Business digest

Taverna joins Tuxedo chamber and PTO to fight hunger Tuxedo — The Tuxedo Chamber of Commerce continues its annual Have-A-Heart Campaign on Tuesday, April 12, at Taverna Tuxedo. All purchases, dine-in or take-out, from 5 to 10 p.m. will result in 15 percent of the bill being donated to the chamber’s campaign (excluding tax and gratuity). The campaign’s beneficiary is the PTO and Tuxedo Union Free School District’s BackPack Program, which actively fights youth hunger in the local community. All funds raised through the campaign are matched dollar-for-dollar by both St. Mary’s-In-Tuxedo Episcopal Church and the chamber itself. Taverna Tuxedo is located at 209 Route 17 in downtown Tuxedo, and can be reached at 915-3220 or www.letseat.at/TavernaTuxedo. To make a direct donation to the campaign, send a check payable to Tuxedo Chamber of Commerce (with “2011 Have-A-Heart Campaign” on the memo line) to PO Box 514, Tuxedo, NY, 10987-0514. Donation jars are available in several Tuxedo businesses through the end of April as well. For more information visit www.tuxedochamber.org or e-mail William Sweet, chamber president, at bill@tuxedochamber.org. Moodna Creek Watershed Council looks for logo Monroe - The newly formed Moodna Creek Watershed Intermunicipal Council needs the public’s help with the creation of an identifying icon to represent the council and expresses their mission to protect, conserve and enhance the water resources in the watershed. The winning logo will be on letterhead, brochures, and promotional items used across the county. The Moodna Watershed contains critical water resources in addition to scenic and recreational values that are enjoyed by all residents. The council is made up of 14 towns and villages, as well as conservation groups and concerned citizens. The council is eager to get started with its education and research projects but first need a logo that best represents its mission. The contest is open to all residents of Orange County. Student artists are especially encouraged to enter. The deadline is April 15. The entry form is available online at http://waterauthority.orangecountygov.com/moodna_council.html. Prizes are donated by local businesses including Moodna Creek Solutions (rain barrel), Manza Family Farm ($100 gift certificate) and Jesters in Chester’s Castle Fun Center ($20 gift certificate). Seminars slated on April 14 on stream water quality Middletown — The Orange County Water Authority and SUNY Orange are co-sponsoring two free public seminars about Stream Water Quality in Orange County at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 14, at SUNY Orange in Middletown. Both sessions have the same agenda and format. To reserve your seat, call Eenika Cruz at 615-3868 or email ecruz@orangecountygov.com by April 11. Literacy Orange to celebrate 30 years Middletown — Literacy Orange will mark its 30th anniversary at a “Diamonds in the Rough” gala to be held on May 18, from 4 to 9 p.m. at The Fountains at the Wallkill Golf Club. The organization is partnering with Orange-Ulster BOCES to honor outstanding students from the adult education programs throughout Orange County. There will be a hole-in-one golf contest from 4 to 6 p.m. Participants can win a 5-day/4-night vacation to one of Jet Blue’s Challenge resorts. Any one can stop by and buy a bucket of balls to enter. Cocktail hour begins at 5:30 p.m. followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. A dinner ticket is $90. A bucket of balls is $20. Visit www.literacyorangeny.org for tickets. As part of the celebration that evening, Literacy Orange will hold an auction to raise additional funds. To arrange a donation to the auction contact the organization. Sponsorship registration forms are being accepted and may be obtained at www.literacyorangeny.org. Deadline for registration is April 15. For more information call 863-9348. Fax forms to 343-7191. Local remodeling company to serve disabled vets Middletown — P&D Remodeling, LLC, of Middletown has recently been approved by the Veterans Administration as a registered builder, allowing P&D to work under the VA’s Specially Adapted Housing grant program. P&D will adapt the homes of disabled veterans and service members who qualify for the grant. Veterans or service members who have specific service-connected disabilities may be entitled to a grant from the VA for the purpose of constructing an adapted home or modifying an existing home to meet their adaptive needs. For more information or to apply for a grant, visit The United States Department of Veterans Affairs Web site at https://vip.vba.va.gov/portal/SAH/SAHApplication. Owned and operated by Pasquale and Debbie Grazioso, P&D is experienced in the business of modifying homes for the disabled. With 11-plus years of full-time experience in the residential remodeling industry, P&D specializes in helping seniors and disabled individuals to remain in their homes and enhance their independence. If you are a disabled vet who needs a home adapted, call Debbie Grazioso at 343-6390 or visit www.PD-Remodeling.com for more information. Local bus business offers free training for vets South Fallsburg — Rolling V Bus Corp and Gershowitz Transportation are now offering free commercial driver’s license (CDL) training to all veterans to help prepare them for the transition from military to civilian life. The course, operated through the companies’ training division Mutual Training Corp., was created to offer local veterans an opportunity to obtain a CDL through continuing education, and help provide supplemental income for those who may continue to struggle financially. There is no obligation to be employed by Rolling V or Gershowitz following the training program, but if an opportunity exists upon graduation, the bus companies would consider them for employment. The only requirement for the program is a clean driver’s license. President of Rolling V Phil Vallone, whose son Phillip Vallone, Jr., is a lance corporal in the United States Marine Corps, believes it is the duty of local businesses to assist returning veterans in the transition back to civilian life. Veterans of all ages interested in the program can contact Mutual Training Corp. at 434-4102. Fire safety ed center to open Montgomery — The Orange County Firefighters Museum plans to open the Fire Safety Education Center located adjacent to the museum, in June, and at that time introduce a new tradition honoring an Orange County Volunteer Firefighter with the Educator of the Year Award. After diligent research the plans and program for the education center are approaching completion. Once finished, the center will be an up-to-date, high tech classroom space for children, senior citizens, adults with disabilities and all the citizens of Orange County. The center will be used to demonstrate home exit drills and other emergency procedures, and to present vital safety features like smoke detector use and how to dial 9-1-1. Funding for the project has been secured through grants received from state and county leaders as well as private donors. Educating children, adults and adults with disabilities on fire safety and fire prevention is a cause that the Orange County Firefighters Museum Board of Directors and Education Advisory Committee members want to recognize. This year committee will recognize the first recipient of the Orange County Volunteer Firefighter Educator of the Year Award, and will continue to show its appreciation to these volunteers by recognizing them annually. The grand opening of the Fire Safety Education Center will take place at the Firefighters Museum at 141 Clinton St. in the Village of Montgomery on Saturday, June 4, from 5 to 7 p.m.