Allentown, NJ

Business Peggy Alvarado of Manalapan, a certified parent coach and motivational speaker, will hold a tele-conference focusing on helping parents of small children regain balance, peace, energy and confidence as parents. The conference, "Have Kids — And Still Have a Life," will be held Sept. 25, 8-9 p.m. live, virtual, via tele-conference. To register for this free class, go to the Web site www.teleclass.com or send a blank e-mail to free@teleclass.com with 6903-2 in the subject line to receive the bridge number to call. Alvarado, "Coach Peggy," writes a parenting column on www.MommaSaid.net, a Web site for the stay-at-home mom, where she answers parents’ questions about balancing their life and finding peace in their roles as parents. She is a member of the International Coach Federation (www.coachfederation.org), Coachville (www.coachville.com) and Toastmasters International. BarterPays!, based in Howell, is celebrating its 10th year of operation. BarterPays! allows businesses to barter-exchange business products and services, thus reducing cash expenditures while marketing a business. The business organization has close to 1,000 active members in Monmouth, Middlesex, Mercer and Ocean counties. Among the special events planned for the anniversary celebration will be a "Ten-Year Anniversary Gala" at Nonna’s Restaurant in Marlboro Oct. 7. More than 100 local businesses will be honored for their years of participation in the BarterPays! network. In November, the BarterPays! Shopping Mall will bring local business vendors together for its annual barter shopping event. Members will be able to purchase products and services using barter dollars instead of cash dollars. There also will be a buffet dinner and door prizes. To attend a BarterPays! networking party, or for more information, call Karen Leschak, BarterPays! director of new members, at (732) 364-4614. Amper, Politziner & Mattia, a regional certified public accounting and consulting firm, is making available to the public its updated Year 2003 Tax Pocket Guide, including changes from the 2003 Tax Act. The guide is a tool that answers many of the commonly asked tax questions for both individuals and businesses. Information includes rates and schedules for 2002 and 2003 filing periods for the following: individual and corporate income tax rates, various retirement plan contributions limits and phase-outs, standard mileage rates for business autos, capital gains rates, estate and gift tax rates, and depreciation schedules. The new guide can be obtained directly from AP&M’s Web site at www.amper.com/services/tax.asp. A hard copy can be obtained by calling Karen Tortoriello at (732) 287-1000, ext. 309; e-mail tortoriello@amper.com; or write to Amper, Politziner & Mattia, Attn: Karen Tortoriello, P.O. Box 988, Edison 08818-0988. Pamela Blumer of Marlboro has joined Big Enough Clothes, a U.S. designer of European-style clothing for children up to 12 years of age. As a sales representative, Blumer will schedule personal shopping appointments with area parents to show the company’s latest seasonal collection. Clothing from Big Enough Clothes is sold nationally by mothers who want to work on their own schedules. Parents purchase from the clothing line through representatives only. Big Enough Clothes, founded in 1988, is based in Norwalk, Conn. For more information, contact Blumer at andrew.blumer@visionaryglobe.com or visit the Web site www.bigenough.com. Wireless Freedom Networks (WFN), based in the Wickatunk section of Marlboro, has begun operations after months of planning and preparation. The company began the process of placing hundreds of access points throughout the area. Access points are the wireless Internet devices that allow wireless-equipped computers and PDAs (personal digital assistants such as PalmPilot or Pocket PC) to connect to their e-mail accounts and offices via the Web without any physical connection. Locations where the units are placed will share in the revenue generated by the unit. Customers of those locations will be offered hourly ($3.95), daily ($9.95) or monthly ($39.95 for unlimited access) options for wireless access. Those customers with WFN monthly unlimited-access accounts will be able to access the Internet worldwide using WFN HotSPOTs as well as affiliated locations in the Airpath Provider Alliance. For more information, go to the Web site www.wirelessfreedomnetworks.com. The Kumon Math and Reading Center has opened in Manalapan at the Kilmer Professional Plaza, Union Hill Road and Route 9 south. Kumon is a supplemental education program that is geared to each child’s individual needs. The center provides supplementary educational programs that combine speed and accuracy with worksheets and repetitive daily practice. The center’s director is Kiran Chahil of Manalapan. Chahil has a bachelor’s degree in psychology and has two children who went through the Manalapan school system. For more information, call the center at (732) 972-9722. Siperstein’s, a family-owned and -operated paint and decorating chain based in New Jersey, has announced the addition of a new designer rug line to its Manalapan center, 338 Route 9 north. Siperstein’s rug program was introduced a couple of years ago at several other centers in Monmouth County. Siperstein’s, which has been in business for almost 100 years and is ranked among the top 50 specialty home retailers in the country by the National Home Channel News. The chain has 17 centers throughout New Jersey and four in Connecticut and Massachusetts. For additional information, visit the company’s website at www.sipstips.com.