NJAWBO Charity Auction to Benefit YWCA Domestic Violence Program

The Union County Chapter of NJAWBO invites you to this fabulous auction and networking event on Thursday, November 29th, 2007 from 6-9:30 PM at L’Affaire, 1099 Route 22 East, Mountainside, NJ. Tickets for Dinner are $40 for members and $50 for non-members.

Our Annual Charity Auction will benefit the YWCA of Eastern Union County’s Domestic Violence Transitional Housing program. Union County NJAWBO will be raising money to "Adopt-A-Room". Through the proceeds of this auction we hope to provide the appropriate small appliances, furniture and accessories to offer a comfortable environment for women in need of safe harbor. Transitional Housing is urgently needed in Union County. This program will provide the time and supportive services to help women gain the skills they need to become independent and self sufficient and lead violence-free lives. Your participation will help to reach this goal. Here's how you can help:

Eat and Be Merry: Enjoy the cocktail hour and dinner while networking and be entertained by auctioneer extraordinaire Eileen Shrem during the Live Auction portion of the event. Eileen is a long time NJAWBO member and supporter who is sure to generate lots of laughs with her quick wit and fast tongue. Tickets for the event start at $40 for members and $50 for non-members. Please sign up at http://whoscoming.com/njawbounion/

Donate: We are accepting financial donations via check or credit card. Please see http://whoscoming.com/njawbounion/ to make your financial donation.

Strategic Partnerships: Looking to aspire to a higher level of participation and recognition within NJAWBO? Become one of the growing number of Strategic Partners the event and/or the chapter. For more information on Strategic Partnership Opportunities, please contact Diane Antonio at 908.403.8283 or dantonio@njawbounion.org
Don’t miss this opportunity!

NJAWBO needs you to make this our biggest and most generous charity auction yet with your attendance at the event, gift donations, participation in the auction and your strategic partnerships. Only your participation can make this a successful event for you, NJAWBO and for the YWCA of Eastern Union County.

And don't forget, this is also an opportunity to:
Meet… Catch up with friends and network new connections. This is our biggest local event of the year and will draw attendees from across the state.
Win… In addition to winning bids on your "must have" gifts there will be door prize raffles for some special items.
Give and Receive… Consider this event as part of your holiday shopping. There will be many wonderful items for bid. Select gifts for special friends and family.
Please register for the event at http://whoscoming.com/njawbounion/. And, as always, please feel free to contact me with any questions.

Thanks and I look forward to seeing you there and collecting your donations!

"Understanding Your Automobile Coverage" Free Seminar

Cohn Lifland Pearlman Herrmann & Knopf LLP offers another "Need to Know" seminar:

"Understanding Your Automobile Coverage: Are You Covered"
Richard A. Schnoll, Esq., speaker

The ABC's of Coverage
Understanding the Vocabulary
PIP coverage; Underinsured coverage; the Tort Threshold Option

These and other issues will be discussed. Question and answer period.
Wednesday October 17, 2007. 8:00 am-9:00 am. Continental breakfast provided.
Registration required: 201 845-9600 ext. 148 or RSVP@njlawfirm.com
Park 80 West Plaza One, Saddle Brook, NJ 07663

NJAWBO "Business Operations", Sept 27th

Please join the Union County Chapter of the New Jersey Association of Women Business Owners on September 27th!

Important and required business operations such as legal, insurance and credit are often overlooked by many start-up businesses as they struggle to learn about marketing and selling their products or services. While these are not very glamorous aspects of running a business, they are necessary to make your business a long-term success. Join us as we hear from the following panel of experts:

• Brenda Adams of Pre-Paid Legal Services will discuss the legal aspects and potential legal pitfalls related to business ownership and operation.
• Karen Schmidt of Warren G. Reiner will discuss the different types of insurance you need if owning and running a business and why it's important to have the proper insurance coverage in place.
• Deborah Lagzdins of Nova Network will discuss how and why to use credit cards in your business.

Here are the details of the event:

• Date: Thursday, September 27th
• Time: 6-9PM
• Place: Aliperti's Ristorante. 1189 Raritan Rd. Clark, NJ 07066. 732-381-2300. http://www.alipertisrestaurant.com/directions.htm
• Cost: $35 for members $40 for non-members and friends (price includes sit-down dinner)
• RSVP: By September 24th to Karen Schmidt at karens@wgrinsurance.com or 973-376-6810
  

Time is running out to register and seats are filling up. Don't forget to make your reservation today!

See you there!!!

NJAWBO "Business Operations" Panel, Sept 27th

This message is for all members and friends of the Union County Chapter of NJAWBO (www.njawbounion.org)

Join Us for our "Business Operations"panel discussion!

This is not your every day, run-of-the mill business operations panel. Noooo! Come and learn about the things you need to know to keep your business safe and to keep it running. You'll hear from the following panel of experts:

Brenda Adams of Pre-Paid Legal Services will discuss the legal aspects and potential legal pitfalls related to business ownership and operation.

Karen Schmidt of Warren G. Reiner will discuss the different types of insurance you need if owning and runnign a business and why it's important to have the proper insurance coverage in place.

Deborah Lagzdins of Nova Network will discuss how and why to use credit cards in your business.

