Business news digest

Soho Salon will host cut-a-thon on Oct. 17 to benefit young boy Monroe - The staff at Soho Salon will be hosting a cut-a-thon from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 17, to benefit a young client, Zack Baum, who is suffering from a very aggressive form of brain cancer. The staff is donating 100 percent of their service revenue to benefit the Baum family. The salon will be offering haircuts for a donation of $25. Although walk-in clients are welcome, appointments are strongly recommended. It is also necessary for all clients to come with clean, damp hair, in order for us to accommodate everyone. If you are unable to stay for a haircut and would like to make a donation, that would be greatly appreciated. Call 781 4343 to schedule an appointment. Thanks to Tosca, Little Italy and Sit and Chat for the generous donations. Realtor news Monroe — Rosemarie Morello was named August agent of the month for her outstanding sales performance by ARC Realty in Monroe. Morello has been a realtor for the past 24 years and is a member of the Orange County Association of Realtors, The National Association of Realtors, Greater Hudson Valley MLS, New York State Association of Realtors, Certified Residential Specialist Council, Graduate Realtor Institute, Real Estate Buyers Agent Council, Eco-Broker, Master Sales Academy and has received the Orange County Excellence in Sales Award in 20 out of 24 years as a realtor. Ralph Martucci joins WVT Communications as finance director Warwick — Ralph Martucci of Middletown has joined WVT Communications in Warwick as its director-finance. Martucci is responsible for performing statistical and financial analysis as well as cost studies to improve the operational and financial effectiveness of the company. He now handles all duties and responsibilities associated with budget preparation and adjustments as well as developing reports in the areas of forecasting, trending and results analysis. Prior to joining WVT Communications, Martucci worked for Frontier Communications and was director-finance for the Times Herald-Record. He earned his bachelor’s degree from SUNY Oneonta and his MBA from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Martucci is a member the Orange County Economic Development Corporation’s board of directors, the Educational Foundation of Orange County Community College and the Orange County Chamber of Commerce. Sales tax on clothing makes return in NY NEW YORK — New York’s 4 percent sales tax on clothing is back in full effect, just in time for the cold-weather shopping season. The state had previously enacted a temporary exemption on clothing costing less than $110, but the discount ended on Oct. 1. The change caught some shoppers by surprise. Darlene Kennedy told WSYR-TV in Syracuse that she hadn’t known the tax was going up. In the Bronx, 23-year-old Tirsi Siri told the New York Post that, as a single mother with bills to pay, the extra tax was an unwelcome surprise. New York City is still waiving its municipal tax on garments under $110. And shoppers will again get a break on the state’s tax in April, but only for clothing and footwear items costing less than $55. Registration open for special education conference Sugar Loaf — A Special Education Law and Advocacy Conference with Peter Wright, Esq. will be held on Thursday, Nov. 4, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Lycian Centre. The Wrightslaw special education law and advocacy conference will focus on four areas: Special education law Rights and responsibilities Tests and measurements to measure progress and regression Smart IEPs Introduction to tactics and strategies for effective advocacy Wrightslaw Programs are designed to meet the needs of parents, educators, health care providers, advocates and attorneys who represent children with disabilities regarding special education. The event is sponsored by The Orange County Department of Mental Health’s Developmental Disability Division. For more information call Heather Rajnert at 291-2609 or e-mail Hrajnert@orangecountygov.com. Registration Price is $85 for an individual and $125 for a couple (sharing one set of books). To register call the Lycian Centre box office at 469-2287.