July 2008 - 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
July 2008, Vol. 4, Issue 7
Economic Forecast
THIS MONTH
Decreased Home Values, Sales Here
Reflect National Economic Downturn
• Decreased Home Values.................................. p. 1
• Second Thoughts Won’t Deter Residents......... p. 3
• Mouths to Feed, Farms to Save....................... p. 6
• Truckers’ Wheels Silenced ............................... p. 8
• Professional Profile: Restaurant Week........... p. 16
• Resist Outsourcing......................................... p. 18
• Illegal Immigration........................................ p. 21
• PBJ Columnists:
Ask SCORE.............................................p. 11
Business Lawyer....................................p. 12
Financial Matters...................................p. 10
HR Toolbox...............................................p. 5
Leadership Pike.......................................p. 5
Regional Healthcare Report/Monroe.....p. 11
Sustainable is Attainable/
Brodhead Watershed Authority...........p. 12
United Way............................................p. 19
QUOTE
“We’ve lost accounts due to outsourcing,
because my customers’ customers are
sending work overseas. There is no job
security anymore.”
- Fred Mutzek, STC Industries, Milford
OBSERVE
National Eye Safety Month
1 National Financial
Freedom Week
4 Independence Day
11 World Population Day
28 National Accountants Day
QUESTION
What is the average household
size in Monroe County?
See GPCC Business Magazine ad
for the answer on page 18.
please recycle this paper
www.pbjonline.com
Photo credit: Al Zagofsky
Full story on Page 18
Jim Thorpe mortgage banker Charmaine Hammel, who works for Weststar Mortgage, looks at a former bed and breakfast in Lehighton, adjoining Beltzville Lake State Park. “The market is going through an adjustment,” Hammel says. “For regular buyers it’s the perfect time to buy,
because sellers need to sell. They’re worried about the market getting worse and are more apt to accept more reasonable offers.”
By Susan Jorstad
The average U.S. home has lost approximately 10 percent of
its value since one year ago, says Robert Dye, Ph.D., V.P. and Sr.
Economist, The PNC Financial Services Group in Pittsburgh. “So
a house valued at $300,000 last year, on average, would be valued
at $270,000 this year. People facing high payments as mortgages
are reset, are feeling less wealthy as their properties lose value.
We call it a wealth effect; homeowners feel less wealthy and therefore are less willing to go out and buy a second house.” Because
homes have declined in value, homeowners also aren’t able to
draw on equity. That source of spending is drying up, and, says
Dye, it will have an impact on leisure markets like the Poconos.
The positive news is that housing prices in PA increase – and decrease – at lower than the national average on both ends, says Dye,
helping to keep foreclosure rates lower compared to more stressed
areas.
“People are being very cautious,” said Davis Chant, chairman of the board of Davis R. Chant Realtors. “The market is still
active, but it’s certainly not the volume of sales we saw last year.
One of the biggest issues – particularly in Pike and Wayne – is that
many buyers from out-of-state don’t want to buy until they sell
their current houses. However, some are borrowing equity to buy
here, and will sell when the market strengthens. People who buy
now have the opportunity to enhance properties.” Most second
home buyers are financially strong enough to afford a second
home, and able to get financing because they are not seeking big
mortgages, added Chant. While many home values have decreased
5 to 10 percent, higher-end properties with acreage or lakefront
haven’t changed much, he said.
