All Children of Pine Belt Employees Receive College Scholarship

Posted on October 16, 2023 By

Paying back college student loans can be a disheartening experience. Rob Sickel, owner of Pine Belt Cars, 1088 Route 88, Lakewood, however, is giving the children of his employees a head start. Any employee who has high school student about to enter any two- or four-year college, technical, or vocational school will get a $1000 scholarship from Pine Belt.

Pine Belt Enterprises has been a family-owned automotive dealership since 1937. Robert Sickel is the 3rd generation owner of Pine Belt, passed down from his grandfather, Leon and father, David. Before taking over the business in 2004, Rob Sickel earned a degree in Business Administration at the University of Miami. Robert has always enjoyed supporting his employees and the local communities through his personal and business efforts.

We’re Hiring! Pine Belt Cars is offering a $500 employee referral. The employee must remain employed for at least 90 days. Contact us to learn more. Contact Joseph Pagano with any questions or employee referrals joep@pinebeltcars.com

About Pine Belt Cars: Pine Belt Cars, a family-owned and operated New Jersey car dealer representing Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram Subaru, and Mazda brands, 1088 Route 88, Lakewood, NJ 08701, has four dealerships in Lakewood, N.J. Pine Belt and owner Robert Sickel are very committed philanthropically to local communities. Some of their philanthropic affiliations include sponsoring the Pine Belt Arena, Lakewood Little League, United Way of Ocean County, Lakewood Police Department, Jewish Federation, and the Monmouth-Ocean Development Council, among others.

Pine Belt Cars was founded in 1937 by Leon Sickel. After graduating Franklin & Marshall and serving in the U.S. Naval Reserve, his son David Sickel joined the family business and became the dealer in 1975. When David retired in 2019, his son Robert Sickel became the current president and CEO of Pine Belt Cars, a third-generation dealer. For more information call 888-3-PineBelt or 732-363-6244 or visit www.pinebeltcars.com

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Lakewood Airport Gives Tours to School Groups

Posted on October 16, 2023 By

The staff at the Lakewood Airport, Cedarbridge Avenue, provides tours for local schools and institutions to provide them with aviation insights. Due to safety concerns, airport staff require an adequate number of adults to accompany the children on the tour to provide a competent level of supervision.

Kevin McKenzie, the Lakewood Airport FBO (Fixed Base Operator), said, “We don’t allow anyone to touch the airplanes but we will get close to the aircraft and answer all questions concerning the various items visible on the exterior of the aircraft. I generally walk the group past the club planes tied down on the ramp and point out a few features, such as every plane is ‘tied down’ so they don’t take off in a strong wind; there are low wing and high wing planes; and propellers are painted on the outer edge to make the spinning prop visible,” among other facts.

School groups will also learn about the unique aspects of the planes at the Lakewood Airport; for example, the twin tail on an Ercoupe or the reverse slant on a Mooney’s tail. Of course, the airport tour guides answer any questions the students have.

McKenzie said, “Hopefully, we may inspire a yearning for aviation in our youth and possibly in adults as well.”

For tour availability and convenient times for schools and airport staff, call at Kevin McKenzie, On-site manager, at 732 363 6400 from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

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Lakewood PBA Car Show Postponed til Oct. 29

Posted on October 12, 2023 By

The Lakewood Township PBA, Local 71, 2nd annual auto show “Cars for a Cause” to benefit Ocean of Love for Children with Cancer and Bikur Cholim of Lakewood has been postponed until October 29, 2023, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Shore Town Ballpark, home of the Jersey Shore BlueClaws, 2 Stadium Way, Lakewood, N.J.

njoy live music by Kickin’ Wing, 50/50, awards, and food trucks. Any additional donations will be donated to Ocean of Love and Bikur Cholim of Lakewood.

