Business digest

Quick Chek to open next month in Monroe Monroe - Quick Chek is scheduled to open a new store at 383 Route 17M in Monroe on Tuesday, March 8, according to a story in the trade publication Convenience Store Decisions (CSDecisions.com). Managed by Store Leader Larissa Spratt, Quick Chek’s Monroe location will include a coffee bar, sub shop, soup, bakery, a no-fee ATM center and 12 fueling stations. During the store’s first 13 days in business (March 8-20), Quick Chek plans to offer customers free coffee, plus free fountain drinks to kids under five feet tall. And during its first 30 days of operation, from March 8 to April 6, Quick Chek also will donate 25 cents from the sale of every sub, sandwich and wrap to the Monroe-Woodbury Little League. Cornell Cooperative Extension teams up with M&T Bank to help homebuyers Middletown — Cornell Cooperative Extension along with M&T Bank will be offering a free four-session series called, “Buying A House,” and featuring the First Home Club. The First Home Club is administered by the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York, and encourages all qualified and enrolled households to save towards the purchase of their first home. For each $1 systematically saved, the Bank will match with $4, up to a maximum of $7,500 per enrolled household. These funds can be combined with other personal assets and/or grants to assist the homebuyer with down payment and closing costs for the purchase of a home. Fours classes run from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesdays, March 9, March 16, March 23, and March 30. For questions or to register call 344-1234. Space is limited to the first 36 people. Light refreshments and materials will be provided. Free eye exams and glasses New City — Eye care center owners Joseph Farkas and Moishe Hoffman are offering free eye exams and free eye glass frames during March as part of National Save Your Vision Month. They are offering eye exams, eye glass frames and lenses (up to $200 Value) for free a their office, Medical Vision Diagnostic and Referral Center at 345 N. Main Street in New City in Rockland County. Farkas and Hoffman said they realize the importance of healthy eyes and would like to share their eye health services for the uninsured. For more information, visit http://optometristnewcity.com/index.php/category/community/ or call 499-2199. O&R offers energy efficiency rebates ALBANy — The New York State Public Service Commission recently approved an electric efficiency program to serve Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc.’s residential customers. The program is designed to support the stocking, promotion and sale of high-efficiency air conditioners and dehumidifiers offering customer rebates. It also offers removal and recycling of second refrigerators. Each participating customer will receive three free compact fluorescent light bulbs. The program will provide $50 rebates to customers for purchasing Energy Star rated air conditioners. A second refrigerator and freezer removal includes a $50 incentive as well. Small business customers are also eligible to participate. Tax Department offers free e-filing service for eligible taxpayers ALBANY — New York State Department of Taxation and Finance Acting Commissioner Thomas H. Mattox urges taxpayers to take advantage of FreeFile, a program providing free state and federal tax preparation and e-filing services to qualified New York State taxpayers — those who earned $58,000 or less in 2010, or served in the military in 2010. FreeFile is the most trusted commercial tax preparation software product, is very user friendly and secure, makes it easier for taxpayers to claim all the credits and deductions to which they are entitled, and can be accessed at www.tax.ny.gov. Towne and Country Properties participates in Sotheby’s conference Tuxedo Park — Towne and Country Properties Sotheby’s International Realty, the Tuxedo Park-based luxury real estate firm, recently participated in a northeast regional conference for Sotheby’s International Realty affiliates. The conference offered the over 100 attendees the opportunity to network with their regional colleagues and hear brand updates. Attendees also participated in panel discussions on the brand’s relationship with the Sotheby’s Auction House and 2011 priorities. Towne and Country Properties Sotheby’s International Realty is the only Sotheby’s affiliate in Tuxedo Park and Orange County, and also services Sullivan and Ulster counties. The firm offers Sotheby’s International Realty marketing, advertising and referral services designed to attract well-qualified buyers to the firm’s property listings. The firm and its clients benefit from an association with the Sotheby’s auction house, which promotes real estate referral opportunities with auction house clientele. As a Sotheby’s International Realty affiliate, the firm also has the ability to refer its real estate clientele to the auction house for jewelry, art, unique furniture and collectible appraisal services. For more information, visit www.sothebysrealty.com and www.towneandcountryinc.com. Seminar to focus on bariatric weight loss surgery Middletown — Orange Regional Medical Center will host a free educational seminar “Bariatric Weight Loss Surgery” on Tuesday, March 1 at 6 p.m. at the Community Health Education Center, located at 110 Crystal Run Road in Middletown. Orange Regional’s Bariatric Support Group will meet immediately following the seminar. This support group is for both pre- and post-op weight loss surgical patients and is open to the general public. The topic that will be discussed at the support group will be psychology - dealing with cravings/dealing with the loss of food. For more information, or to register for both the seminar and the support group, call the Orange Regional Health Connection at 1-888-321-ORMC (6762).