Tag Archives: Professor Justin Watrel

Day Three-Hundred and Sixty-Six Attending the Macy’s Day Parade. November 27th, 2025

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It has been almost a decade since I attended the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade. The last time I attended the parade, it was when my best friend came in from the Midwest as part of a four day band trip that the local high school sponsored as they were performing in the parade. We had a really nice time.

My blog on Thanksgiving in NYC in 2015:

https://mywalkinmanhattan.com/tag/macys-parade/

For the next several years it was either spending time with a friend out on the island or family commitments or the weather that kept me away. Last year it down poured on the parade. This year it would be hit or miss with the weather but the rainstorm the day before went out to sea and it ended up being a sunny cool day.

My spot on the corner West 46th street and Sixth Avenue for the start of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade

https://www.macys.com/s/parade/lineup/

I got there early leaving the house at 7:00am to a packed bus. I was lucky to get a seat and I am at the beginning of the route into the City. We just passed all the stops on the way into the City as we zoomed through the Lincoln Tunnel, a first in a long time.

The crowds at 8:00am on Sixth Avenue

I had read that the route had moved from Broadway to Sixth Avenue, so I walked a couple of blocks uptown to get away from the Times Square crowds. I figured that was where all the tourists were headed. I settled on West 46th Street, which has an incline near one of the office buildings and offered a better view.

The crowd just kept growing around me at the start of the parade.

The parade started uptown at 8:30am and made its way down Broadway until 59th Street and turn on Sixth Avenue and made its way down Sixth Avenue to Macy’s on West 34th Street. I was around the halfway point. Around 9:15am, we heard the first band coming down the Avenue and Tom Turkey, one of the oldest floats in the parade that I could remember from my years in the parade.

The Tom Turkey float used to house the grand marshal of the parade. My first year with the parade in 1988 it was a freezing cold Clint Black, the country singer.

Tom Turkey passing West 46th Street

As the float passed by there was no one on top. Maybe it was too cold or maybe they were on a different part of the float. That height can freak people out.

The start of the parade passing all of us on West 46th Street. The crowds and the excitement started to build. We could see Tom Turkey coming down Sixth Avenue to start the parade. People started to cheer as the parade passed us by.

The start of the parade with the Macy’s logoed gold balloons, which have been part of the parade since I volunteered in the early 1990’s.

The Macy’s balloons at the start of the parade

After this, it was a series of balloons and floats that passed by. The funny part was I thought there were more marching bands in the past.

The Super Mario balloon passing by

The Super Mario passing by

Doria the Explorer balloon

Doria the Explorer passing by our spot

The SpongeBob SquarePants balloon

The Sesame Street float passing by

The Diary of a Wimpy Kid balloon

The Green Giant float passing by

The Disney Float passing by with Micky Mouse

The Spiderman float makes an impact on the parade

The Spider-Man float passes by

The Minon passing us and looking everyone over

The Stuart the Minon balloon passes by

The Golden Turkey float passes by with rapper Busta Rhyms

The balloons Gabby and Panda Paw balloon pass by

Cool & the Gang on the Bronx Zoo float

The Smokey the Bear balloon

The Snoopy float, one of the many that have graced the parade for years

Snoopy passing by

Snoopy has been part of the parade in different forms since the early 1990’s. This is the latest version of the balloon.

The Pac Man Balloon passing by

The Marshall from Paw Control balloon passes

The Buzz Lightyear balloon passes by

The Silver Macy’s Balloon

The parade passed by in intervals as the parade had to stop for performances further down the route.

The Jolly Polly Pirate Ship passes by with Mr. Fantasy. I did not know who he was.

The balloons moved down Sixth Avenue

Here comes the Shrek Onion Carriage balloon in the distance

The Shrek Onion Carriage balloon

The Goldbear balloon

The Bluey the Dog balloon

The Counting Sheep Dream float passing by with performer Debbie Gibson, a singer from the 1980’s.

The Noorah balloon

The Palace of Sweets float

The Pillsbury Doughboy then passed us

The Pillsbury Doughboy passing us in the parade

The Deck the Halls float passed us with Ms. Christmas herself, Darlene Love, whose Christmas song, ‘Nobody aught to be alone on Christmas’ is played every year in the movie, ‘Home Alone II’.

Darlene Love on the Christmas float as it passed by

Then Minnie Mouse made her appearance towards the end of the parade

Then the ‘Believe’ balloons came down Sixth Avenue to announce the arrival of Santa

Here comes Santa, which basically opens the shopping season snd Christmas

Santa waving at the crowds

Santa waving to us as he passed by

Santa saved my way as we all waved to him

Santa on his sleigh marking the end of the parade as it passed West 46th Street

Then the parade ended by us as it made its way to West 34th Street to join the crowds at Macy’s. There all the performers would perform clips from their shows.

Sixth Avenue at the end of the parade

After the parade was over, I spent some time in Midtown getting some work on previous blogs and creating new ones.

After work was over at the club, I headed down to Chinatown for my Thanksgiving dinner. I had been feeling the sniffles trying to come in, so I had my dinner at Wonton Noodle Garden for an early dinner.

I felt I needed the excise and the fresh air to fight this thing so I walked from East 44th Street to Chinatown. I figured a several mile walk would get rid of this thing. I got some great pictures in along the way. All the parks on the way to Chinatown still had foliage left on the trees and the parks were also decorated for the upcoming Christmas holiday season. This is when you get to see the City at its best.

Herald Square Park decorated for the holidays

https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/herald-square

Madison Square Park in the late Fall

https://madisonsquarepark.org/

Washington Square Park by NYU decorated for the holidays

https://www.nycgovparks.org/parks/washington-square-park

The park looked so festive in the late Fall

I loved the decorations on the gate

When I was attending NYU, I never realized how close Chinatown was to campus and I made my dumpling runs as many times as I could. I wanted to be supportive to Chinatown businesses. I decided earlier I would go to Wonton Noodle Garden (Mei Lai Wah) on Bayard Street for Thanksgiving.

Wonton Noodle on 62 Bayard Street

Home

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g60763-d26997229-Reviews-Mei_Lai_Wah-New_York_City_New_York.html?m=69573

My review on LittleShoponMainStreet@Wordpress.com:

Wonton Noodle Garden 23 Pell Street New York, NY 10013 (moved in June 2023 to this new location)

I thought Chinatown and Little Italy would be closed down for Thanksgiving and I would not have much of a choice of places to eat. Wrong! Chinatown was mobbed with both locals and tourists and all the restaurants would be packed until 6:00pm.

When I got to the restaurant, it was packed with diners. I sat in the counter area by the kitchen, which I enjoy. You get quicker service and I like talking to the staff.

My Thanksgiving dinner, Cantonese Wonton Soup with Roast Pork, Egg Noodles and Pork Wontons and a order of Fried Wontons

This is the best dinner and the cure all when you have a cold. It cleans out all the cold in your system. The food and the service here are excellent. I have coming here since the original restaurant opened on Mott Street back when I was in Junior high.

The Cantonese Wonton Soup chicken broth is so rich in flavor

The Fried Wontons are the perfect accompaniment to the soup, crisp and served with a sweet sauce

The Wontons are so good

The staff is so funny here. They can never believe my appetite. I had had only a quick breakfast and no lunch so this served as both lunch and dinner. I was still hungry after lunch. I knew where to walk for dessert.

I stopped down at Great Taste Bakery on 53 Catherine Street for dessert.

https://www.instagram.com/explore/locations/402220001/great-taste-bakery-inc/

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g60763-d26903712-Reviews-Great_Taste_Bakery-New_York_City_New_York.html?m=69573

My review on DiningonaShoeStringinNYC@Wordpress.com:

Great Taste Bakery 35 Catherine Street New York, NY 10038

Not only were they open but still baking. I got two egg custards that were still hot out of the oven. The tables were filled with local residents talking with their neighbors in Chinese.

The egg custards at Great Taste Bakery

This is one of the last reasonable holdouts in Chinatown for excellent desserts and cheap prices. It caters to the older locals and the hipsters who are flooding the neighborhood.

After dinner, I decided to walk back to Port Authority since it was such a nice night. Most people think I am crazy when I do this but it really is a nice walk.

Walking through Chinatown around 5:30pm Thanksgiving night

Chinatown at night near East Broadway

https://welcometochinatown.com/

Homepage

Midtown with the Empire State Building lit for Thanksgiving

The Empire State Building in all its glory

It really was a great afternoon and a wonderful Thanksgiving. This was fun just seeing the parade on a sunny afternoon and the perfect dinner in Chinatown.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

The complete Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade 2025:

The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade in 2025

Beach Haven Library & Museum 219 North Beach Avenue Beach Haven, NJ 08008

"A Local Journey: Exploring the outskirts of New York City, Addthistoyourgrocerylist@Wordpress.com, Dedication to Warren Watrel, Exploring Beach Haven NJ, Exploring Downtown Beach Haven NJ, Exploring Historic Atlantic County NJ, Exploring Historic Ocean County, NJ, Exploring Historic Towns in New Jersey, Exploring Long Beach Island NJ, Exploring Manhattan Block by Block, Exploring New Jersey, Exploring New York City by foot, Exploring the Island of Manhattan, Exploring the Jersey Shore, Exploring the State of New Jersey, Historic New Jersey Towns and Neighborhoods, Historical Towns of New Jersey, MywalkinMnahttan at Groundhog's Day, Smile! Your Visiting New Jersey!, Uncategorized, Visiting a Museum in New Jersey, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The library at 219 North Beach Haven Avenue

https://www.beachhavenlibrary.org/

https://www.instagram.com/bhpl1924/

My review on TripAdvisor:

The front of the library and museum in the Fall of 2025

The historic sign

I recently visited the Beach Haven Library and Museum in Beach Haven during the holiday season and discovered a historical library with a rich history in both the community and on Long Beach Island.

