May 2009 - poconobusinessjournal.com

Transcription

Pocono Business Journal
Seven Bridge Road, RR# 5 Box 5198
East Stroudsburg, PA 18301
www.pbjonline.com
POCONO
Regional Business News & Resources
THIS MONTH
• Is Employee Free Choice Act
Losing Steam?.........................................p. 1
• Managing Your RIFs..................................p. 3
• Monadnock Vies For Safety Accolade.......p. 6
• Just Saying YES.........................................p. 3
• Rightful Terminations..............................p. 12
• “Making Work Pay” Tax Credit Has
Employers Using New Rates..................p. 15
• Professional Profile: Collecting,
The Pocono Auction Way.......................p. 16
• Rx: Healthy Work Environment...............p. 21
• PBJ Columnists
Business Coach...................................... p.15
Leadership Wayne.................................. p.14
Pursuit Of Excellence...............................p. 7
Regional Healthcare Report.................. p.10
Residential Real Estate..........................p. 10
Sustainable Is Attainable....................... p.11
United Way............................................ p.19
Your Financial Picture............................p. 12
QUOTE
“If we weren’t compassionate people,
we wouldn’t be in this business.”
Vivian Vance, Griswold Special Care
Full story on Page 21
OBSERVE
National Physical Fitness Month
Transportation Month
8
10 12
14
25
Child Care Provider’s Day
Mother’s Day
International Nurse’s Day
National Receptionist Day
Memorial Day
QUESTION
What is the fair market rent
for a 2-bedroom apartment in
Monroe County?
See GPCC Business Magazine ad
for the answer on page 12.
www.pbjonline.com
May 2009, Vol. 5, Issue 5
HR Management, Workplace Wellness, Healthcare
Is The Employee Free Choice
Act Losing Steam?
By John Shortino
The Employee Free Choice Act, the latest version of
which was introduced to Congress on March 10, is one of the
most debated pieces of legislation being worked on by the
Federal government. Introduced by Senator Ted Kennedy
and Representative George Miller, the act would amend the
National Labor Relations Act to eliminate the need for a secret
ballot vote for employees to unionize. While its detractors
argue that the bill would take away the fundamental right of
American workers to keep their decisions private, the bill’s
supporters argue that under the current system, the secret ballot process is too heavily infiltrated by the employer, often preventing unionization. Here in Pennsylvania, each side of the
debate has increased its advertising presence in recent weeks.
With the reintroduction of the act to Congress, this issue will
surely be a hot topic leading up to the vote.
For Pennsylvania businesses, the Employee Free Choice
Act would mean an increase in the power of labor unions.
Under the current structure, the employer dictates whether
a secret ballot election will be held to decide if a group of
employees will unionize. Under the Free Choice Act, that
decision would instead rest with the employees, who could
unionize after a simple “card check” that results in a majority
vote. The Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry
strongly opposes the measure, believing that it will further the
economic downturn, strain employer-employee relations, and
open the doors to union intimidation of workers. The NFIB
(National Federation of Independent Business), a leading advocacy group for small businesses, also encourages its members
to oppose the EFCA, stating on its Web site that it will lead to
misinformation and intimidation. A major source of concern is
the reliability of a card-check alone, as many employers believe
the elimination of a secret ballot will make employees susceptible to the influence of the majority.
Supporters believe the current system lets in the threat of
layoff from the employer; and that under the existing laws,
employers have too much opportunity to let go of employees
who are considering voting for unions. The consequences of
these actions are, say proponents, too insignificant to deter most
employers. According to a study of union-organizing drives
between 1995 and 2005 conducted by MIT’s Sloan School
of Management, only 20 percent ultimately reached a first
contract, in part due to meager fines and court protection of
management against unions (visit
see UNIONS page 8
What To Do When An Employee Has Cancer
By Andrea B. Reiter
One of the most devastating diagnoses that an employee
can have is cancer. When an employer learns that someone
at the workplace has received such a diagnosis, there are
probably many questions that come to mind about how to
deal with it.
Edward Gorak, D.O., a physician in Geisinger Health
System who specializes in hematology, oncology, and bone
marrow transplants said that many patients prefer to continue
working during treatments. The choice is very much individual, though. “It depends on the type of cancer, the type of
chemo, and how the body reacts to it,” he says. However, he
adds, “Some jobs might not be appropriate. If a person has a
job which exposes him to chemicals or dust, he risks getting
an infection since immunity would be lowered during chemo
treatments.”
What else might an employer expect? Gorak says the
employee might become disabled because of the illness or
treatment. “A bone sarcoma could cause a disability, and
some of the effects of the chemotherapy could cause neuropathy and fatigue.” The staffer might need some job retraining
Dr. Ed Gorak
should that occur.
As for the brain function effects of dealing with such an
illness, Gorak said that the patient might have what is commonly called “chemo brain,” or some degree of cognitive loss
see CANCER page 21
Professional Profile - Collecting, The Pocono Auction Way page 16
2
Pocono Business Journal | May 2009
www.pbjonline.com
POCONO
Twin Willow Publishing Company
Seven Bridge Road
RR#5 Box 5198
East Stroudsburg, PA 18301-9209
570.421.0100 | fax 570.421.0404
www.pbjonline.com
PUBLISHER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Marynell Strunk
EDITOR
Debbie Burke
REPORTERS
Susan Jorstad
Andrea Reiter
Sharon Rothman
Nicholas Sergi
John Shortino
Tim Sohn
CONTRIBUTORS
Erin Baehr
Susan Beecher
Tina Dennis
Chris Grape-Garvey
Donna Hamilton
Joe Harcum
Kathy Kuck
Tom Loughery
Daequanna Mathis
Victoria Mavis
Debbie McConeghy-Gillette
Richard Munson
Dominick J. Sacci
Carolyn F. Scanlan
Lesley Smith
Carl Wilgus
Robert Yoka
EDITORIAL ASSISTANTS
Danielle Eberhardt
Chelsea McMahon
CARTOONIST
Tanya Kerkslag
CIRCULATION
[email protected]
PRODUCTION/DESIGN
Jason Trump
SALES
[email protected]
COPYRIGHT: PBJ is protected under the federal Copyright Act. Reproductions of any part by any
means or facsimiles without the express written permission of the publisher are not permitted. Reprints
of PBJ articles are available. For rates and information visit http://www.pbjonline.com/reprints.html. PBJ
cannot be responsible for the return of unsolicited material, manuscripts and photographs without the
inclusion of a self-addressed stamped envelope. Information in this publication is gathered from sources
considered to be reliable, but the accuracy and completeness of the information cannot be guaranteed.
Submission of information does not guarantee inclusion. PBJ is published monthly from offices located
at Seven Bridge Road, East Stroudsburg, PA 18301. PBJ serves business owners, managers and professionals in the four county Pocono region: Carbon, Monroe, Pike and Wayne. Subscriptions are available
for $30 per year or $60 for two years. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Pocono Business
Journal, RR#5 Box 5198, East Stroudsburg, PA 18301
Monthly Missive
Educate Yourself on the
Employee Free Choice
Act. It Could Cost You
Your Business.
If you read nothing else in
this paper, please take the time
to read the feature on the Employee Free Choice Act.
In an attempt to modify the National Labor Relations Act, the current legislation in Congress would
eliminate the need for a secret ballot vote and replace
it with a “card check” managed solely by employees.
A cursory view of this labor issue would tend give
the impression that the big, bad employer is controlling and influencing the vote of worker, while the
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLES
Carbon Student Gets First Official Byline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 24
DCED Announces Funds For Land Use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 8
Flat Tax Proposed By Sen. Specter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 13
How Young Adults See Retail. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 24
Is The Employee Free Choice Act Losing Steam?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 1
Just Saying YES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 3
“Making Work Pay” Tax Credit Has Employers Using New Rates. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 15
Managing Your RIFs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 3
Monadnock Vies For Safety Accolade. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 6
Professional Profile: Collecting, the Pocono Auction Way. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 16
Rightful Terminations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 12
Rx: Healthy Work Environment. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 21
Tax Credits Still Available Through EITC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 4
Toll Bridge Commission Approves Capital Budget. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 18
What To Do When An Employee Has Cancer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 1
DEPARTMENTS
Book Review: “The Ten Commandments For Business Failure”. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 13
Business Briefs – Who’s Who/What’s What. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 22
Business Cartoon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 4
Calendar of Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 26
HR Tidbit. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 11
Legislative Roundup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 20
Letter to the Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 4
Reader’s Resource. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 4
Workplace Wellness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 10
Columnists
Business Coach. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p.15
Guest Columnist: If You Employ Drivers/Cell Phones. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 12
Guest Columnist: Culture And Community . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p.3
Guest Columnist: Hospital & Healthsystem of PA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p.18
Guest Columnist: Payment Card Compliance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p.9
Guest Columnist: Pocono Mts. Visitors Bureau. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 13
Leadership Wayne . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p.14
Pursuit of Excellence. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 7
Regional Healthcare Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p.10
Residential Real Estate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 10
Sustainable Is Attainable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p.11
United Way . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p.19
Your Financial Picture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 12
Focus List – Alternative Medicine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 25
Op Ed – PA Builders Assn.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 5
PA Chamber of Business and Industry. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 4
Register – Bankruptcies, Deeds, Mortgage Transactions and New Corporations/Fictitious Names. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 28
Advertisers Index
Associated Libraries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Astraia Security Alliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Better Homes & Gardens/Wilkins Real Estate, Inc.. . 9
BC/BS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
East Stroudsburg University of PA. . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Express Employment Professionals. . . . . . . . . . . 26
First National Bank of Palmerton. . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Greater Pocono Chamber of
Commerce Business Expo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Greater Pocono Chamber of Commerce
Business Magazine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Holly Corcoran, CPA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Keegan Tees, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Liberty Homes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Maid to Order. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Mount Airy Resort & Casino . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Penn’s Peak Radio. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Penn Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Pennstar Bank. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
PenTeleData . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Pinnacle Financial & Mortgage Solutions . . . . . . 14
Pocono Arts Council. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Pocono Lutheran Village. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Pocono Medical Center. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Sherman Theater. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Strunk-Albert Engineering. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
TN Printing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
University of Scranton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Wayne Memorial Health System . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
“card-check” process claims to enable the employee
with free choice without ramifications from the employer.
That is the surface. Dig a bit deeper and the truth
is that unions are losing ground in the workforce. Yes,
there was a time when unions were necessary, but most
will agree that employees are well protected against
abuse and exploitation with layers of policies and procedures that employers are mandated to follow.
Any uptick of unions could be devastating to businesses and the economy as a whole. Cost to employers
will rise. Productivity and competitive edge will go
down. Increased costs will be passed onto customers.
And often, employees who opt into a union will remain
dissatisfied while their membership dues escalate and
benefits are increasingly diluted.
This is not a good scenario, but it is realistic and
could cripple small business. Considering the current
economic climate and the myriad of protective policies
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in place for employees this is no time to blow wind
into the sails of unions.
I urge all business owners and employees to
keep a close watch on this bill and support what will
ultimately line the pockets of the employees and
business owners, not union organizers.
Marynell K. Strunk
Publisher/Editor
Contact me at [email protected]
3
COLUMNS
The Economics Of Culture And Community
Guest Columnist
Tina Dennis
The strength and viability of a region is, most often
in these times, looked at in terms of its economics. Yet, the
very foundation of greatness, which communities such as
ours have been built upon, centers on creativity, character
of individuals, and sense of camaraderie among all stakeholders.
The Pocono Arts Council, a non-profit advocate for
the arts and culture in our region since 1975, focuses on
cultural development within the community by supporting our region’s artistic talent and also working to inspire
leadership and service within the private sector. As with
other area non-profit organizations, much of the Pocono
Arts Council’s work is funded by corporate and private donation. However, the current economic climate has caused
many groups or private individuals to cut back or eliminate
these types of donations from their budgets. It is important
to note how much a strong arts culture contributes in both
direct and indirect ways to success of the business community.
“The arts affect all our lives in major areas,” explains Laura Goss, Executive Director of the Pocono Arts
Council. “First, from the clothes we wear and the cars we
drive to the movies we watch and the music we listen to.
The hand of an artist is involved as designer, creator and
performer. Secondly, it is important for educators and
businesses to recognize that arts education teaches skills
such as discipline, responsibility and teamwork, which are
vital for a strong workplace.”
Specific programs of the Pocono Arts Council which
are supported by local businesses include the Youth in Music Excellence Awards, ARTSPACE Gallery, Pocono State
Craft Festival, High School Juried Exhibition, Pocono
Arts Members’ Exhibition, and the Pocono Arts monthly
newsletter.
Goss continues: “The arts are what define us as a society through good times and bad. We will all survive this
turbulent economy and, with the support of the business
community, our local arts community will emerge stronger
than before.”
As a business leader in a community-driven region, there are important ways to continue support of
regional non-profit efforts. This starts by evaluating how to
reasonably contribute during a time of fluctuating economies. While financial contribution is sorely needed at all
non-profits, other means of support by corporations do
exist. Donations of products and services to non-profits
are always in demand. Advertising can be purchased in
organization newsletters and sponsorships can be made for
specific events, all at a minimal cost. Additionally, volunteering personal time and energy by assisting in events or
serving on an organization’s committees or board of directors serves as a valuable contribution.
By re-evaluating our perceptions on contribution
to non-profits and the importance of those efforts, new
inspiration can be brought to business models and ensure
that our surrounding community’s cultural vitality remains
a key contributor to regional success now and in years to
come.
Just Saying YES
By Debbie Burke
The newly-invigorated Youth Employment Service
(Tannersville) held a “Business/Education Partnership”
breakfast in March at NCC’s Tannersville campus, where
a roomful of business leaders, county and other elected
officials, and workforce development professionals learned
about YES’s new community outreach. The YES re-organization, led by Peter Alasty (director), is planning a 6-week
summer program for 14 and 15-year olds from Monroe
County who will get an inside view of careers in criminal
justice, the environment, and others. The cost for each
participating student is $750 which can be underwritten by
business in any increment, notes Alasty.
The program, which is a part of PA CareerLink Monroe
County, has many other components such as ongoing mentorship and internship and seeks participation from business
leaders, educators, parents and their high school-age teens.
The total number of students served will be 225.
Joe Sebelin, executive director of Pocono Counties
Workforce Investment Area (of Jim Thorpe, covering
Carbon, Monroe, Pike and Wayne Counties) indicated that
YES sought input from a veteran of the business/education
realm. Dr. Edward Lyba, executive director of Partners in
Education, in Hazleton, has lent his expertise to help YES
replicate some of the success enjoyed through the years by
PIE.
Not only does YES look to help high school students
prepare for the workforce, but even when they do have
jobs, Sebelin said they still need to be taught the importance of finishing school. This was a concern that arose
from a conversation he had with the owner of a local
Wendy’s restaurant who was interested in incentivizing
its high school-age employees to not skip school and keep
going through graduation, because some of them had attendance problems. Focusing on these issues will aid the
students in building a work ethic that will be valuable when
they become full time employees in the future.
These are the first baby steps, says John Casella of PA
CareerLink: getting stakeholders together to talk about this.
“In this economic downturn, it’s a great time to re-organize.”
Shown at left is Stroudsburg-based Poconos Internet Broadcasting Company owner Rob Miller, a YES program partner,
discussing the educational tie-in with East Stroudsburg University’s Alla Wilson, dean of the College of Business, Management and Economics. Pocono Business Journal is also involved
as a YES program partner and mentor. Photo credit: PBJ.
Says Alasty, “What happens to 14 and 15 year olds
who nave working papers and no job? I smell trouble.
We need to bring these kids back to the community.”
For more information contact Peter Alasty at (570)
620-2410.
Tina Dennis is a Pocono Arts Council Board Member. For
more information on the Pocono Arts Council and its corporate sponsorship programs, visit www.poconoarts.org.
The Pocono Arts Council
Seeks Board Members
The Pocono Arts Council has openings on its
board of directors. In addition to an interest in the
arts and the work of the council, prospects should
live outside the Stroudsburg/East Stroudsburg area
and have experience or an interest in fundraising
and/or development. The board meets six times per
year. For more information, contact Laura Goss, executive director, at (570) 476-4460 or email mcac@
epix.net.
Managing Your RIFs
By Nicholas Sergi
Perhaps the most unsettling aspect for business
owners in the midst of a recession is that companies often
have to resort to cutting to jobs in order to remain solvent
and weather the storm. When the steel industry saw a
50% drop in capacity, Horsehead Corporation (Palmerton) shrank its workforce significantly. According to Ali
Alavi, vice president of Corporate Administration, these
reductions in force (or as the government terms them,
RIFs), which took place over the 2008 holiday season,
were the result “difficult decisions that had to be made.”
The company’s sole function is to recycle electrical arc furnace dust produced by steel mills to create a
zinc-based product that can then be used by Horsehead’s
clients to galvanize steel items, making them rust-proof.
Although Alavi said that the facility continues to operate
much as it had prior to the RIFs, the company hasn’t
been taking in the quantities of the electrical arc furnace
dust that it used to. The layoffs were a natural response
to a dive in the industry. But Alavi said once the industry
recovers, “There is still a skilled workforce out there that
we’d like get back.”
Particularly for smaller companies, the prospect of
workforce reductions can prove to be even more daunting: how can they stop before they’ve reduced their
workforce by too much?
There are ways that business owners can tell when
they’ve inadvertently sacrificed quality and service in
the process of downsizing, according to Vicki Feller,
HR administrator at ASI Employer Solutions, located in
Lansford.
“There are warning signs that you can look out for,”
she said. “When customers and clients start to leave
unsolicited feedback, that’s a warning sign. If you start
to receive complaints like ‘you used to get back to me
sooner,’ then that’s a sign that you’ve reduced (your
workforce by) too much.” Yet it’s a delicate process.
“From a business perspective, it’s about balancing the
immediate financial needs of the company with the need
to fulfill the demand of the clients.”
Unfortunately, there’s no tried-and-true way to know
right before you reach that point of critical mass, and
no practical way to measure the effect of your RIFs until
after such cuts have already been made. But maintaining
your client base through the layoffs is one indicator that
shows you haven’t gone too far.
Don’t Be Without Your “Taste”
Now As Business News Happens!
In order to bring you even more business news, the staff at Pocono Business Journal has
increased the frequency of “Taste of PBJ: Business News Update.” This e-newsletter is now
available as business news occurs each month. If you don’t already receive your “Taste” of
more business news, please send your email address to [email protected].
4
OP ED
Healthcare Bills On The
Move In General Assembly
PA Chamber of
Business and Industry
Lesley Smith
Various healthcare reform proposals have been
reintroduced in the state General Assembly. A number
of these bills have been moving through the legislature
in recent weeks as the debate over how best to ensure
adequate, accessible and affordable healthcare continues.
One area of consensus seems to be reauthorization of the Pennsylvania Healthcare Cost Containment Council, with both the House and Senate having
advanced separate bills to do just that.
The business and labor communities helped create
the independent agency in 1986, and have relied on
the data and analysis provided by the council to make
informed healthcare decisions. Providers also use PHC4
data to improve healthcare services to Pennsylvanians.
The agency has proven to be a valuable tool in
bringing a level of transparency to Pennsylvania’s
healthcare system, serving the public’s interests by helping to ensure quality, cost-effective healthcare services.
PHC4 has been operating under executive order
from Gov. Ed Rendell since its charter expired in June
2008. Reauthorization is something that hopefully can
be realized soon so that the agency can concentrate fully
on its vital mission without the distraction of an uncer-
tain existence.
A number of other proposals that have at the very
least received committee approval, include legislation that would allow insurers to withhold payments to
healthcare providers for treatments made in error and
provide healthcare coverage to dependent children up
to age 30 meeting certain eligibility requirements and at
the expense of the employee.
Another bill would create a mini-COBRA program
for employers with between 2 and 19 employees. Small
businesses included in the legislation are currently
excluded from the federal program that offers healthcare
coverage benefits to people who have separated from
employment and have no access to group-rated health
insurance. With layoffs an unfortunate reality in today’s
difficult economic times, the bill would help continue
affordable care to many who have been impacted by the
recession.
Despite these positive developments, the House
missed an additional opportunity to address access to affordable healthcare when it rejected an amendment that
would have allowed employers to offer basic benefits
plans to employees.
Basic benefits plans are mostly free of costly
government mandates, which drive the cost of insurance premiums (Pennsylvania has 40 health insurance
coverage mandates). Combined with the use of Health
Savings Accounts, basic benefits plans would enable
more employers – small businesses in particular – to
afford healthcare coverage for employees. In turn, this
option would result in individuals being more involved
in their own healthcare.
When the state of Florida enacted similar legislation last year, the Wall Street Journal observed, “When
prices rise because of mandates, the less affluent are
often forced to make an all-or-nothing choice between
‘Cadillac coverage,’ which involves just about everything, or going uninsured. In other words, they’re
Business Humor by Stoosh
prohibited from buying the low-cost options that might
be better suited to their needs.”
Cost-reducing options must be part of the healthcare
reform discussion. While the legislature is making some
strides, basic benefits plans belong in the mix and warrant consideration.
Lesley Smith is the director of communications for the
Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, the
state’s largest broad-based business association, with
a membership representing more than 50 percent of the
private workforce. More information is available on the
Chamber’s Web site at www.pachamber.org.
Tax Credits Still Available Through EITC
By Debbie Burke
The tax benefit continues, for businesses which support preschool and Pre-K programs under the Educational
Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program, launched in
2001.