The conventional mortgage remains strong for buyers with
see HOME VALUES page 9
Professional Profile - Restaurant Week Makes Iffy Economy Easier to Swallow page 16
2
Pocono Business Journal | July 2008
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
Ken Clark
Denis Dumas
Susan Jorstad
Kathy Ruff
Nicholas Sergi
CONTRIBUTORS
Erin Baehr
Tom Ford
Carol Hillestad
Tim Kelly
Kathy Kuck
Victoria Mavis
Peter Wulfhorst
EDITORIAL ASSISTANT
Danielle Eberhardt
COPY EDITOR
Joan Groff
SALES
[email protected]
PRODUCTION/DESIGN
Allison Mosher
Jason Trump
PHOTOGRAPHY
Al Zagofsky
CARTOONIST
Tanya Kerkslag
CIRCULATION
[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
Economic Outlook – Seize
the Opportunities
I suppose the economy
has seen better days. Right
now gas prices are rising
faster and higher than any
time in history, real estate is
in a slump, there’s a threat of a food shortage
and the nation is close to a recession. Not great
news and I suppose we all feel justified in running around like Henny Penny chanting, “the
sky is falling, the sky is falling.” But when did
hysteria ever solve anything? As business owners, managers and executives it’s necessary to
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLES
Decreased Home Values. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 1
Second Thoughts Won’t Deter Residents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 3
Mouths to Feed, Farms to Save . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 6
Wall Street West Workforce Training Grants. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 7
Truckers’ Wheels Silenced. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 8
Commercial Strong, Landlords Feel Pinch. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 9
Q&A, Wayne County Chamber of Commerce . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 13
Professional Profile: Restaurant Week . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 16
Resist Outsourcing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 18
Illegal Immigration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 21
The World Smells Better for It. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 22
No More “Hair Nets and Ice Cream Scoop” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 15
DEPARTMENTS
Book Review: “Talent: Making People Your Competitive Advantage” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 13
Business Briefs – Who’s Who/ What’s What. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 22
Business Cartoon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 8
Calendar of Events. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 26
Legislative Roundup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 20
Letters to the Editor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 3
Reader’s Resource. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 4
Columnists
Ask SCORE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 11
Business Lawyer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 12
Financial Matters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 10
HR Toolbox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 5
Leadership Pike . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 5
Regional Healthcare Report/Monroe. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 11
Sustainable is Attainable/Brodhead Water Authority . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 12
United Way. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 19
Op Ed PA Chamber of Business and Industry “Targeted Tax Reductions” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 4
Focus List – Professional and Trade Organizations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 25
Register – Bankruptcies, Deeds, Mortgages, New Corporations/Fictitious Names . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . p. 28
Advertisers Index
Associated Libraries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania. . . . . . 6
Carl Pettry Seminars. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Community Bank & Trust. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Dani’s Cleaning Service. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
ESSA Bank & Trust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
East Stroudsburg University. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
First Impression Career Center. . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
First National Bank of Palmerton. . . . . . . . . . . 18
Greater Pocono Chamber of
Commerce Business Magazine . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Herbert, Rowland & Grubic Engineering. . . . . 15
Journal Newspapers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Monroe County CareerLink. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Penn Security Bank. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Pennstar Bank. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
PenTeleData . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Pocono Commuter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Pocono Lutheran Village. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Pocono Medical Center. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Pocono Mountain Industries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Pocono Personnel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Premier Administrative Resources. . . . . . . . . . 11
RGB Custom Homes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Sherman Theater. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
TN Printing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
University of Scranton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
be realistic, find solutions and guide.
Right now businesses are facing challenges.
Margins are tight, decisions are unpleasant and morale is low. But it is also a time when opportunities
abound. Businesses have the ability, via technology, to be creative and remain competitive. Workfrom-home options, carpooling and mass transit
are all solutions that have been around for years
and never caught on. Why? In my opinion, because
they are viewed as temporary fixes and once the
immediate problem is resolved, folks go back to
what is comfortable, what is ‘normal.’
Real opportunities will be uncovered once the
populace has a mind-shift from the temporary solution to the permanent lifestyle change. Our world
is constantly being stretched and pulled in different
directions, never to return to the original shape.
The writing on the wall is that current and future
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Thank you for choosing
generations will have to learn to live without
an unlimited abundance of resources. How we
respond and change will determine our success.
The next time you think the sky is falling,
it’s really opportunity knocking.
Marynell K. Strunk
Publisher/Editor
Contact me at [email protected]
3
NEWS
Second Thoughts Won’t Stop Consumers from Opening Their Wallets
The nation’s most recent economic downturn, marked
by a fluctuating real estate market and astronomical gas
prices, has proven to be as much of a pinch to Pocono
residents as it has it has been to anyone else. The reasons
are apparent: the region is undergoing a seemingly endless
population boom comprised of commuting workers and
their families. Despite the unsettling economic climate,
local consumers are still spending money on discretionary
items, according to Karen Britt, assistant professor of Business and Economics at Northampton Community College’s
Monroe Campus. “People are still buying electronics. They
will always need food and entertainment.”
Despite this need, Britt added that residents will be
more frugal as the summer season approaches. “They will
eat at restaurants that are closer to home. They will find
small ways to save.” She cited the need to organize errands
and run all of them at the same time in one trip. Such
practices, she added, could decrease pollution and make the
roads safer.