The museum on the second floor

On the second floor of the library is the history room of the Beach Haven Library that contains a collection of historic artifacts and ledgers from hotels and businesses on the island. Each of the case lines tells a different story of the community from the grand hotels that once lined the shore and have since disappeared to the lives of the families that once called the island home. When I talked with one of the librarians, she told me that estates from the area donate these items to the library and this has established their collection.

The second floor fireplace

The antique kitchen equipment

The second floor of the library has another fireplace where vintage pottery and kitchen items are on display. There are also decorative pieces of pottery lining the shelves.

Historic China inside the Emily Lloyd Wilson Secretarial desk. Her father designed the Baldwin Hotel in Beach Haven.

The historic ledger from the Parry Hotel

The library has another fireplace where extensive collection of hotel ledgers and artifacts.

Letters from Elizabeth Pharo proposing the Library in 1923

Short History of the Library:

(From the library pamphlet)

Mrs. Pharo presented to the library board a proposal to build the library entirely at her own expense. She contacted Philadelphia architect, R. Brognard Okie to design the library. He chose the model of a Pennsylvania Farmhouse. The library was completed in the Fall of 1924. The museum is now over a hundred years old.

The dedication to Elizabeth Pharo, who dedicated the museum.

The Long Beach Island House Guest Ledger and historic items from the historic Bond Hotel

The records of the past resort town Long Beach Island used to be with guests coming from New York City, Philadelphia and beyond.

Historic items from the Tuckerton & Long Beach Building Land and Improvement Association

The Engleside Hotel ledger and items from the hotel

The New Jersey Declaration towards the Declaration of Independence

Historic books and periodicals

The library has an interesting collection of vintage and antique books that have been donated to the collection.

Photo display on historic sites in Beach Haven and pictures of the original library

Some of the pictures are from the old library and the artifacts come from ships ground ashore. The library has a diverse collection of items to view.

The Compass from the historic shipwreck ‘Fortuna’ that wrecked off Ship Bottom in 1910 and historic boat

The second floor museum gallery holds the diverse collection of artifacts

The second floor of the 1928 building

The first floor of the library has all sorts of historical artifacts along the walls

The Holiday Kickoff in 2025:

I visited during the library’s Holiday Open House with games, trivia and activities. There was also live music in the afternoon. It was a way that the library gives back to the community. It was a nice family event with good food and nice conversation with people from the community.

The Holiday Open House

The fireplace was going when I was talking to the librarians

It was a very nice family event where patrons families could relax, have something to eat and play games with their children. The Liberians could not have been more friendly and engaging with the public.

The Children’s Room had a holiday challenge

The museum is a rare gem tucked not just on the second floor but along the shelves and tables of the entire historic library giving visitors a chance to see all these historic artifacts mixed in with the library book collection.

The History of the Beach Haven Library:

(from the library website)

Attempts to establish a library in Beach Haven had begun as early as the 1880’s with a gift of books for the town’s children by Dr. Edward Williams. Williams, along with Charles Parry of the Parry House and the Baldwin Hotel, was a partner in the Baldwin Locomotive Works. The library collection was first housed in the home of Samuel Copperthwaite on Engleside Avenue. It was later moved into one of the Sunday School rooms of the Kynett Methodist Church, which had been built in 1890.

After the old Quaker Meeting House was donated to the town by Walter Pharo, the Reverend Alexander Corson of the Methodist Church began work, with the help of his wife, to turn the former Meeting House into a viable library. By the time they left in 1908, it was well on its way.

In 1923, Walter’s widow, Elizabeth Pharo, presented the library’s board of trustees with a proposal to build, entirely at her own expense, a new library for the town. It would be sited two blocks away from the Methodist church on a corner lot which she owned at Third Street and Beach Avenue. The library would be dedicated to the memory of her husband’s parents, Archelaus Ridgway Pharo and Louisa Willits Pharo–the founders of Beach Haven–as well as to her late husband Walter. 

Mrs. Pharo contracted R. Brognard Okie, one of Philadelphia’s finest architects, to design the new library. He chose as his model a Pennsylvania farmhouse–not an early lifesaving station, as some believed. Unlike a traditional farmhouse, however, it would be constructed entirely of brick and steel and include several stunning features: three working fireplaces, a vaulted ceiling, and an interior balcony encircling the first floor.

Tons of concrete were poured and steel girders for the new, two-story structure were already up by the spring of 1924 on the southeast corner of Beach Avenue at Third Street. Okie moved to Beach Haven to supervise every step of the construction, which was all done by local builder Floyd Cranmer. Ten railcar loads of bricks were used to build the solid outer walls and it was soon evident that the town was to have the finest library on the New Jersey coast.

As the library neared completion in the late fall of 1924, its beauty was already drawing praise. Every window in the structure was framed with long shutters of pale green, which gleamed against the white brick exterior. A sweeping, multi-dormered black roof added a grace seldom seen in a public building. Surrounded by a low, white picket fence and later, a well-kept green lawn, it added an incomparable dignity to what, in that time period, was the town’s main street, Beach Avenue.

There are two large colonial-style working fireplaces on the first floor. One is in the main room and the other is behind it in the long back room on the ocean side of the library. Today this room houses the Mystery collection and its solid, ten-foot table makes it useful as a meeting room. In the early years, however, it served a different function–it was designated as the men’s reading room, and there male patrons could sit in large comfortable chairs to read magazines and newspapers. It was well lit by two tall French windows and it opened out onto the screened porch on the north side.

The main reading room with its vaulted ceiling is encircled with a balcony reached by a spiral stone staircase, its steps topped with thick slabs of slate. The balcony flooring is of oak, as are all of the spindles in the railings. The upstairs walls are lined with books. One great window on the west side rises ten feet to the ceiling. The rest are all set into dormers. On the east wall behind the upstairs balcony there is a door where one may step down into a well-furnished little museum with high, beamed ceilings and a huge stone fireplace. It is filled with old hotel registers, deeds, diaries, photographs and other mementos of Beach Haven’s vibrant history.

The Beach Haven Public Library is a prime architectural treasure on Long Beach Island and a direct link to a colorful past that is the town’s most precious heritage. Mrs. Elizabeth Pharo’s gift to the town, itself now almost 100 years old, is as stunning as the day it was built. The taxpayers who support it are proud of its status as the only independent library in Ocean County and have chosen to keep it that way.

Schneider’s Bakery 157 Main Street Cooperstown, NY 13326

"A Local Journey: Exploring the outskirts of New York City, Addthistoyourgrocerylist@Wordpress.com, Bakeries for the budget minded, Breakfast Restaurants for the Budget Minded in NJ, Dedication to Warren Watrel, Dining on a Shoe String Restaurants in New York City, Exploring Cooperstown, NY, Exploring Historic Towns of Upstate New York, Exploring Manhattan Block by Block, Exploring New York City by foot, Exploring the Historic Hudson River Valley in New York State, Exploring the Island of Manhattan, Gourmet restaurants for the budget minded, Historic New York State neighborhoods, Interesting Food Products, Little Shop on Main Street in New York State, My walk in Manhattan (MywalkinManhattan.com), Uncategorized, Walking Downtown Cooperstown NY, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Schneider’s Bakery

157 Main Street

Cooperstown, NY. 13326

(607) 547-9631

https://www.facebook.com/Schneidersbakery#

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g47529-d3562916-Reviews-Schneider_s_Bakery-Cooperstown_Otsego_Otsego_County_New_York.html?m=69573

Schneider’s Bakery at 157 Main Street in Cooperstown, NY

The front window of Schneider’s Bakery

I have only visited Cooperstown, NY twice but I have made my annual visit to Schneider’s Bakery part of my annual visit. The doughnuts, danishes, twist and croissants here are excellent. I stop in for breakfast, desserts and snacks there when I am in town. It is not just the taste of the pastries, it is the way the store is displayed too.

The inside counter for coffee and drinks

The only problem with the store is that there is no place to sit down to enjoy all these delicious treats. You have to take your pastry to go. The other problem is the choices. There are so many yummy things to choose from it is hard not to walk out with a bag full of goodies.

The cases of cookies

I loved the creativity of the designs of the cakes and cookies in the store. I thought the Fall, Thanksgiving and Christmas themed cookies looked like little pieces of art. They really put you on the holiday spirit.

The delicious selection of doughnuts

The history of Schneider’s Bakery:

(From the Cooperstown’s Downtown website)

Since 1887, Schneider’s Bakery has been serving Cooperstown residents and visitors alike some of the tastiest baked goods around! Everything from moon pies and cupcakes, to chocolate chip cookies and homemade donuts, can be found at Schneider’s.

The doughnuts and croissant’s were really good and very fairly priced. That was the one thing about Schneider’s Bakery, their prices are very reasonable.

The fantastic Apple filled jelly doughnut

On my first day in town, I stopped for a quick snack of one of their Apple filled doughnuts and these are just mindblowingly good. I was impressed by the fresh apple filling and it almost tasted like a cross between an apple pie and apple turnover.

The lemon zested Glazed Doughnut

It was so good, I had to go back and get another treat to take back to my room at the hotel. I took one of their Glazed Doughnuts back with me and it had a unique taste. It tasted like there was lemon zest in the dough. It had a very unique and sweet flavor to it.

On my last day at the resort, I stopped in for some breakfast items to take back to the room with me. I did not want a big breakfast for the three hour trip home and just something light to tide me over until I got on the road.

