Preferred Behavioral Health of New Jersey is marking 25 years of providing mental health and substance abuse services to the residents of Ocean County with an anniversary dinner May 15. The Ocean County Board of Chosen Freeholders, which played a key role in the establishment of the organization, will be the honoree.
Since its establishment in 1978, Behavioral Health has expanded its services to include residential programs, day programs, community outreach and specialized services for senior citizens. Its honors and awards have included the J.C. Penney Golden Rule Award, the Southern N.J. Development Council Community Service Award, the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year Award, and the state governor’s Volunteer Award.
Preferred Behavioral Health is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations, and is licensed by the state Department of Health and Senior Services and Division of Mental Health Services. It is also a United Way member agency.
In honor of its anniversary, Behavioral Health will publish a commemorative journal.
For information about the journal or the May 15 dinner, call (732) 364-4590, ext. 112.
Brianne Douglas, Point Pleasant, has recently joined the Brick-based, New Jersey Internet marketing company, Single Throw, as an Internet marketing consultant. She will help small and medium businesses use the Internet to attract new customers and generate business.
Douglas, a 1998 graduate of Point Pleasant Boro High School, earned a BS in business management from Marist College, Poughkeepsie, New York, in 2002. She is a member of Jersey Shore Public Relations and Advertising Association and a member of Eastern Monmouth Chamber of Commerce.
The Woman’s Club of Brick Township held its regular meeting at the Woodlake Country Club April 9. Four delegates were elected to attend the annual Convention of the NJ State Federation of Women’s Clubs on May 5, 6 and 7 at the Hilton in Atlantic City. Jane DeSessa, Peg Richetti, Diantha Matthews and Connie Beckman, representing the local club, will be empowered to vote on all issues coming before the business sessions. The State Federation, of which the local club is a member of, is one of the oldest and largest service organizations dedicated to community service It is credited with founding Douglas College and was instrumental in preserving the Palisades from commercial use.
Culminating six weeks of collecting health and personal toiletries for distribution among the poor in Honduras, Doris Van Tassel, Chairman of the American Honduran Medical Mission, said, "I am humbled by the generosity of the general public. It is expected of club members to support one of its projects but it is neither expected nor anticipated from the readers of our local newspapers. These good people, having read of the destitution prevalent in the Honduras, responded with countless gifts of toiletries and medications." She concluded, "On behalf of the Women’s Club, I would like to thank all those anonymous donors who supported this humanitarian project helping to make it such a success."
Meridian Health Systems, Wall, announced that several area residents have been appointed to medical staffs at its hospitals.
Jonathan M. Barofsky, M.D., of the Wayside section of Ocean Township, joined the surgery/ophthalmology department at Medical Center of Ocean County, Brick.
Also joining the center in its emergency medicine department are William R. Downs Jr., D.O., Ocean Township, and Gina S. Maniar, D.O., Tinton Falls.
Robert M. Ross, M.D., Rumson, joined the anesthesiology/general anesthesia department at Riverview Medical Center, Red Bank.
The Ocean County Camera Club will hold its semiannual trade show May 4 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Lakewood High School, 855 Somerset Ave., Lakewood.
This event has been sponsored by the Lakewood Community School for the past 20 years. The show features the sale of new and used photographic equipment and is supported by 45 dealers. It is usually attended by over 300 patrons.
The cost for a table is $30. Admission is $4. Early admission will be $8. For information, call (732) 741-1980.
The Brick Kiwanis Club will hold its fourth annual awards dinner May 15 at 6:30 p.m. at the Crystal Point Yacht Club, 3900 River Ave., Point Pleasant.
Joseph Marra will receive the George F. Hixson Award for 31 years of outstanding service to the Brick Kiwanis and the community. Marra is a resident of Brick and the co-owner of Central Jersey Screw & Bolt.
The cost of the dinner is $40. For tickets and more information, contact Pam Colino at (732) 892-0246.
Brookdale Community College’s Culinary Education Center of Monmouth County, Asbury Park, and Marie C. Lucier, executive director of outreach, business/community development, have been named as recipients of the 2003 Monmouth-Ocean Development Council’s 38th annual Silver Gull Award.
The culinary center received the Community Service Award for outstanding community involvement in the bi-county region. It will share the award with the Brick Rotary Club and Brick Morning Rotary Club, and OceanFirst Foundation.
Lucier is a board member of the Monmouth-Ocean Development Council and has chaired its personnel committee. She will receive the MODC Service Award, which honors the leadership and commitment to the goals of the organization by a MODC member.
The awards dinner will be held May 8 at the Robert B. Meyner Reception Center at the PNC Bank Arts Center, Holmdel. For more information, call (732) 224-6632.