Allies NJ » News Center

Project Grow and Maryanne McMillan win national award

Kate Hipple — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 20:30:46 +0000

Congratulation Maryanne McMillan!

Allies very own Maryanne McMillan was awarded the John Walker Community Service Award from the American Horticulture Therapy Association this past October at their annual conference in North Carolina. Maryanne has tirelessly worked to improve the lives of the people we support by giving them the chance to learn about sustainable living through our Project Grow partnership with Mercer County Community College’s DREAM Program, as well as other programs she has been instrumental in running and supporting statewide. We are so proud of Maryanne. She is an incredible asset to our individuals and our agency as a whole. She is the embodiment of our mission here at Allies Inc. Thank you Maryanne, you are an inspiration!

Greensleeves’ Grand Move

Kate Hipple — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 20:21:51 +0000

On November 3rd, Allies’ family and friends joined together to celebrate the ribbon cutting ceremony at our new location for the Greensleeves store in Somerville NJ. Everyone who attended enjoyed shopping, refreshments and kind words from our members of our community. If you haven’t been to the new store, check it out. The new address is 34 East Main Street, Somerville NJ 08876. There are fashionable and affordable finds for you and yours. For more information about Greensleeves visit our facebook page, and don’t forget to like us!

NJBIZ/2011 CFO of the Year Awards

admin — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 18:22:03 +0000

Congratulations to William “Bill” Curnan named NJBIZ’s Top “CFO of the Year”.

Congratulations once again on being recognized during the 2011 CFO of the Year Awards! On behalf of NJBIZ, presenting sponsor WithumSmith+Brown, Certified Public Accountants and Consultants, major sponsors CIGNA, Financial Executives International, Real Estate Strategies, Robert Half and SorinRoyerCooper LLC and supporting sponsors Wells Gargo and Vanguard Engery Partners, LLC., we hope you enjoyed your experience with the program and had a memorable time during the awards breakfast and ceremony on October 25th. It was a pleasure to honor you for your tremendous accomplishments as a top New Jersey financial executive.

Thank you for your cooperation over the past several months. In appreciation, enclosed is a photo (image on left side) of you (far right) receiving your award from Christine Rowe, Regional Vice President, Robert Half’ Andrew Zezas, CEO, Real Estate Strategies Corportation and Host of CFO Studio; David Sorin, Co-Founding and Co-Managing Parnter, SorinRoyerCooper LLC: Ann Servais, New Jersey Business Manager, CIGNA; Bill Grammaticas, FEI New Jersey Chapter President and CFO of ISH Inc. and Kirk Holderbaum, Parnter, WithumSmith+Brown, PC. Click here to see the letter.

Obama Administration Announces $32 Million to Fund Housing

admin — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 03:55:53 +0000

OBAMA ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES $32 MILLION TO FUND HOUSING FOR VERY LOW-INCOME SENIORS AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IN NEW JERSEY

NEWARK – Thousands more very low-income senior citizens and persons with disabilities in New Jersey will have access to affordable supportive housing thanks to $32,150,000 in housing assistance announced today by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). These grants will help non-profit organizations produce accessible housing, offer rental assistance, and facilitate supportive services for the elderly and persons with disabilities. Click here to read more.

President Obama’s stimulus money funds Mercer County green jobs for special needs adults (VIDEO)

Editor — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 17:34:25 +0000

http://www.trentonian.com/articles/2011/08/16/news/doc4e4af0160e611530051241.txt?viewmode=default

More to come

admin — Sun, 15 May 2011 14:33:32 +0000

5K RUN – RUNNER TIMES

admin — Sun, 01 May 2011 19:28:33 +0000

2011.