Here are the details:
Date: Thursday, September 27th
Time: 6-9PM
Place: Aliperti's Ristorante. 1189 Raritan Rd. Clark, NJ 07066. 732-381-2300. http://www.alipertisrestaurant.com/directions.htm
Cost: $35 for members $40 for non-members and friends
RSVP: By September 24th to Karen Schmidt at karens@wgrinsurance.com or 973-376-6810

AND DON'T FORGET: November 29th from 6-9:30PM is our Annual Holiday Auction. It will once again be held at L'Affaire on Rt. 22 in Mountainside. Cost is $40 for members and $50 for non-members and friends. Reservations are now being accepted. Remember: this is not only a great opportunity to get a jump-start on your holiday shopping, but also a way for you to showcase your business by donating a product, service or by making a financial donation. You'll also have the opportunity to enjoy good food, good friends and meet new people.
If you are interested in making a donation and/or having a display table, please contact Karen Schmidt at karens@wgrinsurance.com or 973-376-6810.
If you are interested in sponsoring this event, please contact Diane Antonio at diane@asmands.com or 908-403-8283

Cohn Lifland Free "Need to Know" Seminars

Cohn Lifland Pearlman Herrmann & Knopf LLP

Free “Need to Know” Series
2007-2008 Schedule

September 19, 2007
Employer Liability for Employees’ Unlawful Use of Computers
Joseph A. Maurice, Esq. and Andrew R. Macklin, Esq.

October 17, 2007
Understanding Your Automobile Insurance Coverage: Are you covered?
Richard A. Schnoll, Esq.

November 14, 2007
Personal Bankruptcy
Jeffrey W. Herrmann, Esq.

December 12, 2007
Current Issues in Real Estate Transactions
Allen Susser, Esq., Manuel Irizarry, Jr., Esq. and Paul I. Perkins, Esq.

January 16, 2008
Class Action: What’s in it for me?
Peter S. Pearlman, Esq.

February 13, 2008
Avoiding Wrongful Termination Litigation
Jessica V. Henry, Esq.

March 12, 2008
Special Needs Education
Lisa McCauley Parles, Esq. and Tania Garcia-Millan, Esq.

April 16, 2008
Personal Insurance Issues
Barry A. Knopf, Esq. and Marc A. Rosenkrantz, CIC, AAI, President, Schechner Lifson Corp.

May 14, 2008
Minimizing Litigation Risks Through Smart Business Practices
Charles R. Cohen, Esq. and Leonard Z. Kaufmann, Esq.

June 18, 2008
The Do’s and Don’ts of Divorce
Mary Ann Stokes, Esq. and Jason C. Tuchman, Esq.

Wednesdays from 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. Continental Breakfast Served
Reservations Required rsvp@njlawfirm.com or 201 845-9600 ext. 148
Park 80 Plaza West One, Saddle Brook, NJ 07663

Denise Broesler of RE/MAX Achievers in Summit is holding a public open house event on Sunday, July 15, 2007 from 1-4 pm. It's a "Make Your Own Sundae" open house with all donations going to the Morris County Chapter of Habitat for Humanity. The address is 42 Raynor Road, Morris Township, NJ.

Habitat for Humanity is an organization that helps people find affordable housing. Morris County's high home prices make it unattainable for many families . Habitat for Humanity is dedicated to building homes that are decent and affordable to low income families regardless of their background, race or religion.

The event is free to the public with all donations for ice cream going to the Morris County Chapter of Habitat. Ice cream purchased through Zita's of New Providence. The home is presently for sale and pictures can be viewed at http://RaynorRoad.com. The home will also be featured on July 18th and July 19th at 9 pm on DISH Network Channels 223 and 225. It has recently been added to Youtube and The Real Estate Home Show at http://therealestatehomeshow.com.

For more information about the event, or how you can become a volunteer, contact Denise Broesler of RE/MAX Achievers in Summit at 908-477-9450 or email Denise at Westfieldchat@gmail.com.

High Traffic Blog

I wanted to tell you of a great blog creater who has created unbelievable traffic to my blog. Her name is Dolores and you can check out her work at http://njrealtycafe.com/, http://westfieldchat.com/ (my blog), http://njmortgagerep.com/ and http://njmortgageblog.com/. Dolores charges a very reasonable amount which includes the blog creating, hosting for one year, and 2 hours software support. You can reach her through http://njrealtycafe.com/ . She is the brains and computer genius behind http://monmouthcountyhouses.com/ and has even repaired my homes.com site (dbroesler.com) and in one day I went up at least 400 views.

The Nuts and Bolts of Real Estate Practice Free Seminar

Cohn Lifland Pearlman Herrmann & Knopf LLP presents its final free "Need to Know" Seminar until September:

Wednesday June 13, 8:00 am-9:00 am

The Nuts and Bolts of Real Estate Practice
will cover the legal aspects of contracts, home inspections, closing and problems after closings.

continental breakfast available
Reservations required:
RSVP@njlawfirm.com or call 201 845-9600 x 148.
Park 80 Plaza West One, Saddle Brook, NJ 07663

SPECIAL LIMITED TIME OFFER

CARTRIDGE WORLD, the worldwide leader in toner cartridge remanufacturing, is offering a RISK FREE toner cartridge to any business who has never used a remanufactured toner cartridge before.
All of our cartridges come with an UNCONDITIONAL SATISFACTION GUARANTEE.
We will provide you with a toner cartridge for your printer, copier or fax machine.
Use the cartridge and, if you are completely satisfied, payment will be expected upon reorder.
If you are not completely satisfied, you owe nothing. Period.
In addition to SAVINGS of 30% or more, pick-up and delivery is FREE !
For additional information call 908-771-9696, stop by our retail location at 1253 Springfield Avenue in
New Providence or look us up on the web at www.cartridgeworldusa.com.