The Ham and Cheese Croissant

I started with one of their Ham and Cheese Croissants for breakfast and it was delicious. Filled with sharp Cheddar Cheese and sweet ham, it was the perfect savory item. They should think about putting eggs in it.

Yum!

The Raspberry Long John

This was excellent and tastes even better than it looks

I finished breakfast with one of their glazed Raspberry Long John’s, which is an elongated doughnut with a thick, sugary glaze. I swear I saw stars when I bit into it. The Raspberry jam tasted like it was freshly made and the dough was so soft and sweet. It was excellent.

Afterwards, you can walk these off with a tour of picturesque downtown Cooperstown. It was all decorated for the upcoming Christmas Parade. I am sure that Santa would link to get his treats from here as well.

Walking in Downtown Cooperstown, NY Thanksgiving week in 2025

Downtown Cooperstown, NY decorated for the holidays

The festive decorations outside the store

Waiting for the arrival from Santa

Day Three Hundred and Sixty-Five Artist Party-Ruth Asawa-Member’s Night at the MoMA November 22nd, 2025

Dedication to Warren Watrel, Exploring Manhattan, Exploring Manhattan Block by Block, Exploring New York City, Exploring New York City by foot, Historic New York City neighborhoods, My walk in Manhattan (MywalkinManhattan.com), MywalkinManhattan Experiences, Uncategorized, Visiting a Museum in New York City, Walking around Manhattan, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The front of the Museum of Modern Art on 11West 53rd Street

https://www.moma.org/

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g60763-d105126-r1040038069-The_Museum_of_Modern_Art_MoMA-New_York_City_New_York.html?m=19905

There is always a lot of excitement when a new art exhibition is ready to open. It is even better when the museum opens it to its members first before the public gets a glimpse. The lines always wrap around the corner from the museum.

The long line of MoMA members waiting to get into the museum for the opening night of Artist Ruth Asawa’s exhibition

I noticed this year especially and right before Thanksgiving, all the museums are throwing open their doors for Member’s Nights. I have been invited to five Members Nights at museums all over the City. You can’t attend them all but when you can, it is a lot of fun.

The excitement the museum creates for these evenings

Video of entering the museum at the start of the opening with 80’s Japanese Pop Music

I think in an economy like this, these Members Nights are one of the best ways to engage with the membership for both donations and renewals of memberships especially before the holiday season. Plus it gives the members a wonderful night out to see the exhibitions ahead of time and enjoy the evening after a long week at work.

The opening of the Ruth Asawa Retrospect

Artist Ruth Asawa

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruth_Asawa

Home

The biography of the artist and her works

https://www.moma.org/artists/21-ruth-asawa

Biography of Artist Ruth Asawa:

(from the Museum of Modern Art website)

Born on a farm in Southern California, Asawa began her arts education when she was a teenager and she and her family were among the thousands of persons of Japanese descent who were forcibly incarcerated by the US government during World War II. It was at the internment camp that Asawa began taking classes in painting and drawing. After her release, Asawa studied to be a teacher but was unable to get a license because of her Japanese heritage, so she enrolled at Black Mountain College, an experimental art school in North Carolina. Asawa took classes from and worked alongside fellow artists Josef Albers, Robert Rauschenberg, Merce Cunningham, and R. Buckminster Fuller. Black Mountain was also where she met her husband, the architect Albert Lanier.

I loved her wire woven sculptures. They were the real standouts of the show.

The wire woven sculptures were the standouts of the exhibition

I thought these were a unique design

I liked here colorful paintings, these are of her child’s footprints. I loved the idea that her children were involved with the art

The patrons enjoying the art

The display of the wire art

The displays were impressive and graceful

The colorful faces looked tired

The look of nature in the wire art in the form of trees

I loved her works of food

At the end of the exhibition and the evening, I joined everyone on the main floor where the bar and gift shop were located. The main floor was the busiest part of the museum. I wondered if some of these people even went upstairs to see the exhibition or just stayed downstairs to socialize.

The main floor of the museum is always packed with people

Share in the excitement of the Membership opening

These evenings always get my mind off the stress of life. It is nice to just be in Midtown Manhattan and be in the moment. It is nice to see art, hear music and walk through the museum.

My Life as a Firemen: The Bergen County Firemen’s Home Association: October Meeting and Entertainment October 19th, 2025

"A Local Journey: Exploring the outskirts of New York City, Addthistoyourgrocerylist@Wordpress.com, Dedication to Warren Watrel, Dining on a Shoe String Restaurants in New York City, Exploring Boonton, NJ, Exploring Historic Bergen County NJ, Exploring Historic Towns in New Jersey, Exploring Manhattan, Exploring Manhattan Block by Block, Exploring New York City, Exploring New York City by foot, Exploring the Island of Manhattan, Exploring the State of New Jersey, Historic New Jersey Towns and Neighborhoods, Historical Towns of New Jersey, Little Shop on Main Street in New York City (LittleShoponMainStreet), My life as a Fireman Justin Watrel, My life as a Fireman: FF Justin Watrel, My walk in Manhattan (MywalkinManhattan.com), Smile! Your Visiting New Jersey!, Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The membership arrived at the NJ State Firemen’s Home to find the home decorated for the upcoming Halloween and Thanksgiving holidays. It seemed like yesterday we were up here for the Summer Barbecues.

The outside grounds of the NJ State Firemen’s Home

We had a lot to talk about at our October meeting with the Annual Convention behind us. There had been discussions on the Home and its expansion, renovations going on and the upcoming holiday season. I thought it was one of the best meetings we had in a long time.

The outside of the home decorated for the upcoming holiday season

Our fundraising has been coming along really well and we have exceeded our drive from last year. I think the word getting out about what we do and the Social media has been a huge help. We not only want to show our fellow fire companies where their money is being spent but how it is being spent.

We discussed also our upcoming reorganization breakfast at the Wyckoff Fire Department in November and the Annual Christmas party in December. Our Secretary, Tom Simpson discussed the gift this year and a planned lunch for both the staff and the membership. Everything is underway and planned for a great holiday season.

After the meeting was over, we joined the residents in the main meeting room where refreshments were being served and the entertainment had started.

Gigi entertained the residents on a stage decorated for the upcoming Halloween season

Gigi performed a series of Classic rock and Country music

Gigi performing Dean Martin’s “That’s Amore”

Gigi performing the song “That’s Amore”

https://videopress.com/v/UwRr2XJi?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true

Gigi performing the Patsy Kline hit “Crazy for you”

After ending her performance with ‘God Bless America’, we got up and introduced ourselves to the residents. We let everyone know about our upcoming Christmas party, which is always a huge hit with the residents and staff alike. We also we wished them well and for their years of service to the fire service, which they seemed touched by. Then we took our group picture.

The members of the Bergen County Firemen’s Home Association

We ended the program with one of the employees of the home, Eleanor, singing with Gigi a heartfelt song., “I Believe”.

https://videopress.com/v/Pdd4Cwnx?resizeToParent=true&cover=true&preloadContent=metadata&useAverageColor=true

Eleanor singing “I Believe”

What I thought was interesting was one of the guys told me she had once been a backup singer to Michael Jackson. I thought that was really gift that this woman shared her voice and love for these guys.

It really was a wonderful afternoon and I want to thank everyone who made it possible. This is our gift to our fellow firefighters.

Day Three Hundred and Fifty-Three Bergecco-Parc Consulting Inc. presents “Heights Flower Shoppe-We keep Growing!” Team Project August 5th, 2025

"A Local Journey: Exploring the outskirts of New York City, Bergecco-Parc Consulting Inc. Projects, Dedication to Warren Watrel, Exploring Hasbrouck Heights NJ, Exploring Historic Bergen County NJ, Exploring Historic Towns in New Jersey, Exploring Manhattan Block by Block, Exploring New York City by foot, Exploring Paramus NJ, Exploring the Island of Manhattan, Exploring the State of New Jersey, Historic New Jersey Towns and Neighborhoods, Historical Towns of New Jersey, Little Shop on Main Street in New Jersey, Little Shop on Main Street in New York City (LittleShoponMainStreet), My walk in Manhattan (MywalkinManhattan.com), Walking Downtown Hasbrouck Heights, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Bergecco-Parc Consulting Inc. logo of the Six Trees (based on the six founders of the company). Our Motto:

“A Tree grows from the strength of its roots and not from the top of the Tree” meaning that all employees opinions are noted and respected.

My boss contacted me after my Summer I class was done and asked if I could teach the Summer II class too with the same schedule After the success of our first class project, I said yes but with one catch. I had one less week to teach the class.

My first class’s final exam was on Monday and then classes started Wednesday. Because we met on Monday’s and Tuesday’s were the class days we would not meet until the next week and that fell on the Forth of July weekend so in the first two weeks of classes we met the first Tuesday of the second week of classes and that put us two weeks behind.

So on the third week of classes, we finally met with the full schedule. I had a lot of catching up to do. That being said, I had to get their Team project done and we were playing with time. I had to have at least two weeks to do the project and unlike the Critchley’s Candies project, I wanted to keep it closer to home.

The blog on the successful Critchley’s Candies Team Project:

Day Three Hundred and Forty-Four Bergecco-Parc Consulting Inc. presents the project “Critchley’s Candies-We’re Making It!” June 23rd, 2025

My blog on Critchley’s Candies:

https://mywalkinmanhattan.com/2025/07/31/critchleys-candies-812-kinderkamack-road-river-edge-new-jersey-07661/

I thought of three Merchants in Hasbrouck Heights that I thought could use some help with their Digital Marketing and Online presence. I talked with Roy Vorisek, the owner of Heights Flower Shoppe, who I have known for years and asked if he would partner with me this semester. I thought it might be a nice idea to promote one of our Merchants this time around. He loved the idea, but the only problem was that he would be leaving for a trip with his family before the Presentation and would not be returning until we finished class.

