Sponsors Needed for 20th Annual Columbus Day Parade and Italian Festival
Who knew that the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Americas on October 12, 1492, would still be celebrated today more than 500 years later as Columbus Day, a federal holiday! Who knew that one of the major celebrations in Ocean County, New Jersey, would be the annual Columbus Day Parade and Italian Festival, now celebrating its twentieth anniversary.
The Columbus Day Parade and Italian Festival will be held Friday, October 7 through Sunday, October 9, Grant Avenue, Seaside Heights. The weekend festival culminates on Sunday, October 9 on the Boulevard with an exciting parade beginning at 1:00 p.m. The parade, viewed by thousands, is made up of floats, bands, organizations, a folkloric group from Italy, eight state police officers from Italy, and much more.
Michael Blandina, parade chairman, says, “The parade and Italian festival could never have become a reality without the generosity of our sponsors. The cost of hosting the parade and festival easily exceeds $120,000.00 each year. Naturally, we are looking for corporations,businesses, or organizations, and individuals to sponsor our twentieth year celebration.”
Available sponsorships include large bands, floats, the antique car show, entertainment, the Treasure Chest Prize Give-away, the entertaining and dining tent, entertainers from Italy, and the Italian Festival, among others.
Other opportunities include fund-raising raffles, and a benefit on September 10, 2011, at Carrabba’s Italian Grill, Brick Township.
Jerry Bove, owner of LaBove Grande Restaurant, Lakehurst, who with the parade committee is hosting eight of the state Italian police officers for the week, says, “It is a great thing to see two countries coming together for the Columbus Day parade and celebration. This is our own Jersey parade, the best parade in the country! We want to make the police officers’ stay a pleasurable one, and we want this relationship to continue to grow. We want them to feel that when they leave the United States, they still have family here.”
To make sure sponsors are included in all advertising efforts, anyone who would like to become a sponsor should respond by September 19, 2011. For questions and more information, call Michael Blandina at 732-477-6507.
Trenton’s New Online UEZ Application Is a Success
As of July 1, 2011, Lakewood business owners can apply to become UEZ businesses by registering online at www.nj.gov/njbusiness/financing/geographic/uez_program.shtml.
The new online certification process is being promoted by the UEZ in order to streamline the certification process and make the program more business friendly.
Once online, visitors can fill out an application. Anchor Auto Lease, Inc., 319 River Avenue, Lakewood, N.J., was the second business to file online for certification into the UEZ program.
Mindy Atlas at Anchor Auto Lease said, “It really was self-explanatory and very easy to fill out. The forms were well-designed and very clear. It was also nice that you could save the application and come back to it later without having to put in the information again.”
Yehuda Abraham, director of business development in Lakewood, says, “Anchor Auto Lease was approved as a UEZ business in two days instead of the usual four or more weeks.”
Business owners can still file to become a UEZ business in person at the UEZ offices, Second Floor, 231 Third Street, Lakewood, or have an application mailed to them. Lakewood UEZ officials are always available to help applicants and answer questions.
In the last two months alone, 25 new businesses have applied to the UEZ program. To date, 466 businesses in Lakewood are UEZ certified. Patricia Komsa, executive director of the UEZ, says, “With the latest boundary modification approval, we are anticipating that many more businesses will be applying for certification.”
For more information, contact Yehuda Abraham at 732-364-2500 Ext. 5217.
Expo Features Five Free Business Seminars
The 3rd Annual Lakewood Regional Business and Industry Expo, Thursday, July 21, 2011, is featuring five free business seminars throughout the day at Lake Terrace Hall, Lakewood Industrial Park,
1690 Oak Street, in addition to an exhibition hall packed with more than 90 Monmouth Ocean county businesses. Seminars include:
1.) Noon – 12:50 p.m.: Davanti Digital, “Social Media Marketing”
2.) 1:00 – 1:50 p.m.: Ron Valvano, Valvano Business Solutions, “Leverage Email Marketing with Social Media”
3.) 2:00 – 2:50 p.m.: Stephen Fraundorfer, Professional Empowerment, “Are You Speaking the Right Language in Business?”
4.) 3:00 – 3:50 p.m.: Phil ‘Avner’ Costeff ,“Graduating from a Ma and Pa to a Function-based Business”
5.) 4:00 – 4:50 p.m.: Sherry Rush, Marketing Specialist for NJIT, “Government 101: How to Do Business with the Federal Government”
No preregistration necessary.
This year participants and vendors at the Business Expo will enjoy a no-charge Business Analysis. Phil Costeff, founder of Business Consulting LLC who has consulted to hundreds of businesses nationwide, will meet with the owner, analyze the business and give his recommendations to improve sales, operations and finances.
