Business Briefs

Young Professionals, Forty and Under, a committee of the Lakewood Chamber and a support group for professionals and college graduates in Ocean, Monmouth and Middlesex counties, will hold its monthly meeting, open to all young professionals, at Connolly Station, 711 Main St., Belmar, 6-8:30 p.m. April 25. Stephen Reed, a partner in Cowan, Gunteski & Co., with offices in Red Bank and Toms River, and Sam Soprano of C&A Financial Group, Manasquan, will explore strategies for planning an early retirement in their presentation, "How Soon Do You Want to Retire?"

The cost is $20 at the door and includes hors d'oeuvres and light refreshments, a cash bar, and networking opportunities. To register, call Michelle at CareOne at Jackson, (201) 421-9148; or e-mail mcastanzo@jacksonhcc.com.

The Ocean County Library, the American Library Association and Woman's Day magazine want to know how people in our community have used the library to start their small businesses. Every year more than 500,000 entrepreneurs start new businesses in the United States and many get the resources and support it takes to succeed at their local library. From now until May 10, women entrepreneurs over the age of 18 can tell their story in 700 words or less to womansday@ala.org. Four stories will be featured in the March 2008 issue of Woman's Day. The initiative is part of a program sponsored by Woman's Day magazine and the American Library Association's Campaign for America's Libraries, a multiyear public awareness and advocacy campaign designed to promote the value of libraries and librarians in the 21st century. Ocean County Library is the largest public library system in New Jersey, with 21 locations throughout the county. Ocean County Library's Web site, www.oceancountylibrary.org, offers its customers information that is accessible from home or business. Electronic resources provide up-to-the-minute stock prices and business information along with national business directories, links to trade associations and much more.