Business digest

Woodbury library director earns 'Community Connection Award’ Central Valley — Woodbury Library Director Jennifer Bradshaw has been awarded the Monroe- Woodbury School District “Community Connection Award.” Officials said she was selected “for her ongoing support and encouragement of the students through her generosity and dedication throughout the 2010-2011 school year.” They added Bradshaw’s generosity exemplifies the spirit of support and cooperation between Smith Clove Elementary School and the Woodbury Public Library. Exhibits are annually displayed at the library. They have been described as creative and whimsical and have been enjoyed by all who visit the library. Pietropaolo to receive NEA award Central Valley — Laura Pietropaolo of Goshen, a health teacher/department coordinator in the Monroe-Woodbury School District, is being honored during the National Education Association’s Health Information Network’s annual meeting next week in Chicago. Pietropaolo, who has been teaching in the district since 1984, will receive the Ryan White HIV Prevention Award for her efforts in HIV/AIDS prevention education. Pietropaolo graduated with a bachelor’s degree in health education from SUNY Cortland and received her master’s degree in school counseling from the C. .W. Post of Long Island University. The award will be presented during the NEA’s Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Caucus’ annual Robert Birle Awards Dinner. The group was founded in the 1980s by a handful of NEA Members seeking to provide a means of professional support for gay and lesbian colleagues. GWL woman creates social media company: 'Buzz ChicT’ Greenwood Lake - Maria Gagliano of Greenwood Lake has been a “mommy blogger” for the past six years and loves everything about social networking. “Making connections with people is important to me,” said Gagliano. “I have always been creative and love to write and take photos. Blogging gave me that platform.” So, she was happy to become the social media specialist for another mom and her new company that launched last winter. Facebook, Twitter, blogging and updating the Web site were all things Gagliano had been doing for herself for the past six years as she grew her mommy blog which receives over 36,000 views a month. After being approached by another local mom about advertising, she figured why not do this for others who feel they can’t afford a social media specialist? That’s how Buzz ChicT was established. “I really wanted to help the people with whom I have been working with over the past few years,” she said. “The handmade, homemade crowd, the people who have been trying to make a difference in the world without huge amounts of money and have been doing it on their own. Running a company is a lot of work and smaller companies don’t have the time to grow their company and handle all the social networking like Twitter and Facebook. Handling this for them at a price they can afford, allows them the time to market themselves while giving them an online voice.” To learn more, call 973- 632-0910; e-mail to: mgagliano@buzzchic.net; or visit: www.buzzchic.net. TZ Bridge conference now available online New York — The Manhattan Institute has posted a full online video of its conference, “Replacing the Tappan Zee Bridge,” in co-sponsorship with The Business Council of Westchester County. To view the conference, visit: http://www.manhattan-institute.org/video/index.htm?c=062211MI. MTA announces Fourth of July weekend services New York - The Metropolitan Transportation Authority will offer enhanced railroad service on Friday, July 1, to allow customers to get an early head start on the long Fourth of July weekend. On Monday, July 4, the subways and buses will operate on a Saturday schedule, and the Long Island Rail Road, Metro-North Railroad and Staten Island Railway will operate on a Sunday schedule. More details are below. Metro-North Railroad On Friday, July 1, will provide additional early-afternoon service from New York City for customers who want to get a head start on the long weekend. On Monday, July 4, Metro-North will operate on a Sunday schedule with extra service on the New Haven and Harlem Lines. New York City Subway On Monday, July 4, the New York City Subway will operate on a Saturday schedule with increased service following the Macy’s fireworks celebration. The fireworks display will originate from six barges located on the Hudson River between 20th and 55th Streets from 9:20 to 9:50 p.m. After the fireworks, there will be increased subway service on the 1, 2, 3, A, C, E, L and 42nd Street S Shuttle. MTA Bridges and Tunnels To help smooth travel for those who will be hitting the road for the holiday weekend, MTA Bridges and Tunnels will suspend all routine maintenance work at its seven bridges and two tunnels beginning at 12 noon on Friday, July 1, through end of the morning rush on Tuesday, July 5.