Dr. A. Gupta Elected President of FIA (Federation of Indian Associations)
Dr. Avinash Gupta, Toms River, a long-time Lakewood cardiologist and Chief of Cardiology and president of Medical Staff at Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus (MMCSC), has been elected president of the Federation of Indian Associations (FIA), a major non-profit organization serving the Indian diaspora in the U.S.
Dr. Gupta, also a member of the Ocean County Board of Health, has been serving his community for over four decades, working in the fields of social welfare and healthcare in the U.S. and India. Dr. Gupta said after being elected, “Being involved with community groups and helping others has always been my passion. Community service is very rewarding and fulfilling. It has enriched me as a person.”
During the Covid-19 pandemic, Dr. Gupta and a team of 50 doctors and healthcare professionals administered vaccinations to 3,500 Indian Americans residing in Ocean County, New Jersey. He also provided virtual medical assistance to distressed Indians were stranded in the U.S. during the pandemic. He went above and beyond by arranging medications for those individuals who lacked medical insurance coverage. He also serves marginalized and impoverished individuals in the tribal regions of Jharkhand in India by providing free medical healthcare. As a result, NBC TV channel televised a segment “American Doctors helping COVID patients in India,” featuring Drs. Avinash and Geeta Gupta.
Dr. Gupta has served as President of the Monmouth Ocean County Association of Physicians from India (MOCAAPI) and Bihar Jharkhand Association of North America (BJANA). It was his leadership within the Hindu American community that saw the founding of Sidhivinayak Temple and Indian Cultural Center in Toms River in 2012, an organization for which he has personally donated hundreds of thousands of dollars and countless hours.
FIA Chairman Ankur Vaidya expressed his appreciation for the hard work of the 2023 executive team and welcomed the incoming team. Dr. Gupta, reflecting on his experience as the FIA Vice President, described it as a valuable learning curve. He expressed his commitment to guiding FIA to new heights during his tenure as president. Collaborating with his new team, Dr. Gupta aims to reinforce India-US relations.
After graduating from medical school in India, Dr. Gupta came to the United States in 1986. He went on to complete his Internal Medicine residency and Cardiology fellowship in New York before he began to practice cardiology in Lakewood in 1994. After working for Lakewood Medical Specialists, he started his own practice with his wife Dr. Geeta Gupta, with Kimball Medical Center as his primary hospital. He is a fellow of the American College of Cardiology and is Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Cardiology, Nuclear Medicine, and Lipidology.
Dr. Gupta and his wife Dr. Geeta Gupta share an office in Lakewood, specializing in both Internal Medicine and Cardiology as well as offering all testing associated with Cardiology care, such as Echocardiograms, Carotid Ultrasound, Nuclear and Regular Exercise Stress Testing.
Among his awards, Dr. Gupta received Pravasi Bhartiya Divas, 2020, leadership and Community Service, Consulate General of India, N.Y.; Proclamation, 2021, Lifesaving services during COVID pandemic, State of New Jersey; Extraordinary leadership, 2020, Service to Profession & Community, AAPI; Healthcare Heroes in serving Community during COVID pandemic, 2020, BJANA; Annual India Day parade, 2019, Federation of Indian Associations; Service to Homeland, 2019, BCCI, Patna; and 25 years of dedicated service, 10994-2019, RWJBarnabas Health.
The FIA’s executive team for 2024 includes Saurin Parikh as Executive Vice President, Smita Miki Patel as Vice President, Deepak Goel as 2nd Vice President, Priti Patel as General Secretary, Mahesh Dubal as Joint Secretary, Sanjeev Singh as Treasurer, and Haresh Shah as Joint Treasurer.
Jackson Lewis Attorneys to Give Legal Seminar November 9
The Jersey Shore Association for Human Resources (JSAHR) is hosting a legal interactive meeting breakfast meeting from 8:00 a.m. to Noon, presented by the employment law firm of Jackson Lewis on November 9 at the Jumping Brook Country Club, 210 Jumping Brook Road, Neptune, NJ 07753.
Led by attorneys Richard Cino, Principal; and Associates Bianca Olivadoti, Darran St. Ange, and Cody Hubbs, this seminar will provide the latest information on 2023 employment issues impacting organizations on a federal and state levels with up-to-the-minute strategies and solutions.