NJAWBO Wine Tasting Event...CANCELLED

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the NJAWBO Wine Tasting Event, scheduled for this Thursday, May 24th at Mt. Carmel in Berkeley Heights HAS BEEN CANCELLED. The event will be rescheduled for the Fall.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.

We hope to see you soon!

Berkeley Heights Volunteer Rescue Squad

The Berkeley Heights Volunteer Rescue Squad will be holding an open house this Sunday, May 20, 2007 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information on becoming a member of the Rescue Squad, please call (908)464-0013.
Posted by Michael Shapiro of http://thealternativepress.com.

New Providence Country Fair

The Our Lady of Peace Country Fair will be held today from 6-10 p.m., Friday from 6-11 p.m., and Saturday from 1-11 p.m., at 99 South Street in New Providence. There will be food, rides, games and much more. Please call 908-464-7600 for information.
Posted by Michael Shapiro, Editor of http://thealternativepress.com.

BERKELEY HEIGHTS INSURANCE AGENT LORI CIACLI SHARES FLOOD EXPERTISE WHEN NEEDED MOST

When April’s floods unexpectedly filled local basements with unwanted rainwater, the Heights Insurance Agency in Berkeley Heights stepped up to the plate for their customers. During those most recent storms, we were on the phone non-stop with our clients – the ones with flood coverage and the ones without. We were able to help set up and expedite flood claims. At the same time, we educated customers on the benefits and misconceptions of cost of flood insurance – it’s really much more affordable than people think! More times than not, people aren’t required to have flood insurance, based on their property’s risk for a flood. Even when it’s not required, though, carrying flood coverage can give you peace of mind, keeping your family safe when those unexpected floods actually do hit. In fact, most of our customers who experienced flooding didn’t carry a flood policy. Our job as insurance professionals is to give people options and help in the decision making process of whether a flood policy is beneficial to them, and ensure that the proper coverages are utilized. It goes to show that, sometimes, having just a little extra coverage can go a long way to keeping your basement dry – or drying it out when it’s all wet!
You can reach Lori and her expert staff at 908-464-4500.

NJAWBO Wine Tasting Event in Berkeley Heights

Join Us on May 24th for a
Wine Tasting Extravaganza!!!

Do you know the difference between wine from France or Italy and wine from California? No? Well, you're not alone. Many of us don't know the first thing about wine. Then there are those of us who are novices and those who have extensive knowledge. Wherever your level of wine knowledge is, you do not want to miss this event!

Join us as Michael Conant shares with us his 25 years of experience in the wine industry and imparts the fine differences between Old World and New World wine, while enjoying an array of hors d'oeuvres, pasta and carving stations. This is the perfect atmosphere for you to network with the dynamic women of the Union County Chapter of NJAWBO as well as our friends and colleagues.

Here are the details:

Date: Thursday, May 24th

Time: 5PM-8PM

Place: Mt. Carmel Banquet Canter. 56 River Rd. Berkeley Heights. 908-464-9898

Cost: $40 per person

RSVP: Please RSVP by Tuesday, May 22nd to Karen Schmidt at karens@wgrinsurance.com or 973-376-6810.

Car Wash in Berkeley Heights Earns $221

The American Cancer Society earned $221 with a car wash benefiting Relay for Life at RE/MAX's office in Berkeley Heights.

Residents from neighboring Chatham, New Providence and other towns came to have the teens from Westfield HS wash their cars for $7. Luminaries were sold in honor of people who had died from cancer, and refreshments were served courtesy of a few sponsors.

It's not too late to give your donation to your local Berkeley Heights Relay for Life!

Summit NJ Office Condos for Sale

597 Springfield Avenue in Summit is making the building into Office Condos, 3-4 offices 1st floor w/basement storage and 2nd floor 3 offices with attic storage. They would have 6 parking spaces each, CA, new furnace and kitchenette on first floor. Each floor has about 1,000 square feet and the entire property is .4 acres. Taxes are about $9,000. The price is $999,000 for each one separately or if someone wanted to buy now before new windows are put in and conversion is made it's $1.7 million. If people are interested, they can contact Denise Broesler of RE/MAX Classic Group at 908-447-1857. For financing information contact Patrick Cicala of Countrywide Home Loans, the Chairman of the Suburban Chamber of Commerce at 917-273-6050.