PLCE	TIME	NAME	M/F	Age	Overall & Age Group
1	18:25	Neil Van Aartrijk	M	50	1st Place Overall – Male
2	18:52	Jimi Oke	M	23	2nd Place Overall – Male
3	18:54	Nick Maxwell	M	29	3rd Place Overall – Male
4	18:55	Ryan Flanagan	M	13	1st Place 14 & under – Male
5	19:22	Fred Piel	M	41	1st Place 40 to 49 – Male
6	19:47	Patrick Applegate	M	49	2nd Place 40 to 49 – Male
7	19:59	Brent Sheppard	M	25	1st Place 19 to 29 – Male
8	20:22	Brice Cote	M	50	1st Place 50 to 59 – Male
9	20:27	Norbert Vondra	M	55	2nd Place 50 to 59 – Male
10	20:43	Kimberly Williams	F	31	1st Place Overall – Female
11	21:03	Nancy Sietsma	F	49	2nd Place Overall – Female
12	21:28	Tom Eng	M	39	1st Place 30 to 39 – Male
13	21:30	Tom Resch	M	62	1st Place 60 to 69 – Male
14	21:32	Kenneth Lems	M	49	3rd Place 40 to 49 – Male
15	21:37	Matthew Richardson	M	25	2nd Place 19 to 29 – Male
16	21:40	Joseph Restucci	M	40
17	21:45	Mark Grapetine	M	41
18	21:55	Curtis Byrnes	M	42
19	21:57	Scott Main	M	35	2nd Place 30 to 39 – Male
20	21:59	Michael O’Flaherty	M	49
21	22:06	Peter Greenbaum	M	39	3rd Place 30 to 39 – Male
22	22:07	Jon Brownell	M	31
23	22:08	Shane Williams	M	11	2nd Place 14 & Under – Male
24	22:11	Kristin Kuzma	F	25	3rd Place Overall – Female
25	22:33	Patrick Buonamas	M	14	3rd Place 14 & Under – Male
26	22:36	Caren Ward	F	36	1st Place 30 to 39 – Male
27	23:09	Mark Leary	M	50	3rd Place 50 to 59 – Male
28	23:27	Michael Mangione	M	12
29	23:27	Bill Hoover	M	-
30	23:33	Bob Springhorn	M	46
31	23:45	Robert Rhoades	M	52
32	23:53	James D’Amore	M	37
33	23:56	Frank Greenhoal,Jr.	M	34
34	23:56	Rebecca Polunas	F	38	2nd Place 30 to 39 – Female
35	23:59	Jack Sheppard	M	58
36	24:07	Nicholas Anderson	M	11
37	24:13	Nick DiBlasio	M	38
38	24:17	Susan Patia	F	52	1st Place 50 to 59 – Female
39	24:22	Ryan Skinnor	M	14
40	24:26	John Gruosso	M	30
41	24:28	Samantha Savona	F	16	1st Place 15 to 18 – Female
42	24:29	David Anderson	M	44
43	24:36	Jillian Byrne	F	26	1st Place 19 to 29 – Female
44	24:37	Jasmin Jones	F	25	2nd Place 19 to 29 – Female
45	24:54	Jeff Martin	M	36
46	24:59	Clarke Laba	M	15	1st Place 15 to 18 – Male
47	25:00	Philip Cuilla	M	47
48	25:01	Stephen Stopper	M	28	3rd Place 19 to 29 – Male
49	25:07	Doreen Page	F	43	1st Place 40 to 49 – Female
50	25:08	Lou Stalsworth	M	65	2nd Place 60 to 69 – Female
51	25:14	David Dolding	M	56
52	25:16	Fran Bell	M	56
53	25:19	David Kieffer	M	49
