Lakewood Honors Peter Johner, Area Manager of JCPL
Lakewood Mayor Menashe Miller and the Township Committee recently presented a plaque to Peter Johner, JCP&L area manager for Ocean and Monmouth counties, to express appreciation to Johner for his dedication and commitment in helping the township and its residents.
Mayor Menashe Miller said, “There is a lot of growth in our town; a lot of building. We are truly lucky – people want to live here. At the same time, growth such as ours brings growing pains. One of the issues we had a few years back were several power outages that took place all around Lakewood.”
A particular area that seemed to have excessive power outages was Westgate. Pete Johner pledged to work out the problems. Since then, there have been no further problems. Another issue was that street lights were not being repaired within a proper time frame.
Mayor Miller said, “At that time, I called Pete Johner to come here and we lashed out at JCP&L. At that time, we were furious.”
Recently, however, the Township Committee summoned Peter Johner to recognize the effort he has made to help Lakewood. “I am pleased with everything Pete Johner has done. I was the first one to chastise JCP&L and I am the first one to express my appreciation to them,” said Mayor Miller.
Committeeman Meir Lichtenstein said, “Our working relationship with JCP&L has really grown a lot. Last week I was in an 1 ½ hour meeting with Greg Stafford-Smith, Peter Johner, and a lot of the heads of the engineering department and the lines departments, discussing the growth of Lakewood and how to prepare and make sure we have enough ‘juice’ going forward.
“Of course, like the mayor said, we worked very closely with JCP&L on the street lights and during superstorm Sandy. JCP&L was constantly in contact with us, and I think it was a lot of hard work on Pete’s part. It certainly is a pleasure working with you, Pete, and it will continue to be a pleasure to work with you even if at any point in the future you decide you want to retire. We look forward to continuing to work with JCP&L. Thank you.”
Johner thanked the Mayor Miller and the entire council for the award. “I really do appreciate it and I feel honored. We have gone through a lot of issues within the Township. We know that the town is growing, and we want to be there to fit the needs of that growth. We’re going to do that. In fact, we just had a meeting recently to talk about all that growth over the next 15 – 16 years. And we’re going to be there. A lot of people believe that we don’t have the resources to do what we need to do. We do. Perhaps there a few shortcomings here and there, but we are working on that. We are committed to being responsive to Lakewood and its residents, and help to get things done.”
Lawyer by Day – Band Leader by Night – Joe Hughes and Goldenseal to Perform at Lions Fundraiser
Call him the Renaissance Man. By day Joseph G. Hughes can be found in the courtroom or at the Red Bank law firm Zager Fuchs P.C. where he is a full partner. In the evening and on weekends, he’s playing guitar and singing in his band Goldenseal.
He’s also a songwriter, volunteer and philanthropist who likes to raise money for good causes and is a member in multiple charitable organizations, such as the West Long Branch Lions Club. Hughes and his band will be taking center stage Saturday, September 13, 2014, at the Lions Club fundraising dinner dance dubbed A Night with Goldenseal.
The event from 6:30 to 11:30 p.m. will take place at the Elks Club, 150 Garfield Ave., Long Branch, and includes a buffet dinner, dancing, cash bar, and a gift auction. Reservations/tickets are $50 per person.
Tom DeBruin, West Long Branch Lions’ Club president, said Hughes and the band are donating their time to perform at the event.
“Joe is a very charitable guy,” said DeBruin, adding that the money raised will go to Lions Club charities, including a local scholarship fund, local charities like the West Long Branch Community Center and Lions Club programs for the blind and visually impaired.
If you live anywhere down the shore, chances are you’ve heard Goldenseal play. The band plays about 70 shows a year, plus Hughes has released three original records. The band, by the way, is named after an herbal supplement called goldenseal, which is believed to boost a person’s immunity to sickness.
“I thought this name was appropriate because I’ve always wanted to perform music that is uplifting and leaves the listener with a positive feeling,” Hughes said.
Growing up, Hughes said he sang in the church choir and spring concerts at school. “I went to law school and passed the bar and got a job as a lawyer,” said Hughes, who is married to Pamela. “At the age of 38, I learned some chords and started writing music and playing open mics.”