On a national level, a significant percentage of the consumer population has been affected by the rising costs of
gas and food, according Kathy Grannis, a spokesperson for
the National Retail Federation. “People are cutting back
on discretionary items including home and garden supplies,
apparel, and electronics. Health and beauty products are
a ‘must-have,’ and sales of those products have remained
steady.” She added that consumers will find a way to adjust
to the economic conditions, as they have in the past. “This
is not the first time customers have halted spending,” she
said, citing the steep increases in gasoline that occurred in
Letters to the Editor
This (“Taste of PBJ” e-newsletter) looks great…the
choice of content is sophisticated and stimulating. Your
headlines articles in the print version are always completely inspiring.
Christine Griffin
Smithfield Township Supervisor
------------------------------------------------------------------Thanks for the Taste of PBJ. It looks good.
John Woodling
Director
Monroe County Planning Commission, Stroudsburg
------------------------------------------------------------------This (“Taste of PBJ”) is great online – I never get to see
it since I travel so much. Great job, folks!
Daisy Gallagher
CEO
Gallagher and Gallagher, Stroudsburg
Photo credit: Pure Sight & Sound
By Nicholas Sergi
This fully sound-isolated home theater, which Pure
Sight & Sound had built for a client in Great Bear, has 8
custom seats with shakers, full surround sound, motorized
draperies, custom bar, custom sconces, popcorn machine,
projection room, concealed equipment rack, fiber optic
sky panel, and custom entry door, operated by a remote
control. Pure Sight President Ed Kmetz says, “There’s no
recession in my world. We really hit it lucky.”
2001-2002, “and it won’t be the last. Customers will give
everything they buy a second thought.”
Grannis added that electronics and home entertainment equipment still rank highly, and track second in sales
numbers. Britt concurred with the notion that sales in home
Really liked the email update. Great idea. Keep them coming.
Pat O’Reilly
Owner
Mollies, Stroudsburg
entertainment and electronics have become
a thriving market. However, she doesn’t
necessarily believe that investing in home
theater systems, which has become more
common in recent years, is being perceived
by consumers as a money-savings practice
when measured against the high expense
of taking a family to the movies. She said
that “while it can be a cost-savings” when
it’s taken in the context of the costs that go
along with gas, tickets, and concessions,
“people don’t perceive it that way. They
just want the better picture they can get at
home.”
While an elaborate home theater in the
home may be perceived as “conspicuous
consumerism,” particularly in the midst of the current
fiscal crisis, Ed Kmetz, owner of Pure Sight and Sound in
Stroudsburg, does not believe that his customers invest in
such elaborate media centers that his company specializes
in installing to “show off.”
“That’s not what it’s about. Most of them simply want
a nice space for the family,” Kmetz said. “Business is
good. Home theaters have been recession-proof because of
falling prices. A setup that cost $50,000 five years ago I can
now do for $20,000.” He began the company in 2003 and
found it to be the beneficiary of a booming housing market
and an economy that, at the time, was growing. Kmetz
still finds himself with an impressive to-do list as business
continues to thrive, thanks to audiophiles in both Monroe
and Pike Counties.
Downtown Manager
EastBurg Community Alliance, East Stroudsburg
-------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------Nice work!
Jamie B. Keener, AICP
Regional Manager
Herbert, Rowland & Grubic, Inc., Bartonsville
What a wonderful publication! Excellent work! We’ll be
sure to make sure that you are on our media contact list so
that we can submit news to you for it. Thanks again!
Scott Weiland
Executive Director, Pike County Chamber of Commerce
-------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Hey… great idea!
VERY NICE!
George Roberts
GeorgeTV, Stroudsburg
Dominick J. Sacci
General Manager/Vice President
Wilkins & Associates Real Estate, Stroudsburg
------------------------------------------------------------------An appetizing online publication setting the plate for readers
to delve into the ensuing printed “main course” issue.
Joseph Memoli
------------------------------------------------------------------I just wanted to say that I really like the e-newsletter. It
looks great!
Sarah Knowlden
Senior Communications Coordinator
Sacunas, Harrisburg
Clarifications and Corrections
“Making Connections Happen”
For All Your Workforce Training and
Recruitment Needs
570-620-2850
www.cwds.state.pa.us
please
recycle
this
paper
In June, the “What’s What” contained an error of fact. The item which read Caesars Pocono Palace should have read as the following: “Wilkins and Associates has announced
to shareholders the news of a 50 for 1 stock
split, enabling PA1st Settlement Services to
remain competitive in the realtor owned title
business.” PBJ regrets the error.
