The Matawan-Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce will hold its next board meeting and social lunch Dec. 16 at noon at Buttonwood Manor, 155 Main St., Matawan. For more information, call (732) 290-1125.
Prudential Financial, Holmdel, has announced that Martha Vetterl, manager of financial analysis in the insurance division, recently received a Prudential Community Champions Golden Star Award of $5,000 for the Central Jersey Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International. The Union Beach resident donated 240 hours of volunteer service to the chapter in 2002.
Also, 37 volunteers from the Holmdel office received a Prudential Community Champions All-Star Team Award of $5,000 for Interfaith Neighbors Inc. The team committed 1,152 hours to Interfaith Neighbors in 2002. Interfaith Neighbors runs a branch of Mobile Meals, which delivers 30 meals daily.
Maser Consulting, Matawan, has announced that James T. Leo has joined the firm as assistant department manager for municipal and transportation projects in the firm’s Hackettstown office. Prior to joining Maser, Leo was a project manager at The RBA Group, New York City. Maser has seven offices throughout New Jersey and New York.
The Community YMCA Children’s Learning Center, Matawan, has announced that its director, Rose Mary Mintz, Matawan, was recently honored as Outstanding Child Care Director by YMCA of USA at the organization’s national Child Care Conference in Baltimore. Mintz was selected for outstanding commitment to providing high-quality, inclusive and diverse programming for children, and developing and offering useful and creative programming for parents. She has been with the YMCA for 14 years. She created various programs for preschoolers at the Matawan location, and after-school programs in the towns of Aberdeen, Keyport and Matawan.
Middletown resident Colin Casey, a member of the class of 1997 at Brookdale Community College, Lincroft section of Middletown, has been named first vice president of the college’s alumni association. A lighting specialist at Cooper Electric, Casey is president of Alpha Pi Theta Alumni and was inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa Alumni Hall of Honor in 2000.
Brookdale donor Rose Bankier was recently named a "Benefactor of the Year" by The Council for Resource Development, Washington, D.C. A former Long Branch resident, Bankier chose the college to help honor the memory of her late husband, Dr. Mark Bankier, with a $2 million donation, the largest pledge ever received by a community college in the state of New Jersey The donation will go toward the "Securing the Vision" library endowment campaign, and to fund an endowed scholarship program and an endowed chair at the Center for Holocaust Studies. Bankier is one of 11 winners throughout the United States and Canada to receive the award which recognizes exceptional donors to local community colleges.
PNC Bank Arts Center, Holmdel, will host a multi-state taxation conference Dec. 3 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:40 p.m. Also, "Navigating the ‘New’ IRS" conference will be held at the arts center Dec. 17 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
Both conferences will be presented by the New Jersey Society of CPAs. The cost for either conference is $299 for nonmembers and $199 for members. To register or for more information, call Pat at the Society, (973) 226-4494, ext. 244.
Gloria Nilson GMAC Real Estate, 31 W. Main St., Holmdel, will collect toys and clothing through Dec. 12 for children under the care of the Monmouth County Foster and Adoptive Family Services. The office will accept new, unwrapped gifts for boys and girls ages 3-15 during the hours of 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. seven days a week. The items will be distributed to county foster children through local children’s charity Jason’s Dreams for Kids. For more information, call Gloria Nilson GMAC at (732) 946-3200.
Thomas P. Canzanella, Hazlet, was recently appointed by Gov. James E. McGreevey to the Public Employees Occupational Safety And Health Advisory Board.
First Washington Community Foundation presented a check to Cookie Cutillo of St. Gabriel’s Church, Marlboro, which was used to purchase turkeys and dinner supplies for families in need in Marlboro and the surrounding area. The presentation was made by First Washington banking officer Barbara Wright.
Abraham Opatut, chairman of the board, stated that the funds would benefit families through Checkmate and Open Door of Freehold, Joshua House of Farmingdale, CPC in Morganville, and Performance Training Institute in Toms River.
The Institute of Management Accountants will meet on Dec. 10 at the Greystone Manor, Freehold Township. The guest speaker’s topic will be "Tax Updates," and the dinner will be prime rib or salmon. For reservations or more information, call Peggy or Joe at (732) 683-2382.
Furniture On 9, a full-line furniture retailer, is open for business. The establishment features a 6,000-square-foot showroom, as well as a full dinette/dining room and leather gallery, plus bedroom sets. The store provides free delivery and setup. Located at 3440 Route 9 south, Furniture On 9 is open seven days a week, and until 8 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays. For more information, call (732) 683-9999.
Old Monmouth Candies, a manufacturer and retailer of chocolates and other confections in Freehold since 1939, has announced the grand opening of its second location, 47 Broad St. in Red Bank.
The grand opening celebration was held on Nov. 29. According to Neal Girandola, general manager and marketing director, the new location is different from the factory in Freehold. The Red Bank store is an upscale retail candy boutique that is designed to be an entertaining shopping experience where customers can see candy preparations such as hand-dipping and chocolate mixing.
Old Monmouth Candies in Red Bank is open seven days a week.
