Gary Michaels Fine Jewelry, Manalapan, will hold a special shopping event to benefit the American Heart Association Nov. 12 from 6-9 p.m. The showroom, located in the Epicentre Shopping Center, Route 9 south, will be closed to the general public for the event.
The event will include hors d’oeuvres, live music and raffles of jewelry pieces from designers such as David Yurman, Mikimoto and Aaron Basha. Gary Michaels Fine Jewelry will donate 10 percent of all proceeds from the event to the American Heart Association. Call Gary Michaels Fine Jewelry at (732) 577-8595.
On Nov. 14-15, Gary Michaels will host a showing of "Hearts On Fire" diamonds and will welcome master diamond cutter Brian McHardy from South Africa who will demonstrate the art of transforming a raw stone with a diamond cutting wheel into a perfectly cut diamond. Gary Michaels Fine Jewelry is on Route 9 south next to Wegmans in the Epicentre retail center.
Epic Travel & Cruises/American Express will sponsor two free seminars, "Royal Caribbean/Celebrity Cruises," Nov. 19 from 6-8 p.m. and "Sandals & Beaches Resorts" Nov. 20 from 6-8 p.m., at the Freehold Gardens Hotel, Gibson Place, Freehold Township.
To make reservations, call (732) 972-6329.
Talbots recently celebrated the opening of its new 5,280-square-foot store in Freehold Raceway Mall, Freehold Township. Founded in Massachusetts in 1947, Talbots offers women’s classic clothing, shoes and accessories. Talbots currently operates 950 stores throughout the United States.
Edible Arrangements has announced the grand opening of its newest store at 357 Route 9 in the Towne Pointe shopping center in Manalapan. The franchise is owned by brothers Stuart and Mitchell Hoch of Marlboro. The Edible Arrangements concept specializes in creating fruit designs using fresh, hand-sculpted fruit including strawberries, pineapple, grapes, oranges, cantaloupe and honeydew melons. Each fruit bouquet is made to order and can be customized with a variety of all-natural fudge dipping flavors and special occasion balloons. For more information, call (732) 972-1976.
The Women’s Leadership Development Group of WithumSmith & Brown, certified public accountants and consultants, will host its third annual networking breakfast Nov. 25 from 8:30-10 a.m. at the Westin Princeton at Forrestal Village, Princeton. The program is open to women business professionials in the regional area.
This year’s event will support the "Hire Attire Program." The program provides career clothing and retail training experience for individuals re-entering the job market. Those planning to attend the November breakfast are encouraged to bring gently used men’s and women’ career clothing and accessories, including jewelry, pocketbooks, scarves, etc. All clothing should be clean and on hangers.
Admission to the networking breakfast is free, however registration is required by Nov. 18. Call (609) 520-1188 or jhun[email protected].
The Western Monmouth Chamber of Commerce will hold a general meeting Dec. 11 at 8:30 a.m. at the chamber’s office, 17 Broad St., Freehold. Henry A. Coleman, Ph.D., director of the Center for Government Services at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Safety of Rutgers University, New Brunswick, will discuss "Fiscal Implications of a Changing New Jersey Economy." The fee to attend is $10 per person and includes a continental breakfast. For reservations, call (732) 462-3030; fax (732) 462-2123; or e-mail ad[email protected]. For additional details, visit the Web site.
Business After Hours, sponsored by the Western Monmouth Chamber of Commerce, will be hosted by Tomar Industries Nov. 18 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at Tomar’s new facility, 300 Commerce Drive, Freehold Township. The fee is $10 per person and includes refreshments. Attendees should bring business cards. For reservations and information, call (732) 780-2200.
Financial Services Career Night will be held Nov. 20 at 6:59 p.m. at Primerica, Juniper Office Plaza, 3499 Route 9 north, Suite 2A, Freehold Township. Primerica is a member of Citigroup. The event is designed to introduce attendees to ways they can earn additional income part time while helping families solve their financial problems. For reservations, call Lynette at (732) 845-0006.
The ERA Brokers of New Jersey announced the addition of its Real Estate Simulator, a career assessment tool, to its Web site at ERANJ.com.
Developed by Upward Motion, a Canadian-based company that provides state-of-the-art technology for assessment and training using simulation technology, the Real Estate Simulator uses video segments and role playing to recreate actual challenges that a real estate associate could encounter in a typical day.
The tool uses a three-in-one assessment strategy that involves role play, problem solving and a personality profile to determine whether a visitor is suited for a career in real estate. During the simulation, the "real estate associate" experiences an entire sales cycle that evaluates his or her ability to "cold call" a new prospect, negotiate contracts, deal with personality issues, understand client needs, and handle objections. After an assessment program is completed, the Real Estate Simulator compares the visitor’s responses with those of the real estate industry’s top performers and provides comprehensive information about the visitor’s strengths and weaknesses.
The ERA Real Estate network includes more than 28,000 brokers and sales associates throughout the United States and 31 other countries and territories.
People Empowering People (PEP), a group of business owners and professionals in the Monmouth County area, meets the second Monday of each month. There is no cost to become a member, and refreshments are served at the meetings. For more information, call Sandy Franco at (732) 863-9955.
Business Network International (BNI), Freehold area chapter, holds a breakfast meeting each Wednesday morning from 7-8:30 a.m. at the Cornerstone Cafe, Main and South streets, Freehold. The purpose of BNI is to assist members in growing their businesses by networking leads within the membership. Entrepreneurs as well as established business owners are invited to attend. For further information, call Rob Friedman, membership chairman, at (732) 845-5200.
Freehold Center Partnership recently presented its "Proud to Be a Partner" awards to seven borough businesses and organizations that demonstrate support for the partnership’s goal of fostering economic development and continued revitalization, while preserving the borough’s historic past.
"The awards are one way of recognizing members for downtown facade improvements," said Jayne Carr, the partnership’s executive director. "But in addition to following our design standards for construction and renovation, this year’s recipients contributed to the partnership’s goals on many levels."
Those levels include business development, planning, marketing, communications, promoting culture and the arts in the borough, and hosting activities and special events that are produced with the financial support of the partnership’s sponsors, Carr said.
Three county organizations and individuals within the organizations were recognized for their roles in the acquisition and restoration of the original marble Columbia Triumphant statue, and the design, construction, landscaping and completion of Columbia Triumphant Park on East Main Street. The county award recipients included:
The Monmouth County Board of Freeholders, accepted by Freeholder Theodore Narozanick and Teri O’Connor, assistant in the county administrative office; the Monmouth County Department of Public Works and Engineering, accepted by Superintendent Leo Carling; and the Monmouth County Planning Board, accepted by Robert W. Clark, director, and Bonnie Goldschlag, assistant director.
Additional recipients are:
Freehold Borough YMCA, 41 Center St. — Cynthia Joy and Mel O’Neal were recognized for creating programs to prepare youth in the borough to become future community members. The programs include 14 annual events, summer activities, and educational initiatives via mentoring in partnership with members of the business community.
Goodfella’s — Owner Vincent Saia was honored for the completed renovation of the facade and interior of his new downtown restaurant at 31 E. Main St.
KMK Realty Association — Chris and Charles Kaemffer were honored for the total facade renovation of their investment at 6 Throckmorton St., an area that the partnership has identified as the next stage for redevelopment and resources.
"Proud to Be a Partner" awards, created six years ago, are framed certificates designed by Jeffrey Valiante, president of Freehold Beautiful Inc. For additional information, visit the Web site www.freeholdcenter.com or call (732) 462-3584.