The photo on page 16 (“Stroudsmoor’s
Growth”) omitted a photo credit, which
should have attributed Susan Jorstad.
4
OP ED
Bipartisan Support for Targeted Tax Reductions
Leaves Business Community Hopeful
Op Ed/PA Chamber
Lesley Smith
Rising gasoline prices, escalating food costs, slumping home values and a slowing rate of growth have the
health of the national economy on everyone’s mind,
while the threat of a recession still looms as a possibility. Clearly, uncertainties about the economy require
special attention.
But long before the national economy began making headlines, Pennsylvania had its own problems – a
Gross Domestic Product growing at only half of the
U.S. average; an uncompetitive business tax climate
(with the exception of the state of Iowa, Pennsylvania’s
combined federal and local corporate income tax rate
is higher than any other industrialized nation); and a
ranking of 44 for economic competitiveness according
to one prominent study featured recently in The Wall
Street Journal.
The encouraging news for job creators is that a
growing number of Republican and Democratic state
lawmakers are recognizing that tax policy is a key
dynamic in the competition between states for economic
development, and that more must be done to move
Pennsylvania forward.
Two specific tax reforms advocated by the unified
business community – elimination of the cap on Net
Operating Losses and implementation of a Single Sales
Factor apportionment formula for the Corporate Net
Income tax – enjoy bipartisan support in the General
Assembly.
Removing the NOL cap would level the playing
field for start-up firms in technology and biosciences –
an industry that holds great promise for Pennsylvania
– and for cyclical manufacturing firms in commodity
markets where profits and losses often fluctuate wildly.
Pennsylvania is one of only two states – and the
only major state – that limits the amount of losses a
company can offset ($3 million or 12.5 percent of the
loss, whichever is greater). Eliminating the cap would
enable companies to offset some losses by reducing
their tax burden in the future, providing a boost to businesses that are struggling to get off the ground against
the added pressure of a slowing economy.
The second tax change would be to base the CNI
formula only on a Pennsylvania company’s sales, as is
being done by a growing number of states. The current
formula bases the rate on sales, property and payroll,
penalizing companies for creating jobs.
A bipartisan group of lawmakers in the state House
is backing the plan to implement a Single Sales Factor and eliminate the NOL cap, while plans to move to
an 85 percent sales factor and raise the NOL cap to $5
million or 20 percent of taxable income is part of an
economic stimulus plan unveiled in late May by Senate
Republicans.
At the time of this writing, lawmakers were in the
midst of crafting the 2008-09 state budget. Given the
overwhelming support in the legislature for business
tax reform, Pennsylvania’s job creators are hopeful that
some level of relief will be part of the plan.
PBJ READER’S RESOURCE
|
National Assn. of Home Builders
(NAHB)
Even if you are not a homebuilder or in the
real estate industry, the economic indicator
information found at the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Web page
http://www.nahb.org/page.aspx/category/
sectionID=138 provides a glimpse into the
important role housing plays in the local and
national economy. Find construction stats,
housing starts, vacancies, mortgage trends,
information on the
overall job market,
and more.
Debbie Burke
These reasonable changes will improve the Commonwealth’s chances to compete successfully for new
jobs and investment.
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.
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5
COLUMN
Sign Up for Next Leadership Pike
Leadership Pike
Peter Wulfhorst
Leadership Pike is strong and gaining momentum
in Pike County. Through the efforts of John Drake of
Northampton Community College and Scott Weiland
of the Pike County Chamber of Commerce, people who
work and live in Pike County are talking about the Leadership Pike program.
The students who participated in the first two
classes are very enthusiastic about the program. They
had shared their experiences with other possible students
who might be interested in the next class. In fact, there
is an initiative by the Leadership Pike graduates to start
an alumni group.
According to a survey given to previous Leadership Pike participants, the program especially aided
students in adapting their leadership to be more effective throughout a variety of situations. Out of ten
participants, eight said that Leadership Pike helped them
develop skills to manage conflict, resolve conflict, delegate responsibilities, work more effectively in a group,
communicate more clearly with others and motive and
inspire people to work together. The same eighty percent
also believe that Leadership Pike helped them to under-
stand their leadership strengths and weaknesses.
