EXPO
It started two years ago as the Tri-Chamber Expo. Now it’s called the “Community Connection” and it includes businesses and non-profit organizations.
When the event was held at Monroe-Woodbury High School on April 12, it drew 190 exhibitors and over 700 guests. There was free food and a prize wheel tended by Mike Bennett of WHUD.
Christine Derohannesian arranged the day’s activity with help from the Future Business Leaders of America.
FOOD BANK
April 9 was a big day for agencies combating hunger. Ocean State Job Lot dispatched 109 trucks to 15 food banks in the region.
At the Food Bank of the Hudson Valley, a special delegation greeted the truck that was carrying 25,000 pounds of donated food. The welcoming committee included Sen. Bill Larkin, Assemblyman James Skoufis, Mayor Brendan Coyne plus Toni Gutter and Eddie Johnson from the food bank.
Ocean State opened in Rhode Island in 1977 and now has a chain of 118 locations.
SPARKLERS
Licensed dealers can now sell sparkling devices in Orange County during the week leading up to the Fourth of July and New Year’s Eve celebrations.
The state legalized the sale of the devices, but gave each county the right to say “yes” or “no.”
“These are champagne poppers,” County Legislator Kevin Hines explained when asked about the law. “They’re not firecrackers. There’s nothing explosive about them. It would be hard to get hurt while using them.”
Only people age 18 and above would be authorized to buy them.
TRAIN CONTROL
Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (NY-18) recently announced a $3 million federal investment to implement Positive Train Control (PTC) in New York along Amtrak’s Empire Line. PTC is a simple GPS and Wi-Fi technology that can stop or slow trains remotely. It will prevent train-to-train collisions, and will detect grade-crossing malfunctions or objects on the tracks.
The Empire Line runs from New York City to Albany, and then continues west.
CENTRAL HUDSON
Customers who sign up for Central Hudson’s free text and email messaging service have a chance to win $250. A winner will be drawn from a pool of new enrollees each month. To register, customers can text “REG” to 236483 and provide their 10-digit Central Hudson account number when prompted.
CORK OF ART
The title should make you curious. Cork of Art is a May 16 fund raiser for BFF that will be held at St. John’s Episcopal Church. There are two sessions (3-5 p.m. and 5:30-7:30 p.m.). Ticket holders get a glass of wine, painting supplies and entertaining instruction from Dan Lennon. Reservations are needed. Call Jim or Courtnay Dittbrenner 857-5200.
