PURCHASE, NY-National Realty reports it has begun construction on the redevelopment of the Orange Plaza shopping center that will eventually feature such tenants as Wal-Mart, Kohl's, Circuit City and Bed Bath & Beyond.

FLORIDA, NY-Big V Supermarkets is filing for Chapter 11 protection in order to implement a major financial and operational restructuring program that includes closing seven of its 39 operating ShopRite supermarkets.

SYRACUSE, NY-Avant Financial LLC, a newly formed bank holding company, has acquired a 72% ownership interest in Reliance Bank, a $26-million closely held commercial bank headquartered in White Plains.

STAMFORD, CT-Walker Digital Corp., a firm that has helped launch such dotcom operations as Priceline.com has initiated a restructuring program that involved the layoff of 100 of its 135 corporate headquarters employees.

WHITE PLAINS-County Executive Spano also has proposed having the county take over the agency designed to promote Westchester's hotel and tourism trades and he noted the success of the county's Office of Economic Development.

STAMFORD, CT-Janitors who were on strike here are back to work after ratifying an agreement with most of the cleaning contractors. The union began its job action almost two months ago.

RYE BROOK, NY-Austin Corporate Properties Inc. reports it has brokered two recent leases totaling 22,000 sf with a major bank and a law firm that will be relocating operations from Manhattan to Westchester.

SLEEPY HOLLOW, NY-Sleepy Hollow Mayor Philip E. Zegarelli tells GlobeSt.com that he expects General Motors to release some details of its long-delayed redevelopment plan for its former assembly plant site here before Christmas.