Lakewood Chamber News

“Relationship Strategies for Building Lasting Rapport” - March Meeting of Young Professionals

2009-03-22T22:12:00.000-04:00

Young Professionals, a Lakewood Chamber of Commerce committee and a support group for business professionals and college graduates in Ocean, Monmouth, and Middlesex counties, N.J., will hold its monthly meeting at Charlie Brown’s Steakhouse, 400 Highway 70, Lakewood, Wednesday, March 25, 2009, from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m.

Lynn Schaber, a leadership and career management coach and the founder of Potential Within, Middletown, N.J., will explain how to build lasting rapport with clients and colleagues by identifying the four different behavioral styles of people.

Schaber is an Associate Certified Coach (ACC) through the International Coach Federation, a graduate of Corporate Coach U, and the 2009 president of the N.J. Professional Coaches Association. She hold a B.A. in communications from Rutgers University.

The cost of the meeting is $20.00, preregistration; $25.00 at the door. Admission includes hors d’oeurvres, unlimited networking, the presentation, and a cash bar. To register, contact Jennifer Weisert, assistant vice president and branch manager of Manasquan Savings Bank, 732-206-0527 or jweisert@manasquanbank.com.
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OHI to Honor Dr. Lombardino and Yoga & U Founder Alison Ingenito at Cocktail Reception and Fundraiser

2009-03-22T21:57:00.000-04:00

OHI (Ocean Health Initiative, Inc.), a Federally Qualified Health Care Center with offices in Lakewood and Toms River, is honoring two outstanding community leaders with the 2009 Community Service Recognition Award at a fund raising event and cocktail reception, Thursday, April 2, 2009, at Eagle Ridge Golf Club, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Dr. Anthony Lombardino, vice president of medical affairs at Kimball Medical Center, Lakewood, and Alison Ingenito, founder and CEO of Yoga & U, LLC, will each be recognized for their services to OHI and the community.

OHI is dedicated to providing accessible and affordable primary health care to the uninsured and underinsured adults and children in Ocean County. Money raised for this event will benefit OHI patients and programs, such as pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, internal medicine, dental health, and social services.

Call Dianne Ferguson at 732-719-9022 to purchase tickets, take sponsorships, and advertize in the commemorative journal. Tickets cost $100.00 each.

Dr. Lombardino is being recognized for his significant role in the initial development of OHI and for his continuing influence on the growth and expansion of OHI. Alison Ingenito, through Yoga & U, LLC, has been instrumental in donating gifts for more than 1,000 OHI pediatric patients during the holidays.

The Honorable Thomas F. Kelaher, Mayor of Toms River, was the recipient of the first Community Service Recognition Award for being a dedicated supporter of health care reform for Ocean County residents.

About Ocean Health Initiatives
OHI, a federally qualified health center (FQHC), with locations at 101 Second Street, Lakewood and 301 Lakehurst Road, Toms River, provides comprehensive preventative and primary care, including pediatrics, maternal and child health, prenatal, WIC, universal immunizations, and dental health to the area's uninsured, underinsured, and undocumented residents on a sliding-fee scale, based on an individual's or family's ability to pay. OHI has a bilingual staff available to assist patients and callers. To become a patient of OHI, call a representative in the Call Center at either 732-552-0377, Toms River, or 732-363-6655, Lakewood. Visit www.ohinj.org. for further information.
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Educational Views Net $1000.00 for Local H.S. Senior - Toms River Dentist Announces Ten Contest Winners

2009-03-22T21:54:00.001-04:00

What should President Obama do to improve education in our country? High school seniors in Ocean and Monmouth counties recently expressed their views in a letter-writing contest sponsored by Toms River dentist Dr. Ron Rotem.

Dr. Rotem, who has announced the top ten winners, will present checks totaling $2000.00 to the winners during a reception at Dr. Rotem’s office on Tuesday, March 24, 2009 at 6:30 p.m.

Abraham Thomas, Marlboro, the top winner and a senior at Monmouth Academy, Howell, will receive $1000.00. Ocean Township resident Tamar Boodaghians, a senior at Ocean Township High School and the second place winner, will receive $500.00.

The remaining runners-up will each receive $100.00. They are (in alphabetical order) Tina Chou (Ocean), who attends the Academy of Allied Health and Science High School; Justin Fiscina (Brick), Brick Memorial High School; Juan Gaviria (Brick), Brick Township High School; Melinda M. Hudson (Brick), Brick Twp. High School; and Rebecca Sherman (Brick), Brick Memorial H.S.

Dr. Rotem says, “It was enlightening to read what high school seniors would tell the President to do about education in this country.” Their concerns ranged from the cost of education to class size. After he presents the checks to the winners, Dr. Rotem intends to send the students’ letters to President Obama. For more information, call Dr. Rotem at 732-341-8500.

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Your Whitened Teeth Can Benefit a Child Who Has Cancer - 2009 Smiles for Life Campaign Begins

2009-03-22T21:45:00.002-04:00

Contributing to a children’s charity can be as easy as having your teeth whitened each year from March 1 through June 30. Dr. Rotem, a Toms River dentist and member of the national Crown Council, has donated thousands of dollars to Ocean of Love for the past five years by donating his fee for professionally whitening teeth during that time.

By whitening teeth and contributing 100 percent of his fees through the national Smiles for Life Campaign each year, Dr. Rotem and his patients have helped this nonprofit organization that aids families whose children have cancer.

Dr. Rotem says, “If you are planning to professionally whiten your teeth, this is a wonderful opportunity to do something for yourself and, at the same time, make a difference in a child’s life. We had a great campaign last year, and I hope we can contribute even more this year.”

To contribute to the 2009 Smiles for Life Campaign, call Dr. Rotem’s office to reserve a date for whitening (732 – 341 – 8500).

Since 1998, The Smiles for Life Foundation, the charitable arm of the Crown Council, has raised more than $15 million for children’s charities across North America because members of Crown Council dental practices have agreed to donate the cost of professional tooth whitening during the Smiles for Life campaign.

Dr. Rotem was graduated from NYU College of Dentistry in 1991. His practice focuses on cosmetic dentistry and conscious sedation. Dr. Rotem belongs to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. He is affiliated with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, NJ Chapter of the Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, the Dental Organization of Conscious Sedation, the International College of Cranial Mandibular Orthopedics, the American Dental Association, the New Jersey Dental Association, Monmouth/Ocean Dental Society, and the Academy of General Dentistry. Dr. Rotem is an active member of the Crown Council. He is also a member of the Jersey Shore Business Network, Toms River, and the Toms River Chapter of Toastmasters.

January Young Professionals’ Meeting

2009-01-16T11:59:00.001-05:00

Effective Prospecting through Tough Times

The public is invited to attend “Effective Prospecting through Tough Times” at the January 28, 2009, meeting of Young Professionals, Connolly Station, 711 Main Street, Belmar, N.J., from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. Amanda Pupo, CEO of MarketReach Inc., Hightstown, and the 2004 SBA Young Entrepreneur of the Year, will suggest effective methods for reaching prospects by combining phone, postal mail, e-mail, fax, and voice mail in their prospecting efforts.

Young Professionals, a committee of the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce, is open to all young professionals and college graduates in Ocean, Monmouth, and Middlesex counties. Preregistration is $20.00 and $25.00 at the door; and includes hors d’oeurves, unlimited networking, the presentation, and a cash bar. To register, contact Jennifer Weisert, Assistant vice president and branch manager of Manasquan Savings Bank, 732-206-0527 or jweisert@manasquanbank.com.

Local Dentist Announces Contest for H.S. Seniors

2009-01-16T11:56:00.002-05:00

You Don’t Have to Be Smarter Than a Fifth Grader to Win $1000.00

You don’t have to be smarter than a fifth grader to win $1000.00 or even $500.00 You just have to have an opinion about education and write a letter addressed to President Obama, suggesting what he should do about education in our country.

Dr. Ron Rotem, a dentist at the Center for Exceptional Cosmetic and Adult Dentistry, Toms River, is sponsoring this contest for high school seniors in Monmouth and Ocean counties. The winner will receive $1000.00. The first runner up will receive $500.00; and Dr. Rotem will award $100.00 to the next five runners up.

Eligible public school or private school high school seniors should send all letters, postmarked by January 30, 2009, to Dr. Ron Rotem, 355 Lakehurst Road, Toms River, N.J., 08755. The letter, itself, should be addressed to President Obama and include the student’s full name, full address, phone number, and high school. The winners will be selected based on the clarity of ideas and originality.

Dr. Rotem says, “I thought that with the inauguration of our new president and leader, it might be an opportunity for students to take the lead in expressing their ideas about education. If they had the chance to sit in President Obama’s office, what would they tell the President to do about education in this country?”

All winners will be invited to Dr. Rotem’s office to meet other winners and share their ideas. Dr. Rotem intends to send the winning letters to President Obama. For more information, call Dr. Rotem at 732-341-8500.

Young Professionals Host Networking Event at Historic Strand Theater

2008-07-14T12:06:00.000-04:00

Young Professionals, a committee of the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce, is hosting “A Little Wine and Song,” a networking event open to the public on Wednesday, July 30, 2008, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., Strand Theater, 400 Clifton Avenue, Lakewood, N.J. Tickets cost $25.00 in advance and $30.00 at the door. Call the Strand Box Office at 732-367-7789 to make reservations.

“A Little Wine and Song,” sponsored by SAMR (Supreme Asset Management & Recovery), Lakewood, Investors Savings Bank, and Bacchus Winemaking Club, features samples of food provided by area restaurants, caterers, and dessert specialists; wine tasting; live music by the band P Dubs, door prizes, raffles, networking and more.

Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

Water Safety Tips from OHI

2008-07-13T16:34:00.001-04:00

School's out, pools are open, the beach is inviting, the sun is shining, and everyone is looking for fun ways to cool down as summer temperatures rise. Remember as you head to the beach, pool, or lake, Ocean Health Initiatives (OHI) encourages you and your family to keep water safety in mind to ensure a happy, healthy, and safe summer.

Before you take that plunge into any body of water, ask yourself if you are completely aware of how to keep yourself and your family healthy and safe around water. Information about water safety often changes so it is a good idea to review the current safety recommendations.

The most important advice is to learn to swim and teach your children to swim as soon as possible. Never swim alone—always swim with a buddy. Your buddy should be at least 13 years of age. No matter how old you are, it is important to let someone know where you will be and how long you will be gone. What if there were problems or an emergency? You always want help to be able to reach you.

When it comes to child safety, most parents think about life jackets, swimming lessons, and childproofing their pool, which are very important. But, no matter what, never leave a child unobserved around water even though they may be wearing flotation devices or know how to swim. An adult must always be watching. It’s also a good idea to place a fence around your pool to prevent easy access. When it’s not swimming time, keep all toys as far from the pool as possible. Even kiddy pools can pose a threat to your child if he or she is left unattended. Your eyes must be on your children at all times.

Understand your limits. Even if you are a strong swimmer, you can become tired from the sun and, maybe, even careless in the water. If you're riding jet skis or watercraft in deep water, it's important to wear a life preserver and have safety equipment on board.

Take the time to watch your local weather conditions and forecasts, and make sure to get out of the water at the first sign of bad weather.
It is always best to swim in areas that minimize the risk of an accident, which is why you should swim in lakes or rivers with clean water quality and naturally safe conditions.

Although a lake or river has fewer hidden objects in the water that could harm you and the tide or current is less of a threat to your safety, you must still take safety precautions. To prevent RWIs (Recreational Water Illness) beware of swallowing, breathing, or having contact with contaminated water from swimming pools, spas, lakes, rivers, or oceans. Water illnesses can cause a wide variety of symptoms, including skin, ear, respiratory, eye, and wound infections.

On the beach pay careful attention to flag warnings and whether a lifeguard is on duty. You should only swim in areas that are supervised by a lifeguard. Look around for posted signs or warnings about the area you are in. Is it safe? Should you get caught in a strong current, called a rip tide, don’t fight the current. Swim across it until you are gradually out of the current.

Diving into water can be very dangerous so only dive into water that is clearly marked for diving. The water should be deep enough and have no obstructions. Why not enter the water feet first to make sure it’s O.K.?

Never mix alcohol with swimming, diving, or boating. Even if you feel fine, alcohol will impair your judgment, balance, and coordination. Alcohol, especially beer, speeds dehydration. Alcohol also affects your swimming and diving skills, and reduces your body's ability to stay warm. In other words, do not drink and dive.

Water can disguise the extent of sunburn, hypothermia, and dehydration. Water may cool your skin but it also increases the effects of the sun, so you may sunburn quickly and not even realize it. If the water feels cold when you go in it, don’t stay too long. Believe it or not, water can cool your body too much and cause hypothermia.

Dehydration occurs when we lose more 3 percent of our water content. (Losing 20 percent of our water content, can cause death.) Being in the sun quickly uses up the water our bodies need, so it’s important to drink—even if you are not thirsty—when you are in the sun. Combine mild dehydration with blazing sunlight, and it's easy to suffer heat stroke.

Heat stroke is extremely life-threatening. Heat stroke is a condition during which the body’s temperature-control mechanism stops working, and a person’s body temperature rises to dangerous levels. Signs of heat stroke include hot skin, a rapid or weak pulse, and shallow breathing. Call 911 immediately, move the person to a cooler place, and wrap the person in wet sheets, fan them, and give them cool liquids. If you have ice, put it on the person’s wrists, ankles, armpits, and neck until help comes.

Drink up! Water is good for everybody and every body.

If you are a firm believer in waterproof sunscreen, don’t believe it! You won’t get full protection from sun block for more than two hours without reapplying it.
Further your water safety education. Check with your local Red Cross, YMCA, or library and enroll in CPR classes. Even if you have taken the class before, you should continue to update your knowledge because techniques on saving lives are constantly changing.

Here are a few helpful tips to remember before stepping out this summer: Wear sunscreen; bring insect repellent; drink plenty of water; and, once more, never enter the water alone.

About Ocean Health Initiatives: OHI, a federally qualified health center (FQHC), with locations at 101 Second Street, Lakewood, and 301 Lakehurst Road, Toms River, provides comprehensive preventative and primary care, including pediatric, maternal and child health, prenatal, WIC, universal immunizations, and dental health to the area’s uninsured, underinsured, and undocumented, residents on a sliding-fee scale, based on an individual’s or family ability to pay. OHI has a bilingual staff available to assist patients and callers. To become a patient of OHI, call a representative in the Call Center at either 732-552-0377, Toms River, or 732-363-6655, Lakewood. Visit www.ohinj.org. for further information.

Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

OHI Officially Opened Renovated Facility and Dedicated Reception Center in Honor of Mayor Coles

2008-07-13T16:24:00.001-04:00

The public joined Dr. Theresa Berger, CEO and president of Ocean Health Initiatives, Inc. (OHI), and the Board of Directors for the official grand opening of OHI’s newly renovated Lakewood facility, 101 Second Street, Lakewood, Wednesday, July 9, 2008, 10:00 a.m.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony and the dedication of The Raymond G. Coles Reception Center began at 10:00 a.m. An open house and tours of the new facility were available until noon.

The new state-of-the-art facility boasts four new patient service areas that increase the number of patients who can be scheduled.

Speakers included New Jersey Senator Robert W. Singer and Dr. Berger who both praised many people for the growth and development of OHI and its dedication to those who need healthcare in Ocean County. Comcast,WOBM, and Jorge Rod, the editor of Latinos Unidos, were also on hand to mark this momentous ocassion.

Dr. Berger said, “This is a great opportunity to celebrate a much needed addition to our community and to learn more about OHI’s plans for further development and growth."

For more information about OHI, contact Dianne Ferguson, executive assistant at the administrative offices of OHI, at (732) 719-9022.

About Ocean Health Initiatives
OHI, a federally qualified health center (FQHC), with locations at 101 Second Street, Lakewood and 301 Lakehurst Road, Toms River, provides comprehensive preventative and primary care, including pediatrics, maternal and child health, prenatal, WIC, universal immunizations, and dental health to the area's uninsured, underinsured, and undocumented residents on a sliding-fee scale, based on an individual's or family's ability to pay. OHI has a bilingual staff available to assist patients and callers. To become a patient of OHI, call a representative in the Call Center at either 732-552-0377, Toms River, or 732-363-6655, Lakewood. Visit www.ohinj.org. for further information.

Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

Third Doctor of Obstetrics and Gynecology Joins OHI

2008-07-13T16:23:00.001-04:00

Dr. Sharon Smith, Mays Landing, N.J., has become the third doctor of gynecology and obstetrics to join the staff of Ocean Health Initiatives (OHI), a federally qualified health center (FQHC) with locations at 101 Second Street, Lakewood and 301 Lakehurst Road, Toms River.

Dr. Theresa Berger, president and CEO of OHI, says, “We are hoping to add another three ob/gyns to our staff by the fall. Last year, OHI doctors delivered almost a 1000 babies in Ocean County.”

Before joining OHI, Dr. Smith was a physician at Toms River OB-GYN Associates. Her experience includes a residency at Jamaica Hospital in New York and a concentration in gynecology oncology at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York. Dr. Smith received her M.D. from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark, and her B. S. degree in zoology at Howard University, Washington, D.C. She holds a New Jersey State license.

Dr. Smith will be working out of the Lakewood and Toms River offices of OHI, Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. For further information call either 732-552-0377, Toms River, or 732-363-6655, Lakewood; or visit www.ohinj.org.

About Ocean Health Initiatives
OHI, a federally qualified health center (FQHC), with locations at 101 Second Street, Lakewood and 301 Lakehurst Road, Toms River, provides comprehensive preventative and primary care, including pediatrics, maternal and child health, prenatal, WIC, universal immunizations, and dental health to the area's uninsured, underinsured, and undocumented residents on a sliding-fee scale, based on an individual's or family's ability to pay. OHI has a bilingual staff available to assist patients and callers. To become a patient of OHI, call a representative in the Call Center at either 732-552-0377, Toms River, or 732-363-6655, Lakewood. Visit www.ohinj.org. for further information.

Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

Hear “The Truth about Tarantulas” at Ozane’s Insectropolis Bug Museum

2008-07-13T16:21:00.001-04:00

Did you know the mayor of Insectroplis, a Bugseum, is Rosie the Rose-haired Tarantula*? Just how bad is the bite, if at all, of a tarantula? Is it true tarantulas can kill animals as large as lizards, mice, or birds?

Learn “The Truth about Tarantulas” on July 19 and again on August 16 at 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. at “Saturdays in Summer,” weekly Bug Talks sponsored by Ozane’s Insectropolis Bugseum, 1761 Route 9 North, Toms River. All programs are free with an admission fee of $7.00 a person. Children age two and under are free. Free guided tours will be given at 11:oo a.m. and 1:00 p.m. immediately following program Call Chris Koerner, curator of Insectroplis, at 732-349-7090 for further information.

Mike Cummings, Lakewood, an arachnid enthusiast since he was nine years old, will share a lot of information most people don’t know about tarantulas during his presentation. Attendees will also have an opportunity to touch Rosie the Rose-haired Tarantula.

Cummings, who is an education major at Georgian Court University and the primary zookeeper at Insectropolis, is responsible for caring for the hundreds of live arthropods at Insectropolis. Cummings first became interested in tarantulas when his mother gave him one when he was nine. Cummings is also traveling throughout New Jersey presenting the "Bugs on The Go" program to libraries, schools, and other educational facilities.

Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

Bugfest 2008 Holds Successful Fundraiser for Rotary Scholarships

2008-07-13T16:17:00.001-04:00

They ate bugs at the Caterpillar Café, they touched them, they raced them, they elected a bug Mayor of Insectropolis, and they raised $1500.00 toward scholarships at the 2008 Bugfest, a fundraising event held recently at Ozane’s Insectropolis, 1761Route 9 North, Toms River.