Most business owners will get at least two or three good business ideas on how to improve their business and increase its profits. To set up an appointment or for more information, stop by Business Consulting LLC’s booth at the Expo or
participate in their 3 p.m. workshop.
Last year about 1,000 people attended the Expo from noon to 5:00 p.m., enjoying prizes, screenings, special offers, give-a-ways and free business seminars hosted by The Lakewood Development Corporation, Lakewood’s UEZ program, and the Lakewood Industrial Commission. Admission and ample parking are free.
Some exhibition space is still available beginning at $175.00. Contact Anita Doyle, Lakewood Industrial Commission,732-364-2500 Ext. 5395, to become an exhibitor.
Patricia Komsa, executive director of the Lakewood Development, says, “This is a great opportunity for area-wide businesses to showcase their goods and services at a reasonable price.”
The Expo sponsors to date are BlueClaws, E-Video Productions, Gem Ambulance, Greater Media Newspapers, Greater Media Radio Stations (The WRAT, 95.9 and Magic 100.1), Greenwald Caterers, Investors Bank, Jersey Shore Business Leaders, The Jewish Journal, Latinos Unidos, the Monmouth Ocean Development Council, NJ Biz, The Lakewood Shopper, and The Voice in cooperation with the Brick, Lakewood, Southern Monmouth, and Greater Monmouth chambers of commerce.
Orthopedic Practice Expands into Ocean County
Advanced Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Institute (AOSMI), one of the fastest growing orthopedic practices in Monmouth County with offices in Freehold, Monroe, and Wall townships, is opening its first satellite office in Ocean County, August 1, 2011, at 161 Bartley Rd, Jackson, N.J. 08527. For further information, call 732-961-8448.
Board-certified orthopedic surgeons Michael J. Greller, Gregg Berkowitz, Gerardo Goldberger, Manuel T. Banzon, James F. Cozzarelli, Alan Nasar and Grigory Goldberg, and podiatric surgeon Dr. Gerald Mauriello, Jr. will see patients Monday afternoons, Tuesday mornings, and all day Thursdays.
According to Dr. Michael J. Greller,president of AOSMI, the doctors of AOSMI decided to expand their services for the convenience of their many patients who live in Ocean County. Medical services offered by AOSMI include sports medicine, hand and wrist care, shoulder and knee care, podiatry, joint replacement, fracture care, osteoporosis care, spine care, and work injury care, among others.
The Advanced Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Institute (AOSMI) is an orthopedic practice located at Pond View Professional Park, 301 Professional View Drive, Freehold; 312 Applegarth Road, Monroe Township; and Autumn Ridge, Building #1, Suite 212, 3350 Route 138, Wall, N.J. AOSMI a state-of-the-art orthopedic practice that provides advanced medical care. The physicians at AOSMI have a combined 100 years of experience. For more information, call 732-720-2555 or visit WWW.AdvancedOrthoSports.com.
Magic 100.1 and Marine Max’s Aquapalooza!
What’s summer at the Shore without a day of fun, frolicking in the water! Join boaters, sailors, rowers, swimmers, kayakers or jet skiers at Marine Max’s Aquapalooza, hosted by Magic 100.1, for some traditional Shore fun on Saturday, July 16 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Aquapalooza is the annual celebration that takes place on the water at Tice’s Shoal, an area adjacent to Island Beach State Park on Barnegat Bay.
The band “Big Bang Baby” will be performing and Magic’s morning show host Glenn Kalina and Keebler of Magic 100.1 will be broadcasting live on the water. The Magic 100.1 staff from Greater Media radio will be on hand giving away Magic t-shirts, beach balls, and more!
Aquapalooza is free and open to the public. For further information, visit MagicVariety.com or contact Marie Senkeleski, promotions director of Magic 100.1, at 609-597-1100 ext 204.
WRAT-FM (95.9) and WJRZ-FM (Magic 100.1) are radio stations that are owned and operated by Greater Media New Jersey, a subsidiary of Greater Media, Inc. Greater Media, Inc. is the parent company of twenty-three AM and FM radio stations in the Boston, Charlotte, Detroit, New Jersey, and Philadelphia markets.
Greater Media also owns a modern printing plant and a group of weekly papers in central New Jersey, as well as several telecommunications towers, located throughout the United States.
Take Control of Your Investments Even in This Economy
Investing in today’s market is like being on a roller coaster. With the right ingredients in your portfolio, however, you can control the ride even in today’s economy. Join Kenneth B. Shapiro, CPA/PFS, CFP®*, Toms River, president of Shapiro Financial Security Group, Inc., Hazlet, for a free Webinar conference, “The Investment Roller Coaster Ride,” hosted by New Jersey Society of CPAs (NJCPA) on Wednesday, June 22 from noon to 1:00 p.m.
