Business digest

Lifeguard qualifying exam Monroe — The Palisades Region of New York State Parks and Recreation is offering a free Lifeguard Qualifying Exam at 9 a.m. on Sunday, March 27 at Monroe Woodbury Middle School. The exam consists of demonstrating swimming ability, CPR and life guarding skills. To pre-register call 786-2701, ext. 320 or e-mail Erin Martin at Erin.Martin@oprhp.state.ny.us. 'Green Grocer’ initiative launched Albany — The “Green Grocer” initiative, sponsored by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), provides grocers, supermarkets, food co-ops and convenience stores with technical assistance to help them go green. According to recent studies, refrigeration accounts for at least 53 percent of a grocery store’s energy use. Through a partnership with NYSERDA, technical consultants will offer advice on energy-efficiency solutions, including upgrades or replacement refrigeration equipment, coolers and cases, which can save grocers between ten and 30 percent of their current energy use. Officials said NYSERDA can help grocers afford the purchase and/or installation of more efficient or renewable upgrades through existing incentive programs. Last year, existing NYSERDA programs helped reduce operating costs for participating businesses by $40 million statewide. To apply or learn more, call 866-904-8027, or e-mail to greengrocer@nyserda.org. Rabbit wants constituents to sign her MTA audit petition Greenwood Lake — Assemblywoman Annie Rabbit is encouraging her constituents to sign her petition calling for “an immediate and independent forensic audit of the MTA.” Rabbit said the governor’s proposed budget, unveiled earlier this month, proposes a 10 percent cut for state agencies and a two percent cut for local governments and school districts. However, she said, the governor’s proposal also includes a $43 million increase in funding for the MTA as well as another $100 million in new state funds for the MTA’s capital program. While the $43 million comes from increased collection of the MTA’s payroll tax, the $100 million in new funds are monies the governor proposes redirecting from other economic development initiatives, she added. People can pick up petitions at their local village or town hall, or by contacting Rabbitt’s district office at 291-3631. Realtor news Harriman - Michael Fradianni, associate broker of RE/MAX Benchmark Realty Group in Harriman, was ranked first on its Top 100 sales associates for total transactions in District 4 which covers Orange, Westchester, Rockland, Ulster and Sullivan counties. Fradianni was presented with the RE/MAX 100 percent Club Award for 2010 and will be honored in May at the Orange County Association of Realtors’ Awards Luncheon with the Silver Award which represents his commitment to helping more than 30 families buy or sell a home in 2010. He has been a realtor since 2001 and specializes in REOs (bank owned properties) and short sales. Senior expo is April 9 Middletown — The fourth annual Orange County Senior Expo will be held on Saturday, April 9, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Southwinds Retirement Home in Middletown. The event is a showcase of services to inform and educate seniors, family members and caregivers to health and social programming offered to enhance, enrich, and prolong the lives of our adult community in Orange County. Educational workshops will be held throughout the day. For more information on how to become a vendor, call 651-2222 or e-mail to Seniorcr@warwick.net. Economic Empowerment Program now available for women Newburgh - Are you or another woman you know barely making ends meet? Living paycheck to paycheck? If so, you are not alone. In Orange County, 20 percent of female-headed households live in poverty, but Women’s Work-An Economic Empowerment Program can help. Women’s Work is a multi-agency collaboration funded by United Way which provides a bridge to increased income and lasting financial stability. The YWCA Orange County, Jewish Family Service of Orange County, RECAP, SUNY Orange, and Cornell Cooperative Extension will provide job coaching, debt and credit counseling, peer support, counseling and education classes through the spring. Women’s Work helps female heads of household identify the missing the links to financial stability and the best avenues to stable higher-paying careers. For more information, call Danielle Marse-Kapr at 561-8050, ext. 17 or email Danielle@ywca-orangecty.org. 5K road race/walk on April 3 to benefit autism fund Montgomery — A “Hustle for the Puzzle” 5K road race/walk to benefit the Autism Spectrum Fund will be held on Sunday, April 3, in Thomas Bull Memorial Park, starting at the Boat House at 8:30 a.m. In person registration begins at 7:30 a.m. To register online go to www.raceforum.com/autism5k. ($2.50 fee to register online.) The pre-registration fee is $20. Day of race, $25. $5,000 scholarship open to second-year NYS law school students ALBANY — The New York Bar Foundation is accepting applications for the 2011 Judge Bernard S. Meyer Scholarship. The $5,000 scholarship is open to all second-year students enrolled in a law school in New York as of the spring 2011 semester. An essay that relates to the law and displays excellence in legal writing and advocacy skills must be submitted for consideration of this scholarship. The application deadline is April 1. The scholarship will be applied to the student’s tuition for the 2011-12 academic year. To learn more, visit www.tnybf.org or call 518-487-5651.