Home Care In Clarksburg, NJ

The Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of New Jersey (AASP/NJ) held its annual meeting on Oct. 20 at Gran Centurions in Clark, N.J., featuring its board of directors election, a special awards ceremony where longtime members were honored and an education session delivered by Neal Bobzin and Craig Stevens of CCC.

Re-elected Executive Board members include:

Board member Dave Laganella (Peters Body & Fender; Oakland) will return for another term, and the board welcomed a new member: Ken Miller (821 Collision; North Haledon).

During the special awards ceremony, Tom Elder and Luci Robson presented the Russ Robson Scholarship Award to Gavin Danitz (Compact Kars; Clarksburg). The Stan Wilson/New Jersey Automotive Body Shop of the Year Award went to Dennis Cataldo, Jr. of D&M Auto Body in Old Bridge, and Tom Elder was the recipient of the Lee Vetland Lifetime Achievement Award. Alicia Figurelli, senior vice president of Thomas Greco Publishing, became the second woman to be inducted into the AASP/NJ Hall of Fame.

After Nicole Lewicki of the Amato Insurance Agency (a division of World Insurance) shared a brief update on the AASP/NJ health insurance plan, Bobzin and Stevens took the floor to discuss how ELEVATE by CCC helps shops set goals, monitor trends and make decisions to improve their businesses.

“When I ask a new client, what’s your goal, they don’t tell me ‘to survive,’” said Bobzin. “The goal isn’t to remain flat – they’re looking to grow, or they’re looking to become more attractive for sale. Those higher-level goals need to be broken down into the details, and then your employees need to understand the relationship between these particular goals and their responsibilities within the department.”

In terms of industry trends, Bobzin honed in on decreasing sales opportunities, vendor delays, staff shortages, CSI decreases and ramping up for a return to normalcy. Exploring the most beneficial ways to market to modern customers, Stevens asked, “You guys deserve the same attention that any other industry gets, so why shouldn’t you have the same tools that any other industry gets?”

When discussing vendor delays, Stevens suggested, “The more robust your network of suppliers, the better, and the more you can expand it, the more visibility you’ll have into your market.”

Bobzin broached the importance of supporting local vo-tech schools as he discussed the ongoing staff shortage, but he also pointed out the importance of developing internal talent: “Invest in your people!”

The most important factors in improving CSI include understanding your customer base and keeping them informed, according to Bobzin. “Simple changes can positively influence CSI,” he said.

“It’s important to find out what’s important to your customer,” Stevens added. “Ask your customer what they like best about their car, and then spend an extra minute making sure that works properly for them when they pick their car up.”

The topic of returning to normalcy included the need to dig deeper into cycle time analysis and finding the balance in triage.

“It’s amazing what you all do every day,” Stevens concluded. “I respect that, and I think that, as an industry, you deserve that respect. You’re putting people back in their cars and putting them on the road – that’s a pretty big deal. And we’d love to help you leverage the use of the tools in the products you’re already using.”

For more information on AASP/NJ, visit aaspnj.org.

New Jersey beekeepers reap the glorious bounty of sweet honey, and many sell a variety of products made from honey that attract quite a buzz among shoppers.

Products include honey — of course — as well as cosmetics, lotions, candles, soaps, flavored honey spreads and more. It’s a sticky business — pun intended — that has New Jersey products being sold near and far. The state’s beekeepers sell their honey products on site, in stores or farmer’s markets, online or a combination of all. For many, it’s a family operation, and some go back several generations.

For a list of members of the New Jersey Beekeepers Association who sell products from their apiaries, visit njbeekeepers.org and click on Honey & Hive Products. Here are some highlights of sweet items made and sold by local beekeepers:

Bee Flower and Sun Honey in Pittstown

beeflowernsunhoney.com or 908-735-6946

For four decades, this raw honey has been sold unfiltered for more taste, and to preserve its naturally occurring antioxidants, pollen, enzymes, vitamins and minerals. Honey varieties include blueberry blossom, clover blossom, star thistle blossom, wild flower, buckwheat blossom and Ceylon cinnamon infused, as well as comb honey.