The registration fee for all car makes and models is $20.00, cash only, the date of the show. For more information call 732-363-0200 Ext. 2277 or email pbacarshow@lakewoodpolicenj.com

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Pine Belt Cars, Lakewood, Shares the Love with a Donation to Monmouth Medical Center

Posted on October 10, 2023 By

Pine Belt Subaru, 1021 Route 88 Lakewood NJ, recently raised $18,493 from donations of vehicle purchases to benefit Monmouth Medical Center through its Subaru Share the Love Event. Pine Belt Subaru was honored to select Monmouth Medical Center, a longtime partner organization, as this year’s Share the Love recipient.

Over the last 15+ years, the Subaru Share the Love® Event and participating retailers have donated more than $256 million to charities, such as hospitals, the ASPCA (Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®), Make-A-Wish Foundation, Meals on Wheels, National Park Foundation, plus more than 800 home charities.

Subaru retailers across the country are dedicated to giving back to their communities all year long. Through the Share the Love Event, they support hometown charities.

Photo ID: (LtoR) Pine Belt Employees Adeeyah Pettis, Cecelia Wilson, and Shawn Harris; Michael Marquand, Pine Belt General Manager; and Maria Pollard, Development Direct for Monmouth Medical Center

About Pine Belt Cars: Pine Belt Cars, 1088 Route 88, Lakewood, NJ 08701, has four dealerships in Lakewood, N.J., and is very committed philanthropically to local communities. Some of Pine Belt’s philanthropic affiliations include sponsoring the Pine Belt Arena, Lakewood Little League, United Way of Ocean County, Lakewood Police Department, Jewish Federation, and the Monmouth-Ocean Development Council.
Pine Belt Cars was founded in 1937 by Leon Sickel. His son, president and CEO David Sickel, is a lifelong Lakewood resident who graduated from Franklin & Marshall College. He joined the family business in 1970 after attending the General Motors Institute in Detroit, Michigan, and serving in the U.S. Naval Reserve. When his father retired in 1975, David assumed his current role.
For more information call 888-3-PineBelt or 732-363-6244 or visit www.pinebeltcars.com

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“Speaking Yiddish to Chickens”– Author Seth Stern In-person and on Zoom

Posted on October 9, 2023 By

Seth Stern, author of “Speaking Yiddish to Chickens,” will discuss his book at Congregation Torat El, 301 Monmouth Road, Oakhurst, NJ 07755 on Sunday, October 22, 2023, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. This event includes a brunch.

Most of the roughly 140,000 Holocaust survivors who came to the United States in the first decade after World War II settled in big cities such as New York. But a few thousand chose an alternative way of life on American farms. More of these accidental farmers wound up raising chickens in southern New Jersey than anywhere else.

“Speaking Yiddish to Chickens” is the first book to chronicle this little known chapter in American Jewish history when these mostly Eastern European refugees – including the author’s grandparents – found an unlikely refuge and gateway to new lives in the U.S. on poultry farms. They gravitated to a section of south Jersey anchored by Vineland, a small rural city where previous waves of Jewish immigrants had built a rich network of cultural and religious institutions.

SETH STERN is a legal journalist and editor at Bloomberg Industry Group. He previously reported for Bloomberg News, Congressional Quarterly, and the Christian Science Monitor. He co-authored Justice Brennan: Liberal Champion (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2010). He is a graduate of Harvard Law School, the Harvard Kennedy School, and Cornell University.

Pre-Paid tickets cost $15 per person and $20 at the door and includes brunch. Reservations at www.mta.torat-el.org or 732-531-4410.

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“Bring Back the Babka!” — Storytime by Author Marilyn Wolpin

Posted on October 5, 2023 By

Hear the book “Bring Back the Babka,” by author Marilyn Wolpin on Sunday, November 19, 2023, from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. at the Sheldon Wolpin Lakewood Historical Museum, 500 Country Club Drive (Pine Park). The School Library Journal described this book as “a food-filled mystery that celebrates the diversity of Jewish food and the Jewish community.”