According to Rotary member Christopher Koerner, curator of the bug museum Insectropolis, the roach races during which cockroaches named Clinton, Obama, and McCain raced other cockroaches to the finish line seemed to be the most exciting event for families. “I don’t know what this means,” says Koerner, “but the cockroach Chuck Norris won the races most often.”

Kids also like touching the bugs,” said Koerner. Their favorites were a giant African millipede, a Madagascar hissing cockroach, a rose-hair tarantula, and an Emperor scorpion.” The kids elected Rosie the Rose-haired Tarantula* the Mayor of Insectropolis for 2008.”

Members of the Central Ocean Rotary, who provided food for event workers, sold hot dogs, hamburgers, soft drinks, and funnel cakes to raise scholarship money. Others who helped make the day successful were representatives from Cattus Island County Park; Master Gardeners of Ocean County; Herbertsville Honey Company; Ron Kinoian, the bug race announcer; and the Koerner family.

Proceeds from the second annual Bugfest, supported by Ozane Pest Control and the Central Ocean Rotary Club, will go toward scholarships for students in the Toms River high schools and Monsignor Donovan High School. For further information, contact Koerner at 732-349-7090.

*Rosie is a Chilean Rose-haired Tarantula, found in deserts and scrub lands of Bolivia, Argentina, and Chile. Because of their docile and predictable behavior, rose-hairs have become a favorite species among beginning tarantula hobbyists. Rose-haired tarantulas are a fairly slow growing species, taking up to four years to reach maturity. Adults will range in size, but the average leg span is 4 to 5 inches, with the occasional female getting slightly larger. Unfortunately males of this species seldom live more than eight years. Females however, can easily live to be 15 years old, and 20-year-old rose-hairs are not unheard of. Unlike some spiders, rose-hairs do not build webs. They hunt prey using venom to incapacitate small rodents or insects. If a tarantula has been injured (i.e. lost a leg) it can regenerate that limb through a system of molts.

Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

“Tips for First Home Buyers” at June Young Professionals’ Meeting

2008-06-10T11:52:00.000-04:00

Young Professionals, a support group open to all young professionals and college graduates in Ocean, Monmouth, and Middlesex counties, and a committee of the Lakewood Chamber, will hold its monthly meeting, on Tuesday, June 20, 2008, at Connolly Station, 711 Main Street, Belmar, N.J. from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. Bill Cordivari, First Hallmark Marketing Corporation, Somerset, N.J. will present “Tips for First Home Buyers.”

To register, contact Jennifer Allegra at 646-391-3737. The preregistration cost is $20.00, $25.00 at the door, and includes a hora d”oeuvres, door prizes, and unlimited networking. Cash bar only

Plan to Cruise the Caribbean This January

2008-06-05T13:48:00.001-04:00

The ship is magnificent, the cruise to the Caribbean is fun and relaxing, but the deadline for this Janurary cruise is July 14.

JAS Travel is offering a seven-night Southern Caribbean cruise, January 17-24, 2009, with Celebrity Cruise Line on the magnificent ship "The Summit."

The itinerary includes San Juan, Puerto Rico; Philipsburg, St. Maarten; Roseau, Dominica; St. George’s, Grenada; Kralendijk, Bonaire; Oranjestad, and Aruba. The price of the staterooms include all port charges, taxes, fuel charges, and airport transfers. Please note that the prices quoted are for the Cabin Total, not per person.

The inside cabin rate is $1725.14, double occupancy. A balcony stateroom is only $2210.14, double occupancy. A concierge class stateroom is $2410.14,double occupancy.

The fixed price for a group rate on Continental from Newark is $430.80 per person round trip. Keep in mind that extra charges for air fuel may apply.

These prices are valid until July 14, 2008. Space is limited at these prices. For insurance, please call for pricing.

Jeannie Schlameuss, JAS Travel (traveljeannie@optonline.net) www.jastravel.jurni.net
Phone: 732-363-0899; Cell:732-539-9054

OHI Officially Opens Renovated Facility and Dedicates Reception Center in Honor of Mayor Coles

2008-06-05T13:17:00.000-04:00

The public is invited to join Dr. Theresa Berger, CEO and president of Ocean Health Initiatives, Inc. (OHI), and the Board of Directors for the official grand opening of OHI’s newly renovated Lakewood facility, 101 Second Street, Lakewood, Wednesday, July 9, 2008, 10:00 a.m.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony and the dedication of The Raymond G. Coles Reception Center will begin at 10:00 a.m. An open house and tours of the new facility will be available until noon. The new state-of-the-art facility boasts four new patient service areas that increase the number of patients who can be scheduled.

Speakers include New Jersey Senator Robert W. Singer; Dr. Berger; Dr. Carmen Mallamaci, chief medical officer; and, Nancy Robinson, director of human resources and public relations. Light refreshments will be served, and an information booth will be set up for questions and literature about OHI.

Dr. Berger says, “This is a great opportunity to celebrate a much needed addition to our community and to learn more about OHI’s plans for further development and growth. We sincerely hope that you will join us as we celebrate the opening of our beautiful newly renovated facility, and the dedication of The Raymond G. Coles Reception Center."

To R.S.V.P. or for more information, contact Dianne Ferguson, executive assistant at the administrative offices of OHI, at (732) 719-9022.

About Ocean Health Initiatives
OHI, a federally qualified health center (FQHC), with locations at 101 Second Street, Lakewood and 301 Lakehurst Road, Toms River, provides comprehensive preventative and primary care, including pediatrics, maternal and child health, prenatal, WIC, universal immunizations, and dental health to the area's uninsured, underinsured, and undocumented residents on a sliding-fee scale, based on an individual's or family's ability to pay. OHI has a bilingual staff available to assist patients and callers. To become a patient of OHI, call a representative in the Call Center at either 732-552-0377, Toms River, or 732-363-6655, Lakewood. Visit www.ohinj.org. for further information. ###

Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

Buy Your Tickets NOW!!!

2008-05-28T21:07:00.000-04:00

“Food! Glorious food! We’re anxious to try it!” You can sample some delicious food prepared by more than 50 local men of distinction at the 16th Annual “Look Who’s Cooking” food-tasting festival, Friday evening, June 6, 2008, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Christ Episcopal Church, Washington Street, Toms River, N.J. Tickets cost $45.00 and can be purchased at the door. To buy your tickets now, call The Family Planning Center at (732) 364-9696.

All proceeds will benefit The Family Planning Center of Ocean County, a nonprofit organization that has provided education and medical services to women since 1971.

Look Who’s Cooking is a major fundraiser and a necessity to continue helping uninsured and underinsured women in Ocean County at the Family Planning Center, River Avenue, Lakewood. Last year, more than 50 men, all amateur chefs—doctors, lawyers, accountants, business owners, and government officials—offered a sample of their favorite recipe to more than 200 hungry guests and raised more than $17,000.00 for women’s health issues, including cancer screenings and educational counseling.

Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

Men Help Raise Funds for Family Planning Center of Ocean County

2008-05-14T16:14:00.000-04:00

The 16th Annual Look Who’s Cooking food-tasting festival will take place on Friday evening, June 6, 2008, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Christ Episcopal Church, Washington Street, Toms River, N.J. Tickets cost $45.00 and can be purchased at the door. Look Who’s Cooking is a major fundraiser and a necessity to continue helping uninsured and underinsured women in Ocean County at the Family Planning Center, River Avenue, Lakewood.

Last year, more than 50 men, all amateur chefs—doctors, lawyers, accountants, business owners, and government officials—offered a sample of their favorite recipe to more than 200 hungry guests and raised more than $17,000.00 for women’s health issues, including cancer screenings and educational counseling.

The Family Planning Center of Ocean County is a nonprofit organization that has provided education and medical services to women since 1971. To purchase tickets ahead of time, to advertise in the ad journal, or to participate as a chef, please contact The Family Planning Center at (732) 364-9696.

P.S. It's not too late to be a chef. Join a distinguished group of men who will be serving mouth-watering samples of food by calling (732) 364-9696 to sign up today.

Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

Hygienist Celebrates 10th Anniversary

2008-05-14T15:32:00.000-04:00

Many patients that Margaret R. McElwee, Point Pleasant Beach, has been treating for the past ten years at the Toms River dental office of Dr. Ron Rotem recently gathered to celebrate McElwee’s 10th anniversary as their hygienist.

“Doctor Rotem, his wife Janett, and the staff decided to celebrate my anniversary by having a social gathering of patients that I have been treating for ten years in my tenth year,” says McElwee. Some patients are afraid and have very high anxiety when they visit the dentist; but when you get to know somebody, you get to feel comfortable with them, which makes them feel more at home and less stressed. That has always been my goal.”

As a dental hygienist, McElwee does general cleanings of the teeth and some periodontal maintenance. Before joining Dr. Rotem’s practice, McElwee worked at Monmouth Medical Center and in East Orange at VA hospital where she was the coordinator in the dental department. At the VA hospital, she received an award for her work in early detection of multiple oral cancers in more than 100 patients. “I had an affinity for finding oral cancer in the early stages so they gave me a recognition and then an award.”

McElwee, who graduated from Point Pleasant Beach High School, received an A.A. in dental hygiene from Fairleigh Dickerson University, Teaneck. A research paper McElwee wrote about xerostomia or dry mouth was published in the Critical Care Nursing Magazine around 1986. She later attended Georgian Court University, working toward a B.S. in biology.

McElwee is licensed and certified for nitrus oxide (laughing gas), a form of sedation. She belongs to the Women’s VFW Association in Point Pleasant Beach.

McElwee says, “I enjoy my job and I have enjoyed meeting patients and having actual relationships with them for over ten years. Basically, you get to know them so well it’s like they become part of your family.”

Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

OHI Honored Toms River Mayor Thomas Kelaher with Its First Annual Community Recognition Award

2008-05-14T15:30:00.000-04:00

Dr. Theresa Berger, CEO of Ocean Health Initiatives (OHI), and Senator Robert Singer, recently presented the first annual OHI Community Service Recognition Award to The Honorable Thomas F. Kelaher, Mayor of Toms River at a cocktail reception at Eagle Ridge Golf Club, Lakewood.

The board of OHI instituted an annual Community Recognition to honor community leaders who actively support quality health care for Ocean County residents. Mayor Kelaher received the award because he is an advocate for heathcare reform and has dedicated more than 15 years of his career to oversee the coordination and development of healthcare systems in Ocean County.

In introducing Mayor Kalaher, Dr. Theresa Berger, CEO of OHI, said, “Mayor Kelaher’s vision and leadership have been instrumental in helping OHI and others meet the daily challenges of bringing quality healthcare to Ocean County’s residents.”
Senator Singer said in presenting the Community Recognition Award, “Tom has dedicated his volunteer life to healthcare services in Ocean County. He has always realized that healthcare needs are the responsibility of all of us.”

OHI is a Federally Qualified Health Center, in Lakewood and Toms River, dedicated to delivering accessible and affordable primary medical care to the neediest populations in Ocean County. The services of OHI include pediatrics, adult internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, dental health, social services, and podiatry. OHI is open 7:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. OHI has a bilingual staff available to assist patients and callers.

At the reception, Dr. Berger announced the addition of a new Mobile Healthcare Unit.

Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

Earth Day Donations of “E-Waste” Benefit LADACIN

2008-05-14T15:21:00.000-04:00

What better way to celebrate Earth Day than by helping to save the environment and donate to a worthy cause at the same time. Employees from SAMR (Supreme Asset Management and Recovery), an e-waste recycling and remarketing company, and volunteers from LADACIN Network, a nonprofit organization that provides education, therapy, social, residential, and support services for people with cerebral palsy and other physical disabilities, were on hand to accept no-longer-used electronics and $5.00 donations for LADACIN Network and the Lehmann School in Lakewood during an Earth Day recycling event and fundraiser sponsored by SAMR.

Because of the generosity of people who donated their electronics and $5.00 per car load of electronics, Kirsten Difenderfer, the director of customer service for SAMR, presented a check to Patricia Carlesimo, executive director of the Schroth School and Technical Education Center, and Luisa Vroman, Director of Development for LADACIN, with a check for $512.00 matched by Al Boufarah, president of SAMR.

Luisa Vroman said, “It was so thoughtful of SAMR to include us in their recycling event in recognition of Earth Day 2008. The staff of LADACIN plans to use the money to purchase a video camera to tape school shows, therapy, and special events, such as graduation.”

SAMR, located at 1950 Rutgers University Boulevard, Lakewood, holds two recycling events each year for private citizens. Charles McFadden, vice president of operations at SAMR, says, “Our goal is to keep e-waste and all the toxic elements they contain from going into landfills. Most people are not aware that monitors and televisions alone contain three to five pounds of lead.”

For further information, call Brianne Douglas, director of asset management, at 732-97-8177.

SAMR (Supreme Asset Management & Recovery), Lakewood, N.J., is the largest fully licensed American IT asset management company on the East Coast and the largest CRT glass-to-glass recycler in the country, providing disposal solutions for IT and guaranteed security for corporations and businesses. SAMR is a leader in the recycling and remarketing of electronics, and guarantees a zero landfill policy.

Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

SAMR Receives the 2008 Silver Gull Award for Economic Development

2008-05-14T15:11:00.000-04:00

The MODC (Monmouth Ocean Development Council), Wall, N.J., has awarded, SAMR (Supreme Asset Management & Recovery) its 2008 Economic Development Award for SAMR’s exceptional contribution to the growth and development of the business community in Monmouth and Ocean counties.

SAMR recycles and remarkets all electronics, such as computers, laptops, monitors, printers, i-Pods, cell phones, TV’s, VCRs, and batteries, among others, for corporations, businesses, and municipalities; and keeps electronics out of landfills where the toxic elements in them can seep into the ground and the water supply.

The management of SAMR contributes to the education of businessmen and community leaders by being a recycling resource and by speaking at conferences. Charles McFadden, vice president of business development, is frequently quoted for his expertise in RFID technology, and glass-to-glass and electronics recycling.

Eighteen years ago, SAMR employed eight people in a 10,000 square foot facility. Today SAMR occupies a 100,000 square foot building at 1950 Rutgers University Boulevard, Lakewood, N.J., and employs 150 people. SAMR is now considered the largest fully licensed American IT asset management company on the East Coast and the largest CRT glass-to-glass recycler in the country, with locations in three states: Lakewood, N.J., Richmond, Va., and Shirley, Mass.

As a leader and an environmentally responsible company committed to keeping the environment safe from toxins generated by e-waste, SAMR maintains a zero landfill policy. In addition, SAMR also guarantees the complete erasure of hard drives and total IT security.

As a public service, SAMR and its staff participate in events to educate the community about recycling electronics. The company holds two recycling events a year during which New Jersey communities are encouraged to donate their “old” electronics. SAMR provides the labor, the transportation, the packaging, and the recycling of all equipment.

SAMR gives tours of its facility, including the recycling process, to the public and hosts a quarterly tour for Rutgers University students seeking to become recycling coordinators for their towns. SAMR also assists townships and governments in their recycling efforts.

Senator Robert W. Singer, co-chair of MODC’s Silver Gull award ceremony who presented the 2008 Silver Gull Award for Economic Development among other governmental citations to Al Boufarah, president and CEO of SAMR, and Brianne Douglas, director of asset management, said, “This award is in recognition of your outstanding and invaluable service to the community. It is really an eye opening factor that this facility exists in our town of Lakewood and does such a phenomenal job.”

“Every community should be blessed to have a company like Supreme Asset Management & Recovery in their town,” said the Honorable Raymond Coles, Mayor of Lakewood. “It’s (SAMR) an incredible organization not only because they do so much to protect us and our children from a lot of the waste products that are just the byproducts of our lives today, but because they are such great people. There’s not an organization in town that has come to them for help that has been turned away.”

Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

Celebrate the Beginning of Summer with Young Professionals

2008-05-14T15:08:00.000-04:00

Young Professionals, a support group open to all young professionals and college graduates in Ocean, Monmouth, and Middlesex counties, and a committee of the Lakewood Chamber, will hold its monthly meeting, on Tuesday, May 20, 2008, at Bar A, 711 Main Street, Belmar, N.J. from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. The cost is $20.00 at the door and includes a barbeque buffet, door prizes, and unlimited networking. Cash bar only. To register, contact Jennifer Allegra at 646-391-3737.

Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

Strategies for Employee Recognition - June JSAHR Meeting

2008-05-14T14:52:00.000-04:00

Dr. Gene Simko, associate professor of management at Monmouth University, will show attendees how to reward, recognize, and thank people successfully during a professional managerial briefing on Thursday, June 12, 2008, 8:00 to 10:00 a.m., at the monthly meeting of JSAHR (Jersey Shore Association for Human Resources), Jumping Brook Country Club, 210 Jumping Brook Road, Neptune, N.J.

Dr. Simko will explain strategies for employee recognition from formal programs to ad hoc daily routines designed to keep the work environment teeming with highly motivated people. Learn to revitalize the most important aspect of employee motivation—recognition for a job well done.

The registration fee and a full buffet breakfast cost $25.00 for JSAHR members; $35.00for nonmembers; $15.00 for those in transition; and an additional $5.00 for walk-ins. To register, call Kathi Evans, JSAHR administrator, at 732-244-8892 or e-mail jsahradmin@atbcelebrations.com. JSAHR is a Superior Merit Award Chapter of SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management).

Dr. Simko has conducted extensive management consulting and training with both corporate and public institutions, including the FBI. He teaches courses in strategic management and operations planning and control. He is acting president of the International Council on Innovation in Higher Education (ICIE), Toronto, Canada; and has published two editions of a textbook with Thompson Course Technology on business and the Internet.

Dr. Simko has been a faculty member at the School of Business of Monmouth University for thirty years. He holds a B.B.A. in economics, an M.B.A. in management science from Temple University, and a Ph.D. in strategic management from Baruch College of the City University of New York. He attended the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and holds a commission in the United States Army Reserve, Adjutant Generals Corps.

Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

SCORE Offers Free Hands-on Workshop: How to Write a Financial Plan

2008-05-14T14:46:00.001-04:00

Entrepreneurs who would like to create a financial plan can learn to develop one at a free workshop “How to Prepare a Successful Financial Plan,” sponsored by SCORE Chapter 36 of Monmouth County, on Monday, June 9, 2008, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., at the Monmouth County Library, Eastern Branch, 1001 Route 35, Shrewsbury.
Joseph Wasilewski, who served as Chief Financial Officer for several corporations before owning and operating his own CPA firm in 1989, will help attendees understand and develop income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow projections, important tools for managing a business and for obtaining financing.

SCORE 36 Chapter counselors, successful entrepreneurs skilled in the preparation and evaluation of business plans, will be on hand for this second in a series of hands-on workshops related to business plan preparation.

Participants should register online at www.score36.org or call the Monmouth County Library at 732-842-5995 or SCORE Chapter 36 office at (732) 219-9119. In all instances, an e-mail address or mailing address is required.

For further information contact SCORE at www.score36.org, or the Middletown Library at 732 671-3700 Ext. 320, or leave a message at the SCORE office on the Brookdale Community College campus at 732-219-9119. SCORE Chapter 36 is an affiliate of the Small Business Administration.

SCORE Chapter 36 of Monmouth County, a national nonprofit organization and a resource partner with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), is located on the campus of Brookdale Community College, Lincroft, New Jersey. To help entrepreneurs and small business owners, more than 40 chapter members provide such services as confidential, one-to-one guidance and information free of charge on a full range of business topics.

Business people, who would like to volunteer their time and expertise to help start new businesses or help existing businesses grow, are always welcome. Visit www.score36.org for more information.

Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

Bugfest 2008 at Insectropolis Raises Money for Scholarships--Supported by Ozane Pest Control and Central Ocean Rotary Club

2008-05-14T14:41:00.001-04:00

Eat a bug, race a bug, or even see like a bug at 2008 Bugfest, a fundraising event for high school scholarships, that will bug you out with many indoor and outdoor events at Ozane’s Insectropolis, 1761 Route 9 North, Toms River, Sunday, June 22, 2008,from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Admission is $7.00 a person. Tickets can be purchased in advance for $5.00 a person by calling 732-349-7090. Children age two and under are free.

Proceeds from the second annual Bugfest, supported by Ozane Pest Control and the Central Ocean Rotary Club, will provide scholarships for one student in each of the Toms River high schools and Monsignor Donovan High School. According to Christopher Koerner, curator of Bugfest and a member of Rotary, this event raised $3000.00 for scholarships last year. “We would like to raise more than $6000.00 this year,” says Koerner.

One highlight will certainly be the Roach Race during which cockroaches named Clinton, Obama, and McCain will race other cockroaches to the finish line. Those who correctly pick the winner can enter a drawing for other prizes.

Attendees who are feeling especially brave can dine on barbeque-flavored beetle larva at the Caterpillar Café. Downing the tasty bugs will earn diners a membership in the Eat-a-bug Club and an Eat-a-bug sticker. Some activities, among many others, include Buzzerk Bean Bag Toss wearing glasses that make you see like an insect; holding insects, such as hissing cockroaches, scorpions, tarantulas, and giant African Millipedes; and viewing specimens under a microscope. Children can win a free birthday party at Insectropolis for themselves and 15 guests by voting for the first Bug Mayor of Insectropolis.

For further information, contact Koerner at 732-349-0559.

Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

Building Leadership from the Ground Up - May JSAHR Meeting

2008-04-28T00:00:00.000-04:00

Are leaders born or are they made? Instead of focusing on leadership development at the management levels, what if companies began to identify talent from the beginning and invested in that talent? Would the results be worthwhile?

Presenters Lynn Schaber, a leadership development coach, and Edmond Antoine, CEO and head coach of Team Global Network, will show why it is imperative to focus on leadership from the ground up on May 8, 2008, 8:00 to 10:00 a.m., at the monthly meeting of JSAHR (Jersey Shore Association for Human Resources), Jumping Brook Country Club, 210 Jumping Brook Road, Neptune, N.J.

Lynn Schaber has had 20 years of experience determining what is needed to motivate and train staff. She is a member of the International Coach Federation, an Associate Certified Coach (ACC), and the 2008 president of the New Jersey Professional Coaches Association.

Edmond Antoine coaches executives nationally and internationally. Antoine, a Master Certified Coach (MCC), has attained the highest level of certification with 200 hours of Coach Specific Training and more than 2500 hours of client coaching experience. He is a member of the International Coach Federation.

The registration fee and a full buffet breakfast is $25.00 for JSAHR members; $35.00 for nonmembers; $15.00 for those in transition; and an additional $5.00 for walk-ins. To register, call Kathi Evans, JSAHR administrator, at 732-244-8892 or e-mail jsahradmin@atbcelebrations.com. JSAHR is a Superior Merit Award Chapter of SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management).

Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

You Whiten Your Teeth—A Child Benefits in the 2008 Smiles for Life National Campaign

2008-04-27T23:49:00.004-04:00

Whiten that smile professionally and Dr. Ron Rotem, a Toms River dentist and member of the national Crown Council, will donate 100 percent of his fee to children’s charities through June 30, 2008, as part of the annual Smiles for Life Campaign.

Through the national Smiles for Life of Campaign, Dr. Rotem has been donating his professional teeth whitening fees to Ocean of Love for the past four years. Ocean of Love is a nonprofit organization that aids families whose children have cancer.

Dr. Rotem says, “If you are planning to professionally whiten your teeth, this is a wonderful opportunity to do something for yourself and, at the same time, make a difference in a child’s life. We had a great campaign last year, and I hope we can contribute even more this year.”

To contribute to The Smiles for Life – 2008 campaign, call Dr. Rotem’s office to reserve a date for whitening (732 – 341 – 8500).

Since 1998, The Smiles for Life Foundation, the charitable arm of the Crown Council, has raised more than $15 million for children’s charities across North America because members of Crown Council dental practices have agreed to donate the cost of professional tooth whitening during the Smiles for Life campaign.

Dr. Rotem was graduated from NYU College of Dentistry in 1991. His practice focuses on cosmetic dentistry and conscious sedation. Dr. Rotem belongs to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. He is affiliated with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, NJ Chapter of the Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, the Dental Organization of Conscious Sedation, the International College of Cranial Mandibular Orthopedics, the American Dental Association, the New Jersey Dental Association, Monmouth/Ocean Dental Society, and the Academy of General Dentistry. Dr. Rotem is an active member of the Crown Council. He is also a member of the Jersey Shore Business Network, Toms River, and the Toms River Chapter of Toastmasters.

Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

Corporate Sales Exec Joins the Staff of Olympic Airporter

2008-04-27T23:48:00.000-04:00

Nelson Perez, a Brick Town resident, has been hired as a full-time corporate sales representative for Olympic Airporter, an airport shuttle, economy share ride, and luxury private service in Farmingdale, N.J. Perez’s major responsibility is to make businesses throughout New Jersey aware of Olympic’s services for employees and executives traveling to and from JFK and Newark airports.

Prior to joining Olympic, Perez was a service writer for Camping World, helping customers with the recreational vehicles. Prior to that, he worked as a general manager in the food industry. Perez graduated from Glen Rock High School, Glen Rock, N.J., and received a diploma from Lincoln Technical School, Mahwah.

Perez is a volunteer for the Brick Relay for Life and has helped the Toms River police in their fund raising efforts for Vest-a-Cop. Perez and Olympic Airporter are members of the Brick, Toms River, Lakewood, Jackson, Southern Ocean chambers of commerce, all in Ocean County; and Eastern, Western, Northern, and Southern Monmouth County chambers; the Mercer County Chamber; the Princeton Chamber, and the New Jersey State Chamber of Commerce.

Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

Time to Focus on YOU!! - May Is Women’s Health Month

2008-04-27T20:47:00.000-04:00

Yes, women are different from men and so are women’s needs. Your health is important all the time; but during Women’s Health Month, the doctors and staff at Ocean Health Initiatives (OHI) want you to focus even more on your health and well-being so you can prevent health problems. Your family needs you to be healthy and strong.

One way to help prevent problems or catch health problems early enough to avoid life-threatening complications is to have an annual routine examination that includes a pap smear, a breast exam, and a measurement of your blood pressure. Pick a month—maybe the month you were born—and schedule a women’s wellness exam during that month every single year. These three exams are very, very important.

Some women may be embarrassed to discuss sex and sexual intercourse with anyone, but the doctors at OHI are trained to help you and give you information. If you are interested in birth control, the doctors will discuss such birth control methods as the pill, IUDs, or Depo Provera shots.

Do you know how to protect yourself from HIV, syphilis, gonorrhea, and Chlamydia? You can get these diseases, called STDs or Sexually Transmitted Diseases, during intercourse. You can feel free to discuss with your doctors at OHI how you can protect yourself from STDs.

We are lucky that medical discoveries are helping women to live longer, healthier lives. One such recent discovery is a vaccine that can prevent Human Papillomavirus (HPV), a virus that leads to cervical cancer. This vaccine called Gardasil is being recommended for women between the ages of 11 and 26. You can get more information about Gardasil or receive the vaccine to protect you against HPV at OHI.

A mammography is another one of those extremely important tests women should have because its use has greatly reduced the risk of breast cancer. A mammography is a very low-dose X-ray that helps doctors determine what is going on inside a woman’s breast. Doctors use a mammography to look for tumors, cysts, and any other abnormalities.

It is essential that women also do a monthly self-breast examination even if they have had a mammography. If you are not sure how to do a self-breast examination, your doctor can explain how to do one. All women should have a mammography every year, starting at age 40. Be sure to tell your doctor if there is a family history of breast cancer or other problems.

Although you can’t see your bones, they are aging too. When bones age, they can lose their mineral density, making them very brittle. This condition is called osteoporosis. Osteoporosis can affect a woman’s life expectancy and disrupt her quality of life because bones can fracture or break very easily when people have osteoporosis.

Your doctor can help you keep your bones healthy and strong, but you must have a bone density test to measure the health of your bones. Women should get a bone density test at age 60 if there is a family history of osteoporosis. Otherwise, get a bone density test if you are 65 years of age or older. After that, women should get a bone density test every three years.

Another change in women that occurs as they age is called menopause, the natural end of a woman’s ability to have a baby because the ovaries are no longer producing eggs. This stage of life usually has a big impact on a woman’s body and her life in general.

The beginning of menopause can happen as early as age 30 and last about four years. Some of the symptoms may include hot flashes, breast tenderness, worsening of premenstrual symptoms, decreased desire for sex, irregular periods, mood swings, vaginal dryness, or difficulty sleeping. Through a blood test, doctors can determine if a woman is starting menopause by checking hormone levels.

Women between the ages of 40 and 60 who have not had a period for at least 12 months are probably experiencing menopause. Some of the symptoms may include headaches, difficulty sleeping, tiredness, depression, irritability, bladder control problems, hot flashes, breast tenderness, worsening of premenstrual symptoms, decreased desire for sex, irregular periods, mood swings, and vaginal dryness.

Your doctor is the one who can help you if you are experiencing these symptoms. Women who are post menopausal must be especially mindful of certain health risks. The health risks that should be monitored by you and your doctor are osteoporosis, heart disease, poor bladder control, alzheimer’s, poor skin elasticity, poor muscle tone, and deteriorating vision.

Women who take good care of themselves, who eat healthy foods, exercise, and visit their doctors regularly should enjoy a happy, productive life. It’s important to take care of yourself, and the doctors at OHI are here to help you. Here’s to your health!

About Ocean Health Initiatives: OHI, a federally qualified health center (FQHC), with locations at 101 Second Street, Lakewood and 301 Lakehurst Road, Toms River, provides comprehensive preventative and primary care, including pediatrics, maternal and child health, prenatal, WIC, universal immunizations, and dental health to the area's uninsured, underinsured, and undocumented residents on a sliding-fee scale, based on an individual's or family's ability to pay. OHI has a bilingual staff available to assist patients and callers. To become a patient of OHI, call a representative in the Call Center at either 732-552-0377, Toms River, or 732-363-6655, Lakewood. Visit www.ohinj.org. for further information.

Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

Bark in the Park - Greater Media Hosts Annual Dog Day at FirstEnergy Park

2008-04-27T20:41:00.001-04:00

Woof! Woof! Bark! Bark! Take your dog to a ballgame at FirstEnergy Park! All dog owners are welcome to bring their four-legged friends to a baseball game from 1:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m., Saturday, May 3, 2008, at FirstEnergy Park, 2 Stadium Way, Lakewood, N.J. WJRZ 100.1 FM and WRAT 95.9 FM, two Greater Media radio stations, are hosting “Bark at the Park,” a Lakewood BlueClaws’ tradition for the past four years.

Before the game begins, pets and pet owners can enjoy a variety of free activities. Rocky the Rat, the WRAT’s mascot, and Boomer the Dog, WJRZ’s mascot, will be on hand to greet children and take photos with them. Some events include Agility Training for dogs, a course of ramps, tunnels, weave poles, and jumps for dogs to try; a Frisbee demonstration featuring the Yankee Flyer Dog and Disc Club will show their amazing Frisbee skills; a pet costume contest; a pet talent show; and owner and pet look-a-like contest.

Watering stations are available. All animals must be on a leash and have up-to-date shots. Each radio station will be broadcasting live from FirstEnergy Park.

To enjoy the game with their furry friends, fans must purchase a $2.00 "BluePaws Pass" for each dog admitted plus a ticket to the game ($6.00 for general admission to the lawn area; $9.00 adults and $6.00 children and seniors for a special seating area). A Pet Parade is scheduled for 3:15 p.m. inside the Park.

The money raised from BluePaws Passes will help purchase food and medicine, and contribute to the upkeep of Jersey Shore Animal Center, a nonprofit animal shelter in Brick which takes in abandoned, unwanted, and abused animals; and works to provide them a new home through pet adoption.

For ticket information, game times, and up-to-date information, call 732-901-7000 Option 2 or visit www.blueclaws.com.

WRAT-FM (95.9) and WJRZ-FM (100.1) are radio stations that are owned and operated by Greater Media New Jersey, a subsidiary of Greater Media, Inc. Greater Media New Jersey is the parent company of twenty AM and FM radio stations in the Boston, Charlotte, Detroit, New Jersey, and Philadelphia markets. It also owns a modern printing plant and a group of weekly papers in central New Jersey, as well as several telecommunications towers, located throughout the United States.

Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

No Slowdown in Commercial Real Estate Market in Monmouth County - Bollerman Development Corporation Sees Growth First-hand

2008-04-27T20:38:00.000-04:00

The commercial real estate market is showing no signs of slowing its growth and development in Monmouth County, New Jersey. According to Mary Beth Priestley, vice president and manager of brokerage at Bollerman Development Corporation, Red Bank, NJR Home Services, a division of New Jersey Natural Gas, who leased a 25,800 square foot building, has moved into its new headquarters address in the Allaire Corporate Campus in Wall Township, joining tenants Depot America and Dialight Corporation.

Already there is a flurry of interest in a 25,800 square foot one-story twin building, available and ready for tenant’s build out, in the same corporate campus. The smallest available unit is 8,700 square feet. Warehouse or storage space with an 18-foot high ceiling and a loading dock is also available.

Besides the available twin building, a 60,000 square foot building, which can be subdivided into 30,000 square foot spaces, has been approved and is ready for construction.

The Allaire Corporate Campus is made up of five architecturally integrated landscaped buildings, totaling 225,000 square feet on 28.37 acres, located at the corner of Highway 34 South and Belmar Boulevard. Each building has gas, electric, sanitary sewer, water, fiber optics, and a sprinkler system.

Jim Bollerman, president of Bollerman Real Estate Services, says, “Technology, medical services, and professional services companies are growing and seeking commercial space in Monmouth County.”

For more information, contact Mary Beth Priestley or Gary J. Lowe at 732-530-1468.

Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

Local Engineer Awarded LEED Certification

2008-04-27T20:34:00.000-04:00

The United States Green Building Council (USGBC) has awarded Kenneth L. Fry LEED AP, (Leader in Energy and Environmental Design), certification. This national accreditation certifies that Fry, a partner and senior vice president of BD Engineering, Lakewood, is an expert in green-building design; e.g., reusing existing materials and buildings, the reducing water-consumption waste, reducing energy consumption, and developing sites that are environmentally sound and improve environmental air quality, among other requirements.

LEED is the benchmark the government is using to ensure the building industry is using certified green building status. Fry says, “There is a shift in the way the industry is approaching construction. Architects, engineers, and builders are now being held to a higher standard and are expected to preserve the earth for future generations by utilizing green-building design and technology.”

Fry and his partner Brian Tannenhaus are currently working on two LEED projects. One is the renovation of the Brooklyn Navy Yard, a 330,000 square foot industrial-use conversion of an historical building, parts of which date to 1840’s. The other is new construction of a food processing plant and its corporate offices.

Fry, a graduate of Westwood High School, Massachusetts, attended both Penn State and Princeton University to study mechanical engineering. He is a member of ASHRAE, the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air conditioning Engineers; and a member of the Southern New Jersey Business Development Council.

BD Engineering is a member of the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce and participates in the UEZ (Urban Enterprise Zone) program in the Lakewood Industrial Park. The business is categorized as SBE-l, a small business enterprise, with the State of New Jersey.

Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

Men Help Raise Funds for Family Planning Center of Ocean County - Save the Date

2008-04-27T20:30:00.000-04:00

Enjoy a Western Mediterranean Cruise through JAS Travel

2008-04-27T20:20:00.000-04:00

Jeannie Schlameuss, owner of JAS Travel, is offering a 10-night Western Mediterranean on October 30, 2008, at an amazing price that includes airfare from Newark Airport, all taxes and fees, port charges, and fuel surcharges (Insurance is extra).

The itinerary inclues Barcelona, Spain; Tunis, Tunisia; Valletta, Malta; Taormina, Sicily; Rome, Italy; Florence,Pisa, and Portofino,Italy; and Monte Carlo, Monaco.

For more information, call Jeannie Schlameuss at 732-363-0899 or e-mail her at traveljeannie@optonlin.net.

Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

Young Professionals and Strand Theater Co-host Event

2008-04-27T20:08:00.000-04:00

“A Little Wine & Song” is an exciting new wine-tasting and business-networking event being hosted by the Young Professionals of the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce to benefit the Historic Strand Theater.

The event will take place on Wednesday, July, 30, 2008, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Theater, located on 400 Clifton Ave., Lakewood, N.J., and will feature “A Little Wine” in addition to some great food, fun, and song!

If you or your company would like a sponsorship opportunity, you will be able to showcase your products and services to an anticipated audience of 100 or more business professionals, arts enthusiasts, and prominent guests from throughout the Central New Jersey region.

Additional benefits include:
● Company name mentioned in all media releases.
● Company recognition at event.
● Logo and/or name recognition on all promotional materials,
such as invitations, programs,and event signage.
● Company may host exhibition table.
● Sponsor recognition in the Theater’s newsletter and on Strand
Web site.

The print deadline for invitations is April 30, so please contact Laura Lella- Smith, director of development, Strand Theater at (732) 367-7789, ext. 209 to reserve your sponsorship.

Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

Meet Young Professionals at Networking and Social Evening

2008-04-27T20:07:00.000-04:00

Young Professionals, a committee of The Lakewood Chamber, is meeting Wednesday, April 30, 2008, at Red Restaurant and Lounge, 3 Broad Street, Red Bank, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. All young business professionals from Ocean and Monmouth counties are welcome to network and socialize at this free social event. Cash bar only.
Registration is encouraged. Preregister at lakewoodyoungprofessionas@yahoo.com or contact Jennifer Allegra at 646-391-3737 or jennifer@allegrarealestate.com.

Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

Family Planning Center Needs Chefs

2008-03-24T11:09:00.000-04:00

The friends of Family Planning Center of Ocean County are looking for chefs--Men of Distinction--to participate in the annual "Look Who's Cooking" food tasting festival, scheduled for Friday, June 6, 2008 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Christ Episcopal Church, Toms River.

If you can participate as a chef, please contact Gale Yetman at 732-929-0049 or e-mail her at yetmangnp@hotmail.com. This event is a major fundraiser and a necessity to continue helping uninsured and underinsured women in Ocean County.

Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

In Recognition of Earth Day, Donate Your “E-Waste”

2008-03-19T21:42:00.000-04:00

When you do your spring cleaning this year, don’t forget to get rid of those no-longer-used electronics like cell phones, computers, printers, screens, monitors, televisions, etc. But don’t take them to the landfill! Electronics contain several toxic elements, such as lead, cadmium, and beryllium that can leach into the earth, polluting it and our water.

Instead, bring your electronics to Lakewood where Supreme Asset Management and Recovery, an e-waste recycling and remarketing company, is holding a recycling event in recognition of Earth Day 2008, on Saturday, April 12, 2008, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., FirstEnergy Park parking lot (Home of the BlueClaws), 2 Stadium Way, Lakewood.

The cost is $5.00 a car load and all proceeds will be donated to LADACIN Network, a nonprofit organization that provides education, therapy, social, residential, and support services for people with cerebral palsy and other physical disabilities.

According to authorities, an estimated billion people participated globally in 2007 Earth Day activities, making it one of the largest Earth Days to date.

