Inspirations Dance & Fitness Center, 21 South Hope Chapel Road, Jackson, recently celebrated its grand opening by offering specials, giveaways and opportunities to take a free class. The center is led by a professional certified licensed staff and offers group fitness and dance classes such as Zumba Fitness, Zumba Toning, Rock Your Body, Ballet Barre and Pilates Fusion. A full schedule of classes for young aspiring dancers will be offered soon. Details: 732- 987-5000.
Jersey Shore Business Leaders will host a business development seminar, Event Planning for Businesses, for businesses of all sizes, from 6-8 p.m. April 16 at the Woodlake Country Club, Lakewood.
Kathi Evans, owner of All the Best Weddings and Celebrations, will help attendees plan events whether they are for their own employees or for customers.
Evans will show how to define the purpose of an event, establish the right guest list, determine what items must be included in a budget and how to stay within that budget, among other topics.
Registration is $20 and open to the public. Registration includes light appetizers, a cash bar and networking. Proceeds will benefit the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation. To register, call Arielle Bandes at 732-278- 4834.
The Terri Lynne Lokoff Child Care Foundation will award Alison Domangue of the Goddard School in Jackson the 2013 Terri Lynne Lokoff/Children’s Tylenol National Child Care Teacher Award. Domangue was selected from a pool of applicants nationwide. She will receive an award of $1,000 at a ceremony planned at the Please Touch Museum, Philadelphia, Pa., on April 11. With a grant from the awards program, Domangue will implement her project, “I Love Literacy.” There are a total of 52 National Child Care Teacher Award recipients for 2013. Each recipient designed an enhancement project that illustrates the educational, social and emotional benefits for the children in their care.
Five Ocean County chambers of commerce are joining together to present a business expo for the community. The “Back to the Boardwalk” Business Expo will take place inside Martell’s Tiki Bar on the boardwalk in Point Pleasant Beach from 5-7:30 p.m. April 17. Participating chambers are Brick Township, Point Pleasant, Point Pleasant Beach, Lakewood and Toms River. In addition to the trade table displays, the event will feature refreshments, giveaways, a cash bar and door prizes. The expo is open to the public and admission is free. Trade tables are $175, available on a first-come, first-served basis and are available to chamber members only. Details: 732-477-4949.
Veterans with military driving experience who have recently returned from service may receive help in obtaining a commercial driver’s license (CDL) under a waiver program announced by New Jersey Motor Vehicle Chairman and Chief Administrator Raymond P. Martinez and Brig. Gen. Michael L. Cunniff, adjutant general of the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. Soldiers who were on active or reserve duty within the last 90 days will now be able to use their documented military driving experience of at least two years to apply for the waiver, which exempts them from the skill (road) portion of CDL testing. For more information go to the Internet website at http://www.nj.gov/mvc/Press Releases/archives/2013/031313.htm.
Graduating seniors planning to pursue a business career are invited to apply for the 2013 William Barlow Memorial Scholarship offered by the Jersey Shore Business Network. JSBN is an organization of business professionals dedicated to honest, ethical and moral business standards on the Jersey Shore. In addition to the application, a 500-word essay on the topic “The Role of Small Business In a Recovering Economy” is required. Application deadline is May 15 and available in high school guidance offices, online at www.JSBN.org or by calling Ken Malagiere at 732-281-0333.