Topics include a discussion of the Department of Labor’s proposed increases to the FLSA salary threshold for “white collar” exemptions; The EEOC’s Proposed Guidance on Harassment in the Workplace; A review of New Jersey’s Temporary Workers’ Bill of Rights and Its Implications; Changes to Form I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification; The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, and a review of other noteworthy litigation and decisions.
Breakfast and networking begin at 8:00 a.m.; announcements and introductions at 8:30 a.m.; and the program from 9:00 a.m. to Noon.
The registration fees are $65 for JSAHR members; $95 for non-members; $50 for first-time guests and those in-transition; and no cost for students with a valid ID. Register online at jsahr.shrm.org/events or email Christine Higgins at admin@jsahr.org or call JSAHR at 732-701-7155.
This program is pending approval for 3.0 SHRM PDC (Professional Development Credits) recertification credit and 3.0 HRCI (Human Resource Certification Institute) General recertification credit.
About Jackson Lewis, P.C.: Jackson Lewis P.C. is among the largest firms in the country dedicated to representing management in labor, employment and benefits law, and related litigation. With 58 offices across the country, the firm has both a national perspective and keen understanding of the nuances of regional business environments. Jackson Lewis represents employers before state and federal courts on a wide range of issues, including discrimination, wrongful discharge, retaliation, whistleblower, health, safety, wage/hour, pension, and benefits. The firm’s attorneys negotiate collective bargaining before the NLRB, OSHA, and other federal and state agencies.
Broderick to Serve as President of HR Group
Carolyn Broderick, Hazlet, has been selected to be the 2023-2025 president of JSAHR (Jersey Shore Assoc. for HR). She is the Senior Business Intelligence and Compliance Analyst at the Mount Sinai Health System, New York.
Broderick said, “I am honored to have been elected to lead this chapter, and I look forward to working with our excellent committees to continue building our membership, facilitating certification activities, furthering diversity and inclusion, providing valuable programming and career assistance to our members, and working with educational institutions to elevate and promote the human resources profession.”
Other elected officers serving on the executive board are lst Vice President, Meg Cody, Rumson, Senior Talent Acquisition Partner, New Jersey Resources, Wall; 2nd Vice President Jennifer Meyer-Mahoney, Esq., Millstone, owner of Law Office of Jennifer Meyer-Mahoney, attorney specializing in employment law; Treasurer, Dixie West, Asbury Park, owner of Too Busy? LLC, Matawan.
The board of directors includes immediate past president Eveline Brownstein, Rumson, Director of HR, Stern Strategy Group, Iselin; Luke Breslin Esq., Jackson Lewis Law Firm, Berkeley Heights; Constance Cinko, Director of Talent, Learning and Development for United Teletech Financial Credit Union, Tinton Falls; Erica Connor, Neptune City, Assistant VP and HR Manager for Manasquan Bank, Wall; Thomas Crowell, Forked River, Hafetz & Assoc., Linwood; Robert Kane, Boonton, Training Unlimited LLC, Bradley Beach; Lisa Kettyle, Middletown, WestRock, Atlanta, Georgia; Fran Kirschner, Lakewood, President Frantasy Enterprises, PR Firm; David Kostka, Colts Neck, owner of David Kostka Associates, a management consulting firm, Colts Neck; Mark Kremen, Bradley Beach, Training Unlimited, Bradley Beach; Janeth Merkle, Howell, Assistant Dean for Student Engagement at Monmouth University, West Long Branch; Julie Olters, Pt. Pleasant, HR Generalist, Manasquan Bank, Wall; Liz Ambrose, Oceanport, In Transition; Lorraine Smith, Marlboro, Director of HR, Ritchie & Page Distributing; Michael Timmes, Fort Lee, Insperity, HR Consultant, Florham Park; and Christine Higgins, Pt. Pleasant, Chapter administrator.
All Children of Pine Belt Employees Receive College Scholarship
Paying back college student loans can be a disheartening experience. Rob Sickel, owner of Pine Belt Cars, 1088 Route 88, Lakewood, however, is giving the children of his employees a head start. Any employee who has high school student about to enter any two- or four-year college, technical, or vocational school will get a $1000 scholarship from Pine Belt.