Charlie McFadden, vice president of operations at SAMR, says, “During this recycling event, we will be collecting anything considered electronic waste or ‘E-waste’: computers, monitors, televisions, batteries of any kind, printers, key boards, cell phones, and even wires.”

Supreme Asset Management and Recovery, located at 1950 Rutgers University Boulevard, Lakewood, has been in business since 1992. McFadden says, “Our goal is to keep e-waste and all the toxic elements they contain from going into landfills. Most people are not aware that monitors and televisions alone contain three to five pounds of lead.”

For further information, call Kirsten Difenderfer, the director of asset management for SAMR, at 732-987-8180.

Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

Women Gone WILD at Georgian Court University

2008-03-19T21:40:00.000-04:00

The women of WILD (Women in Leadership Development Program) are seeking to mingle with professional women from a variety of careers who would be willing to share their advice and career experiences. Join the women of WILD on March 28, 2008, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. in the North Dining Room of Georgian Court University for “Network Your Way into the Future.”

Among the various fields, the women of WILD are looking for female accountants, investment bankers, social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, teachers, principals, writers, public relations professionals, advertising and publishing professionals, news reporters, judges, lawyers, law enforcement personnel, mayors, senators, ad other political figures.

Call Ashley Hobbs at 732-343-0504 or e-mail her at hobb5879@georgian.edu to make a reservation.

Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

Upcoming Performance of the Garden State Philharmonic

2008-03-19T21:38:00.000-04:00

Join Maestro Anthony LaGruth and Philharmonic musicians on Sunday, March 30, 2:00 p.m. in a highly interactive and informative performance celebrating American Women Composers and musicians, and their influence on American music today. This program is the second in a three-part series at the Ocean County Library in Toms River, and is sponsored in part by the Ocean County Cultural and Heritage Commission.

Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

Garden State Philharmonic Invites You to 21st Annual Antiques & Collectibles Show and Sale

2008-03-19T21:35:00.000-04:00

The Garden State Philharmonic (GSP) invites you to the 21st Annual Antiques & Collectibles Show & Sale (ACSS) at the Poland Spring Arena (1245 Old Freehold Road) in Toms River, N.J., on Saturday, April 5, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

Admission is $5.00 per person and proceeds from this ONE-DAY ONLY event benefits the GSP, which supports year-round live musical performances and educational experiences at the Jersey Shore.

For the past 20 years, the Antique & Collectible Show & Sale has attracted patrons from all over New Jersey for this show of fine and rare collectibles and antiques. A showcase for antique and collectible dealers, the GSP ACSS features impressive displays of furniture, dolls, china, glassware, figurines, jewelry, pottery, silverware, vintage clothing, and more.

This year’s ACSS in Toms River will host over 60 dealers from New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, drawing patrons from Ocean and Monmouth Counties.

A popular feature of the show is the Appraisal Room, like a mini Antiques RoadshowÒ, during which professional appraisers offer verbal appraisals of precious items for a small fee ($5 per item).

Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

I’m Sorry – What’s Your Name?

2008-02-16T22:04:00.000-05:00

First watch Ron White, a memory-training expert, recite the names of more than 150 participants he just met. Then learn to do it yourself at a “Memory for Sales Training” seminar on Wednesday, February 27, 2008, Radisson Hotel, 21 Kingsbridge Road, Piscataway, N.J., from 8:00 a.m. to noon. The cost of the seminar is $99.00 and includes a seminar workbook, continental breakfast, exhibits, and networking opportunities.

Move Ahead 1, Wall Township, N.J., the promoter of business success seminars, is featuring White for its first 2008 Success Expo designed for C-level executives and decision makers. White is an internationally renowned memory expert, sales and success speaker, and the creator of the bestselling Memory in a Month and The Mind of Einstein. He has appeared on FOX, CBS, Trinity Broadcasting Network, the Discovery Channel, among others, and is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records for memorizing a 28-digit number in 75 seconds.

White will teach attendees how to build relationships by remembering names and facts, how to improve sales by recalling product knowledge, and how to gain increased respect through a more efficient and focused mindset.

The Radisson is centrally located halfway between New York City and Philadelphia. It is easy access to major highways including the NJ Turnpike, Garden State Parkway, Route 287 and 78, and Route 80. The Somerset County Business Partnership sponsors the event. The program sponsors are Somerset County Business Partnership, Bridgewater, and N.J. Manufacturers Extension Program, Morris Plains, N.J.

To register for Ron White or future events, or for information regarding sponsorship opportunities for future events, call Move Ahead 1 at 732-202-3599 or visit www.moveahead1.com

Later this year, Move Ahead 1 will host The New York Times and Newsweek bestselling business author, Herb Cohen, on September 18; and bestselling business author Neil Rackham on December 4. Move Ahead 1 will also host its third annual Mega-Networking Event on May 22 at a location to be announced.

Cohen excels in giving advice to negotiating students, experienced practitioners, and sales professionals in dealing with their business relationships and explaining why certain selling and persuading approaches fail and others succeed.

Rackham, creator of the International sales phenomenon, “SPIN Selling,” has been an advisor on sales performance to several of the largest Fortune 100 companies in the United States, and more than half the Fortune 500 train their salespeople using sales models derived from his research.

Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

Ocean County Native Joins the Staff of Olympic

2008-02-16T22:02:00.000-05:00

Cynthia Hannen, Jackson, N.J., has been hired as a full-time sales representative for Olympic Airporter, an airport shuttle, economy share ride, and luxury private service in Farmingdale, N.J. Hannen’s responsibilities include bringing the services offered by Olympic to the attention of travel agencies, hotels, businesses, and retirement communities, among others in Ocean and Monmouth counties.

Prior to joining Olympic, Hannen was a residential real estate sales woman for Century 21 of Jackson. An Ocean County native, Hannen graduated from Toms River North High School, Toms River, and later attended Ocean County College for business and psychology.

Hannen is a member of the Brick, Toms River, Lakewood, Jackson, Southern Ocean chambers of commerce, all in Ocean County; and Eastern, Western, and Southern Monmouth County chambers. She is a member of ACT (Association of Central Jersey Travel Professionals), an association of travel agents and suppliers. Hannen is a member of the Monmouth County Board of Realtors and won a sales award from Century 21 in 2005 for being the top listing agent.

Hannen, who as worked in the customer service industry for 30 years, says, “I am eager to let everyone know about Olympic. Taking the shuttle is so affordable compared to the high price of gasoline.”

Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

OHI Announces the Opening of a Second Dental Office

2008-02-16T21:59:00.000-05:00

Ocean Health Initiatives (OHI), a federally qualified health center (FQHC, will be opening a new dental office for adults and children at its Toms River location, 301 Lakewood Road, Toms River, on February 25, 2008. (Another OHI dental office has been in operation in Lakewood at 101 Second Street since December 2003. The new office, staffed by Dr. Patricia Gibbons, Cape May, and her dental assistant Karen Weidner, Beachwood, will be open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.

Dr. Gibbons received her B.A. in biology from LaSalle University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She received her D.M.D. as a general dentist from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine in Philadelphia in 1994. In dental school, Dr. Gibbons was nominated and elected by her classmates to serve on the ethical board of the student government.

As a general dentist, Dr. Gibbons is qualified to diagnose and deliver preventive, restorative, periodontal, and prosthodontic services. Her other services include extractions and minor oral surgical procedures.

Walk-ins are welcome. To make an appointment, call 732-552-0377.

Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

Kuns Co-authors Borrow Smart, Retire Rich

2008-02-16T21:55:00.001-05:00

At a time when many people are teetering on the edge of financial disaster and are in desperate need of money, co-authors Jeff Kuns and Todd Ballenger have written a book explaining HOW to borrow wisely. Jeff Kuns, partner in the mortgage company America’s First Funding Group, with offices in Neptune, New Jersey, and Beverly Hills and Sacramento, California, has co-authored the book Borrow Smart, Retire Rich. Kuns and co-author Todd Ballenger of KendallTodd, Inc., Chapel Hill, N.C., show the average house-rich but cash-poor American how to actually create wealth by managing liabilities.

According to Kuns and Ballenger, managing your liabilities can transform one’s financial future. The book helps to answer such questions as:
How can I protect my house equity from depreciation? Foreclosure? Lawsuits?
How and when can I access the wealth in my house?
When does the return on my house have little or no impact on my net worth?
How can borrowing (or not borrowing) dramatically affect my savings?
When should I prepay my mortgage? And how?
How can I minimize taxes when I see my house?

For further information, contact Diana Davidson 732-774-8978 or visit www.AmericasFirstFundingGroup.com. A free electronic preview of the first three chapters are available at www.AmericasFirstFundingGroup.com.

About Kuns and Ballenger:
Jeff Kuns, who began his mortage career in 1997, is a registered N.J. Mortgage Solicitor, California real estate broker, and vice president of education with America’s First Funding Group, Neptune, N.J. He is on the faculty of the National Institute of Financial educations, and has earned the professional designations of certified mortgage planner (CMP), certirfied mortgage planning specialist (CMPS), and certified liability advisor (CLA). His professional affiliations include the Financial Planning Association and the CMPS Institute. Before becoming a partner in America’s First Funding Group, Kuns was a mortgage planner for 11 years with First Choice Financial, California, a boutique mortgage company. As
a mortgage planner, Kuns worked with clients to develop comprehensive debt strategies that complemented an overall financial plan. Kuns, a graduate of LaSerna High School, Whittier, California, attended Fullerton College, Fullerton, California.

Todd Ballenger has 18 years experience in the financial services industry as a licensed securities, insurance, real estate, and mortgage lending professional. Ballenger founded three companies: Capital Savings Co, Inc.; Advantage Capital Mortgage, USA; and PlanMax Financial. These three companies closed over $2 billion dollars in residential and commercial loans before being rolled into a Nasdaq IPO in 1999. Todd is considered an industry pioneer in the area of capital market and credit market convergence, and has published courses on lending and equity management currently approved for realtors, appraisers, builders and lenders in more than 28 states. Todd was a two-time Inc. 500 winner, a three time KPMG Fast 50 winner, and the 1998 N.C. Mortgage Lender of the year. Todd was awarded the 2003 '40 Under 40' award by the Triangle Business Journal in N.C. as one of the top 40 young leaders. Todd has a business degree from the University of North Carolina.

Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

SAMR Receives ISO 14001 Certification

2008-02-16T21:52:00.000-05:00

LAKEWOOD, NJ – SAMR (Supreme Asset Management & Recovery) Lakewood, N.J., a leading IT asset management and recycling company, has received ISO 14001 Environmental Standard Certification. ISO, the International Standards Organization, standardizes the requirements for products, services, processes, materials and systems worldwide.

The ISO 14001 Standard is recognized internationally as the accepted criterion for environmental management systems. It was created by the International Organization for Standardization to help organizations minimize their impact on the environment, and to comply with related laws, regulations, and requirements. Fulfilling these requirements demands objective evidence that can be audited to prove that the environmental management system is operating effectively and is in conformity to the standard.

"SAMR is devoted to the environment and sustainability,” said Charlie McFadden, SAMR vice president of business development and asset management. “We are continuously improving our environmental assurance and performance in all business activities to have the least impact on our environment and the least burden for future generations."

ABOUT SAMR:
SAMR (Supreme Asset Management & Recovery) is a single-source, end-of-life, IT asset management solutions provider with operations in Massachusetts, Virginia, and New Jersey. With more than 15 years of experience in the IT asset management solutions industry, SAMR provides transportation, U.S. DOD-level data protection, computer asset management and environmentally responsible electronic waste recycling throughout the United States.

SAMR maintains a zero-landfill policy in the disposal of all e-waste. After a full inspection, high quality computers are wiped clean and remarketed (with up to 60 percent credit back to the customer) to SAMR approved reputable resellers. Those targeted for recycling are demanufactured at SAMR’s state-of-the-art 100,000 sq. ft. secure facility with full reporting and Certificates of Recycling on assets all the way to the commodity level.

Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

Lakewood Chamber and SAMR Host Business after Hours

2008-02-15T17:56:00.000-05:00

The Lakewood Chamber of Commerce and SAMR (Supreme Asset Management & Recovery), are holding a joint Business after Hours and networking event at SAMR, 1950 Rutgers University Boulevard, Lakewood, on Thursday, March 13, 2008, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The cost of registration and refreshments for members and nonmembers is $10.00. Brianne Douglas, director of asset management, will conduct tours of the newly opened 100,000 square foot building. Call Pam or Maureen at 732-363-0012 or visit mylakewoodchamber.com to register.

About SAMR:
SAMR, a computer and electronics recycling company in Lakewood, N.J., removes old technology in securely locked vehicles; guarantees complete data erasure of hard drives; and, if possible, remarkets end-of-life electronics. SAMR meets all state and federal regulations for disposal of toxic and hazardous e-waste, and has a documented zero landfill policy.

Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

March Meeting of Young Professionals Features “The Art of Giving and Getting Referrals”

2008-02-15T17:54:00.000-05:00

Andrew Politi, national vice president of commercial and retail sales for Paid Harbor Collections, will present “The Art of Giving and Getting Referrals,” on March 27 at the monthly meeting of the Lakewood Chamber Young Professionals, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Connelly Station, 711 Main Street, Belmar, New Jersey.

In his presentation, Politi will discuss the proper use of business cards, why people refer, how to listen effectively, how to build a network, and how to gain more referrals.

As vice president of Paid Harbor Collections, Politi is in charge of business development, and the training and management of its staff. Politi has worked in the commercial and retail credit and collection industry for 27 years and is a professionally trained sales associate.

The cost of the seminar is $20.00 and includes appetizers and networking opportunities. Cash bar only. To register, call Jennifer Allegra at 646-391-3737 or jennifer@allegrarealestate.com. No shows will be billed.

About Andrew Politi:
Politi, a graduate of Howell High School, Farmingdale, N.J., received his B.A. in economics and banking from Rutgers University in 1980. He is a founding member (1997) and past president of CRA (Corporate Resource Alliance) (2005-2007), a premier New Jersey networking association for business owners, top-level executives, and professionals who work in a specific business or industry. Politi is a soccer coach for the Girls’ U15 Travel team, East Brunswick; and a student and teacher at the Jersey Shore Aikikai Martial Arts School, Point Pleasant.

Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

Young Professionals Mini-workshop: “How to Build and Articulate Value Propositions”

2008-01-20T13:29:00.000-05:00

Don Hebert, a sales performance consultant with the Russ Berrie Institute for Professional Sales, William Paterson University of N.J., will conduct a mini interactive workshop for Young Professionals, a support group for business professionals in Ocean, Monmouth, and Middlesex counties, N.J., on Wednesday, January 20, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Charlie Brown’s Steakhouse, Tinton Falls, N.J.

In his presentation, “How to Build and Articulate Value Propositions,” Hebert will show attendees how to perform more effectively and realize greater gains. Before joining the Russ Berrie Institute, Hebert owned his own consulting company. With more than 25 years of experience, he has helped such organizations as ADP, A&P Supermarkets, AT&T, Merrill Lynch, and Verizon Wireless, among others.

The cost of the workshop is $20.00 and includes soft beverages, appetizers, and networking opportunities. To register, call Jennifer Allegra at 646-391-3737 or jennifer@allegrarealestate.com. No shows will be billed.
###

Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

Young Professionals Host Mardi Gras North to Raise Money for LADACIN Network

2008-01-20T13:25:00.000-05:00

Young Professionals, a committee of the Lakewood chamber and a support group for business professionals in Ocean, Monmouth, and Middlesex counties, N.J., is hosting a Mardi Gras North celebration at CareOne Jackson, 11 History Lane, Jackson, on Tuesday, February 5, 2008, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. to raise money for the LADACIN Network. The admission is $10.00 and will be donated to LADACIN. Enjoy door prizes, entertainment, food, fun, and networking opportunities. To register, call Michelle Costanzo at 202-421-9148; or Jennifer Allegra at either 646-391-3737 or jennifer@allegrarealestate.com.

LADACIN Network, a non-profit agency, provides education, therapy, and social, residential, and support services for people with cerebral palsy and other physical disabilities.
###

Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

Get FREE Practical Advice about Starting a New Business from SCORE

2008-01-19T17:14:00.000-05:00

Where do you begin when you want to start a business? SCORE will tell you. Business professionals from SCORE Chapter 36 of Monmouth County are offering a free workshop, “How to Start a New Business the Right Way,” on Wednesday, February 13, 2008, at the Monmouth County Library Headquarters, Manalapan, 125 Symmes Drive, Manalapan, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

The workshop will include entrepreneurial self-evaluation, preparing a dream plan of expectations and goals, business plan preparation basics, registration and licensing procedures, and legal and financing options.

Joe Wasilewski, a CPA specializing in small business management and financial planning, will offer practical advice and insights. Al Peskoe, a successful entrepreneur, will review the keys to achieving successful startup enterprise.
Wasilewski, a graduate of Seton Hall University, holds an MBA from Long Island University and served as Chief Financial Officer for several corporations before owning and operating his own CPA firm in 1989.

Al Peskoe, an owner of Reliable Auto Equipment, runs the volunteer income tax Web site for the Monmouth County Library, Eastern Branch, Shrewsbury. He was the former owner of Norwood Auto Parts, Long Branch.

For further information contact SCORE at www.score36.org, or the Manalapan library at 732-431-7242, or leave a message at the SCORE office on the Brookdale Community College campus at 732-219-9119. SCORE Chapter 36 is an affiliate of the Small Business Administration.

About SCORE Chapter 36
SCORE Chapter 36 of Monmouth County, a national nonprofit organization and a resource partner with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), is located on the campus of Brookdale Community College, Lincroft, New Jersey. To help entrepreneurs and small business owners, more than 40 chapter members provide such services as confidential, one-to-one guidance and information free of charge on a full range of business topics. Business people, who would like to volunteer their time and expertise to help start new businesses or help existing businesses grow, are always welcome. Visit www.score36.org for more information.
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Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

SAMR Names Brianne Douglas a Regional Director

2008-01-19T16:52:00.000-05:00

Brianne Douglas, Brick, N.J., has recently been named a regional director of IT asset management and recovery at SAMR (Supreme Asset Management and Recovery), Lakewood, N.J., a fully licensed American IT asset management company that disposes of toxic and hazardous e-waste for townships, governments, and corporations nationwide, guaranteeing security, a zero landfill policy, and a cash return for electronics that can be remarketed.

In her position, Douglas will be in charge of business development for corporations in New Jersey, focusing on IT asset management and end-of-life disposal options for servers, computers, laptops, LCD and CRT monitors, hard drives, printers, and networking equipment, among other electronics. Prior to being named a regional director, Douglas was the director of asset management for Ocean and Monmouth counties.

Douglas, a 1998 graduate of Point Pleasant Boro High School, Pt. Pleasant Boro, N.J., earned a B.S. in Business Management from Marist College, Poughkeepsie, N.Y., in 2002. She is on the board of the Lakewood Chamber and its Young Professionals Committee. She is a member of CRA (Corporate Resource Alliance), MODC (Monmouth-Ocean Development Council), and NJTC (New Jersey Technology Council).
###

Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

SAMR (Supreme Asset Management and Recovery) Offers Free E-News

2008-01-19T16:48:00.000-05:00

In an effort to keep businesses and consumers informed about the latest recycling news, SAMR (Supreme Asset Management and Recovery), a computer and electronics recycling company in Lakewood, N.J., introduces SAMReport, a bi-monthly free e-newsletter.

Packed with recycling tips and information about upcoming recycling events for both businesses and the general public, SAMReport will include company news; feature articles about recycling and the environment; spotlight SAMR employees; and showcase SAMR customers who are making a difference through their recycling efforts.

