News digest

WARWICK — The first of three informational workshops, “The Home Energy Makeover,” takes place Saturday, Feb. 25, from 10:30 a.m. to noon at Albert Wisner Public Library in Warwick.

The program is for homeowners interested in energy audits (free if income is less than $166,800), which will recommend home improvements to cut waste and save money. The workshop is inspired by the following:

We waste energy on an epic scale, and almost 50 percent of US energy consumption is in buildings and homes.

The monthly savings from energy efficiency improvements pays back the cost of the improvements.

The upfront cost of fixing houses prevents many people from making energy improvements even though they want to.

A new on-bill financing program eliminates upfront costs.

New York State offers low interest financing through NYSERDA on top of a slew of incentives.

The workshop will provide detailed information about the New York State Energy and Research and Development Authority program and the new on-bill financing. You need not stay for the entire one and a half hours.

Meridith Nierenberg (representing NYSERDA), Mike Dunleavy of the Regional Economic Community Action Program (RECAP), representatives from the Orange Rural Development Advisory Corp. (RDAC), and others will be available to explain the programs and help with filling out the one page application. A continuously running film and a handout will explain what the energy audit entails.

To fill out the application on the spot, bring your most recent O&R utility bill or your account number. If you use oil or propane to heat, bring your most recent 12 months of usage. These are required for the NYSERDA application. You will be assisted in applying whether or not you have these bills in hand, so come and learn about this terrific opportunity. Completing an application is free and involves no obligation but merely gives you a place on the list.

Workshops also will be held at the Newburgh Free Library on March 3 10:30 a.m. to noon and at Walden Village Hall on March 8 from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Library hosts marketing seminar next Tuesday

WARWICK — Albert Wisner Public Library presents a free seminar entitled “Transforming Your Customers into a Sales Force” on Tuesday evening, Feb. 28, 2012, at 6:30 p.m. The program is designed specially for business owners and conducted by two of the area’s leading marketing consultants, James Hill and Peter Lyons Hall.

According to a recent 2012 study from ComScore, “Social networking continues to amass online users and capture an increasing share of their time, redefining how people interact with their personal social circles and brands in both the online and offline environments. Social Networking accounted for 16.6 percent of all online minutes at the end of 2011 and is on track to surpass Portals as the most engaging online activity in 2012.”

Business owners will learn how to take full advantage of the growing word-of-mouth tools from Facebook, Twitter, blogs and other social media. Facebook, for example, continues to lead as the driving force behind this shift in consumer behavior accounting for the largest share of online minutes across the entire web in 2011. Also, learn about QR (Quick Response) codes and how to use them.

Hall is the founder of Warwickinfo.net, the leading Internet directory in the region, with more than one million page views annually. Hill is the founder of Stone Barn Marketing, a specialist in digital and social media marketing. The evening offers a unique opportunity to learn valuable inside information applicable to any business.

Registration is required. Registration is available online at www.albertwisnerlibrary.org or by calling 986-1047 ext. 3.

Library annual election set for April 3

WARWICK — The Albert Wisner Public Library’s annual election will be held on Tuesday, April 3, 12 at the library. The library’s operating levy and election of one trustee are on the ballot.

The polls will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Residents of the Warwick Valley School District who are registered to vote may participate in this election. Voter registration is held at the school district office. Voting by absentee ballot can be requested at the library at least seven days before the election date if the ballot is to be mailed and one day before the election if the ballot is to be picked up by the voter.

A public hearing will be held Tuesday, March 27, at 7 p.m. at the library at One McFarland Drive in the village of Warwick.

Beginning Tuesday March 13, copies of the library’s proposed 2012-13 operating budget will be available at the library or can be found on the library’s web site at www.albertwisnerlibrary.org.

There is the election of one library trustee on the same ballot. Trustees are elected to serve a five-year term of office. Persons wishing to stand for election as Trustee must return to the library a petition with at least 25 signatures of residents of the Warwick Valley School District no later than 5 p.m. on Friday March 2. Petitions are available at the Library.

For more information, contact Library Director Rosemary Cooper at 986-1047, ext. 6.