The Heights Flower Shoppe at 209 Boulevard in Hasbrouck Heights, NJ (decorated for Halloween)

https://www.heightsflowershoppe.com/

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.in/Restaurant_Review-g46497-d25518949-Reviews-Heights_Flower_Shoppe-Hasbrouck_Heights_New_Jersey.html?m=69573

My review on LittleShoponMainStreet@Wordpress.com:

Heights Flower Shoppe 209 Boulevard Hasbrouck Heights, NJ 07604

I was concerned that no one would be there to see the Presentation but he could send one of his family members who worked at the store so she could give her opinions. We then worked out of game plan of things he wanted to promote and ideas for Digital Marketing that the students could work on. I presented him all my ideas based on his needs in the store and then I presented the Team Project to my students.

The Proposal for “Bergecco-Parc Consulting Inc. Heights Flower Shoppe-We Keep Growing”:

BCC- Bergecco-Parc Consulting Inc. Heights Flower Shoppe Summer 2025Download

We were under a lot of time constraints just like the Summer One course in that we only had six full weeks of class, and we would miss two more days of class, so we were going to be rushing through this project. Funny though, this is what I told the students they will be experiencing for the rest of their lives. Last minute requests from both bosses and clients that you might have to achieve and finish in a weekend.

So I prepared the field trips. The first one was an optional extra credit trip the Thursday after I handed out the assignment and then the next Tuesday I met me students for a formal tour of Heights Flower Shoppe and then our Team lunch at Bella Pizza a few doors down. This is when the real work begins.

In a now in a class this quick, you do not have the time to goof around and I made my students fully aware of this. So I arranged the field trip with Ray and his staff, made sure that all my students attended and we started the tour of the store.

We started the tour with a discussion on the history of the store and Ray’s career in the flower business

The owner, Ray Vorisek, gave my students a talk first on the history of the store, his career as a florist and how the whole family participates in the business. Then he took us on a tour of the second floor that will be used for the new Christmas shop and bridal salon in the future. Then I let my students walk around and talk to the owner and his staff, who were working feverishly getting out orders that afternoon.

My students listening to Ray discuss the flower business

Ray explaining the assortment of flowers

My students touring the store and studying the merchandise

Our Team picture after the tour

The students had about a week after this tour to finish and present the project to myself and the owners niece, who would be working at the store as the rest of the family members would be away on vacation. We finished the visit in less than an hour.

As part of the tour, I took the students out for lunch five doors down at Bella Pizza at 197 Boulevard for Cheese pizza and soda. I find that when a Team ‘breaks bread’ with one another, they gel together.

Bella Pizza at 197 Boulevard in Hasbrouck Heights, NJ

https://www.bellapizzahasbrouckheights.com/

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.ie/Restaurant_Review-g46497-d13840427-Reviews-Bella_Pizza-Hasbrouck_Heights_New_Jersey.html?m=69573

Our ‘Business Lunches’ are a way for the student consultants to get to know one another and start talking about the project in a more casual manner. There was a lot to discuss and it is easier over lunch with a few laughs.

The Special Events and Marketing Team having lunch

The Special Events and Marketing Team dining together

Members of the Marketing and Special Events Team dining together

Ray Vorisek and his daughter, Gabriella with our Senior Vice-President of Operations

It was a really nice lunch and I got to talk with Ray about some of the challenges of the business and catch up on ways he was promoting the business. Heights Flower Shoppe is a very successful business with a good following but the issue is that his core customer base was getting older and things like the way holidays were being celebrated were changing. It was going to be out job to tap into what the younger customers were looking for and how to reach them.

For the next ten days, my students worked hard, had challenges to overcome, co-workers who could be somewhat uncooperative and worked late nights to finish the project in time for our presentation on August 5th, 2025. I thought for a barely two week time frame, the student consultants did a wonderful job on the project and here is their hard work.

The PowerPoint Presentation:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JDFmug-kFsZ1IKHsOQNvTS-9bab_MhUc/view?usp=drive_web

The Corporate website:

https://fenilpatel1110.wixsite.com/project-heights-shop

The new Website for the store that was created by the Marketing Team:

https://daort600.wixstudio.com/flower-shop

This was the commercial that the Marketing Team put together for store to promote it for the Digital Age:

The Commercial on Heights Flower Shoppe

The Team Presentation on YouTube

The Presentation was a huge success with both the Marketing Team and the Special Events Teams presenting their ideas with new logos, interesting Tik Tok and YouTube videos promoting the store and new special promotions such as ‘Children’s Bundles’ and holiday events highlighting Christmas, Easter and the Wedding season.

Ray’s niece, Nicole, attended the Presentation and gave us wonderful feedback on some of the ideas. Which ones were realistic and which ones would need more work. I do admit the students can be elaborate with the project and their ideas, but it is best to present all ideas first and then tailor them down to the clients budget and logistics.

The Corporate Picture for the Paramus Team-Heights Flower Shoppe with CEO Professor Justin Watrel at the end of the Team Presentation

After the Presentation was over, I hosted a small reception for both the students and our attending guests. I bake cookies, brownies and bring in snacks like chips, sodas and waters for the students and their guests for a job well. Our last time ‘breaking bread’ with one another for the conclusion of the project. It was a bit rushed but I think the Team did a great job.

The Bergecco-Parc Consulting Inc. Corporate reception for the Paramus Team

The next week before Final Exam, we had the Team Wrap up and each student discussed what they learned from the project. This is where I get my insights on the project and where I need to tailor my CEO skills. Just as much as the students learn from me, I learn so much from them as well. “From the students we are taught” from the ‘King and I’.

Then I presented my President of the Division her official Bergecco-Parc Consulting Inc. Presidential hat, of which she seemed very excited to receive. It was a very difficult project to do in less than two weeks and she was up to the challenge. Respect well-deserved!

It was another successful Team Project.

Day Three Hundred and Forty-Four Bergecco-Parc Consulting Inc. presents the project “Critchley’s Candies-We’re Making It!” June 23rd, 2025

"A Local Journey: Exploring the outskirts of New York City, Bergecco-Parc Consulting Inc. Projects, Dedication to Warren Watrel, Exploring Historic Bergen County NJ, Exploring Historic Towns in New Jersey, Exploring Manhattan Block by Block, Exploring New York City by foot, Exploring Paramus NJ, Exploring River Edge, NJ, Exploring the Island of Manhattan, Exploring the State of New Jersey, Exploring Westwood NJ, Historic New Jersey Towns and Neighborhoods, Historical Towns of New Jersey, Interesting Candy Shops, Little Shop on Main Street in New Jersey, My walk in Manhattan (MywalkinManhattan.com), Pizzeria's and Italian Restaurants for the budget-minded, Uncategorized, Walking Downtown Westwood NJ, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

This is the first time in my career at Bergen Community College that I have taught a summer class and it was a very interesting experience. I have taught Business 101, which is the Introduction to Business class for many years but not in a modified seven week period. Normally this important entry level course is taught in fourteen weeks.

With an issue with my car the first day of class and then the Memorial Day holidays the next week put us two days behind and then I had to work on a modified Team project for the students. This would be a challenge. I had done all the on campus events I wanted and there was not much time for one of the bigger more detailed events. So I decided to reach out to a local business to help me out.

I was going to use the florist across the street from the campus and thought that would be the perfect client. The couple unfortunately was selling the business and even though they liked the idea thought it would not work since it would not help them as they were looking for a buyer of the business.

I then had another idea with a business I passed all the time driving up and down Kinderkamack Road on my was back and forth to work, Critchley’s Candies in River Edge, NJ. The business had been around for seventy years and I had met the owner once before. I thought would he help me out?

Critchley’s Candies at 812 Kinderkamack Road

https://www.critchleyscandies.com/

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com.sg/Restaurant_Review-g46776-d33257078-Reviews-Critchley_s_Candies-River_Edge_New_Jersey.html?m=69573

https://www.facebook.com/CritchleysCandies/

https://www.instagram.com/critchleyscandies/

I was very lucky in that the store had a new owner, Rossana, who was willing to partner with me and liked my proposed ideas. I was lucky that she was looking for ideas to expand her business so it was a win win for the two of us. This would give her free marketing and a fresh perspective from a younger customer and would give the students an opportunity to help a small business owner.

I made two trips to the store to get some ideas and look over the merchandise. They have a nice selection of candies and chocolates and a whole new line of handmade candies that are made in store.

The inside of Critchley’s Candies

The selection of candies at Critchley’s

The selection of handmade candies

Once myself and Rosanna, the owner, worked together to fine tune the project, I brought my class to the store for their field trip. We had a two week deadline on this project and there was a lot to do (they actually did the whole project in ten days).

Over the weekend, I picked my Executive Team and fine tuned the project with more details to each section of the project. It had to be pared down because unlike many other Team projects, we had only two weeks to pull this off and present it to the client.

The proposed project: Critchley’s Candies: We’re Making it!

BCC-Bergecco-Parc Consulting Inc. 2025 Critchley’s Candies-We’re Making It!Download

On one of the rainiest mornings we had in a long time (it never stopped raining for a month), I met my students to tour the candy store. We had a really nice time touring the store that morning and Rossana’s full time employee, Nancy, led the tour with myself and the class.

My students on the tour of the store

My class getting a feel of the merchandise

Nancy, one of the employees of the store led the tour discussing the different lines of merchandise.

We discussed the different types of gummies, jellies and hard candies the store carried.