Under the program, businesses get back, in tax
credits, 90% or more of the amount of their donation to
preschool and Pre-K programs throughout the commonwealth. The cap for the program for 2008/2009 program
year is $75M in tax credits; it is proposed to stay at that
amount for 2009/10. A one-year pledge earns the business
75%, and two-year pledges, 90%. Ted Knorr, the director
of the Tax Credit Union at the PA Dept. of Community
and Economic Development, said this allows businesses
to channel contributions (in lieu of taxes) to help create
a better educated workforce. He adds, “We hope that the
current economic climate will have no impact on this
program.”
At the Pocono Family YMCA (Stroudsburg), CEO
Matt Rumph echoes this overall benefit to the community. Businesses that participate help to support a growing
need in Monroe County, he says. “Knowing where their
dollars go, to assistance for families in need rather than
the big bucket of funds at the state, allows them to keep
the money in the county and to see the results from their
efforts.”
NOTE TO READERS: Opinions expressed in any
commentary published in PBJ are not necessarily a
reflection of the opinions of PBJ. Likewise, PBJ will
not be held responsible for any suggestion or advice
published by PBJ and PBJ assumes no liability
for actions that result based on such material. The
publisher and staff welcome your opinions on issues.
Write to PBJ at the address listed on the inside front
cover or e-mail [email protected].
|
PBJ READER’S RESOURCE
Clarifications and Corrections
Under “Observe” in our April issue, the date of Passover was wrong. It should have read April 8 (sundown).
We regret the error.
Letter To The Editor
Opponents of the proposed federal budget have been
screaming that it includes an expensive “carbon tax” that
will hurt Pennsylvania. That’s not true.
Congress may consider a bill to limit, or cap, carbon
pollution – although that’s not actually part of the budget. More important, capping carbon is affordable and
will help Pennsylvania.
A carbon cap will boost the economy, create new
jobs in green energy industries and the manufacturing
companies that support them, and reduce our dependence on imported oil. And data from the Department of
Energy shows the average American household will pay
only a dime a day more on utilities under a cap.
Our new Web site, LessCarbonMoreJobs.org, shows
dozens of companies across Pennsylvania that are poised
to grow under a cap. Across America, we’ll see billions
of dollars invested – if we beat other countries out of the
starting gate.
A carbon cap puts us on the path to a green energy
future. Don’t be fooled by the scare tactics of those who
got us into this economic mess in the first place. Call
Rep. Chris Carney and tell him we need to pass a carbon
cap.
Tony Kreindler
National Media Director for Climate
Environmental Defense Action Fund
www.welcoa.org
Did you know that there are Well Workplace
Awards to honor small businesses for best
practices based on benchmarks including strong
senior leadership, tobacco use, weight, and effective in-house wellness teams? The Wellness
Council of America also provides a four-part Webinar on workplace wellness (“Well Workplace
University”) and illustrates its programs with case
studies from throughout the country. WELCOA
is a dues-driven organization, but non-members
navigating the site can get practical ideas to
create a healthier
workplace.
Debbie Burke
5
OP ED
State Help Needed For Economic Recovery
Joe Harcum
Any way you slice it, the American economy is down
this year, continuing the doldrums of last year.
In the homebuilding industry, we have seen builders,
developers and home improvement contractors consolidate, reduce staffs and, for some unfortunately, go out of
business. The Census Bureau reported Pennsylvania permits for new single-family homes and townhouses dropped
from approximately 40,000 in 2002-05 to about 14,000 last
year.
The state’s economy cannot improve unless homebuilders and their subcontractors get back to work. To
solidify the economy and the future of our state, Pennsylvania must encourage homeownership and remove barriers
to the housing industry’s recovery.
The federal government supports homeownership,
although not to the level it should, through income tax
incentives and stimulus laws that address troubled mortgage markets. Unfortunately, Pennsylvania seems to do the
opposite.
State legislators push initiatives that slap builders
with excessive regulation and entangle them with red tape.
The regulatory and land-development approval process
moves glacially, adding thousands of dollars to the cost of
new homes. This is no way to invigorate the economy.
To boost the housing industry rather than stymie it,
state government should remove regulatory burdens. One
way is to begin an efficient online permitting process for
meeting environmental requirements. The Department of
Environmental Protection could subcontract the permit
application process to a department-approved engineering firm to improve efficiency. This will also help
control government costs.
The building industry faces more obstacles
with the state Department of Transportation. To help
businesses in many industries, PennDOT needs to
immediately reform its process for highway occupancy
permits, which are needed for construction projects
connecting to state roadways before construction may
begin.
The current system is so drawn out and burdensome that it inflicts economic damage on businesses.
The traffic improvement requirements are often excessive as well because PennDOT frequently uses the
process to make developers pay for upgrades that were
needed years earlier. PennDOT has greatly improved
its processes for driver licensing and vehicle registration, and now it’s time to make improvements for
highway occupancy permits.
Finally, state government needs to provide the
flexibility of extended permit approvals. Many current
construction projects have been sidelined by the credit
market and other concerns. These unfinished projects
often have approved permits that are expiring. Forcing
businesses to go through the approval process again
will not put people back to work quickly. Instead,
it wastes the applicants’ time and money, prevents
people from working and uselessly wastes government
personnel’s time re-reviewing applications.
Pennsylvania needs to remove bureaucratic
impediments to business in order to improve its economic situation. The current economic slowdown represents an opportunity for government to identify and
eliminate those needless business barriers. Reasonable
solutions for helping businesses cut costs through efficient government are within reach.
Joe Harcum is the president of the Duck Harbor Company in Equinunk and the treasurer of the Pennsylvania Builders Association. Visit www.pabuilders.org for
more information.
Photo courtesy of the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce.
PA Builders
Wayne Chamber
Promotes Literacy
Debbie Gillette, Wayne County Chamber of Commerce, reads to Mrs. Haber’s second grade class at
the Robert D. Wilson Elementary School in Waymart
during the 2008 Community Reading Day. This year’s
Community Reading Day was held on April 30,
bringing more than 600 volunteers to second-grade
classrooms in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wayne, and
Wyoming Counties. This event is the largest one-day
literacy program in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Community Reading Day will open the doors of possibility and imagination to area youth through reading.
please recycle this paper
6
NEWS
Monadnock Vies For Safety Accolade
By John Shortino
Monadnock Non-Woven Media in Mount Pocono, which manufactures polypropylene non-woven
materials by extruding resin delivered in rail cars into
long rolls, is taking action to improve its safety rating
with the state of Pennsylvania in the hopes of one day
winning the Governor’s Award for Safety Excellence
(GASE), an annual tribute to businesses in the state
that demonstrate excellent workplace safety.
“Safety awareness and goals are built into our
quality program and measured by our ISO 9001
[quality] program. We view it being very
important, as fundamentally it costs the
company money if we have an unsafe
workplace. Apart from the potential pain
and suffering of our employees, we lose
time in any disruption that is caused. We
could lose trained and valuable employees,
and in a competitive environment good
people will leave for other employers if
conditions are not safe,” said Keith Hayward, managing director. The company
created its internal Pennsylvania Workplace
Safety Committee in 2007. It is made up
of management and production staff who
identify hazards, investigate accidents and
issue safety bulletins. The program also
helps to keep any Workers’ Compensation
(WC) claims to a minimum and presents a cost saving
on insurance premiums. Monadnock’s WC insurance
has actually been reduced as of April “…as a result
of improvements and changes that we have made,”
Hayward adds.
The rating for Monadnock, which employs 33
full-time and 12 part-time employees, improved
slightly, from 1.85 in 2007 to 1.41 in 2008 (the lower
the score, the better “The industry as a whole is getting better, and we are also improving,” adds Hayward.
The top hazard at the facility is hot polymer,
Why
June 1 Deadline: Governor’s
Award for Safety Excellence
The benefits of winning a Governor’s
Award for Safety Excellence include
recognition for superior safety efforts for
the employer; the prestige of joining an
elite group (only about six are chosen
each year); an award can show current and
potential customers that they are/would be
dealing with a company that can probably
meet their [the customer’s] safety standards; the Department of Labor & Industry recognizes award-winning companies
as models to other Pennsylvania employers; and there is some publicity involved
as the Department of Labor & Industry
informs the media about the awards
ceremony and award recipients. Winners
are also highlighted on the department’s
Web site and in print publications from the
department.
The requirements to be selected for
the award are: a comprehensive safety
program in place with plans for continued
improvement; a cooperative labor/management effort; an implemented safety
program; a documented reduction in
workplace injuries; a corresponding reduction in worker’s compensation costs; and
demonstrated plant improvements.
Based upon the merits of each application that the GASE review committee
receives, semi-finalists are given an onsite visit by a member from the Department of Labor & Industry’s safety team
for a site tour and review of the applicant’s
comprehensive safety program. The semifinalists judged to have the best safety
programs are recommended to the secretary of Labor & Industry and, if approved,
chosen as Governor’s Award for Safety
Excellence winners. Nominations for this
year must be submitted by June 1, and the
nomination form can be downloaded at
http://www.dli.state.pa.us/landi/cwp/view.
asp?a=301&Q=245101.
kept at 500 degrees Fahrenheit with pressures of up
to 250 pounds per square inch. Among the precautions the company takes to ensure workplace safety
are: machines are made as safe as possible with a
restricted area for trained personnel; safety clothing
and eye coverings are available in hazardous areas;
training is provided on emergency treatment and how
to shut down devices in case of an emergency; all
rollers have guards and safety signs; training is given
in advance of first working on the machines; and no
loose or ragged clothing is allowed.
Blue?
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one. At Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania, we care about the long-term success of every organization in
the communities we serve. We’re one of you. Which is why we work hard to bring you the most innovative solutions
not only to cover the health of your employees, but also to protect it. From providing health and wellness programs
for your employees…to online reporting and employee engagement tools for you…we want to be your partner.
Call 800-432-8015 to learn more about the value of Blue Cross®. You + Blue. Your insurance for good health.
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6/30/08 4:34:26 PM
7
COLUMN
Creating Company Confidence With Executive Wellness
Dr. Donna Hamilton
Many executives spend time developing various
leadership traits. They often pride themselves on having
qualities such as integrity, inspiration, communication,
and intellect. In addition to these frequently cultivated
attributes, here’s another one executives might want to
add to their list: wellness.
Though many people might consider it gauche
to openly equate the viability of a company with the
vitality of its leadership, secretly many people do just
that. For example, consider the tremendous amount of
discussion regarding Apple CEO Steve Jobs. For years
numerous articles speculated about his health status,
sometimes simply based on his appearance. Reassuring public statements were released by Apple and
Jobs. Still, Apple stock dropped on multiple occasions
prompted by increased concern about Jobs’ health.
Employees or customers might also become disconcerted about health rumors regarding key company
leaders. Staff could worry about their future if something happens to their CEO. Customers might look for
a “back up” business in case something goes wrong.
People look to company leadership for encouragement,
particularly during stressful times. Even though your
company might not have stockholders, rampant anxiety
can have detrimental results.
Employers can quell employee and customer
anxiety by taking care of themselves. This can foster the
perception of having a confident and stable leader.
A variety of health and wellness programs cater
to the needs of busy executives. For example, some
academic medical centers, including the Mayo Clinic,
University of Pennsylvania, and Duke University offer
executive health services. These centers typically offer
comprehensive one-stop shopping. They do routine
health exams and counseling and sometimes even
screening studies like blood work or colonoscopies, or
additional screening for stress related illnesses common
among executives.
Other programs offer customized executive health
screenings in an intimate office setting. For example,
the Oasis for Optimal Health in Orlando, Florida does a
comprehensive wellness assessment in a private office.
In addition to performing a thorough physical examination, the physician assesses your nutritional status and
other indicators of your body’s response to stress. The
evaluation also includes counseling for effective stress
management, referral for indicated screenings, and
initiating any therapies necessary to support the body in
repairing stress related damage.
Executive wellness means more than optimizing
physical health. It also means effectively managing
work related stress associated with running a business.
Many times people need extra motivation to start and
maintain a health regimen. Knowing it can positively
impact your company can inspire you into a success
wellness routine.
Dr. Hamilton is V.P. of Health and Wellness services
for Manifest Excellence, LLC. Her services include
consultations, wellness program creation, and presenta-
tions on a variety of health promotion topics. For more
information visit www.ManifestExcellence.com, send an
email to [email protected] or call (732)
261-7032.
United Way Fundraiser
at Forks Nets $1120
Photo credit: PBJ
Pursuit of Excellence
Jamie Keener, Unite Way Monroe County 2008 Campaign Chair (and regional manager at Herbert, Rowland & Grubic, Inc., in Bartonsville) stands by some
of the raffled prizes with MaryKate Reeves-Hoche
(Sanofi Pasteur). The “Live United” event, held at
The Forks at Buck Hill (Mountainhome), featured
guest musician/PBJ editor Deb Burke on saxophone.
8
FEATURE STORY
UNIONS... cont. from page 1
http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2007/06/21/
modernizing_labor_law/ for more information).
While many of the country’s largest businesses
publicly oppose the measure, others support it or already
have unions in place. Aramark, a large Philadelphiabased company that provides food services for East
Stroudsburg University and other Pennsylvania businesses, has even been used by the SEIU (Service
Employees International Union) as an example of why
unions are good for businesses and employees. The Associated Press reports that nationally known businesses,
including Costco, Whole Foods, and Starbucks have
proposed an alternative to the act as it is currently written, which they hope will lead to a labor bill that both
sides of the debate can agree on: one where the secret
ballot remains intact, but harsher penalties are imposed
upon employers who attempt to harass or intimidate
unionizing employees.
As Senate Democrats continue to campaign for the
60 votes they need to invoke cloture (closing a debate
and causing an immediate vote to take place), rallies
for and against Employee Free Choice are happening
across the country, with activity against the bill occurring in Pittsburgh and Harrisburg, while events in favor
of its passing tend to protest specific businesses where
unions have been broken apart or threatened. One such
protest that occurred earlier this year was aimed at Rite
Aid, the Scranton-based drugstore chain. According
to the official blog of labor union AFL-CIO, Rite-Aid
has a history of harassing or firing labor organizers, and
supporters of the Employee Free Choice Act cite them as
a prime example of why the new act needs to be put into
effect. The drugstore chain has been tied up in arbitration with unions since acquiring Eckerd stores, whose
employees wish to be placed under the Rite Aid’s collective bargaining agreement.
It remains to be seen what effect the Employee Free
Choice Act would have on businesses, given the current
economic crisis. For small businesses in particular,
passage of the act could increase the cost of doing
business and expand organized labor’s presence in
the work environment. As the bill moves closer to a
vote, area business owners and employees will likely
see continuing campaigns to sway public opinion on
the matter.
Does Arlen Specter’s Vote Mean
Defeat for Employee Free Choice?
As of March 24th, the status of the Employee
Free Choice Act has become increasingly unstable,
as the sole Republican whom Democrats were counting on to support the bill has publicly declared that
he will not vote for cloture. Pennsylvania Senator
Arlen Specter, who is up for reelection in 2010, said
of the act: “The problems of a recession make this
a particularly bad time to enact Employee’s choice
legislation. Employers understandably complain
that adding a burden would result in further job
losses. If efforts are unsuccessful to give labor sufficient bargaining power through amendments to the
[National Labor Relations Act] then I would be willing to reconsider Employees choice legislation when
the economy returns to normalcy. I am announcing
my decision now because I have consulted with a
very large number of interested parties on both sides
and I have made up my mind.”
For many supporters of Employee Free Choice,
this spells doom for the act, as Specter, in 2003, was
the only Republican Senator to vote for cloture, and
the announcement that he will not do the same in
2009 means that Senate Democrats may not be able
to bring the issue to a vote.
Pat Toomey, who will run against Specter in the
Republican primary, made a statement indicating a
belief that Specter changed his mind only for political reasons: “It’s nice to see Sen. Specter reverse his
position in a positive direction on card check, but I
wish it didn’t take primary opposition to get him to
do it.”
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recycle
this
paper
DCED Announces Funds for
Land Use Planning: $1.6M
Harrisburg – Pennsylvania communities in 25 counties
will be able to breathe new life into downtowns, convert
brownfields into shovel-ready land and improve the quality
of life for residents with the help of $1.6 million in new
state investments (see list below for Pocono projects).
Department of Community and Economic Development acting Secretary George Cornelius announced that 43
projects – from helping municipalities update zoning laws
to continuing the development of comprehensive plans –
will receive funding.
“This investment is good news for communities that
are striving to make life better for residents and to bring
new jobs within their borders,” Cornelius said. “It can be
very difficult for communities to balance their desire to
both attract new development and preserve their cultural
and historic identity. Those that find that balance and follow their plan become beacons for other communities to
follow and places where businesses and people want to
be.”
The new investment comes from DCED’s Land Use
Planning and Technical Assistance Program, which is
designed to help communities pay for costs associated
with finding the best way to address transportation, infrastructure, brownfield, housing, parking, open space, and
historical preservation needs. While funding can be in any
amount, awards require a 50 percent match.
Visit www.newpa.com for more information about the
Land Use Planning and
Technical Assistance Program.
Carbon County
• $54,795 to Summit Hill Borough to develop a multimunicipal comprehensive plan with Jim Thorpe and
Lansford that addresses infrastructure, parking, historic
preservation and tourist attractions.
Pike County
• $7,500 to Blooming Grove Township to update its
municipal zoning ordinance and subdivision and land
development ordinances to be consistent with its comprehensive plan
• $20,000 to Porter Township to update its comprehensive
plan, zoning and subdivision ordinances and to implement relevant recommendations of the Pike County
Planning Initiative Report of Findings.
(Source: DCED)
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9
NEWS
Introduction To Payment Card Industry Compliance
Guest Columnist
Robert Yoka
If your business is like most others in the 21st century,
chances are the majority of your customers pay by credit or
debit card. Your ability to accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and other brands of credit cards may be the lifeblood
of your business and vital to staying competitive in today’s
economic environment.
However, with the ease and convenience of accepting
payment cards also comes great responsibility in ensuring
that the credit card information your customers entrust to
you does not end up in the wrong hands. In response to
the growing numbers of credit card data breaches, the five
leading payment card brands including American Express,
Discover Financial Services, JCB, MasterCard and Visa
jointly formed the Payment Card Industry (PCI) Security
Standards Council (SSC) in September 2006 (http://www.
pcisecuritystandards.org). This council was formed with
the goal of self-regulating the payment card industry by
creating a standard for organizations that store, process, or
transmit credit/debit card information that mandates good
security practices. This standard is known as the PCI Data
Security Standard (DSS).
The PCI DSS consists of several steps that all organizations, including non-profits, must take to protect customer
payment card information, including:
• Installing a firewall to keep hackers out of your network
• Securing wireless computer networks
Governor Promises ‘Back To
Work With Lunch Pails’
• Keeping anti-virus and anti-spyware programs up to
date
• Creating an information security policy
• Shredding paper documents containing credit card
information
• Restricting access to credit card information to only
the employees who need it
Compliance will not only help you avoid fines and
increased fees from your bank or merchant account
provider, but it will also help you to protect the reputation of your business and avoid lawsuits related to credit
card data breaches. To become compliant, consider the
following:
Contact your bank or merchant account provider.
Each bank or provider may have slightly different
requirements for demonstrating PCI compliance and can
help you to determine your exact path to compliance.
Download and fill out a PCI Self-Assessment
Questionnaire (SAQ). The PCI Council has created four
questionnaires that are intended to aid merchants in selfevaluating their compliance with the PCI standard. Your
bank or merchant account provider should be able to
point you to the correct SAQ for your environment.
Perform quarterly PCI vulnerability scanning.
Depending on how you accept credit cards, the Internet
connection at your place of business and/or your Web
site may need to be scanned for weaknesses that could
allow a hacker to break in and steal credit card information. For more information about this type of service,
contact a PCI Approved Scan Vendor (ASV) from the
following list: https://www.pcisecuritystandards.org/
pdfs/asv_report.html.
Submit your completed SAQ and PCI scan results to
your bank or merchant services provider to demonstrate
your compliance.
Robert Yoka is the director of PCI Compliance with
Backbone Security (Stroudsburg), an affiliate company
of DSD Laboratories. He can be reached at robert.
[email protected].
Governor Edward G. Rendell recently appointed
Ronald J. Naples of Montgomery County to serve as
Chairman of the Governor’s Working Group for Stimulus Accountability and Chief Accountability Officer for
Pennsylvania’s share of the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act (ARRA). “It won’t be long until you
will see more and more people packing their lunch pails
and heading back to work,” Governor Rendell said.
“Federal stimulus money is starting to flow into Pennsylvania to help put people back to work and stabilize
our economy.”
The new appointee will work closely with the
Rendell administration and the newly-formed Stimulus
Oversight Commission, which is tasked with reviewing
Recovery Act guidelines and reporting responsibilities
to ensure the state’s compliance with federal requirements for tracking and publicly reporting how the funding is spent.
The commission will include members of the four
state legislative caucuses, the Pennsylvania congressional delegation, representatives of the AFL-CIO, United
Way, and the PA Chamber of Business and Industry. The
commission’s first meeting followed the announcement
of Naples’ appointment.
Naples served as chief executive officer at Quaker
Chemical Corp. in Conshohocken for 13 years. Prior
to that he was CEO at Hunt Manufacturing Co. for 14
years; and the executive director of a Presidential Task
Force on energy problems.