Hughes, 52, comes from a musical family. His brother Jerry plays eight instruments and writes musicals, symphonies and popular music. “When I’m not practicing law, I’m performing or writing or practicing music.
“Many of my clients have become fans of my band. Many of my fans have also become clients. Law and music intertwine nicely. And I enjoy both very much,” said Hughes, whose band regularly performs at Bar Association events.
And then there are the many gigs they play each year. Goldenseal has played by the invitation of the military at Fort Dix, McGuire Air Force Base, and Fort Monmouth. They’ve supported veterans, their families and charities, such as the Federated Food Banks of New Jersey and the Jersey Shore Jazz and Blues Foundation. In addition, Goldenseal has donated its time and CD sales from Streets of America to the veteran’s organization Vetwork (www.vetwork).
The band’s repertoire includes Americana-based original patriotic rock tunes, including Streets of America ; This Is My Home and Rock This Place, tunes that have led to record label interest and a “Top Male Performer” nomination at the 2013 JAM (Jersey Acoustic Music) awards for Hughes. They’ve appeared with national acts, including Rick Springfield, Better Than Ezra, Bobby Bandiera, Southside Johnny and Chris Barron of The Spin Doctors. Their style of music has been described as cutting edge pop/rock and roll and the lyrics are positive and uplifting.
Goldenseal’s band members are Pat Martucci, Union, drums; Jesse Kessler, Edison, bass; John Bongiovanni, Wallington, lead guitar; Lee Sanderson, Red Bank, saxophone; Steve Fox, Millstone, rhythm guitar; Barry Edison, Ocean, keyboard; Pete Schwartz, Fort Lee, keyboard; Dennis Eschbach, Red Bank, trombone; Fred Wolf, Jackson, trumpet; Cyndi White, Ocean, backup singer, and Carole Gileski, North Brunswick, backup singer.
For more information about Goldenseal, visit www.goldensealtheband.com and for more information about Zager Fuchs, P.C., contact Hughes at 732- 747-3700 or email him at jhughes@zagerfuchs.com.
The West Long Branch Lions Club dinner dance fundraiser A Night with Goldenseal is open to the public. Reservations may be made by mailing a check made out to WLB Lions with your contact information to Liz Foggia, 39 Victor Ave., West Long Branch, NJ 07764. If you have questions about the event, contact DeBruin at 732-859-2486.
Dine to Donate to THE STRAND – Fundraiser
Miss Piggy once said, “Never eat more than you can lift”; BUT, you can at THE STRAND fundraiser at Houlihan’s this September!
The board of THE STRAND is inviting the public to a fundraiser Tuesday, September 23 from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. at Houlihan’s Restaurant, 491 Route 70 East, Brick, N.J. (732-262-5100).
Just present a flyer and eat. Houlihan’s will donate 10 percent of the proceeds for the evening to benefit THE STRAND as long as you present the flyer about this event.
Download the flyer at www.strand.org. For more information, call Fran, the office manager, at 732-367-7789 ext. 214.
About the Strand Theater
The Strand Theater, 400 Clifton Avenue, Lakewood, opened in 1922 and was designed by world-renowned theater architect Thomas Lamb. Listed on both the New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places, the Strand hosts up to 50,000 patrons each year. The Strand offers year-round entertainment in plush, air-conditioned surroundings.
It is a perfect venue to showcase comedians, musicals, dinner theater, stars from television and movies, and legendary musical entertainers. The Strand also offers educational opportunities for youth through its well-regarded School for the Arts. The reception gallery includes a catering facility for 250 people, a dance floor, and restrooms. It is ideal for theater-in-the-round, smaller events and receptions.
How Much Risk Are You Willing to Take? Lakewood LIC to Host Free Business Seminar
Every business faces risks. Do you know what yours are? What about the risks you never even thought about? If you are the CEO or executive of a company in the Industrial Park who employs 50 or more people, this seminar is designed for you.
Join the Lakewood Industrial Commission (LIC) for a free business seminar and breakfast, featuring a panel of experts who will help you identify and address your business risks. Learn about new regulations and what you can do to protect your company on Tuesday, September 16, 2014, from 8:30 to 11:00 a.m. in the Conference Room of the Lakewood BlueClaws, 2 Stadium Way, Lakewood, N.J. (732-901-7000).
