Home Instead Senior Care and Rebecca Kolls, star of “Rebecca’s Garden,” have launched a campaign to bring the joy of gardening back to the lives of local seniors who may have given up that hobby because they have limited mobility due to illness or injury. Several free gardening activities have been scheduled. Family members and caregivers in the community are invited to attend several senior gardening workshops planned locally. They will receive a free gardening guide and have the opportunity to observe and learn simple and creative ways to help their loved ones continue to enjoy gardening. The next gardening workshop will be held June 16 at 2 p.m. at Bartley Healthcare Nursing and Rehabilitation in Jackson. Details: (732) 901-5500.
Maureen Stankowitz, executive director of the Lakewood Chamber of Com-merce, was recently elected secretary-treasurer of the National Council of Com-munity Behavioral Health, an agency that advocates for behavioral health nationally.
Stankowitz joined the board of directors of the national council in 2002 as a community director, and served on the Finance and Administration Committee. Stankowitz, the chair of the board of trustees of Preferred Behavioral Health, Lakewood, was nominated by Bill Sette, chief executive officer of Preferred Behavioral Health.
Stankowitz, who has brought the Lakewood chamber from 250 business members in 1996 to more than 485 members today, works on behalf of community-based mental services for all citizens in need. In 2001 Stankowitz received the Woman of Distinction Award from the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce.
Stankowitz graduated from the Institute of Financial Education, Garden State chapter, Trenton. Prior to becoming executive director of the Lakewood chamber she was the director of prospect research for Georgian Court University. She is past president (2001-02) and president-elect of the Lakewood Rotary Club. In 2003 Stan-kowitz received the Paul Harris Fellow award, the highest honor in Rotary, for her outstanding contributions.
Sunriser Kennels of Jackson has become a partner selling Stones of Glass, custom decorative artistic designs of pets. Started by Lee Guttentag, of Lincroft, after surviving the World Trade Center attack and deciding to change careers, Stones of Glass consists of hand-etched glass plaques, sun-catchers and stepping stones engraved with custom-made images of people’s pets. The images are captured through photos sent by the consumer. Stones of Glass are used to celebrate or memorialize a cherished pet or a favorite design.
General Motors has announced that DeFelice Chevrolet-Oldsmobile, of Point Pleasant, has been named the recipient of the GM Service Challenge Award. The 2004 GM Service Challenge Award is an accomplishment reserved only for select few outstanding professionals in their field and is a symbol of exceptional performance.
DeFelice Chevrolet-Oldsmobile was recently recognized at a Regional Recog-nition Banquet and received a commemorative plaque to honor their accomplishment in receiving this recognition from GM. In attendance for DeFelice at the banquet were brothers Ed, Jeff and Tim DeFelice; Wayne Bacskai, service manager; and Mark Granit, GM Goodwrench Master Technician.