Business Briefs

Colwood, Farmingdale, will hold an open house Nov. 19 from 4-7 p.m. for the opening of its factory outlet in the company’s new production facilities in Farmingdale, 44 Main St. The event will feature a brief introduction to the company’s products, and refreshments will be served. Colwood is a supplier of woodburning equipment and accessories, as well as wooden keepsakes and craft boxes. Walk-in store hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Millennium Eye Care and Genesis Eyewear Inc. will present a preview of the entire collection of Coach Eyewear and Sunwear, Nov. 30 from 3-9 p.m. at the Freehold Township location, 500 W. Main St. The event will feature prizes and discounts.

Sam’s Club will hold an open house, “Holiday Taste of Sam’s Club,” Nov. 19-21 at the Freehold Township store, 100 Trotters Way. The event will feature a preview of holiday items as well as samples of foods. Hours are Friday 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nonmembers attending will be given a one-day guest pass to shop at Sam’s Club; a 10 percent service fee will apply to nonmember purchases.

In addition, for small business members only, during the hours of 7 and 10 a.m., there will be a preview of business gifts, catering options, food samples and office party merchandise.

Penn Federal, Marlboro, recently presented a gift basket to Eric Hayes of Marlboro. The basket was filled with gifts for the Hayes’ sextuplets, including a $200 savings bond for each child. Presenting the gifts to Hayes was Margaret Savastano, assistant manager of the branch, Linda Schaefer, branch manager, and Phyllis Riccobono, regional vice president.

The Freehold Rotary Club, in conjunction with the Freehold Rotary Charitable Foundation, held its annual funds award luncheon Oct. 26 at the Main Street Bistro/Courtyard Inn, Freehold.

Awards totaling $20,015 were distributed to 18 community charities along with several scholarships. In addition to the monetary contributions, members of the Freehold Rotary Club also donate their time and services to organizations such as Habitat for Humanity.

The luncheon was attended by representatives from each of the charities and the Rotary membership.

The Rotary Club consists of business people from the local area who gather for the purpose of service to the needs of the community as well as for friendship.

Professional and Business Singles Network has scheduled two after-work socials. Membership is not required, and walk-ins are welcome. Admission is $10.

The events will be held Nov. 22 from 5:30-9 p.m. at Christie’s Bar & Grill at the Sheraton at Woodbridge Place Hotel, 501 Route 1 south, Iselin; and Dec. 6 from 5:30-9 p.m. at the Colts Neck Inn, routes 34 and 537, Colts Neck.

For more information, call (800) 537-3859 or visit www.PBSNinfo.com.

Erwyn Promotions Co. Inc., Morganville section of Marlboro, has been honored as one of the Top 100 diversity-owned businesses in New Jersey by DiversityBusiness.com, a multicultural business-to-business Internet portal that links large organizational buyers to multicultural product and service suppliers.

The “Div100” is the fifth annual listing of the state’s top 100 diversity-owned (women, Blacks, Hispanics, Asians, Native American and other minority groups) businesses. Based on annual revenue, the companies listed on the Div100 represent the state’s top multicultural earners.

According to a press release from Erwyn Promotions, the Div100 challenges the long-held notion that diversity-owned businesses are small. Diversity-owned businesses contribute more than $1.4 trillion in sales to the U.S. economy, according to the press release.

Erwyn Promotions has undertaken a proactive sales and marketing campaign in 2004 to become suppliers for public- and private-sector clients under the Diversity Contract Award programs, according to Michelle Winokur, CEO, president and owner of Erwyn Promotions.

Erwyn Promotions specializes in custom promotional premiums and specialties geared for corporate identity programs, recognition awards, sales incentives, conferences, seminars, meetings, sports events and trade shows.

The winning companies will be honored at an awards ceremony at DiversityBusiness.com’s fifth annual Multicultural Business Conference in Mark at the Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut. For the complete list of winning companies, visit the Web site www.diversitybusiness.com.

Weichert, Realtors’ Marlboro office announced that three sales associates have been recognized for their industry achievements in October.

Lee Gaynor led the office in listings. Gaynor is a member of Weichert’s Sales and Marketed clubs.

Paula Epstein led the office in sales. Licensed in 2002, Epstein earned a degree in speech pathology from Brooklyn College, Brooklyn. N.Y.

Joan Congilose led the office in revenue units and dollar volume. A member of Weichert’s Sales and Marketed clubs, Congilose qualified for the New Jersey Association of Realtors 2003 Circle of Excellence Sales Club at the bronze level.

The Allstate Foundation has presented Agency Hands in the Community awards to two local agents with Allstate New Jersey Insurance Co.

Mary Urbano of Freehold has received the award for her commitment to volunteering in the community. With this award comes a $500 grant from The Allstate Foundation that will benefit the Special Olympics swimming program of the Freehold YMCA. Urbano was nominated by Karen Mitchell, a market business consultant with Allstate New Jersey.

Michael Beer of Manalapan received the award for his commitment to volunteering in the community through the Central New Jersey Detachment of the U.S. Marines’ Toys for Tots Foundation. With this award comes a $500 grant for the Toys for Tots effort, a holiday toy drive. Through a contingent of Allstate agents called Mikes’ Bikes (most with the first name Mike), Beer has been collecting and distributing bicycles to needy children during the holidays. The other members of Mikes’ Bikes, as well as an additional agent, were also awarded Agency Hands in the Community grants, bringing the total monetary support up to $3,500.

Established in 1952, The Allstate Foundation is an independent corporation funded by contributions from the Allstate Insurance Co. Grants are awarded to nonprofit organizations that seek to improve the quality of life in communities across the country.

Allstate New Jersey Insurance Co., headquartered in Bridgewater, was established in 1997 as a separate and distinct company to service the needs of consumers in the New Jersey insurance marketplace.

Century 21 Action Plus Realty, with office locations in Howell, Jackson and Freehold townships, is joining in Century 21 Real Estate Corporation’s national effort by hosting its third annual fund-raising event to benefit Easter Seals of New Jersey. According to the press release, the Century 21 Real Estate Corporation is the largest corporate sponsor to Easter Seals on a national level.

Century 21 Action Plus Realty will host an evening of dancing and dining at “A Blast from the Past” Nov. 19 from 7 to 11 p.m. at the Eagle Ridge Country Club in Lakewood. The evening will feature entertainment by The Party Dolls, who will be performing music from the ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s.

The ticket price of $60 per person includes admission, a one-hour open bar from 7 to 8 p.m. and a buffet dinner. Attendees must wear a costume from the ’60s or ’70s and have a ticket in order to be admitted.

In addition to proceeds from ticket sale, Action Plus Realty will raise money from friends and business affiliates who advertise in its annual publication, which will be distributed to attendees at the event. It will also be distributed throughout the three Action Plus offices for future reference. Anyone who wishes to may advertise in the journal. They will also be accepting major and corporate sponsorships. All money collected will be payable directly to Easter Seals, NJ, and will be a tax-deductible contribution. For tickets, advertisements or sponsorship donations, call (732) 252-2075 or (732) 719-1002.