Books will be available for purchase and signing. Light kosher refreshments will be served after the program. Admission is free but donations are always gladly accepted. For reservations, contact Robin at 732-840-7700.

The Lakewood Historical Museum is open Saturday, Sunday, and Monday from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. with tours provided by docents.

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The Lakewood Historical Soc. & Lakewood Heritage Com. to Host Part 2 of Its Lecture Series

Posted on October 4, 2023 By

The Lakewood Historical Society and Lakewood Heritage Commission will host Part 2 of its lecture series on October 15, 2023, from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. at the Lakewood Historical Museum, 500 Country Club Drive (Pine Park).

Ruth Anne McClelland, a 40-year member of the National Society of Daughters of American Revolution will discuss “The History of the Congressional Medal of Honor and the Story of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence.” McClelland is the Past Regent of the Governor William Livingston Chapter of the DAR, Spring Lake, N.J. She has worked as a nurse in two states that are heavy in history – New Jersey and Virginia.

The suggested donation is $5.00. Refreshments will be served after the lecture. R.S.V.P., contact Robin at rwellet@aol.com or call 732-330-5384.

The Lakewood Historical Museum is open Saturday, Sunday, and Monday from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. with tours provided by docents. Admission is free but donations are always gladly accepted.

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New Lakewood Fire Department Website

Posted on September 28, 2023 By

Yehuda Beer, the Lakewood Fire District administrator, the Lakewood Board of Fire Commissioners has announced the launch of its new Fire Department website, www.lakewoodfd.org, designed to enhance communication, safety, and engagement for the community.

Yehuda Beer said, “The new website showcases a user-friendly interface that provides residents, businesses, and visitors with easy access to information and resources to bridge the gap between our dedicated firefighters and the public they serve.”

Key features of the website include Fire Prevention Resources, such as resources on fire safety tips, and educational materials to keep families and property safe; up-to-date fire news about the latest fire incidents, safety alerts, and firefighting efforts; access to official press releases from Lakewood Fire Department ensuring transparency and clarity of communications; volunteer opportunities and information about becoming a volunteer firefighter; and contact information and contact details for Lakewood fire stations, its leadership team, and administrative offices.

The Lakewood Fire Department encourages all residents and stakeholders to explore the new website at www.lakewoodfd.org and take advantage of the wealth of information and resources available. The Lakewood Township Board of Fire Commissioners will continue to post their required public documents and other information in accordance with N.J.S.A.40A:14-70.2 on its website http://www.njfiredistricts.org/lakewoodfiredistrict1/Home.aspx.

For more information, contact Yehuda Beer, Administrator, Lakewood Fire District No. 1 at Office:(732) 364-5151 x6102 or Fax: (732) 370-4878

About the LAKEWOOD FIRE DEPARTMENT: The Lakewood Fire District is made up of a combination volunteer and career fire department under the leadership of Chief Jonathan Yahr, and Deputy Chief David Wolf who report to the Board of Fire Commissioners. The volunteer department was established in 1888 and has grown to include seven strategically placed fire stations. The volunteer firefighters respond to all structure fires, requests for mutual aid, many and varied other emergencies. The career division fire stations are manned 24/7 and employ 32 career firefighters and officers. These firefighters and officers work 24 hours on and 72 hours off schedule with two officers and six firefighters on duty each of four shifts. The career firefighters respond as first responders to all calls and are responsible to follow established protocols in requesting volunteer assistance as incidents dictate.

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Lakewood Chamber to Host Comedy Show at The Strand Theater

Posted on September 27, 2023 By

The Lakewood Chamber is hosting a Stand-Up Comedy Show with Jeff Norris, Ellen Karis, and Eric Tartaglione, Thursday, October 26 at the historic Strand Theater, 400 Clifton Avenue, Lakewood, N.J.