The video of the tour of Critchley’s Candies that day:

My class and I touring Critchley’s Candies with Nancy, one of the long service employees at the store. She explained all the candy lines to us and what chocolates were made in house.

She then discussed the individual chocolates that are on sale for creating boxes for gift giving.

Me tasting the homemade Milk Chocolate Covered Oreo

When we finished the tour, we had a candy tasting. Everyone got a chance to taste either a homemade Milk or Dark Chocolate Covered Marshmallow or Oreo Cookie. It was a sweet way to end our tour of Critchley’s Candies. Then it was on to our Team Lunch.

After the tour was over, our class took a group shot at the store with Nancy.

After the tour was over, I took my students on their first ‘Business lunch’ and we met as a class at Pompilio’s Pizzeria at 223 Westwood Avenue in Downtown Westwood, NJ. I have taken students here before for lunch on about five other Team projects.

This gives the students the opportunity to get to know each other and have some Team bonding. The pizza is also excellent here too and they have very fair prices and a wonderful ‘school special’.

The Team Lunch:

Pompilio’s Pizzeria & Restaurant at 223 Westwood Avenue in Downtown Westwood, NJ

https://www.pompiliospizzeria.com/

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g46923-d4643410-Reviews-Pompilio_s_Pizzeria_Restaurant-Westwood_New_Jersey.html?m=69573

Some of my students at our Business Team building lunch

The pizza here is excellent

From this point on the students were on their own to create the project. We have already had a series of Board meetings in class and I have had to face two students dropping the class ( I just don’t think this is for everyone).

For the next two weeks, technically ten days, the students worked with their teams on completing the assignment. This meant meeting on their own time and trips back to Critchley’s Candies to film commercials and Tik Tok videos.

We had our last Board meeting the day before the Presentation to wrap things up and go over any missing items. I strictly informed about dress code and performing the role as Student Consultants. From this point on, it would be up to them. They were also assigned two papers to finish the project up.

Paper Three: What would I change in the store if I bought Critchley’s Candies from the owner:

BCC-Intro to Bus Paper Three Critchley’s Candy PaperDownload

Paper Four: What did I learn from the Bergecco-Parc Consulting Inc. project:

BCC-Intro to Bus Paper Four Summer 2025Download

On Tuesday morning, June 24th, 2025, the Presentation took place in our classroom. The first mode of business for each student was to pass the ‘Dress Code’ grade. I have students come in formal business attire. My way of turning group of Gen Zers in to Gen X. Image is very important when trying to sell a concept or program and you must look the role.

With the exception of a few hiccups, the whole class looked very professional considering it was 95 degrees outside. It not been this hot all week but it felt like 100 degrees. Thank God the air conditioning was working in our part of the building that day and the classroom was very comfortable.

The Presentation started late as one student got a flat tire and we had to wait for him. At the same time the owner of the store had an issue at her full time job that got resolved just as the student arrived in class. We started the Presentation at 11:00am and now it was full attention on the project.

Copy of the PowerPoint presentation:

Click to access ab2614_dc7edf59c3f74bedb1e3fc0ea2d28b57.pdf

The President this semester, Peter McNamara and the Senior Vice-President of Operations JC Abella welcoming everyone and starting the Presentation.

Marketing Team Member Kim Perez discussing the history of Critchley’s Candies to the audience.

The Marketing Team discussing the new ‘Store Jingle’ for the commercial

The Commercial on YouTube:

This includes the store jingle at the end of the commercial.

The students also created a Tik Tok video on the store and its wonderful selection of chocolates.

The Tik Tok video:

The Tik Tok video on Critchley’s Candies

Marketing Team member Matthew discussing the creation of the ‘Store Jingle’

The Product Development and Special Event’s Team discussing the QR Codes Program for the store’s boxed and individual candies.

Product Development/Special Events Team Member Aisha Martinez discussing the new ‘Summer Camp Care package’ proposal. This included a prototype of the packaging.

Team Leader of the Product Development/Special Events Liam discussing the ‘In-house Birthday Party’ program. This caters to that jaded Bergen County child who has seen it all. This birthday concept was very creative. It made it fun to have a birthday at the store.

His proposal for the ‘Birthday Party’ invitation with Vice-President of Product Development/Special Events Joel Fife to the right and President McNamara and SVP Arabella to the left looking on.

The Presentation concluded on time with a Q&A and a discussion on some of the ideas needing adjustments. Overall the owner of Critchley’s Candies, Rossana Rossi, who I partnered on this project seemed very impressed by the results. Then we took our Team picture with the owner and her employee, Nancy, who had led us on the tour of the store two weeks earlier.

The Paramus Critchley’s Candies Team with the owners of Critchley’s Candies.

After the Presentation was over, everyone took their jackets off and I hosted a reception for the students and our guests. I baked cookies and brownies and had an assortment of snacks and sodas for the students. I thought this went by very well for a class that had been here for only seven weeks.

The reception at the end of the Presentation

This is when I can say that I am very proud of my students!

The Official Bergecco-Parc Consulting Inc. website for the project with QR codes, Commercials, Logos and pictures from all the visits and the presentation:

https://pmcnamara139481.wixsite.com/bergeccocritchleys

The Presentation on YouTube:

The full presentation of the Bergecco-Parc Consulting Inc. of Critchley’s Candies Promotion.

For a project that had a two week turnaround, the Student Consultants did an excellent job with the Team Project.

Day Three-Hundred and Thirty-Eight “Lertaw Investment Inc. presents Financial Team Presentation and Gameplans” April 28th, 2025

"A Local Journey: Exploring the outskirts of New York City, Bergecco-Parc Consulting Inc. Projects, Dedication to Warren Watrel, Exploring Historic Bergen County NJ, Exploring Historic Towns in New Jersey, Exploring Manhattan Block by Block, Exploring New York City by foot, Exploring Newark NJ, Exploring the Island of Manhattan, Exploring the State of New Jersey, Lertaw Investments Inc. Projects, My walk in Manhattan (MywalkinManhattan.com), MywalkinManhattan Experiences, MywalkinManhattan-Bergecco-Parc Consulting Inc., Uncategorized, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

I have never taught Personal Finance and the way it has been taught in the past by previous Professors I had no interest in following. I could not see a course that was to prepare you for your financial future that could be that dry. A course with online quizzes and tests could not possibly be the best way to learn about retirement. Having experienced investing with the stock market, CD’s and Mutual Funds, I know personally the pitfalls of investing in this current very shaky market and that’s what I wanted to teach the students. Not to be afraid to start NOW!

The logo for “Lertaw Investment Inc. -Growth comes from Within”

In the past, I have created these projects under the Bergecco-Parc Consulting Inc. banner, the main consulting company, the Orion Malls banner, a Mall design company and the Buscomonzefi.com banner, my Tech Division. Each business does its best to be creative, forward thinking and have a thought producing presentations. I also challenge the students to top on another in their presentations and build on what they have seen others do in the past.

Professor Justin Watrel, CEO Lertaw Investment Inc.

So for my personal finance class, I got away from the traditional Bergecco-Parc Consulting Inc. banner that I use for my Marketing, Management and Communications classes and created Lertaw Investment Inc. Lertaw is my last name spelled backwards (okay, I thought it was clever).

So I created the scenario of the Team Project was I was the CEO of a family Investment company with headquarters in Newark, NJ, where it was founded back in the early 1800’s. This company was an offshoot of another family company that was founded after the Revolutionary War. All the students were new hires who were on probation with the company and had to prove themselves.

The Original Project and Teams with the First Task:

BCC-Lertaw Investment Bank 2025Download

With so many students in this class, (I originally started with 35 students that went to 31 by the time the class was over), I broke each Team up into a Team of five lead by a Divisional Vice-Presidential and an Investment Advisor who would be their second in command. They were assigned with giving everyone a part of each week’s tasks.

For the next four weeks what I would do is give each group a series of tasks and activities that the student financial consultants had to work on as a Team. Each Team was given a budget of $25,000 and had to use this investing account to pay for client purchases and for Team expenses.

While I was doing that, each individual student had to write their own investment paper. The scenario I gave each student was that their great aunt died and left them $5,000 with the stipulation that they could not spend the money but invest it for their future. I gave a series of scenarios here as well. I figured this paper would force them to think more about the overall project. It really got them thinking.

Paper Three: Creating a Personal Financial Plan from a $5,000 inheritance from your Great Aunt:

The first Task: Opening a CD at your local bank for $1,500.

BCC-Personal Finance Paper Three Spring 2024Download

Over the next three weeks while I had the students working on their Team Project, I gave each of the students tasks to invest in for their money from their Great Aunt. The first task was they had to go to the bank and get information for opening a CD for $1,500. This way I forced all these students to talk to their banks to get a perspective on HOW to invest their money in the future.

Paper Three Task Two:

The next task was to spend $1,200 on a series of stocks that include one Tech Company, two Food Companies and one Banking Company

BCC-Personal Finance Paper Three Spring 2025 Part IIDownload

Paper Three Task Three:

The last task was to open a Bond for $300 (I made a math mistake and it would have been $3,000). Oh well, this way they had money left over to keep for emergencies.

BCC-Personal Finance Paper Three Spring 2025 Part IIIDownload

While the students were writing Paper Three for the class and doing their research for the their personal papers, which was a big part of their grades, they were using some of their personal research for their Team assignment. This way each Student Investor brought their own research and perspective to the project. This way the project got five different opinions.

Task One for the Team Project included:

(This is part of the initial package that I gave the students)

Invest $4000 in two high interest CDs for a client. This is where the individual research came in handy and each student could contribute their research on this part of the project.

