Wegmans Inc., based in Rochester, N.Y., recently made a $100,000 corporate contribution to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund for the victims of hurricane Katrina, and announced that from Aug. 31 to Sept. 17 all of its stores will accept customer donations at the checkout. Customers donating $1 or more will have 100 percent of the donation given to the relief fund. Wegmans Food Markets are located in Ocean Township and Manalapan.
Sun National Bank recently donated $10,000 to kick off its campaign for the victims of hurricane Katrina, and is accepting donations at all of its local branches. The company is also accepting contributions from its employees, and after employee/customer donations reach the $10,000 mark, Sun will match dollar-for-dollar over $10,000. Sun has branches in Red Bank, Freehold and Howell.
Susan Koval of Millstone is one of the business coaches who will conduct an interactive business workshop, “Develop Your 90-day Plan,” sponsored by Action International. The workshop will be held Sept. 30 from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at The Palmer Inn, 3499 Route 1, Princeton. The fee is $175 and includes breakfast, lunch and course materials. The deadline for reservations is Sept. 26. For more information or to register, call (732) 792-1311 or e-mail [email protected].
BNI, a business networking group, is now forming at the Empire Diner on Route 9 in Freehold Township. Meetings are held on Friday mornings from 7-8:30 a.m. For more information, call Leon Silvestre at (732) 866-8551. Attendees should bring plenty of business cards.
Levy’s Kosher Italian Cuisine and Caterers, Manalapan, is celebrating its fifth anniversary. Owners Debra and Scott Levy opened the business in Summerton Plaza, Route 9, five years ago, and the business has turned into a community gathering place that hosts parties, in-house as well as off-site catering, make-your-own pizza parties, wine-tasting dinners, singles get-togethers and other events.
A chef from Naples helped to launch the restaurant with a traditional Italian menu, and new items have been continually added, including a new kiddush menu. To mark the anniversary, the restaurant will feature $5 specials the week of Sept. 26-30.
The Monmouth-Ocean chapter of the New Jersey Association of Women Business Owners (NJAWBO) will host a dinner meeting Sept. 22 at 6 p.m. at Doolan’s in Spring Lake. NJAWBO members and prospective members are welcome to attend this meeting. The cost is $40 per person and reservations are required. To avoid a $3 surcharge, make your reservation online at www.whoscoming.com/njawbo-monmouthocean. Details: (732) 264-8838.
Professional and Business Singles Network has scheduled the following events. Membership is not required.
A workshop and dance party will be held Sept. 16 at La Villa Ristorante, 2275 Kuser Road, Hamilton Township, Mercer County. The workshop, “Tips to Find Your Soul Mate” will be held at 7:15 p.m., with the dance party at 8:30 p.m. The fee is $20 for workshop and dance, or $15 for just the dance. Walk-ins are welcome.
On Sept. 21, the group will attend a performance by the Philadelphia Orchestra. Meet for black-tie cocktails at 6:45 p.m. at the Union League of Philadelphia, followed by the 8:30 p.m. season-opening concert at Verizon Hall. Prepaid tickets by credit card are required; the cost is $125 for seating and preperformance reception.
Dance instruction and dance social will be held Sept. 23 at Good Time Charley’s, 4591 Route 27, Kingston. Instruction will be held at 7 p.m., followed by the social at 8:30 p.m. The fee is $20 for instruction and social, or $15 for just the social. Walk-ins are welcome.
For more information, call (888) 348-554 or visit www.PBSNinfo.com.
“Is Your Business Financially Fit?,” a free small-business seminar, will be offered by the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants on Sept. 27 at 6 p.m. at the Commerce Bank office at 500 Shrewsbury Ave., Tinton Falls. The event will feature a group of professionals offering insights and fielding questions from attendees. The panel will discuss how to understand financial statements, loan and cash/debt management, how to write a business plan, business insurance, employee benefits, and retirement plans.
Co-sponsored by Commerce Bank, the program will last about two hours; a light dinner will be served. The program is free, but registration is required; call Jeanette Miller at (973) 226-4494, ext. 246; or e-mail [email protected].
Business After Hours, sponsored by the Western Monmouth Chamber of Commerce, will be hosted by PNC Bank, 427 W. Main St. (adjacent to Walgreen’s), Freehold Township, Sept. 20, 6-8 p.m. The bank is in the Mount’s Corner shopping center. The fee is $10 and includes food and adult refreshments. Attendees should bring business cards.
Cream Ridge Winery, Upper Freehold Township, will host a Fruit Crush and Pit Road Festival Sept. 17 and 18 from noon to 5 p.m., rain or shine.
Visitors will have an opportunity to sample wines, go on tours, see how fruit crushed, listen to live music and eat a roast pork sandwich. There will also be a Moon Walk for the children as well as face painting and pumpkin painting. Admission is $8 per adults, with no charge for children.