Marlboro and Colts Neck Businesses in the News in 2012

In 2012, we have met with some unbelievable small business owners in the area. Small business is the backbone of any small community, especially Marlboro and Colts Neck, and it is growing every year.

For a full list of business profiles, check here.

Dance Impressions

Janice Howard-Battaglia has been dancing since she was 3-years-old, and teaching since she was 16. But since taking over her own studio in 2005, Howard-Battaglia has not only been proud of her students' dancing skills, but also their ability to give back to the community.

"It's a family oriented place. Once you are with us, you are family," Howard-Battaglia said.

Dance Impressions opened in 2005 in Lincroft, after Howard-Battaglia took over the Lincroft Dance Center. She had been teaching for years, but at age 25 Howard-Battaglia couldn't turn down a chance to open her own company.

Read more about Dance Impressions on Patch.

Marlboro Montessori

The halls of Marlboro Montessori are quiet, but a feeling of something new and different strikes most who walk through the door.

It began 36 years ago in Marlboro, but more accurately, Montessori began over 100 years ago.

In 1907, Dr. Maria Montessori opened the first Montessori school with the vision of offering quality, concrete education to children while fostering a sense of creativity and outside-the-box thinking.

Read more about the Montessori School in the Patch profile.

VoiceWorks

Ryan Guth has been teaching music at Marlboro Memorial Middle School for seven years. By 2009, Guth noticed that his students were leaving middle school to enter a regional public school district that didn't offer competitive musical programs, despite the high demand.

"Music is definitely a priority at Marlboro Memorial," Guth said. "But my students were getting split up in high school."

Read more about the talent at VoiceWorks in their Patch profile.

Peppadew Fresh Farms

Peppadew, a sweet and tangy pepper with a bit of a kick, was discovered 16 years ago in South Africa. Now, the product is one of the most popular ingredients and toppings, featured on shows such as Rachael Ray and Martha Stewart Living. The Peppadew Goldew, an orange and sweeter version, will now be grown in Morganville.

Crawley said many are using the peppers to make mustards, horseradish, seasonings, salsa, and even as a pizza topping. The farm was also recently approved as a winery, and continues to sell cut flowers locally, which is how the 15-acre farm began many years ago.

Read more about Peppadew Fresh Farms in the Patch profile.

Soul Power Yoga

Yoga used to be a complicated notion. Unattainable to the masses, it was seen as reserved for the flexible, free-spirited, toe-touching and already quite skinny population.

But Soul Power Yoga of Marlboro has a different idea, and they have seen their clients and the country change the image of yoga.

"Yoga is not such a scary topic anymore," said Cristal Sharma, co-owner of Soul Power Yoga. "We try to do things that get people to think of yoga in in different ways."

Read more about Soul Power Yoga in the Patch profile.