KERHONKSON – Talk about an uptick... Three new stores on Main Street in Kerhonkson will celebrate their grand opening on Sunday, November 2 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. as Dazzle For Five, Awesome Dogs and Venus Vintage will be extending the Halloween weekend with face painting by Lindsay, kettle corn, raffles and discounts, an opportunity to meet your favorite race car drivers, and an Awesome Doggone Halloween Costume Contest.

Venus Vintage, a thrift/vintage clothing shop, is operated by Venus Paulsen. Murial Pagliaroni, long time Accord resident, opened Dazzle For Five in June, selling Paparazzi jewelry for $5 and under — thus the name Dazzle for Five, with the shop's necklaces, rings, bracelets, hairclips and headbands coming as individual items or in matching sets. Barbra Wood, who has been showing and grooming dogs for over 30 years, opened Awesome Dogs an extension of her life's work. She does shampooing, conditioning, nails, in between toes, and doggy ears as well as the selling of accessories.

Pagliaroni and Wood know each other from Ellenville where they went to school together; having shops near each other has given them a chance to reconnect.

Pagliaroni noted she had been working for the state and was getting ready to retire when she decided to open her shop to have something to do in her retirement.

"I wanted to expand my stock to include men, so my boyfriend helped me pick out hats," she said, noting that other family members helped with the display cases. Her niece now comes in and helps out around the shop, all part and parcel with Pagliaroni's goal of giving her customers the personal touch shoppers want these days.

"We have in-store Paparazzi parties and Thursdays are senior citizen discount days," Pagliaroni said. "I have Christmas gift bags and I'm offering layaway."

It's an aesthetic Wood and Paulsen share with their Venus Vintage and Awesome Dogs shops.

The grand opening will give people a chance to come and see what all the shops have to offer, with special treats and a festive air. For more information on the grand opening call 626-DOGS (3647).