The beeswax candles from E&M Gold Beekeepers are best-sellers. Photo courtesy of E&M Gold Beekeepers

E&M Gold Beekeepers in Tinton Falls

emgoldbeekeepers.com or 732-542-6528

E&M Gold owners Mary and Edmund Kosenski work diligently to protect their bees from diseases. Their beeswax candles are popular, and in recent years, about half of their sales have been 2- and 6-ounce honey favor jars for weddings and baby or bridal showers.

Frank’s Honey in Ridgewood

frankthebeeman.com/franks-honey/

Frank’s Honey is 100% pure, raw, all-natural, local honey that is hand-harvested and hand-extracted from Bergen County hives, then poured fresh into bottles to preserve its high-quality, sweet goodness. His honey jars, honey hand lotion and honey lip balm are available at several shops in Bergen County.

Gooserock Farm harvests beeswax to make a variety of products, including soaps. Photo courtesy of Gooserock Farm

Gooserock Farm in Montville

gooserockfarm.com or 973-263-0674

For 20 years, Landi Simone has produced raw, minimally filtered honey from hives in Morris and Sussex counties. She also harvests beeswax to make creams, soaps, lip balms and candles. Gooserock Farm has taken hundreds of prizes for its honey, candles and cosmetics in local, state and regional shows.

HarBee Beekeeping in Dumont

harbeebeekeeping.com or 201-543-3549

Pat Harrison’s suburban beekeeping business produces honey, natural bar soaps in several scents, aromatherapy candles and pure beeswax candles. He maintains 200 honeybee colonies throughout New Jersey, and offers The Good Beekeeper Plan, a hands-off beekeeping service for homeowners.

Neshanic Station Apiaries in Neshanic Station

njlocalhoney.com or 908-377-1681

This small, family-owned business sells its wildflower honey raw to preserve its antibacterial and antifungal properties, packed with enzymes, minerals and pollen. Popular products include Beekeepers Bar soaps and spreadable creamed honey.

The Honeybee Venom Rub from New Ark Apiaries provides gentle relief from muscle and joint pain. Photo courtesy of New Ark Apiaries

New Ark Apiaries in Montclair Heights

etsy.com/shop/NewArkApiaries

Joseph Sarbak learned about beekeeping from a local adult education course. He now sells honey and related products. His Honeybee Venom Rub provides gentle relief from muscle and joint pain, and Bee Propolis Extract, a natural tincture that acts as a powerful natural antibiotic, antiviral and antifungal medicine, is effective for healing cuts.

Sweet Cheeks Farm and Apiary in Chester

sweetcheeksfarm.com or 908-809-0202

Sweet Cheeks Farm recently took over Tassot Apiaries, whose owners retired after 20 years. The 16-acre farm sells organic honey and products such as beeswax candles and honey butters in flavors that include cinnamon, chocolate, lemon, peanut butter, vanilla chai and matcha green tea.

Top of the Mountain Honey Bee Farm sells raw honey and honey infused with flavors. Photo courtesy of Top of the Mountain Honey Bee Farm

Top of the Mountain Honey Bee Farm in Wantage

honeyforsale.net or 973-764-1116

What started as a hobby now has 400 hives over five counties. Top of the Mountain sells raw honey — wildflower, buckwheat and locust — and honey infused with flavors, like cinnamon, berries, orange and more — even garlic and hot pepper. They also sell soap and face masks, lip balms and bee rub.

Tanis Apiaries in Pompton Plains

freewebstore.org/Tanis-Apiaries or 973-831-5802

When Craig Tanis discovered that local, raw honey relieved his allergy symptoms and his son’s asthmatic coughing, he started beekeeping with his family as a hobby. Today, the family sells its honey, soap and popular lip balm made from beeswax.

Trapper’s Honey in Clarksburg

Trappershoney.com or 609-259-0051

This third-generation beekeeping family harvests their award-winning honey from hives on their farm, and sells pure bottled honey as well as a Gourmet Honey Spread made from honey and fruit. Their hives in a blueberry patch have a natural blueberry taste.

Joyce Venezia Suss is a freelance writer and native Jersey girl who has worked for the Associated Press, The Star-Ledger and North Jersey Media Group. She was nominated for a James Beard Journalism Award for a 19-part series on ethnic foods in New Jersey.