(Source: Office of Gov. Rendell)
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10
COLUMNS
Precious Assets, Keeping Your Workforce Stress-Free
Regional Healthcare
Report
Kathleen E. Kuck
The landscape of our economy has changed, and many of
us are living with feelings of uncertainty and stress. Of all the
business decisions and lifestyle changes we must make when
hard economic times hit, we should be sure that we do not
choose to sacrifice our own health and that of our families, our
employees and our communities. Helping each other to cope
with the stress of our times is essential.
Excess stress can manifest itself in a variety of emotional,
behavioral and even physical symptoms. Symptoms include
sleep disturbances, muscle tension, headaches, gastrointestinal
disturbances and fatigue. Stress can produce an increase in
nervousness, anxiety, changes in eating habits, including overeating, loss of enthusiasm or energy and mood changes. It is
also known that people under stress have a greater tendency to
engage in unhealthy behaviors such as excessive use or abuse
of alcohol, drugs and cigarette smoking, and making poor
nutritional choices. These unhealthy behaviors can further
increase the severity of symptoms related to stress, often leading to a vicious cycle of symptoms and unhealthy behaviors.
Evidence shows that abnormal stress responses cause
various diseases or conditions. These include anxiety disorders, depression, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular
disease, certain gastrointestinal diseases, some cancers, and
even the process of aging itself. Stress also seems to increase
the frequency and severity of migraine headaches, episodes of
asthma, and fluctuations of blood sugar in diabetics. Scientific
evidence also shows that people experiencing psychological
stress are more prone to develop colds and other infections
than their less-stressed peers. Below are some tips to help
keep the balance at home or work to reduce stress.
•Exercise on a regular basis to reduce the production of
stress hormones and neurochemicals. Studies show that
exercise combats anxiety, is a potent antidepressant, and
sleeping aid.
•Laugh often.
•Practice one or two 20-30 minute meditation sessions every
day.
•Know your stress triggers and immediately implement a
reduction technique that works for you when they occur.
•Eliminate drug use and reduce consumption of alcohol to a
minimum.
•Take breaks at work and decompress. Take a walk instead
of a coffee break. If you snack, substitute fruits, nuts or
other healthy foods for chips and candy.
•Recognize that a “mental health” day can be valuable.
•Create predictability in work and home schedules to provide a framework from which to respond to the unexpected.
•Seek professional help and counseling if symptoms are
incapacitating or prolonged.
Take care of yourself and those around you. Help your colleague, your friend, and your loved ones through these chal-
lenging times. Bring your neighbor a fresh-baked cherry pie.
Offer to baby-sit for friends to give them a night out to relax.
It is said that adversity often brings unexpected opportunities.
Perhaps the road to reducing stress brings you to a healthier
lifestyle. I wish you well on your journey.
Kathy Kuck is president and CEO of Pocono Health System
and Pocono Medical Center. She joined PMC in 2006 as
VP for Patient Care Services and possesses over 30 years of
diversified experience in healthcare and has faculty appointments with several colleges and universities. She holds a
Masters degree from Columbia University and is licensed as a
Registered Nurse in Pennsylvania.
Workplace Wellness
Celebrate Employee Health and Fitness Day
on May 20th with a fun outdoor activity or a
healthy picnic in your company’s courtyard or
nearby park. Mark the day by launching a new
employee health initiative like a walking group
or healthy recipe swap.
Pocono Real Estate Market Health Check
Residential Real
Estate Quarterly
Report
Dominick J. Sacci
As the Pocono real estate market searches for its bottom, recent market data is suggesting that it is about to turn
the corner.
In the last six months, the overall number of homes
available on the market for sale (“supply”) has continued to
decline; closed sales (“demand”) have stopped declining,
and future business (as of March) is stabilizing.
What does all of this mean? Up until fall of 2008, listings were rising, and closed sales and future business was
off by 30 & 40%, with no end in sight. I am not here to tell
you that a full market recovery is a short time away, but the
bleeding has begun to stop.
In March of 2008, the Pocono Mountain Association of
Realtors Multiple Listing Service had 3,897 homes on the
market. March of this year had 3500, a decrease of 10%.
The same month in 2008 had 435 pending sales (projected
business); this year had 415, showing that future business
is only off by 5%. In the first three months of 2009, PMAR
MLS showed that settled business was off by 27%, there
were 547 closed sales in the first quarter of 2008 and 402
closed sales in the same period of 2009.
To put this data into perspective, when we compare
2007 to 2008, the stabilization in 2009 is suggested. Comparing the first three months of 2007 to 2008, inventory
increased 19%, closed sales were off by 33%, and future
business was off by 27%.
If the number of homes available for sale continues to
drop and we see the same amount of pending and closed
sales as the year before, we will officially be able to say
the market has bottomed out. That is why it is so exciting
to realize that within one year future business went from
being off by 27%, to now only by 5%.
The Pocono real estate market averages an adjustment
in its cycle every 3-5 years. We have been in the decline
portion of this cycle since October of 2005. Based on the
Our community. Our commitment.
During times of concern, we all depend on trusted relationships for support and
reassurance. For over 100 years, our family of depositors has relied on us for
safe and stable monetary guidance. To continue earning your trust, we pledge
to never relax our prudent standards when dealing with your financial assets.
Additionally, we offer you peace of mind knowing your deposits are insured by the
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation to the maximum level. If we can be of any
assistance during these unique times, we invite you to stop by any of our branches.
Our promise to you is our century old commitment of protecting your family’s
financial stability.
recent data, if the local real estate market continues to move
in the direction that it appears to be going in, we could see
the local real estate market bottom out over the next six to
nine months.
The main question now becomes, “What is occurring in
the local market that is causing it to stabilize?” The space
allotted to this article does not afford me the ability to
discuss every reason. However, some of the reasons include
the following: banks are working with homeowners to
keep them in their homes; the foreclosures that are entering
the market are selling; buyers and investors are starting to
come back into the local market; interest rates are showing
many “on the fence” buyers that now is the time to buy;
and home prices are affordable.
The good news about a real estate market bottoming
out is that it doesn’t stay flat forever, and it is only a matter
of time before the pendulum swings the other way.
Dominick J. Sacci is vice president and general manager
for Wilkins & Associates Real Estate, Inc. Sacci has been
tracking market statistics for the last six years. Market data
was compiled from the Pocono Mountain Association of
Realtors’® MLS system. Readers can discuss the residential real estate market with him at www.pbjonline.com/blog.
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11
ENVIRONMENT
Environmental Protections Essential to Public Health, Safety, And Wellbeing
Sustainable is
Attainable
Susan Beecher
I applaud PBJ for its April issue highlighting
“green” businesses and initiatives, but more often than
not these days I wonder whether sustainable really is
attainable in this Commonwealth. There are so many
forces – political, economic and social – working against
sustainability and the public interests protected under
the Pennsylvania Constitution. The people have a right
to clean air, pure water, and to the preservation of the
natural, scenic, historic, and aesthetic values of the environment. Pennsylvania’s public natural resources are the
common property of all the people, including generations yet to come.
There’s a Wild West attitude building in our region
and statewide that should trigger alarm in people from
all walks of life. From the all-out rush to exploit the
Marcellus Shale gas deposits on both private and public
lands, to the development of mega-utility lines to feed
our endless energy appetite, to pressures to expedite
permits for old-school land developments lacking in
environmental innovations, to the frenzied grab for
stimulus funds and the dash to get projects built with
little consideration for environmental impacts or sustainable community benefits, it seems the world around us
protected. We can’t afford not to.
has gone mad.
We don’t need to look far to see the devastating
impacts of coal mining in the region, not to mention the
billions of dollars of public moneys spent on subsidence
problems, water pollution and reclamation. Consider
too the lives and property lost and billions of dollars of
public funds spent on flood control and clean-up because
we haven’t had the political will to keep development
out of floodplains. Remember the burning rivers of the
’70s and billions of public dollars spent to make contaminated waters fishable and swimmable? Or the communities sickened by toxic wastes seeping into drinking
water supplies and the billions more spent to mitigate?
More recently we’ve seen a multimillion-dollar
cleanup/remediation project on I-99 in Centre County,
where acid-leaching rocks exposed to air threatened to
poison wells and streams near the construction site and
for miles around. Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) inspectors have cited improper waste and
fuel disposal by gas drilling crews. High levels of dissolved solids along 70 miles of the Monongahela River
linked to sewage treatment plant discharges containing
wastewater from oil and gas drilling operations impacted
numerous public water suppliers. Drilling by a natural
gas company was cited as the cause of methane contamination in private wells in Susquehanna County. These
are only a few examples of how relaxing our commitment to environmental protection costs us dearly and
puts our health and safety and that of future generations
at great risk.
State legislators owe it to their constituents to assure that environmental laws and regulations in place to
protect the collective and long-term public interest are
not altered for short-term gains. It wouldn’t hurt for all
of us to be more vigilant in seeing that our interests are
Susan Beecher has served as Pike County Conservation
District Manager since 1989, on state-delegated environmental regulatory programs, community planning
initiatives, watershed management and conservation
education and outreach activities. She can be reached
at (570) 226-8220 or by email at [email protected].
HR Tidbit
By Victoria Mavis
Q: When do employees qualify for overtime pay?
Is it over 8 hours in a day or over 40 hours in a
week?
A: Overtime is required to be paid for non-exempt
employees on all hours that are worked in a week
in excess of 40. Some examples of those considered “exempt” (those who are not eligible for overtime pay) include: commissioned sales employees,
drivers (in certain circumstances), executive,
administrative and professional employees, and
others (source: Dept. of Labor). Know your employees’ job functions and consult a professional
for more information. To learn about exempt and
non-exempt categories, visit http://www.dol.gov/
esa/whd/overtime_pay.htm.
Stay on Course This Summer at
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12
COLUMN
Should You Cut Your Match?
Your Financial Picture
Erin Baehr
Desperate times call for desperate measures. In an effort to trim payroll costs, 34 percent of US employers have
reduced or eliminated retirement contributions since January 2008, according to a survey conducted by the Chicagobased wealth management firm, the Spectrem Group, and
another 29 percent are planning to do so within the next
12 months. If you are one of the remaining employers
continuing contributions, you may find yourself wondering
if you should join the club. Obviously, cutting out your
401(k) match will save precious dollars, but what other
considerations are there?
“But at least I have a job.” Chances are that in any
company where the choice would come down to closing the
doors, laying people off, or cutting the retirement match,
most employees would agree that the latter is the best
option, especially in smaller companies where the owners’ struggles are more obvious. Framing the reduction or
elimination in terms of sacrifices made for the greater good
may help keep morale from slipping. In a bigger company
where the perception is that those at the top are still flush
with cash while the little guy suffers (think AIG), it may be
a harder sell. Employees may seek to recoup their losses in
other ways, through pilfering time or money, or less-thanstellar job performance. In this job market, an unhappy
employee is less likely to leave on his or her own, and the
process of removing a disgruntled employee and training a
new hire can be long and costly.
What about the big picture? As defined contribution plans such as 401(k)’s have largely overtaken
pension plans as the primary retirement vehicle, the
burden has been shifted to employees who may be
ill-equipped to handle the choices involved. Participation rates are greater in plans with more generous
employer matches, and if discontinuing those contributions becomes permanent, employees may save
even less, putting a secure retirement even further out
of reach.
We have no choice; now how do we go about
it? If you have a “safe harbor” plan (an alternative
way to meet non-discrimination rules), you must give
employees 30 days notice of a change in matching
policy, and notify employees how to change their
own elections. The plan will then be subject to antidiscrimination testing. It is important to document
employee notifications, and also to ensure that your
human resources staff does not inadvertently provide
financial or other advice that they are not authorized
to provide. Employers without safe harbor plans can
change match policies at will.
Regardless of your decision about continuing
contributions, ensuring reasonable plan fees is part of
your fiduciary responsibility under ERISA (Employee
Retirement Income Security Act). Check investment
fund fees at kiplinger.com/tools/fundfinder; expenses
less than 1% are acceptable. Find out if you’re paying
portfolio management or insurance fees, and evaluate
plan operating expenses and service fees. Proactively
working to minimize expenses to maximize your
employees’ return is a simple way to soften the blow
of losing that match.
Erin Baehr is a Certified Financial Planner™ and
Chartered Financial Consultant. She is also an Enrolled Agent, admitted to practice before the Internal
Revenue Service. She educates families and individuals on making the best use of their money in light of
their family’s values. She can be reached at ebaehr@
baehrfinancial.com.
2009 ENTRIES NOW BEING ACCEPTED
“Rightful” Terminations
By Nicholas Sergi
Is cutting good people from the team worth the potential
risk of a suit for wrongful termination?
Business owners who are going through these tough
decisions need not worry so much about the legal ramifications of letting their employees go, according to Tom Ford of
Smithford Business Lawyers in Stroudsburg. “In the state of
Pennsylvania, unless there is a contract, companies are free
to terminate employees for any – or no – reason. There are no
wrongful discharges.”
Lorrie Whitfield, who practices employment law in Effort,
concurs, added that “in a state where employment is ‘at will,’
it is very difficult for an employee to sue.” She noted that the
best way for legal problems to be avoided is to be aware that
it’s a “two-way street, a compromise for the company and their
employees. Employees need to be aware of their rights while
companies should be fair in their terms.”
In order to avoid a legal debacle, Ford said that the
most important step a company can take when reducing the
workforce by significant numbers is to make sure that it is
not dismissing too many employees from a “protected classification.” Dismissal decisions must be “neutral, and cannot
be based on a protected class.” There could be legal trouble
ahead if the wave of layoffs appears to hit one particular group
over another, say all women, or all minorities; or others in a
protected category such as individuals with a handicap or those
with the same national origin.
One safeguard is keeping careful records. Layoffs that
are performance-based, especially if there is a paper trail, are
probably the most defensible. Tom Ford cautions that larger
companies have an obligation to follow the federal Worker
Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act if they
lay off a significant number of workers due to circumstances
such as the closing of a production facility. Under the WARN
Act, for a plant closing, companies with 100 or more employees must provide 60 days’ notice in any case where at least 50
or more employees are to be released at one time. For a mass
layoff, companies with more than 100 employees letting go
33% or more of the workforce must give prior written notice.
For more information about the WARN act, visit http://www.
doleta.gov/programs/factsht/warn.htm.
If You Employ Drivers
Guest Columnist
Tom Loughery
Go to www.BizzyAwards.com
to download an entry form and get more information!
DEADLINE: MAY 28TH
AWARDS CEREMONY: SEPTEMBER 24TH
Business vs Business in 12 categories
Proceeds go to the Greater Pocono Chamber of Commerce’s
Business Resource Center
CALL 570-421-4433
March was the one-year
anniversary of New Jersey’s Cell
Phone Ban for drivers, where
almost 120,000 drivers have been
ticketed. In Pennsylvania’s legislature, H.B.538 was recently introduced, proposing a similar ban
for PA roadways. Philadelphia
City Council has just initiated a
discussion of a city-wide ban on
driving with a cell phone.
Businesses need to be
aware of laws regarding cell
phone/driving safety, especially
if they employ drivers or others
who are on the road frequently.
Although cell phones represent
a danger in their distraction,
they do increase productivity
for many road-based employees. Balancing that risk versus
efficiency takes a new turn for
drivers in New Jersey, and will
do the same if H.B.538 passes
and driving with a phone is
banned in PA. Managers already
need to consider their exposure to liability from a mobile
workforce, but soon your employees could also face legal
consequences even without a fender-bender. New Jersey
is issuing $100 tickets daily, and the PA fine is slated to
charge up to $75 when the law is passed. Will employees
look for the company to pay fines and court fees if they
are ticketed while on-the-job? Or will it be their responsibility, which could impact morale and effectiveness?
Here are some ideas for companies that rely on
‘road warriors’ to keep their business going:
• Recommend that mobile employees use their phones
only while stopped. This decreases efficiency, but
increases safety.
• Give mobile employees a set time each day for communications, for example, an hour in the morning or
afternoon at the office. It may decrease productivity,
but takes away almost all risk.
• Equip vehicles with hands-free systems, so employees can communicate while driving. This limits risk
because installed systems with voice-commands
are safer than using a hand-held phone, and it keeps
productivity high. However, it is not as safe as having
people communicate when stopped. Used properly,
installed hands-free systems will also help drivers
avoid tickets.
Being proactive with a solution may yield the best
results, keeping your people happy and most of all helping your company to balance safety and productivity.
Tom Loughery is a partner at EasyHandsFree in Jim
Thorpe. He can be reached at easyhandsfree@hotmail.
com.
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13
BOOK REVIEW
May Is A Big Month For Tourism In The Poconos
Guest Columnist
Carl Wilgus
The Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau (PMVB)
is celebrating its 75th Anniversary throughout 2009,
a milestone that speaks to the region’s long history of
providing a nearby escape, only a short drive from most
major cities in the Northeast, dating back to when returning soldiers would escape to the Pocono Mountains
for some much deserved rest and relaxation.
The diamond anniversary celebration includes a
series of special events and promotions such as the recent grand opening of the new Pocono Mountains Lake
Wallenpaupack Visitors Center, a “Pocono Mountains
Family Online Album,” a vow-renewal ceremony for 75
couples at the Paradise Stream Resort along with a golf
tournament, a centennial time capsule and the Run for
Red 5K race – with 75 partners from the Visitors Bureau
taking part, including staff, family and friends.
We join our colleagues nationwide to celebrate
the 26th Annual National Travel and Tourism Week,
May 9-17, 2009. This year’s theme is “Discover Great
American Traditions.” In recognition of Tourism Week,
the PMVB will host the 15th Annual Pocono Mountains
Tourism Day, May 13, 2009 at the Shawnee Inn and
Golf Resort. This year’s tourism marketing conference
will feature the increased importance in environmen-
The Brand Champion Award will be given to properties
tal stewardship in the tourism industry with the theme
that have the highest percentage of employee completion
“Turning Green into Green.” Expert presenters and eduof the Pocono Mountains Brand Enculturation Traincation will give valuable information on how to market
ing Program. The Green Award will be presented to the
properties as “green,” and how being green can lower
PMVB member that demonstrates environmental stewcosts and help save money.
ardship through their operations, programs and services.
At a special luncheon during this conference,
There’s still time to register online for Pocono
employees in the industry, along with member properMountains Tourism Day at 800poconos.com/tourismday.
ties, will be recognized for strides in customer service
in several categories, as part of the Pocono Mountains
Carl Wilgus is president and CEO of the Pocono
Tourism Achievement Awards program. Awards will
Mountains Visitors Bureau. He can be reached at (570)
be presented to individuals for the following categories:
421-5791.
Brand Hero Awards are given to employees who have
shown exemplary skills when in contact with guests,
have been recognized for
service skills and have been
trained in the Pocono MounEdi
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ity in the Pocono Mountains
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success of their property.
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following categories: The
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Business
Books
&
B
POCONO
EDITOR’S PICK – BOOK REVIEW
“The Ten Commandments for Business Failure”
Image courtesy of Portfolio/Penguin Group
By Debbie Burke
There are ten rules that guarantee failure at
an organization, and author Donald R. Keough, the former president of Coca-Cola, pithily describes
each one and
how to avoid
it. While they
make perfect business
sense, business owners
still fall into
these traps
and occasionally shoot
themselves in
the foot. The
beauty of the
book is in using everyday
examples to
show how these doomed paths hurt business.
You might intellectually understand that
taking risks is the only way to grow. But
complacency is a natural state of being. When
the brains behind Xerox was just bubbling
up with an idea to copy documents in a novel
way, many big names (IBM, General Electric) turned their backs. The thinking was that
carbon paper was suitable; how many copies
could you need, anyway? The Haloid Company took the risk, became Haloid-Xerox, and
the rest is photocopy history. So quit taking
Learn
about:
risks, warns Keough, and you might miss your
next big thing.
While “bureaucracy” is not the favorite item
in his lexicon, the author concedes that it has its
place: a structure to handle all the minutiae that
supports the organization above it. However,
become a slave to the systems and processes –
feeding the bureaucracy beast – and you run the
risk of paralysis. For example, how many times
does a PowerPoint presentation never come to
pass because of a tech malfunction? And does
the presentation still go on, albeit using the old
fashioned “just talking” method? Don’t put the
tools ahead of the work. Waste little time trying
to get the projector to cooperate, or you have
honored another commandment for failure.
It’s an upbeat tale of the workplace and, ultimately, how to leave it better than it was before
you came along. “There is more to life than having everything,” he philosophizes. So while your
eyes are scanning the horizon to make sure you
avoid all ten business potholes, Keough even
manages to sneak some work/life balance into
the mix.
Author: Donald R. Keough
Publisher: Portfolio/Penguin Group
ISBN: 978-1-59184-234-7
Price: $24.95
Book courtesy of Portfolio, an imprint of Penguin Group. PBJ’s review is available at Borders
Stroudsburg, where this book may be ordered.
J
“Flat Tax” Proposed
By Sen. Specter
At the end of March, Senator Arlen Specter (R-Pa.)
introduced legislation that would scrap the 17,000 pages
of current IRS code in favor of a 20 percent flat tax for
all individuals and businesses. The revenue-neutral
legislation would allow tax-payers to file returns on a
postcard that could be completed in 15 minutes. “This
legislation will fundamentally revise the present tax
code, with its myriad rates, deductions, and instructions,” Senator Specter said.