Look for the premier issue of the SAMReport on Friday, February 15 with subsequent issues on April 8, June 10, August 12, October 14, and December 9. To receive SAMReport, sign up at www.samrecovery.com or call Brianne Douglas, the director of asset management, at 732-987-8177.

About SAMR
SAMR, a computer and electronics recycling company in Lakewood, N.J., removes old technology in securely locked vehicles; guarantees complete data erasure of hard drives; and, if possible, remarkets end-of-life electronics. SAMR meets all state and federal regulations for disposal of toxic and hazardous e-waste, and has a documented zero landfill policy. ###

Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

Olympic Airport Shuttle Offers the Military a Free Ride for Presidents’ Day Weekend

2008-01-19T16:45:00.000-05:00

In honor of Presidents’ Day weekend, Olympic Airport Shuttle, Farmingdale, is offering free transportation to and from Newark or JFK airports to men and women who are serving in the military, starting Valentine’s Day through Tuesday, February 19, 2008. Olympic Airport Shuttle will transport men and women wearing a military uniform, free of charge, from any of its departure locations in Ocean, Monmouth, Middlesex, or Mercer counties both to or from Newark or JFK airports.

Jim McDonald, director of marketing, says, “We offered free transportation to the military during this past holiday. Since that was so successful, we have decided to offer free transportation to honor these brave men and women several times a year.”
For further information, contact Olympic reservations at 1-800-822-9797.

###

Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

Ocean County Native Joins the Staff of Olympic

2008-01-19T16:41:00.000-05:00

Cynthia Hannen, Jackson, N.J., has been hired as a full-time sales representative for Olympic Airporter, an airport shuttle, economy share ride, and luxury private service in Farmingdale, N.J. Hannen’s responsibilities include bringing the services offered by Olympic to the attention of travel agencies, hotels, businesses, and retirement communities, among others in Ocean and Monmouth counties.

Prior to joining Olympic, Hannen was a residential real estate sales woman for Century 21 of Jackson. An Ocean County native, Hannen graduated from Toms River North High School, Toms River, and later attended Ocean County College for business and psychology.

Hannen is a member of the Brick, Toms River, Lakewood, Jackson, Southern Ocean Chambers of Commerce, all in Ocean County; and Eastern, Western, and Southern Monmouth County chambers. She is a member of ACT (Association of Central Jersey Travel Professionals), an association of travel agents and suppliers. Hannen is a member of the Monmouth County Board of Realtors and won a sales award from Century 21 in 2005 for being the top listing agent.

Hannen, who as worked in the customer service industry for 30 years, says, “I am eager to let everyone know about Olympic. Taking the shuttle is so affordable compared to the high price of gasoline.”

###

Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

February Is National Children’s Dental Health Month - OHI Gives Kids a Smile

2008-01-19T16:39:00.000-05:00

According to the American Dental Association (ADA), children with tooth decay are more likely to have sinus and ear infections, along with a host of other medical problems stemming from poor dental care.

In recognition of National Children's Dental Health Month this February and the Give Kids a Smile program, Dr. Elizabeth Wenslauskas, a dentist at Ocean Health Initiatives (OHI), will be providing free dental care to children 12 years of age and under whose families do not have any insurance Friday, February 1, 2008. Only those who have made an appointment will be seen. Call the OHI Call Center at 732-363-6655 to schedule an appointment at 101 Second Street, Lakewood. Space is limited.

Children's Dental Health Month focuses on raising awareness about the importance of dental care and provides oral health education to all children despite their economic status. According to ADA, “Developing good habits at an early age and scheduling regular dental visits helps children get a good start on a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.”

Traditionally, Give Kids a Smile takes place the first Friday in February. It is designed to provide education, and preventive and restorative care to children who do not have access to oral care because they lack dental insurance.

About Ocean Health Initiatives
OHI, a federally qualified health center (FQHC), with locations at 101 Second Street, Lakewood and 301 Lakehurst Road, Toms River, provides comprehensive preventative and primary care, including pediatrics, maternal and child health, prenatal, WIC, universal immunizations, and dental health to the area's uninsured, underinsured, and undocumented residents on a sliding-fee scale, based on an individual's or family's ability to pay. OHI has a bilingual staff available to assist patients and callers. To become a patient of OHI, call a representative in the Call Center at either 732-552-0377, Toms River, or 732-363-6655, Lakewood. Visit www.ohinj.org. for further information.
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Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

Dr. Mallamaci Named Chief Medical Officer of OHI

2008-01-19T16:31:00.000-05:00

Dr. Carmen R. Mallamaci, Totowa, N.J., has been named chief medical officer for Ocean Health Initiatives (OHI), a federally qualified health center (FQHC) with locations at 101 Second Street, Lakewood and 301 Lakehurst Road, Toms River. As chief medical officer (CMO), Dr. Mallamaci will plan direct, and monitor the delivery of medical services for OHI. Among other duties, she will also assist Dr. Theresa Berger, the CEO, in implementing policies and in recruiting medical doctors and healthcare providers.

Before being named CMO, Dr. Mallamaci was assistant chief medical officer and director of pediatrics at North Hudson Community Action Corporation Health Center. At the Center, she was Physician Champion and Team Leader for the Asthma Collaborative, a pediatric director of Reach Out and Read, and was responsible for hospital coverage for seven sites. She also performed clinical duties and provided care for patients from birth to 17 years of age.

Dr. Mallamaci received her B.A. from NYU in 1983 and her MD from Mount Sinai School of Medicine, N.Y., in 1987. She completed a residency in pediatrics and a fellowship in pulmonary at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, N.Y.

She has been the recipient of the PREP Education Award from the American Academy of Pediatrics consecutively each year from 1993 through 1999. She also received the Lester R. Tuchman Award from Mount Sinai School of Medicine for demonstrating compassion and skill in clinical medicine.

Dr. Mallamaci, a native Spanish speaker whose parents were born in Cuba, is the first generation of her family to be born in the United States. She holds medical licenses in both New Jersey and New York, is a diplomat of the National Board of Examiners, and is board certified in pediatrics from the American Board of Pediatrics.

Dr. Theresa Berger says, “Dr. Mallamaci comes to OHI with extensive experience in FQHC (Federally Qualified Healthcare Center) medicine. We look forward to working with her to bring OHI to the next level of clinical services.”

About Ocean Health Initiatives
OHI, a federally qualified health center (FQHC), with locations at 101 Second Street, Lakewood and 301 Lakehurst Road, Toms River, provides comprehensive preventative and primary care, including pediatrics, maternal and child health, prenatal, WIC, universal immunizations, and dental health to the area's uninsured, underinsured, and undocumented residents on a sliding-fee scale, based on an individual's or family's ability to pay. OHI has a bilingual staff available to assist patients and callers. To become a patient of OHI, call a representative in the Call Center at either 732-552-0377, Toms River, or 732-363-6655, Lakewood. Visit www.ohinj.org. for further information. ###

Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

Managing in a Multi-Generational Workplace - February JSAHR Meeting

2008-01-19T16:25:00.000-05:00

The one-size-fits-all mentality in managing employees can no longer apply as four, and soon to be five, generations take their place in the workforce, each with their wants and needs, communication styles, attire preferences, family-work balances, authority issues, and collaboration skills, among others. Drs. Don Swanson and Alan Fazzari will guide attendees through the eyes of each generation—the traditionalists, boomers, X generation, and millennials at the JSAHR (Jersey Shore Association for Human Resources) meeting, Thursday, February 14, 2008, 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. at Jumping Brook Country Club, 210 Jumping Brook Road, Neptune, N.J.

Dr. Alan Fazzari, the runner up for SHRM’s Human Capital Business Leader of the Year award for his work leading a Six Sigma Quality initiative, has held positions in human resources for more than 26 years. He received his doctorate from Rutgers, his MBA from Fairleigh Dickinson University, and an MA from Montclair State University.

Dr. Don R. Swanson, a professor of communication and chairman of the department of communication at Monmouth University, has designed and conducted training programs and worked as an executive coach, mediator, and consultant for the past 30 years. He has also served as the director of communication for U.S. congressional campaigns and coach to attorney and witnesses as a member of the American Society of Trial Consultants.

The registration fee and a full buffet breakfast is $25.00 for JSAHR members; $35.00 for nonmembers; $15.00 for those in transition; and an additional $5.00 for walk-ins. To register, call Kathi Evans, JSAHR administrator, at 732-244-8892 or e-mail jsahradmin@atbcelebrations.com. JSAHR is a Superior Merit Award Chapter of SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management).

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Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

Men’s Expo 2008 and Poker Tournament

2008-01-19T16:22:00.000-05:00

The Men’s Expo 2008 and Texas Hold’em Tournament, a free WRAT 95.9 event focusing on New Jersey men, will help both men and women keep those New Year’s resolutions—and make a few new ones—as they visit exhibits featuring the latest in health, automotive, electronics, sports, finance, fashion, and new product launches on Saturday, January 26, 2008, 1:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the Asbury Park Convention Hall, on the Asbury Park boardwalk, Ocean Avenue between Fifth and Sunset.

Specials events include several interactive challenges, a Texas Hold’em Poker Tournament, appearances of local and national celebrities, and an opportunity to challenge Jennifer Barretta, the top-ranked women’s pool player, to a game of nine-ball. A Rock, Paper, Scissors contest and a Guitar Hero competition are set to take place on the main stage.

Contestants for the Texas Hold 'em Tournament can sign up online at www.wrat.com. Eighty players will be chosen at random to compete for prizes and the all important “Men's Expo Texas Hold 'em Bracelet.”
For further information, call Doug Sjonvall or Carl Craft at 732-681-3800; or visit www.wrat.com.

WRAT-FM and WJRZ-FM are radio stations of Greater Media, Inc. Greater Media, Inc. is the parent company of twenty AM and FM radio stations in the Boston, Detroit, New Jersey, and Philadelphia markets. It also owns a modern printing plant and a group of weekly papers in central New Jersey, as well as several telecommunications towers, located throughout the United States.

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Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

Tay Walker-Valery New Head of Family Planning Center of Ocean County

2007-12-06T14:29:00.000-05:00

Tay Walker-Valery, Berlin, N.J., was recently named president and CEO of the Family Planning Center of Ocean County, Lakewood, N.J. She is taking the place of Linda Griffith, who retired after 36 years. In her position, Walker-Valery will be responsible for program and staff development, clinical oversight, public relations, community outreach, and education along with the organizational and financial planning for the Family Planning Center.

Walker-Valery says, “The Family Planning Center is committed to improving access to care and health outcomes for women in Ocean County.”

Previously Walker-Valery was site director for a primary care agency in Ocean County, for which she served as clinical administrator and supervised the daily activities of thirty-five employees across four disciplines. Under her leadership, the Family Planning Center is looking to strengthen collaboration with community agencies, obtain grants, and improve the health of uninsured and underinsured women in Ocean County.

Walker-Valery, a graduate of the Career Learning Experience Center, Philadelphia, earned a B.S. in Public Health from Temple University, Philadelphia, and a Masters in Public Health from St. Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, with a concentration in maternal and child health issues for both degrees. She is presently working on her Ph.D. in Public Health at Seton Hall University, South Orange, N.J. In addition, she is a certified domestic violence counselor and a certified rape crisis counselor.

She is a member of the American Public Health Association, National Society for Public Health Education, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and New Jersey Public Health Association.

In bringing her experience and commitment to the Family Planning Center, Walker-Valery is aiming to strengthen collaborative efforts with other community agencies in an effort to provide programs that will improve healthcare outcomes for women in Ocean County.

Walker-Valery says, “Women's health care is my passion. My vision for the agency is to continue to build on the legacy that Linda Griffith, who was a pioneer in the family planning arena, passed to me. The Family Planning Center of Ocean County will continue to provide quality, affordable health care, and educational services for women in Ocean County.” ###

Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

More Than a Ton of Halloween Candy Collected in Halloween Candy Contest - Winners Announced

2007-12-06T14:17:00.000-05:00

Dr. Ron Rotem and his dental team have announced the winners of this year’s “Halloween Candy Buy Back Contest.” Enthusiastic contestants brought a total of 2700 pounds of candy to Dr. Rotem’s offices at 355 Lakehurst Road, Toms River. Last year, the contest netted more than 300 pounds. Dr. Rotem, who sponsors this event annually, will be shipping the candy to our troops overseas through International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 400, Wall Township.

As an incentive to give up their Halloween candy, Dr. Rotem paid the children $1.00 a pound up to 10 lbs. per family. The prizes include a $50.00 gift card for a child who brought in the most candy by weight; and $400.00 for a public or private school teacher to spend for his or her class. The contest ended Wednesday, November 14.

“I have a couple of things in mind by buying back Halloween candy,” says Dr. Rotem. “Obviously, the less candy kids eat, the better it is for them and their teeth. I am also hoping to instill a sense of civic duty and community involvement. Sending the candy to our troops makes someone else’s life a little sweeter, too, at the same time.”

Because the contest generated so much excitement this year, Dr. Rotem and his dental team are giving a two $50.00 gift cards instead of one; $400.00 to the winning teacher, and another additional prize of $100.00 to the teacher who was a runner up in the contest. “I wanted to reward them for their tremendous effort,” says Dr. Rotem.

The winners are Kathleen Gaspich, a First Grade teacher at St. Dominic Elementary School, Brick, who collected 837 pounds of Halloween candy to win the $400.00 prize for her class. Karen Tramontano, a Fifth grade teacher at Berkeley Township Elementary School, Bayville, collected 525 pounds to earn $100.00 for her class.

A $50.00 gift card went to Brett Deane, age nine, Manasquan, and Evan Manto, age six, Toms River, who each brought in more than 150 pounds of Halloween candy.

For further information, call Dr. Rotem’s office at 732-341-8500.

Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

SAMR Names Brianne Douglas a Regional Director

2007-12-06T14:13:00.000-05:00

New Pajamas Needed for Children in OHI

2007-12-06T14:05:00.000-05:00

Some children are so in need, they don’t own a pair of pajamas. They sleep in their clothes or in their underwear. This fact became nationally known when Genevieve Piturro appeared on “The Oprah Show” five years ago to explain her experience giving new PJs to children in shelters.*

Robin Aniboli, a social worker for Ocean Health Initiatives (OHI), knows first hand how true the pajama story is. “We serve a population in Lakewood and Toms River who are in great need. People don’t realize how disadvantaged our patients are.”

Aniboli is asking the public to donate brand new pajamas for about a thousand Ocean County underprivileged children who are OHI patients. “We serve about 500 children per week between the two sites.” says Aniboli.

Lisa Ruggiero, volunteer coordinator of the “Pajama Program,” recently donated 50 pairs of PJs to OHI that she collected through the efforts of the Yoga and U Foundation, Pt. Pleasant Beach. “They are a huge blessing for us,” says Aniboli.

Organizations and individuals who wish to donate NEW pajamas, toys, or money, are asked to please wrap their gifts and label them with the gender, age, and size. Aniboli would be glad to arrange to pick up donations; or bring donations to 301 Lakehurst Road, Toms River. Call Aniboli at 732-552-0377 Ext. 8247 for more information.

*As she worked at different shelters, Genevieve (Piturro) started to notice that none of the children owned pajamas. They would go to sleep in their regular clothes. After that, Genevieve knew that one shopping bag of pajamas (she had brought with her that day) wouldn't cut it. She told everyone she knew about her mission, and she gathered as many pj's as she could.

The next time she visited the shelter, Genevieve had a shopping bag full of pjs—a pair for each child. "[A] girl came in, and she must have been 6 or 7, and she looks and she says to me quietly, 'What are these?'" Genevieve says. "I said, 'They're pajamas. You wear them to sleep. What do you wear at night?' And she said, 'My pants.'"

While Genevieve has collected tens of thousands of pajamas, she says it's never enough. There are hundreds of thousands of children in need. --an excerpt from The Oprah Winfrey Show Web site

About Ocean Health Initiatives
OHI, a federally qualified health center (FQHC), with locations at 101 Second Street, Lakewood and 301 Lakehurst Road, Toms River, provides comprehensive preventative and primary care, including pediatrics, maternal and child health, prenatal, WIC, universal immunizations, and dental health to the area's uninsured, underinsured, and undocumented residents on a sliding-fee scale, based on an individual's or family's ability to pay. OHI has a bilingual staff available to assist patients and callers. To become a patient of OHI, call a representative in the Call Center at either 732-552-0377, Toms River, or 732-363-6655, Lakewood. Visit www.ohinj.org. for further information.

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Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

Olympic Airport Shuttle Offers the Military a Free Ride

2007-12-06T14:03:00.000-05:00

As their holiday gift to men and women who are serving in the military, Olympic Airport Shuttle, Farmingdale, is offering free transportation to and from Newark or JFK airports for two weeks during the holiday. If you are wearing a military uniform, Olympic Airport Shuttle will transport you, free of charge, from any of its departure locations in Ocean, Monmouth, Middlesex, or Mercer counties both to or from Newark or JFK airports, starting Thursday, December 20 through Wednesday, January 2, 2008.

Jim McDonald, director of marketing says, “We are offering free transportation in honor of what these brave men and women are doing for our country.”
For further information, contact Olympic reservations at 1-800-822-9797.

Posted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

Nonprofit Assistance Center (NAC) Hosts First Conference at Brookdale Community College

2007-10-21T11:03:00.000-04:00

“Win/Win: Building Capacity through Collaboration,” the first Annual Fall Conference of the brand new Nonprofit Assistance Center (NAC), generously supported by Jersey Central Power & Light, will take place October 26, 2007, at the Warner Student Life Center, Brookdale Community College, Lincroft, 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The conference is open to those in the nonprofit community who are interested in how to use collaboration and strategic partnerships to expand resources, benefit clients, and attract funding.

The cost is $25.00 and includes both a continental breakfast and lunch; additional attendees from the same organization, only $5.00 each. To register, call 732-378-5151; or register online at www.monac.org/ event_registration.html.

The first presentation, the “Nonprofit-Corporate Connection,” will examine a collaboration to develop a business continuity plan for the Jersey Shore Council of Boy Scouts, utilizing the expertise of Jersey Central Power & Light and New Jersey Natural Gas.

The second feature presentation, the “Nonprofit-to-Nonprofit Connection,” studies a partnership to identify and meet basic healthcare needs for at-risk populations in which the organizations 180, Turning Lives Around; and the Visiting Nurses Association of Central Jersey used their collaboration to build on their inherent strengths.

Backgrounder: Conference
The purpose of the conference is to bring together the nonprofit community to encourage them to develop strategic partnerships and collaborations. For example, the Jersey Shore Council Boy Scouts, one of the feature presentations, will explain how the information they learned through partnering with corporations will benefit others, not only locally but nationally.
Ben Waldron, executive director of the Monmouth Ocean Development Council (MODC) says, “Through the Nonprofit Committee of MODC, the Jersey Shore Council Boy Scouts met with a couple of our corporate partners to develop a business-continuity and disaster-recovery plan for their council. As a result of that partnership, they have decided to send their plan to the National Boy Scouts and allow other councils to use it as a template.

“In addition to this conference, the NAC will be organizing other educational forums and programs throughout the year,” added Waldron. The fall conference was planned by members of the NAC steering committee representing Brookdale Community College, MODC, and the United Way of Monmouth County.

Backgrounder: NAC
The Nonprofit Assistance Center (NAC) for Monmouth and Ocean counties developed from discussions among representatives of MODC and its Nonprofit Committee, Brookdale Community College, and the United Way of Monmouth County. The three founding organizations agreed that nonprofits, who always work to help others, could help even more people if they, themselves, knew what resources were available for THEM.