This article originally appeared in the Fall 2021 issue of Jersey’s Best. Subscribe here for in-depth access to everything that makes the Garden State great.

Collision repairers and automotive professionals from all over the Garden State packed the Gran Centurions in Clark, N.J., on Oct. 19 to honor their peers, collaboratively discuss ideas and obtain valuable resources and information during the Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of New Jersey’s (AASP/NJ) annual meeting.

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After opening remarks from AASP/NJ President Jerry McNee and Executive Director Charles Bryant, the association re-elected Tom Elder (Compact Kars), Mike Kaufmann (Mike Kaufmann Dealer Group) and Tom Greco (Thomas Greco Publishing) to its board of directors for the 2022-2025 term. AASP/NJ also elected Danielle Molina (Perfect Bodies Collision Center, Passaic) to her first term on the board.

Patrick Crome, a Mercer County Vocational School student employed by Compact Kars (Clarksburg), was named the recipient of the Russ Robson Scholarship Award. Paul Sgro (Lee’s Garage, W. Long Branch) took home the New Jersey Automotive/Stan Wilson Body Shop of the Year award, and Mike Kaufmann (Mike Kaufmann Dealer Group) became the newest inductee to the AASP/NJ Hall of Fame. The meeting also served as a forum to make sure members were supplied with information concerning benefits such as the association’s group healthcare plan.

“It’s running like a well-oiled machine,” said Joe Amato, Sr. of the Amato Agency (a division of World Insurance), whose team was on hand to go over plan basics with attendees. The program has been bringing substantial cost savings to shops on their healthcare, which is noted to be the “second largest cost at your shop next to payroll.”

“AASP/NJ is giving its members some control over their health care costs, helping to give them a better experience,” said Terry Gorman from World Insurance.

Audience members also heard from Ken Racioppi and David Johnson (Alliance Payment Solutions) on options to manage credit card surcharge fees as well as Paul Hill (I-CAR), who reviewed positive changes to the training program’s curriculum.

Following the presentations, McNee and fellow board member Ken Miller (821 Collision, North Haledon) led the audience in a town hall discussion, inviting any audience member to speak out about the things that affect them most in their day to day business. The microphone made its way around the room as repairer after repairer shared experiences, issues and solutions.

For more information on AASP/NJ, visit aaspnj.org.

The Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of New Jersey (AASP/NJ) presented the Second Annual Young Technician Awards to two promising young technicians on March 19 during the 2022 NORTHEAST Automotive Services Show.

Thanks to a generous $5,000 grant from the Utica National Group Foundation, AASP/NJ supplied John Carson (Parkway Auto Body of Nutley, N.J.) and Nick Kiernan (Compact Kars of Clarksburg, N.J.) with tool carts overflowing with tools and equipment to help them get their start in the collision repair industry.

The annual award is given to up-and-coming technicians employed by AASP/NJ member shops who have been working in the industry for less than five years.

AASP/NJ received many applicants this year and decided to give the award to two deserving young professionals.

“We had six finalists, and we narrowed it down to two, but it was really difficult to make a decision,” said AASP/NJ Allied Board Member Joe Amato, Sr., of Amato Insurance Agency. “We hope these young men will put it to good use.”

Carson expressed his gratitude to AASP/NJ for being selected as an award recipient.

“This is going to be very helpful for me,” he said. “It’s really going to come in handy as tools are expensive, and it’s great to have some help.”

Carson said he has learned a lot since he began working at Parkway Auto Body two years ago. He hopes to one day have his own shop but right now is grateful for his job and is working to learn as much as he can in order to become a great technician.

Kiernan also expressed appreciation for being chosen for the award.

“Winning this award is just great,” he said. “Being a younger technician is challenging … especially with trying to get the tools you need to get your job done as they are extremely expensive. It can be tough to get started.”

Kiernan, who has been at Compact Kars for two-and-a-half years, originally wanted to paint cars but discovered a love for building them instead once he started working in automotive. “I am very fortunate to have my bosses, Tom and Jeffrey Elder, who provide me with amazing opportunities.”

For more information on AASP/NJ, visit aaspnj.org.