The 20% flat tax plan would eliminate taxes on
estates, dividends and capital gains, but would maintain
two important deductions: those on mortgage interest
and charitable contributions. Tax returns would be filed
on a 10-line postcard tax form that requires information
related to wages, personal allowance, number of dependents, and total taxable compensation. In contrast to
those who file 1040 forms, for which the IRS estimates
takes an average of approximately 34 hours to complete,
the flat tax form could be completed in fifteen minutes.
The key advantages of this flat tax plan are threefold: First, it will dramatically simplify the payment of
taxes. Second, it will remove much of the IRS regulatory morass now imposed on individual and corporate
taxpayers, and allow those taxpayers to devote more of
their energies to productive pursuits. Third, since it is a
plan which rewards savings and investment, the flat tax
will spur economic growth in all sectors of the economy
as more money flows into investments and savings accounts.
(Source: Office of Sen. Specter)
14
NEWS
Leadership Wayne Creates Tour Of Honor
Leadership Wayne
Debbie McConeghy-Gillette
Members of the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Wayne Class of 2006 continue to put
the skills they learned to good use. Several graduates decided to do more for the community, so we formed the Tour
of Honor. This honors the World War II Veterans of Wayne
County. In 2007, we coordinated an all-expenses paid trip
to Washington, DC to visit the World War II Memorial.
Most of these veterans would never be able to visit on their
own due to health, financial, family or motivational limitations. During the day the veterans took part in several ceremonies, and also visited the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
at Arlington National Cemetery before returning home.
The veterans flew from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
International Airport to Reagan National Airport. The committee worked with US Airways and privately chartered a
757 to accommodate over 90 Veterans, their spouse or caregiver and the necessary volunteers needed to assist the veterans. Buses were provided to take them to and from the
airport for the day. They also chartered four Martz Group
tour buses in Washington DC for ground transportation.
Meals for everyone that day were provided as well. The
total cost of this project was $55,000. Through fundraising efforts, community support and private donations, over
$70,000 was raised from December 2006 to May 2007.
The Tour of Honor recognized the Korean War Vet-
Funding for Local Energy Efficiency
Improvements In PA Announced By
White House; Poconos Not Included
erans of Wayne County on October 4, 2008 during a
ceremony in Honesdale’s Central Park. The Wayne
County Commissioners, Senator Lisa Baker and State
Representatives Sandra Major and Michael Peifer
presented each veteran with a flag and medal.
Now, The Tour of Honor is pleased to announce
our final project. We will be sponsoring the American
Veterans Traveling Tribute (AVTT) this month (visit
www.avtt.org for more information). This event is dedicated to all veterans of Wayne County and the United
States. This tribute will be displayed in Bingham Park,
which is located on Main Avenue (Route 6) in Hawley.
The tribute consists of the following:
An 80% size replica of the Vietnam Memorial
Wall, which contains 100% of the names. It is 370 feet
long and is 8 ½ ft. tall at apex. This exhibit is called
the Traveling Wall, and is the largest of the four replicas that travel the United States.
The Cost of Freedom Memorial is a series of
stand up exhibits created in gold dog tags to record the
names of those who gave their lives for our freedom,
since Vietnam; including present day Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.
9/11 Memorials, a standup exhibit with lighted
twin towers to make sure “We Never Forget”. Each
name of those who lost their lives is recorded according to their location.
We invite everyone to visit this free event. We
anticipate 20,000-30,000 visitors during this 4-day
event. This will have a tremendous impact on tourism
in Wayne County, and show area visitors that this is
“Your Place to Be.” The exhibits will be open at noon
on May 28 and close at 8:00 a.m. on June 1.
Vice President Joe Biden and Energy Secretary Steven Chu recently announced plans to invest $3.2 billion in
energy efficiency and conservation projects in U.S. cities,
counties, states, territories, and Native American tribes.
This includes $102,508,400 for state, county and city
efforts in Pennsylvania. None of the townships or municipalities in the Pocono counties (Carbon, Monroe, Pike and
Wayne) is included. The nearest locations to receive funding are Bethlehem ($702,100); the city of Northampton
$160,800); Lehigh County ($2,032,100); and Northampton County $160,800.
The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block
Grant program, funded by President Obama’s American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act, will provide formula
grants for projects that reduce total energy use and fossil fuel emissions, and improve energy efficiency. The
funding will support energy audits and energy efficiency
retrofits in residential and commercial buildings, the
development and implementation of advanced building
codes and inspections, and the creation of financial incentive programs for energy efficiency improvements. Other
activities eligible for use of grant funds include transportation programs that conserve energy, projects to reduce
and capture methane and other greenhouse gas emissions
from landfills, renewable energy installations on government buildings, energy efficient traffic signals and street
lights, deployment of Combined Heat and Power and district heating and cooling systems, and others. Visit www.
energy.gov/recovery for more information.
(Source: US Dept of Energy)
Debbie McConeghy-Gillette is assistant to the director of the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce and
serves as co-chair of the Tour of Honor. She can be
reached at [email protected].
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U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), a
member of the Senate Aging Committee, has
recently introduced the Promoting Small House
Nursing Homes Act to improve and increase
person-centered long-term residential care and
coordinated health care for older Americans.
“This is a bill I expect will play a significant role in the way we care for our older
citizens in this country,” said Senator Casey.
“I also hope and expect this bill to make an
important contribution to the framing and substance of the landmark health care reform we
anticipate in the coming year.”
The Promoting Small House Nursing
Homes Act would foster significant culture
change in long term care for older citizens by
providing favorable loan funding for entities
that provide person-centered care within a
“small house” nursing facility framework. The
bill was introduced along with Senators Roger
Wicker (R-MS) and Mel Martinez (R-FL).
4/13/09 2:53:45 PM
15
COLUMN
Let’s Create Our Own Economic Recovery
Business Coach
Richard Munson
It sounds like everyone is getting economic stimulus
except for the small and medium businesses. It’s time to
create our own economic recovery on Main Street USA and
execute our own stimulus plan for our local economy.
Does this sound like your company?
•
•
•
•
•
•
Sales are off 30% or more
Profits are small to nonexistent
You have used up your “rainy day” cash reserves
You are working more hours than ever
You are feeling less successful than ever
You are looking for some answers and a little relief
So let’s not wait any longer. Let’s solve this right now.
It may seem hard to imagine, and certainly not popular
to discuss today, but many businesses are doing quite well
today despite the current economic challenges. However,
they know a few secrets of how to be successful.
First, let’s start with a positive attitude and stop talking
doom and gloom. Most everyone is exasperated with the
negative talk today. It is truly unusual and attractive to be
positive and upbeat. Your customers will enjoy doing busi-
ness with you if you are, and they will come back more
often.
Second, we need to agree that this economy has
changed the rules of how to be successful. What worked
in yesterday’s economy will not work in today’s economy. Get over it. We need to accept and adapt to the new
reality. It is time to reassess your business, competitors,
market, and your customer’s needs.
Third, it’s time to analyze if you are truly valuable
and indispensable to your customers. If you are not, you
should start making changes, or they will find someone to
replace you. They will find someone better and/or faster.
Many of you will say they have found someone cheaper.
But I have discovered that price, even in this market, is
not the most important criteria to most customers. What
they really want is someone who cares about them and
delivers value consistently.
Finally, based on your findings, we need to develop
your short term strategic business plan. Successful businesses know that routine business planning is critical
to moving forward. It is even more critical in today’s
challenging economy. Yet many companies do little to
no planning. My findings are that while most companies
understand the need for planning, they either don’t know
how to do it, or they do not understand how easy it actually is.
Get your businesses turned around. Today. Follow these four easy steps and start your own economic
recovery.
Richard Munson is a Business Coach from ActionCOACH NEPA. He works with businesses in NE
Pennsylvania to improve their success and achieve their
goals. ActionCOACH NEPA is the world’s #1 business
coaching team. He can be reached at richardmunson@
actioncoach.com.
“Making Work Pay” Tax Credit Has
Employers Using New Withholding Rates
Beginning April 1, new tax withholding rates have been suggested (not mandated) for employers to adjust their employees’ paychecks, utilizing new tax tables
(see http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/n1036.pdf ). The wage bracket tables are based
on gross wages and do not require the deduction for total withholding allowances.
Employees do not need to fill out a new Form W-4.
This program has been designed “to help middle-class families get back on their
feet and restore some fairness to the tax code,” says the IRS. Under this program, in
Pennsylvania, 4.8 million working families will collectively get $2.5 billion.
(Source: IRS)
SBA Shows Its Support
Of Small Business
In late March, the Small Business Administration announced two initiatives to help small business
owners. With these steps (below) and the Treasury
Department’s commitment of up to $15 billion aimed
at getting lending markets flowing again, said Acting
SBA Administrator Darryl K. Hairston, “We are standing up with small business owners across this country
and telling them how we are going to put much-needed
capital in their hands…We hope small businesses
will take the opportunity to ask their banks about the
SBA loans that might be available to them. And, we
encourage community banks and other lenders to work
with us to reach as many qualified borrowers as we can
during these difficult times.”
These steps include:
Temporarily raising guarantees to up to 90 percent
on SBA’s 7(a) loan program, through calendar year
2009, or until the funds are exhausted. This increase
in guarantee levels will help provide banks with the
greater confidence they need to extend credit during
the current recession, will mean more capital available
to small business owners around the country.
Temporarily eliminating fees for borrowers on
SBA 7(a) loans and for both borrowers and lenders on
504 Certified Development Company loans, through
calendar year 2009, or until the funds are exhausted.
This will mean more capital available to small businesses at a lower cost. The fee elimination is retroactive to February 17, 2009, the day the Recovery Act
was signed. SBA is developing a mechanism for
refunding fees paid on loans since then.
?
(Source: www.sba.gov.)
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16
PROFESSIONAL PROFILE
From left: Mike Hockman; Maura and Robert Tweedie (with Big Chief behind
him); Eric Hockman and Carey Laucius. Photos courtesy of Pocono Auction.
Owner: Eric J. H
Partner: Carey L
The Pocono Auction
PO Box 20
Pocono Summit P
(570) 839-12
poconoauction@g
www.auctionzi
In top right for “Au
enter #525
Hottest items: Gun
Weakest items: F
The currrent inventory of guns at Pocono Auction.
PROFESSIONAL PROFILE
Hockman
Laucius
Gallery Inc.
007
PA 18346
234
gmail.com
ip.com
uction ID”
52
ns/firearms
Furniture
May 2 – Major firearms auction
May 30 – Major auction event
For more information call
(570) 839-1234
17
18
COLUMN
PA Hospitals Provide Healing, Health, Hope Amid 2009 Turbulence
The Hospital &
Healthsystem
Association of
Pennsylvania
Carolyn F. Scanlan
The nation’s recession is significantly affecting Pennsylvania’s hospitals. As 2009 unfolds, our hospitals face the
parallel tasks of responding to the increased health care needs
created by the recession and maintaining their own fiscal
health in a turbulent economy.
Recession imperils hospitals, threatens patient access to care
Pennsylvania’s hospitals are critical to the physical
and fiscal well-being of our communities. They provide the
world’s best health care to all who come through their doors,
and they are $84 billion-a-year contributors to the state’s
economy. The current crisis imperils hospitals-our community
safety net-and the patients who depend on them.
A March 2009 survey by The Hospital & Healthsystem
Association of Pennsylvania (HAP) shows that the environment for the state’s general acute-care hospitals is the same or
worse than in December 2008.
The survey documents more uninsured patients and more
patients needing behavioral health services; and fewer admissions and elective procedures. Almost all hospitals have adjusted their financial projections through year-end; 84% have
reduced or are considering reducing staff (up from 62% in
December); and nearly 9 of 10 hospitals have reduced capital
spending for essential upgrades.
The survey findings demonstrate the importance of sustaining federal and state investments in hospitals, particularly
through the Medicaid and Medicare programs that provide
health care coverage for the state’s elderly and most vulnerable
citizens.
Even before the recession, Pennsylvania hospitals faced
the challenges of growing uncompensated care; rising labor,
technology, and utility costs; ongoing high medical liability
insurance costs; the cost of physician shortages; and Medicaid and Medicare underfunding.
As job losses mount, the financial burden on hospitals
will increase. From a human perspective, however, the implications are worse. More patients will postpone preventive and routine health care, and they will be put at risk for
more serious illnesses and complications before they seek
care. The result will be sicker Pennsylvanians at a higher
cost.
Healing, health, and hope require healthy hospitals.
Failure to protect Pennsylvania’s hospitals will reduce
the availability of health care and devastate the economies
of our communities, from Pittsburgh and Philadelphia to
the smallest boroughs and townships.
Pennsylvania’s hospitals and health systems exist
to provide healing, health, and hope to people in need.
Pennsylvania’s hospitals will remain leaders in quality
and patient safety by advocating for adequate financing
of hospital care; promoting the retention and recruitment
of physicians, nurses, and other health care professionals;
and pursuing other policies that advance the health of all
Pennsylvania communities.
As direct employers of more than 286,000 people,
with another 338,000-plus employed by businesses that
depend on hospitals for their existence, Pennsylvania’s
hospitals must be healthy enough to assure that every
patient who comes through our doors in 2009 and beyond
gets the right care at the right time in the right setting.
Despite the economic turbulence to come, we are confident
of achieving that goal.
The ubiquitous blue-and-white “H” sign stands for
Healing, Health, and Hope. Pennsylvania’s hospitals look
forward to working with patients, public officials, and
other key stakeholders to sustain this mission.
Carolyn F. Scanlan was named the President and Chief
Executive Officer of The Hospital & Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania (HAP) in June of 1995. Her prior
experience includes serving as executive vice president
and chief operating officer for Healthcare Association of
New York State; vice president for clinical and ambulatory
services at St. Peter’s Hospital in Albany, New York; and
a 15-year career with the New York State Department of
Health.
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O UR C U S TOM E RS C A N
SLEEP
AT NIGHT.
Customers have always counted on
Pennstar Bank to keep their money safe.
And in these uncertain financial times, we
continue to return that trust. We remain safe
and sound.
So rest easy. We are a community bank
that is well capitalized, exceeding federal
requirements. You won’t find us dabbling in
exotic investments or loans. What you will
find are products and services grounded in
the realities of your financial life.
With over $5 billion in assets behind us,
you can rest assured that Pennstar Bank is
here to help secure your financial future.
Toll Bridge Commission Approves
Capital Budget, $142 Million
In Infrastructure And More
The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission
(DRJTBC) has recently approved a capital budget for 2009
that projects investing $142.4 million in transportation and
bridge infrastructure improvements. The funding is expected
to stimulate further job creation while enhancing safety, reducing congestion, and extending the useful life of the agency’s
Delaware River crossings.
The capital plan catalogues the various planning and
construction activities the Commission expects to perform
this year for purposes of improving, rehabilitating or repairing
its transportation infrastructure. The capital plan is strictly a
planning document and individual capital projects, including
specific budgets and contracts, must be approved separately by
the Commission. If fully implemented, this capital plan would
constitute the largest single-year investment in the Commission’s 75-year history.
“The 2009 capital plan represents an investment in the
long-term health and safety of the Commission transportation
infrastructure,” said Frank G. McCartney, Executive Director of the Delaware River joint Toll Bridge Commission. “At
the same time, we believe this investment will stimulate the
regional economy by creating and sustaining jobs.”
Using figures provided by the Associated General Contractors of America, the Commission estimates that the capital
plan’s infrastructure component could help create or sustain
as many as 4,020 jobs in the construction, materials supply,
engineering, and back-office service sectors.
The capital plan, however, is not related to the stimulus
package adopted by Congress and the Commission does not
expect to receive any funding from the federal government.
The capital spending is ultimately funded through toll revenues
generated by the Commission’s seven toll bridges. The Commission is projected to invest more than $1.05 billion in capital
expenditures from 2001 through 2018.
Highlights of the Commission’s projected capital expenditures for 2009 – all of which are subject to change – include
the following budgeted amounts:
District 2
$27.7 million for the I-78 Roadway Rehabilitation ($57.6 million estimated total cost)
$4.4 million toward the design and construction
of Open Road Tolling (ORT) on the I-78 Toll
Bridge ($16 million estimated total cost)
$752,000 for the Upper Black Eddy-Milford
Toll Supported Bridge Rehabilitation ($12.6
million total estimated cost);
$742,000 for the rehabilitation of the Riegelsville Toll Supported Bridge ($7 million total
cost)
District 3
$7.2 million for the Milford - Montague Toll
Bridge Rehabilitation ($19 million total estimated cost);
$4.9 million for the Delaware Water Gap (I-80)
Toll Bridge Bearing Replacement and Deck
Study ($12.5 million estimated total cost)
$3.7 million toward the study and implementation of Open Road Tolling at the Delaware
Water Gap (I-80) Toll Bridge ($39.7 estimated
total project cost)
Commission-Wide Projects
$14.2 million for the Compact Authorized
Investments, a grant program that funds
transportation-related improvement projects
in communities (Total projected cost of $40
million)
$7.7 million for the Electronic Surveillance/Detection System (ESS) ($22.7 million estimated
total cost)
$1.2 million for the Substructure and Scour
Remediation of the Commission’s bridges ($6.8
million total estimated cost)
(Source: DRJTBC)
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1)1&)6*(-'4IRRWXEV&EROMWEHMZMWMSRSJ2&8&ERO2%
19
ECONOMY
Health And Wellness Are Part Of Our Mission
Chris Grape-Garvey
These “building
blocks” for a good life
are becoming the focus
at United Ways across
the country and locally.
Programs, grants and community initiatives increasingly
address these issues. This is good news for businesses
since healthy, happy employees are more productive
employees.
On a national level, United Way is working to
increase the number of young people and adults who are
healthy and live healthy lifestyles. In the Poconos, many
United Way funded-programs promote healthy bodies
and minds through prevention and intervention. Soup
kitchens, food pantries and home-delivered meals maintain the well-being of those in need by providing sustenance. Fitness programs for seniors, anger management
for families, domestic abuse assistance, and substance
abuse intervention for students are other examples. The
health of young children and those with special needs is
addressed with services such as vision screenings, early
childhood screenings and equine therapy. Blood drives,
various counseling services, and home health care for
shut-ins are also provided through United Way’s efforts.
The health of dislocated workers is another concern.
In Monroe County, the United Way is part of the rapid
response team that assists laid-off employees when
companies relocate or close their doors. Last month, that
United Way participated in a “Help Is Here” fair for the
unemployed at Northampton Community College’s Tannersville campus. Directories on human services were
provided, along with helpful information and opportunities on volunteering.
In Pike County, the United Way was a partner in
completing a Pike/Wayne Health and Human Services
Needs Assessment. Finished in December 2008, this
study identifies regional health priorities, such as
improved emergency medical service, prenatal care
and mental health assistance. A comprehensive community services database, managed by the United
Way, is available through www.PikePaHelp.org and
features 169 health services.
In Wayne County, the United Way has partnered
with the YMCA and Honesdale Communities That
Care to conduct “Healthy Futures.” Funded via the
Blue Ribbon Foundation, Healthy Futures helps fight
childhood obesity by increasing the physical fitness
and nutritional awareness of kids ages 5-12. This
program is held in the Wayne Highlands and Wallenpaupack Area school districts and at the Wayne
County YMCA. Besides nutrition education, children
have classes on body image and track their physical activity level. Healthy Futures has also received
an award from the Governor’s Advisory Council on
Physical Fitness and Sports.
On May 9, United Ways will again promote
health by sponsoring Stamp Out Hunger, the annual food drive run by the National Association of
Letter Carriers. Nonperishable, unexpired donations can be left at mailboxes to be collected by
postal workers. This is the country’s largest oneday food drive and in its 17th year.
For more information call Pike County United
Way at (570) 296-9980 or visit www.unitedwaypike.org; Wayne County at (570) 343-1267, www.
uwlc.net; Monroe County, 570-629-5657, www.
unitedwaymonroe.org; and Carbon County, (610)
377-6400.
Chris Grape-Garvey is the community outreach
and special events director for United Way of
Monroe County.
Stroud Township Eligible
For Federal Stimulus Dollars
Federal funding in the amount of $58,986 is
available to Stroud Township to help pay for a wide
range of crime prevention expenses. Authorized by
the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of
2009 and made available through the Byrnes/Justice Assistance Grant Program, the stimulus package includes a total of nearly $2 billion in critical
resources for state and local law enforcement and
other criminal justice activities through the Recovery JAG program. Applications are due by May 18.
More information on the grants is available online
at www.ojp.usdoj.gov/BJA/recoveryJAG/recoveryjag.html.
(Source: Rep. John Siptroth)
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Do you know where your parents are? Are they sitting around
their place watching TV...watching life go by? Not if their place is
Pocono Lutheran Village! Right now at our place folks are
living life – they’re enjoying summer concerts on the banks of the
Delaware River, daily exercise classes and Saturday afternoon card
games! Come by for lunch and see for yourself how much fun it
is here! Call Betsi at 570-426-4012 to set up a lunch date or for
more information.
Pocono Lutheran Village is a Diakon senior living community,
providing quality personal care services since 2001.
Many Hands. One Heart.
329 East Brown Street • East Stroudsburg, PA 18301
www.diakon.org/pocono
Diakon offers services and housing without regard to race, color, religion, disability, marital status, ancestry, national origin, sexual orientation or gender.
20
LEGISLATIVE ROUNDUP
Legislative Roundup
Compiled by Debbie Burke
We asked our local and regional legislators:
Is universal healthcare a benefit to business, and do
you support it?
