����� in business Betty Sullivan is there for you S ince I have been a “Woman in Business” for so many years, my dear friends of Midland Park and other close-by towns are familiar with my love and passion for real estate. I’ve always enjoyed putting their families under my wings and settling them in either an exciting new home or assisting them in the sale of an old one. My comfort zone has always been firmly within our local streets, where I thoroughly know and understand the dynamics of buying and selling. With that said, I am now appealing to all the many couples with whom I have shared many life experiences. I want you to put on your thinking caps regarding your “Empty Nest” syndrome and reflect on where you actually are right now and where you think you should be going in the nearby future. After establishing a balance sheet of pros and cons, you will undoubtedly come up with as many valid reasons for remaining home owners as for selling and starting out in a totally new living environment. Practically speaking, we all have to consider these two possibilities eventually. I’ve known so many of you personally throughout the years through our mutual involvement in civic or sports Betty Sullivan organizations, school functions and town government. Because of this friendship we have shared, I want you to feel comfortable in allowing me to help you wade through the decision of home selling. In the past, I have listed or sold homes on almost every street in the area. This experience continues to provide me with a sound professional knowledge of our real estate values. My support system is my extraordinary company, Terrie O’Connor Realtors, a front runner in advertising, state-of-the-art technology and expert in making this enormous change in your lives a pleasurable one. Please call me at 201-788-5355 or e-mail me at bsullivan@tocr.com. I am always able to respond to your simplest questions or answer some of your heaviest quandaries. I am so eager to help you. October 14, 2009 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • Page 17 The Write Occasion: More than just paper lthough The Write Occasion has a long history as a fine custom invitation and stationery store, owner Tracey Pernetti is quick to point out that her business is about more than just paper. “We continue to be recognized for great gifts, especially for babies, hostess gifts and teachers’ gifts,” she says. Since purchasing the business four years ago, Tracey has become an integral part of the community. “I still love doing this; I don’t think of it as going to work. I think of it as going to have fun. I’m satisfied when I see our customers come in and take in the shop’s atmosphere and wander throughout the rooms with a smile on their face,” she says of her everexpanding venture. Tracey retained the shop’s fine invitations and stationery collections, but added her own flair, including a website that offers etiquette tips and stationery time-lines for wedding Tracey Pernetti planning. She’s expanded the product lines to include a broader offering of invitations such as letterpress, and collections that allow you to create your own invitation. Also new are gifts, writing instruments, seasonal items, home accents and jewelry. Products are available at a range of price levels. There is an area devoted especially to wedding invitations, where brides and grooms can make their selection in a comfortable setting Tracey, who balances her role as businesswoman and mother, features a popular area where youngsters draw on a pint-sized chalkboard while their parents browse through greeting cards, stationery, candles, frames, leather journals, tote bags and an extraordinary selection of paper plates, napkins and wrapping paper. Experience the knowledgeable, friendly, personalized service and unique setting at The Write Occasion, 630 Wyckoff Ave. in Wyckoff. Call 201-891-8889 or email writeoccasion@optonline.net. Visit www.writeoccasion.com. A Christy Delaguerra heads financial aid department at Eastwick College in Ramsey hristy Delaguerra helps people with their higher education aspirations, working to make sure they get the best support possible through the Financial Aid Department at Eastwick College in Ramsey. Thanks to her, new students can spend more time working on their education and less time worrying how they’re going to pay for it. Delaguerra credits the college (previously the HoHoKus School of Business and Medical Sciences) for her success, and wants to make sure others have similar opportunities to achieve their career goals. She was a single mom waitressing and bartending to make ends meet when she decided to enroll in the school’s business administration program in 2001. “I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do, when a friend who had attended the medical program here suggested I give the school a try, and here I am, seven years later,” said Delaguerra. Following her graduation from the 18-month program, President Thomas Eastwick realized Delaguerra’s potential and hired her in the financial aid office. Now the Director of Financial Aid, Delaguerra takes pride in helping students sort out their financial situations and getting them the financial assistance they need to attend school and pursue their career goals. “A lot of people are coming back to school and need help to pay for it. Many are looking to change career paths because there are no jobs in their field,” Delaguerra explained. Her office had grown tremendously in recent years, as her staff work hards to stay on top of new financial aid opportunities and changes in existing programs. Eastwick College was recently approved to offer associate degrees in addition to their certificate and diploma programs, allowing students to apply for state TAG grants (state) and federal PELL tuition grants –– many qualify for both at the same time. Loan programs, such as NJ Class and Direct Loans, often pick up what the other programs don’t cover, and vocational or unemployment benefits C Christy Delaguerra may even cover part of the tuition. Despite the wide variety of financial aid opportunities available to students, many colleges often only provide minimal help. Christy and her department at Eastwick College, however, provide personalized financial aid assistance. “We meet with every student to explore whether they qualify for financial aid. We give them an estimate and then do all the follow-up paperwork,” she added. “We process everything for them.” This approach helps potential students focus more on their their career goals and less on paperwork. Eastwick College offers associate degree programs that can be completed in as little as 15 months, a significant advantage considering that a traditional associate degree takes about two or more years and a bachelor degree can often take up to six years to finish. Recently the college has made headlines, gaining approval from the New Jersey Board of Nursing to offer a registered nursing degree program. Eastwick College is the first private proprietary college in the state to earn this approval, making them a vital resource for those seeking to become a registered nurse. In addition to registered nursing, Eastwick College offers degree programs in surgical technology, health information technology, cardiovascular technology and allied health. The new registered nursing degree program follows a long history of medical education and training at Eastwick College and the HoHoKus Schools campuses, both owned and operated by Eastwick Education. “We’ve earned a large amount of respect among healthcare organizations in the area thanks to the focused programs we’ve developed for key occupations such as ultrasound technology, medical assisting, licensed practical nursing, surgical technology, medical billing and coding, and bilingual hispanic nursing,” explains Eastwick, president of Eastwick Education. “This new registered nursing degree comes as the result of extensive collaboration with the medical community to ensure that it provides the best training and career opportunities for our graduates.” To learn more about Eastwick College and its new LPN to RN Bridge registered nursing degree program, call 201327-8877, visit eastwick.edu/RN or stop by the campus at 10 South Franklin Turnpike in Ramsey.