Shapiro says, “Building an investment portfolio is very similar to preparing a nice meal. Not enough seasoning and the food will taste quite bland; too much seasoning and you can ruin the meal. Individuals have a tendency to take on too much risk in their investment portfolio and then panic when markets turn against them.”
Shapiro will teach Webinar participants how to build and maintain investment portfolios, sprinkled with the appropriate amount of risk that will perform well during both good and bad markets.
To participate in the Webinar, visit Moneymattersnj.org. Scroll down the right side, and click on Free Webinar (right below picture of nest egg) for a link to the event. A video of the Webinar will be made available to registrants afterwards. For further information or to have Shapiro speak about financial literacy to your organization, contact Ken Shapiro at 732-739-8991 or email him at KShapiro@ShapiroFSG.com.
About Kenneth Shapiro: Kenneth Shapiro provides financial programs and information through NJSCPA’s (New Jersey Society of CPAs) public service Website www.MoneyMattersNJ.com., gives free seminars to the public, participates in podcasts about financial issues, and spends time educating students about the merits of saving and ways to stay fiscally healthy. He has helped raise funds for Junior Achievement of N.J., an organization designed to teach N.J. youth to save and spend money wisely.
Shapiro, whose mission is to spread financial literacy, was named the 2008-09 Community Volunteer of the Year by the NJSCPA for his more than 100 hours of helping others. He is a director of Monmouth Ocean County Chapter of NJSCPA. He is serving as co-chairman the chapter’s Financial Literacy Committee, chairman of the Personal Financial Planning Committee, and a member of the Eldercare Committee.
Shapiro Financial Security Group, an a independent Registered Investment Advisory firm currently managing approximately $45 million is assets, provides fee-based financial planning, tax compliance, and investment advisory services.
*CPA, Certified Public Accountant; PFS, Personal Financial Specialist; CFP, Certified Financial Planner ###
Success of Meet and Greet Prompts Another Program – Dr. Cardamone and Assoc. Explain New Pregnancy Program
Meet Dr. Cardamone and other doctors from AOSMI to learn about this new program on Friday, June 10 from noon to 2:00 p.m. at the offices of AOSMI, 301 Professional View Drive, Freehold, N.J. Light refreshments will be served.
From the moment of conception, a woman’s body changes; and those changes can cause back pain, fatigue, postural problems, leg cramps, and other problems. Starting a wellness and fitness program early in pregnancy helps woman develop strength and endurance during labor, delivery, and beyond.
Integrative Healing and Wellness for Women promotes wellness and pain management during pregnancy and during the postpartum period by focusing on many aspects, such as evaluation and feedback by a pain management physician, podiatry care, breathing awareness, home exercises, and integrative yoga workshops, among others.
Dr. Kristie Kim, a physiatrist, and Dr. Gerald Mauriello, a podiatric surgeon, doctors at AOSMI; and Karena Virginia, a yoga instructor, will also be present to explain the program and answer questions. For more information, visit www.AdvancedOrthoSports.com/wellness. To register, call Jessica Wilcox at 732-665-1600.
The Advanced Orthopedics and Sports Medicine Institute (AOSMI) is an orthopedic practice located at Pond View Professional Park, 301 Professional View Drive, Freehold, and 312 Applegarth Road, Monroe Township. The surgeons at AOSMI, who have a combined 100 years of experience, provide advanced medical care. For more information, call 732-720-2555 or visit www.AdvancedOrthoSports.com.
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UEZ Open Enrollment Workshop – New Boundaries Include More Businesses
What if purchases you made for your business were tax exempt; what if customers were attracted to shop in your store because the sales tax was only 3 ½ percent; and what if you had special grant and loan opportunities? Being a certified UEZ (Urban Enterprise Zone) business gives business owners all these advantages and costs nothing to belong.
Because of a shift in Lakewood’s burgeoning commercial population, the UEZ Authority in Trenton recently approved new UEZ boundaries for Lakewood, creating more than 75 to 100 opportunities for Lakewood businesses to become UEZ certified.
If you are now within the UEZ boundaries and don’t know where to begin to become a certified UEZ business, UEZ officials will help you. If you never took the time to become a UEZ business, UEZ officials will help you too.
All business owners in the UEZ are invited to a workshop Thursday, June 16 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Conference Room C, Lakewood Municipal Building, 231 Third Street. During this open registration session, UEZ officials will walk eligible business owners through the process of becoming certified. Business representatives should bring a copy of the lease for their business, their business registration certificate, articles of incorporation if applicable, and their tax identification number.
