Business Briefs

Babies “R” Us, 909 Route 1, North Brunswick, will hold a “baby shower” May 14 from noon to 4 p.m. The free event will feature representatives from local businesses to help attendees with shower plans, various foods, prizes and games. For more information, call Babies “R” Us at (732) 220-1900.

New Brunswick Business and Professional Women will sponsor a business and dinner meeting May 17 from 6-9 p.m. at McAteers, Somerset. Guest speaker Marie Utzinger, North Brunswick AARP, will present “Social Security & Medicare.” The cost is $20, and reservations are required. For reservations, call Diane at (732) 246-2389.

NJ Pure, Princeton, a medical malpractice insurance provider, has been selected to be showcased nationally in “Pick of the Week,” a national television program focusing on successful businesses making a positive effect in the industry. The segment will air on CNBC on May 17 from 6-7 a.m., and May 19 from 7-7:30 a.m. NJ Pure was founded in 2002 by James J. Sheeran, a former New Jersey insurance commissioner, and Lena Chang, an insurance actuary. The company is a reciprocal exchange, in which insured physicians pool premiums to fund claims and operational expenses. The firm markets its policies directly to physicians and doesn’t use agents or brokers, in order to lower expenses associated with commissions.

Inner Light Yoga Center, 1626 Route 130, North Brunswick, will offer free classes during its open house May 22 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The center will offer gentle yoga, beginner yoga, and intermediate yoga. For more information, call the center at (732) 951-1100 or visit www.ILYC.com.

Canal Tours & More, Somerville, will celebrate the 31st anniversary of Delaware & Raritan Canal State Park June 25 at 8:45 a.m. with a bus tour along the main line of the historic 44-mile waterway. Canal Tours & More is registered with the New Jersey Department of Education, and teachers attending will receive professional development hours. The tour will feature the history and operation of the canal, and will visit the restored locks at New Brunswick, and the locks at South Bound Brook, Griggstown, and Kingston. Reservations are required. For reservations, fee or more information, call (908) 722-7428.

Members of Middlesex-Somerset New Jersey Association of Women Business Owners (NJAWBO), Somerset, recently took part in the United Way’s third annual Women’s Initiative Breakfast, which emphasized building community and empowering lives. Approximately 190 women attended the breakfast, which raised approximately $20,000. Proceeds will benefit local programs that support the theme of empowering women to meet basic needs. Women’s Initiative raises money to support a variety of programs. NJAWBO’s community relations chair, Liz Hoffman, worked with Lynn Weckworth, vice president of United Way, and staff to coordinate participation by NJAWBO members. Several members also contributed items and services for the fund-raiser.

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick, recently scored in the top 8 percent for patient satisfaction for hospitals in the nation with 450 or more beds, and among the top 5 percent for customer service among other New Jersey hospitals. The RWJ children’s hospital scored in the 99th percentile of United States children’s hospitals in patient satisfaction for the sixth consecutive quarter. The survey was performed by Press Ganey, a company that measures and reports hospital patient satisfaction.

Pathfinder Consulting Group, North Brunswick, will present “Medical/Health & General Employment” May 23 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Sovereign Bank Arena, 81 Hamilton Ave. and Route 129, Trenton. Vendor spaces are still available, with the deadline May 20. For vendor or attendee cost, call Pathfinder at (732) 821-7048.

The Middlesex-Somerset New Jersey Association of Women Business Owners (NJAWBO) recently presented Lorraine Spiotta, president of Senior Long Term Care Insurance Brokerage Inc., with its first Business Woman of the Year Award. The award honors a member who has distinguished herself in her area of business, NJAWBO, and her community. Spiotta began her business in 1997 when she identified a knowledge gap in how individuals perceive care-giving roles as the individual ages, and how the individual will provide care-giving services to children, spouses and elderly family members. She has collaborated with colleagues in NJAWBO and other business networks to articulate caregivers’ needs and the effect of stress on caregivers’ ability to function while helping others. She has spoken on the topic on the News 12 New Jersey. Spiotta also compiled a caregivers’ guide to resources and key health-care planning information, which has been distributed to individuals throughout the region free of charge.

The South Brunswick YMCA has announced it will have several new additions to its summer camp programs. One change will be a universal-themed camp week for all camps, featuring themes such as “Holiday Hoopla” and “American Idol.” The Y will also incorporate education into camps, such as assets initiative, community awareness, health and wellness education, and environmental awareness. The “Kinder,” “Explorer” and sports camps will offer the New Jersey Devils Hockey Camp League, as well as the aquatics and gymnastics camps and lacrosse league. For more information, call the YMCA at (732) 329-1150, ext. 200 or 201.