The focus of the seminar is to identify operational risks emerging in 2014, including issues surrounding human resources, the effects of the Affordable Care Act, and technology-related exposures. The panel will also discuss some risk management strategies to reduce exposures.
The presenters are Robin Campbell, Risk Manager, Pavese-McCormick Agency, a commercial insurance agency; Sam Christopher, Northeast Professional Planning Group, a full-service employee benefits, retirement planning and actuarial consulting firm; and Bill Healey, Kluger Healey Attorneys at Law, who specializes in management-side labor and employment law services for businesses of all sizes.
For more information or to register, contact Anita Doyle, 732-364-2500 Ext. 5395 or anitadoyle@lakewoodnj.gov.
Got Competencies? Now What? September Meeting of Human Resources Group
“My company just spent the last eight months and a good amount of money developing a competency framework and now it’s just a binder collecting dust on my shelf.” Sound familiar?
To avoid statements like the one above, it is critical to create valid competency models to identify behaviors that lead to success and integrate them to ensure optimal system alignment and drive superior business strategies, results.
Learn about competency model fundamentals and how to implement them effectively on September 11, 2014, at the Jersey Shore Association for Human Resources (JSAHR) meeting, 8:00 to 10:00 a.m., at Jumping Brook Country Club, 210 Jumping Brook Road, Neptune, N.J.
The registration fee for the September meeting, including a full buffet breakfast, is $30.00 for JSAHR members; $40.00 for nonmembers; $25.00 for those in-transition, and $10.00 for full-time students.
Merrill Lynch Stizz Clawson Group is sponsoring the September program. This program is pending approval for 1.0 recertification credit hour toward PHR and SPHR recertification through the Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI).
To register, visit www.jsahr.shrm.org/events or contact Sarah Heckman, JSAHR administrator, at 732-965-7247 or email jsahr.shrm@gmail.com. JSAHR is a Gold Excel award winner of SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management).
About the Speaker: Luciano Gregoretti is an International Talent Management and Human Resources Consultant for TalentFirst, a consulting firm that specializes in designing and deploying integrated talent management strategies and tactics across a wide range of companies, including Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Panasonic, and the U.S. Army. His job is to provide companies actionable talent management solutions, including broad-scale competency models and competency-based tools.
Gregoretti started his career in the human resources department of Pirelli Tire, in Europe, working in training and talent acquisition. Prior to joining TalentFirst, Gregoretti had also consulted for several European companies in the pharmaceutical, retail, luxury, financial services and automotive industries. Gregoretti holds a B.S. in psychology and a M.S. in social, industrial and organizational psychology.
Free Big Band Music Concert in Lakewood – Last Music Concert for This Summer
Lakewood residents can enjoy a free Township music concert by Wilbur Wittemann and his Bootcamp Big Band, Wednesday, August 27 from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. at the Lakewood All Wars Memorial Amphitheater near Lake Carasaljo, off Route 9, on North Lake Drive.
The concert is sponsored by Investors Bank, Lakewood, and Dr. Gary Wheeler, Lakewood Family Dentistry, Route70, Lakewood.
Bootcamp Big Band, one of the premier big bands on the East coast, is made up of 20 professional musicians from New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Washington, D.C., performing Big Band styles from the 1940s. Current jazz pieces will include Harry James, Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, Maynard Ferguson and Count Basie.
This band has performed and recorded with jazz artists Dizzy Gillespie, Maynard Ferguson, Slide Hampton, Clark Terry, Louis Bellson, Phil Woods, Al Cohn, Urbie Green, Bill Watrous, Arturo Sandoval, Allen Vizutti, Bobby Shew, Byron Stripling, Lew Soloff, Tal Farlow, Kenny Davern, Bob Mintzer, Claudio Roditi, Red Rodney, Dave Weckl.
Plenty of free parking and seating are available but feel free to bring lawn chairs. For more information and directions visit www.lakewoodjazz.com.
Free Caribbean Sunset Music Concert in Lakewood
Lakewood residents can enjoy a free Township music concert by the Mark James Caribbean Sunset Band from Philadelphia, Wednesday, August 20 at 7:00 p.m. at the Lakewood All Wars Memorial Amphitheater near Lake Carasaljo, off Route 9, on North Lake Drive.