Driving Ticket Fine increase in NJ

Posted by Ed Rosenhaft, Emerald Financial

Driving Ticket fine increase in NJ:

Starting on August 15th, the price of a ticket for violation of NJ Law 39:3-29 (failure to show your driver's license, registration, or insurance card at the time you are stopped) is going from $44.00 to $173.00. Please make sure your vehicles have the proper documents in them. If you jump in the car to run to the store and forget your wallet with your license in it and you are stopped.... Oh well... you just spent $173. And the fine for not having all three documents is $519!!! Forward to people in NJ, and let them know of this change. And be careful, the fine for hand held cell phone use while driving will be going up to $180.00

Insurance Issues for Small Businesses Seminar

Cohn Lifland Pearlman Herrmann & Knopf LLP

"Need to Know" seminar (no charge)
Insurance Issues for Small Businesses
Wednesday May 16
8:00-9:00 am
RSVP required rsvp@njlawfirm.com or call 201 845-9600 ext. 148F
continental breakfast provided
Park 80 Plaza West One
Saddle Brook, NJ 07663

Berkeley Heights May Town Meetings

As posted by http://thealternativepress.com


The following meetings will take place at 29 Park Avenue:
Township Council*: 7:00 p.m., 5/8, 5/22
Planning Board: 7:30 p.m., 5/2, 5/16
Board of Adjustment: 7:30 p.m., 5/10, 5/24
Environmental Commission: 7:30 p.m., 5/14

The following meeting will take place at 290 Plainfield Avenue:
Library Commission: 7:30 p.m., 5/14
The following meeting take place at 56 Columbus Avenue:
Recreation Commission: 8:00 p.m., 5/17

Commercial Building for Sale in Berkeley Heights

Commercial Building coming on the market in a few days in Berkeley Heights. For more details call Thomas Della Piazza at 908-898-0800 or email at tommydp@verizon.net. For financing information, contact Patrick Cicala of Countrywide Home Homes at 917-273-6050. Asking price is $840,000.

Suburban Chamber Business After Hours

There are only a certain number of display tables available for the Business After Hours event hosted by our Chamber. This is a time for you to shine amongst your fellow businesses and neighbors. The Chamber conducts this function for its business owners to network and to get the most out of our organization. If you would like a display table, call the chamber at 908-522-1700. Say you saw it on the blog!

When: Thurs., May 10, 2007

Time: 6-8:30 pm

Cost: $250

Place: The Grand Summit Hotel, Springfield Avenue, Summit

All guests are free!!!

Hors d'oeuvres, cash bar, door prizes

Westfield Spring Fling

Support your neighbor Chamber! The 13th Annual Spring Fling will be celebrated this Sunday from 11-5. For more info, go to the Chamber website at http://westfieldareachamber.com. It is rain or shine in Downtown Westfield. Make sure you visit Relay for Life and contribute towards Smmy Luscome's cause.

Protect Your Credit by Patrick Cicala, Countrywide Home Loans

I was searching for some information on credit as this week’s topic is Security. You see I went shopping over the weekend and was denied a credit card at Pac Sun. I was told I would receive a letter in the mail. In a panic, I called my lender that did my refinancing and he told me not to worry.

I obtained a copy of my credit report though and it had alot of credit cards that I don’t use. However I have excellent credit, in the 790s. It was 805 a few weeks ago though and had gone down a little because I had refinanced and had my credit run.

So Patrick Cicala of Countrywide took the time to explain some things that I can share with my readers about protecting their credit:

Close credit cards you don’t use to prevent theft and to bring credit scores up.

Increase your credit limit. This will show how you have the capability to have money and establish credit.

Try to keep only 3 lender lines opened (mortgage, credit car).

Don’t fall for those credit cards offering a discount to open them up! If you do get one, pay the bill and then close the card.

Pay off everything in 30 days.
And be happy and enjoy life!!!

If you would like a copy of the booket, “Your Credit Score and What it means” please contact Patrick Cicala at 917-273-6050 or email at Patrick_Cicala@Countrywide.com. Tell him you saw it on Westfield Chat.

Newark Bears Schedule Giveaway

Newark Bears vs. Bridgeport Bluefish
Tuesday, May 8 @ 7:05 pm (Gates open at 6:05 pm)



Magnetic Schedule Giveaway for ALL FANS presented by IDT
Post-Game Fireworks Spectacular presented by IDT
Special Appearance by Reggy the Purple Party Dude and by members of the 2006 Rutgers University Football Team
Tickets Only $5.00 for Members of Suburban Chambers of Commerce!

For Tickets Call Mark Gallego at 973-848-1000 x 107 or visit http://newarkbears.com

Recycling for Revenue at Kean University

Recycling for Revenue at Kean University will be held on 5/17/07 from 8 a.m. - 11 a.m. For more information call 908-654-9890.

Networking Lunch for May at Domaine Laurino

The next networking lunch is at 12 at Domaine Laurino on May 16th. The restaurant is at 538 Springfield Avenue in Berkeley Heights. Call Maureen at the Chamber if you plan to attend.

May 4th First Friday is all about the FISH

The Next First Fridays Meeting will be on May 4th. Our Guest Speaker will Be:
John Bendall, owner of Re/Max Classic Group and real estate analyst for MSNBC.

the power of FISH!
Experience how four simple practices can make a big difference in your company. FISH! culture will create a more engaged and alive workplace, increase productivity, inspire others to own their choice of attitudes and build trust that helps organizations get things done.

Our 2007 Corporate Sponsor is: Verizon


Event Start Time: 8:00 a.m. on Friday, May 4, 2007
The Grand Summit Hotel 570 Springfield Avenue Summit, NJ
Cost: $15 members or $25 non-members
RSVP via e-mail to info@suburbanchambers.org; via phone to (908)522-1700; or via fax to (908)522-9252.