The Leadership Pike program is accepting applications for its 2008/09 class, which will commence on
September 5th. Leadership Pike is a comprehensive
leadership development program which offers individuals the opportunity to develop and sharpen leadership
skills, a chance to network with existing and future leaders, and to learn about Pike County’s assets as well as introducing participants to the major issues and challenges
facing the county. Leadership Pike graduates have
sharpened their leadership skills, met many existing and
prospective leaders, and learned about important issues
and challenges facing Pike County in the future. Class
topics will includes an overview of Pike County, the
future of Pike County, government and public services,
education and public information, health and human service, quality of life/environment, project planning, and
business and economic development. Classes encourage
students to work on their leadership skills. There is also
a field trip tour of Pike County.
Members of the class will form a team responsible
for completing a class project of their choice that will
benefit the citizens of Pike County as a whole. By design, the project causes each class to work as a team, establish priorities, and develop leadership qualities. Projects have included a comprehensive media guide to help
any organization in Pike County plan and implement a
promotional program; and “Pike County for Smarties,”
a publication that helps all new residents of Pike County
understand many items/topics that are unique to the area
and where to find many needed resources. The media
project can be viewed on the Pike County United Way’s
Web site at http://www.unitedwaypike.org.
Classes will meet the first or second Friday of each
month from September through April from 9 am – 5
pm at various locations throughout Pike County. In
addition, there will be a graduation ceremony in May.
The tuition is $ 450 which includes program materials,
continental breakfasts and lunches. Scholarships are
available for those who qualify.
Peter Wulfhorst AICP is an economic & community
development educator with Penn State Cooperative
Extension in Pike County and is on the Leadership
Pike steering committee. He can be reached at (570)
296-3400 or [email protected].
Temporary and Permanent Staffing
& Employment Solutions
• Office
• Hospitality
• Warehouse
• Maintenance
• Manufacturing
• Skilled Labor
• General Labor
• Event Staff
No job too big or too small!
We offer competitive rates, skill testing,
24/7 service and background checks.
Two great locations
to serve you better!
For more information, please visit
www.poconopersonnel.com
or call 570-424-1800
Weathering the Economic Storm
HR Toolbox
Victoria Mavis
Whether or not you believe we are in the midst of an
economic downturn, it is not as important as running the
people-part of your business or being nimble enough to
adapt to changes that occur in both economic booms and
busts.
Consider the following three factors (as reported by
Susan J. Wells, author/business journalist, HR Magazine, Washington D.C.) in our current economic environment to determine how to respond to the impact that
each may have on your ability to compete in the ongoing
“war” for talent.
As fuel costs continue to rise, so does the tendency
of employees to look to their employer to subsidize
their ‘cost of commuting’ to the office. Employees
are not only looking to shift costs to employers, but
they also seek creative ways to reduce their daily work
travel. Some of the more traditional arrangements being
implemented by companies include working at home,
telecommuting alternatives, or other flexible work arrangements which can reduce the amount of time that
employees spend on the road going to and from work.
Additional benefit plans that companies have recently
designed to offer more generous commuting benefits
include: mass-transit vouchers, gasoline cards, carpooling incentives, the use of satellite telework centers, and
rebates to employees who trade in less fuel efficient cars
pany in any economic environment? Be prepared with
for the purchase of hybrid vehicles.
a plan of action that is designed around the following
The current real estate downturn and sliding housquestion: What would you do if you lost 20 percent of
ing prices have limited many companies’ abilities to
your revenue in any quarter? If you design an action
attract talent from outside their local area. In a recent
plan around this, then when a downturn occurs, simply
survey conducted by the Worldwide Employee Relocapull out the plan and execute the identified strategy.
tion Council, a trade group for relocation professionals,
based in Arlington, VA, it was reported that one of the
Victoria Mavis is the president/CEO of Core People Retop reasons employees gave for resisting transfers and
sources, LLC (now of Stroudsburg), a Web-based human
relocations was a weak housing market. Employees
resources expert system designed to help small employsurveyed indicated that they declined relocation opers reduce the risk of financial exposure associated with
portunities because they are unwilling to sell reducedemployment issues. Mavis can be reached at vmavis@
value homes at a loss without some arrangement by the
corepeopleresources.com or visit www.corepeoplereemployer to make up the shortfall through either direct
sources.com.
reimbursement or higher salary levels. And despite profits, many small and medium-sized companies are not
in the financial position to
increase the level of relocation benefits from what has
been traditionally offered.
As employees worry
about higher prices for food
and energy outpacing their
incomes, companies should
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prepare for employee interest
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6
NEWS
Mouths to Feed, Farms to Save
By Denis Dumas – PBJ Intern
A powerful piece of legislation, the 2008 Federal Farm
Bill is now giving aid to farmers.
