Business digest

Registration for hospice volunteer training underway Newburgh — Hospice of Orange & Sullivan Counties, Inc. will hold an evening 10-week volunteer training program Sept. 13 through Nov. 8 at its administrative offices on Stony Brook Road in Newburgh. Hospice volunteers provide at least three hours per week of patient and family support, bereavement support after the death of a hospice patient or office support. Hours are flexible and conveniently arranged to fit the volunteer and patient/caregiver schedules and needs. Though this training takes place in Newburgh, volunteers will be asked to provide support to patients and families near the geographic area that they reside. Volunteers are needed in Cornwall, Monroe, Harriman, Central Valley, Highland Mills, Blooming Grove, Washingtonville, Warwick and Tuxedo. Training classes are conducted by hospice professional staff members and by professionals from the community. If interested please contact Volunteer Coordinator Debra Epstein 565-4849. Builders association welcomes new director New Windsor — The Builders Association of the Hudson Valley, a non-profit trade association representing the residential construction industry in the Hudson Valley, has welcomed M. Catherine Hyland as the new executive director. Hyland will be overseeing the association during a challenging time, and aims to increase membership and visibility throughout the Hudson Valley region. She will be overseeing recruitment, education, member services and general operations of the association. “Cathy possesses a unique and desirable energy and motivation to take on the challenge of this position, in this market and economy. She has an exceptional talent in creating relationships and generating member participation, and an aptitude for understanding the issues of the industry that will propel the association to new heights,” said Board President Pete Nurzia of Nurzia Construction. Golf tourney to benefit breast center Monroe — The Monroe Country Club will host the Sadie Hawkins Breast Cancer Awareness Invitational on Thursday, Sept. 9. A mixed scramble golf tournament, the event will support the local breast center and participants are asked to wear pink to show support. Breakfast and registration are from 9 to 10 a.m., with a 10:30 a.m. shotgun start. The cost is $100 per golfer and includes: golf, breakfast, box lunch, refreshments, appreciation gift, dinner and prizes. Contests include Longest Drive, Closest to the Pin and Hole in One. All proceeds will benefit Orange Regional Medical Ray W. Moody MD Breast Center. To sign up, stop by the Pro Shop. For more information or to make a donation call Kate Colern at 913-8227 or Pete Cassidy at 914-329-2912. Half priced activities at The Castle Fun Center Chester - The Castle Fun Center in Chester is offering half priced activities every Saturday and Sunday morning from 10 a.m. until 12 noon. During this time, half prices are in effect for all three “go kart” tracks, mini golf, arcade games, batting cages, rock wall, lazer tag and lazer maze. The Castle is open 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day during the summer months. Visit www.thecastlefuncenter.com for more information. Registration underway for free mental health program GOSHEN — NAMI-AMICO (National Alliance on Mental Illness of Orange County) will offer a 12-week family-to-family education program specifically for families of individuals diagnosed with serious mental illness beginning Monday, Sept. 13, at 6:30 p.m. at the Goshen Presbyterian Church. The course will cover information about schizophrenia, mood disorders (bipolar disorder and major depression), panic disorder and obsessive compulsive disorder; coping skills such as handling crisis and relapse; basic information about medications; listening and communication techniques; problem-solving skills; recovery and rehabilitation; and self-care around worry and stress. The class is designed specifically for parents, siblings, spouses, teen-age and adult sons and daughters, partners, and significant others who care for persons with severe and persistent mental illness. The course is not appropriate for individuals who themselves have a major mental illness. The co-teachers will be Patricia Seaton and Barbara Sloan, family member volunteers who have taken intensive training as course instructors. More information is available at www.naminys.org/af-orangs.htm or by calling 956-6264. Tour de Goshen scheduled for Aug. 15 Goshen — The 23rd annual Tour de Goshen bicycle event will be held on Sunday, Aug. 15, beginning at 7 a.m. in the Joint Recreation Park, on Craigsville Road, in Goshen. If paid and registered before Aug. 10, the rider donation is $10 for children under 10 years, $20 for ages 10 to 20, and $20 for adults. After Aug. 10, including the day of the event, registration adds $3. Checks are payable to Goshen Rotary, (No credit cards.) Register at the sponsor’s store, Joe Fix- It’s, in Goshen or Monroe, or on the day of the tour. A variety of start times and distances are available. Helmets are required. The Tour de Goshen benefits the Winslow Riding Center. For more information, call the ride director, Brian Dunlevy, at 294-7242. Digital Bookmobile comes to Warwick library WARWICK — The Ramapo Catskill Library System will host the Digital Bookmobile National Tour, an immersive download experience inside a 74-foot, high-tech tractor-trailer, on Aug. 13, from 100 a.m. to 40 p.m. at the Albert Wisner Public Library. Readers of all ages are invited to engage in digital downloading through interactive demonstrations and experience RCLS’ audiobook, eBook, music, and video download service at this free event. A gadget gallery featuring iPod, Zune and Sony Reader will help visitors discover portable devices that are compatible with this digital download service. The Digital Bookmobile is housed inside an 18-wheel tractor-trailer. This 74-foot community outreach vehicle is a high-tech update of the traditional bookmobile that has served communities for decades. The vehicle is equipped with broadband Internet-connected PCs, high definition monitors, premium sound systems, and a variety of portable media players. Interactive learning stations give visitors an opportunity to search the digital media collection, use supported mobile devices, and download and enjoy eBooks, audiobooks, music, and video from the library. The Digital Bookmobile (www.digitalbookmobile.com) is a service of and is operated by OverDrive, Inc. Local chapter of Amputee Coalition of America to meet Aug. 12 in Poughkeepsie Pougkeepsie — A monthly meeting of the Mid-Hudson Limb Loss Group will be held on Thursday, Aug. 12, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Taconic Resources for Independence, located at 82 Washington St., Suite 214, in Poughkeepsie. The group’s mission is to reach out to people affected by limb loss and to provide them empowerment through education, support and advocacy. The group is a member of the Amputee Coalition of America. For more information about the group, call John Vacca at 485-7709 or e-mail him at acajohnnyv@aim.com.