Sen. David Argall (R, 29)
“The healthcare crisis has been at the forefront of policy
discussions on both the state and national levels for
some time. The need for more widely available health
insurance coverage is demonstrated by the fact that
there remains a significant number of uninsured adult
Pennsylvanians. While state programs such as adult
Basic and Pennsylvania’s Children’s Health Insurance
Program (CHIP) can offer assistance to the uninsured,
there is still much more that needs to be accomplished
that meets the needs of all concerned parties. As usual,
the devil will be in the details, but it’s an important
debate which we need to address in the near future.”
Sen. Lisa Baker (R, 20)
Not available for comment.
Sen. Lisa M. Boscola (D, 18)
“The Commonwealth is looking at an extreme ‘bare
bones’ budget for the coming fiscal year. Due to
declining revenue in the state coffers, the ability of the
General Assembly to enact any universal healthcare plan
would be nearly impossible due to the projected cost.
However, it is important for every member of the House
and Senate to focus on how we can responsibly reform
our current system of healthcare, and coupling that idea
with enacting fiscally sound decisions. Too many have
gone without proper and adequate healthcare insurance.
Providing greater accessibility for all Pennsylvanians
should remain a priority all of us in the new legislative
session.”
Sen. Patrick M. Browne (R, 16)
“I have reservations and concerns about universal
healthcare and its effects on taxpayers and businesses.
A government-run healthcare system will eliminate
rather than encourage competitive forces in the healthcare marketplace. History shows that this can only
result in higher costs for the same provision of service.
As an alternative, we must advance initiatives which
provide access to healthcare without increasing costs.
That is why I introduced Senate Bill 464, which will
allow healthcare professionals to apply volunteer time
served in a community-based healthcare clinic toward
the completion of their mandatory continuing education
hours. This will benefit business by providing access
without increasing government subsidies or requiring
higher private sector premiums to cover the costs of the
uninsured.”
US Rep. Chris Carney (D, 10)
US Sen. Robert Casey (D, PA)
Rep. Mike Carroll
(D, 118)
“Escalating healthcare
costs will have an
increasingly harmful effect on business,
customers, employees
and the economy as a
whole. Many employer sponsored plans
have been terminated
or require significant
employee contributions. A continued
federal policy that
maintains the status quo
cannot be prolonged
much longer. I believe
every American citizen
deserves a basic level
of healthcare and that
they must be prepared
to participate financially in support of their
care. Government’s
role must be limited
to ensure we do not
embark on a program
that stretches our limited financial resources
beyond their means. As
with most every other
government program,
the challenge for policy
makers is to balance the
costs associated with
healthcare with the
ability of employees,
businesses and customers to pay.”
US Rep. Paul E. Kanjorski (D, 11)
“Healthcare costs for everyone will decrease when everyone has health insurance. Too many of the estimated
45 million Americans without insurance rely on trips to
the emergency room when they are very sick rather than
see a doctor routinely to stay well. Small businesses
especially struggle to provide insurance for their employees, and I would prefer a system in which employment is disconnected from health insurance coverage.
The federal government should allow private companies
and individuals to participate in the same private health
insurance plans available to federal employees, where
they have quality care at inexpensive costs, and choices
from a wide selection of doctors.”
Rep. Sandra Major (R, 111)
“I believe businesses and their employees are best
served by a healthcare system that allows the patient
and his or her doctor to make healthcare decisions - not
the government. Rather than instituting a universal,
single-payer healthcare system, the elements of which
Americans have rejected in the past and have failed in
numerous other countries, we should encourage building on our current system by promoting more choices
through competition and addressing the cost drivers.
Single-payer, government-run healthcare systems lead
to diminished quality care and long waiting lines for
much-needed health services.”
Rep. Keith McCall (D, 122)
“We’re already paying for universal healthcare, the
problem is we’re paying for it in the worst way possible,
and with no accountability. Your family’s insurance premium included about $600 last year to pay for uninsured
people, and your tax dollars are paying to reimburse
hospitals for millions in uncompensated care. It’s time
to explore a common-sense plan that would allow everyone to purchase private insurance and use the power of
bulk purchasing to help lower costs. This would prevent
the uninsured from using the E.R. as the ‘family doctor’ and help businesses save money on premiums. The
problem won’t go away, but if we find a way to make
smart investments we can make insurance available to
the hundreds of thousands of working people who don’t
have access.”
Sen. Robert J. Mellow (D, 22)
“Clearly, one of the main priorities of the Obama
Administration is healthcare reform. President Obama
recognizes that the lack of access to affordable healthcare jeopardizes families and imposes huge costs on
businesses. Comprehensive healthcare reform will
key an economic resurgence in this country because it
impacts our economy at levels and depths reaching well
into our core. While we can make changes on the state
level, systemic healthcare reform--including proposals
that involve universal healthcare access--will likely be
debated soon in Congress as the federal government
moves forward in consideration of sweeping healthcare
measures.”
Sen. Raphael J. Musto (D, 14)
Rep. Mike Peifer (R, 139)
Rep. Mario M. Scavello (R, 176)
“Universal healthcare is not free. Someone will have
to pay for it, most likely businesses. I prefer giving
see ROUNDUP page 21
21
INTERVIEW
ROUNDUP... cont. from page 20
business tax breaks to buy affordable insurance with
options of purchasing a low-cost group insurance
plan through a local chamber of commerce.”
Rep. John J. Siptroth (D, 189)
“I think some form of universal healthcare coverage
would be a plus for businesses and the healthcare
industry. The term ‘universal healthcare’ is sometimes associated with government-run healthcare
systems in other countries, and I think it has a bad
connotation for many people. But here in the United
States, there are ways beyond ‘government-run’ to
ensure that everyone has access to quality, affordable healthcare. I believe such a system would lower
costs and reduce the pressure companies feel to provide health insurance, especially small businesses;
cut down on insurance fraud and lawsuits; help create and keep jobs in the United States; and improve
the overall health of our people.”
US Sen. Arlen Specter (R, PA)
“We need to cover the 47-plus million Americans
who do not have health insurance. I am a cosponsor
of the Healthy Americans Act, introduced by Bill
Bennett (R-Utah) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), which
is a good starting point for the healthcare debate.
The bill seeks to cover uninsured Americans without
resorting to a single-payer system; rather, it uses the
private health insurance industry and enhances our
current market-based healthcare system. Individuals
choose to keep their current employer-based system
or opt into a separate plan. The bill provides ‘portability,’ in which individuals retain their insurance
regardless of the job they hold and, importantly,
businesses are freed from the administrative burden
of providing healthcare for employees because individuals are responsible for obtaining a private plan.”
CANCER... cont. from page 1
or a loss of focus during chemotherapy. Some therapies
also cause (as is well known) hair loss or change in skin
color, which also can take a huge emotional toll.
If workload capacity is temporarily diminished,
what is an employer to do? Dr. Gorak states, “The boss
should not fire them. They have been through enough.
The feedback I get from patients and families is that
their cancer care goes a lot more smoothly if the employer is supportive.” Typically if time off is needed, it
is usually on a short-term basis. Gorak has encountered
patients who were fired or laid off after diagnosis. According to some patient blogs he has read, many cancer
patients say that the boss makes it difficult for them,
creates a paper trail, and then lets them go.
Justin Fleming, Information Specialist, PA Department of Labor and Industry, said that whether an employer keeps an employee may “depend on the severity
of the condition, whether the employer has been in that
situation before, and how they handled it.”
Deanne Blocki, Supervisor, PA Office of Vocational
Rehabilitation explained, “The boss might be on the line
financially and not be able to afford the extra days off
and benefits.” Debbie Harrison, Career Services Manager, agreed. “Sometimes the insurance carrier may not
want to pick it up. The employer may be branded as a
‘meany,’ but it is just the circumstances.” Bottom-line
considerations come into play, says Harrison. Employees
are aware of the cost of developing good employees and
want to keep them because they know how valuable they
What An Employer Can Do To Help
When An Employee Has Cancer
1. Sit down and talk to the employee. Does
s/he need to change work hours or take breaks or get
something to eat?
2. Get someone to assist the employee on busy
days if you can.
3. Reassign or redistribute work as necessary.
4. Understand and respect his or her confidentiality.
5. Be aware that the employee may just need to
change his start and stop time or take a half day for
treatment.
6. Explore having a program in which one
Rep. Edward G. Staback (D, 115)
Rx: Healthy Work Environment
Many people seem to forget that the health care
providers upon whom they and their families depend
are people too. So who keeps the health care providers
healthy?
Pocono Lutheran Village, a Diakon Senior Living
Community in East Stroudsburg, takes care of both its residents and staff. Terri Rodeheaver, Executive Director of
Employee Development at parent company Diakon Lutheran Social Ministries, says, “We started a corporate wellness
program in a formal way in 2008. Each year several new
programs are implemented.” One of these is the Lifestyle
Returns program that helps employees focus on the impact
that lifestyle choices, such as smoking, being overweight,
and low activity, can have on their health. Highmark Blue
Shield, Diakon’s health insurance company, also offers
clinics to Diakon employees. For example, the workers
can join programs for smoking cessation, nutrition, stress
management, and osteoporosis prevention, weight management, walking, strength training, and general wellness.
Wayne Memorial Hospital (WMH)’s public relations manager Lisa Champeau said the facility offers its employees a
program in smoking cessation and lists the fat and calories on each menu item found in the cafeteria. WMH also
provides employee screenings, such as colonoscopies and
“soft-touch” mammograms.
Griswold Special Care, an East Stroudsburg-based firm
providing non-medical home care primarily to the elderly,
is invested in employee health and wellness. Vivian Vance,
director, says, “I firmly believe in having good health
insurance. I pay 100 percent of the premiums on my
employees’ health insurance.” While not a big company,
Griswold says such niceties are important in the work
environment. Vance is currently working at bringing in
people to give her employees back massages to relieve
tension, and she is a proponent of the occasional “mental
health day” when an employee needs it. “If we weren’t
compassionate people, we wouldn’t be in this business. I
try to do the little things that I can.”
Photo courtesy of PMC
By Andrea B. Reiter
are.
An employee in a larger firm typically has more
protections than the worker in a small company. Margaret Heffers, Associate Vice President of Human Resources at Geisinger Health System (Wilkes-Barre) explains.
“Firms with 50 or more employees must comply with
the Family and Medical Leave Act. Anyone who has a
serious health condition, which includes cancer, is covered for twelve weeks of leave during the year. That can
be (taken as) a block of time or intermittently.” There
are even rights for family members to take the patient to
treatment.
Heffers said that if a boss tries to make an employee’s life miserable because of the illness, it is
prohibited. “Employees may be afraid to (complain), but
they should go to the human resources offices or their
supervisor or manager. (At Geisinger) we can step in
and take appropriate action.”
Employers can terminate employment for excessive
absence or not doing the work, though. Scott Fuller,
Account Manager of Core People Resources in Stroudsburg, notes, “Employment can be terminated as long as
it is a performance-related issue and has nothing to do
with the illness.” As for confidentiality issues, Fuller
advises that employers help to maintain the individual’s
privacy by adding a workplace guideline in the employee handbook that reads, “Personal business of others is
not to be discussed and will not be tolerated.”
With a successful outcome, Gorak said the employer can be assured it’s business as usual. “When treatment
is over, most patients can pretty much go back to work
and resume their lives.”
Fruit and yogurt at Pocono Medical Center’s cafeteria,
where in-house foodservice director Heidi Franssen says a
quickly-obtained meal can be healthful.
employee may donate his vacation time to another
employee.
7. Refer the employee to your EAP (Employee
Assistance Program) if available and if needed
8. Work with the employee. Flexibility is the
key. The employee can sometimes work from home
with a computer and go for treatment in the time
saved.
9. As an alternative, you might permit the
employee to take time off for treatment and work
later—as long he gets the job done.
(Source: Margaret Heffers, HR at Geisinger)
Skip The Fries
By Sharon Rothman
Keeping the company cafeteria a model for
good eating habits is another important part of
workplace wellness. Heidi Franssen, Metz &
Associates’ in-house food service director for
Pocono Medical Center (East Stroudsburg), says,
“The challenge is to balance healthy food choices
with popular choices, and to give the consumer a
good quality product at a reasonable price, within
a reasonable amount of time. Being a busy hospital, people are in a hurry most of the time, yet
still want good food. We have expanded our salad
bar options, our Grab N Go sandwiches, and our
healthy choice snack selection to offer more quick
and convenient healthy options.” The cafeteria
also offers a seasonal menu, giving employees
and visitors varied food choices throughout the
year. “We take advantage of produce from local
growers in the area, which are healthier for the
consumers. There is a cost savings as well. A
seasonal menu is used because various produce
are more readily available at different times of the
year, which can affect the cost dramatically.”
22
BUSINESS
BRIEFS
FOCUS LIST
WHO’s WHO
BATES
CHESTER
COLLIS
DOLIN
FOLAND
FRANTZ
GIOVINCO
GREENBERG
GRZEZDZINSKI
HACKMAN
KEPHART
McGINNIS
NARSAVAGE
PERRY
PETERSON
REINA
RUTKOWSKI
SAWYER
SMITH
SMITH
SOLAN
VONES
WAGNER
WASSELL
YARMEL
Bartlett –Anne Marie Bartlett of Ruffino Real Estate in
Milford has been honored with the Realtor of the Month award
for two months in a row. Bartlett was also recently inducted
into the organization’s Executive Club, one of three top award
categories for agents.
Bates – With seven years of experience in real estate, Ronald
Bates has been hired as director of Sales and Marketing at Pinnacle Design Works, LLC (Stroudsburg). Pinnacle specializes
in building energy efficient homes.
Black - Melissa Black of The Dime Bank, Honesdale, recently
participated in the inaugural certificate program for the WaynePike Banking Alliance which included 75 hours of instruction
on effective customer service. Blake - Matthew Blake, EIT of McGoey, Hauser and Edsall,
Consulting Engineers, P.C. (Milford) has received Leadership
in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Accreditation
from the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED Accreditation is
a nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction
and operation of high performance green buildings.
Bodnyk – National Penn Bancshares, Inc. has named Sandra
L. Bodnyk Chief Risk Officer for the company. Bodnyk will
be responsible for National Penn’s risk management processes
including Commercial Credit, Fraud and Loss Prevention,
Security, Loan Review and Sarbanes-Oxley and Regulatory
Compliance.
Bortree - Elizabeth Bortree of The Dime Bank, Honesdale,
recently participated in the inaugural certificate program for
the Wayne-Pike Banking Alliance which included 75 hours of
instruction on effective customer service. Bowyer – Carole Ann F. Bowyer was presented with the
Evelyn Frederick Community Service Award by the Monroe
Co. United Way, which recognizes outstanding leadership and
commitment to the United Way.
Chester – Marianne Chester was presented with a Director’s
Award from the United Way of Monroe Co. for her well-organized effort in the commercial trades division for the second
year in a row, increasing new donors among smaller business
despite a tough economy.
Collis – Kris Collis has joined the Commonwealth Real Estate
Your Way, LLC team in Mt. Pocono. Collis holds the Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR) designation from the National
Association of Realtors.
Conroy – Christian Conroy has been named State Director
of the Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers. In
this role, Conroy will be responsible for directing, managing,
promoting and evaluating Pennsylvania SBDC services to
improve service delivery and impact.
D’Agostino - Diane D’Agostino of The Dime Bank, Honesdale, recently participated in the inaugural certificate program
for the Wayne-Pike Banking Alliance which included 75 hours
of instruction on effective customer service. Daly – Naomi Daly of Weichert, Realtors® - Ruffino Real
Estate was recently inducted into the organization’s Executive
Club, one of three top award categories for agents.
Davis - Donna Davis of The Dime Bank, Honesdale, recently
on effective customer service. DePasquale – Ron DePasquale has been honored for ten years
of service at Wayne Bank.
Distasi – Marcia Distasi of Weichert, Realtors® - Ruffino Real
Estate was recently inducted into the organization’s Executive
Club, one of the three top award categories for agents.
Dolin – Kathleen Reilly Dolin, associate professor of nursing at Northampton Community College in Bethlehem and
Tannersville, has been appointed by the National League for
Nursing (NLN) to serve as an NLN Ambassador. In this role,
Dolin will help keep faculty and administration informed about
the NLN’s initiatives and issues in nursing education.
Ehrhardt - Stephen Ehrhardt of The Dime Bank, Honesdale,
instruction on effective customer service. Epstein – Commonwealth Real Estate Your Way, LLC in Mt.
Pocono has named Shirley Epstein to its team of real estate experts. Epstein is a 20-year veteran in real estate in the Pocono
region, and holds the GRI designation.
Fama - Rebecca Fama of The Dime Bank, Honesdale, recently
on effective customer service. Foland – Connie Foland has joined the Commonwealth Real
Estate Your Way, LLC team in Mt. Pocono. Foland is a certified buyer’s agent and e-marketing specialist who specializes
in relocation, corporate, and foreclosure properties.
Frantz – Paul Frantz has been appointed chief of the Mission
Software
Branch, Production Engineering Directorate at Tobyhanna
Army Depot. Frantz supervises 29 people who perform computer software installation and maintenance for all missionrelated automated systems. Giovinco – Lori Ann Giovinco, Broker/Owner of RE/MAX
Crossroads in East Stroudsburg, recently earned the 2008
“Eagle Award” in the RE/MAX Pennsylvania and Delaware
Region. The Eagle Award honors the RE/MAX Broker/Owner
who has the highest agent net gain in a single year.
Greenberg – Michael J. Greenberg, M.D., Medical Director
and Radiation Oncologist, Dale & Frances Hughes Cancer
Center at Pocono Medical Center, is in the top 5% of 720,000
active physicians chosen to receive the “Patient’s Choice”
award.
Grippe – Peggy Grippe of Weichert, Realtors® - Ruffino Real
Estate earned a Sales Achievement Certificate from Weichert
Affiliates as a 2008 inductee into the Certificate Club.
Grzezdzinsk – Stephen Grzezdzinsk has been recognized
for 30 years of service to Tobyhanna Army Depot as a visual
information specialist, Administrative Support Division, Information Management Directorate.
Hackman – Craig Hackman joined the Commonwealth Real
Estate Your Way, LLC team in Mt. Pocono. Hackman has been
a real estate professional since 2002, and has earned several
awards for top listing and selling.
Haggarty - Nancy Haggarty of The Dime Bank, Honesdale,
instruction on effective customer service. Hendrickson - Lisa Hendrickson of The Dime Bank, Honesdale, recently participated in the inaugural certificate program
of instruction on effective customer service. Jennings - Elizabeth Jennings of The Dime Bank, Honesdale,
instruction on effective customer service. Jewett-Smith – Dr. Jerilyn Jewett-Smith, associate professor
of biological sciences, along with an environmental studies
major student at East Stroudsburg University presented their
research on the impact of sewage from a new casino and its
impacts the macroinvertebrate community at the 85th Annual
Meeting of the Pennsylvania Academy of Science.
Kephart – Dawn Kephart joined the Commonwealth Real
Estate Your Way, LLC team in Mt. Pocono. Kephart has been
a licensed real estate agent in the Pocono Mountains region for
more than 30 years. She specializes in residential real estate
and is a Certified Buyer’s Agent, and holds the ABR and e-Pro
certified designations.
Kudrich - Jeremy Kudrich of The Dime Bank, Honesdale,
instruction on effective customer service. Kitchens-Kintz –Dr. Maria Kitchens-Kintz, assistant professor at East Stroudsburg University, will serve as session chair
for Cell Biology and report on the effects of epigallocatechin-3
-gallate and purified caffeine on cancer cell growth at the 85th
Annual Meeting of the Pennsylvania Academy of Science.
Locklin - Joyce Locklin of The Dime Bank, Honesdale,
instruction on effective customer service. MacMullen - Dena MacMullen of The Dime Bank, Honesdale, recently participated in the inaugural certificate program
of instruction on effective customer service. May - Heather May of The Dime Bank, Honesdale, recently
on effective customer service. McGinnis – Jodi McGinnis joined Weichert, Realtors® Acclaim in Tannersville as a specialist in resident sales. She
serves clients in Monroe County and surrounding areas as a
member of the Pocono Mountains Association of Realtors.
23
BUSINESS BRIEFS
WHO’s WHO
McElwee – Christie McElwee has joined the team of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate, Wilkins & Associates in
Bushkill. McElwee has been licensed since 2003.
Estate Your Way, LLC team in Mt. Pocono. Smith has been
a Realtor for six years, and holds the Certified Residential
Specialist designation.
Estate Your Way, LLC team in Mt. Pocono. Wagner has been
marketing residential real estate since 1995, and specializes in
new construction.
Mellow – Senator Robert J. Mellow has been introduced as
East Stroudsburg University’s 2009 Legislative Fellow. The
Legislative Fellow Program at ESU was established in 1999 to
invite a different Pennsylvania state legislator every year. Smith – Franklin Smith has been recognized for 30 years
of service to Tobyhanna Army Depot as a materials handler,
Communications Security Division, Communications Systems
Directorate.
Walker - Stacy Walker of The Dime Bank, Honesdale,
instruction on effective customer service. Mooney – Associate Broker Dennis Mooney of Better Homes
and Gardens Real Estate Wilkins & Associates has been appointed to the Board of Directors for the Eastern Pennsylvania
chapter of the Arthritis Foundation. The chapter serves 22
counties in Eastern Pennsylvania.
Solan – Richard Solan has been recognized for 30 years of
service to Tobyhanna Army Depot as a materials handler,
Materiel Management Division, Production Management
Directorate.