Resume of Charles Addessi, Loan Officer

Charles A. Addessi
29 Winthrop Drive, Manalapan, N.J. 07726
Tel: (917) 662-7619 Fax: (732) 358-0117
Email: chadent9361@aol.com

Qualifications: Excellent with people. Self-motivated professional with proven success. Experience in sales, marketing and management.

Experience:
7/1/2005 – Present Legacy Financial, Long Island, NY – Loan Officer
• Independent contractor responsible to originate mortgage loans.
• Cultivate new and existing clients through networking with

Investors, Real Estate Agents, CPA’s, and Attorneys.
• Tenacious follow-up to close the loans.
2/2005- 7/2005 Premium Capital Funding – NY, NY – Loan Officer
Responsible to originate mortgage loans.
• Cultivate new and existing clients through networking with

Investors, Real Estate Agents, CPA’s, and Attorneys.
• Tenacious follow-up to close the loans.

1985 – Present President, Addessi Enterprises, Inc., P.O. Box 195, Manalapan, N.J.

07726 (Entertainment Company).
· Sales – increased grossed revenues 10 percent per year for ten

years.
· Managed, trained and supervised 30 entertainers.
· Client Relations and Customer Service – worked directly with

private and corporate clients, i.e. Merrill Lynch, American

Express, The American Stock Exchange, Goldman Sachs & Co.

and HBO Studio Productions.
· Developed marketing tools, ie. company brochure, demo tapes,

etc.

9/02 – 5/03 Appraisal Assistant, M&G Appraisals, North Babylon, N.Y.
Conducted comparable sales analysis for one to four family

dwellings for New York City, Nassau, Suffolk and Westchester

County.

6/03 – 12/05 Appraisal Assistant, Soleiman Appraisal, Armonk, N.Y.
· Conducted inspections on Residential properties
· Completed all phases of reports for single family, multi-family,

condominiums, and co-ops.

· Expert in field reviews, 2055’s and 442’s

5/99 – 1/01 Director/Producer, Pinnacle Filmworks, Inc. Brooklyn, NY. (Production Company)
· Directed a full length feature film, “Wannabes”.
· Revenues have quadrupled initial investment.
· Film has been distributed worldwide in over twenty five

foreign territories.

6/97 – 3/99 Producer, Lonely Road Productions/West Street Productions, New York
Produced a full length feature film, “One Deadly Road”.
· Raised capital to fund the project through networking and

getting to key financial decision makers.
· Hired every personnel position for the project.
· Responsible for all aspects of marketing the film worldwide.




Interests &
Accomplishments • Coach for son’s football team and basketball team.
• Produced entertainment, commercials and industrials for the American Cancer Society & Cooley’s Anemia Foundation.
• Fundraiser for 25 years for both American Cancer Society & Cooley’s Anemia Foundation.
• Won “Best Director” Award from the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival in 2000.
• Won “Best Director” Award from the Long Island Film and Video Festival in 2003 for my film, “Wannabes”.
• I have donated my time to working with children with special abilities while I was on the air as a broadcaster.

Education: Graduate of St. John’s University – Queens, NY 1982
BS in Marketing, Minor in Communication: Television & Film Production

Insurance Issues for Small Businesses

Insurance Issues for Small Businesses
Barry A. Knopf, Esq. and Marc A. Rosenkrantz, CIC, AAI
Need to Know Seminar at Cohn Lifland Pearlman Herrmann & Knopf LLP
Park 80 West Plaza One Saddle Brook, NJ 07663
MAY 16 Wednesday 8:00-9:00 am
RSVP 201 845-9600 X 148 or email rsvp@njlawfirm.com
Free
Continental Breakfast Provided

Suburban Chamber of Commerce Networking Luncheon

Our Meet and Greet Networking Luncheon this month is Wednesday, April 18th, at Coppola Ristorante, New Providence. Lunch is 12:00.
Cost $25 Members/$30 Nonmembers

Phone: 908-522-1700Fax: 908-522-9252Email: info@suburbanchambers.org

Please join us for an informal luncheon, where you will have the opportunity to network with businesses from the entire area.

Union County Clip and Save Magazine Features Denise Broesler

Union County Clip and Save Magazine Features Denise Broesler as the Featured Business Opportunity Winner. This magazine has an online version as well as a printed version. To view the magazine, go to http://clipandsavemagazine.com. For advertising information, contact Nancy Reinhart at nancy@clipandsavemagazine.com.

Spring is around the corner - Are your Trees, Shrubs & Lawn taken care of?

SavATree and SavaLawn are here to help!

The 2006 season was a tough one for many lawns, trees & shrubs. With warm weather into January, a quick cold winter, then an extended, warm & wet spring followed by a predicited hot, dry summer problems will occur. While we can't control climatic factors, we can establish a thick, green lawn and improved plantings by implementing an effective program.

Much like taking care of our own health with a balanced diet, exercise & annual checkups, lawns and landscapes must also have the proper nutrients and cultural practices in order to be sustainable and deal better with stress & disease. Now is the time to contact a tree care professional that can help get your trees, shrubs and lawn in shape and looking their best for spring. Your SavATree/SavaLawn arborist can assess the effects this winter had on your landscape and make recommendations to restore the structural integrity, shape, and appearance of your trees and shrubs. You can make sure your plantings are protected against opportunistic tree insects, mites and tree diseases with an expert diagnosis of current conditions. Now is the time to schedule your spring fertilizations for your plantings and lawn to provide the nutrients needed to keep it healthy.