The concert is sponsored by Investors Bank, Lakewood, and Dr. Gary Wheeler, Lakewood Family Dentistry, Route70, Lakewood.
The performances of singer, songwriter and entertainer Mark James along with the steel drums sounds of Kristian Paradis, the director of the University of Delaware Steel Drum Band, will transport listeners to the tropics, a luau, and even the Caribbean.
Plenty of free parking and seating are available but feel free to bring lawn chairs. For more information, call the Lakewood Recreation office at 732-905-3405 or visit www.lakewoodnj.gov.
Free Seminar Provides Information on Veterans’ Benefits
Preferred Home Health Care & Nursing Services is presenting a free seminar on veterans’ benefits, Wednesday, August 20, 2014, from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Burnt Tavern Rehabilitation & Health Care Center, 1049 Burnt Tavern Road, Brick.
Frank Quardrino, director of community outreach from the U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs, will present information about VA health care, including eligibility, primary care, community-based clinics, eyeglasses, hearing aids, dental, prescriptions, billing, and how to file a claim for VA disability.
Lunch is included. To register, call 732-840-3700 at the Burnt Tavern Rehabilitation & Health Care Center.
About Preferred Home Health Care & Nursing Services:
Since 1987, Preferred Home Health Care & Nursing Services (PHHC), 45 Main Street, Eatontown, N.J., has provided a wide range of medical and non-medical home health care services from pediatric to geriatric care throughout New Jersey and Pennsylvania. PHHC is accredited by CHAP (Community Health Accreditation Program), an accrediting organization for the home health care industry.
Preferred works collaboratively with physicians, hospitals, nursing homes and facilities to ensure a smooth transition to one’s home. In-house services include skilled nursing care for infants, children, adults, and seniors; personal care services, including bathing, grooming, dressing, feeding, etc.; private duty nursing services; and at-home physical therapy, among others. All of the care can be provided in-house and is coordinated by registered nurses, with clinical supervision available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Visit Preferred at PreferredCares.com for more information.
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ocean County Receives Check from WJRZ, Greater Media Radio
It was as good as a hole-in-one! WJRZ, Greater Media Radio, presented Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ocean County (BBBS) with a check for $5,709, proceeds from the Hittin’ The Links Golf Tournament, held June 26, 2014, at the Sea Oaks Golf Club, Little Egg Harbor Township, N.J.
Sue Sedivec, CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ocean County, said, “Thank you to WJRZ and everyone who participated in the golf tournament. This check will help us to continue offering help to Ocean County children, ages 5 to 17, who are in this life-changing preventive program.”
For further information, contact Sue Sedivec, 732-505-3400.
About BBBS (Taken from the WJRZ website): BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF OCEAN COUNTY (BBBSOC) is a life-changing preventive program. BBBS currently provide community, school and site based programs to over 600 children, aged 5 thru 17, in Ocean County. The mission of BBBS to provide children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one relationships that change their lives for the better, forever.
BBBS partner with parent/guardians, volunteers and others in the community and hold ourselves accountable for each child in our program achieving higher aspirations, greater confidence, and better relationships; avoidance of risky behaviors; and educational success. For those children, “Littles” who participate in the program, the success rate is significant.
BBBS is proud to say that all of the children who have been served since its inception in 1997 have graduated high school and gone on to college or vocational training. More than 115 children are on a waiting list so Big Brothers, Big Sisters volunteers are needed. Funding for our services comes from grants, fund raising events and donations from the community, with 100 percent donations staying in Ocean County.
Free Children’s Music Concert Tonight in Lakewood
Children will love this free concert! Yosi and Eugene, a super friendly monster who is misunderstood by nearly everyone except young children, are performing tonight August 13 from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m., with songs, stories and humor designed to bring kids closer to understanding one another.
See Yosi and Eugene at the Lakewood All Wars Memorial Amphitheater near Lake Carasaljo, off Route 9, on North Lake Drive. The concert is sponsored by Investors Bank, Lakewood, and Dr. Gary Wheeler, Lakewood Family Dentistry, Route70, Lakewood.
Plenty of free parking and seating are available but feel free to bring lawn chairs. For more information call Lakewood Recreation at 732-905-3405.