The Alliance of Automotive Service Providers of New Jersey (AASP/NJ) announced that it awarded the Russ Robson Scholarship, created in memory of the former AASP/NJ president, to Gavin Danitz of Compact Kars, Inc., in Clarksburg, N.J. The presentation of the award happened at AASP/NJ’s annual meeting at the Gran Centurions Banquet Hall in Clark, N.J.

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Robson was president of AASP/NJ when the Garden State Automotive Federation transitioned to AASP/NJ and was well known in the industry for his dedication and training of others. The scholarship award in his honor is presented to a promising young person working in a member shop. This year’s award was presented by Tom Elder, treasurer of AASP/NJ, and Robson’s wife, Luci.

“I was honored to present the vo-tech scholarship award honoring my late husband,” said Luci Robson. “I am proud that he was part of AASP/NJ, an organization which works for the betterment of the collision repair industry.”

Added Elder, “One of the things that Russ was very adamant about was trying to provide training for young people coming into our industry. He taught at a vocational school, and he would tell us, ‘We’re never going to get through this together unless we have trained help.’ Today, I can’t even begin to understand how we’re going to get enough people trained to help with those roles we need filled; between people leaving, retiring, moving on or finding they can make more money at McDonald’s than as skilled labor, it’s very difficult to attract young people to this industry. Russ had the right idea many years ago.

“Russ Robson was our friend, and in his memory, we give away the Russ Robson Award every year. This year hits close to home. My son Jeffrey is here with his son, Gavin – the recipient of this award. So, here we have three generations, and hopefully, Gavin will be involved in our business. Right now, he’s working in our business as a high school senior with excellent grades. This is a very prestigious award, and Gavin, you’ve very much earned this award. Congratulations!”

Danitz was presented with a plaque during the ceremony, and he will also receive scholarship funds to use toward his ongoing education and training in the collision repair industry.

“I’m enjoying my experience working at Compact Kars,” Danitz said. “I’ve been around cars basically my entire life, and I’ve always had a passion for it. I love the working environment, I love working on cars and I love solving problems. I want to continue to better myself, and I’m very honored to have the opportunity to win this award. Thank you to everyone who made this possible.”

For more information on AASP/NJ, visit aaspnj.org.

Margret "Maggi" Romano, a founding member of the Standardbred Pleasure Horse Association, has been selected to receive the 2015 Spirit of the Horse Award from the Rutgers Equine Science Center.

Romano, who resides in Clarksburg, N.J., is the wife of Anthony Romano, a member of the Board of Directors of the Standardbred Breeders & Owners Association of New Jersey.

"The award recognizes people whose lives have been impacted by horses and who continue to give back to horses and the equine industry through dedicated time and service," said Dr. Karyn Malinowski, director of the Rutgers Equine Science Center. "Maggi is a person who eats, breathes and lives horses 24/7/365. She doesn't take short cuts when the well-being of a horse is involved. Her philosophy is that when dealing with horses one should give 110 percent at least, but never less than 100 percent."

As a young person in Germany, she went with her father every year to Aachen to watch the international jumping competition. After high school, vocational school, advanced night school and an office job, she traveled to New York in 1977, and she was introduced to Standardbred horses at the Meadowlands.

Romano served two years as president and one year as show manager of the Standardbred Pleasure Horse Organization of New Jersey [SPHO/NJ]. She is a board member of the New Jersey Horse Council, serving two years as president and as a delegate to the New Jersey Equine Advisory Board, where she served two years as vice chair and two years as chair.

She currently serves as a delegate to the New Jersey Agricultural Convention and as the delegate from New Jersey to the Coalition of State Horse Councils and American Horse Council, where she serves on the Racing Advisory Committee.

The Romanos currently have eight horses on their farm — one active Standardbred racehorse, six retired racehorses that she either owned or adopted, plus a mixed breed that she rescued in 2014.

"Of course, it's an awesome honor to receive the Spirit of the Horse Award, but I still haven't figured out why me, so I don't know if I can live up to it," Romano said. "Previous recipients were tops in their profession and received national accolades. Maybe, it's because I am just an example of the many people who love and care for horses, day in and day out, without expecting and receiving fame and glory. And for all those people, I gratefully accept the Spirit of the Horse Award."