Contact Lorianne Brunsch (Summit area) or Jesse Shelton (Berkeley Heights/New Providence area) to schedule your complimentary consultation, to see how we can help you with your property care at 908-301-9400 or check us out at www.savatree.com

Mayor John Thoms of New Providence speaks at the Suburban Chamber in Summit

Posted by Denise Broesler

Mayor John Thoms spoke at the first Friday meeting for the Suburban Chamber this past Friday, April 6th.

I've taken some notes about his speech:

The Mayor recognized Joe Spillazzo, one of the 4 police auxiliary members that go on to become dispatchers and police officers.

The reason Mayor Thoms became mayor is because he wants to work to make a difference in this world.

His vision for New Providence:

-He's proud of downtown improvements - they've done new sidewalks, lighting, park benches; took 8 years to plan this.
-One of the last things was park benches - question was which way to face - some benches face street and some face the stores - compromise was the answer.
-He hopes to have a 45,000 square foot supermarket (most likely a Superfresh A&P) in 2008 that will be more of a colonial type facade. The burough wants a consistent design.
-They are working on a shared shopping area with Village Shopping Center. They want it to become a business friendly community.
-For South Street - Starbucks in negotiation but no lease signed yet.
-In early June they will have a farmer's market near Borough Hall on Wednesdays to generate activity.

Problems:

-Post office - moving but cannot find home in downtown - any ideas? June the post office will be displaced and may be in a trailer.
-There are 12,000 residents in New Providence sports. This puts a stress on the athletic facilities.
-They are looking at turfing fields in the near future.
-There will be lights in the tennis courts and they will be running tennis leagues (night included).

Why should New Providence go green? To foster environmental awareness:

-water mangement
-landscaping
-cutting trees
-organic environmental board
-we're working on shade tree committee

Property Taxes:

-Will go up 5.8%
-We have Community Tax Appeals this year - without this tax increase would be less than 3%.
-Property values have increased
-Equalized valuation ratio says commercial in step with residential. The ratio is now out of wack because appropriation of residents has grown up.
-There have been $40 million of assets on the books due to appeals
Properties should be valued at what they are worth, not compared to other properties.

Karate World Offers Kickboxing For Professionals

Karate World - Black Belt Academy of New Providence now offers a unique and innovative kickboxing program for men and women. Evening and weekend classes are offered to fit the busy schedules of today's professional community. The classes focus on health and fitness, while educating students on proper technique to prevent injury and learn effective self-defense. Fun, easy to learn, and guaranteed to get you in the best shape of your life - Call today for a FREE trial class.

For more information call Karate World at (908) 464-2836 or visit us online at www.BeginKarate.com . Karate World recently celebrated its one year anniversary at our location in The Village Shopping Center, 1260 Springfield Ave., New Providence. Directions

Karate World also offers Martial Arts programs for children, teens, and families.

Help us fight cancer by supporting Relay For Life!

From: Claire Kelly [mailto:ckk8@georgetown.edu]
Sent: Thursday, April 05, 2007 12:41 PM
To: mkelly@suburbanchambers.org
Subject: Help us fight cancer by supporting Relay For Life!

Hello, Can you believe that more than 1.3 million new cancer cases are expected to be diagnosed in the United States this year? Those are staggering statistics, but there is hope. Each of us can do something to save lives and help those already fighting this disease. Thats why Ive decided to take action against cancer by supporting the American Cancer Society Relay For Life.

Relay For Life is an overnight event that brings our community together to help support the American Cancer Society and its lifesaving mission to eliminate cancer as a major health problem. The Society works hard every day to prevent cancer and save lives by supporting groundbreaking research, affecting public policies that protect us from cancer, and educating people on how to prevent or detect cancer early. The Society helps people with cancer right here in our own community. And our efforts at Relay For Life can help the American Cancer Society to keep working toward a cancer-free future. I want to invite you to show your support in the ongoing fight against cancer by joining us for this years event.

Please click on the link below for more information, including details on the inspirational Survivors Lap and the moving Luminaria Ceremony. We hope to see you there! If you cant join us, will you please visit the site and make a donation to support our efforts? Either way, you will make a real difference in the lives of people facing cancer and in the lives of the people who love them. Thank you!

For state fundraising notices and the American Cancer Societys Privacy Policy, please paste this link into your browser: http://www.cancer.org/docroot/SU/su_0.asp

Follow This Link to visit my personal web page and help me in my efforts to support RFL of Georgetown University, DC

First Friday Breakfast at the Grand Summit Hotel

Don't forget the breakfast this Friday! Let us know if you're coming.

April 18 Special Needs Education Free Seminar

"Need to Know" series
Wednesday April 18 8am-9am
Special Needs Education Overview of state and federal laws; parental rights and school district responsibilities; discussion of non-educational services as well as non-traditional funding sources.
Cohn Lifland Pearlman Herrmann & Knopf LLP Park 80 Plaza West One, Saddle Brook, NJ 07663
RSVP required due to space limitations rsvp@njlawfirm.com or call 201 845-9600 ext. 148

1-800-GOT-JUNK, FUTURE NEWCOMER TO THE CHAMBER, MY NEW BEST FRIEND

There are some things a wife doesn't tell her husband.