54	25:21	Benjamin Kennedy	M	26
55	25:25	Eileen Skinner	F	48	2nd Place 40 to 49 – Female
56	25:26	Jerry Kloby	M	56
57	25:28	Matthew Krantz	M	27
58	25:28	Richard Shaklee	M	45
59	25:30	Eric Nadia	M	41
60	25:32	Michael Smith	M	39
61	25:46	Ashley Fausti	F	23	3rd Place 19 to 29 – Female
62	25:52	Andrea Dewhurst	F	40	3rd Place 40 to 49 – Female
63	26:12	Thomas Bartlett	M	60	3rd Place 60 to 69 – Male
64	26:30	Donald Hora, Jr.	M	46
65	26:32	Michael Russell	M	46
66	26:34	Linda Hyer	F	52	2nd Place 50 to 59 – Female
67	26:34	Cathy O’Flaherty	F	46
68	26:36	Marissa Zion	F	26
69	26:36	Dennis Richardson	M	52
70	26:37	Kyle Brady	M	26
71	26:42	James Peasco	M	64
72	26:44	Jean Margadonna	F	49
73	26:53	Annie Gruosso	F	27
74	27:03	Michael Wright	M	37
75	27:03	Erin Perdoni	F	30	3rd Place 30 to 39 – Female
76	27:23	Staci D’Amore	F	26
77	27:23	Liuda Cuilla	F	46
78	27:24	Mark Kieffer	M	58
79	27:25	Eileen Kuzma	F	52	3rd Place 50 to 59 – Female
80	27:27	Sheila Kelly	F	42
81	27:33	Shirley Suillivan	F	64	1st Place 60 to 69 – Female
82	27:36	Tara Culty	F	38
83	27:46	Alex Tremble	M	50
84	27:47	David Grapodims	M	24
85	27:53	Michael Kontorowicz	M	44
86	27:56	Kathy Hartmana	F	50
87	27:58	Cheryl Twaddell	F	51
88	27:59	Robert Kwitkin	M	67
89	28:02	Denise Vondra	F	56
90	28:06	Olie Nelson	M	75	1st Place 70+ – Male
91	28:08	Nicole Picciolo	F	16	2nd Place 15 to 18 – Female
92	28:16	Andrea Watson	F	38
93	28:17	Amy Mercogliano	M	38
94	28:22	Abhijit Basu	M	32
95	28:29	Randy Austin	M	46
96	28:29	Erin Austin	F	35
97	28:33	Yvonne Mellon	F	50
98	28:38	Neil Proshan	M	77	2nd Place 70+ – Male
99	28:45	Jim Evans	M	49
100	28:50	Robert Tibbetts	M	53
101	28:51	Lauren Knorr	F	24
102	28:52	Natalie Kennedy	F	15	3rd Place 15 to 19 – Female
103	28:53	Sharon Schichel	F	46
104	28:56	Julie Buranelli	F	39
105	29:04	Robert Shinbrot	M	49
106	29:12	Margie Lambert	F	63	2nd Place 60 to 69 – Female
107	29:14	Gery Wig	M	59
108	29:18	Ivan Shpernal	M	38
109	29:24	Bridget DeSalle	F	29
110	29:28	Anneli Svensson	F	41
111	29:58	Kathleen Carlin	F	44
112	30:12	Julianne Kennedy	F	23
113	30:18	Michael Blaner	M	44
114	30:23	Daniel Adams	M	41
115	30:28	Karen Knauf	F	38
116	30:30	Claudia Lilley	F	25
117	30:37	Jillian Carpenter	F	27
118	30:43	James McFee	M	84	3rd Place 70+ – Male
119	30:45	Melinda Kennedy	F	23
120	30:48	Chris Borak	M	37
121	30:48	Brie Jo Golden	F	37
122	30:51	Kristine Byrnes	F	42