Wassell – Joseph Wassell has been appointed chief of the Avionics Division, Command, Control and Computer (C3)/Avionics Directorate at Tobyhanna Army Depot. Wassell supervises
215 people who provide full-spectrum life cycle maintenance
covering overhaul, repair, test and inspection support for Joint
Airborne Avionics systems and other programs.
Narsavage – Victor Narsavage has been appointed chief of the
Tactical Communications Facilities Branch, Systems Integration and Support Directorate at Tobyhanna Army Depot.
Narsavage supervises 33 people who fabricate cables and
cable harnesses for the Blue Force Tracking, the airborne radio
system and the weapon station systems. Newsom - Tonya Newsom of The Dime Bank, Honesdale,
instruction on effective customer service. Nikles – Ed Nikles Custom Builders has finished constructing the first National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)
Certified “Green” and “Five Star Plus” Energy Star rated home
in Pike County. In the design of this home, Nikles utilized
readily available green products and materials that are resource
efficient, energy saving, water saving, and sustainable.
Ogden - Cory Ogden, EIT, of McGoey, Hauser and Edsall,
Consulting Engineers, P.C. (Milford) has received Leadership
from the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED Accreditation is
a nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction
O’Neil – The Pike County Chamber of Commerce recently
announced the addition of Celeste O’Neil to its Board of
Directors. O’Neil is also involved in the Pike County United
Way, the Black Bear Film Festival, and the Pocono Counties
Workforce Investment Board.
Penna – Clarice Penna has joined the Commonwealth Real Estate Your Way, LLC team in Mt. Pocono. Penna has been a real
estate professional for 13 years, and holds the GRI designation.
Perry – Jerome Perry is the owner/director of the new, familyrun Gluco Lodge Personal Care Home in Stroudsburg. The
Gluco Lodge is an assisted living facility that specializes in
providing care for adults with diabetes.
Peterson – Jeffrey Peterson has joined the Commonwealth
Real Estate Your Way, LLC team in Mt. Pocono. Peterson
earned his real estate license in 1989, and has since earned
designations in the Multi-Million Dollar Club and the Sterling
Society.
Pilz – Angelina Pilz of Weichert, Realtors - Ruffino Real
Estate earned a Sales Achievement Certificate from Weichert
Affiliates as a 2008 inductee into the Certificate Club.
Reina – Charles Reina has been recognized for 35 years of
service to Tobyhanna Army Depot as an equipment specialist,
Signal Intelligence/Electronic Warfare Division, Intelligence,
Surveillance and Reconnaissance Directorate.
Reguzzoni - Kathy Murphy Reguzzoni of The Dime Bank,
Honesdale, recently participated in the inaugural certificate
program for the Wayne-Pike Banking Alliance which included
75 hours of instruction on effective customer service. Rutkowski – David Rutkowski has been recognized for 30
years of service to the Tobyhanna Army Depot as an equipment specialist, Engineer Design, Development and Manufacturing Division, Production Engineering Directorate.
Ruzanski - Eugene Ruzanski, P.E., of McGoey, Hauser and
Edsall, Consulting Engineers, P.C. (Milford) has received
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Accreditation from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).
LEED Accreditation is a nationally accepted benchmark for
the design, construction and operation of high performance
green buildings.
Sawyer – Rose Sawyer of Century 21 Select Group in Hamlin
has earned a real estate broker’s license for the State of Pennsylvania. Sawyer will continue to specialize in residential
property sales in the Lake Ariel and Lake Wallenpaupack area.
Smith – Bobbie Smith has joined the Commonwealth Real
Stadmueller – Diane Stadmueller of Weichert, Realtors Ruffino Real Estate was recently inducted into the organization’s Executive Club, one of three top award categories for
agents.
Summers - Audrey Summers of The Dime Bank, Honesdale,
instruction on effective customer service. Szarowski - John Szarowski, P.E., of McGoey, Hauser and
Edsall, Consulting Engineers, P.C. (Milford) has received
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Accreditation from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).
LEED Accreditation is a nationally accepted benchmark for
the design, construction and operation of high performance
green buildings.
Vitorio - Jennifer Vitorio of The Dime Bank, Honesdale,
instruction on effective customer service. Vones – James Vones was named shift supervisor at Tobyhanna Army Depot. He is responsible for all law enforcement
patrol operations.
Wagner – Karen Wagner has joined the Commonwealth Real
Webber – Tracy Renee Webber, RN, CNM, MSN, MPA, has
been appointed as midwife at Pocono Medical Center, having
recently delivered her first baby at PMC’s Mother Baby Unit.
Midwifery is a new service available at Pocono Medical Center where mothers can receive prenatal care, assistance with
the birth of their infant, as well as postpartum care for both the
mother and infant.
Whidden – Dr. Howard (Sandy) Whidden, associate professor of biological sciences at East Stroudsburg University, will
serve as session chair for vertebrate ecology and behavior at
the 85th Annual Meeting of the Pennsylvania Academy of
Science.
Williams - Michelle Williams of The Dime Bank, Honesdale,
instruction on effective customer service. Yarmel – Matthew Yarmel has been recognized for 35 years of
service to Tobyhanna Army Depot as an information technology specialist, Engineering Division, Public Works Directorate.
Zotynia –Melanie J. Zotynia has been named to Commonwealth Real Estate Your Way, LLC’s team of real estate experts
in Mt. Pocono. Zotynia earned her Realtor license in May of
2008.
WHAT’s WHAT
Bark Avenue Dog Grooming Salon, Inc. located in Shohola
recently held a grand opening. Owner Lisa Kogan and her
husband renovated the facility to accommodate a Doggie Day
Care in the “Doggie Den.”
Bayada Nurses has opened a new pediatric office in East
Stroudsburg. It provides nurses, home health aides and therapists to pediatric and adult clients who have in-home needs
ranging from high-tech skilled care to companionship. The
office will serve children with special needs.
Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Wilkins & Associates has announced the winners of its first “Battle of the
Offices-Listing Contest for 2009.” Both the Bushkill and North
Pocono locations won.
Bottom Time Productions of East Stroudsburg has made
an agreement with national broadcast channel H2O to air
the award-winning travel program Dive Travel TV starting
in June. This agreement expands the programs audience to
over 50,000,000 homes across
America.
Close The Loop LLC (Kunkletown) won the Greater Pocono Chamber of Commerce’s
Save Our Planet Award in the
Business category.
The Omnibus Public Lands bill
signed into law by President
Obama has officially designated the D&L NHC, Inc. as
the managing entity for the
Delaware & Lehigh National
Heritage Corridor and authorized funding through fiscal
year 2012.
The Stroud Township Supervisors and operating professionals at the municipal-owned
Glen Brook Golf Club have
teamed up with Pat Mullally, former owner/operator of
Dansbury Depot, for a new restaurant named The Clubhouse
Café (Stroudsburg). The restaurant opened in March.
Global Medical Weight Loss, a new bariatric practice opened
in East Stroudsburg, headed by Dr. Harpreet K Singh. The
practice is geared towards non-surgical, medical weight loss
options, long term maintenance of weight loss and exercise
modules.
The Gluco Lodge, an assisted living community located in
Stroudsburg, recently opened. It specializes in providing care
for adults with diabetes.
Horizon Dental Care (Hawley) held its fourth annual “Dentistry from the Heart Day,” when free dentistry was provided
for 200 people from the community valued at $60,000.
KNBT (Keystone Nazareth Bank and Trust) representatives
see WHAT’s WHAT page 24
24
BUSINESS BRIEFS
WHAT’s WHAT
WHAT’s WHAT... cont. from page 23
visited Pocono Healthy Communities Alliance and presented
a check through the PA Educational Improvement Tax Credit
Program in the amount of $3,660.
Lehigh Carbon Community College announced the installation of the International Educational Honors Society, Kappa
Delta Pi. LCC is the first community college in Pennsylvania
to have the educational honors society.
The Local Workforce Investment Boards in Northeast Pennsylvania recently received funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry for the Northeast Pennsylvania
Advanced/Diversified Manufacturing Industry Partnership. For
more information contact: Joseph Sebelin at (570) 325-2462 or
email [email protected].
Several employees of McGoey, Hauser and Edsall, Consulting Engineers, P.C. (Milford) have achieved their Leadership
from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). LEED Accreditation is a national benchmark for the design, construction
Northampton Community College’s Electrotechnology
Application Center has received funding in the amount of
nearly $400,000. The center assists companies in developing
environmentally-friendly business practices, and has a separate
program to help track students’ successes electronically at the
college. The funding was secured in the Omnibus Appropriations bill on March 11.
The PoconoArts Council has several openings on its Board
of Directors. Business owners and professionals who are
interested should have an interest in the arts and live outside
the Stroudsburg/East Stroudsburg area. For more information
call Executive Director Laura Goss at (570) 476-4460 or email
[email protected].
Reading Escapades, a tutoring service in Jim Thorpe and
Palmerton, recently held its grand opening. Owner Christine
Silfies received an award of recognition from Gov. Rendell for
her achievement.
Richard Henry Construction received two awards at the
Building Industry Association of Northeastern Pennsylvania’s
2009 Keystone Awards. The company received top honors for
2008 Single Family Home Design Over 4,000 Square Feet &
Website Marketing Design & Content.
The Pike County Economic Development Authority
recently announced a partnership with the Milford business
community to publicize Milford as a Heritage Travel destina-
tion. Last year, PCEDA purchased a membership in the Main
Street Network, a membership program of the National Trust
for Historic Preservation.
Scott’s Collision Center (Stroudsburg) won Honorable Mention in the Business category at the Greater Pocono Chamber
of Commerce’s Save Our Planet awards.
Shawnee Inn And Golf Resort (Shawnee-on-Delaware) won
the Save Our Planet Award in the Travel & Tourism category
at the Greater Pocono Chamber of Commerce.
Nearly $2.8 million has been awarded to Tobyhanna Army
Depot for repairs and construction for military family housing,
upgrades to the water distribution system, and other renovations. The federal funding was allocated as a result of the recovery package passed in February. Additionally, Tobyhanna
Army Depot recently partnered with Picatinny Arsenal, N.J.,
to build a device that will help protect warfighters against the
threat of improvised explosive devices (IED). The RG-33 IED
Roller Interface Bracket prototype passed a fit test in February.
Please send all press releases for
consideration to [email protected]
How Young Adults See Retail
This year’s Student
Bylines author,
Daequanna Mathis
By Daequanna Mathis
Carbon Student Gets
First Official Byline
By Debbie Burke
This year, PBJ partnered with Carbon Career & Technical Institute for a project that brings the world of work
right to the doorstep of its high school students.
CCTI student Daequanna Mathis, a junior interested in
marketing and journalism, was recommended by Marketing
Instructor Erin Schmitt to pen this year’s piece, a view of
the economy through the eyes of students.
Future Student Bylines opportunities will be open to
students at other schools throughout the Pocono region. For
more information, call (570) 421-0100 or email editor@
pbjonline.com.
The PBJ Student Bylines logo (above) was created in
2008 by Justin Matt/Monroe County Career & Technical
Institute.
In light of the recent recession, when many businesses
are failing and closing down, it’s valuable for business
owners to try and figure out which type of company has
been suffering the most so far and why; which will survive
and which will deteriorate during our “next Depression.”
The first indicator may be to observe where people are
shopping and eating now. Do factors like quality, business ethics and customer
service still matter or does the need for nearly free merchandise override them? It would be interesting for business owners to know the effect of reduced consumer confidence on people’s drive to shop. According to MSNBC’s
recent article “Consumer Spending in January Rises,”
consumer spending nudged up in January, with the sale of
products and services increasing slightly by 0.6%, notably
the highest upward swing since May of 2008. Does the consumer prefer to eat or shop at big franchises or small “Mom and Pop” establishments? Why is
that? What draws consumers? Are they concerned with
quality and affordability or are they driven by emotional
motives? These questions were recently answered by six
adults and four students from Carbon Career & Technical Institute. One interviewee was undecided; most of
Coming Next Month ... June 2009
them preferred small shops; and six of them preferred
Mom and Pop shops. These people choose to support
the “little guy.” When asked why she fancies familyowned establishments one claimant responded with
“To support their desire to make a living. Times are
hard.” Another student answered that she’d rather
support the smaller businesses than a big chain that
everyone goes to.
“Usually franchise prices are more affordable but
the quality of food is better at Mom and Pop places.”
replied Dave Reinbold, who doesn’t eat fast food and
who is also Acting Director of CCTI. He was also one
of the people who prefer small shops. Most respondents who favored large franchises
felt the assortment of brands that franchises carry was
a remarkable trait that many small corner shops don’t
possess. Brent Borzak, principal at CCTI, said, “The
variety of products and the multitude of brands for
each product make me a big fan of franchises. Franchises offer a more competitive price and quality.”
“Small town generic stuff doesn’t really reflect
the quality, but you also can’t sacrifice quality for a
better price,” said Anna Leigh Rowlands, a Mom and
Pop supporter.
“Big franchises aren’t cheaper, but the quality is
better,” claimed franchise enthusiast Jodiann Collier.
Daequanna Mathis is a student at Carbon Career &
Technical Institute.
POCONO
Real Estate: Commercial, Residential
• Slaying The Vacancy Beast: Filling the space in our business parks
• Getting Your Banker To “Yes”: How to make sure the lending stream still flows
• The Value Of Copper: The raw materials market for residential and commercial builders
www.pbjonline.com
• Be A Commonwealth Supplier Now: Finding contract opportunities with the state
• Professional Profile: Liberty Homes finds balance between commercial and residential
www.pbjonline.com
25
FOCUS LIST
By
County: Carbon Monroe Pike Wayne
Wayne
Pike
Monroe
Carbon
Organization
Address
ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
Phone
Contact
Web site
Services
Nancy M. Porambo
www.thetherapyoption.
com
Structurally integrated
massage, neuromuscular
therapy, entrepreneurial
training programs
The Therapy Option
616 Center St.
Jim Thorpe, PA 18229
(570) 325-9477
Corporate Health Connection, LLC.
11 Long View Drive
Stroudsburg, PA 18360
(570) 424-0459
Vicki Hicks
Massage therapy
David Gaglione
35 N 7th St # 2
Stroudsburg, PA 18360-2153
(570) 421-4918
David Gaglione
Acupuncture
Great Day Massage Works
66 Lake Valhalla
East Stroudsburg, PA 18301
(570) 476-4317
Ephraim Oliver
www.greatdaymassagepa.com
Massage, integrated neurosomatic therapy
Monroe Hypnosis & Longevity
Center
HC 87 Box 110 E.
Pocono Lake, PA 18347
(570) 504-1681
Anthony F. Mullen
www.afmullen.com
Adult and pediatric
hypnosis consultation,
Doctor of Nature Medicine
Wanda Courtright Therapeutic
Massage & Reflexology
RR 4 Box 4191 Haney Road
(570) 992-6473
Wanda L. Courtright
Deep tissue massage,
myofascial release,
Swedish massage
Wellspring Holistic Center
554 Main St.
(570) 421-3708
Anita Bondi
wellspring.music4moment.com
Acupuncture, massage,
body wraps, cranio sacral
therapy, deep tissue
massage, ear candling,
facials, light therapy, nutritional counseling, reiki,
Thai massage, reflexology
Lightseeds Center
310 Broad Street, 2nd floor
Milford, PA 18337
(570) 296-5355
Anne Palmer
Lightseedsyoga.com
Ayurveda consultation,
body care, facials, Thai
yoga massage, workshops
Wellness Systems & Technology
P.O. Box 945
Milford, PA 18337
(570) 686-5118
Joe Lupo
www.stek.com
Alternative health and
cardiovascular screenings
Himalayan International Institute
952 Bethany Turnpike
Honesdale, PA 18431
Pandit Rajmani Tigunait
www.himalayaninstitute.org
Yoga workshops and teaching certification, Ayurveda,
integrative medicine, spirituality, holistic health
Honesdale Wellness Center
602 Church St.
Honesdale, PA 18431
(570) 253-5551
(570) 253-6621
Hypnotherapy, craniosacral
therapy, yoga, reflexology,
pain management, smoking
cessation, massage therapy,
counseling
Nathaniel Whitmore
Disclaimer: If your organization is located within Carbon, Monroe, Pike and Wayne in northeastern Pennsylvania and was not included in the listing, please contact Pocono
Business Journal so we can ensure it is included in future editions of this focus list.
Recovery Plan For PA Businesses
According to Recovery.pa.gov, Pennsylvania businesses
“…and the enterprising individuals who run them will benefit
from a number of tax credits and other incentives, federal and
state loans and loan guarantees to help them grow and create
new jobs, and financing to promote energy independence. In
addition to federal relief, businesses can also increase their
revenues by applying for state government contracts. “
These measures include:
Federal Business Tax Relief & Incentives
The federal economic recovery legislation extends numerous tax credits and incentives to businesses in the commonwealth.
Extension of Bonus Depreciation
Allows businesses to immediately write-off of 50%of
the cost of capital expenditures on depreciable property (e.g.,
equipment, tractors, wind turbines, solar panels, and computers) acquired in 2009.
Election to Accelerate Recognition of Historic AMT/R&D
Credits
Businesses can opt to accelerate the recognition of a portion of their historic AMT or research and development (R&D)
credits in lieu of bonus depreciation in 2009.
Extension of Enhanced Small Business Expensing
Small businesses may elect to write-off the cost of certain
capital expenses in the year of acquisition in lieu of recovering these costs over time through depreciation until the end of
2010.
5-Year Carryback of Net Operating Losses for Small Businesses
The net operating losses (“NOLs”) carryback period is
extended to five years for small businesses with gross receipts
of $15 million or less.
Delayed Recognition of Certain Cancellation of Debt
Income (CODI)
Certain businesses will be allowed to recognize
CODI over 10 years for specified types of business debt
repurchased by the business after December 31, 2008 and
before January 1, 2011.
Incentives to Hire Unemployed Veterans and Disconnected Youth
Businesses are now allowed to claim a work opportunity tax credit equal to 40 percent of the first $6,000
of wages paid to unemployed veterans and disconnected
youth.
Small Business Capital Gains
Allows a seventy-five percent (75%) exclusion for
individuals on the gain from the sale of certain small business stock held for more than five years.
Temporary Small Business Estimated Tax Payment Relief
Certain small businesses will see a reduction in their
2009 required estimated tax payments.
Temporary Reduction of S Corporation Built-In Gains
Holding Period
Taxable corporations that convert to S corporations
in 2009 or 2010 will only need to hold their assets for
seven years in order to avoid a tax on any built-in gains
following the conversion.
Track That Recovery
Information on where PA’s portion of the Recovery
Act money is going is now available at www.recovery.
pa.gov. A current snapshot shows $4 billion is going to
health care; $2.56 billion for education; $1.4 billion for
transportation and infrastructure; $1.1 for job training and
relief; $472 million for energy independence; and $361
million for other infrastructure/housing.
Click on “Local Projects” to see, by county, what
locations are getting a piece of the pie in the categories of
Tax Relief, Unemployment Compensation, Health Insurance for the Unemployed, Children’s Health Insurance,
and Food Assistance; how many people have been/will be
helped, and a description.
Photo credit: PBJ
By Debbie Burke
Business And Conservation
Working Together, At Borders
Craig Todd (at left), district manager, and Darryl Speicher (far right), environmental educator, both from
Monroe County Conservation District, talked about
sustainable communities in the Poconos at March’s
Business and Books at Borders (Stroudsburg). The
next Business and Books presentation takes place on
May 21 and features Chuck Leonard, executive director of Pocono Mountains Economic Development
Corp. Leonard will lead a discussion on “Economic
Development Trends In The Poconos.” The event is
free of charge. See our calendar of events on page 27
for details.
26
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
May 1
BNI Shawnee-on-Delaware, Inn at Shawnee, 7:00 a.m. –
8:30 a.m. Call (570) 420-8656 or e-mail [email protected] for
more information.
Exceptional Customer Service, Northampton Community
College, Bethlehem location, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Cost:
$210. Call (610) 861-5590 or e-mail [email protected]
for more information.
May 4
Coaching For Improved Performance, Northampton Community College, Bethlehem location. 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Cost: $315. Call 610-861-5590 for more information.
Brown Bag Monday, Carbon County Chamber of Commerce, 12:00 noon. Informal lunch with CCCC management
at CCCC Office. Reservations required. Call (610) 379-5000
May 5
Managing The Performance Of Others, Northampton Community College, Bethlehem location. 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Cost: $315. Call (610) 861-5590 for more information.
Marketing on a Tight Budget, Carbondale Chamber of Commerce, 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Offered through the University of Scranton Small Business Development Center. Cost:
free, pre-registration required. Call (570) 941-7588 for more
information.
May 6
LeTip of Stroudsburg, 7:00 a.m. - 8:30 a.m., JR’s, Green
Tree Drive, East Stroudsburg. Call (570) 588-4113 for more
information.
BNI Milford, 7:00 a.m., Mount Haven Resort, 123 Log
Tavern Rd., Milford. Contact Carl Pallini at (570) 296-7176
Working with Teams, Northampton Community College,
Bethlehem location, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Cost: $315. Call
(610) 861-5590 or e-mail [email protected] for more
information.
Surviving & Thriving in Turbulent Times: Real Estate Financing in the New Economy. Urban Philadelphia Institute’s
Annual Forum, Center City Philadelphia, 7:30 a.m. – 10:00
a.m. Topic: Call Susan Baltake at (856) 428-8547 or (800)
321-5011, or visit www.philadelphia.uli.org for more information.