And today, when I put the ugliest blue container my husband has been keeping in the front of the house I was thinking what a great idea! Have the debris and stuff you want your husband to get rid of by my new best friend Drew from 1-800-GOT-JUNK.

I was thinking of what an advertising campaign this company could have. I mean I was literally throwing stuff out that my husband would have DIED if he saw me throwing out...it was the BEST.

So off I went to work, seeing it all go - our construction cement, old radiators, broken trampoline, wooden bar, bags and bags of stuff. Driving up in the driveway tonight and what do I see...the big ugly blue container still there. I guess all men are alike.

SAVE BIG ON INK AND TONER

YES! You Can REFILL Your Inkjet and Toner Cartridges for Printers, Copiers and Fax Machines . . . and SAVE 30% or more!

Cartridge World, the world’s largest refiller and remanufacturer of inkjet and toner cartridges, is open in New Providence. The skilled staff at Cartridge World can refill or remanufacture most inkjet and toner cartridges at a savings of 30% or more without sacrificing quality, guaranteed.
Cartridge World uses only premium grade inks, toners and parts formulated specifically for each individual cartridge. Cartridge World’s expertise will enable businesses and individuals to greatly reduce the cost of printing while being environmentally friendly. Free pick-up and delivery is available for commercial accounts.
For more information or for a free price quote, visit the Cartridge World website at www.cartridgeworldusa.com,
e-mail us a cartridgeworldnp@yahoo.com,
call 908-771-9696 or stop in at 1253 Springfield Avenue, New Providence, NJ. 07974

Public Relations/Marketing Position Needed-posted by Alison Bryant, Board Member

ALISON V. BRYANT
1006-5 Stuyvesant Avenue ▪ Irvington, NJ 07111
(973) 399-2704
avbkat@msn.com

SUMMARY

Areas of specialization include business expansion, account management, financial reporting, marketing, public relations, fundraising, event planning, benefits and claims administration, staff recruitment and supervision, training and development. Skill set includes strong interpersonal, organizational, analytical, oral and written presentation/communication.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE


SUMMIT OAKS HOSPITAL September 2003 – present
Business Development Liaison
Negotiating managed care contracts and rates in addition to developing and reinforcing sound working relationships within the community and local organizations.
Securing the hospital’s participation in over 40 managed care health plans in less than a year.
Generating over 60% of patient referrals to the facility.
Increasing inpatient and intensive outpatient rates by 15% or more on several accounts.
Assisting with escalating the monthly census by 50%.
Establishing and enhancing collaborative partnerships with hospitals, PCPs, social service agencies, and schools.
Maintaining and fostering positive public relations by attending local meetings, program conferences and community functions.
Conducting marketing campaigns, including writing and distribution of press releases, radio announcements.
Preparing referral admission records and statistics.
Serving as writer and editor of hospital newsletter.
Developing and creating collateral materials to promote programs and services.
Implementing employee training and development.
Working with program managers and clinical supervisors to develop policy and procedure enhancements and quality and performance improvement initiatives.
Spearheading, planning and coordinating special events.
Recruiting and advising members of Teen Advisory Board.
Updating of website and telephonic information.
Establishing a team atmosphere conducive to sharing best practices.

COMMUNITY ACCESS UNLIMITED November 2002 – July 2003
Marketing and Fundraising Director
Promoted the services and programs of private non-profit organization serving developmentally disabled persons and at-risk youth.
Serving as public relations representative and newsletter editor.
Designing and creating new promotional materials to improve marketing strategies.
Conducting presentations.
Marketing and planning special events.
Soliciting sponsorship and donations.
Managing tributes, memorials, and in-kind contributions.
Developing fundraising opportunities.
Writing grants to secure additional program funding.
Coordinating and spearheading cultural arts projects.
Monitoring the updating of website information.

OUR LADY OF MOUNT CARMEL SCHOOL September 2001 – June 2002
Elementary School Teacher
Taught 4th grade Math, English, Reading, Science, Social Studies, and Religion.
Provided educational instruction to students through the use of computer technology, textbooks, and audio-visual aides.
Cultivated a learning environment, which included the application of real-life mechanisms, teamwork, self-exploration of academic strengths and challenges, problem resolution, and peer tutoring.
Created parent-teacher, student-parent, and student-teacher partnerships.
Tutored 4th and 5th graders after school on an as-needed basis.
ALISON V. BRYANT PAGE 2



PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS UNIFI October 2000 – May 2001
Designer/Technical Writer
Served as technical writer and internal consultant within the training and development department.
Incorporated sound instructional design strategies and adult learning principles and techniques to systematically develop training materials.
Created client-specific training manuals, course assessments and evaluations for Defined Contribution (DC), Defined Benefit (DB), and Health & Welfare (H&W) employee benefit plans.
Developed educational tools for Human Resources (HR) and sound employment practices.
Performed needs analysis for clients and the department.
Facilitated training classes on an as needed basis.

MAGELLAN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH November 1999 – September 2000
Project Manager/Account Service Manager
Assisted the account management team with special projects and client/broker inquiries on Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield accounts.
§ Reviewed and revised mental health and substance abuse case management letters for State and client-specific contractual language compliance.
§ Collaborated with Quality Improvement staff to ensure that complex appeal processes were clearly communicated to providers and members.
§ Coordinated and researched responses to HMO Requests for Information (RFIs).
§ Investigated account complaints and grievances.
§ Updated and created account mental health and substance abuse benefit plan designs.