Buy $6,000 of stocks in Two Tech Companies. Two Energy Companies, Two Foodservice and Two Travel Stocks. The Student Investors got to pick the companies and the amount at each company that they wanted to spend.

Plan a Cocktail party with creating a menu, invitation and budget between $1000 and $1200 in our Newark Headquarters. The Cocktail Party was going for be for both perspective clients and established customers plus Corporate members wanting to meet everyone.

Task Two of the Team Project:

BCC-Personal Finance Lertaw Investment Bank 2025 Second Task AssignmentDownload

The Vice-President and the Financial Advisor had to take a Business Trip to Boston, MA to meet with clients. The rest of the Team will stay behind in the office. You have to set up a travel budget for your trip for Lertaw Investments for the trip. This money will be deducted from your $25,000 so you need budget. The company will let you travel First Class if you want but it will lower your investment amount.

The top executives had to book either a Railway Ticket Round Trip or an Airline Ticket from Newark to Boston and back, a hotel room for two nights (Breakfast is included in the hotel stay), meals for lunch and dinner and extra money to see the sites in Boston if you want. Please set up the travel budget for two people and how much the Business Trip will cost.

They had to buy $5,000 worth of Mutual Funds (Vanguard, American Century Investments, T. Rowe Price etc.) for the client. You need to tell me what funds you want to buy and how much. The client is leaving this at your discretion.

Their Client wanted them to buy $2,500 worth of McDonalds stock. They want to buy as much as possible with the $2,500 so you need to watch the stock price of McDonalds and what day you will buy it. Your Team needs to tell me when you bought it, how much you bought and at what price did you buy it at.

Task Three of the Team Project:

BCC-Personal Finance Lertaw Investment Bank 2025 Third Assignment taskDownload

Invest $5,000 in bonds and they could choose the terms to get the best yield.

Task Four of the Team Project:

BCC-Personal Finance-Lertaw Investments Task Four Spring 2025Download

Lertaw Investments is looking for a new Healthcare plan. The company wants proposals for new Dental, Visual and Medical plans for each of your Teams

Please sell $1,500 shares of McDonalds stock and note on your account whether you had a profit or loss on the sale. Please by $1,500 worth of Chipotle and Krispie Kreme stock. You can buy whatever shares you want of the stock but the client wants the most for their money. The remainder of the $1,000 worth of McDonald’s stock will stay in the account and please monitor the profit/loss on this investment.

Corporate liked your proposal for the cocktail party and your budget for the business trip up to Boston. They have reimbursed you for the expenses so put the money back into your account. You know must buy $1,500 worth of Automotive and Airline stocks. Please pick two automotive and one airline stock. The client is leaving the discretion of the number of shares of stock up to the Team.

Task Five of the Team Project:

BCC-Personal Finance-Lertaw Investments Task Five Spring 2025Download

The Team needed to arrange a Team Dinner for the members of your Team. Please pick a restaurant in Newark, anyone you like, and tell me the name, provide menu and pictures and what your Team will order. Remember you are considered over 21 and can drink so please think of the wine and cocktail menus as well. Your budget for dinner must be $1,000 and below. Remember that tax and tip need to be included. Some restaurants have fees for parties over five so this needs to be included.

With the remaining money in their budget, they could buy stocks of their choice. The Client now trusts you and your Team can use its discretion.

To end this project, the Team should have a remaining budget of $1,000.00 left or as close to it as possible. There are always emergencies that need to be covered and there should be this amount left in your account. The rest of the money should be spent.

The final part of the project, the Team should finish their last report with a complete breakdown of how your Team spent their $25,000.00 budget as the final page of the report and I wanted to see everything footnoted.

Each class I would do my lecture on the chapters in the book which covered the topics in the scenarios and then leave them the last half hour to meet with their Teams in class. Each Team then had to submit their findings in a full report, which they had three attempts to get correct. Only one Team of the five did it correctly and even they made mistakes.

I also set up a prize for this two step process. The Team with the best report would get ten (10) points added to their Midterm (and trust me, the class Midterm results were not that good) and then that Team would get promoted to the President and SVP of Operation’s and create the Corporate website and PowerPoint presentation for the project. I swear, I have the eye for Corporate talent and the Team that won did an excellent job with both.

The pitfall with this project like any Team project, both in school and in the workforce, there are those who do not want to do their work or milk their share of the project so they do not have to do anything else. I had to ‘fire’ (i.e. fail) one student, who did not seem to care anyway (he spent the entire time in class on his cellphone texting his friends). I also had Student Investors who spent three weeks working on a simple Cocktail Party or Team Dinner (which had nothing to do with Personal Finance), so I had to grade them on this and deal with items like this.

I had to be a very proactive CEO with over thirty Student Investors doing all different types of investing and projects for their teams. The Vice-Presidents and Team Advisors had to hand in a report to me three times before their Final Team Report was due the week before the final exam and do their breakdown of how they spent their money. You see what people are made of when they had to do basic math. I had to check each report thoroughly, add up all their business expenses and make sense of everything. Only two groups got close to a professional type of report but I could see where the frustrations came in. Again some of the Team Members did not do their job properly and I had to deal with this. I now know why so many CEOs are so frustrated today and this is just a simulated project. Still I was very proud of these students who accomplished so much and learned the book’s subject matter on their own in a pace that made sense to them.

This is what learning is about especially about Personal Finance. You have to spend the time figuring it out for yourself and that is the hardest part of life.

The Project:

Here is the PowerPoint:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1o-jnsPXdF2BHltZrAvcK1FOd-to7_s22/view

Here is the Presentation on YouTube:

Here is the website on the Team Project:

https://lertawinvestmentinc.wordpress.com/

Team One:

Team Two:

Team Three:

Team Four:

During the Presentation, each Team had fifteen minutes to explain how they spent and invested their money, how they planned their dinners and cocktail parties and how they researched their business trip to Boston.

I was floored by each Team’s creativity and the selection of stocks, bonds, and CDs they chose as no two Teams were the same. With the exception of the winning Team, all the other Teams got an ‘A-‘ on their projects. I found this is a better way to teach rather than trying to get them to learn it from the book.

I am constantly amazed at what happens when you challenge students to learn. We are in a new era where just reading the book and exams will not be the norm. I just love the challenge of seeing students learn and having fun doing it.

I hope you all enjoy this Team Project.

Day Three Hundred and Twenty-Eight Bergecco-Parc Consulting Inc. presents “The Bergen 250: Visiting Bergen County, NJ Museums: Promotional Plan for Visiting the Behnke Museum, Bergenfield Museum, Walking Tour of Coopers Pond Park and a Graveyard Walk of the South Presbyterian Church” December 11th, 2024

"A Local Journey: Exploring the outskirts of New York City, Bergecco-Parc Consulting Inc. Projects, Dedication to Warren Watrel, Exploring Bergenfield, NJ, Exploring Historic Bergen County NJ, Exploring Manhattan Block by Block, Exploring New York City by foot, Exploring Paramus NJ, Exploring the Island of Manhattan, Exploring the State of New Jersey, Historic Churches of New Jersey, Historic New Jersey Towns and Neighborhoods, Historical Towns of New Jersey, Interesting Parks and Zoos in New Jersey, My walk in Manhattan (MywalkinManhattan.com), MywalkinManhattan-Bergecco-Parc Consulting Inc., The Bergen 250-250th Anniversary of the Revolutionary War in Bergen County, NJ, Uncategorized, Visiting a Museum in New Jersey, Walking in Bergenfield, NJ, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

In my live classes, I open my consulting company, “Bergecco-Parc Consulting Inc.”, for business and the whole class bands together and we have one big project. In the era of post-COVID and online learning, I was lucky that I was able to teach one of the live classes on the Bergen Community College, Paramus Campus. It was such a pleasure welcoming students back to campus with live lectures and conversing with them.

The Bergecco-Parc Consulting Inc. corporate logo of the six trees

Contact Us

In the past, I have created these projects under the Bergecco-Parc Consulting Inc. banner, the main consulting company, the Orion Malls banner, a Mall design company and the Buscomonzefi.com banner, my Tech Division. Each business does its best to be creative, forward thinking and have a thought producing presentations. I also challenge the students to top on another in their presentations and build on what they have seen others do in the past.

Professor Justin Watrel, CEO & Co-Founder of Bergecco-Parc Consulting Inc.

The Behnke Museum Project:

I created the Behnke Museum promotion as a way to promote this wonderful museum located right next to the Bergen Community College campus for tourism. It is such a terrific museum but it never seemed to have any visitors. Not only that, it seemed that no one at the college including the Professors had been there or even knew what it was as they passed it everyday on their way to work. This project, which was the first project in the class, was going to change all of that.

With the help of Fred Behnke and the Board of Volunteers, we partnered together to help the museum promote itself for tourism and put the museum on the map. I created with the help of the Executive Team and the Student Consultants, a series of promotions, commercials and ideas to bring traffic into the museum. The Student Consultants also created an Instagram site for the museum, helped create a website and translated pamphlets into Spanish, Korean and Pilipino to help promote the museum to an outside audience where English may not be the first language. We started the project out with a tour of the museum.

The Fred Behnke Museum at 330 Paramus Road

https://www.facebook.com/FritzBehnkeMuseum/

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g46712-d4973052-Reviews-Fritz_Behnke_Historical_Museum-Paramus_New_Jersey.html

My review on VisitingaMuseum.com:

The Fritz Behnke Historical Museum of Paramus 330 Paramus Road Paramus, NJ 07652

The Sunday Extra Credit tour that my class at the museum

On the Sunday before the formal Class tour of the museum, I gave the students extra credit towards their project to come in on a Sunday and tour the museum at their leisure. About a third of the class took advantage of it.

