Business Briefs

The Center for Music, Theatre and Dance, with locations in Jackson and Millstone, will present master classes with ballet virtuoso Finis Jhung Feb. 4-5.

Renowned in the world of dance, he has been associated and performed with ballet companies such as The American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, and the Joffrey Ballet. His innovative teaching methods have been shown to make ballet easier to understand and more enjoyable to learn, while preserving the essential qualities of the art of ballet.

Alison Mann, a former Broadway artist, is the artistic director and owner of the Center for Music, Theatre and Dance. The Company of Music, Theatre and Dance has performed at the Historic Strand Theater in Lakewood, Algonquin Arts in Manasquan, and the Ocean County College Fine Arts Center in Toms River, and company dancers have been accepted to the School of American Ballet, the American Academy of Ballet, the Rock School, the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, and the Princeton Ballet School. For further details on the workshop, call (732) 367-0210.

The U.S. Small Business Administration New Jersey District Office reported that 749 state small-business owners received $144 million in SBA-backed loans during the first quarter of the agency’s fiscal year 2006, the period of Oct. 1-Dec. 31, 2005.

During this period, the district office approved a total of 345 loans to minority-owned small businesses for $64.1 million.

Of the 345 loans that went to minority firms,, African-American small businesses received 45 loans for $6.2 million; Asian-American small businesses received 214 loans for $45.6 million; Hispanic-American small businesses received 75 loans for $11.2 million; and an additional 11 loans for $1.1 million went to other minority small-business owners.

In addition, women-owned small businesses received a total of 193 loans for $39.3 million.

Bergen County led the way in SBA lending with 137 loans for $19 million. Middlesex County was second with 62 loans for $11.3 million. Passaic County was third with 57 loans for $8.7 million, and Monmouth County was fourth with 52 loans for $13.9 million. Camden County was fifth with 50 loans for $9.8 million.

Dr. Deborah Breitstein of Animal Health Care of Marlboro LLP recently returned from the 20th North American Veterinary Conference in Orlando, Fla. She focused on physical therapy and rehabilitative care for dogs and cats as a way to continue her credentialing toward a certified veterinary physical therapist.

Plans are under way to include aqua therapy with an underwater treadmill and designated therapy room to facilitate treatment in the new 8,000-square-foot facility, scheduled to open in the spring. The goal is to provide a method to aid in return to function for those pets who have had surgical or hospitalized medical needs that require a step-down situation before returning to their normal home environment. The physical therapy options will also allow for controlled weight loss and exercise to better facilitate ideal weights for both dogs and cats. Animal Health Care will also include medical boarding for special-needs pets, including senior pets, who can benefit from physical therapy options.

Central Jersey Women’s Network will hold its monthly dinner and networking meeting 6-9 p.m. Feb. 9 at The Daniels Home, 340 Grant Ave., Eatontown. Registration is required by Feb. 5. The program will be “Back to Basics: Networking Fun with CJWN.” The cost is $10 at the door, or bring a favorite appetizer or dessert to share. The event will be an informal networking meeting, and there will be no presenter. To register, e-mail redbank@cjwn.com or call (908) 281-9234. For further details on the organization, visit www.cjwn.org.

Babies “R” Us in Manalapan will host a “Baby Fest,” featuring seminars and product demonstrations on “safety on the go,” focusing on how to choose the right car seat and other gear for going out with baby. There will also be safety specialists from the YMCA (swimming), the Manalapan Health Department, ADT and others. The event will be held Feb. 11 from noon to 4 p.m. at the store, 17 Route 9 south, Manalapan. For details, call (732) 845-2861 or visit www.babiesrus.com.

Drs. Abraham Sadon and Jason Vengelis of Sadon Chiropractic & Rehabilitation Center, Marlboro, announced that they are now offering DTS spinal decompression therapy. The therapy uses advanced technology with digital traction to slowly decompress the spine.

According to a press release from Sadon Chiropractic, DTS treatments are noninvasive and require no medications, and the patient is fully clothed. Treatment sessions last between 10 and 15 minutes. In DTS, the pressure is taken off the discs and the nerve roots, and the spinal muscles and ligaments are slowly stretched.

DCH Saturn’s staff at both the Eatontown and Freehold Township locations have made a commitment to the community this year. In October, all employees were asked to donate toward treats and games for children at the Cancer Center at Monmouth Medical Center. In November, food was collected and donated to Open Door of Ocean County. For December, employees were asked to bring in toys for a foster home, and in January there was a coat drive.

For February, a blood drive will be held Feb. 20 from 11 a.m to 2 p.m. at the Eatontown location. Anyone who would like to donate blood may call (732) 303-8700 and ask for Linda Perchuk.

Other monthly collections are being planned for the two stores for the remainder of the year.

95.9 WRAT , Lake Como, sent its mascot Rocky to the pediatric wards of all the area hospitals over the holidays dressed as “Santa Rat” to deliver stuffed animals, puzzles and games to the young patients. Puzzles and games were contributed by Barnes & Noble. WRAT promotions director Doug Sjonvall extends thanks to Ellen Mizer for helping out on the project by sending the station a box of puzzles and games each day.

WRAT is owned and operated by Greater Media New Jersey, a subsidiary of Greater Media Inc., parent company of 19 AM and FM radio stations in the Boston, Detroit, New Jersey and Philadelphia markets. It also owns a modern printing plant and a group of weekly newspapers in central New Jersey as well as several telecommunications towers located throughout the United States.