The business centers now included in Lakewood’s UEZ are The Market Place and Washington Square shopping centers, Cedar Bridge Avenue; office buildings at 910 and 921 East County Line Road; the CVS shopping center, Route 88 and New Hampshire Avenue; the land at the corner of Route 70 and New Hampshire Avenue, 400,000-square-foot mixed-use site for retail, commercial and office space; and the business park, 144 Cross Street.
To determine if your business is in the zone or for more information, call 732-364-2500 Ext. 5217.
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Teeth Whitening Benefits Children with Cancer
Some people have already done it; others are about to. And it’s all for a good cause. If you see people with beautifully whitened teeth, chances are they are participating in the 2011 Smiles for Life Campaign, sponsored each year by Toms River dentist Dr. Ron Rotem.
Dr. Rotem, a member of the national Crown Council, contributes 100 percent of his fees to charity for professionally whitening teeth from March 1 through June 30. Through the national Smiles for Life Campaign, Dr. Rotem has donated $21,000.00 during the past seven years to charities, especially Ocean of Love, a nonprofit organization that aids families whose children have cancer.
This year, Dr. Rotem has already raised $2,100.00. Dr. Rotem says, “If you are planning to professionally whiten your teeth, this is a wonderful opportunity to do something for yourself and, at the same time, make a difference in a child’s life.” The campaign ends June 30.
To contribute to the 2011 Smiles for Life Campaign, call Dr. Rotem’s office to reserve a date for whitening (732 – 341 – 8500).
Since 1998, The Smiles for Life Foundation, the charitable arm of the Crown Council, has raised more than $15 million for children’s charities across North America because members of Crown Council dental practices have agreed to donate the cost of professional tooth whitening during the Smiles for Life campaign.
Dr. Rotem was graduated from NYU College of Dentistry in 1991. His practice focuses on cosmetic dentistry and conscious sedation. Dr. Rotem belongs to theAmericanAcademyof Cosmetic Dentistry. He is affiliated with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, NJ Chapter of the Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, the Dental Organization of Conscious Sedation, the International College of Cranial Mandibular Orthopedics, the American Dental Association, the New Jersey Dental Association, Monmouth/Ocean Dental Society, and the Academy of General Dentistry. Dr. Rotem is an active member of the Crown Council. He is also a member of the Jersey Shore Business Network,TomsRiver, and the Toms River Chapter of Toastmasters.
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Jeans Day Friday at Financial Resources CU Raised $4,000 for Charity
Bridgewater NJ – Financial Resources Federal Credit Union employees raised $4,000 for charitable contributions by donating at least five dollars for wearing jeans the second and last Friday of each month. Financial Resources FCU matched 100 percent of all “Jeans Day Friday” donations.
The Credit Union’s Foundation distributes the Jeans Day funds to local charitable organizations, some of which were recommended by Credit Union employees, and previously considered for the Financial Resources FCU Foundation annual charity event but not chosen as the primary recipient.
Each of the following recipients received $1,000 as a result of the “Jeans Day Friday” program: Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children’s Hospital (Child Life Program); Center for Educational Advancement; Prevent Child Abuse; and Hunterdon Helpline.
Specialists at the Children’s Hospital of Robert Wood Johnson help children and families manage stressful health care experiences by using educational and therapeutic interventions. The Center for Educational Advancement, a nonprofit organization, helps persons with significant disabilities or other social disadvantages by providing employment, and by giving job and social skill support and preparation. Prevent Child Abuse is a nonprofit whose mission is to prevent all forms of child abuse for all New Jersey children. Hunterdon Helpline, which handles thousands of calls yearly, provides information and referral services by directly contacting the appropriate public and private social services and government agencies.
Lena Matthews, President and CEO of the Credit Union and Chairman of the Financial Resources FCU Foundation, expressed gratitude for the support shown by the Credit Union’s employees, “On behalf of the employees of Financial Resources FCU, we are delighted to support these organizations.”
Financial Resources FCU established “Jeans Day Friday” in 2005, borrowing the approach to “Casual Fridays.” With more than 50 employees at the Bridgewater location of Financial Resources FCU, the opportunity for a relaxed day at work built significant funds over the course of a year to support the charities. Since 2005, the program has raised over $25,000.
For more information, contact Dan Gontcharenko, Director of Marketing, 908-253-6431.
About Financial Resources Federal Credit Union
Financial Resources Federal Credit Union, formerly the Ethicon Employees Federal Credit Union, is a federally chartered credit union that offers a variety of financial products and services to its members, and business services for its member companies, organizations, and the communities of Flemington, N.J., and the greater New Brunswick/Somerset, N.J. area. Financial Resources is regulated by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), and savings are federally insured to at least $250,000 and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government. Headquartered in Bridgewater, N.J., Financial Resources has almost 25,000 members and total assets of $400 million. Visit www.MyFinancialResources.org for more information.
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