The basic premise of the Farm Bill is this: the government pays farmers a subsidy based on the type of crops
or livestock they raise, the amount of land they own, and
their annual yield. Because farmers receive this aid, they
are able to sell their goods at below market value, and often
below the cost of production. This drives food prices down,
and allows farmers to better compete in the international
market.
Further, around seventy five percent of
the bill’s spending (about $217 billion) goes
to bolstering our nation’s food stamp and
low-income nutrition programs, which allow
Americans that can’t afford it to buy the food
they need. In Pennsylvania alone, there are
1,186,918 people enrolled in the food stamp
program as of March 2008 (source: US Dept.
Agriculture). Under the Farm Bill, the food
stamp program should grow to include even
more Pennsylvanians.
However, there are many non-believers
in the farm bill in Washington. Chief among
them is President George W. Bush, who
vetoed the bill when it came to his desk for
approval recently. Bush said, “Today’s farm
economy is very strong…it is a better time to
target subsidies and put forth real reform.”
History has shown that food prices can
fall as fast as they rise, and Congress, led by
the Senate Agricultural committee (of which
Pennsylvania Senator Bob Casey is a member) overrode the President’s veto with a 2/3
majority, passing the farm bill as law.
Senator Bob Casey made the statement,
“This farm bill is a big victory for Pennsylvania.” He believes that the farm programs
included in the new bill, which for the first
time includes subsidies for specialty crops
like dairy, fruit, and organics, will do much
to help Pennsylvania, where agriculture is
the number one industry. The bill gives $466
million to specialty crops and $22 million to
organics over the bill’s five-year lifetime.
Leaders in Pennsylvania seemed unanimous in their support for the bill. Governor
Rendell said, “This bill contains key reforms
to subsidy programs and does a great deal
for Pennsylvania.” Congressman Kanjorski,
the representative for the Pocono area, sees
the bill as a boost to NEPA’s economy, and
he believes “this will encourage more businesses to expand in or move to NEPA.”
Heidi Secord, of the Cherry Valley Coop farm in Monroe County, says, “It’s not
all about the traditionally powerful agriculture industries in the Midwest and South
anymore—that’s the win for us in PA.” She
points out that northeastern Pennsylvania,
although not an agricultural giant, has the
opportunity to become more involved in
specialty crops. “This is the first time in the
life of the bill that specialty crop assistance
has been made available…Farmers in NEPA
have an opportunity to establish new crops,
to grow a product that can generate more
income than just the traditional corn/soy
rotation.”
“I do see it as an income boost to local
farmers, and a unique opportunity to make
our farms more profitable and sustainable,”
adds Secord.
The Farm Bill also aims to lower the
cost of energy for farmers. It allots more
dollars for solar and wind power, as well as
a subsidy for cellulosic ethanol. All of these
programs are put in place to lower the price
of food in America. By cutting the production cost for farmers, the ultimate retail price
drops.
Huge amounts of money are also set
aside for conservation efforts, particularly in
the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, the headwa-
ters of which are in NEPA.
Proponents of the Farm Bill believe it is powerful
legislation that will help northeast Pennsylvania strengthen
its agricultural economy. National Farmers Union President
Tom Buis says, “When the farm economy is healthy, a rural
community’s economy is healthy. Providing stability and
security for producers is a bottom up benefit to the business
community that relies upon agriculture’s patronage.”
US Sen. Arlen Specter stated his support this way:
“After very careful consideration of the very complex piece
of legislation, I decided to vote in favor the Farm Bill…
There are some parts of the bill, candidly, that I did not like.
Why
We are still having too much of the subsidies for the giant
agri-corps and people who, in my opinion, ought not have
those subsidies…No bill is going to come out which is to
the exact satisfaction of any one of us, but overall I think it
is appropriate.”
Denis Dumas is an intern at Pocono Business Journal. He
is a Pocono resident and rising college junior at Temple
University. He hopes to one day publish regularly and
consider himself a real writer.
Blue?
