluing these things together in our basement in New Hartford and it just took off,” Dale explained. “It was really a wild ride, it kind of had a life of its own.”

Keep ReadingShow less
Robert Cray’s soulful blues coming to Infinity Hall

Robert Cray

Photo provided

Blues legend Robert Cray will be bringing his stinging, funky guitar and soulful singing to Infinity Hall Norfolk on Friday, March 29.

A five-time Grammy winner, Cray has been inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame and earned The Americana Music Awards Lifetime Achievement for Performance. He has played with blues and rock icons including Albert Collins, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, The Rolling Stones, Tina Turner, Eric Clapton and many more.

Keep ReadingShow less