The NAC launched its activities with programs last fall and an inaugural event in the spring. Now the NAC is presenting “Win/Win: Building Capacity through Collaboration,” the first Annual Fall Conference. Its mission is clear: to strengthen the capacity of the nonprofit sector in Monmouth and Ocean counties by encouraging collaboration and coordination of resources through training, resource referrals, consulting, and supportive services. Visit the Web site at www.monac.org

The steering committee of NAC, made up of MODC, the United Way, and Brookdale is a prime example of how collaboration can benefit everyone. Ben Waldron, executive director of MODC, says, “When we originally met, we were brain storming the idea of having a local facility where nonprofits could come together to draw on resources, get referrals for professionals, such as attorneys, accountants, that type of thing, so we could put on educational programs, such as this conference. Since Brookdale Community College offers certificate programs for nonprofit management, it was the logical place to have the Nonprofit Assistance Center.”

The NAC was funded in early 2007 through a $20,000.00 grant from First Energy Foundation. Part of the grant has made it possible to hold the October 26 NAC conference, and to give at least eight full scholarships to nonprofit professionals to earn a certificate in Nonprofit Management at Brookdale. Additional funding will be used to develop future programs and the Web site, and to possibly provide consulting services to selected nonprofits.

The NAC is geared toward the small to medium sized nonprofits. Waldron says, “Large nonprofits, like the Red Crosses of the world, receive assistance and support from their national infrastructure, but the local organizations are in need of a lot of resources that they don’t typically have access to because of financial restraints or human resource restraints. Our hope is to help those types nonprofits, who, in turn, help so many others.”

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Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

Buy a Business or a Franchise -- SCORE Offers Free How-to Workshop

2007-10-21T10:58:00.001-04:00

What does it take to buy a business or a franchise? How do you know which franchises are good or businesses are profitable? What should the savvy buyer avoid? How much should you pay for a business? How can you finance the purchase? What is a fair buy/sell agreement?

Those questions and a lot more will be answered by Joseph Wasilewski, a CPA who specializes in small business acquisitions and divestitures, and Justin M. Klein, a partner in the Red Bank law firm of Marks & Klein, at a FREE workshop, “Buying a Business or a Franchise,” sponsored by SCORE Chapter 36 of Monmouth County Tuesday, November 27, 2007, at the Middletown Library, 55 New Monmouth Road, Middletown, New Jersey, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Wasilewski, served as Chief Financial Officer for several corporations before owning and operating his own CPA firm in 1989. He will offer insights into the legal and financial steps of buying a business or a franchise, including the formal business plan, start up costs, and the not always obvious pit falls.
Klein focuses his practice in the areas of franchise law, commercial litigation, and general business law. Klein was honored as a 2007 Franchise Times Legal Eagle for being one of the top franchise attorneys in North America.

For further information contact SCORE at www.score36.org, or the Middletown Library at 732 671-3700 Ext. 320, or leave a message at the SCORE office on the Brookdale Community College campus at 732-219-9119. SCORE Chapter 36 is an affiliate of the Small Business Administration.

### Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

2007 JSAHR Annual Employment Law Seminar

2007-10-21T10:53:00.000-04:00

The Jersey Shore Association for Human Resources (JSAHR) is sponsoring the 2007 Employment Law Seminar, Thursday, November 15, 2007, 8:00 a.m. to noon at Jumping Brook Country Club, 210 Jumping Brook Road, Neptune, N.J. The registration fee for the seminar and a full buffet breakfast is $60.00 for JSAHR members, $90.00 for nonmembers, and $50.00 for those in (job) transition. The registration deadline is Friday, November 9. Call Kathi Evans, JSAHR administrator, at 732-244-8892 or e-mail jsahradmin@atbcelebrations.com to register. Approval for three credit hours towards PHR and SPHR recertification is pending.

Topics will include Labor Relations – Organizing Drives/Union Avoidance; Legal Topics Related to Technology Electronic Information; Vulnerability Assessment; Immigration and Documentation; and FLSA. Participants will have an opportunity for questions and answers at the end of the seminar.

Richard Cino, Robert Seiger, and David Islinger, partners in the law firm of Jackson Lewis LLP, are the presenters. With 27 offices nationally, Jackson Lewis is among the largest firms in the country dedicated to representing management in labor, employment and benefits law, and related litigation. Jackson Lewis represents employers before state and federal courts on issues such as discrimination, wrongful discharge, retaliation, whistleblower, health, safety, wage/hour, pension and benefits.

### Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

Halloween Candy Buy Back Contest - Will Benefit Children and Schools, and Treat Troops

2007-10-21T10:49:00.000-04:00

You’ve been waiting all year to trick-or-treat for Halloween candy. You dump it out on the table, eyeing each piece, your mouth watering as you spot your favorites. Would you be willing to give up any of your precious loot? What if someone paid you for that candy?

From November 1 through November 14, children and teachers have an opportunity to earn some money for the candy they collected on Halloween in the “Halloween Candy Buy Back Contest,” sponsored by Dr. Ron Rotem, a dentist at 355 Lakehurst Road, Toms River.

Dr. Rotem will give children $1.00 a pound up to 10 lbs. per family for candy they have collected, starting Wednesday, November 1 between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. at his offices in Toms River. Please note: Dr. Rotem’s offices will be closed Wednesday, November 7 and Thursday, November 8. The child who brings in the most candy, by weight, will also win a $50.00 gift card. A teacher from either a public or private school who collects the most Halloween candy, by weight, and brings it to Dr. Rotem’s offices will win $400.00 to spend for his or her class. The contest will end Thursday, November 14 at 4:00 p.m.

All the collected candy will be sent to the troops in the Mideast with the help of Patrick O’Keefe, a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 400, 3301 Hwy 138 East, Wall Township; the Monmouth and Ocean County Central Labor Council; and the Monmouth and Ocean County Building Trades. O’Keefe, who served in Bahrain, says, “We are always looking for care packages of food, games, and staples to send to our troops. I know personally how important it is to receive these packages.” Since last February 2003, the IBEW has collected and shipped more than 50,000 lbs. of goods overseas.

Dr. Rotem says, “Last year we collected more than 385 lbs. of candy, which was sent to our troops through the efforts of IBEW. Because some teachers donated candy but didn’t want to take any money for it, I thought it would be nice to include teachers in this year’s contest. Of course, my objective is to get children to eat less candy. I am hoping that buying back Halloween candy will be an incentive for them and make someone else’s life a little sweeter at the same time.”

For further information, call Dr. Rotem’s office at 732-341-8500.

### Submitted by Fran Kirschenr, Frantasy Enterprises

“Selling and Texas Hold ‘Em” with Andy Gole - October Meeting of Young Professionals

2007-10-21T10:46:00.000-04:00

Young Professionals, a support group for business professionals and college graduates in Ocean, Monmouth, and Middlesex counties, N.J., will hold its monthly meeting at Charlie Brown’s Steakhouse, 400 Highway 70, Lakewood, Wednesday, October 24, 2007, from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. Andy Gole, a former adjunct professor at Farleigh Dickinson University, will teach “Selling and Texas Hold ‘Em,” a method he developed based on 25 years of selling experience called Urgency Based Selling. With his sales management programs, he has turned businesses into “selling machines,” increasing their sales by more than 25 percent. The cost is $15.00 for those who preregister and $20.00 at the door. Enjoy hors d’oeuvres and networking opportunities. To register, call Jennifer Allegra at 646-391-3737 or jennifer@allegrarealestate.com. No shows will be billed.
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Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

What Buyers Want: Top Home Preferences

2007-08-20T11:40:00.000-04:00

More home buyers want extra garage space with two or more spaces in their homes, according to the “2007 Profile of Buyers’ Home Feature Preferences,” which was released Tuesday by the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.

The number of buyers expressing a desire for oversized garages grew 16 percentage points since NAR's last survey of buyer preferences in 2004. About 57 percent of home buyers surveyed now say they want an oversized garage. What's more, among buyers who purchased homes without big garages, 56 percent said they would have paid more for an oversized garage, compared to only 6 percent in the 2004 survey.

NAR's latest home buyer preference survey, which reports responses from buyers who purchased homes in 2006, asks buyers about the importance of 75 home features and room types.

What They're Shopping For

Other priorities for today’s home buyers include:

Air conditioning: three out of every four respondents surveyed ranked this as “very important.”
Master bedroom walk-in closet: 53 percent of buyers rated this as an important feature in a home.
Hardwood floors and granite countertops: each gained 7 percentage points in popularity since the 2004 survey; 28 percent and 23 percent, respectively, of buyers labeled these home features as very important.
Cable/satellite TV-ready: 46 percent, a growth of 6 percentage points from the 2004 survey, said this was important.
Energy efficiency: especially among new-home buyers — 65 percent of new-home buyers said energy efficiency home features are very important compared to 39 percent for buyers of existing homes.

Buyers also said they're willing to pay more for these extras. For example, 65 percent of buyers said they would be willing to pay a median $1,880 extra for a home with central air conditioning. One out of four buyers also was willing to pay a median of $4,760 more for waterfront property.

Regional Preferences

What home buyers want in the South, however, is not always what buyers in the West want. The survey identified some of the following regional preferences in home features:

Home buyers in the South and Midwest viewed central air conditioning as a priority, with 91 percent and 81 percent, respectively, saying this feature was very important.
Sixty-six percent of buyers in the South thought a walk-in closet in the master bedroom was very important, while 61 percent of Midwesterners valued an oversized garage.
In the Northeast, the highest percentage of buyers placed a premium on a backyard or play area (53 percent), followed by central air conditioning at 41 percent.
Two-thirds of buyers in the West want oversize garages (66 percent), followed by central air conditioning at 59 percent.

Fixing up the Nest

According to the survey, nearly six out of 10 recent home buyers took on remodeling or home improvement projects within three months of their purchase. Close to half of home buyers who remodeled or made improvements updated their kitchen, and nearly half remodeled or improved their bathroom.

New-home owners spent a median of $4,350 on home improvement or remodeling projects undertaken within three months of purchase.

“The fact that a majority of home buyers quickly remodel key areas of their homes ties into the fact that their home is a good, long-term investment,” says Paul Bishop, NAR manager of real estate research. “Regardless of market conditions in the short term, when purchased for the long term, housing is one of the safest investments consumers can make.”

Indeed, more than half of home buyers said they believe their home has high investment potential, and another four out of 10 say it has moderate investment potential. Only 3 percent felt their home’s investment potential was low.

Generational Differences

Age was the biggest differentiation in what buyers were looking for in a home. Buyers 75 years old and older wanted a single-level home (74 percent) that was less than 10 years old (43 percent) with a walk-in closet in the master bedroom (74 percent).

On the other hand, most buyers between the ages of 25-34 wanted a backyard or play area (60 percent).

More than half of buyers over 65 wanted a separate shower enclosure in the master bathroom, compared to only one-fourth of buyers ages 25-34.

Also, older buyers placed a higher priority on energy efficiency home features than did younger buyers — 63 percent of buyers 75 and older said it was very important, but only 32 percent of buyers who were 18-24 agreed.

Home Growth

Overall, the survey also revealed that while homes are getting bigger, the number of bedrooms is shrinking. From 2004 to 2006, the size of the typical home purchased increased by about 100 square feet to 1,840 square feet, while the median number of bedrooms dropped from four to three during that same period.

The median age of the home reported in the current survey is 12 years, down from 15 years in 2004.

Real estate practitioners see hundreds, if not thousands, of houses with their buyer clients every year and know exactly what buyers are looking for in a home, says NAR President Pat V. Combs. “This insight is one more way REALTORS® add value to the real estate transaction,” Combs says.

Reprinted from REALTOR® Magazine Online (http://www.realtor.org/realtormag), August 7, 2007
with permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. Copyright 2007. All rights reserved.

RE/MAX Paradigm Realty Group
Jennifer Allegra- Realtor Associate, E-PRO
Resort and Second Home Property Specialist
Luxury Home Marketing Specialist
Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR®)
Graduate of the Realtor Institute
Office: 732-212-9900 ext 321* Direct: 646-391-3737* Fax: 732-212-9666
Mailto:Jennifer@AllegraRealEstate.com
http://www.ResortandSecondHomeSpecialist.com

Turning IT Liabilities into Assets with SAMR

2007-08-02T17:08:00.000-04:00

SAMR (Supreme Asset Management & Recovery) 1950 Rutgers University Boulevard, Lakewood, N.J., will be celebrating the opening of its 100,000 square foot building with a ribbon cutting ceremony, Thursday, September 27, 2007, from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Your company just bought brand new computers. Now, what do you do with the OLD computers? You could dump everything—but what about the hard drives and the information about your company that are on those hard drives? In today’s technological world, you know reformatting hard drives DOES NOT wipe them clean. What about identity theft and privacy risks? How can you be sure that the security of your company will not be compromised? What was once an asset is now quickly becoming a liability—SAMR (Supreme Asset Management & Recovery), Lakewood, N.J., has the solutions to these IT problems.

Using the latest and most secure information technology, SAMR will ensure the proper management of your end-of-life computers, as well as all other IT and electronic assets. Data security begins with the use of SAMR’s fleet of trucks, equipped with electronic access control locks and GPS. The safety and security of your company’s data continues with RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) that tracks the physical location and progress of your assets from the start to the finish at SAMR.

SAMR provides either military grade data erasure for functioning hard drives or shredding of non-functioning hard drives. Your company will receive comprehensive reporting and even the ability to audit or view the processing and handling of material at SAMR’s new 100,000 square foot facility in the Lakewood Industrial Park. In every instance, you can relax knowing that SAMR’s computer and electronic recycling process is environmentally responsible, meets all state and federal regulations for disposing toxic and hazardous e-waste, and has a documented zero landfill policy.

See all this first hand at the SAMR ribbon cutting ceremony, Thursday, September 27, 2007, from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., 1950 Rutgers University Boulevard, Lakewood, N.J. SAMR will also be holding an open house Friday, September 28, noon to 4:00 p.m.
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Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

Lakewood Chamber Names Cavanaugh Business Person of the Month

2007-08-02T17:03:00.000-04:00

Tracy Cavanaugh, Neptune, a partner in America’s First Funding Group, Neptune, was named Business Person of the Month, by the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce for organizing a Chamber membership drive at FirstEnergy Park and her dedication to Young Professionals. Cavanaugh, a certified mortgage planner, graduated from Middletown Township High School South and earned a B.A. degree cum laude in English from Kean University, Union, N.J., in 1993.

Cavanaugh, who has earned the designations of both Certified Mortgage Planning Specialist (CMPS) and Certified Mortgage Planner (CMP), holds a New Jersey Mortgage Banking License for both first and second mortgages. She is a member of the Financial Planning Association and Certified Mortgage Planning Specialist Institute. Cavanaugh has served on the board of the local chapter of Habitat for Humanity and the Monmouth University Scholarship Ball. She is a member of the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce and a director of both the Lakewood Chamber and Young Professionals as well as the Strand Theatre, Lakewood. Cavanaugh is an author, speaker, and co-host of "The Plan," an educational podcast about mortgages, and the preparation of financial and estate planning.
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Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

CareOne Hosts Race for the Cure Cancer Drive Kickoff

2007-08-02T16:40:00.000-04:00

The public is invited to CareOne at Jackson for a Race for the Cure cancer drive kickoff party on August 13, 2007 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Monica Smith, the development and events coordinator for the Central and South Jersey Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Foundation, will give a talk about early breast cancer detection and what the Komen Foundation does locally and nationally. Refreshments will be served.

Michelle Castanzo, marketing director of CareOne at Jackson and a team leader for Race for the Cure, is hoping the community will participate in the actual event, both a walk and a run, which draws about 20,000 participants and spectators annually. This year’s Race for the Cure will take place at Six Flags Great Adventure, October 13, 2007. For further information about the kickoff party, contact CareOne at Jackson, a nursing and rehabilitation center located at 11 History Lane, Jackson, N.J., at 732-367-6600.

About CareOne at Jackson
CareOne at Jackson, a 62-bed sub-acute unit, with both semi-private and private room accommodations, provides educational seminars and such services as wound care, TPN (Total Parental Nutrition), IV ABT, G-Tubes, tracheotomy care, respite care, and a specialized CHF program, among others. CareOne is a family-owned and operated New Jersey-based senior care company that has operated senior care facilities for more than 35 years.

Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

Gellman Credits SCORE Chapter 36 for Giving Him a Good Start in Business

2007-08-02T16:33:00.000-04:00

Receives Award from Western Monmouth Chamber of Commerce

Most people who plan to start a business usually don’t have the money it takes to get the good advice they so desperately need. SCORE Chapter 36 of Monmouth County, a nonprofit organization made up of business executives and experts in their fields, will help any aspiring entrepreneur FREE of any charge.

When Gary Gellman, Plumsted, N.J., president of Gellman Images, was recently honored with The Small Business Award from the Western Monmouth Chamber of Commerce at the annual Circle of Excellence awards dinner, he gave tribute to Al Peskoe and SCORE Chapter 36 for helping him get a good start in the business he has today.
Gellman had no business experience or business training at the time he was planning to start Gellman Images, a photography and media production company, Adelphia, N.J. He found out about SCORE in the newspaper. “Before I even started in business, I signed up to meet with Al Peskoe, a SCORE counselor, at the Manalapan Branch of the Monmouth County Library, for advice. We met regularly over the next two months. He gave me advice on the things I needed to do and connected me with people who would assist me.”

Gellman found the business counseling and advice he received from Peskoe and SCORE invaluable. “SCORE gives young businesses and entrepreneurs an opportunity to grow and learn from true leaders in business. They take the new entrepreneur and mold him or her into a serious business owner. They answer all the questions in a very professional manner and understand the needs of a young, small business owner.”
Gellman grew up in Howell, N.J., and was graduated from Freehold Township High School in 1985. He began his video production career at the age of 16, working at a public access television cable station in Monmouth County. From 1985 to 1989, Gellman produced programming for Cable Television of New Jersey, worked in the programming department of New Jersey Network, and the newsroom at WWOR-TV. Six months after receiving a B.A. in communications and journalism from The College of New Jersey in 1989, Gellman opened his studio but not before meeting with Al Peskoe and SCORE.

Now, 18 years later, Gellman, age 39, has received awards for his business acumen, commitment to professional excellence, and his dedication to his community. In 2005, he received the NJBIZ “Forty Under Forty” Award, given to 40 men and women who have demonstrated leadership and have taken leading decision-making roles at an earlier than usual stage in their lives. In 2007, he received The Small Business Award and joined the Circle of Excellence of the Western Monmouth Chamber of Commerce for making positive impact on the community.

This month Gellman received a national award from Brides.com who announced that “Engagement on Ice,” a Gellman Images’ production, has won the annual national video competition. The wedding engagement video, written and produced by Gary Gellman and edited by Michael Schiumo, features Nick Frayler, who had asked his girlfriend Sandy Ramos to marry him in front of thousands of people on the ice rink at Rockefeller Plaza, New York City, during the Christmas season. The competition was highlighted on CBS’s Entertainment Tonight.

Gellman says, “I will always be appreciative of the help that I received from SCORE. I urge entrepreneurs and business owners who want to grow to take advantage of SCORE’s counseling and their workshops. Everything is free and draws on the experience of professionals who have expertise in many fields.”
Gellman Images has covered events for Fortune 500 companies, professional sports figures, former governors and presidents. His production "A Presidential Visit to Our Hometown" was included in the United States Senate Gallery in Washington, DC. “Let’s Talk with Gary Gellman,” a public information television program, created by Gellman in 2004 is now shown in 150 towns and can be heard on seven radio stations in the tristate area. His most recent “Let’s Talk” guests include Thomas Kinkade, portrait artist; Gerry Cooney, professional boxer; former N.J. First Lady Mary Jo Cody, and Eli Manning, N.Y. Giants quarterback.