+KNAPD=J=
DA=HPDLH=JEPO
=L=NPJANODEL
Managing benefit costs is a big job. Contributing to a more positive and productive culture is an even bigger
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
to not only 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 570-200-6515 to learn more about the value of Blue Cross®. You + Blue. Your insurance for good health.
fBLU-GA_7.40x10.53v1.indd 1
6/16/08 5:18:58 PM
7
NEWS
Wall Street West Workforce Training
Grants Available for 2008-2009
By Debbie Burke
employee. CFRED will be accepting applica While you are waiting for those customers flush
tions for WEDnetPA/Wall Street West funding
from their IRS checks, just know that some taxpayers
through July 7, 2008. Grants will be awarded
are getting less than they counted on. Why? Accordat the end of August for fiscal year July 1, 2008
ing to the IRS, the two biggest reasons for a more
- June 30, 2009.
modest sum are owing back taxes, or having unpaid
Through this initiative, companies can
non-tax federal debts such as student loans or child
support obligations. Other people seeing smaller
take advantage of funding designed to leverstimulus payments are married couples filing jointly
age a firm’s training dollar, improve employee
where the adjusted gross income (AGI) is more than
productivity and strengthen its competitive$150,000 and singles whose AGI is over $75,000.
ness in the marketplace.
Companies identify their own training needs, which may
involve skills that are
Spea
Learn
general to the workker:
about:
place or specific to their
industry. Companies
HR Made Easy
also choose their own
PBJ columnist Victoria Mavis,
th
July 17
training providers:
Core People Resources
on-line courseware or
Borders Cafe
tIJSJOHBOEmSJOH
traditional classroom
made easy
Open
to
the
public
instruction, conducted
Edit
tXPSLJOHXJUI
o
by either in-house staff
5:30 .. – 6:30 .. on the Rors
difficult employees
ad
or third-party trainers.
tUPQmWF)3NJTUBLFT
For more informamade by small businesses
tion, contact Miguel
Barbosa, director of
workforce development,
at (570) 422-7920.
BUSINESS JOURNAL
Business
&Books
`
East Stroudsburg, PA – East Stroudsburg
University’s Center for Research and Economic
Development (CFRED) is accepting applications for 2008-2009 Employee-Training Grants
from the Workforce and Economic Development
Network of Pennsylvania (WEDnetPA)/Wall
Street West Initiative. Funding for the WEDnetPA/Wall Street West Initiative is provided by a
Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic
Development (WIRED) grant from the U.S.
Department of Labor.
The WEDnetPA/Wall Street West Initiative
provides funding to qualified companies in the
financial and insurance industries as well as
technology companies that support them and
are physically located in the nine-county Wall
Street West service area: Monroe, Pike, Wayne,
Luzerne, Lackawanna, Northampton, Lehigh,
Berks, and Carbon Counties. Companies may
qualify for a maximum grant of $25,000.
Funding is available for training eligible employees in areas such as basic skills up to $450
per employee, Basic Skills Industry recognized
certifications up to $900 per employee, information technology training up to $1,200 per
employee, and as much as $2,400 per employee
in informational technology Industry recognized
certification training. There will also be the
opportunity for upper-level management training reimbursement of up to $1,000 per eligible
Stimulus, Yes, But Some
Fall Short of Expectations
Pocon
Busin o
Journa ess
l
POCONO
8
NEWS
Photo credit: East Shore Lodging
Truckers’ Wheels Silenced By Gas Prices
To ease the sting of pump madness, several Poconos
businesses are offering gas rebates in conjunction with
two-night, mid-week stays. Pictured is Steve Gerfelder, owner of East Shore Lodging in Lake Wallenpaupack, holding the $50 gas card that accompanies a
two-night package at the hotel.
By Ken Clark
Charles Love was out of money, out of luck and, he
feared, very close to out of work as he left On The Run
service station in Bartonsville where he had just dumped
$1,200 worth of diesel fuel into the tank of his tractor.
“I was here earlier this morning and it was $4.75 (a
gallon),” he said. “It’s $4.85 now. It went up 10 cents in
one day. It’s really rough. I don’t take home the money I
should be taking home now. It all goes into the tank.”
The short haul trucker from Elizabeth, New Jersey,
wasn’t alone. News reports, nationwide, tell of independent motor carriers either on strike or simply out of business, forced to park their rigs because they can’t afford to
drive through the blizzard of soaring diesel prices.
Love said he would have to shut down when the price
hit $5 a gallon, and the very next day, crude oil came in at
$135 a barrel on the world market, virtually assuring his
tipping point.
“You just get so far down and you can’t get up again,”
he said.
Back inside the station, owner Paul Roche, who measures his profit margin on fuel in pennies, said his convenience store, without which he couldn’t survive, now also
is taking a hit from surging pump prices, surpassing the $4
mark on gasoline for the family car.
