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By By Mary Ellen Landolfi

Community-mindedness, attention to customer service, and perseverance — these are among the key ingredients necessary to develop and sustain a three-generation, family-owned business for 80 years. Pine Belt Chevrolet has been a vibrant part of the Lakewood community since 1937, when founder Leon Sickel opened a modest dealership with just six employees in a one-car showroom in a garage on 4th Street. At just 33 years old, Leon opened his business while the nation was still emerging from the Great Depression and on the brink of World War II. Leon sold both new and used vehicles at his dealership.

Even in the early days of his business, Leon started what would be Pine Belt’s long standing tradition of running his business while promoting the community and civic-minded efforts. He began in 1939 by supporting the local Elks Club Coaster Derby. After World War II broke out, the Pine Belt dealership became involved in the war effort as a truck conservation center in the U.S. Conservation Corps. Then in August 1942, Leon would shutter his business for several years as he enlisted and served in the U.S. Army, announcing his decision in the local newspaper. In part, the ad read, “I wish to announce the discontinuance of the Pine Belt Chevrolet Agency for the duration, as I am entering the armed service shortly.”

Leon served in the U.S. Army for 3 years and was discharged in October 1945. Upon his return, he began work on a new, larger dealership location on Main Street in Lakewood. The 5,500 square foot building cost $40,000 and included a four-car showroom and six service bays. The 1950s and 1960s saw continued expansion of the Pine Belt dealership and more business growth, adding another car lot on the Laurelton Circle and then eventually building a larger location on Route 88. The grand opening of the 28,000 square foot location featured the 1967 new car line up and attracted more than 1000 visitors.

By 1970, Leon’s son, David Sickel had joined his father in running the Pine Belt dealership, after graduating from Franklin and Marshall College and serving in the U.S. Naval Reserves. Father and son saw the expansion of the business to a high-volume Chevrolet and Oldsmobile dealership. David took over the helm after Leon retired to Florida in 1975. During the 1980s, Pine Belt would add additional brands to its Lakewood dealership, including Plymouth, Chrysler, Jeep, and Suburu. He also partnered with Louis A. Trebino and expanded to Toms River and Keyport, adding Nissan and Cadillac to its brands.

David has credited the work and dedication of his staff as being significant in helping the business overcome obstacles over its 80-year history, including a 1985 fire that destroyed the entire Route 88 showroom and service area. Local published reports at the time noted that Pine Belt employees and their families worked together to build a makeshift service facility and that they were back in business literally in two days.

Pine Belt’s legacy of giving back to the community began with Leon in the 1930s and 1940s, with contributions to the Red Cross, war relief efforts and local organizations. David continued this community and civic-minded tradition, sponsoring many local youth organizations from Little League to the local DARE programs, and supporting local business organizations such as the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce. Throughout his 30-plus years of running the dealership, David expanded his community involvement to include serving on the boards of two area hospitals. (Continued)

While David remains president of Pine Belt Enterprises, his son Rob Sickel is now running the day-to-day operations of the business started by his grandfather. Pine Belt remains involved in many community and charity organizations in not only Lakewood but in neighboring communities including Brick, Toms River, Jackson and Point Pleasant.

Rob acknowledges the significance of having the kind of business that attracts lifelong and even multi-generational customers. “Customer satisfaction is paramount in our business, and when we see a family that has done business with my father or even my grandfather, we know we are doing our job.”

With summer on the way, what better way to enjoy your yard with a relaxing bubbling brook stocked with gold fish? That’s the mindset of Jackson resident and pond builder Chris Tallarico whose company NJ Pond Guys builds and installs water features and ponds all over the northeast.

“Over the 17 years in the pond business I’ve been asked many times why folks would want a pond and what the benefits would be. There are various answers and each persons reasons are different,” Tallarico said. “Personally having a pond brings back memories of my childhood hiking in the woods, fishing and exploring for and frogs and turtles. It seems as though the more people I talk to who own ponds I find that they also have very similar stories growing up. There’s nothing quite like sitting by the pond seeing a dragonfly zip by and stop to rest on a blade of grass to rest–Or watching a frog sitting on a lily pad waiting for him to answer another frogs call.”

Tallarico said sometimes, ponds are the next step people advance to after wanting more out of their small indoor aquarium project.
They have a pond because it’s a hobby.

“They may have started with an aquarium in their home but they wanted to try something on a larger scale. Once they own a pond it opens a whole new door to learning. If you think you know everything about your pond just go buy a microscope and you’ll find there are endless things to learn,” he said.

Having a pond is a perfect place for kids as a pond can make a huge impact on how they care for our planet as adults.

We all have areas of our yard that are empty and could use a little “something”. This is usually the perfect place for a pond. The sound of water flowing down a waterfall into a pond is the most relaxing sound in the world. Not only does it fill a void in a yard but it also gives us a place that we can find serenity from our often stressful lives.

“I was told by one client that his pond has saved him thousands of dollars in co-payments for counseling,” he joked.

“I don’t think too many people know this but having a pond actually adds value to your home. I use to think having a swimming pool would add value to my home if I was to sell it,” he added. “But I’ve been told by realtors that this is not true that it can actually lessen the value and make it less desirable to a buyer. But having a water feature or a pond makes a home much more desirable. Just the sound of moving water draws you in.”

Let’s talk about how the pond build process begins

Tallarico said nothing can happen without an open, honest conversation between the homeowner and myself. It’s important that he knows and understand what his clients envision for their future backyard oasis.

“We talk openly about budget and what is most important for them,” he said.

He likes to set expectations so the homeowner understands the steps so they’re not surprised as things occur.

A good example of this would be a client coming home and seeing a huge hole in their yard and pallets or rocks in the street.

“I have to admit it looks scary but it’s actually organized chaos. It’s so very important that folks know what it’s going to look like during the stages so when they do see things like this they’ll say to themselves” Oh ya…Chris did say it would look like a bomb went off and not to worry,” he said.

Some ponds can be built in a day and there are some ponds could take a week, a month, or even longer. It all depends upon the size and the scale of the project. The average pond NJ Pond Guys install would be completed within a weeks time.

They also do all the maintenance for many of their clients. Ponds that are not natural, meaning man made, need to have some maintenance. In nature a pond would have the rain water and melting snow wash them out. But in an enclosed system, like the ponds that are constructed, they do need periodic care.

Tallarico said he receives 3-4 calls each week from do-it-yourself pond builders who are in a situation they can’t figure out, usually with leaks or green water.

Firstly these problems aren’t because the homeowners didn’t do their due diligence. It’s because there is so much material on the internet that’s just not correct. If the information on the internet was 100% true pond owners would not be having negative experiences building or caring for their pond.

Homeowners invest quite a bit of money into purchasing the materials to build a pond on their own. They spend endless nights and weekends digging and moving rocks and stones only to have a leak or green water that they can’t get to go away.

“Hiring a guy like myself that has designed and built hundreds of ponds means that I’ve made the mistakes and know how to get it done so these problems won’t happen,” he said. “There’s always more to learn and I’d be the first to tell you I don’t know everything. But I do attend most, if not all available training so I keep up with all things ponds. I have a sincere compassion for fish and have educated myself so I can help care and educate folks on the care of fish. This is more than a hobby for me…it’s a way of life.”

Want your business featured on Shore News Network or in JTOWN Magazine? Give us a call, 732-575-4890 or email news@shorenewsnetwork.com.

BRICK-After the a possible deal with a surgery center at the former Work Out World location on Brick Boulevard, Mayor John Ducey announced that the site might find new life as an office complex.

Ducey said an deal with the owner of the building and a developer is on the table to convert the former gym into offices.