123	30:53	Raymond Eppinger	M	-
124	30:54	Monica Eppinger	F	48
125	30:57	Marcia Shinbrot	F	47
126	31:06	Donna Waltz	F	62	3rd Place 60 to 69 – Female
127	31:09	Leonard Weinstein	M	67
128	31:11	Donna Levinston	F	68
129	31:17	Clare Goodwin	F	41
130	31:18	Katy White	F	46
131	31:23	Patricia Thompson	F	46
132	31:24	Jose Lilloa	M	34
133	31:34	Amanda Bumbor	F	22
134	31:39	Margaret O’Gorman	F	44
135	31:40	Tami Kennedy	F	53
136	31:45	Cathy Pennino	F	56	1st Place 60 to 69 – Female
137	31:52	Tricca Scott	F	43
138	32:00	Janet Engelke	F	52
139	32:17	Richard Norburgh	M	64
140	32:26	Michelle Marcantonio	F	28
141	32:27	Shannon Stillwell	F	31
142	32:54	Stephen Laba	M	53
143	33:01	Patricia Dempsey	F	44
144	33:04	Kristi Adams	F	39
145	33:07	Alex Queller	M	27
146	33:31	Jeff Mitchell	M	24
147	33:37	Rachel Stopper	F	28
148	33:40	Carol Golden	F	69
149	33:41	Kevin Engelke	M	51
150	33:45	Ann Logue	F	50
151	33:45	Kristyn Thoens	F	29
152	33:51	Gabrielle Toman	F	71	1st Place 70+ – Female
153	33:55	Andrea Blohm	F	45
154	34:00	Joseph Restucci	M	68
155	34:06	Cindy Gallagher	F	49
156	34:31	Jennifer Mantle	F	33
157	34:32	Samuel Mantle	M	34
158	34:32	Barbara Million	F	50
159	34:34	MaCaela Rea	F	27
160	34:45	Karol Evans	F	46
161	34:52	Tara Kehoe	F	32
162	34:59	Rita Alles	F	74	2nd Place 70+ – Female
163	35:17	Race # 34	-	-
164	35:32	Laura Baldachino	F	47
165	36:04	Sharon Kieffer	F	57
166	36:11	Frances Grapentine	F	45
167	36:26	Lauren Murphy	F	28
168	36:36	Athena Toto	F	43
169	37:09	Race # 59	-	-
170	37:27	Diane Lukasik	F	63
171	37:28	Albert Orsi	M	75
172	37:48	Deb Carlino	F	54
173	37:56	Race #142	-	-
174	38:15	Vikki Canonico	F	36
175	39:24	Melissa Sacco	F	54
176	40:48	Race #239	-	-
177	41:04	Barbara Sackaroff	F	65
177	41:13	Nithya Appavoo	F	31
179	41:16	Tracy Kowalski	F	30
180	41:30	Race #244	-	-
181	42:03	C.W. Evans	M	13
182	42:11	Cameran Evans	M	11
183	42:26	Ron Knox	M	59
184	42:28	Race #141	-	-
185	42:37	Cole Evans	M	9
186	42:59	Antoinette Lewis	F	49
187	43:33	Bill Cryan	M	59
188	45:42	Race #152	-	-
189	45:56	Race #9	-	-
190	46:21	Race #183	-	-
191	46:22	Freda Pollack	F	60
192	46:37	Eileen Rohleder	F	67
193	46:38	Race #162	-	-
194	47:44	Race #163	-	-
195	47:45	-	-	-
196	48:22	Valarie Polding	F	59
197	49:31	Andrew Cartine	M	35
198	49:39	Daniel Cartine	M	7
199	1:00:59	Sarah Svensson	F	16
200	1:00:59	Mike Kelton	M	16	2nd Place 15 to 19

