business briefs •••

Free Motion Rehabilitation Center, 528 New Friendship Road, Howell, will hold a food drive to benefit the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties through the end of June. Needed nonperishable items include ready-to-eat canned meals, canned meat, canned fruits and vegetables, instant potatoes, peanut butter, canned pork and beans, hot and cold cereal and nonperishable milk. No glass items will be accepted.

Drop-offs are welcome between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. For a complete list of what is needed and how to donate, or to get involved, call 732- 901-8844 or stop by and speak to Jenny Murphy.

The Provident Bank announced that Jose Orozco of Howell has earned a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Phoenix. Orozco is the manager of Provident’s Howell branch, and has been with the bank for five years. Provident places strong value on continuing education and offers undergraduate tuition reimbursement to all of its employees for career development. The Provident Bank serves its customers via a network of more than 80 branches throughout northern and central New Jersey. The Provident Bank is the wholly owned subsidiary of Provident Financial Services Inc., which reported assets of $6.8 billion as of March 31, 2010.

Jarrod Kaufman, M.D., F.A.C.S., a surgeon on staff at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township, recently received a threeyear appointment as the state chair of the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer (CoC) Cancer Liaison Program. He also is the chair of the Melanoma Work Group of the New Jersey Governor’s Task Force on Cancer Prevention, Early Detection and Treatment. Kaufman leads skin cancer programs at CentraState, including the new MoleSafe program, a total skin documentation system for early detection of melanoma and other skin cancers.

State chairs are volunteer physicians who serve as CoC representatives and provide leadership and support to the CoC-accredited programs and cancer liaison physicians in their state.As state chair, Kaufman is the main contact between the Commission on Cancer and local chapter of the American College of Surgeons. This responsibility includes serving as a member of the chapter council and involving chapter members in CoC initiatives and activities.

Sandy Silberstein, sole owner of Right Choice Dating, Marlboro, will be celebrating 17 years in business with a singles get-together on June 18 from 6-11 p.m., at the East Grand Buffet, East Brunswick. Festivities will include psychic Joanne Furges, radio and TV personality, who will be discussing understanding relationships, and doing some personal readings. A portion of the $30 admission fee will be donated to the American Heart Association. Silberstein, who prides herself on matchmaking the old-fashioned way, offers free one-hour consultations to get to know each prospective member on a personal basis in order to match them properly. Originally from Queens, N.Y., Silberstein has resided in Marlboro for more than 40 years with her husband, Michael. They have two children and three grandchildren. Details and reservations: 732-536-8981 or www.rightchoicedating.com.

This Independence Day, Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill and Bar located at the Manalapan Epicentre, 55 Route 9 south, will show its patriotism by offering “free meals for kids.” Families who dine at Applebee’s anytime on July Fourth will receive up to two free Kids’ Meals with each adult entrée purchase. The free meals are valid for children age 12 and under, on any Applebee’s “Kids’ Menu” entrée, dine-in only.

“Join us for lunch after your town parade or on your way to or from fireworks,” said Bob Schuttinger, general manager of Applebee’s in Manalapan. “Like any night, we’re open to midnight or later.”

One Block Off the Grid (1BOG), the nation’s largest solar group discount company, has announced the launch of its first southern New Jersey campaign, offering homeowners an easy and affordable way to buy solar panels. 1BOG selected Freehold-based Trinity Solar as campaign partner to service all members’ installations, offering installations with an average payback time of 3.8 years.

Homeowners can now join the 1BOG community to be eligible for the group discount rate on solar panels that reduces install costs by around 15 percent.

Each 1BOG member is assigned a personal adviser who manages the process of going solar from beginning to end at no cost, eliminating the work and coordination a homeowner used to have to do in order to go solar.

This campaign is available now to local homeowners in Monmouth and Ocean counties through Sept. 14. For more information, details about pricing and products or to sign up, visit the 1BOG South New Jersey Solar Campaign homepage at www.1BOG.org/New-Jersey-Solar.

Carol Abaya, M.A., of Marlboro, will present a special SAT prep course in writing and critical reading. Most high school students who are juniors must take the SAT to gain acceptance to college. The six-week, 36-hour program will begin July 6 at the JEI Tutoring Center, 45 N. Main St. (Route 79), Marlboro. Seats are limited. Call 732-866-9099 for more information.

Le Tip of Manalapan, a business networking group, meets at Katy’s Kafe, 460 Route 520, in the A&P shopping center, Route 520, Marlboro, at 7 a.m. every Thursday. Details: 732-890-0885.

The New Jersey Association of Women Business Owners of Monmouth-Ocean will present “Nine Innings of Networking” at 6 p.m. July 20 at FirstEnergy Park, Lakewood. The entrance fee is $25 for members and nonmembers, and $17 for ages 5-12. Enjoy networking and watch the Lakewood BlueClaws play the Charleston Riverdogs.

To register or for more details, visit www.whoscoming.com/njawbo-monmouthocean.

Central Jersey Business Partners is a local networking group actively seeking members. Visit www.CentralJerseyBusinessPartners. com for more information. The group meets on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 8 a.m. and on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m., at Wegmans Café, Route 9, Manalapan. Learn how to grow a business through networking. Details: 732-804-3083.

Items for the Business Briefs may be faxed to 732-780-4192 or sent via email to [email protected].