TOWNSHIP HONORED WITH ‘HEALTHY TOWN’ DESIGNATION

Berkeley Heights has been recognized by The N.J. Health Care Quality Institute as a "Healthy Town Upand-Coming," a designation given by the Mayors Wellness Campaign Healthy Town program.

The town was honored as a first-time designee. All recognized cities and towns improve health and wellness in their communities through programs in areas such as exercise, healthy eating and mental health education and awareness. Berkeley Heights focused our 2022 programming on ensuring seniors in the community had access to health information, wellness activities and opportunities to stay socially connected.

The Mayors Wellness Campaign (MWC) is a program of the Quality Institute, in partnership with the N.J. State League of Municipalities. Each year, officials in communities participating in the MWC complete an application outlining the research done to identify community health needs and explaining how a local MWC committee has been organized. The application also highlights actions towns have taken to make their communities healthier places to live, work and play.

I am so pleased Berkeley Heights has been honored. Physical and mental health are so important, especially after enduring a global pandemic. The two are uniquely intertwined, so as we settle into normalcy, an emphasis on health will be the priority of our township. I want to thank Councilwoman Susan Poage for spearheading this effort, and Liz Viana for her contributions.

According to Councilwoman Poage, as a designee, our town will receive regularly updated tools and strategies to promote health and active living and information about grants and funding for programs. The goal is to receive the highest level of designation: Healthy Town.

Angie D. Devanney Mayor Berkeley Heights

THE SEARCH IS ON!

The Suburban Chamber of Commerce is seeking nominations for the 2023 Awards program! There are seven categories, and you, as our readers can help the Chamber of Commerce leadership find the right people to recognize at our Fall 2023 Suburban Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner.

Here are the award categories and the criteria that the awards committee uses to choose ….

v Business/Business Person of the Year – This award seeks to recognize a business or business person who has operated a respected business in our community for at least five (5) years. The business should be recognized for outstanding practices, products and/or services. Involvement in the community by way of contributions to local programs, events and other service to the towns and organizations beyond business practices will be consider a plus.

v Citizen of the Year – This award recognizes an outstanding, well-rounded citizen who lives or works in our community and has demonstrated exemplary service by way of volunteerism and community involvement.

v Organization of the Year – This award is to recognize an organization which has consistently performed services within the community for at least five (5) years, and has achieved or carried out one or more outstanding events or projects during the previous year.

v Public Safety Award – This award recognizes public safety officials, including Police, Fire and First Aid, who have a minimum of five (5) years of service to the township and have been involved in and contributed to an act (or acts) of exemplary service while providing for the safety of the community and its citizens.

v Public Service Award – This award seeks to recognize any public employee of the community and the Board of Education with at least five (5) years of service who has made significant contributions to the community or school system above and beyond the activities and responsibilities of th eir present job.

v Silver Service Award – This award is to recognize a private citizen or public servant who has served at least 25 years in our communities in multiple volunteer organizations and/or on township boards or committees. This person has demonstrated a long time dedication and devotion to the community.

v Good Neighbor Award – This award is to recognize a business, property owner or organization which through property improvements, or the implementation of a plan, has enhanced the beauty of community. This can be for a property’s aesthetic enhancement or for the thoughtful conservation of the community’s natural resources, resulting in a positive contribution to the over all life in our community.

If you know of a great candidate for any of these awards, please let Karen Hadley, Executive Director know by emailing the Chamber at khadley@suburbanchambers.org or by calling the office at 908-522-1700.

Thank you!

Imagine is a non-profit that offers free, year-round grief support groups for children ages 3-18 and those 19-30 coping with a loss due to death. Concurrently, support groups are available in English and Spanish for parents and guardians of those in the groups.

Mountainside-based Imagine also offers grief and loss education and training to the community. The next session for volunteers is scheduled for June. For details, call 908-2643100 or send a message to info@ imaginenj.org.

Imagine’s volunteer facilitators come from all walks of life. No special background is required other than a willingness to listen, a heart inclined to serve and the ability to be with children and adults in grief without trying to fix, solve or give advice. No prior experience is necessary.

Volunteers must be 18 or older. Spanish-speaking volunteers are needed, as well. Volunteers serve as companions and listeners and help create a safe space where participants can share tears and embrace the joys of life.

One volunteer described time at Imagine as “the most fulfilling and worthwhile volunteer experience I’ve ever had.” Another noted, “I have witnessed profound strength and resilience among families who arrived broken by loss. Watching families find hope and light as they heal when given the opportunity to share their stories of life, loss and love has been a truly inspiring experience.”