Gellman is a member of the Professional Photographers Association of New Jersey; the Western Monmouth, Lakewood and Howell chambers of commerce; CRA (Corporate Resource Alliance); and JSPRAA (Jersey Shore Public Relations and Advertising Association). He won the Business Achievement Award from JSPRAA and first place in a competition sponsored by Central Jersey Videographers Association. ###

About SCORE Chapter 36
SCORE Chapter 36 of Monmouth County, a national nonprofit organization and a resource partner with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), is located on the campus of Brookdale Community College, Lincroft, New Jersey. To help entrepreneurs and small business owners, more than 40 chapter members provide such services as confidential, one-to-one guidance and information free of charge on a full range of business topics. Business people, who would like to volunteer their time and expertise to help start new businesses or help existing businesses grow, are always welcome. Visit www.score36.org for more information.

Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

Casino Night to Honor Ocean County Hunger Relief Program

2007-08-02T16:27:00.000-04:00

All Proceeds to Benefit Charities

In conjunction with the annual summer campaign to raise money for hunger relief, Dr. Ron Rotem, a Toms River dentist, will be honoring Ocean County Hunger Relief (OCHR) at the casino party he is hosting Thursday evening, August 16, 2007, from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. at the Quality Inn, Toms River. Tickets cost $50.00 a person in advance and $75.00 per person if purchased at the door. In exchange for each ticket, players will receive playing chips valued at $250.00. To purchase the tickets in advance or to sponsor a table, call Dr. Rotem's office at 732-341-8500; or call Carol Latif, executive director of OCHR at 732-505-4357. All proceeds will benefit both Ocean of Love and Ocean County Hunger Relief.

The Quality Inn is serving complimentary hors d'oeuvres and non-alcoholic beverages as their donation to both charities. There will be a cash bar, prizes, and raffles throughout the evening. The radio station WKMK, 98.5 FM of Press Communications, is donating promotional air time, radio personalities for the casino night, music, and prizes.

Ocean County Hunger Relief is a nonprofit organization in Toms River that feeds families. OCHR maintains 31 food pantries throughout Ocean County and has more than 300 volunteers, who help provide four-day emergency packages of nutritional food.
Latif, the executive director of OCHR, says, “We feed over 3,000 people each month and 50% of them are children. We rely on people like Dr. Rotem and community organizations to help us.”

Come out for an exciting night of entertainment and fun playing such casino games as black jack, roulette, slots, craps, Texas Hold ‘Em and more, while you help raise money to feed children and help those families whose children have cancer.

Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

Young Professionals Celebrate First Anniversary

2007-08-02T16:24:00.000-04:00

Young Professionals are celebrating their first year as a new committee of the Lakewood Chamber with a barbeque and a Lakewood BlueClaws baseball game at FirstEnergy Park, Lakewood, August 29, 2007, beginning at 6:00 p.m. The cost of admission to the game, the outdoor barbeque, networking, and a cash bar is $35.00 per person. Young professionals throughout New Jersey, family, and friends are invited to attend. For more information contact Michelle at CareOne Jackson at 201-421-9148 or send payment directly to Young Professionals, c/o Lynn Paslowski CPA, 326 Mulberry Place, Brick, N.J. 08723. Tickets must be purchased in advance.

Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

Men Serve Their Favorite Dishes at Food Tasting Festival

2007-05-05T22:42:00.000-04:00

“I Love to Cook; That’s My Passion,” Emeril Lagasse

Fifty men of distinction will serve samples of their favorite recipes at the 15th Annual “Look Who’s Cooking” benefit and food tasting festival, Friday, June 8, 2007, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Christ Episcopal Church, Washington Street, Toms River. This event, hosted by the Family Planning Center of Ocean County, will benefit uninsured and underinsured women.
Tickets, available at the door, cost $50.00 a person and include complimentary wine and beer, and a booklet featuring the chefs’ recipes and ads. For event information and advanced tickets sales, call Gale Yetman at 732-929-0049. For ad information call Penny Rone at 609-242-6927.

The amateur chefs are in professions that range from lawyers, accountants, and doctors to CEOs and CFOs, bank presidents, and radio personalities. These men of distinction come from Ocean, Monmouth, Mercer, and Middlesex counties to contribute to women’s health by sharing their love of cooking.

For more than 30 years, the Family Planning Center of Ocean County has been providing medical, educational, and informational services to the community. Thousand of women have received medical services, while others have received educational services through programs given at social service and health agencies, community groups, and schools throughout the county.

Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

Dr. Ronem Rotem Chosen as Finalist in NJBIZ Healthcare Hero Competiton

2007-05-05T22:36:00.000-04:00

An independent panel of judges has chosen Dr. Ronem Rotem, a dentist at The Center for Exceptional Cosmetic and Adult Dentistry, Lakehurst Road, Toms River, one of the five finalists in the Allied Healthcare Hero category in the Healthcare Hero competition sponsored by NJBIZ. All finalists will be recognized for their heroic actions in the healthcare industry at an awards program and breakfast on Monday, June 11, 2007, at the Sheraton Woodbridge, Iselin, New Jersey. At that time the winners in each category will also be announced. According to John Greenwald, publisher, “NJBIZ has created the Healthcare Heroes awards program in an effort to recognize excellence, promote innovation, and honor the efforts of organizations and individuals who a making a significant impact on the quality of healthcare in New Jersey.” Dr. Ronen Rotem, who practices adult dentistry, generously donates his time, his energy, and his money to educate children and parents, and especially helps the families of children who have cancer. Each October, Dr. Rotem (pronounced Row-tem) sends a Letter to the Editor (“The Halloween Candy Dilemma for Parents”), describing how parents can realistically manage all the candy children bring home from trick-or-treating. He describes how to safeguard their children’s teeth while letting them enjoy holiday treats. During the week that follows Halloween, Dr. Rotem holds a “Halloween Candy Buy Back Contest” to encourage children and families to bring their candy to his office where he gives them $1.00 a pound, up to 10 lbs. This year he collected 385 pounds of candy (last year, 200 lbs.). He also gave a local teacher $400.00 to spend for her class, gave a $50.00 gift card to the child who brought in the most candy, AND sent all the candy he collected to our troops overseas via the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers. Dr. Rotem says, “Because some teachers donated candy but didn’t want to take any money for it, I thought it would be nice to include teachers in this year’s contest. Of course, my objective is to get children to eat less candy. I am hoping that buying back Halloween candy will be an incentive for them and make someone else’s life a little sweeter at the same time.” For National Children’s Health Month in February, Dr. Rotem advises the public to start taking their children to the dentist by ages 2 or 3. “Let your children get used to sitting in a dental chair, even if it is in your lap,” Dr. Rotem says. “Parents should begin helping their children brush their teeth as early as possible. My own four-year-old was finally willing to brush twice a day when he got a Batman toothbrush and Hulk toothpaste.” Dr. Rotem followed this advice by talking to kindergarten children about brushing and letting them practice on an enormous set of teeth. From March to June each year, Dr. Rotem participates in the annual teeth-whitening campaign, “Smiles for Life.” During this period, he donates 100% of the money he receives to children’s charities, specifically Ocean of Love. In addition, he hosts an annual dinner cruise on the Toms River, all expenses paid by Dr. Rotem, to raise even more money for Ocean of Love through onboard Chinese auction. (Ocean of Love helps families with expenses, such a mortgage payments, gasoline, tolls, food, etc.) He has raised close to $7,000. just for this cause. Linda Gillick, director of Ocean of Love says, “He (Dr. Rotem) is just one individual trying to make a difference, and I think he is a phenomenal person. He is an asset to our community because of his talent as well as his generosity to so many.” Gary Puro, an account executive for NJBIZ says, “The number of nominations in all ten categories* was overwhelming. This is one of our most prestigious events of the year, and we will be producing and distributing to all attendees a very special supplement honoring all of the finalists. The supplement will also be included in the June 18 edition of NJBIZ, reaching our 47,500 readers statewide.” To purchase tickets or for more information, contact Cristina Palumbo, NJBIZ, at cpalumbo@njbiz.com. Dr. Rotem was graduated from NYU College of Dentistry in 1991. His practice focuses on cosmetic dentistry and conscious sedation. Dr. Rotem belongs to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. He is affiliated with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, NJ Chapter of the Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, the Dental Organization of Conscious Sedation, the International College of Cranial Mandibular Orthopedics, the American Dental Association, the New Jersey Dental Association, Monmouth/Ocean Dental Society, and the Academy of General Dentistry. Dr. Rotem is an active member of the Crown Council. He is also a member of the Jersey Shore Business Network, Toms River, and the Toms River Chapter of Toastmasters. He is president of Congregation B’nai Israel, Toms River, N.J. * The categories: Allied Healthcare Hero, Corporate Achievement Hero, Company Education Hero, Individual Education Hero, Company Innovation Hero, Individual Innovation Hero, Nurse of the Year, Physician of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, and Emergency Services Hero. Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

Red Cross Issues Warning to Take Precautions Against Ticks and Lyme Disease

2007-05-05T22:32:00.000-04:00

Before venturing out and enjoying the great outdoors, make sure you take some precautions against becoming infected with Lyme disease, a disease transmitted from the bite of an infected tick. The following are some tips that can protect you from tick bites:

a. Wear light-colored clothing. This allows you to see a tick more easily.

b. Wear a hat and long-sleeved shirt.

c. Tuck your clothes in, shirts into pants and pants into socks. Use a rubber band or tape the area where the socks and pants meet to prevent ticks from getting under clothing.

d. Use an insect repellant with DEET on exposed skin and clothes. Read the label instructions and cautions about use on young children.

e. When hiking, stay in the middle of trails, and avoid underbrush, fallen tress, and tall grass.

f. After being outdoors or if you are outdoors for a long period, perform a tick check. Shower immediately after coming indoors.

If you find a tick on your body, remove it by doing the following:
1. Using a pair of fine-tipped tweezers, grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible and pull slowly, steadily, and firmly. Avoid crushing the tick’s body.
2. Once removed, clean the area with antiseptic, such as alcohol.
3. Save the tick in a jar of alcohol or tape it to a piece of cardboard so it can be identified by your local health department.

The following are early signals of Lyme disease that may appear a few days or weeks after a tick bite:
a. Fever and chills
b. Muscle and joint aches
c. Weakness or fatigue
d. Headache
e. Swollen lymph nodes
f. Skin rash, which may have a bull’s-eye appearance

If any of these signals appear or you have bitten by a tick, consult your medical professional.

Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

Red Cross Bicycle Safety Tips

2007-05-05T22:22:00.000-04:00

As the warm weather approaches, people get more active outdoors. The Jersey Coast Chapter of the American Red Cross offers some tips on how to stay safe while biking this season. Each year, approximately 500,000 people are nonfatally injured while riding a bicycle. Close to 800 bicyclists died on U.S. roads in 2005; and 92% of them died in crashes with motor vehicles.

Always wear an approved helmet when cycling. The head or neck is the most seriously injured part of the body in most fatally injured cyclists. Children should wear a helmet even if they are still riding along the sidewalk on training wheels. Some states have helmet laws that apply to young children.

a. Many bicycle injuries can be prevented by wearing a helmet. Always wear a correctly-fitting helmet when riding. Even children using tricycles or bikes with training wheels should wear helmets. Adults should also wear helmets at all times, including when riding with children. The Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute has more information on how to fit a helmet.

b. Be sure that helmets meet standards set by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the Snell Memorial Foundation or the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). Look for a label or a sticker on the box or inside the helmet indicating that it meets the above standards.

c. Wear closed shoes when riding a bike.

d. Make sure your bike and your child's bike have good brakes, a front light and effective reflecting material.

e. Ride only in safe areas and at safe times.

f. Make sure bikes are the correct size for the rider.

g. Learn about bicycle etiquette, laws, and safe riding practices and teach your children about them.

Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

Cowan, Gunteski & Co., P.A. Named One of the Best Places to Work in New Jersey

2007-05-05T22:12:00.000-04:00

Toms River – Cowan, Gunteski & Co., P.A., one of the leading accounting and profitability consulting firms in New Jersey, is pleased to announce they were recently named as one of the Best Places to Work in New Jersey.

This survey and award program was designed to identify, recognize and honor the best places of employment in New Jersey, benefiting the state's economy, its workforce and businesses. The Best Places to Work in New Jersey program is made up of 50 companies split into two groups: 25 medium-sized companies (25-249 employees) and 25 large-sized companies (more than 250 employees). Cowan, Gunteski & Co. has been named one of the Best Places to Work in New Jersey in the medium category.

Cowan, Gunteski & Co. was recognized and honored at the Best Places to Work in New Jersey evening awards ceremony on Monday, April 16, 2007, at the Hilton East Brunswick.

About Cowan, Gunteski & Company, P.A.

As a diversified certified public accounting firm, Cowan, Gunteski & Co., P.A. is committed to being an active partner in their clients’ growth by delivering quality, value-added services. With a focus on the construction, healthcare, legal, manufacturing, professional services and real estate industries, they provide business consulting, profitability enhancement, wealth management, valuation, forensic accounting and litigation support in addition to traditional accounting and tax services.

Cowan, Gunteski & Co. is a member of CPAmerica International, one of the world’s largest networks of independent certified public accounting firms. This affiliation, along with the experience of their professionals, gives them the resources to be competitive with the “Big 4” and regional firms, and the ability to provide personalized service focused on their clients’ financial growth. Visit www.cowangunteski.com for more information.

Eileen P. Monesson, Marketing Director, Cowan, Gunteski & Co., P.A

Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

WS+B RANKS THIRD FOR 'BEST PLACES TO WORK IN NEW JERSEY'

2007-05-05T22:10:00.000-04:00

(TOMS RIVER) - WithumSmith+Brown (WS+B), Certified Public Accountants and Consultants, has ranked in the "Best Places to Work in New Jersey" list for the third consecutive year, placing 3rd in the large company category for 2007. Rankings were announced during a celebratory dinner at the East Brunswick Hilton on April 26, hosted by NJBIZ, New Jersey’s weekly business publication.

Coordinated through NJBIZ, the Best Places initiative is designed to honor those companies in New Jersey that demonstrate a commitment to their employees' growth and quality of life. Research was conducted through a two-part survey process gathering data from both corporate management and employees, with two-thirds of the company’s score based on the results of the employee surveys.

The information was then compiled and analyzed by The Best Companies Group, an independent organization in Harrisburg, PA, who developed the formula for determining which companies make the list.

Founded in 1974, WS+B is one of the largest regional accounting and consulting firms in the tristate area with office locations in Morristown, New Brunswick, Princeton, Red Bank, Cherry Hill, Somerville and Toms River, NJ; New York, NY; and Newtown, PA. With over 350 employees, the firm ranks among the top 35 CPA firms nationwide and in the top 10 in New Jersey. For more information about WithumSmith+Brown, please visit the WS+B Web site at www.withum.com.

Rhonda Maraziti, Marketing PR Coordinator, WithumSmith+Brown

Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

Family Planning Center Wants You for Look Who’s Cooking

2007-04-20T18:13:00.000-04:00

Are you an amateur chef hoping to show off your culinary skills? Family Planning Center of Ocean County, Lakewood, N.J., will give you that chance. Men who would like an opportunity to prepare and serve their favorite recipe can now register for the 15th Annual Look Who’s Cooking fundraiser, which will take place on Friday evening, June 8, 2007, at the Christ Episcopal Church, Washington Street, Toms River, N.J. Call Barbara York at 732-341-5523 to register.

Tickets for Look Who’s Cooking cost $50.00 per person, and include complimentary wine and beer. The proceeds from this event will benefit uninsured and underinsured women. Last year, more than 50 distinguished men, all amateur chefs---doctors, lawyers, accountants, business owners, and government officials---offered a sample of their favorite recipe to more than 250 hungry guests and raised more than $17,000.00 for women’s health issues, including cancer screenings and educational counseling.

The Family Planning Center of Ocean County is a nonprofit organization that has provided education and medical services to women since 1971.

Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

Public Invited to Attend Law Day 2007 Ceremony

2007-04-20T18:11:00.000-04:00

The Ocean County Bar Association is inviting the public to celebrate Law Day 2007 with them on May 1, 2007, at Court House, Court Room One, 100 Hooper Avenue, Toms River, N.J., from 12:00 p.m. until 1:30 p.m. The theme of Law Day 2007 is “Liberty Under Law: Empowering Youth, Assuring Democracy.” Refreshments will be served.

Jonathan Z. Petro, Toms River, a lawyer at the Toms River law offices of Carluccio, Leone, Dimon, Doyle & Sacks, the chairman of the Ocean County Bar Association Law Day Committee, and emcee of the program, announced that Eli Eytan, president-elect of the Ocean County Bar Association, will be speaking. Judge Barbara A. Villano, presiding judge, criminal court, Ocean County, is the keynote speaker. She will talk about two aspects of children in the juvenile justice system: how to keep children out of the court system as well as how the system helps children, such as adoptions, foster care, and education, among others.

Ocean County Bar Association will also announce the winner of the high school Moot Trial Competition and present awards to participants.

In 1957, the American Bar Association created the concept of Law Day, a day to celebrate the rule of law in the United States, its legal system, and how they have contributed to the freedom Americans have. In 1958, President Dwight D. Eisenhower made it official, designating May 1 as Law Day, a day of national recognition, followed by a joint resolution of Congress in 1961.
For further information about the Law Day 2007, call the Ocean County Bar Association at 732-240-3666.

Petro, whose legal practice focuses on family law, wills and estates, mediation, and municipal court, is a 1997 Toms River East High School graduate and alumnus of Rutgers University School of Law, Newark, 2004. He was admitted to the New Jersey Bar in June 2005. At Rutgers Law School, he was awarded both the Dean’s Merit Scholarship and the Meyerson Scholarship. Petro was senior editor for the Rutgers Law Record and served as chair of its fund raising committee. Petro completed his clerkship with Judge Ronald Hoffman, J.S.C., Ocean County Superior Court, Family Division, Toms River, and worked as an intern with the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office.

Ron Prusek Joins Carluccio, Leone, Dimon, Doyle & Sacks

2007-04-20T18:08:00.000-04:00

Ronald E. Prusek, Toms River, has joined the law firm of Carluccio, Leone, Dimon, Doyle & Sacks (CLDDS), Toms River, as counsel. Prusek will concentrate his practice on the areas of civil ligation.

Before joining CLDDS, Prusek was a sole practitioner in Toms River. Prior to that, he was president of the Lomell Law Firm, Toms River, specializing in civil litigation for both plaintiffs and defendants for 21 years; and trying cases throughout New Jersey for corporate and individual clients on legal issues involving person injuries, contracts, and commercial matters. He also served as a deputy attorney general in the Division of Criminal Justice of the State of New Jersey.

Prusek, who is a competitive sailor and member of the U.S. Sailing Association, is legal counsel and past fleet captain of the Shrewsbury River Yacht Club. He received an A.B. from Princeton University and his J.D. from Indiana University School of Law. Prusek was admitted to the Bars of the U.S. Supreme Court in 1987; and the New Jersey and U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey in 1974. He is a member of the N.J. State Civil Trial Bar Executive Committee; a member of N.J. District IIIA Ethics Committee; and a trustee of the Ocean County Bar Association.

Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

Support Avon Walk for Breast Cancer

2007-03-08T13:59:00.000-05:00

Jennifer Weisert, Manasquan Savings Bank, is participating in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer, a walk of 39.3 miles in two days on October 6 and 7 to raise money for breast cancer research.

If you would like to be a sponsor or join the team, contact Weisert at 732-206-0527 (work) or 732-799-3820 (cell).

Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

March is Red Cross Month

2007-03-08T13:57:00.000-05:00

March is Red Cross Month, and this year we are honoring our local “hometown heroes” to bring awareness to the community about individuals who dedicate their time to serving their community through the American Red Cross.

