Postmaster Leonard Oaks recently announced a new public-private partnership with the opening of a new Contract Post Unit (CPU) at the Ramtown Pharmacy at 145 Newtons Corner Road, Howell. In an effort to expand access to postal products and services in the Howell area, the postal service has partnered with local business owner Iftikhar Ahmad to open a CPU in his pharmacy on Newtons Corner Road. The CPU hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The U.S. Postal Service CPUs offer the entire line of postal products and services with the exception of post office boxes and money orders.
Postal service officials said the USPS is aggressively seeking to expand its reach to the American consumer through alternate access channels like CPUs, “Stamps on Consignment,” and online services via the postal Web site USPS.com. The Ramtown Pharmacy joins a network of more than 5,000 CPUs in communities throughout the United States.
Officials are planning to hold a grand-opening celebration at the Ramtown Pharmacy in about a month.
The Goddard School, 65 Kent Road, Howell, received special recognition and several awards at the company’s annual convention held at the Eden Roc Resort and Spa in Miami, Fla., April 6-9.
School owner Jody Donnelly was awarded the “Excellence in Quality Assurance Award,” the “Health and Safety Award,” the “Bull’s-eye Award,” the “Occupancy Award” and the “Circle of Excellence.”
The “Circle of Excellence” recognizes schools that demonstrate unwavering belief in the Goddard philosophy, a commitment to the standards of Goddard Quality Assurance, and dedication to exceptional customer service.
The Goddard School offers a year-round program for children from 6 weeks old in which they are encouraged to develop at their own pace. Parents are encouraged to visit the school for a tour. Details: www.goddardschool.com.
LEMONADE (Leading, Enhancing, Mentoring, Opportunity, Networking, Acting, Delivery, Entity) networking group of southern Monmouth and northern Ocean County business owners meets the last Tuesday of each month from 8:30-9:30 a.m. in Brick. New members are welcome. Call James Lemons at (732) 785-7739 for details and location.
The Jersey Shore Public Relations and Advertising Association (JSPRAA) will hold a professional development and networking luncheon at 11:30 a.m. May 6 at Branches, 123 Monmouth Road, West Long Branch.
Guest speaker Darralyn Rieth, director of global design for the Campbell Soup Co., will discuss worldwide branding. Rieth is responsible for developing, repositioning and expanding brands within the Campbell portfolio in a rapidly changing marketplace.
The cost to attend is $25 for members and $30 for nonmembers, if reserved before May 3, and $35 after the deadline. To register, call (732) 842-3311 or visit online at www.jspraa.com.
New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants announced that its Disaster Recovery Guide is now available free of charge. The updated guide provides free financial and tax advice to crisis victims, and includes information on topics such as how to document losses and replace personal identification papers. It also includes IRS forms and publications. For a copy of the guide, visit www.njscpa.org/recovery, e-mail communications@njscpa.org., or call (973) 226-4494, ext. 246.
Paramount Homes, Jackson, has donated $5,000 in computer equipment with high-speed Internet access to the Bradley Elementary School in Asbury Park. The computers are a welcome donation which provide a new dimension to the science lab, according to Peter Vetrano, science teacher.
Vice Principal Bernadette T. Williams said Paramount’s support has help to bridge the “digital divide” and will play a key role in how the students perform in higher grades and ultimately in the job market.
Paramount is the developer of North Beach Asbury Park, part of the city’s $1.2 billion redevelopment effort.
Leah Lederberger, of Lakewood, has recently become an associate with the Lakewood law practice of attorney Samuel Brown. Lederberger works in a broad spectrum of general practice litigation including personal injury, product liability, contract disputes, business management, and real estate.
She is a graduate of the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, New York City, where she concentrated in litigation. While at Cardozo she wrote articles for The New York Real Estate Reporter.
Lederberger was a summer associate in 2003 for the late Charles Wetherell, a Lakewood attorney, where she focused on litigation, employment law, contract disputes and other business matters. She also worked as a legal intern for Lansner and Kubitschek, New York; and as a paralegal for Ronai and Ronai, formerly of Manhattan, now of White Plains, N. Y.
Lederberger was admitted to the New Jersey State Bar and to the Federal District Court of New Jersey in 2004. She passed the New York State and federal bar exams in July 2004 and is awaiting admission to both bars, pending committee review.
Ocean County College Center for Business Education and Training, 150 Brick Blvd., Brick, will host a “Business After Hours” networking event May 17, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. The event is sponsored by Sovereign Bank. The public is invited to an evening of refreshments, creative conversation and to see what the center can do for businesses. Reservations are required and attendees are encouraged to bring plenty of business cards. The cost per person is $5. Call (732) 363-0012, fax (732) 367-4453, or register online at the Web site www.mylakewoodchamber.com.
The Howell Chamber of Commerce announced that the following events will be taking place:
• May 5, 6:35 p.m., Howell Night at FirstEnergy Park, Home of the Lakewood BlueClaws, 2 Stadium Way, Lakewood.
• May 19, 7:45 a.m., breakfast at Scooters; state Sen. Robert Singer will be the speaker.
• June 4, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Cowboy Adventure at Curry Farms, 177 Georgia Tavern Road — a fund-raiser for the Howell First Aid Squad.
All networking events are $7 per person or two for $10. The charge for breakfast is $15, lunch is $20, and dinner is $25. Nonmembers will be charged an additional $5. Details: (732) 363-4114.