The next training is scheduled for June 2-4, from 9 to 5 each day at Imagine’s Mountainside center. Participants attend all three days and will have an opportunity to learn companioning and facilitation skills while sharing stories and providing each other with support. Facilitators have described the experience as “life changing” and noted they are better prepared to support not only those at Imagine, but also people in their lives who have experienced loss.

Summit’s Liss Printing and Guitars ‘n Jazz, both formerly located at 407 Springfield Ave., have relocated to 30 Maple St., just around the corner from the previous location.

The family-owned printing firm is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and may be reached at 908-2773500 or via lissprinting@gmail.com.

Services and products offered include business cards and tags, postcards, flyers and brochures, posters, rigid signs and frames, menus, banners, blueprints, documents and envelopes.

Guitars ‘n Jazz features hundreds of in-stock archtops from brands that include Eastman, Peerless and D’Angelico. Reach staff there at 908-403-3426.

According to a recent Guitars ‘n Jazz social media post, “To new chapters -- the new showroom located at 30 Maple Street is finally open. It is a beautiful, open, quiet space ready to welcome jazz guitar lovers for another 25 years.”

Minuteman Press (908) 857-4644

Monk's Home Improvements (973) 635-7900

MORTGAGES BY JIM JOSEPH (718) 812-7798

Mr. Handyman of S. Orange/Westfield/ Scotch Plains & Metuchen (908) 259-4080

My Gym Children's Fitness Center (908) 665-2122

Natale's Summit Bakery (908) 277-2074

New Jersey Dance Theatre Ensemble (908) 723-5622

New Providence Board of Education (908) 464-9050

New Providence Chiropractic (908) 665-1818

New Providence Dentistry (908) 376-9297

New Providence Fuel (908) 464-7277

NJ Sharing Network (908) 516-5400

Noke and Heard, LLP, CPA's (908) 277-4145

Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child (908) 522-8118

Office Evolution (908) 280-1813

Oratory School of Summit, NJ (908) 273-1084

Our House Inc (908) 464-8008

Overlook Medical Center (908) 522-2000

Passion for Spices (908) 380-0644

Peace of Mind Yoga (908) 363-1825

Peapack Private Wealth Management (908) 598-1717

Peapack-Gladstone Bank (908) 273-2890

Pearly Whites (908) 464-6789

Peter Wallburg Studios (908) 277-2078

Piattino (908) 219-4801

Primrose School of Berkeley Heights (908) 286-0900

Private Prep (908) 577-2390

Prominent Properties Sothebys International Realty (908) 273-8808

Prudential Advisors (917) 837-9161

PuroClean Restoration Services (908) 577-9120

Berkeley Heights (908) 464-0860

Citizens Bank - Corporate Office (973) 376-5100

Citizens Bank - New Providence (908) 286-1075

Citizens Bank - Summit (201) 286-4926

Classic Construction Service (908) 273-5252

Clear Point Designs (917) 797-7923

Club Z! Tutoring Services (908) 460-1855

Coldwell Banker Realty (908) 522-1800

Colonial Appliance (908) 665-1212

Color Me Mine (201) 966-4017

Connection, The (908) 273-4242

Cove Carpet One Floor & Home (908) 273-0220

CP Travel Advisor - LetsGlobetrot.com (908) 517-1107

CWI.Design - Creative Wallcoverings & Interiors, Ltd. (908) 665-7997

Davies Insurance Management (973) 985-9275

Delicious Heights (908) 464-3287

Dempsey, Dempsey & Sheehan (908) 277-0388

Dolores Croneberger- Real Estate Referral Agent x102

Marco Polo Restaurant & Tavern (908) 277-4492

Mind Body Wellness Center (908) 522-1861

Reeves-Reed Arboretum (908) 273-8787

Regal Bank- Summit (908) 275-9450

Richard V. Carney Electrical Contractors, Inc. (908) 277-6961

Robinwood Kitchens Inc. (908) 665-5900

ROSEN KELLY CONWAY Architecture & Design (908) 273-6565

SAGE Eldercare (908) 273-5550

Schroth and Lorenson Jewelers (908) 273-1676

Skin Deep Salon and Spa (908) 508-1800

Small Business Development Center at Kean University (908) 737-4190

Smith + Schwartzstein LLC (973) 206-1725

Smythe Volvo Inc. (908) 273-4200

Snapology Summit NJ (646) 512-2196

Stony Hill Players (888) 817-3013

Suburban Chambers of Commerce (908) 522-1700 Summit Area YMCA (908) 738-2170

Board of Education (908) 273-3025