Previous recipients include: Sandy Denarski, Dr. David Meirs II, Dr. Stephen P. Dey, Elizabeth Durkin, Toni Nigito, Rick Wills, Nancy Jaffer, Linda Toscano, Dr. Patty Hogan, and Peter Cofrancesco III.

Romano will receive her award at the Rutgers Equine Science Center's Evening of Science and Celebration on Monday, Nov, 10 at the Cook Campus Center, 59 Biel Road, New Brunswick, N.J. from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

From 5 to 6 p.m. is the optional tour at the Red Barn on College Farm Road. A light supper will be available from 6 to 7 p.m. followed by the Science & Celebration, featuring speakers Angela Howard on "Preparing for Disaster" and Dr. David Horohov on "The Inflammatory Response to Exercise."

The Spirit of the Horse Award and the Gold Medal Horse Farm Award to Wood Hollow Farm of Colts Neck, N.J., will be presented by the Equine Science Center.

Tickets are $30 for adults and $15 for full-time students.

For more information, contact Kyle Hartmann at [email protected], call 848-932-9419 or visit esc.rutgers.edu.

For more equestrian news see Horse News

Horse News covers everything equestrian in the mid-Atlantic area and can be reached at [email protected] For advertising e-mail [email protected]. Find Horse News on Facebook.

Montgomery received national recognition for her work sharing resources on antiracism, content marketing, and other topics

CLARKSBURG, Md., Jan. 14, 2021 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — The Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA) has recognized Sydney Montgomery, owner and founder of S. Montgomery Admissions Consulting with its inaugural Making a Difference Award. Montgomery is one of only seven independent educational consultants (IECs) chosen from among the association’s more than 2,200 members to receive the award.

The Making a Difference Award recognizes an individual’s unprompted and cooperative efforts that have impacted the work of IECA’s members during this tumultuous year.

A graduate of Clarksburg High School (MD), Princeton University (NJ) and Harvard Law School (MA), Montgomery has been guiding high school students through the college application process since 2012, and law school students through the application process since 2015. As the first lawyer in her family, and the daughter of military parents and a Jamaican mother, Montgomery aims to increase representation for other first-generation and minority students in higher education.

She uses her platform to regularly offer free Q&A sessions and prayer calls to over 200+ law school applicants through her Facebook group and YouTube channel. “My goal is that nobody feels alone in this application process,” Sydney Montgomery said. “I know first-hand how daunting this step can be and I am passionate about helping my students break down generational barriers and step confidently into their future.”

Montgomery completed the Independent Educational Consultant Certificate program offered through the University of California, Irvine, Division of Continuing Education and along with IECA, is a member of the Potomac and Chesapeake Association for College Admission Counseling (PCACAC).

Montgomery received the award for her work sharing resources on antiracism, content marketing, and other topics and participating as an active member of the Black IECs Affinity Group and Graduate School Committee.

The Making a Difference Awards were presented by Kristina Dooley, IECA board president, during the organization’s virtual Fall Conference, which was attended by more than 650 independent educational consultants and 400 school, program and college representatives.

“Our seven awardees have stepped up to support their colleagues by sharing resources, information, and ideas that have been invaluable to their IEC practices, especially considering how rapidly the pandemic has impacted the school, college, and therapeutic landscape,” said IECA CEO Mark Sklarow. “Their efforts speak to the importance of community within IECA.”

To learn more visit: https://www.smontgomeryconsulting.com/

Follow on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/smontadmissions Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smontgomeryconsulting

About IECA:

Founded in 1976, the Independent Educational Consultants Association is the nation’s leading professional organization for college advisors working in private practice. Families trust IECA’s thoroughly vetted members to find a college that matches a student’s academic, social, and financial needs and guide them through the search and application process. With 2,300 educational consultant members across the country, IECA provides education and training on admission, ethical practice, and adolescent issues from depression to anxiety to learning differences, to ensure every student is well served.

*PHOTO link for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/21-0113s2p-Sydney-Montgomery-300dpi.jpg

*Caption: Sydney Montgomery, Esq.

NEWS SOURCE: S. Montgomery Admissions Consulting

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