Doors open at 6:00 p.m. followed by a buffet and a cash bar at 6:30 p.m. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $40.00. A portion of the proceeds will fund a scholarship for a local high school student.

Register www.mylakewoodchamber.com . For more information, call 732-363-0012.

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Jersey Shore Chamber to Host Women’s Conference October 17 and 18

Posted on September 26, 2023 By

The Jersey Shore Chamber of Commerce (JSCC), Wall Township, is hosting a Women’s Conference October 17 and 18 at The Shore Club, 700 Route 71, Spring Lake, NJ. The Conference will bring together leaders in business and industry who are committed to advancing women and commerce with the theme Aspire, Build, Create.

The VIP opening reception is Tuesday, October 17 at 5:00 p.m.; general admission begins at 6:00 p.m. for. The emcee is Dara Brown, NBC News. The breakfast keynote speaker on October 18 is Karen Kessler, a recognized leader in the public relations industry, and founder and president of Kessler PR Group, a public relations firm specializing in reputation management, crisis communications, and litigation support.

Natalya Johnson, the lunch keynote speaker, serves as Senior Counsel for Johnson & Johnson. She is a legal advisor focused on employment law and manages employment-related litigations. Prior to joining Johnson & Johnson, she represented private and public sector clients in federal and state litigation and trial matters.

The schedule for Wednesday, October 18 is Exhibitors from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Breakfast and Keynote Speaker from 8:00 to 9:30 a.m.; Morning Breakout Sessions from 10:00 to 11:45 a.m.; Lunch and Keynote Speaker from Noon to 1:30 p.m.; and Afternoon Breakout Sessions from 2:00 to 3:45 p.m.

The Platinum Sponsor is Fox Rothschild; Manasquan Bank is a Gold Sponsor; and The Connection and Greenbaum, Rowe, Smith & Davis LLP are Bronze Sponsors. Technology Sponsors are Shore Business Solutions and SHARP. Valerie Barba DDS is the Cocktail Sponsor; the Coffee Sponsors are Colleen Craig of Jersey Shore Marketing & Insights and Lena Budraitis, Financial Planner & Insurance Agent – Northwestern Mutual Financial Network Wall.

Panel topics include Aspire to a Career in Service; Build a Winning Corporate Culture; Captivate Your Community; Build Financial Confidence; Captivate Your Workforce with Hybrid Schedules; But Is It Working? The panelists and speakers include Melanie Willoughby, NJ Business Action Center; Assemblywoman Victoria Flynn; Kathy Guzman, NJEDA; Jenna Gaudio, Co-President, Vydia; Sarah Williams, Founder, Moms of Business; Corinne McCann Trainor, Fox Rothschild LLP (sponsor); Cathy Franzoni, COO, Manasquan Bank; Lisa Roettger, Sr. VP of Human Resources, Manasquan Bank (sponsor); Danielle Wolowitz, Shore Business Solutions (sponsor); Christina Zuk, Princeton Public Affairs; Jamie Bertram, VP Promotions & Entertainment, Jersey Shore BlueClaws; Jeralyn Lawrence, Attorney, Lawrence Law; and Patricia Nolan, ARC, Ocean.

For sponsorships, registration, or more information, contact Jersey Shore Chamber of Commerce at executivedirector@jsccnj.com., call 732-280-8800, or visit https://jerseyshorechambernj.com/womensconference/

About Karen J. Kessler: Karen J. Kessler She is the region’s most sought-after crisis and reputation management consultant, having counselled corporations, public institutions and individuals facing allegations of legal, business and personnel misconduct, political corruption, social media fallout, large-scale public investigations, and other sensitive matters.
The acclaimed documentary film “DIVIDE AND CONQUER: THE STORY OF ROGER AILES” profiled Kessler’s work on the Fox News legal case. Her commentary and interviews appear in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Star Ledger, CNN, MSNBC and Inside Edition, among others. She served as technical consultant to TV shows “THE GOOD WIFE” and “NASHVILLE”. Her work formed the scripts for the Oscar nominated films “Hustlers” and “Bombshell”.