Pine Belt Enterprises has been a family-owned automotive dealership since 1937. Robert Sickel is the 3rd generation owner of Pine Belt, passed down from his grandfather, Leon and father, David. Before taking over the business in 2004, Rob Sickel earned a degree in Business Administration at the University of Miami. Robert has always enjoyed supporting his employees and the local communities through his personal and business efforts.
We’re Hiring! Pine Belt Cars is offering a $500 employee referral. The employee must remain employed for at least 90 days. Contact us to learn more. Contact Joseph Pagano with any questions or employee referrals joep@pinebeltcars.com
About Pine Belt Cars: Pine Belt Cars, a family-owned and operated New Jersey car dealer representing Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram Subaru, and Mazda brands, 1088 Route 88, Lakewood, NJ 08701, has four dealerships in Lakewood, N.J. Pine Belt and owner Robert Sickel are very committed philanthropically to local communities. Some of their philanthropic affiliations include sponsoring the Pine Belt Arena, Lakewood Little League, United Way of Ocean County, Lakewood Police Department, Jewish Federation, and the Monmouth-Ocean Development Council, among others.
Pine Belt Cars was founded in 1937 by Leon Sickel. After graduating Franklin & Marshall and serving in the U.S. Naval Reserve, his son David Sickel joined the family business and became the dealer in 1975. When David retired in 2019, his son Robert Sickel became the current president and CEO of Pine Belt Cars, a third-generation dealer. For more information call 888-3-PineBelt or 732-363-6244 or visit www.pinebeltcars.com
Lakewood Airport Gives Tours to School Groups
The staff at the Lakewood Airport, Cedarbridge Avenue, provides tours for local schools and institutions to provide them with aviation insights. Due to safety concerns, airport staff require an adequate number of adults to accompany the children on the tour to provide a competent level of supervision.
Kevin McKenzie, the Lakewood Airport FBO (Fixed Base Operator), said, “We don’t allow anyone to touch the airplanes but we will get close to the aircraft and answer all questions concerning the various items visible on the exterior of the aircraft. I generally walk the group past the club planes tied down on the ramp and point out a few features, such as every plane is ‘tied down’ so they don’t take off in a strong wind; there are low wing and high wing planes; and propellers are painted on the outer edge to make the spinning prop visible,” among other facts.
School groups will also learn about the unique aspects of the planes at the Lakewood Airport; for example, the twin tail on an Ercoupe or the reverse slant on a Mooney’s tail. Of course, the airport tour guides answer any questions the students have.
McKenzie said, “Hopefully, we may inspire a yearning for aviation in our youth and possibly in adults as well.”
For tour availability and convenient times for schools and airport staff, call at Kevin McKenzie, On-site manager, at 732 363 6400 from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Lakewood PBA Car Show Postponed til Oct. 29
The Lakewood Township PBA, Local 71, 2nd annual auto show “Cars for a Cause” to benefit Ocean of Love for Children with Cancer and Bikur Cholim of Lakewood has been postponed until October 29, 2023, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Shore Town Ballpark, home of the Jersey Shore BlueClaws, 2 Stadium Way, Lakewood, N.J.
njoy live music by Kickin’ Wing, 50/50, awards, and food trucks. Any additional donations will be donated to Ocean of Love and Bikur Cholim of Lakewood.
The registration fee for all car makes and models is $20.00, cash only, the date of the show. For more information call 732-363-0200 Ext. 2277 or email pbacarshow@lakewoodpolicenj.com
Pine Belt Cars, Lakewood, Shares the Love with a Donation to Monmouth Medical Center
Pine Belt Subaru, 1021 Route 88 Lakewood NJ, recently raised $18,493 from donations of vehicle purchases to benefit Monmouth Medical Center through its Subaru Share the Love Event. Pine Belt Subaru was honored to select Monmouth Medical Center, a longtime partner organization, as this year’s Share the Love recipient.
Over the last 15+ years, the Subaru Share the Love® Event and participating retailers have donated more than $256 million to charities, such as hospitals, the ASPCA (Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®), Make-A-Wish Foundation, Meals on Wheels, National Park Foundation, plus more than 800 home charities.