BUCK CONSULTANTS September 1999 – November 1999
Benefits Consultant
Responded to Saint Barnabas Health Care System (SBHCS) participant inquiries regarding Health & Welfare and Defined Contribution benefits during the 1999 – 2000 open enrollment season within a call center environment.
Enrolled and assisted employees of the SBHCS with their medical, dental, and life insurance coverage elections. Integrated participant/client telephone calls and updated the AS400 record-keeping system.
Verified employee 401K enrollments, contributions and account activity via OMNI human resource system.

ALICARE, INC./AMALGAMATED LIFE May 1998 - July 1999
Account Executive
Served as liaison for Teamsters account with membership of over 1,000, in addition to providing coverage as backup for other accounts.
§ Fostered working relationship between client and various departments within company.
§ Handled account inquiries regarding claims and benefit plan design issues.
§ Prepared summary plan description (SPD) and overview as new programs and accounts were implemented.
§ Tracked written complaints and grievances from union members and presented them at the Board of Trustee meetings.
§ Facilitated account/member education presentations and orientations sessions.
§ Negotiated with health care vendors.
§ Responded to requests for proposals (RFPs) and information (RFIs).
§ Assisted the legal department with plan licensure updates and applications.


MAGELLAN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH May 1996 - May 1998
Account Service Representative
Interfaced with account team to upgrade and retain Blue Cross and Blue Shield affiliated clients, as well as direct clients.
§ Created marketing/sales presentation materials, which also included preparation of proposals for employee assistance programs (EAPs), care management, and integrated products.
§ Maintained and updated account benefit plans.
§ Developed benefit and proposal database system enhancements.
§ Conducted internal and external training sessions as new accounts were implemented.
§ Managed the design and production of promotional and educational materials utilized by the staff.
§ Wrote articles for the corporate monthly newsletter.
§ Planned and coordinated internal and external company-sponsored events.
ALISON V. BRYANT PAGE 3


COMMUNITY OPTIONS July 1995 – May 1996
Employment Support Coordinator
Facilitated daily living skills training and educational sessions to adults with developmental disabilities.
§ Formulated individual habilitation plans.
§ Led group counseling and information sessions.
§ Surveyed the community for potential job openings and marketed employment services of program participants.

PRUDENTIAL INSURANCE COMPANY November 1985 – May 1995
Marketing/Proposal Consultant, Assistant Expense Analyst, Assistant Managed Medical Provider Organization Consultant, and Claims Advisor
Supervised proposal unit and service team within regional marketing division and claims examining unit within the indemnity and managed medical group health divisions.
Researched and wrote responses for requests for proposals (RFPs) and information (RFIs).
Conducted enrollment meetings and health fairs for clients.
Compiled managed medical survey information and maintained network provider status and benefit plan designs.
Instructed examiners on the technical review of claims for claims adjudication.
Completed full-year inter-regional billing expense projections and prepared monthly billing reports. Coordinated the financial reporting year-end jobs.
Negotiated with vendors for company promotional items.
Facilitated team building and a variety of customer-focused courses. Coordinated training sessions for Sales and Marketing staff.
§ Monitored regional expenses incurred on traditional and managed medical cases and analyzed divisional staffing data and prepared divisional budgets.
§ Surveyed providers in various geographic areas to develop fee schedules for specific medical procedures.
§ Reviewed provider appeals and responded to provider inquiries.
§ Researched market trends and their impact on product offerings.


EDUCATION

MPA, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ – 1992
Concentration: Human Resources Management

BA, Northeastern University, Boston, MA – 1984
Major: Human Services Minor: Psychology

SKILLS

MS Office, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Information Mapping

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

Summit –New Providence Rotary Club
Summit Municipal Alliance
United Way of Greater Union County-Women’s Leadership Initiative Steering Committee Chair
United Way of Greater Union County – Community Investment Council

BOARDS

President, Board of Trustees – Irvington Public Library
Advisor, Jason Foundation, Inc. Teen Board
Board Member, Bridges Outreach, Inc.
Board Member, Suburban Chamber of Commerce

FELLOWSHIPS

Governing Institute of New Jersey April 2006
Leadership Newark, Inc. Class of 2007

Summit, NJ Parking Permit Renewals

The Chamber office is handling renewals for Summit parking permits and transfer station. The Chamber office is open from 8:30-4:30, Monday-Friday. You can mail it in or come in person. Parking is $3.75 per day if you have a permit. You need to be a resident of Summit or a verified Summit Employee. If you live in Berkeley Heights or surrounding towns, you can park in a lot for $9 per day. Contact Maureen at the Chamber office for more information and say you saw it on the blog.

Welcome Suburban Chamber Members

For those of you that attended the March Meet and Greet at Marco Polo Restaurant in Summit last Thursday, I announced that we would be creating a blog that would allow the members of the Chamber to post any information they would want people to read about their companies.

We ask you to follow some rules, however. Please no profanity, no saying unkind things about any person or company, and if you are unsure if it's allowed please call Ed or Patrick at the Chamber before you post.

We hope this blog increases the awareness of each other's business and how we can work together to make our Chamber grow over the internet.

Denise Broesler, Technology