Brookdale Community College, Newman Springs Road, Lincroft section of Middletown, will host the 15th “Jersey Shore Home Show” Jan. 14 from 1-9 p.m., Jan. 15 from 10 a.m.-9 p.m., and Jan. 16 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. The show is sponsored by MacEvents, Spring Lake, and will feature approximately 125 displays, and a marketplace of decorating trends and products. Cost is $7, $5 for children age 12-17 and seniors (Jan. 14 only), and free for children younger than age 12. For more information, call 1-800-332-3976 or visit www.MacEvents.com.
Visiting Nurse Association of Central Jersey (VNACJ), Red Bank, has announced Asbury Park resident Tomika Burrus has been named its Home Health Aide of the Year. She was honored at the statewide salute to home health aides held at the Woodbridge Sheraton, where the announcement was made, as well as at a breakfast in Tinton Falls, attended by Assemblyman Steve Corodemus (11th District), a trustee of VNACJ, who presented Burrus with a certificate of recognition. She provides personal care for patients in Monmouth County and has been at VNACJ more than 12 years. Burrus is certified by the New Jersey Board of Nursing and supervised by a registered nurse.
Middletown resident Karen E. Mastria was recently named assistant vice president and branch manager of the Little Silver branch of Monmouth Community Bank. Mastria has more than 10 years’ banking experience, and recently
joined Monmouth. She will be responsible for daily operations, and development of both consumer and business relationships. A member of the Eastern Monmouth Area Chamber of Commerce, she received her associate’s degree at Brookdale Community College, Lincroft section of Middletown. Monmouth Community Bank also has a local branch in Long Branch.
Sheriff’s Officers Belinda Lee Lucatorto, Long Branch, Alexander Torres, Matawan, and Sean R. O’Neill, Hazlet, all recently graduated from the Monmouth County Police Academy, Freehold. Lucatorto holds an associate’s degree in liberal arts and sciences from CUNY, Staten Island, N.Y., and graduated from the Academy’s “special I program.” She served as a special officer and dispatcher at the Little Silver Police Department. Torres recently completed active duty with the U.S. Navy. He received his honorable discharge from the Navy June 1. O’Neill has served as a Monmouth County Corrections officer since October 2001, and previously served as a dispatcher and auxiliary for the Hazlet Police Department. The officers received 20 weeks’ intensive training as members of the Academy’s 68th recruit class.
Nominations are now being accepted through Jan. 7 for the Solid Waste Advisory Council (SWAC) Environmental Awards. The awards honor individuals and groups that have supported responsible solid waste reduction, re-use and recycling. Nomination categories include “innovator” (waste reduction), “leader” (outstanding and effective municipal recycling programs), “educator” (agency or individual that enhances communication about recycling), “student award” (student who implements a program that exhibits comprehensive environmental consciousness and results), “large business” (waste management program which meets or exceeds expectations), and “small business” (commitment to procurement/purchasing recycled products). The awards are sponsored by the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders and SWAC, the voluntary advisory body that advises the freeholders on issues related to solid waste and recycling in the county. The awards dinner will be Feb. 17. For more information, call Judy at (732) 796-9625 or 687-1556 or e-mail jm.jm2@verizon.net.
The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs recently awarded 10 women entrepreneurs from around the state funds from a $50,000 S.E.E.D. grant to help grow the women’s businesses. Winners were announced at a “Public Policy Day” sponsored by the New Jersey Association of Women Business Owners (NJAWBO) and held in Trenton. In attendance were NJAWBO president Sue Fitzpatrick of Fitzpatrick Printing Solutions, Colts Neck; Sharon Smith of Smith Management Services; Marzella Carter of C.H.O.I.C.E.S. for Personal Development; Jonette Kraft of Plant Ahead Landscape Design & Consultation; Mary Chow of Skybalt Inc.; Aviva Giannotti of College Bound & Beyond; Susan Bass Levin, commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs; Robin Berg Tabakin, chair of the Women’s Business Center Board; Penni Nafus, director of NJAWBO’s women’s business center; Jessica Mine, Deltavee Technologies; Jovita Aniag, Divine Medical Services; Gayle Kebede, Fit Family Personal Training; and Jeanette Sugay, ABC Child Discovery & Learning Center. Absent was the fifth-place winner, Donna Carpenter of Preferred Editorial Group.
Weichert, Realtors, Holmdel, has announced associate Cynthia Guariglia who recently received a special recognition award in the amount of $500 from the New Jersey Association of Realtors at its 2004 convention and trade expo. A volunteer for the American Cancer Society, she chairs its Relay for Life event at Freehold, and the eastern division Relay for Life Task Force. As Relay chair, she raised $1 million during the past four years. She is also a member of its national advisory committee.