Sixth Annual World Language Teacher Workshop, University of Scranton, 8:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Topic: Teaching World
Languages – Sharing What Works. Cost: $49. Earn ACT 48
hours. Call (570) 941-7582 for more information.
May 6 & 7
Greater Pocono Chamber of Commerce Business Expo, Koehler Fieldhouse, East Stroudsburg University. 2009 theme:
All-American. Cost: $2 for adults, $1 for children under 12.
Call (570) 421-4433 for more information.
May
May 7
BNI Bartonsville, 7:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m., Burnley Workshop,
Snydersville. Call Jim Connor at (570) 237-5869 for more
information.
Making Effective Presentations, Northampton Community
College, Bethlehem location, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Cost:
$210. Call (610) 861-5590 or e-mail [email protected].
Pesticide Applicator Certification Examinations, Monroe Co.
Cooperative Extension office, Stroudsburg, 8:30 a.m. – 12:00
noon. Call (570) 421-6430 to register or Chris Santore with
questions at (570) 836-2181.
May 8
BNI Shawnee-on-Delaware, 7:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m., Inn at
Shawnee. Call (570) 420-8656 or e-mail [email protected] for
more information.
Editors On The Road Part 2, Pocono Business Journal, for
PoconoWomen’s Lunch ’n Learn series, 11:30 a.m. Monroe
County location to be announced. Increase your bottom line
with PBJ. Email Trudie Lear at [email protected] or call
(570) 421-0100 for more information.
The First Step: Starting Your Business, PCEDA/Pike Chamber of Commerce, 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Offered through the
University of Scranton Small Business Development Center.
Cost: $10, pre-registration required. Call (570) 941-7588 for
more information.
May 11
Brown Bag Monday, Carbon County Chamber of Commerce,
12:00 noon. Informal lunch with CCCC management at
CCCC Office. Reservations required. Call (610) 379-5000 for
more information.
Effective Selection Interviewing, Northampton Community
Greater Pocono Chamber of Commerce Business Card
Exchange, Great Bear Golf & Country Club, 5:00 p.m. – 7:00
p.m. Hawaiian theme. Cost: free. Members only. Reservations required. Call (570) 223-2000 for more information.
May 12
Business LINK Seminar: How Good Businesses Survive a
Bad Economy, Peckville, 8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Cost: free.
Pre-registration required. Visit www.MetroAction.org to
register or call (570) 341-0270 for more information.
Women in Business Luncheon, Dansbury Depot, 12:00 noon.
Hosted by Greater Pocono Chamber of Commerce. Topic: 10
safety tips for women. Presented by the Pennsylvania State
Police. Cost: $15 for Chamber members in advance, $18
non-members and walk-ins. Call (570) 421-4433 for more
information.
Building Relationships With Effective Communication,
Monroe Career & Technical Institute, 12:00 noon – 1:45 p.m.
Cost: $10 for members of Association of Fundraising Professionals, $20 for non-members. Call Richard Berkowitz at
Business Development Workshop, Monroe Public Library
(Brodheadsville), 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Sponsored by
the Greater Pocono Chamber of Commerce’s West End
Committee. Advance registration required. Cost: $10. Call
Mamie DiBella at (570) 402-7450 by May 11 to register and
The First Step: Starting Your Business, Coolbaugh Township Municipal Building, 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Offered
through the University of Scranton Small Business Development Center. Cost: $10, pre-registration required. Call
Wayne County Builders Association Dinner, Tick Tock
Restaurant, Honesdale, 6:00 p.m. Board meeting @ 4:30
p.m. Topic: TBA. Sponsored by Wayne Bank. Call (570)
226-4941 for more information.
Understanding PA Government, 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m., PPL
Wallenpaupack Environmental Learning Center, Hawley.
Given by Penn State Cooperative Extension, Milford. Cost:
free. Register by May 8. Call (570) 296-3400 for more
information.
May 14
information.
Conflict Resolution Strategies, Northampton Community
Gaining Ground in an Economic Slowdown, Milford, 12:00
p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Offered through the University of Scranton
Small Business Development Center. Costs vary; pre-registration required. Call (570) 941-7588 for more information.
Fundamentals of Natural Gas Exploration and Leasing,
6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Wallenpaupack High School, Hawley. Given by Penn State Cooperative Extension, Milford.
Marcellus Shale, understanding and negotiating a gas lease.
Cost: $10. Registration required by May 9. Call (570) 2963400 for more information.
May 15
Metals and Machinery, Electronics & IT, International Trade
Advisors visit to NEPA. Held at Pocono Mountains Economic Development Corp., Tobyhanna. Call (570) 655-5581
Registration deadline, Trade Mission to South Africa, June
17-26. Cost: $300. Call Debbie Phillips of NEPA Alliance
at (570) 655-5581 or e-mail [email protected] for
more information.
more information.
Greater Pocono Chamber of Commerce Monthly Breakfast,
Pocono Inne Town, 7:30 a.m. Sponsored by Pennstar Bank.
Cost: $10 for members in advance, $15 to non-members in
advance, $12 for members at door, $20 to non-members at
the door. Call (570) 421-4433 for more information.
I-exchange Innovation Guru, Ben Franklin Technology Partners. Held at Zoellner Arts Center, Lehigh University, 5:30
p.m. Call (610) 758-5200 for more information.
5S: Workplace Organization & Standardization, Country
Inn & Suites, Reading, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Sponsored by
the Manufacturers Resource Center. Cost: $300. Call Angie
Bove at (610) 758-4588 or e-mail [email protected] for
more information.
May 13
information.
May 16
Pike County Cooperative Extension’s 85th Anniversary celebration, Cooperative Extension office, Milford, 10:00 a.m.
– 4:00 p.m. Call (570) 296-3400 for more information.
BNI Milford, 7:00 a.m., Mount Haven Resort, 123 Log Tavern Rd., Milford. Call Carl Pallini at (570) 296-7176 for more
information.
May 18
Brown Bag Monday, Carbon County Chamber of Commerce, 12:00 noon. Informal lunch with CCCC management at CCCC Office. Reservations required. Call (610)
ProfitCLUB, Burnley Workshop, Snydersville, 7:15 a.m. –
8:45 a.m. Run by ActionCOACH, this meeting is like a group
business coaching session. First meeting is free. Call (570)
see CALENDAR page 27
27
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
CALENDAR... cont. from page 26
May 19
Small Business Resource Clinic, MetroAction, East Stroudsburg University location. 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Cost: free,
pre-registration required. Call (570) 341-0270 for more
information.
Financing Your Business, Milford Borough Building, 2:00
p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Offered through the University of Scranton
Small Business Development Center. Call (570) 941-7588
Small Business Resource Clinic, MetroAction, Dingman
Township location. 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Cost: free, preregistration required. Call (570) 341-0270 for more information.
May 20
information.
BNI Milford, 7:00 a.m., Mount Haven Resort, 123 Log
Tavern Rd., Milford. Call Carl Pallini at (570) 296-7176 for
more information.
Road to Ready: Partnering for Emergency Preparedness,
Northampton Community College, Main Campus, 8:00 a.m.
- 4:00 p.m. Cost: free. Registration deadline May 13. Call
(610) 861-5467 or e-mail [email protected] for
more information.
Introduction to Excel, Northampton Community College,
Bethlehem location, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Cost: $210. Call
610-861-5590 or e-mail [email protected] for more
information.
Giving Circles & Fundraising In The New Philanthropy,
East Stroudsburg location. 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Cost: $5 for
members of the Association of Fundraising Professionals,
$15 for non-members. Call Richard Berkowitz at (570) 4202808 for more information.
Watts Up With Electricity? 1:15 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. at Harrisburg Hilton. Hosted by the PA Food Merchants Association and the PA Convenience Store Council. Cost: $40. Call
Jamie Overmiller at (800) 543-8207 for more information.
The First Step: Starting Your Business, University of Scranton, 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Offered through the University of
Scranton Small Business Development Center. Cost: $10,
pre-registration required. Call (570) 941-7588 for more
information.
May 21
information.
Small Business Award Luncheon, Scranton, 11:30 a.m. –
1:30 p.m. Visit www.MetroAction.org or call (570) 341-0270
Natural Gas Webinar: Governments’ Roles. Penn State Cooperative Extension. 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Online presentation. Call (570) 296-3400 for more information.
Pocono Business Journal’s Business & Books
series, Borders Café in Stroudsburg, 5:30 p.m. – 6:30
p.m. Topic: Economic Development Trends in NEPA,
presented by Chuck Leonard of Pocono Mountains
Economic Development Corp. Cost: free. Call Pocono
Business Journal at (570) 421-0100 for more information.
May 22
8:30 a.m. Call (570) 420-8656 or email [email protected] for
more information.
May 25
Brown Bag Monday, Carbon County Chamber of Commerce, 12:00 noon. Informal lunch with CCCC management
at CCCC Office. Reservations required. Call (610) 379-5000
May 26
Stress Management, Northampton Community College,
Bethlehem location, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Cost: $210. Call
(610) 861-5590 or e-mail [email protected] for more
information.
p.m. Offered through the University of Scranton Small
Business Development Center. Costs vary; pre-registration
required. Call (570) 941-7588 for more information.
May 30
Heartsaver First Aid, Northampton Community College,
Bethlehem location, 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Cost: $45. Registration deadline: May 22. Call (610) 332-6585 for more
information.
May 27
information.
Contact PBJ
for Ad Rates.
BNI Milford, Mount Haven Resort, Milford, 7:00 a.m. Call
Carl Pallini at (570) 296-7176 for more information.
www.pbjonline.com
e-mail: [email protected]
ProfitCLUB, Burnley Workshop, 7:15 a.m. – 8:45 a.m. Run
by ActionCOACH, this meeting is like a group business
coaching session. First meeting is free. Call (570) 517-7100
The First Step: Starting Your Business, East Stroudsburg
University, 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Offered through the
University of Scranton Small Business Development Center.
Cost: $10, pre-registration required. Call (570) 941-7588 for
more information.
Pocono Mountains Association of Realtors Community
Expo, 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., The Lodge at Mountain
Springs, Route 715. Vendor table, includes one lunch buffet,
$60. Admission, includes one lunch buffet, $25.Call (570)
May 28
information.
Greater Honesdale Partnership Meeting, Honedale Visitors
Center, 7:30 a.m. Call Gail Tucker at (570) 253-5492 for
more information.
May 29
more information.
May 28
Deadline to enter the 2009 Bizzy Awards competition.
Monies raised will benefit the Greater Pocono Chamber of
Commerce’s Business Resource Center. Cost for entry: $35.
Visit www.BizzyAwards.com or call (570) 421-4433 for
more information.
Learning Spanish on the World Wide Web, University of
Scranton, 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. Cost: $25. Earn ACT 48
hours. Call (570) 941-7582 for more information.
Gaining Ground in an Economic Slowdown, Milford,
12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Offered through the University
of Scranton Small Business
Development Center. Costs
vary; pre-registration required.
Call (570) 941-7588 for more
information.
Gaining Ground in an Economic Slowdown, Moosic,
3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Offered
through the University of
Scranton Small Business
Development Center. Costs
vary; pre-registration required.
Call (570) 941-7588 for more
information.
May 23
Financial Issues Affecting Older Adults, Penn State CooperaGaining Ground in an Ecotive Extension, 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. Call (570) 296-3400 or
nomic Slowdown, Dime Bank,
visit pike.extension.psu.edu for more information.
Honesdale, 7:00 p.m. – 9:00
POCONO
www.pbjonline.com
Report: PA Hospitals Have
$84 Billion Effect On Jobs,
Communities
Harrisburg —Pennsylvania’s hospitals annually contribute approximately $84 billion and
625,000 jobs to the state’s economy, according to a new report released by The Hospital
& Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania
(HAP). The Economic and Social Roles of
Pennsylvania’s Hospitals shows the positive effects Pennsylvania’s hospitals have as economic
anchors in their communities.
The HAP report also quantifies hospital
community benefit, which includes charity care
and financial aid programs (includes uncompensated care, bad debt, and Medicare and Medicaid underpayments), public education, health
fairs, school programs, screenings, and much
more. Based on data compiled from hospitals
across the state, HAP estimates the value of
hospital community benefit to be nearly $4 billion annually.
The Economic and Social Roles of Pennsylvania’s Hospitals is available online at http://
www.haponline.org/downloads/HAP_The_Economic_and_Social_Roles_of_PA_Hospitals_
March2009.pdf.
BUSINESS JOURNAL
POCONO
BUSINESS TODAY
Monday — Wednesday — Friday
8:40 P.M.
pennspeakradio.com
Tune in weekly to hear the latest business news
in the Poconos.
28
PBJ REGISTER
BANKRUPTCIES
Carbon County
Naji E Jabbour, Amy J. Broderick, Middle East
Bakery/Middle East Bakery & Farmers Market,
Palmerton, Chapter 7 Voluntary, Filed 3/18/09.
Monroe County
John A. Callandrello, Universal Grading Service, LLC, Bushkill, Chapter 13 Voluntary, filed
3/16/09.
Roger D. Cardwell, Jr., Brands/Cardwell
Plumbing, Heating & AC, Inc., Effort, Chapter
7 Voluntary, filed 3/30/09.
David L. Cornier, Sandra Cornier, Cyber Freedom, LLC, Stroudsburg, Chapter 13 Voluntary,
filed 3/31/09.
Thaddeus James Hager, Kristine Renee Hager,
Entertainment Connection, Summit Hill, Chapter 7 Voluntary, filed 3/27/09.
William S. Riede, Riede Thoroughbreds, LLC,
Stroudsburg, Chapter 7 Voluntary, filed 3/18/09.
Pike County
Thomas F. Dedea, Dedea’s Barber Shop, Milford, Chapter 7 Voluntary, filed 3/30/09.
William George Kopcso, Bill Kopsco Painting,
Milford, Chapter 7 Voluntary, filed 3/18/09
Wayne County
John W. Schroeder, John Schroeder Carpet &
Flooring, Newfoundland, Chapter 7 Voluntary,
filed 3/30/09.
Robert F. Tracey, Domino Electric, Hawley,
Chapter 7 Voluntary, filed 3/31/09.
Deeds
Carbon County
Kidder Township South
John Modestine to Martin Wiewiorski, $318,000
Wayne Buchen to James Menke, $630,000
Mahoning Township
Arthur Bell Trust to Artemis Morris, $400,000
Monroe County
Salem Township
Rite Aid of PA to Rap Hamlin LP, $755,000
Texas Township
John David to Michael Flederbach, $315,000
Whitney Pennell to Pennell Whitney Trust,
$763,000
Mortgages
Carbon County
East Penn Township
Angela Rothermel, First National Bank of
Palmerton, $350,000
Franklin Township
William Moreton, First National Bank of Palmerton, $300,000
Freddie Lesher, QNB Bank, $2,800,000
Jim Thorpe Borough
John Drury, World Alliance Financial Corporation, $301,500
John Drury, Housing and Urban Development,
$301,500
Daniel Skrimcovsky, MERS, $319,060
Kidder Township South
Paul Knittel, American Heritage Federal Credit
Union, $457,000
Enrique Nilo, NY Urban Funding Inc, $790,000
Jeffrey Brennan, First National Bank of Palmerton, $1,155,000
Lehighton Borough
Bozhidar Buglov, American Bank, $550,000
Lower Towamensing Township
Andrew Pisulak, New Tripoli Bank, $500,000
Donna Smith, New Tripoli Bank, $460,000
Mahoning Township
Mahoning Valley Retirement Villas, KNBT,
$1,000,000
Mahoning Valley Convalescent Home Inc,
KNBT, $1,000,000
Nesquehoning Borough
Ronald Blisard, MERS, $319,000
Middle Smithfield Township
Richard Gommel to Hampton Beach Associates,
$620,000
Hong Choing to Ross Shramko, $310,000
Lucy Piazza to Michael Sykes, $320,000
Packer Township
George Rhoades, One Reverse Mortgage LLC,
$322,500
George Rhoades, Housing and Urban Development, $322,500
Smithfield Township
Union Motor Lodge Inc to Terry Teel, $500,000
Michael Viozzi to Anthony Zannella, $385,000
Palmerton Borough
Mark Stemler, M&T Trust Company, $744,000
Stroud Township
Sandra Gray to Maura Hallinan, $325,000
Residential Funding Company to Francis Rash,
$359,000
LTS Development LLC to David Johnson,
$389,900
Penn Forest Township
Nicholas Baughan, MERS, $417,000
Edward Fitzgerald, Wells Fargo Bank, $318,000
Marc Beerman, Bank of America, $415,000
Monroe County
Tobyhanna Township
Ian Sossen to Igor Vaysbaum, $320,000
Barrett Township
Ernest and William Sims, MERS/Trident Mortgage, $417,000
Dingman Township
First Place Auto Service LLC to SDR Adventures LLC, $325,000
James and Mary Gajewski to Peter Grund,
$319,900
Joseph Moylan to Vince and Helga Becking,
$325,000
Chestnuthill Township
Timothy Moll, Beth Beranbaum and Peter Daw,
$325,000
Brodheadsville Properties LP/Inc., M&T Bank,
$32,443,029
William and Carole Grant, First National Bank
of Palmerton, $500,000
William Rosado, Michael Kiernan and Joseph
Balbi, M&T Bank, $32,443,029
Pike County
Porter Township
Albert and Linda Murry to Cynthia Moritz,
$315,000
Wayne County
Berlin Township
Scott Trevorton to T&T Development, $350,000
Lake Township
Luciano Discala to Neil Donkin, $316,165
Mount Pleasant Township
Patrick McAndrew to Henry Nebzydoski,
$301,000
Paupack Township
Patrick Murray to Mark Rhodes, $525,000
Dominic Obaditch to Ronald Hollick, $575,000
Richard Varick to Roland Winterle, $300,000
Nicholas Kemp to Richard Francis, $1,050,000
Coolbaugh Township
William and Lois Gleason, One Reverse Mortgage LLC, $478,500
William and Lois Gleason, Housing and Urban
Development, $478,500
Thomas McCann and Lori Tierney, PHH Mortgage Services, $388,000
Joseph and Mary Ann Layne, World Alliance
Financial Corp, $405,000
Joseph and Mary Ann Layne, Housing and
Urban Development, $405,000
Hamilton Township
Robert and Carol Vitacco, First National Bank
Michael and Cheryl Craig, MERS/Sun Federal
Credit Union, $333,000
Richard and Sharon DeFino, First National
Bank of Palmerton, $350,000
James and Shirley Halterman, Wayne Bank,
$300,000
William Schyman, MERS/Decision One Mortgage Co, $300,000
Edward and Judith Schreck, MERS/Quicken
Loans, $306,300
Arthur and Cherriann Crabtree, MERS/USAA
Federal Savings, $350,000
Jackson Township
Nyles and Kitty Possinger, Pocono Community
Bank, $330,000
Bruce and Kristal Taylor, Countrywide Bank
FSB, $306,000
Middle Smithfield Township
Leonard and Anna Richman, MERS/Everbank,
$361,000
Syed Zaidi, Countrywide Bank, $317,000
John and Lori Rasulo, MERS/Quicken Loans,
$330,300
Miggy Bros LLC, Wayne Bank, $500,000
Louis and Eileen Mignosi, Wayne Bank,
$500,000
Paradise Township
Stephen and Sheryl Grundman, MERS/Everbank, $326,250
Pocono Township
Daniel and Abby Perich, Penn Security Bank
and Trust, $385,800
Salerno Properties and Cold River Properties,
Wayne Bank, $1,094,000
