Business Briefs

Congregation B’nai Tikvah, North Brunswick, has announced Lisa Mason, Monroe Township, has joined its staff as the new program director. She will be responsible for reaching out to the area communities to inform various groups of the availability of the temple’s newly expanded facilities. Prior to joining Tikvah, Mason was past membership vice president at Congregation Etz Chaim, Monroe Township, where she is a current member of the board of trustees. She is also a lifetime member of Hadassah’s East Brunswick chapter. Mason has a master’s degree in education, and is a registered music therapist. She and her husband are the parents of a son, and twin son and daughter.

The United States Postal Service has announced several local post offices have extended hours effective Oct. 1. The facilities will remain open until 4 p.m. Saturdays, and 7 p.m. weekdays. Area post offices with extended hours are located in the Avenel section of Woodbridge, Colonia section of Woodbridge, Metuchen, Middlesex, Milltown, Monmouth Junction section of South Brunswick, Monroe, Parlin, Sayreville, South River, Spotswood, and Woodbridge. The extended hours are designed to provide customers with more options and to expand access to products and services. The Postal Service’s Web site, usps.com, is also accessible 24 hours a day and seven days a week. For more information, call 1-800-275-8777.

United Teletech Financial Federal Credit Union (UTF), 2201 Route 1 south, North Brunswick, has announced it will offer free seminars this fall, beginning with “Autos: Buying vs. Leasing” will be Nov. 16, and “Understanding Your Credit Score” Dec. 8. All seminars will be in the branch lobby from 5:45-6:45 p.m. To sign up or for information, call (732) 530-8100, ext. 2510.

The Melvyn H. Motolinsky Research Foundation, North Brunswick, will hold its annual meeting Oct. 30 from 2-6 p.m., and honor Dr. John L. Colaizzi, dean of the school of pharmacy and professor of pharmacy at Rutgers University, New Brunswick. The meeting will be at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, 125 Paterson St., New Brunswick. Colaizzi has served on the hospital’s board of directors since 2003. His memberships include the American Pharmacists Association, and American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.

For more information, call (732) 422-1000, ext. 252.

Prevent Child Abuse-New Jersey (PCA-NJ), Princeton, will hold its fundraising Heroes Awards Nov. 2 at The Westin Princeton at Forrestal Village. Honoree will be Holmdel resident Steven Kairys. The event will feature a cocktail hour, dinner, live entertainment, silent auction, and the awards presentation. Other honorees are Tom Blatner, Janus Solutions of West Trenton/Ewing Township; Robin Fried Steinberg, The Peace Project of Chester; and New Jersey Resources, represented by CEO Laurence M. Downes.

Steven Kairys, M.D., M.P.H., is chairman of pediatrics at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune, and serves on the national board of Prevent Child Abuse America. He is the recipient of PCA-NJ’s Blue Ribbon Community Service Award. Blatner is the recipient of PCA-NJ’s The Governor Thomas H. Kean Award for Public Service, and Steinberg is the recipient of PCA-NJ’s Donna J. Stone Award. New Jersey Resources is the recipient of PCA-NJ’s Blue Ribbon Corporate Award.

For reservations, sponsorships, or more information, call Christine Burke Associates at (732) 688-8079 or visit www.PreventChildAbuseNJ.org.

The Inner Circle Alliance (ICA) business-to-business networking group will hold an open house Nov. 2 from 6-8 p.m. at Lincroft Inn, Newman Springs Road, Lincroft section of Middletown. Potential business owners and executives are invited to attend and meet ICA members. Free refreshments are included. Interested individuals must register by Nov. 1. The ICA meets the first and third Tuesdays of every month. To register, call Guy at (732) 212-0555, ext. 14.

The Jersey Shore Public Relations and Advertising Association will hold a professional development and networking luncheon meeting Nov. 4 at 11:30 a.m. at Branches, 123 Monmouth Road, West Long Branch. Guest speaker will be Ilsie Benun, author of “Self Promotion Online,” discussing “E-mail Marketing Essentials.” Cost is $30 for nonmembers and $25 for members before Nov. 1, and $35 thereafter. To register or for more information, call (732) 842-3311 or visit www.jspraa.com.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) recently held its annual “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer” walk along the Jersey shore, raising more than $835,000. More than 8,000 walkers took part in the 5K noncompetitive walk. Proceeds will be used for ACS research, education, advocacy and patient and family services.

Enterprising Women magazine, Cary, N.C., is seeking nominations for its 2006 Enterprising Women of the Year Awards, with application deadline Nov. 21. The awards recognize women of achievement that have had a profound effect on the community through leadership as entrepreneurs. The awards program showcases women business owners in categories that include small, medium, and large enterprises. Winners will be recognized during a celebration Feb. 24-25 at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, Lake Buena Vista, Fla. For an application,

visit the Web site at www.enterprisingwomen.com.

The FirstEnergy Foundation recently provided a $5,000 grant to the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties to support a culinary job skills training program. The foundation is funded by FirstEnergy Corp., parent company of Jersey Central Power & Light. The training program helps participants qualify for jobs, and a chance for participants’ families to achieve self-sufficiency.

