The aroma of freshly baked breakfast breads and pastries is wafting over the Courtyard on West Franklin Street, where Bliss Boutique Bakery has opened for business.

"Boutique cupcakes that change every day; cookies, brownies, and fresh everything from scratch every day," says owner Mike Taylor. "We have a variety of freshly brewed coffee. We will do catering, delivery, online ordering."

Taylor has been involved in the food industry his entire life, "including minimum-wage jobs," he said. "I have a friend who opened a similar type bakery in Pittsburgh. And I helped him start that. He was from here."

That friend, his partner, Dennis Steigerwalt, introduced him to this area.

"I fell in love with the Triangle," Taylor said.

The kitchen is headed up by Howard Allen, an Alamance Culinary School graduate.

The Courtyard is located at 431 W. Franklin St. Bliss Boutique Bakery's Web address is www.blissboutiquebakery.com.

• For the second consecutive year, Chapel Hill-based artist Kimberly Alvis has donated her original art to a fundraising auction for the Triangle Day School in Durham. "The Pumpkin Patch" is a framed 38-inch by 49-inch oil-on-linen painting. "My kids are so happy at Triangle Day School," says Alvis. "It's a pleasure to help support any school that provides such a terrific learning environment."

Triangle Day School is an independent K-8 school founded in 1991. Currently 200 students are enrolled, including the artist's own children. Alvis is represented locally by Somerhill Gallery in Durham and The Little Art Gallery and Craft Collection in Raleigh. To see more of her work, go to www.alvisart.com.

• Market Street Books at Arts & Letters Community Center in Southern Village was named 2008 Small Business of the Year by the Chapel Hill/Carrboro Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday.

The mission of the nonprofit organization is to provide a destination for people who love books, theater, music and art to come and hang out.

"We are thrilled," executive director Michael Lyle says. "I believe this award is not just a testament to our value to our own community, but also to the importance of local independent bookstores and businesses across the country."

The business of the year awards are presented to businesses that, having been under the same ownership or management for at least three years, have shown growth, innovation of product, exemplary customer service, response to adversity, and/or contribution to the community. Businesses are nominated by community members, finalists are chosen by the chamber, and winners are selected by the board of directors.

Other 2008 Business of the Year winners were The Daily Tar Heel (mid-size businesses) Harrington Bank (large) and Town Planner Community Calendar (newcomer).

• The UPS Store at Carrboro Plaza is launching Operation SWAK (Sealed With A Kiss) to deliver Valentine's Day greetings to U.S. troops and veterans. Now through Feb. 14, the store will provide free first-class postage (42 cents) for one-ounce Valentines and letters to U.S. military personnel stationed overseas or to veterans in VA hospitals. Store hours are 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

•Organic Valley, a farmer-owned cooperative of more than 1,300 organic family farmers, has added a new southeast region farmer coordinator to meet the growing demand for local, organic milk in the region.

Gerry Cohn, a Carrboro resident, will support the nine Organic Valley dairy and three feed member farmers and seek to recruit new members in the region. Cohn will also work to help ensure the availability of local, organic feed for the members.

Cohn has been an organic farmer in Snow Camp for the past decade, raising heritage-breed pastured turkeys, dairy goats, blueberries and vegetables.

• The North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association has named Mickey Ewell of Chapel Hill Restaurant Management Group its Restaurateur of the Year. Ewell has been in the restaurant business for more than three decades, beginning in the early 1970s with Harrison's in Chapel Hill, a popular sorority and fraternity hangout. In 1977, he opened Spanky's, then a new concept as an upscale college restaurant. Squids opened in 1986 followed by 411 West in 1990 and Raleigh's 518 West in 1996. The group's most recent venture, Mez, opened near RTP in fall 2008.

At the same meeting, the new slate of officers and directors were approved by the general membership. Robert Poitras of the Carolina Brewery is chair-elect and Creston Woods of the Carolina Inn will serve on the board of directors.

• Clean Air Lawn Care calls itself the first sustainable, environmentally friendly lawn care company in the Triangle.

"Our goal is to reduce emissions and to provide a level of service above and beyond other companies at a competitive rate," says owner Michael Andre.

Clean Air Lawn Care uses electric and bio-diesel powered equipment. The vehicles hauling this equipment have mounted solar panels that charge the electric equipment during the workday. The equipment is clean and quiet; the fertilizer is organic; the business is carbon neutral.

According to Andre, the EPA estimates that 5-10 percent of all air pollution comes from gas-powered lawn equipment. Gallon for gallon, 2006 lawnmower engines powered by gas contribute 93 times more smog-forming emissions than 2006 cars, according to the California Air Resources Board. Clean Air Lawn Care's business model brings the emissions associated with lawn care down to zero.

Andre moved to the Triangle to work as a research specialist at UNC's Lineberger Cancer Center. He has been a resident for almost four years with his wife, Lauren, and dog, Pike.

• The Fearrington House Restaurant has named Colin Bedford as its new executive chef. He began his culinary career at The Castle Hotel in Taunton, U.K., then moved to North America, first to Ontario at the Prince of Wales Hotel and then to North Carolina as executive sous chef of The Fearrington House, the only restaurant in North Carolina to win the Mobil Travel Guide's Five Diamond designation.

• The day before Valentine's Day, Feb. 13, the Chapel Hill Carrboro Chamber of Commerce invites members to step out of the cold and into their office. Come by between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. for a cup of hot chocolate, a free massage from students of Body Therapy Institute, and useful information about innovative ways to save money and cut costs. Two seminars are also planned; for information e-mail wwoodyard@carolinachamber.org or call 967-7075 by Feb. 9.

• The Triangle's oldest brewery turns 14 this month. Carolina Brewery will celebrate its 14th anniversary on Friday, Feb. 13 with the introduction of a special limited-edition Anniversary Ale, a free commemorative pint glass giveaway and live music from Birds & Arrows and Sweet By & By at its Chapel Hill brewery location. The first 500 customers who purchase a pint of beer that day will also receive a free commemorative pint glass.

• On Valentine's Day, University Mall is offering a little sugar is you show some love for your favorite community organizations. If you stop by the Customer Service Area on Saturday, Feb. 14, and volunteer to do five hours of work by June, you will receive a $5 University Mall gift card after you have fulfilled your commitment.

Send your business news to Julian Sereno at sereno@mindspring.com