The Monmouth Ocean Regional Realtors have chosen Kenneth Walker III, RE/MAX Paradigm Realty Group, as 2018 Realtor of the Year, and Barbara Kenas, RE/MAX Central, as 2018 Realtor Associate of the Year. Walker, of Brielle, is the 2018 president of the Monmouth Ocean Regional Realtors. Over the years, he has volunteered for local organizations and has dedicated his time to creating scholarships for economically challenged children to attend basketball camp. Kenas, of Marlboro, became a licensed real estate agent in New Jersey in 1983. She has been a recipient of the New Jersey Realtors Circle of Excellence Sales Award for approximately 30 years. Kenas has been a beacon of multiple causes throughout New Jersey. She has been a champion for Covenant House in Newark, whose mission is to rescue, educate and launch at-risk homeless teens. Kenas developed and launched “Jeans for Teens,” a program to fill a gap of appropriate clothing for children and teens who are sheltered or at risk.
Christopher Anthony, regional vice president of Weichert, Realtors, announced that the Marlboro office and one of its top-producing sales associates were recognized for exceptional industry success in August. The Marlboro office, which is managed by Barbara Berg, led its Weichert sales region for resale dollar volume during the month. The region is comprised of locations throughout Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean counties. Individually, sales associate Pamela El-Ghoul from the Marlboro office led the sales region for resales and resale dollar volume in August.
CentraState Healthcare System, Freehold Township, has achieved Gold level recognition from the American Heart Association 2018 Workplace Health Achievement Index for taking significant steps to build a culture of health and wellness in the workplace. CentraState was recognized for its Employee Wellness Program, introduced in 2005, that focuses on stress management, nutrition, fitness, and self-care that all employees are encouraged to participate in, many times at little or no cost. The program includes monthly lunch and learns, healthier food offerings in the employee cafeteria, interactive online nutrition education, free evening yoga/meditation classes, and reimbursed membership for its on-site fitness center.
AARP Foundation Tax-Aide is the nation’s largest free, volunteer-run tax assistance program. In tax year 2017 the Monmouth district provided tax preparation services at 11 sites and prepared more than 4,000 federal tax returns, essentially all of which also included a New Jersey return. Volunteers are needed for the following roles: counselors work directly with taxpayers to prepare tax returns using on-line software; client facilitators welcome taxpayers, help organize their paperwork and manage the overall flow of service; technology coordinators manage computer equipment, ensure taxpayer data is secure and provide technical assistance to volunteers. AARP membership is not required of volunteers or clients. Tax training starts in November. Prospective volunteers may email matawantaxaide@gmail.com for additional information.
