Business digest

Give a gift and get one free at Applebees Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill and Bar restaurants are offering a free $10 bonus gift card for every purchase of $50 or more in Applebee’s gift cards. The bonus card offer is available at participating Applebee’s now through Dec. 31. The $10 bonus gift card may be redeemed until Feb. 28. Applebee’s paper “gift packages” are also on sale for $1 each, with 100 percent of each dollar goes benefitting the U.S. Marine Corps “Toys for Tots” program. Gift packages are on sale now through Dec. 31. Realtor news Central Valley — Kim Chiapperino has joined Better Homes and Gardens Rand Realty in Central Valley as an associate broker. Chiapperino brings 10 years of real estate experience to Rand Realty. Previously, she was an associate broker with RE/MAX Benchmark Realty in Harriman. She is a short sale and foreclosure representative and specializes in Orange County real estate. Hudson River Valley guidebook now available The Hudson River Valley Greenway recently unveiled its Hudson River Valley National Heritage Area Heritage Site Guidebook that provides information about 100 “Heritage Sites” in New York’s Hudson River Valley. The guidebook encourages visitors to explore the resources of the Hudson River Valley and visit local communities that they encounter along the way. In addition to descriptions and full color photographs for each site, contact information is provided in a variety of formats to help visitors reach their destination as easily as possible. The guidebook, available online at www.hudsonrivervalley.com, features over 100 pages of information about the sites and themes of the region and costs $9.95 plus shipping and handling. Within the Palisades Region, this guidebook will be sold at the PIPC Visitor Center (786-5003) located between exits 16 and 17 on the Palisades Interstate Parkway and at selected gift shops throughout the park. For more information visit: www.hudsonrivervalley.com. Pets Alive to hold open house on Dec. 11 Middletown — The Pets Alive Animal Sanctuary will host a holiday open house for families on Saturday, Dec. 11, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visitors are invited to meet the dogs, play with the cats and kittens, and pet the horses. There will be festive holiday music and refreshments, plus a tour of the 80-acre sanctuary. Donations and gifts are always accepted and much needed for the animals, as the sanctuary relies solely on individual donations. The animals’ wish list is posted on www.petsalive.org. Pets Alive, a no-kill sanctuary, is located at 363 Derby Road, in Middletown. For more information visit www.petsalive.org. Healthy holiday eating at ShopRite in Warwick Warwick — Melanie Dwornik, a registered dietician at ShopRite of Warwick, has scheduled the following events: Saturday, Dec. 11, 2 to 5 p.m., Right for Tonight Join Melanie as she prepares an easy dessert that can be easily made at home. Thursday, Dec. 16, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., LiveRight Kids Come see what Melanie suggests for snack ideas that both mom and child will enjoy. Friday, Dec. 17, 2 to 4 p.m., Right for Tonight Join Melanie as she creates a holiday meal than can be enjoyed all season long. Saturday, Dec. 18, 1 to 4 p.m., Relax this Holiday Visit the dietitian’s table and Melanie for easy ideas to relax this holiday season. Tuesday, Dec. 21, 1 to 4 p.m., Ask the Dietitian Confused by the food label? Come visit Melanie as she answers your questions and addresses your nutrition concerns. Thursday, Dec. 23, 2 to 5 p.m., Right for Tonight Come down and see what Melanie is dishing up for the holidays. Thursday, Dec. 30, 2 to 5 p.m., Right for Tonight Join Melanie as she prepares a meal while incorporating various fruits and vegetables that are in-season. For more information, call 987-1242.