The next class, I picked my Teams, set up the Executive Team and then it was ‘full steam ahead’ with the project.

The Team:

BCC-Bergecco-Parc Consulting Inc 2024 Behnke Museum Project Team MembersDownload

The Project:

BCC Bergecco-Parc Consulting Inc. Behnke Museum Project 2024Download

We arrived at the museum later that week for our formal walking tour of the museum and the class was broken up into two teams one upstairs and one downstairs.

The Class Field Trip to the Behnke Museum as part of the project

The Team Field Trip to the Behnke Museum

Touring the first floor of the museum

After the tour was over, we took our official Team Corporate picture for the project. Even though it was a gloomy day, it was all energy and smiles and a lot of promise to help the museum gain more visitors.

The Bergecco-Parc Consulting Inc. Behnke Museum Team picture with the Museum Volunteer Staff

The Student Consultants had a week to put the Presentation together and create a commercial to promote the museum and their PowerPoint on their ideas to create excitement at the museum. Here is their project Presentation and PowerPoint on the project. Please remember that they had seven days to do this.

The PowerPoint:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1atn7BlTHfG88tND0P8fU1yNzmEpFrEG4/view?usp=gmail

The Video of the Presentation:

https://www.youtubeeducation.com/watch?v=krZNmHevETA

The Team Picture after the Behnke Museum Presentation to the Museum Volunteer Staff:

The Bergecco-Parc Consulting Inc. Paramus Team for the Behnke Museum

The Behnke Museum Volunteer Staff was impressed with the students ideas and thought there was a lot good ideas that they can use.

Commercial Group One:

Commercial Group Two:

Marketing Commercial Team Two:

Commercial Group Three:

Marketing Commercial Team Three:

Commercial Group Four:

The Bergenfield Tourism Project: The Bergenfield Museum, Coopers Pond Park and South Church Graveyard Tour Project:

This is when I got the idea of doing the same project in a larger form. I saw the Bergenfield Museum, a small gem on the other side of Coopers Pond Park, that did not much traffic considering the museum is open both during the week and the weekend. The building was an original Demarest homestead and the family had their family plot in the South Church which is located right next to the park. So I approached both the museum and the church to partner with me in creating a project to promote this corner of Bergenfield, NJ for tourism.

Cooper’s Pond Park during the Summer months

So I set up the next series of tours for my students that encompassed the Bergenfield Museum, Coopers Pond Park and the historical South Church graveyard where the Demarest family plot was located. The Bergenfield Museum building is the original Demarest family homestead so it tied in nicely to the project.

Walking through Coopers Pond Park inspired this fascinating project

https://bergenfield.com/notices-announcements/oem-notices/cooper-s-pond-update

Two weeks after the Behnke Museum project, I introduced this project and the next week we took a walking tour of all three sites starting with walking through Cooper Pond Park, a WPA project and one of the most beautiful and underrated parks in Bergen County.

We met with the Bergenfield Volunteer Board at the museum to start the tour

The Bergenfield Museum at 100 Cooper Street in Bergenfield, NJ

https://bergenfield.com/museum-society

https://www.facebook.com/bergenfieldmuseum/

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Profile/R4960NKjustinw/photo/776032151?m=19905

My review on VisitingaMuseum.com:

Bergenfield Museum Society 100 Cooper Street Bergenfield, NJ 07621

The President of the Bergenfield Museum Board, Joanne, helped me organize the Team Field Trip of the museum. She had four other docents from the Board helping in four different rooms so each Team would follow each other through the rooms. Each Team had about ten minutes in each room for the docent to explain the collection to them. The Student Consultants got to visit the museum on their own time as well.

Our class being greeted by the President of the Bergenfield Museum, Joanne

Touring the Living Room of the old Demarest Homestead

Touring the old Dining Room and the Chair Factory display in the museum

Touring the Kitchen area of the old homestead

Touring the Military Room of the museum

Discussions of the function of the kitchen on the farm

Discussing the Chair manufacturing in Bergenfield, NJ

The Student Consultants touring the Living Room

The Teams taking notes during the tour

After our tour of the museum was over, we took a group picture outside of the museum with the Board of the museum.

The Student Consultants from Bergecco-Parc Consultants Inc. visiting the Bergenfield museum

After we took the group shot, we walked through the park again to my take note of its Depression era past and beautiful views and colors and made our way to the historic South Presbyterian Church and its historic graveyard where the second half of the project would take place.

South Presbyterian Church at 150 West Church Avenue

https://www.southpresbyterian.net/

https://www.facebook.com/southpres/

The historic marker for the church

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g46301-d32842329-r988828266-South_Presbyterian_Church-Bergenfield_New_Jersey.html?m=19905

My review on VisitingaMuseum.com:

https://visitingamuseum.com/author/jwatrel/page/2/

The Demarest Family plot in the church graveyard

Touring the South Church graveyard for the historical walking tour with members of the Church volunteer staff

The tour was lead by Bob Carpenter, a historian who is helping renovate this historical graveyard

The tour of the historical Demarest family plot, which ties into the museum building’s historical past, was lead by historian Bob Carpenter, who is helping the church renovate and restore the graveyard. Mr. Carpenter explained to us how he was fixing all the plots and historic tombstones and how the maintenance of the stones needs to be carefully done.

Mr. Carpenter explains how to maintain the tombstones in these historic graveyards

Video of the walking tour of the historic graveyard:

IMG_2497Download

Both the church volunteers and Mr. Carpenter explaining to the students how families were buried in the 1700and 1800’s

We finished the tour that afternoon inside the South Church to learn its history in the community. Though it will not be part of the project, the church offered the students a glimpse into Bergen County’s past as the original church was built before the Revolutionary War.

The Student Consultants touring the pews of the South Church

Once the tour was complete, the Student Consultants had a better understanding of the locations where the project will take place.

The new project will include walking tours, historical aspects of all three locations, and ways of creating a Destination Marketing Plan for domestic and foreign tourism. This will take place when the Student Consultants present their ideas to myself and the museum and church staffs.

The student consultants had four weeks to this project and put together their game plans. The had to put together commercials to promote the Bergenfield Museum, Coopers Pond Park and the historical cemetery of the South Church. As an extra credit assignment, I had the students develop a Halloween walking tour with food and create a separate commercial for this of which three of the for groups completed.

Quiz Four-The Holiday Project

Before the Team made their final presentation, they created Quiz Four-The Corporate Holiday Party

The Proposal for the Holiday Party Project:

BCC Quiz Four Fall 2024 Team Bergecco Parc Holiday ProjectDownload

Video of the Team’s Holiday Party Project:

They did a great job on the ideas for the Corporate Holiday Party and came up with some clever menus and logos.

The Holiday Project PowerPoint:

The Christmas Greeting from the Executive Team:

Executive Greeting:

Team One Greeting:

Team Two Greeting:

Team Three Greeting:

Team Four Greeting:

Then came the big Presentation on December 11th, 2024 and this group did an amazing job with ideas for the Town of Bergenfield promoting the Bergenfield Museum, Coopers Pond Park and the South Church’s Historic Cemetery. Each Team tried to top one another.

The whole idea of the Bergenfield Project was not just to promote the museums, parks and historic churches but to create Destination Marketing Project to promote the Town of Bergenfield as a place to visit for both domestic and foreign tourism. This is the project that promotes that vision:

The Bergenfield Team website for Bergecco-Parc Consulting Inc:

https://bergeccoparcconsultinginc4.wordpress.com/

The presentation on the Bergenfield Museum

The day of the presentation the students had to be in professional dress with men expected to be in Jacket and tie or a suit and the ladies in blouses, slacks, suits and dresses. We presented this project to the Board and members of the Bergenfield Museum and to the Communications director of Bergenfield, NJ, which really gave the students a stamp of approval.

Video of the Presentation:

Part One:

Part Two:

PowerPoint of the Presentation:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1VUbI7TwxcOVTjXf-Ra-7GbC7fErs0-VU2JSHVMDX9rc/edit?usp=sharing

I thought the commercials the students came up with were very clever.

The Commercials of the Bergenfield Museum:

Team One:

Team Two:

Team Three:

Team Four:

The Children’s Walking Tour of the Bergenfield Museum:

Team One:

Team Two:

Team Three:

Team Four:

The Coopers Pond Walking Tour:

Coopers Pond Park sits between the Bergenfield Museum and the South Church and is one of the most beautiful parks and underrated parks in Bergen County. The students were tasked with creating a Walking Tour of the park.

The beauty of Coopers Pond Park in Bergenfield, NJ during the Christmas Holiday season.

Team One:

Commercial One:

Commercial Two:

Team Two:

Team Three:

Team Four:

The Historic Graveyard Tour of the South Church:

The South Church Cemetery is one of the oldest and historic cemeteries in Bergen County and home to the Demarest family plot, one of the most prominent families in Bergen County. The students were tasked with creating a short Walking Tour video promotion for the project to promote the South Church for tourism.

Team One:

Commercial Two:

Team Two:

Team Three:

Team Four:

Some of the Student Consultants also for extra credit created a Halloween Walk for the Church.

The Corporate Picture at the end of the Presentation:

The Executive Team of the Bergenfield Museum project

Another excellent Project from the Student Consultants of Bergecco-Parc Consulting Inc.-Paramus Benhke/Bergenfield Team

I couldn’t have been more proud of a group of students who created an excellent project!