The Monmouth Council of Girl Scouts, Farmingdale, was recently awarded $50,000 by OceanFirst Foundation, Toms River, for the Council’s $3 million capital campaign, the first in its 42-year-history. The grant will be awarded over two years, and help provide funding for the new activity center, athletic fields, basketball courts, equestrian center and infirmary on the council’s campus in Farmingdale. For more information about the capital campaign, call the Council at (732) 938-5454, ext. 52.

Rose Hill Cemetery Co., Matawan, will hold its annual meeting Nov. 16 at 1 p.m. at Cross of Glory Lutheran Church, 95 Cambridge Drive, Aberdeen. For more information, call Susanne at (732) 566-4341.

Buhler & Bitter Inc., 3290 Route 35, Hazlet, will serve as a drop zone during the holiday donation drive sponsored by Operation Gratitude. Jeep dealerships nationwide will take part in the drive for American troops overseas. Operation Gratitude is a nonprofit that collects comfort items and letters of appreciation from the public, and ships the items

overseas. Suggested donations range from gum to tuna-salad kits to CDs

and DVDs. For a complete list of

items, visit www.jeep.com or www.OperationGratitude.com. For more information, call Donald Buhler at the dealership at (732) 264-5000.

The Dollar Express Store, 147 Main St., Matawan, recently held its grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Oct. 22. The store is owned by Theresa and John Knoeppel Sr., of Matawan Borough.

The 2nd Floor Youth Helpline of 180 Turning Lives Around Inc., Hazlet, has reported the help line and its Web

site assisted approximately 15,000 children and youth from September 2004-August 2005. Approximately 4,000 youth contacted the helpline, and 11,000 visited the Web site. The effort offers assistance to Monmouth County youth on topics such as bullying, relationships, school problems, and peer pressure. The help line number is 1-888-222-2228 and the Web site is www.2ndfloor.org.

The Prudential Foundation, Newark, recently recognized 793 Prudential domestic associate and retirees with Prudential Cares Volunteer Grants totaling $512,750. Recipients present the financial grant to the charitable organization with which the associate volunteers.

Michael Smyth, of Middletown, a manager at Prudential Financial Management, received an award of $1,000 for The Blood Center of New Jersey Foundation. Smyth volunteered at the foundation for 60 hours during 2004, served as a member of its board of trustees, and coordinated the Prudential Newark blood drive.

Martha Vetterl, Port Monmouth section of Middletown — a financial analysis manager at Prudential Corporation Operations and Systems — also received a $1,000 award for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Vetterl has dedicated approximately 235 hours to the foundation, served on its board of directors, and as vice president of government relations. Middletown resident Mike Zibrin, an information systems manager at corporation operations and systems, received a $1,000 award for Middletown American Babe Ruth League. Zibrin volunteered 240 hours at the league in 2004, and coached the spring rookie boy’s baseball, and fall boy’s baseball teams.

The Visiting Nurse Association of Central Jersey (VNACJ), Red Bank, recently raised approximately $20,000 at its 14th annual fair for children, “An Afternoon at Riverwind,” held in Middletown. The fair was sponsored by the VNACJ Children’s Auxiliary. Proceeds will benefit the agency’s services for children.

Larry and Todd Katz, co-owners of Siperstein’s Paint and Decorating chain, recently received a special proclamation from President George W. Bush in honor of community leadership and outstanding support to the Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Greater Monmouth County. Special proclamations were also issued and presented to them from Sens. Jon S. Corzine and Frank Lautenberg, Congressman Frank Pallone Jr., Middletown Mayor Thomas G. Hall and Ocean Township Mayor William Larkin. The Katzes have carried on their family’s tradition of charitable involvement for more than 40 years. The nonprofit JFC&S serves the residents of Monmouth County through programs such as Kosher Means on Wheels, adoptions services, and drug and alcohol education. Siperstein’s has local branches in Middletown, Long Branch and Englishtown.

Kelly Zaccaro, a member of the Fair Haven Board of Education, recently had her paper “S-1701: One Board Member’s Perspective,” featured on the inaugural Web site of the Hall Institute of Public Policy — New Jersey at www.hallnj.org. The Hall Institute was established this summer by business executive and philanthropist George E. Hall, Middletown. According to Hall, Zaccaro’s paper will help generate the debate and discussion that is important to policy making in New Jersey. The nonprofit Hall Institute was established to explore social, economic, educational and cultural issues.

Hazlet Pharmacy, 2874 Route 35 south, recently added the Diabetes Shoppe to its pharmacy. The shop consists of education, training and products for individuals with diabetes. The Diabetes Shoppe is a company based in Chesterbrook, Pa., that teams with independent pharmacies to enhance the quality of life for individuals with diabetes. The pharmacy’s Shoppe also carries an extensive line of diabetes care products, and offers a free quarterly newsletter. The pharmacy is owned by Gerald Jackapino. For more information, call the pharmacy at (732) 264-3310.