AXA Advisors will present a free seminar, "Rebuilding Your Retirement Nest Egg," Dec. 16 from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Marlboro Library. Bob Roman of Marlboro and Gary Brush will be the speakers. Roman specializes in retirement planning, and Brush specializes in financial planning and has given several seminars at Brookdale Community College, Lincroft, and other institutions. Preregistration is requested; call (732) 292-3324.
It Figures! of Manalapan, a 30-minute workout facility for women, has moved and changed its name to Ultimate Fitness for Women.
Ultimate Fitness for Women, now at 285 Gordons Corner Road, Manalapan, has been serving women for the past three years. The new location has allowed the facility to expand to 4,300 square feet to accommodate a full cardio area, free weights, strength training equipment, spin classes, personal training, two weight-management programs and a supervised baby-sitting room.
Face2Face, located in Pine Creek Square on Route 9 south in Marlboro, held its grand opening recently. Owner Amy Hemming has owned a cosmetic business in the area for the past seven years, and now has expanded her business to include fashion jewelry, handbags, evening bags, skin care and makeup, and specializes in makeup applications for all occasions.
Face2Face is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Thursdays until 7 p.m. Off-hour appointments are available.
Dr. David R. Gentile was among 1,442 initiates from around the world who became Fellows of the American College of Surgeons during a ceremony at the college’s 89th annual Clinical Congress held recently in Chicago.
The American College of Surgeons is the largest organization of surgeons in the world. By meeting the college’s membership requirements, Gentile has earned the right to use the designation of F.A.C.S. (Fellow, American College of Surgeons) after his name.
Gentile received a medical doctorate in 1992 from UMDNJ–New Jersey Medical School. He is currently practicing at Professional Orthopaedic Associates, which has three office locations: Tinton Falls, Toms River and Marlboro. In July 2002 he attained board certification from the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgeons. He has a strong professional interest in shoulder, elbow and hand surgery, and holds membership in other professional societies, including the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, American Medical Association, New Jersey Orthopaedic Society and the Medical Society of New Jersey.
Chad Braverman of Manalapan has won the Positive Changes Hypnosis Developer of the Year award for his success in growing and developing his Positive Changes franchise. Braverman received his award during the company’s annual convention, held recently in Virginia Beach, Va.
Braverman joined the Positive Changes network in January, and has focused on developing his Manalapan and Holmdel centers by helping people through hypnosis. CentraState Healthcare System, Freehold Township, was one of the top teams at the recent American Heart Association Monmouth County American Heart Walk. The collective feet of CentraState raised just over $10,000 to help fight heart disease and stroke, and support the 2003 American Heart Walk theme, "Step Out, Save Lives – Exercise Your Heart."
Monmouth Legal Secretaries Association will hold its holiday dinner party on Dec. 4 at 7 p.m. at the Holiday Inn in Tinton Falls. All are welcome to find out what the association has to offer. For more information, call Maryjane Trexler or Evelyn Eckhoff at (732) 462-7170.
Gary Michaels Fine Jewelry, Manalapan, will host two days of designer trunk shows Dec. 9 and 10. The event will feature hors d’oeuvres and live entertainment, and an opportunity to meet designer representatives. The Dec. 9 event will feature collections of David Yurman, Aaron Basha and Leslie Greene. On Dec. 10, the collections of Mikimoto, Roberto Coin and John Hardy will be featured.
People Empowering People (PEP), an organization for business owners and professionals in the Monmouth County area, meets on the second Monday of every month. There is no cost to be a member. For more information, call Sandy Franco (732) 863-9955.
Business Network International (BNI) Freehold Area Chapter will hold a visitors day meeting on Dec. 10 at 7 p.m. at the Cornerstone Café, 2 E. Main St., Freehold. BNI is a business networking organization with a local membership of one person representing a profession. To attend as a member, call Kevin Sheridan at (732) 863-1455 or Linda Trott at (732) 536-6000.
Home Sweet Home Party Photography, a new business in Manalapan, handles photo sittings, birthday parties at home or at other locations such as gyms and clubs, anniversaries, bat or bar mitzvahs, baptisms, communions, confirmations; children’s sporting events, bridal and baby showers, weddings, pool parties, dinners, family gatherings, business events, school events, dance recitals and other events.
The photographer takes 150-600 digital photos and/or video, depending on the package chosen. Packages start at $125 for a 90-minute children’s birthday party. Home Sweet Home will also create DVDs from the customer’s digital photos. The business also offers photo montages, T-shirts, hard cover books, digital photo albums or slide shows, holiday cards and notes, posters, canvas prints, decorations and floral arrangements, as well as cakes and desserts with a theme. For further details, call (732) 792-1777.
New Jersey Association of Women Business Owners, Monmouth-Ocean Chapter, will host a holiday networking breakfast on Dec. 11 from 8-10 a.m. at Jumping Brook Country Club, 210 Jumping Brook Road, Neptune. Guest speaker David Biederman of the state Department of Consumer Affairs will speak on identity theft and fraud. The cost is $30, and $25 for members. Reservations required; call Chrissy Reinhard (732) 528-1173 by Dec. 5.