Subaru retailers across the country are dedicated to giving back to their communities all year long. Through the Share the Love Event, they support hometown charities.
Photo ID: (LtoR) Pine Belt Employees Adeeyah Pettis, Cecelia Wilson, and Shawn Harris; Michael Marquand, Pine Belt General Manager; and Maria Pollard, Development Direct for Monmouth Medical Center
About Pine Belt Cars: Pine Belt Cars, 1088 Route 88, Lakewood, NJ 08701, has four dealerships in Lakewood, N.J., and is very committed philanthropically to local communities. Some of Pine Belt’s philanthropic affiliations include sponsoring the Pine Belt Arena, Lakewood Little League, United Way of Ocean County, Lakewood Police Department, Jewish Federation, and the Monmouth-Ocean Development Council.
Pine Belt Cars was founded in 1937 by Leon Sickel. His son, president and CEO David Sickel, is a lifelong Lakewood resident who graduated from Franklin & Marshall College. He joined the family business in 1970 after attending the General Motors Institute in Detroit, Michigan, and serving in the U.S. Naval Reserve. When his father retired in 1975, David assumed his current role.
For more information call 888-3-PineBelt or 732-363-6244 or visit www.pinebeltcars.com
“Speaking Yiddish to Chickens”– Author Seth Stern In-person and on Zoom
Seth Stern, author of “Speaking Yiddish to Chickens,” will discuss his book at Congregation Torat El, 301 Monmouth Road, Oakhurst, NJ 07755 on Sunday, October 22, 2023, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. This event includes a brunch.
Most of the roughly 140,000 Holocaust survivors who came to the United States in the first decade after World War II settled in big cities such as New York. But a few thousand chose an alternative way of life on American farms. More of these accidental farmers wound up raising chickens in southern New Jersey than anywhere else.
“Speaking Yiddish to Chickens” is the first book to chronicle this little known chapter in American Jewish history when these mostly Eastern European refugees – including the author’s grandparents – found an unlikely refuge and gateway to new lives in the U.S. on poultry farms. They gravitated to a section of south Jersey anchored by Vineland, a small rural city where previous waves of Jewish immigrants had built a rich network of cultural and religious institutions.
SETH STERN is a legal journalist and editor at Bloomberg Industry Group. He previously reported for Bloomberg News, Congressional Quarterly, and the Christian Science Monitor. He co-authored Justice Brennan: Liberal Champion (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2010). He is a graduate of Harvard Law School, the Harvard Kennedy School, and Cornell University.
Pre-Paid tickets cost $15 per person and $20 at the door and includes brunch. Reservations at www.mta.torat-el.org or 732-531-4410.
“Bring Back the Babka!” — Storytime by Author Marilyn Wolpin
Hear the book “Bring Back the Babka,” by author Marilyn Wolpin on Sunday, November 19, 2023, from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. at the Sheldon Wolpin Lakewood Historical Museum, 500 Country Club Drive (Pine Park). The School Library Journal described this book as “a food-filled mystery that celebrates the diversity of Jewish food and the Jewish community.”
Books will be available for purchase and signing. Light kosher refreshments will be served after the program. Admission is free but donations are always gladly accepted. For reservations, contact Robin at 732-840-7700.
The Lakewood Historical Museum is open Saturday, Sunday, and Monday from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. with tours provided by docents.
The Lakewood Historical Soc. & Lakewood Heritage Com. to Host Part 2 of Its Lecture Series
The Lakewood Historical Society and Lakewood Heritage Commission will host Part 2 of its lecture series on October 15, 2023, from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. at the Lakewood Historical Museum, 500 Country Club Drive (Pine Park).
Ruth Anne McClelland, a 40-year member of the National Society of Daughters of American Revolution will discuss “The History of the Congressional Medal of Honor and the Story of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence.” McClelland is the Past Regent of the Governor William Livingston Chapter of the DAR, Spring Lake, N.J. She has worked as a nurse in two states that are heavy in history – New Jersey and Virginia.
The suggested donation is $5.00. Refreshments will be served after the lecture. R.S.V.P., contact Robin at rwellet@aol.com or call 732-330-5384.
The Lakewood Historical Museum is open Saturday, Sunday, and Monday from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. with tours provided by docents. Admission is free but donations are always gladly accepted.