She currently serves as a member of the NJ Advisory Committee on Judicial Conduct as well as the Committee on the Duration of Disbarment for Knowing Misappropriation. She chairs the Compensation subcommittee of the Board of Directors of Northfield Bancorp, Inc.

In 2022, Kessler was named a PRNews Agency Elite Top 100 recipient. In 2020 she received the NJBIZ Lifetime Achievement Award and was previously recognized by NJBIZ as among “50 Most Powerful Non-Profit Board Members” and as an annual NJBIZ “Power 100” recipient. She has been recognized as an “Influencer” on ROI-NJ’s 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 “Power Lists,” as among “50 Most Powerful Women” by SmartCEO, as among “40 Top NJ Businesswomen”, by Jewish Women International, as among “10 Women to Watch in the USA”, and by NJ Monthly Magazine as among the state’s “Leading Women Entrepreneurs”.

A graduate of Vassar College with a degree in economics, Kessler was inducted into Omicron Delta, NASDAQ-listed Telecommunications Company; Blue Cross/Blue Shield of NJ; the PNC Arts Center, and Drumthwacket Foundation. She is a Scholarship Fund Trustee at Princeton and Monmouth Universities

Natalya G. Johnson serves as Senior Counsel for Johnson & Johnson. She is a legal advisor focused on employment law and manages employment-related litigations. Prior to joining Johnson & Johnson, she represented private and public sector clients in federal and state litigation and trial matters. As a commercial litigator, she handled a wide variety of complex cases, including business disputes, insurance, real estate, education, and health law.

She currently serves as President of the Garden State Bar Association (GSBA). Under her leadership, the GSBA raised over a quarter of a million dollars and established its first endowed scholarship fund to advance various initiatives supporting the legal community, while providing scholarships to underrepresented law students. Johnson also led the creation of a legal education Substantive Law series, highlighting diverse and women speakers. Responding to the needs of the profession in real-time, Johnson created the GSBA’s Wellness and Mental Health committee, focused on lawyers, judges, and other legal professionals.

She sits on the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Alumni Leadership Council of Cornell Law School and previously served on the Executive Board of Directors of its Alumni Association. She is also a member of the President’s Council of Cornell Women. As past President of the Cornell Black Lawyers Alumni Network, Johnson led fundraising efforts in support of its George Washington Fields LLB 1890 Scholarship Fund and spearheaded alumni and mentorship programs around North America. Johnson co-founded the Advancement Initiative (AI) in 2017. AI’s objective is to harness the strength of personal and professional networks to foster mentorship and opportunities in law and business.

Committed to pro bono service, Johnson started her legal career as an attorney fellow with Volunteer Lawyers for Justice (VLJ). At VLJ, she helped eligible clients with criminal records address the civil legal barriers to successful community reintegration through its criminal record expungement clinic.

Beyond the law, Johnson previously served as a board member of the League of Women Voters NJ, a nonpartisan, grassroots organization working to protect and expand voting rights. Johnson speaks regularly on a variety of topics, including employment law, career management, diversity in the legal profession, leadership, and faith.

Johnson has been widely recognized for her professional and community achievements. In 2019, she was named one of the 40 under 40 Nation’s Best Advocates by the National Bar Association; as well as a 2020 New Jersey Law Journal New Leader of the Bar; and a 2020 Professional Lawyer of the Year honoree by the New Jersey Commission on Professionalism in the Law. Recently, she was named a ROI-NJ 2022 Influencer, a Black in-house Counsel’s 2022 Black Diamond award honoree, and recognized by the Executive Women of New Jersey as a 2022 Salute to Policy Makers honoree.

Johnson holds a B.A. degree from Cornell University graduating magna cum laude, and a J.D. from Cornell Law School.

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