Business digest

Get your knives sharpened on Sunday Warwick — Bring your dull knives to Jim Montecallo for on-site sharpening at the Warwick Valley Farmers’ Market on Sunday, Aug. 7. While waiting for your knives, check out Hummingbird Ranch’s bee display and learn about the many benefits of local honey. Try some honeycomb as a snack. Then see bee-keeping gear brought by Master Gardeners, who will also be available to answer all of your gardening questions. The Albert Wisner Library will be back this Sunday, as well, to ask, “What do you geek?” Find out about all of the programs that the library has to offer. Warwick Ice Hockey will be on hand with cold bottled water as a fund raiser for a hockey family whose young child is undergoing chemotherapy. For more information visit www.warwickvalleyfarmersmarket.org or call 987-9990. Amscan is incentive recipient Chester — Amscan Inc. of Chester has received an incentive from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). NYSERDA’s commercial and industrial programs provided nearly $2.8 million dollars in incentives to 124 Hudson Valley businesses and institutions during the first six months of 2011. These incentives helped fund the purchase and installation of high performance lighting and controls, HVAC, high efficiency chillers and boilers, building management systems and various other energy efficiency measures. Amscan upgraded its store lighting with energy-efficient light fixtures. The project will help reduce energy costs by $211,000 annually and decrease electricity consumption by 1.6 million kilowatt hours. For more information, visit www.NYSERDA.org. Call for entries for photo contest Middletown — The Mid-Hudson Valley Credit Union is seeking entries for its annual photo contest of seasonal photographs of the Hudson Valley. Fifteen photos will be selected for prizes of $250 for first, $150 for second, $100 for third and $50 for each honorable mention. All selected photos will be included in the 2012 monthly MHV calendar. Accepted subjects can include local scenery, annual events, area structures, historic sites, natural wonders, and restructured or renovated areas from any time period. Entries must be unaltered, original photographs in either print or digital format. All entries must be submitted with an entry form. Photos including people as the primary subject cannot be accepted and will be automatically disqualified. Sept. 6 is the deadline for submission. Official rules and forms are available http://www.mhvfcu.com/calendarcontest, ConEd named founding member of NY BioHud Valley New Windsor — Consolidated Edison Company of New York, one of the nation’s largest investor-owned energy companies, has been named one of NY BioHud Valley’s founding members. Founding members support the unifying efforts by the biotech industry in the Hudson Valley. The NY BioHud Valley campaign is designed to reinforce that the Hudson Valley is the epicenter of the biotech industry in New York. Con Edison has special reduced energy rates to attract and retain businesses and jobs in New York City and Westchester County through the company’s Business Incentive Rate (www.coned.com/ecodev/bus_incentive_rate.asp). Businesses that reoccupy vacant commercial or industrial buildings, move into newly constructed ones, construct biomedical research facilities, or negotiate a comprehensive package of incentives from state or local authorities, or are designated as Business Incubators or are Business Incubator graduates may qualify for reduced electric rates. Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation recognizes the area as a growing cluster of biotech/pharmaceutical companies located in the lower Hudson Valley region. The NY BioHud Valley partners with the county, state and federal government levels to provide an environment allowing these businesses to expand while also attracting new businesses into the region. Crystal Run launches diabetes support group Middletown — Crystal Run Healthcare has launched a Diabetes Support Group open to the community for adults 18 years and older, with all types of diabetes. The support group, created by Certified Diabetes Educator and Nutritionist, Suzanne Meier, RD, CDE, provides group support and educational opportunities and will feature guest lectures from health care professionals involved in diabetes care. The group will also take an in-depth look at the role of nutrition in diabetes management. The Diabetes Support Group meets the first Tuesday of every month at 155 Crystal Run Road, in Middletown, in the 3rd floor conference room. Those interested can call 796-5440 to register, however walk-ins are welcome and encouraged. For more information visit: www.CrystalRunHealthcare.com. Chamber honors Taylor Biomass Montgomery — The Orange County Chamber of Commerce recently honored Taylor Biomass Energy’s Jim Taylor with the Distinguished Greenopia Seal. In March 2010 the chamber and Greeenopia, an industry leader in green-rated brands and services, entered into a partnership that would assist chamber members in becoming certified as sustainable and “green.” It was decided to bring SUNY Orange into the partnership by offering students in the college’s environmental program the opportunity to help businesses that might need extra guidance in meeting Greenopia certification guidelines. Taylor Biomass is the chamber’s first member to receive this designation. New VCS caregiver support group NYACK — Volunteer Counseling Services in Rockland County has established a new caregiver support program for those caring for an aging parent, spouse or other relative to be hald at Nyack Hospital on the third Monday of each month. The first meeting is Monday, Aug. 15 at 7 p.m. To learn more, call Ellie Jacobson, program director, at 634-5729.