Day Three Hundred Twenty-Nine: Bergecco-Parc Consulting Inc. presents “Promoting Bergen County Farms: Visiting Old Schraalenburgh Farm and Farm Stand in Closter, NJ” December 12th, 2024

"A Local Journey: Exploring the outskirts of New York City, Bakeries for the budget minded, Bergecco-Parc Consulting Inc. Projects, Breakfast Restaurants for the Budget Minded in NJ, Dedication to Warren Watrel, Dining on a Shoe String Restaurants in New Jersey, Exploring Closter NJ, Exploring Farms and Farm Stands, Exploring Historic Bergen County NJ, Exploring Historic Towns in New Jersey, Exploring Manhattan Block by Block, Exploring New York City by foot, Exploring the Farms of Bergen County, NJ, Exploring the Island of Manhattan, Exploring the State of New Jersey, Food Products made in New Jersey, Historic New Jersey Towns and Neighborhoods, Historical Towns of New Jersey, Hot Dog, Hamburger & Fries for the budget minded., Interesting Bakeries, Little Shop on Main Street in New Jersey, My walk in Manhattan (MywalkinManhattan.com), MywalkinManhattan Experiences, MywalkinManhattan-Bergecco-Parc Consulting Inc., Uncategorized, Visiting Farms and Farm Stands of New Jersey, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

In my live classes, I open my consulting company, “Bergecco-Parc Consulting Inc.”, for business and the whole class bands together and we have one big project. In the era of post-COVID and online learning, I was lucky that I was able to teach one of the live classes on the Bergen Community College, Paramus Campus. It was such a pleasure welcoming students back to campus with live lectures and conversing with them.

The Bergecco-Parc Consulting Inc. corporate logo of the six trees

Contact Us

In the past, I have created these projects under the Bergecco-Parc Consulting Inc. banner, the main consulting company, the Orion Malls banner, a Mall design company and the Buscomonzefi.com banner, my Tech Division. Each business does its best to be creative, forward thinking and have a thought producing presentations. I also challenge the students to top on another in their presentations and build on what they have seen others do in the past.

Professor Justin Watrel, CEO & Co-Founder of Bergecco-Parc Consulting Inc.

I had done a blog promoting the farms (what is left of them) in Bergen County and thought this might be an interesting subject to research further. Farms are destination not just for walking around but for shopping, dining and for entertaining.

I chose Old Schraalenburgh Farm because of the beauty of the farm during the various seasons, the quality of the food and dining options and the location of the farm in comparison from the other larger farms like Alba and Demarest, who have bigger options such as apple picking and hayrides.

Old Schraalenburgh and Farm Stand at 110 Schraalenburgh Road in Closter, NJ:

https://www.abramdemareehomestead.org/the-farm

https://www.facebook.com/abramdemareehome/

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g46367-d5269898-Reviews-The_Farm_Stand-Closter_New_Jersey.html?m=69573

My review on LittleShoponMainStreet@Wordpress.com:

Old Schraalenburgh Farm and Farm Stand 177 Schraalenburgh Road Closter, NJ 07624

I talked with their manager one day after class and he seemed intrigued by the idea of new promotions for the farm stand and restaurant. So I put the proposal together, presented the project to the students and then I arranged the Team Field Trip and then we visited as a class.

The Proposal for the project “The Farms of Bergen County, NJ: Visiting Old Schraalenburgh Farm and Farm Stand”:

BCC-Bergecco-Parc Consulting Inc. 2024 Visiting the Farms of Bergen CountyDownload

On a sunny October afternoon, we spent class time touring the farm with the manager of the farm. It was the first time some of the students had had a field trip like this before for a business project.

Our Team visit to the farm in early October

Our host and partner in the project, Manager of the farm Nick Griepenburg, explaining the workings of the farm

Explaining the growing season at the farm and the honeybee business

Visiting the honeybee hives and the honey business on the farm that supplies fresh honey to baked items and for sale in jars on the farm

Visiting the chicken coops which supply eggs for baked goods and fresh eggs sold in the farm store

The Teams feeding the chickens on the farm and hearing about how they supply items sold on the farm

The Team on the Farm

The Team at the end of the tour

After the tour, we went took our Team picture for the Paramus Team working with the farm. This helps the Student Consultants create their own memories of the project and is part of their resume building.

Our group shot at the farm

After the tour, I took the Student Consultants to lunch at Pompilio’s Pizzeria at 223 Westwood Avenue in Downtown Westwood, NJ for a pizza lunch and time for them to get to know each other. These are always successful meals and gives everyone a chance to talk.

Pompilio’s Pizzeria & Restaurant at 223 Westwood Avenue in Westwood, NJ

https://www.pompiliospizzeria.com/

My review on TripAdvisor:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g46923-d4643410-Reviews-Pompilio_s_Pizzeria_Restaurant-Westwood_New_Jersey.html?m=69573

Team Two having lunch together and creating their game plan for the project

Team Three enjoying a pizza lunch together

This is how we create Team Building and getting the Student Consultants to get to know one another. It is an important part of the project. We break bread with one another and it is how we start the Team project. It was a nice afternoon over good food and conversation and how we are going to market this wonderful farm to foreign and domestic visitors.

Now four Teams will compete with one another to create a Digital Marketing Campaign, Special Events and promoting their wonderful bakery, restaurant, ice cream and flower businesses. Each Team will create a new logo, a commercial for the farm and develop three holiday events to bring families to the farm.

What was good about the project is that is that I hope it helps build their bakery, jelly and ice cream businesses as well.

Their ‘cottage’ businesses during Valentine’s Day

The homemade ice cream business

The homemade jelly business

One event is “Spring in the Air”, will promote the flower gardens and the floral business. They will create an event entitled “The Bunny Visits” with an Easter Egg Hunt on the farm with candy souvenirs. Another event is “The Spirits of Halloween”, for families looking for Fall events like Hay Rides, Corn Mazes and a Haunted Barn event. They will create a special Halloween menu from the Farm’s restaurant list for visitors. It will also promote the pumpkin and apple business.

The last event in development for the Teams is a winter event entitled “Mr. and Mrs. Snowball Arrive”, a secular event enjoyed by all families. This event will open the holiday season on the farm.

After the tour was over, the students spent the next five weeks creating their game plans and putting their creativity to good use developing commercials and shooting them on the farm, formulating logos to rebrand the farm and figuring out how to bring more traffic to the farm.

The student presented the project to myself and to Nick, the manager of the farm who helped me judge the presentations. It really was a great afternoon of new ideas and new ways of looking at the business.

The Corporate Website for the Farm Division of the Paramus Team:

https://bergeccoparcconsultingfirmcom.wordpress.com/

The Presentation of “Visiting the Farms of Bergen County”:

The presentation is done in various languages: English, Spanish, Arabic, Albanian, Korean, and Persian.

The PowerPoint Presentation for the Presentation:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1Z-dMhJpDKl8a8JUKB-jx77x7WG7MznSN9tkMUeE1m2E/edit?usp=gmail&ts=675b2e59
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1Z-dMhJpDKl8a8JUKB-jx77x7WG7MznSN9tkMUeE1m2E/edit?usp=sharing_eil_se_dm&ts=675b2e59

The Farm Commercial for Team One:

See PowerPoint Presentation

The Farm Commercial for Team Two:

https://www.youtubeeducation.com/watch?v=VKzaIIcvNWo

The Farm Commercial for Team Three:

See PowerPoint Presentation

The Farm Commercial for Team Four:

See PowerPoint Presentation

The Holiday Dinner Project (Quiz Four):

BCC Quiz Four Fall 2024 Team Bergecco Parc Holiday ProjectDownload

For Quiz Four, I developed the Holiday project to build comrade and prepare the students for their formal presentation. The students are requested by Corporate to create a Holiday menu, an invitation and a holiday greeting in English and Spanish. They have forty-five minutes to create all this and it is always fun to watch how it all comes together.

The PowerPoint presentation on the Holiday Project:

The video on the Holiday Project:

The Presentation Day December 11th, 2024:

I have to admit I was a little nervous about the Presentation to the Farm that morning. Nick , the manager of the farm showed up on time as well as several parents and friends of the students showed up to watch as well. It ended up being a very fine Presentation with not too many hiccups and I was very proud of the students for all their hard work on the project. Since much of the work was done ahead of time, there was time to fine tune the project before the Presentation and that made a difference.

What I liked about the Presentation was the at the Introduction was done in English and Arabic with my Introduction in English and Spanish. About six languages were spoken during the Presentation and I saw some students confidence rise when they spoke in their native tongue. This gave the Presentation a more International appeal and I hope for that when people watch these videos all over the world in the future.

Me with my SVP of Operations Moamen Abdallah and President Gianna Cantatore after the presentation

The Corporate shot of me with the Paramus Farm Team after the Presentation

What I liked about the projects that this Team created is that they are so workable and can be adapted quickly with not a lot of expenses. Since the farm has all the products the Teams used either to raise money or use as refreshments, its a win win for the farm.

I found Nick, the Manager of the farm, to be very open to the student’s suggestions and it gave him many new ways of looking at the farm. After the Presentation was over, there was time for a Question & Answer session where Nick made some really good points. The students did an excellent job creating menus for the restaurant, interesting ideas on promoting the ice cream, bakery and honey businesses and general merchandising and packaging ideas to promote all the wonderful merchandise sold at the farm. It really was an afternoon of creative Marketing and all of this was done in five weeks.

What was the best part of this project was that I felt we made a real contribution in promoting this wonderful farm for domestic and foreign tourism and hope it has an impact in the farm’s future.

Now you have to go and try their farm burger!

Yum!

The Farm during the Christmas holidays after the project was over December 2024:

The outside of the farm decorated for Christmas

The decorations were very festive

The outside of the farm at the holidays

The inside of the Farm Stand Restaurant during the holidays

The delicious looking holiday pies at the farm stand

The farm is a lot of fun any time of the year.