What’s a hero? Like art, heroism is in the eye of the beholder. You know a hero when you see one. At the American Red Cross, we are fortunate enough to see heroes every day. Heroes are volunteers who are willing to leave their homes whenever the call comes to make sure a local family who has lost their home to a fire has a place to sleep tonight, clothes to wear, and food to eat tomorrow. They are people who trained in their free time so they can volunteer to set up shelters here or halfway across the country in the wake of a major disaster.

We think people who learn how to save lives through first aid and CPR are heroes, as are the people who teach them those skills; and our community is a safer place because of them. A heroic act also takes place each time someone rolls up his or her sleeve to give blood or takes out a pen to write a check to support the work of the American Red Cross.

Two examples of hometown heroes include our volunteer of the year, William “Bud” Colfer, and our Youth Volunteer of the Year, John Lorton. Bud is an active member of the Disaster Action Team and has received numerous compliments from complete strangers who were blown away by his compassion and amazing customer service skills. He has also spoken to young community members on the importance of volunteering.

John, a sixteen year old high school student, has been involved with the Red Cross for four years, and he is currently the Youth Council President. His Red Cross experiences include: assisting in blood drives, including the annual Great Adventure blood drives; participating in car wash fundraising events for hurricane victims; delivering packages to soldiers at Fort Dix Army training site; and actively participating in the Reassurance program.

The Jersey Coast Chapter is honoring our Hometown Heroes as part of our annual celebration of Red Cross Month. Whether you are a blood donor, a financial contributor, a volunteer, or one of the many local organizations with which we partner, we salute you. In fact, we have set up a special Web site with profiles of just a few of our Hometown Heroes. You can visit it at www.redcrosshometownheroes.org/chapter/NJ/jersey-coast.

Bill Murray, CEO
Contact: Hillary Cummons www.jerseycoast-redcross.org
Phone: 732-493-9100 ex.230/ Cell: 732-496-4495

Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

Many 1099s Will Arrive Late or Need Correction-Don't File Too Early

2007-02-19T12:52:00.000-05:00

Don't File Too Early, But Do Begin Gathering Information Now

The 2006 tax season is upon us and we would like to make you aware that many of the 1099 forms that you will receive from brokerage firms and financial institutions this year are likely to be issued late and/or require corrections.

This is primarily due to the fact that the IRS recently modified Forms 1099-DIV and 1099-INT, requiring brokerage firms and other financial institutions to change the processes they use to capture and quantify certain new reportable items. This may reduce the pace at which they produce and mail the forms, and may cause some initial errors.

Even though it's probably wise not to file your tax returns too early as a result of these changes, it is still important for you to begin the process of gathering your 2006 tax information for preparation of your 2006 income tax returns as early as possible.

Many corrections will be minor and will have little, if any, effect. If the correction(s) are substantial, and your tax returns have already been filed, you may end up needing to file amended income tax returns, which we will generate for you.As always, we look forward to working with you this tax season to complete your tax returns in an accurate, timely manner. Please call your J.H. Cohn professional if you have any questions about this or any othertax issue.

Bruce Kramer Partner
J.H. Cohn LLP 27 Christopher Way Eatontown, NJ 07724

tel (732) 380-8620 fax (732) 578-1711

Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

Do Not Overlook the New Federal Telephone Excise Tax Refund Available

2007-02-08T19:49:00.000-05:00

Taxpayers who have paid long-distance telephone excise tax on their telephone bills can request a one-time refund on their 2006 income tax returns. The reason for this is that the Federal government will not be collecting any more excise tax on long-distance telephone charges. Several Federal court decisions have held that the tax does not apply to long-distance telephone services as billed. All taxpayers who paid long-distance Federal excise taxes will be eligible for this new refund including individuals, sole proprietors, corporations, partnerships, and tax exempt organizations. Generally, the tax refund is based upon long-distance telephone services billed after February 28, 2003 and before August 1, 2006.

Businesses (including sole proprietorships, corporations and partnerships) and tax exempt organizations are offered two methods by which they can calculate their refunds. In either case, businesses and tax exempt entities need to file Form 8913 (Credit for Federal Telephone Excise Tax Paid) to claim the refund. Actual refundable long-distance excise taxes can be totaled for the 41 month period after February 28, 2003 through August 1, 2006. The second permissible method would be to use a specific formula published by the Internal Revenue Service. The formula method is less time consuming and it may or may not produce a higher refund. Basically, this quick formula method requires business and tax exempt taxpayers to obtain two telephone bills – one from April 2006 and one from September 2006. The information obtained from these two telephone bills will result in calculating a percentage of long-distance telephone excise tax paid on long-distance service. Form 8913 will contain certain refund limitations and it will provide details for computation purposes.

The refund procedure is different for individual taxpayers. Individual Form 1040 taxpayers can choose a standard refund amount based upon the number of exemptions they claim. This standard amount will only require one line on the Form 1040 to be completed without filing Form 8913. The standard refund will be an amount between $30 and $60 per return. The standard refund amount is based on data the IRS has concerning the average long-distance telephone usage applicable to an individual, family or household. If an individual taxpayer declines to use the simplified standard method, they can file Form 8913 with their Form 1040 and compute their refund based upon the actual tax paid using the 41 months of telephone records after February 28, 2003 and before August 1, 2006.

It is very important to remember to take advantage of this Federal excise tax refund for our tax clients. Tax organizers mailed to clients may need to be updated to request the necessary information to accurately prepare the 2006 tax return. Another thought might be to prepare a general form letter to forward to clients which will request the necessary information needed to compute this excise tax refund if the computation methods will be used.

As one of the leading accounting and consulting firms in New Jersey, Cowan, Gunteski & Co., P.A. understands the importance tax planning so that you can keep more of your hard earned money. Contact Michael V. DeMola at 732-349-6880 extension 119 or mdemola@cowangunteski.com for more information on tax planning strategies for your particular situation.

About Cowan, Gunteski & Practice, P.A.
As a diversified certified public accounting firm, Cowan, Gunteski & Co., P.A. is committed to being an active partner in their client’s growth by delivering value driven accounting and profitability consulting services. Visit http://www.cowangunteski.com/ for more information on the services available to meet your unique needs.

Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

Tax Filing Deadline Extended to April 17

2007-02-08T19:46:00.000-05:00

The New Jersey Division of Taxation has announced that the due date for filing and payment of the 2006 New Jersey gross income tax returns will be extended to April 17, 2007, to correspond to the due date for Federal income tax returns.

For Federal income tax purposes, all individual taxpayers have extra time to file and pay income tax because April 15 falls on a Sunday and the next day is Emancipation Day, a legal holiday in the District of Columbia. Previously, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) extended the filing and payment deadline to April 17 only for taxpayers in the District of Columbia and six eastern states served by an IRS processing facility in Massachusetts, where Patriots Day is observed on April 16, but in a recent notice the IRS determined that the entire country has the extended deadline. (Release, NJ Division of Taxation, 01/26/2007.)

Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

New Information about Medicaid Planning

2007-02-07T21:54:00.000-05:00

Congress has passed the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (DRA).

If you have ever sought an attorney for Medicaid planning, the adoption of the DRA could seriously affect the success of your plan. It is now much more difficult for people to become eligible for Medicaid. The DRA made several substantive changes in the law regarding transfers of assets for Medicaid eligibility.

The “look back” period, the period in which the state must “look back” at all of the financial records, and determine whether an individual transferred assets to qualify for Medicaid, increased from 36 months (three years) to five years. The start date of penalty periods in which an individual is ineligible for Medicaid was changed. A requirement was imposed on individual states to impose penalty periods that include individual days of Medicaid ineligibility. Previously any period of ineligibility that was less than a month was not “rounded up” to include a full month. The DRA also prohibited a state from granting Medicaid to individuals who have substantial equity in home property. There were also a number of procedural changes made to the Medicaid eligibility law.

As of this date, there are no New Jersey regulations that have been adopted to offer guidance as to the applicability of this new Federal law. Many of the previous planning techniques used by New Jersey, such as transferring assets and waiting for three years, or calculating the applicable period of ineligibility and then reserving enough money to pay for care (also known as “half loaf planning”) are no longer available techniques.

In New Jersey, a Medicaid applicant was also permitted to transfer small amounts every month (less than $5000) because it would not result in any period of ineligibility. That is no longer permitted, and ineligibility will be calculated in terms of individual days, instead of months. Although there may be ways to do Medicaid planning under the new law, those methods have not been approved or tested. If an attorney attempts planning, the Medicaid applicant may be rejected, and the attorney will have to appeal that rejection. Medicaid planning is no longer a form driven practice like estate planning, but will require litigation and creativity.

Diana L. Anderson, Esq., C.E.L.A. (Certified Elder Law Attorney)

Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

Dr. Thopcherla Joins Board of Directors of Caregiver Volunteers

2007-02-06T15:27:00.000-05:00

Geriatrician a welcome addition to non-profit agency serving Senior Citizens

Caregiver Volunteers of Central Jersey is proud to announce that Majula Thopcherla, M.D. has joined its Board of Directors. This non-profit agency,with offices in Beachwood, Lakewood and Whiting, has been assisting senior citizens throughout Ocean County for the past 15 years . Volunteers drive homebound senior citizens to doctor appointments, go grocery shopping, provide relief to family caregivers of Alzheimer’s disease patients, and ease loneliness through friendly visits.

Dr. Thopcherla is board certified in both Internal Medicine and Geriatric Medicine, and has over 15 years experience caring for adult patients of all ages. Dr. Thopcherla is also serving as the Medical Director of Fountain View Care Center and is on staff at Kimball Medical Center.Her office, Shore Medicine, LLC is located at Parkway 70 Plaza on Route 70 in Lakewood, NJ.

As the population of senior citizens grows in Ocean County, the need for groups such as Caregiver Volunteers becomes even more important. Lynette Whiteman, Director of Development, says, “Because Dr. Thopcherla specializes in Geriatric Medicine, her association with Caregiver Volunteers is a perfect partnership, and we look forward to having her expertise as part of our Board of Directors.”

For more information about Caregiver Volunteers, please call the Lakewood office at 732.730.1232.

Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

Adult CPR/AED Training Session

2007-02-06T15:25:00.000-05:00

The Jersey Coast Chapter along with the Lakewood Blue Claws will be offering an Adult CPR/AED Training session Sunday, April 15, 2007, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., FirstEnergy Park - 2 Stadium Way (GSP exit 89) Lakewood, N.J. 08701

Have you or anyone you know ever wanted to learn CPR/AED?
Are you a baseball fan?
Well, then, this is the event for you!!!

Not only will you become certified in Adult CPR/AED,
you will also receive a ticket to the Friday, April 20, 2007, game at 7:05 p.m.

CPR/AED Training: $10.00
Ticket to game: Free
Saving someone’s life….. Priceless
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To sign up for the event contact:

Jessica Revoir, Health & Safety Business Coordinator
The American Red Cross – Jersey Coast Chapter
1540 West Park Ave – PO Box 131
Tinton Falls, NJ 07724
Phone: 732-493-9100 x255
Fax: 732-493-8871
Email: jessicar@jerseycoast-redcross.org
Or, sign-up online at : www.jerseycoast-redcross.org

Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

Travel Tips for 2007

2007-02-06T15:22:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year! This is going to be an exciting year for travel, especially with many travel incentives being offered by the cruise lines, resorts, and airlines. This might be the year of your dream vacation.

Travel Tips:
As of January 23, 2007 all persons, including U.S. citizens must have a passport to enter the U.S. U.S. citizens traveling to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Bermuda must be in possession of a valid passport to return to the U.S. If your passport is expiring within six months of your travel time, you will need to have an updated passport.
When you are traveling, it is a good idea to have photocopies of your passport. A photocopy of your passport and your itinerary should be left with a trusted relative or friend in case of an emergency. You should also have a photocopy of your passport with you, but not with your original, in the event you lose your original.

In December my traveling partner and husband (same person) and I went on a Crystal Cruise to the Western Caribbean. Crystal Cruises are a cut above everyone else. They have been the highest-ranked large ship line since they began in 1996. It’s no wonder they have such a prestigious reputation. Everything about the ship and service is top notch. If you are ready to trade up to a luxury cruise or if you are only going to take one cruise in your lifetime, I highly recommend this company.

Don’t forget that a cruise would make an exciting anniversary, birthday, graduation, and any occasion gift. Family reunions and get togethers with friends are always more fun on a cruise ship. In the workplace, reward cruises can be powerful incentives for employees, and cruise ships also make great places to hold seminars.

Please call me if you have any questions about travel or vacation hotspots. If you’re not sure you are ready to travel but just want to know about possible options, I’d be very happy to talk to you.

Happy Vacations!
Jeannie Schlameuss, JAS Travel
732-363-0899
cell: 732-539-9054
www.jastravel.jurni.net
traveljeannie@optonline.net

Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

It's Time for a Family Time Out!

2007-02-06T15:21:00.000-05:00

Take a “Family Time Out”

School, sports, Scouts, cooking, cleaning, PTA, business trips, client presentations, dinner meetings: Sound like a day in YOUR hectic life? If your family calendar is like most, you regularly experience your fair share of schedule overload. With children in school and activities, parents who work and volunteer, commitments to friends and the community, families lose out on precious time together.

As a travel professional, I help families reconnect and recharge with a well-deserved vacation. The “Family Time Out” promotion includes destinations, such as Hawaii, Alaska, the Caribbean, Europe, or Club Med. I’ll use my travel expertise to plan a vacation the whole family will enjoy.

Club Med offers families the chance to recharge at over 80 resorts in the most beautiful places around the world. Europe is another fascinating destination. Globus Family Vacations and Monograms Independent Vacations take families on a memorable journey to Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, England, France, Germany, Holland, Hungary, Ireland, Italy or Switzerland. Or, families can take their “Time Out” with NCL America in Hawaii, the perfect playground for family fun. Princess Cruises bring you together for an adventure in Alaska, and Royal Caribbean International offers your family fun in the sun in the Caribbean.

There are a lot of fabulous destinations with special offers to choose from for your very own Family Time Out. Call me at 732-363-0899 and let me do the research, make recommendations, and provide the details on how your Family Time Out will be full of memories that will last a lifetime.

Jeannie Schlameuss, JAS Travel
http://www.jastravel.jurni.net/
traveljeannie@optonline.net
Home/office 732-363-0899

Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

Creative Advertising Specialties, LLC, Receives the Platinum Plus Designation

2007-02-06T15:19:00.000-05:00

Rip Gettis of Creative Advertising Specialties, LLC, was designated a “Platinum Plus” distributor by Bullet Line, Inc. of Miami, Florida, for the second consecutive year. The “platinum Plus” designation is awarded to a small select group of promotional advertising distributors who have achieved a high volume of business.

Creative Specialties was the recipient of the coveted National Silver Pyramid award in 1988. This award, judged by PPAI (Promotional Products Association International), is given for the effective use of promotional products in business and institutional marketing programs nationwide.

“It’s an honor to be named a Platinum Plus distributor because I am competing with the ‘best of the best,’” said Rip Gettis, president of Creative Advertising Specialties. Gettis has been in the promotional advertising industry since 1973.

Promotional products are decorative articles of merchandise, such as pens, key chains, mugs, magnets, calendars, etc., imprinted with a message. They include advertising specialties, premiums, incentives, awards and gifts.

Rip Gettis, Tel: 732-929-1668
www.creativespecialties.us
Ripget@aol.com

Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

The ARC Hosts Fundraiser at Famous Dave's

2007-02-06T15:14:00.000-05:00

Call the ARC of Ocean County for a certificate when you eat at Famous Dave’s of Brick,
February 12-15th, 2007

Present the ticket to your server with your payment, and the ARC will receive 10% of your bill.

Enjoy a great meal at Famous Dave’s BBQ Restaurant and support the ARC!

Date: February 12 – 15, 2007
Time: 11:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Place: Famous Dave’s BBQ Restaurant
950 Cedar Bridge Road, Brick
732-262-7485

Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

Lakewood Chamber Ranked among the Best

2007-02-06T15:12:00.000-05:00

Congratulations to the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce for being named by NJBIZ to New Jersey’s top Chambers of Commerce (January 29, 2007).

Keep up the good work!

Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasey Enterprises

February Meeting of Young Professionals, Forty and Under

2007-02-06T15:04:00.000-05:00

Taking Web Sites and Sales beyond the Hype

Young Professionals, Forty and Under, a committee of the Lakewood Chamber and a support group for professionals and college graduates in Ocean, Monmouth, and Middlesex counties, will hold its monthly meeting at 507 Main Bar and Grill, 507 Main Street, Belmar, on Wednesday, February 21, 2007, from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m. Larry Bailin, the CEO of Single Throw, an Internet marketing company, Wall, New Jersey, will present “Dogs Bark, Ducks Quack, Customers Click!,” a program that includes strategies for taking Web sites and sales beyond the hype. The cost is $10.00 at the door and includes unlimited pizza, a cash bar, and networking opportunities. To register, call Michelle at CareOne at Jackson, (201) 421-9148; or e-mail her at mcastanzo@jacksonhcc.com.

Larry Bailin is the founder of the award winning Internet marketing company Single Throw and the author of the book, Mommy, Where Do Customers Come From?™. Under Bailin’s leadership, Single Throw grew from a small start-up company to a major Internet marketing business, meeting the online marketing demands of major companies, such as BlueClaws, Scholastic, Hyperion Technologies, Select Energy, Mag-Lite, Conair, DeVry University, BP Oil, Sara Lee, and many of public and private enterprises. Single Throw, currently in its sixth year of operation, continues to achieve recognition as a leading Internet marketing business.

Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises

“How to Have the Best Year Ever”

2007-02-06T14:58:00.000-05:00

Brick Chiropractor Launches National Seminar in Florida

Dr. Daniel J. Cruoglio, Brick, New Jersey, a professional coach and board-certified chiropractor at First Choice Health Group, recently opened the national seminar of Breakthrough Coaching, Orlando, Florida, with his address, “How to Have the Best Year Ever.” Among other topics, Dr. Cruoglio emphasized to more than 400 attendees the importance of raising one’s standards, controlling emotions, and overcoming fears. Denis Waitley, a well-known author, international lecturer, and productivity consultant gave a motivational speech to close the seminar.

In the past year, Dr. Cruoglio has been advising chiropractors through Breakthrough Coaching, a national practice development system for chiropractic and multidisciplinary practices. He is a graduate of New York Chiropractic College, Long Island, and completed post graduate work in Neurophysiological, Biomechanical, and Clinical Advances in Chiropractic at New York Chiropractic College. Dr. Cruoglio is a credentialed provider of “active release techniques” for the spine and upper extremities. He is certified in performing the AMA Permanent Medical Impairment Examination, and holds a graduate studies certificate from the Parker Chiropractic Research Foundation.

Dr. Cruoglio is affiliated with the American Chiropractic Association, the Lakewood and Brick Chambers of Commerce, and the Association of New Jersey Chiropractors. Some of his awards include Professional Excellence & Commitment to Excellence from Breakthrough Coaching, National Practice Development; Service Award from the Council of N.J. Chiropractors; and Award of Distinction for Dedication and Devotion from the former Koslow Practice Management. Dr. Cruoglio serves on the board of United Way, Toms River.

Dr. Cruoglio is available to speak for free to local groups on a variety of health-related topics, such as lower back pain; carpal tunnel syndrome; back, neck, and shoulder pain; arthritis; and stress. He recently spoke to Young Professionals, a committee of the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce, and is scheduled to present “Creating the Business You Really Want” at the Brick Chamber on March 16, 2007. For further information, call 732 – 920 – 5646.

Submitted by Fran Kirschner, Frantasy Enterprises