Joyce and Neal Simpson, ESSA Bank and Trust,
$333,000
Price Township
Scott and Susanna Silva, ESSA Bank, $345,000
Smithfield Twp
Terry Lynn Teel, First National Bank of Palmerton, $350,000
Penn Regional Business Center III LP, First
National Community Bank, $1,500,000
Stroudsburg Borough
Rebgliati LLC, Penn Security Bank, $500,000
Krish Patel, PNC Bank NA, $41,070,000
Stroud Township
Milton and Catherine Newberry, Harleysville
National Bank, $400,000
Bozhidar Buglov, American Bank, $550,000
Arthur and Monica Griffith, Citizens Savings
Bank, $360,800
Melvin and Jessica Dennis, MERS/Power
Express Mortgage, $359,000
Jesus the Christ Church, Pocono Community
Bank, $1,265,000
Tobyhanna Township
Igor Laufer, First Trust Bank, $319,000
Harold and Amy Engelman, JP Morgan Chase
Bank, $417,000
Tunkhannock Township
Jeffrey and Bennie Brennan, First National
Bank of Palmerton, $1,155,000
Michael and Matthew Brennan, First National
Jeffrey and Bennie Brennan, First National
Pike County
Blooming Grove Township
Rosetta Illeck, Countrywide Bank FSB,
$487,500
Rosetta Illeck, Countrywide Bank FSB,
$487,500
John and Patricia Kiesendahl, Dime Bank,
$300,000
Victor and Julia Pizzolato, ESSA Bank and
Trust, $417,000
Margaret Scarpelli, MERS, $381,500
George Tag, Bank of America, $300,000
George Tag, Housing and Urban Development,
$300,000
David Holbert, Wayne Bank, $300,000
Matamoras Borough
Areshkumar Patel, Eastern NY Federal Credit
Union, $375,000
Milford Borough
Felix Rivera Jr, Pennstar Bank, $334,000
Milford Township
Joseph and Ronnie Biondo, First National Bank
Milford Realty Company, M&T Trust Company,
$32,443,029
Palmyra Township
Liberty Home Development Corporation Ltd,
Univest National Bank and Trust, $2,000,000
Tephen and Laura Sobolevitch, Prosperity Mortgage Co, $417,000
David and Elise Smith, Dime Bank, $350,000
Charles and Melissa Caikoski, Wells Fargo
Bank, $355,000
Ruth Menno, MERS, $398,000
Eileen Senz, Ellen Devansky, $360,000
Doonald and Edna Weitzman, Wells Fargo
Bank, $326,047
Porter Township
Vincent and Phyllis Fodera, Wells Fargo Bank
NA, $547,500
Vincent and Phyllis Fodera, Housing and Urban
Development, $547,500
Westfall Township
Michael and Jillian Murray, John and Catherine
Ryan, $571,529
Milford Realty Company, M&T Trust Company,
$32,443,029
Joseph and Ronnie Biondo, Citizens Bank,
$825,000
Wayne County
Buckingham Township
Kevin Schrader, Gerald and Kathleen Franceski,
$325,000
Cherry Ridge Township
Wayne and Heather Stephens, Honesdale National Bank, $320,000
Damascus Township
George and Judith Brown, Honesdale National
Bank, $383,000
Dorothy Maiocco, Hometown Security Mortgage Inc., 330,000
Dyberry Township
Bradley and Erica Murray, Dime Bank,
$358,000
Dominic and Denise Panza, Honesdale National
Bank, $394,000
Hawley Borough
Douglas LaPasta, All PA Reverse Mortgage
Inc., $938,250
Douglas LaPasta, Housing and Urban Development, $938,250
Delaware Township
Christopher Welch, MERS, $400,000
Lehigh Township
Liberty Shell Inc., First Keystone National
Bank, $3,587,200
Richard and Nancy Waywood, MERS, $311,250
Dingman Township
Manuel Oamil, World Alliance Financial Corp,
$333,000
Manuel Oamil, Housing and Urban Development, $333,000
Michael and Jillian Murray, John and Catherine
Ryan, $571,529
Edward and Grace Haines, MERS, $320,000
James Luhrs, Pennstar Bank, $336,000
Gina and Eamon McHale, Wells Fargo Bank,
$416,000
Paupack Township
Andrew and Elizabeth Borowski, MERS,
$346,000
Richard and Diane Francis, MERS, $417,000
Richard and Barbara Finn, Wells Fargo Bank,
$417,000
Michael and Kathleen Kucher, ISB Mortgage,
$337,000
Helen Davis, Wells Fargo Bank, $331,500
Dominic Obaditch, Citizens Bank of Pa,
$350,000
Greene Township
Walter and Janet Paraschak, Bank of America,
$600,000
Walter and Janet Paraschak, Housing and Urban
development, $600,000
Preston Township
Timothy Lucas, Wilmington Trust FSB,
$404,000
David and Christina Ludin, Penn Liberty Bank,
$700,000
Lackawaxen Township
Richard Budd, Wells Fargo Bank NA, $625,500
Richard Budd, Housing and Urban Development, $625,500
Salem Township
Alfred Locklin, Fleet Transport & Trading Inc.,
$300,000
Joseph and Kathryn Adams, Dime Bank,
29
PBJ REGISTER
$468,000
Texas Township
Mark Texas Township Associates, Honesdale
National Bank, $3,400,000
Red and White Realty, First National Community Bank, $300,000
New Corporations /
Fictitious Names
Carbon County
1 North Front Street LLC, 1 North Front Street,
Phillipsburg
American Automotive Discounted Parts Inc.,
164 W Ridge Street, Lansford
Blue Mountain Insulators, LLC, insulation,
contracting work, 6565 Interchange Road,
Lehighton
Blue Mountain Park, LP, 1660 Blue Mountain
Drive, Palmerton
Blue Mountain Resort Management, LLC, real
estate, 1660 Blue Mountain Drive, Palmerton
Cambrian Bio-Technologies Inc., manufacturing, 825 State Route 903, Jim Thorpe
Creed Realty, LLC, real estate, 175 Olive Street,
Lehighton
FraMisUS, LLC, technical consulting, 2780
Forest Street, Lehighton
Gathering Hands Services Inc., youth services/
group home, 440-442 E Kline Avenue, Lansford
Gina Properties LLC, real estate, 92 Morning
Star Lane, Lehighton
JAY Business Solutions, outsource administrative, 400 Lake Drive, Lehighton, Jessica Sechler
Jo Jo’s Place, restaurant, 201 North Street, Jim
Thorpe, Daniel Keppler
Kuhn’s Plumbing & Heating, LLC, plumbing
and heating, 532 Lehigh Street, Jim Thorpe
Mot-Laur Properties LLC, 39 Porter Drive, Jim
Thorpe
Nikki C’s, LLC, restaurant, pizzeria, 178 Jonas
Mountain Drive, Albrightsville
Olmsted, LLC, 615 Lehigh Street, Jim Thorpe
Staged to Sell, depersonalizing a home, 84 Cottonwood Drive, Jim Thorpe, Kristi Harleman
Sunshine Packaging Supply, 600 Lonesome
Lane, Palmerton
The Castle Grill LLC, 80 East Bridge Street,
Lehighton
The Quilted Crow, quilt shop, 73 Hi-Arc
Lane, Ashfield, Mary Jane Heckman, Cynthia
Mengel-Smith
White Glove Construction LLC, remodel existing residential properties, 58 Hudsondale Street,
Weatherly
Monroe County
1-800-TREE-HUG, gypsy moth extermination
services, 74 East Shore Court, East Stroudsburg,
Kara Borel
6466 Penn St LLC, realty holdings, 6466 Penn
Street, East Stroudsburg
A Plus Realty, real estate office, 310 Pohopoco
Drive, PO Box 1179, Brodheadsville, Surendra
Patel
ABROS Trans LLC, transportation, 5512 Bridle
Road, Stroudsburg
Access Cornerstone, LLC, 221 Shawnee Valley,
East Stroudsburg
Alabaster Box Worship & Arts Center, Inc.,
church, RR 18 Box 6054, East Stroudsburg
Alice Visionary Foundation Project, Inc.,
care for HIV AIDS, 756 Milford Road, East
Stroudsburg
Andrade’s Cleaning, cleaning, 12 Johns Lane,
Tannersville, Iris Andrade
Atlanticview Cpt. Guest Villa Corp., rental
villa property on South Africa, 17 N 6th Street,
Stroudsburg
B & G Auto Repair Ltd., RR 3 / Box 2211 /
Route 115, Effort
Butcher’s Choice Wholesale Meats LLC, 946
Analomink Road, East Stroudsburg
Camelback Mountain Central Reservations, real
estate brokerage services, 1 Camelback Road,
PO Box 168, Tannersville, CBH20, LP
Camelback Mountain Real Estate, real estate
brokerage services, 1 Camelback Road PO Box
168, Tannersville, CBH20, LP
Cards by Harris, online greeting card store,
1 Hickory Drive, East Stroudsburg, Richard
Harris
Certified Container Services Inc., waste management, RR 4 Box 4870, East Stroudsburg
Cesar’s Handyman Services, handyman, remodeling, additions, 12 Johns Lane, Tannersville,
Cesar Andrade
Choco Pretz, chocolate covered pretzels, 317
Watercrest Avenue, Effort, Diana Lewis
Cloud Sixty Nine, Web site only/adult novelty
items, 108 McKinley Circle, Effort, Cynthia
Fruehsamer
D.I.S.K.S. (a.k.a. Dignified Images Saluting
Known Stories), commemorative disks celebrating yearly events, 74 East Shore Court, East
Stroudsburg, Kara Borel
Dansbury Consulting, LLC, 721 Scott St.,
Stroudsburg
Day & Nite Heating Oil Co., Inc., heating oil
company, 5 Aspen Drive, Tannersville
Diva Graphic Design, Web site design, graphic
design, 3167 Hamilton East, Stroudsburg, Linda
Kozic
Duncan Outdoor Design & Maintenance Inc.,
Route 940 East Beaver Drive, Pocono Lake
East Stroudsburg Senior Babe Ruth, baseball
team, 6072 Wooddale Road, East Stroudsburg,
Anthony Croce
Elite Equestrian, printed equestrian magazine,
trade shows/expos, 9 Muffin Lane, Blakeslee,
NEPA Marketing Group Inc., Bill and Norelle
Vander Brink
Enviro Air Masters, duct cleaning, 1005 Jackson
View Road, Stroudsburg, Bifford and Jacqueline
Baker
Euro Custom Homes, home construction, 2 Livingston Road / PO Box 488, Reeders, Angelika
Cook
Expedient Document Consultants LLC, bonded
courier, notary, 2713 Starlight Terrace, Tobyhanna
Faulstick & Associates, LLC, entertainment attraction, RR 5 Box 5339 B, Saylorsburg
Fredex, LLC, 1210 Heller’s Lane, Long Pond
God Omnipresence Ministries, Inc., Church,
633 Pocono Boulevard, Mount Pocono
Green Star Solutions, soil recycling facility,
30 Fairfield Drive, Brodheadsville, Jeremiah
Cleary
GreenMarx LLC, real estate services, 3461
Penn Estates, East Stroudsburg
Heart Throb Media, LLC, marketing and publicity, 23 Grand Mesa Drive, Effort
Help Me 2 Stop, help individuals with Trich,
572 Main Street, Stroudsburg
Holy Guacamole LLC, 349 Braeside Avenue,
Suite 700, East Stroudsburg
Husky Investments LLC, real estate, 4 Blue
Mountain Court, Kunkletown
Husky Tree Service, tree removal/brush chipping, HC 1, Box 28-B, Kresgeville, Salvatore
Albanese
Ichiban Hibachi Steakhouse LLC, restaurant,
RR # 14 Bldg A Suite 106 Bartonsville Plaza,
Stroudsburg
Ink Witch Tattoo LLC, tattoo services, RR 1
BOX 690, Canadensis
James A. Barker’s Construction, carpentry,
Lot: 7-B Hollow Road, Shawnee-on-Delaware,
James Barker
JEM Enterprise, LLC, fundraising, 21 Snow
Hill Falls, Cresco
Joe Cool Construction, residential remodeling, 4714 Norwood Lane, Tobyhanna, Joseph
Dequarto
Lakeview General Contracting, LLC, 218 East
Broad Street, East Stroudsburg
M&T Creative Stitchery, RR7, Box 7606, Saylorsburg, Malinda Rodt
Major Kia, car dealership, RR 7 / Box 7389,
Stroudsburg, Major Motors of Northeastern
Pennsylvania Inc.
Masquerade Recordings, LLC, promotion and
sale of music and artists, 23 Grand Mesa Drive,
Effort
Matrix IT Group Incorporated, 2 Theresa Lane,
Saylorsburg
Merchant Partner Services, credit card processing, ATM services, 67 Great Bear Way, East
Stroudsburg, Sean Burke
Mike’s Computer Services, build and repair
home computers, RR1 Box 1485, Lower Swiftwater Road, Cresco., Mike Shannon
Minimal Media, Web design and development,
138 Berwick Heights Road, East Stroudsburg,
David Trainer
Mountain State Lending Associates, Inc., 4466
E. Sherwood Drive, Kunkletown
My Three Girls Italian Ice, cakes, coffee, food,
5126 Milford Road, East Stroudsburg, Karen
Saccoccio
N&A Associates Inc., Bartonsville Plaza,
Stroudsburg
New Beginnings Stable, horse sales, 1306 N 5th
St. Apt A, Stroudsburg, Rebecca Greene
NorthEast PA ProPainters, Inc., painting services, 214 Big Ridge, East Stroudsburg
Pocono Auto Brokers LLC, 138 Blue Mountain
Lake, East Stroudsburg
Pocono Logistic, Inc., transportation, RR 3 Box
3332, Stroudsburg
Pocono Mountain West Jr. High School PTO
Inc., school parent teacher organization, HC 89,
Box 2006, Pocono Summit
Principe Auto Appearance, Inc., fleet washing,
100 Henry Street, East Stroudsburg
Professional Limousine Service Inc., transporta-
tion, 29 Heath Lane, Mount Pocono
Proformance Promotional and Printing, 5015
Hounds Ear Road, Tobyhanna, Keith Dondey
RCNA Communications, Inc., telecommunications, RR 6 Box 6578, East Stroudsburg
Renascent Cards & Gifts, sell greeting cards,
gifts and crafts, 5855 Seven Nations Drive,
Tobyhanna, Rolanda Marie Cole
RGRGJVG, LLC, real estate, 6 Hickory Drive,
East Stroudsburg
RMM Investments, LLC, real estate, 2 Stone
Crest Road, Blakeslee
Robroejvg, Inc., restaurant operation, 6 Hickory
Drive, East Stroudsburg
Sean Electrical Mechanical Contractor Inc.,
electrical contractor, 11 Mountain View Terrace
Apt 22, Saylorsburg
Second Haven Services For Youth, Inc., educational programs, 9358 Fairmount Terrace,
Tobyhanna
SEEK, Inc., transportation, HC 87, Box 750,
Route 940, Pocono Lake
Shady River Designs, dyed articles and handmade jewelry, 752 Alpine Drive, East Stroudsburg, William Perry
Shine Time Fleet Wash Specialist., fleet
washing, 100 Henry Street, East Stroudsburg,
Principe Auto Appearance, Inc.
Split Fifty, LLC, musical performance, 23
Grand Mesa Drive, Effort
Stony Creek Construction & Remodeling, Inc.,
9 Gap View Road, Mount Pocono
Sunlight Transportation LLC, transportation, 10
Sunlight Drive, Henryville
Teen Knights, Inc., youth activities and services,
915 North 5th Street, Stroudsburg, Nadine Augustine, Christina Burns, and Patricia Konopa
The Bueno’s Cleaning Service, 2090 Sun Valley
Drive, Blakeslee, Maria Bueno
The Mac Organization, Inc., HC 1 Box 30H,
Mount Pocono
The River’s Edge Dog Park Committee, 106
Laurel Road, East Stroudsburg, Patricia Coyle
Transplant Families United, support for families
of organ transplant patients, 216 Winchester
Drive, Tobyhanna
Triple H Racing Corporation, race cars, parts,
supplies and equipment, RR 7 Box 7338,
Saylorsburg
Twice Moore Designs & Repairs, wall and ceiling repairs, RR1 Box 1652, Henryville, Nadene
Moore
Valli Photographers, event photography, 125
Bernard Lane, Stroudsburg, Charles Prinzivalli
Westend Enterprises Woodlyn LLC, selling
cell phones, 37 Rising Meadow Way, East
Stroudsburg
WP Collectibles LLC, collectibles, RR 1 BOX
690, Canadensis
Zen Productions, LLC, photography and video
production, 23 Highland Circle, Stroudsburg
Pike County
Accurate Auto, LLC, 299 Sawkill Road, Milford
Anglers Edge Marine, boat and yacht marketing, 298 Water Forest Drive, Dingmans Ferry,
Locktight Industries LLC
Biasi Inc., warehousing order fulfillment, 201
Water Street, Milford
Colton Fly Company, fly fishing equipment, 298
Water Forest Drive, Dingmans Ferry, Locktight
Industries LLC
Cookfest4U LLC, food vending, 124 Sandy
Pine Trail, Milford
Coutts Blueberry Farm Market LLC, HC 1 Box
5A, Paupack
eCrater Shop LLC, accounting and e-business
company, 112 Locust Drive, Milford
Food and Beverage Associates of New Jersey,
Inc., food preparation at summer camp, 143
Nichercronk Road, Dingmans Ferry
Green Feed Catering LLC, provide food catering services, 229 Emery Road, Dingmans Ferry
Gym Equipment & Design, LLC, 641 Route
739 / Suite 1 PMB 353, Lords Valley
ISR Computing Inc., Info-Tech Consulting,
2278 Hemlock Farms, Hawley
James Reithmayr Plumbing and Heating, 156
Abbutus Lane, Milford
JCM Enterprises, agriculture, 233 Springbrook
Road, Shohola, Louis Bellini
Katty Wampus Music LLC, original music
composition and production, 2050 Gold Key
Estates, Milford
KellerColello, LLC, rep/broker services, 113
Lead Court, Milford
Lackawaxen River Monster Trout Derby,
anglers roost., 106 Scenic Drive, Lackawaxen,
Dmitri Zaimes
Lords Valley Center for Spiritual Enlightenment, 804 Boulder Court South, Lords Valley,
Edward Schaffner
Mike One Travel, travel/vacation sales, 1648
Pine Ridge, Bushkill, Michael Douglas
Mirage of Gifts, retail Internet, 508 Ninth
Street, Matamoras, Earlene Goble
Pocono Power, small engine repair shop, 121
Geiges Lane, Newfoundland, George Geiges
RAM DAD Company, home renovations, 4093
Conashaugh Lakes, Milford, Richard Calore
Sideshow Exotic Reptiles LLC, 201 Water
Street, Suite A, Milford
SnP Antiques LLC, retail antique store, 2134
Hemlock Farms, Lords Valley
The Milford Law Office, law practice, 501
Broad Street #3, Milford, Eric Hamill
Triple W Riding Stables, horse riding, 690
Route 434, Shohola, Just the Ranch, LLC
Vik’s Carpet Inc., carpet installation, 4 Cardinal
Drive, Bushkill, Balan Viktor
Wayne County
1st Stop Car Shop, used car sales, 355 Beach
Lake Hwy 3, Honesdale, John M Costa
Alden Enterprises, LLC, gas exploration and
drilling, 325 Turner Road, Pleasant Mount
All Electric, LLC, electrical repairs, sales,
service and contracting, 523 Cribbs Road,
Poyntelle
Beech Grove, LLC, real estate investment, 97
Beech Grove Road, Honesdale
Bio Diagnostic Laboratory Services, LLC,
medical laboratory, RR 1 Box 1479, Gouldsboro
Carman Electrical Service, Inc., electrical contracting, 1800 Easton Turnpike, Lake Ariel
Chrystal Photography, photography, 451 Cortez
Rd., Lake Ariel, Chrystal Shaffer
CMA Transport LLC, 14 Evergreen Drive, Lake
Ariel
Emmy’s Boutique, designer women’s goods,
742 Main Street / Suite 106, Honesdale, Emily
Christiansen
Gameland Technologies, electronic game merchandise, 16W Rock Hill Rd, Lakeville, Sorcha
Conaghan
Hideout Sportsman’s Association, Inc., safe
handling of firearms, 851 Easton Turnpike, Lake
Ariel
Illusions, Tanning and Nail Salon, 214 Willow
Avenue, Honesdale, Alexandra Velez
Instant Property Clean Outs, property clean
outs, 189 Golf Hill Road, Honesdale, Darryl
Shurgin
J&J&J Partnership, 155 Wilsonville Road,
Hawley
JJ Marty Trucking, LLC, 28 Calypso Drive,
Lake Ariel
Legends Bar & Grill, Inc., bar and food, 105
The Hideout, Lake Ariel
Little Creek Foundation LLC, rehabilitating
from substance abuse, 359 Eastern Turnpike,
Lake Ariel
Little Ireland Properties, LLC, real estate investment, 3435 Little Ireland Road, Starrucca
Michael PA Prop, Inc., real estate, 302 9th
Street, Honesdale
Moose Pellets, Inc., wood pellets, 19 Moose
Drive, PO Box 2, South Canaan
NLE Properties LLC, rental properties, 131
Anderson Road, Lake Ariel
Palmi, restaurant/pizzeria, 4326 Hancock Highway, Equinunk, Fabrizio P Chindamo
Pamelajohns, Internet sales, 42 Longwood
Drive #709, Equinunk, Pamela Ann Smith
Sage Mountain Family Enhancement Center,
therapy for families, 1258 Purdytown Turnpike,
Lakeville
Shannon PA Prop., Inc., real estate investments,
302 Ninth Street, Honesdale
Short Cut Landscaping. Inc., landscaping, 1341
Roosevelt Highway Bldg. A, Waymart
Sommerville Electric-Security, LLC, electric
service, 25 Pocono Ranchettes, Gouldsboro
Staff Sgt. Paul A. Sweeney Memorial Post No.
807, Inc., American Legion post., 851 Easton
Turnpike, Lake Ariel
The Lady of the Lake Cleaning Service, LLC,
272 Parkwood Drive, Tthe Hideout, Lake Ariel
The Shoppes at Greentown, LLP, 53 Whitetail
Lane, Lake Ariel, Nancy and William Johnson
V S Properties LLC, rental property, 131 Anderson Road, Lake Ariel
Vine Hill Property Owners Association, Inc.,
property owners association, 27 Orchard Rd.,
Honesdale
Waterside Farms, boarding house, 205 Conklin
Hill Road, Damascus, Waterside LLP
Windmill View Stables, Inc., breed race horses,
16 Erk Road, Honesdale
Workforce Wayne, Inc., educational purposes,
32 Commercial Street, Suite 1, Honesdale
MERS = Mortgage Electronic Registration
Systems
Disclaimer: Deeds and mortgages are recorded
as accurately as possible adhering to the cover
dates in the County Recorders’ office.
30
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11 Rental Units plus Home
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Borough of East Stroudsburg—High
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Broadheadsville—Main house plus 5
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32
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People often talk about the battle against cancer. But I don’t battle, I believe. I believe in the Dale and
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I’m Suzanne Buck, and I am the new face of cancer care.