Greensleeves New Somerville Location

admin — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 23:32:48 +0000

Information coming soon!!!

Hotel internships could lead to jobs

admin — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 20:39:08 +0000

THE METRO TIMES

By Rich Bockmann

SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

TRENTON — After completing the 10-week Trenton Marriott Food and Beverage, Hospitality Internship program, students from two local schools were informed at a graduation ceremony on Monday that they would be placed on the hotel’s on-call staffing list.

“Getting into spring, we’re entering the busy season, and chances are very good we’ll be giving them a call,” said Jeffrey Zeiger, the Marriott’s general manager. He said that after completing the internship the students are ready for entrylevel work such as dining room assistant and steward-utility positions.

When the hotel hosts large banquets and cannot fully staff them through its union, Zieger turns to the on-call list where, on the condition they can complete the standard Marriott hiring process, the students’ names will be waiting.

Ten juniors and seniors from Trenton Central High School and Delaware Valley School participated in the new program, which was formed out of a partnership among the two schools, Allies, the Trenton Marriott, the Trenton Public Education Foundation and Local 54, the hotel/restaurant employee union.

The students were recommended for the internship by their schools’ work departments based on their skill level and their expressed desire for a career in the hotel/service industry.

Over a 10-week period they attended training programs at the hotel for four hours a week during the school day.

Under the guidance of a jobs coach financed by a New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development grant procured by Allies, the students progressed through two training modules.

The first focused on the front of the hotel, where they learned how to prepare the restaurant, how to service it during operations and how to clean up afterward.

In the “heart” of the hotel, the students moved on to the second module. There, they learned how to rotate stock to keep food fresh and how to plate dishes.

Davon Perry, a junior from Trenton Central, said he thought lessons on resumes, interviews and the hotel’s systems and operations would serve him well in the future. “I think the program will help me get into college because it looks really good on a resume,” said Perry.

Zeiger said he is already working on expanding the program to include areas of the hotel such as the front desk, security and housekeeping.

There’s no place like home for people with special needs.

admin — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 17:17:14 +0000

The Times

Friday, November 12, 2010

SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

Danny spent most of his 30s in nursing homes watching his elderly friends grow frail and die. He knew there had to be more to life than that. Danny has cerebral palsy, uses a wheelchair and is legally blind. He also reads The New York Times, has a wonderful sense of humor and likes to flirt. With the help of a service provider, Allies Inc. and Project Freedom, a nonprofit housing developer, Danny has a new life in the community. He has a job and an apartment that is completely accessible. He has true freedom — and his new fulfilling life costs less than his nursing home.

All over New Jersey, good-news stories like this are taking place for people with special needs, whether those needs are physical or developmental disabilities, mental illness or homelessness. They are good-news stories for the people and their families, who have benefited from decent homes they could afford, and for the taxpayer, who is saved money in the long run from the higher cost of nursing homes and institutions.

Because of pending legislation that would eliminate housing opportunities for people like Danny, the good-news stories may now stop. While we believe the intent of the legislation is laudable — to help communities devise a simpler, more manageable system — the two attempts at reform, S1 and A3447, have missed the mark and instead put vulnerable, special-needs populations in jeopardy.

The irony is that the bills serve to undermine what the Supreme Court has called a constitutional obligation of municipalities to provide for realistic affordable housing. If enacted, years of costly litigation will ensue that will benefit no one. It would seem far more practical to create a process that is balanced and that takes into account the needs of all parties. While we recognize Sen. Ray Lesniak, D-Union, and Assemblyman Gerald Green, D-Plainfield, for spearheading the process, the result thus far offers people of low to moderate income, including people with disabilities, a bleak future in New Jersey.

A little-known fact is that housing opportunities for lower-income residents of New Jersey have produced 59,066 units of housing, with another 50,081 in production or proposed for completion. In fact, the nonprofit housing development community is currently contributing more than $162 million in economic stimulus and jobs to the state. If S1 and A3447 are approved, this production will be threatened and few to no homes will come through the pipeline for those who need them the most.

Another little-known fact is that such housing is the most affordable and most effective social policy. When people have good, safe places to live, there is less need for costly institutions, there is less crime, less addiction, less poverty and less homelessness — all drains on our social system.

Also, many of the housing developments like Danny’s have been wonderful collaborative endeavors with municipalities as they plan for all their citizens — those with and without special needs.

Without clear, understandable benchmarks that provide incentives for successful collaborations, which better housing legislation could include, we stand to lose a lot, as a society and as taxpayers.

Social policy may be complicated, but the need for a good, safe place to live is not, for we all know: There is no place like home.

Ed Murphy is executive director of Supportive Housing Association of New Jersey. Carolyn Beauchamp is executive director of the Mental Health Association in New Jersey. Lowell Arye is executive director of the Alliance for the Betterment of Citizens with Disabilities. Alison Recca-Ryan is program director of the Corporation for Supportive Housing-New Jersey. Kim Todd is chief executive officer of the New Jersey Association of Community Providers.