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RT04062017

28 APRIL 6, 2017 RIDGEWOOD TIMES WWW.QNS.COM Organic Ridgewood pharmacy marks anniversary BY ANTHONY GIUDICE AGIUDICE@RIDGEWOODTIMES.COM @A_GIUDICEREPORT Ridgewood’s first organic and homeopathic pharmacy is celebrating its one-year anniversary in the neighborhood by thanking its customers during their fi rst Customer Appreciation Month, where patrons will fi nd discounts on all in-store items. Nature’s Way Pharmacy opened at 60-27 Myrtle Ave. on April 18, 2016, and owners Michael Raizberg and Paul Volynsky worked hard to bring a new pharmacy experience for customers, diff erentiating themselves from the traditional big-name pharmacies by off ering a wide selection of natural medicines and products, and unparalleled customer service. Since opening last year, Volynsky and Raizberg have become a part of the community and they want to thank their customers. So, from Monday, April 10, through Sunday, April 30, customers will fi nd huge savings as part of Customer Appreciation Month. “The best part is we were welcomed into the neighborhood,” Volynsky said. “It feels like we fi lled in a missing niche for products that people didn’t have access to here, which feels great.” Making it for a year as an organic and homeopathic pharmacy was no easy task, and Volynsky and Raizberg have had their share of struggles. When they initially opened, they had their toy section right at the front of the store, which sent a signal to customers that they were solely a toy store, Volynsky said. Aft er learning of this, the co-owners changed their displays around, and customers fi gured out what they were all about. As they continued to get feedback from customers and grow, the owners learned to separate themselves from some of the larger pharmacies by listening to their customers’ needs and wants. “The main thing is when people come here we give them really good customer service and we help them out with their issue. We listen to them. We listen to their needs,” Raizberg said. “We don’t just try to push something on them, we actually try to help them. We have a lot of repeat customers, and that is the bread and butter of our business.” Nature’s Way continues to offer free local delivery from the pharmacy department, and they still have their Customer Loyalty Program, where customers receive 10 percent back in store credit on all purchases from the front of the store to use for future purchases with the loyalty card. With a year’s worth of experience under their belts, Raizberg and Volynsky have their eyes on the future, and Nature’s Way Pharmacy is holding a Customer Appreciation Month to celebrate one year in Ridgewood. bringing in some big changes to Nature’s Way, including a new health bar. “The front of the store is going to get revamped,” Volynsky said. “We’re going to be putting in a juice/coff ee/ smoothie bar where people can get to taste and experience some of our products in the store. We’re also going to be carrying exotic coff ees that you won’t be able to fi nd anywhere else. And we’re going to have an even bigger and revamped toy section.” The co-owners are expecting to have the changes completed by the fall. File photo/QNS Customers should be on the lookout for door-buster deals for Nature’s Way Pharmacy inside the weekly bag circular delivered to residents’ doorsteps, or visit the store to pick up the circular to get coupons for discounts on all instore items. Another bridge building title for Grover Cleveland students BY ANTHONY GIUDICE AGIUDICE@RIDGEWOODTIMES.COM @A_GIUDICEREPORT Students from Ridgewood’s Grover Cleveland High School dominated the 2017 Citywide Regional Bridge Building Contest, winning the championship for a record ninth consecutive year, and taking the top seven spots in the contest. The contest took place on Saturday, April 1, at John Bowne High School in Flushing, where Grover Cleveland’s Shafi qur Khan became the citywide champion for his impressive bridge building abilities. Khan’s bridge weighed in at 20.5 grams, and was able to withstand an astonishing 47.4 kilos — or 104 pounds — before fi nally succumbing to the weight. The amazing structure was able to hold 2,312 times its own weight. Khan will now advance to the International competition in Dallas, Texas, on April 22. Earning second place was Saiman Tamang, the third place winner was Mingmar Tamang, while Suraksha Khadka brought home fourth place, and coming in fifth place was Asia Tandon, all from Grover Cleveland. The Ridgewood high school also had Harold Rojas, Jeevan Bastola, Angel Gonzalez, Priyanka Rana, Natasha Paulino, Ankit Bhandari, Anith Devkota, Bishan Rayamaji, and Dawa Sherpa all place in the competition, solidifying Grover Cleveland as the city’s top bridge building school. These impressive victories come on the heels of last year’s fi rst place fi nish by Grover Cleveland High School student Abrar Hussain at the 2016 International Bridge Building Contest in Chicago, Illinois. Bridge building, however, isn’t the only area Grover Cleveland students have excelled recently. The Grover Cleveland High School Science Olympiad Team won six medals across fi ve diff erent events at the 2017 Citywide Science Olympiad this past February.


RT04062017
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