New activity-based business opened last week
Main Street in Highland Falls has another new business — this one is an interactive storefront.
A ribbon cutting was held at Crafty Dees Canvas, 260 Main St., owned and operated by DeeDee Moreno, on Wednesday, Nov. 10.
The business is an activity-based one, where, using her website www.craftydeescanvas.com, and social media pages Moreno will offer classes and fun for all ages in the community.
The celebration spilled out onto the road, with representatives from Senator James Skoufis and Assemblyman Colin Schmitt’s offices on hand, as well as Highland Falls Mayor Joe D’Onofrio, Town Councilman Jim Modlin, Orange County Chamber of Commerce’s Heather Bell-Meyer and Highlands Chamber Acting President Tom Ossa. Moreno’s children were also part of the ceremony.
Bell-Meyer provided the ribbon and very large scissors for the event, and offered all the support of the Orange County Chamber to help her get off the ground. She said that supporting local businesses and town-specific Chambers is part of the job of the larger group.
DJ Pat Flynn attracted folks to the event, playing music from in front of the store.
Moreno spoke briefly, saying she’d had the space for thirteen months, but hadn’t had the opportunity to get the business off the ground. She noted that it had been 102 days since her husband, NYPD Detective George Moreno, passed away. She thanked many of her husband’s co-workers and her friends, family and neighbors for helping her make the push to get the business open.
The short ceremony featured Brendan Coyne, from Skoufis’ office, giving Moreno a certificate honoring the opening, and Nicole Curley, from Schmitt’s office, giving her a certificate of merit.
Modlin welcomed Moreno to town, and said he was happy to see the business “come to the fruition” after both the pandemic, and the recent death of Moreno’s husband.
D’Onofrio commented on that as well, saying “it takes guts to do this, and you have it”. He also noted that there are currently only three empty storefronts on Main St., and urged family-friendly businesses like this new one to “join us” on Main St., Highland Falls.
After the grand-opening, Moreno hosted her first event on Thursday night — a learn to knit, crochet or weave winter hats to pass on to hospitals for their patients. She partnered with Hudson Valley Crafting for a Cause for the event.
For more information on the new business and the events Moreno will host, follow the social media sites, or call her at 845-537-9229.
