Municipal Alliance to host parenting seminars

Mayor Joseph C. Scarpelli has announced that the Brick Municipal Alliance Committee on Alcoholism, Drug Abuse and Youth Services (B-MAC) will hold the second in their five-part seminar series for parents and professionals. The seminar, titled "The Right Stuff," will be held on Dec. 17 at 7 p.m. in the Township Activity Center located in Civic Plaza, 270 Chambers Bridge Road. This series is funded in part by a grant from the Governor’s Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse and features chiropractor, holistic health educator and personal coach Dr. Craig Scarpelli.

The program will deal with the wide range of effects emotions can have on health and ways in which to manage them effectively.

The series continues in the new year on Feb. 12 with "When Mama (or Papa) Ain’t Happy, Ain’t Nobody Happy." On that night, the program will focus on happiness and harmony at home and in the workplace, how to create and control your own "happiness quotient" and how to use it to relieve stress for the individual and family.

The topic of stress will be explored further on March 12 with "All Stressed Up and No Place To Go." Dr. Scarpelli will discuss the nature of stress and its effects on the body, mind and spirit and how to manage it without the use of harmful chemicals.

The series wraps up on April 9 with "Don’t Let the Turkeys Get You Down." The discussion will focus how to deflect negative energy and avoid its impact on work, school and home.

"We all get overwhelmed at one time or another just trying to keep ahead of the demands of work, school and family," said B-MAC coordinator Andrea Zapcic. "This series will give parents an opportunity to explore a variety of issues that affect them personally and professionally as well as improve skills for managing the everyday challenges they face."

All sessions will be held in the activity center, beginning at 7 p.m. and lasting until approximately 8:30 p.m. Admission is free and open to all parents and professionals, both Brick and non-Brick residents. Refreshments will be served. Additionally, Brick MAC is a registered professional development provider with the New Jersey Department of Education. Educators who attend "The Right Stuff" may receive a certificate for 1.5 hours of professional development credit for each session.

A former professional soccer player, Dr. Craig Scarpelli is a chiropractor who has started five successful health care centers delivering natural ways to deal with health issues. As developer of Healing With Laughter, an informational and entertaining seminar company, he has presented hundreds of workshops on health and anti-drug themes to business and community groups.

For more information or to register for any or all of the programs in the series, call the Brick Municipal Alliance Committee office weekdays at (732) 262-1074.