“It hurts our business,” he said. “People aren’t buying
Photo credit: Pocono Business Journal
PBJ Airs on “Gary”
the coffees; they’re not buying the car washes because
they’re putting all their money in the fuel tank. I used to
be in the tire business and the draw was to get the people
to come in on the tire prices, even though we only made
pennies on the tires, and then look for the brake jobs and
that sort of stuff. The same philosophy applies to this,
too.”
The subject has been the overriding theme in national
discourse, from the campaign trail to the halls of Congress, for months. Several competing scenarios designed
to bring prices down have been floated, but so far there are
no apparent final solutions for the increasingly complex
problem. Advocates of ethanol lead the parade, with
farmers pouring so much corn into its development that a
growing shortage has triggered a worldwide food crisis.
Not everyone, however, sees ethanol as the answer.
“I’m not a big supporter of biofuels,” said Craig Todd,
District Manager of the Monroe County Conservation
District. “The best way to analyze the use of biofuels is to
look at the net energy consumed as compared to the net
energy derived from the new fuel. I think if you do, it isn’t
that good.”
“I’m certainly not opposed to farmers making a living,” he added, “but I don’t think the net is good for most
of these things. It’s offensive to me to burn food for fuel.
We don’t really have an energy policy on the federal level
which is really tragic.”
Todd said the only effective solution is conservation,
right down to the grassroots level: driving slower, driving
less and turning to car-pooling and mass transit wherever
possible.
Tiffany Wlazlowski, director of public affairs for the
Arlington, Virginia-based American Trucking Associations, agreed with Todd, both on the subject of conservation and on skepticism about biofuels.
“We support bio-diesel in blends of up to five percent,” she said. “Above five percent, there are some difficulties with how it operates in the truck.”
She said her association is urging major motor carriers
to order their drivers to cut highway speeds down to 65
mph, which most have done.
“Just running your truck at 65, versus 75 miles per
hour is a 27 percent fuel saving,” she said.
Her association also is pressing truckers to invest in
idle reduction equipment and software to assure more
efficient routing, and is lobbying Congress to streamline
the review and processing of applications for additional
refinery operations.
“We recognize that there is no quick fix to this problem, but we’ve got to start taking steps in the right direction,” Wlazlowski said. “In 2007, the trucking industry
spent $112 billion on fuel. In 2008, at the current price, we
are on pace to spend $142 billion. It’s a record high. When
fuel goes up one cent, that one penny increase, over a full
year, costs the trucking industry $391 million.”
A myriad of suggested solutions, ranging from dropping the federal gasoline tax, which supplies revenue for
maintenance and repair of the nations’ roads and bridges,
to releasing oil from the strategic reserve to drilling in
Alaska’s Anwar basin are being floated. Back down
among the grassroots, Charles Love just wishes somebody
would do something, but growing bitterness leaves him
with little faith in governmental intercession.
“Bush should be doing something about it, but he’s an
oil man,” says Love. “Cheney’s an oil man. Our country’s
being run by oil men. They’re lining their pockets. They
don’t have to care.”
Second Annual PBJ
“Women in Business”
Now Accepting
Applications
In our September issue, Pocono
Business Journal highlights the top
ten “Women in Business” throughout the Pocono region who have
provided tangible value to their
company or organization. We seek
women who are a true reflection of
innovation and ambition in business. Nominees need not be business owners and may come from
all levels of the organization; also,
they must have been in their current
industry or profession since 2005.
Each of the top women will be featured in a mini-profile and receive
a certificate from PBJ, along with a
complimentary subscription. Send
nominations to editor@pbjonline.
com. Nominations are due August
1, 2008. For criteria visit http://
www.pbjonline.com/PBJNews.htm.
Materials Management Seminar
Gary Smith (“Gary in the Morning”) invited Pocono
Business Journal editor Debbie Burke to his 101st
Internet radio show. Over some laughs and bagels,
Burke shared with viewers how they can get their business news published. She also offered PBJ’s “Editors
on the Road” presentation free to any Pocono-based
business owner or professional who wishes to learn
more about media relations and getting “ink” for their
business. Visit http://www.garyinthemorning.com/content/blogcategory/100/35/ and click on “May 27 2008,
Show #101.”
Basic materials management information designed for your business.
Perfect for new business, supply chain, supervision & management.
A two hour Saturday morning seminar at your facility. Includes terms,
common procedures, getting started, typical duties & best practices.
$
250.00 (includes hand out material for attendees)
Materials Management & Purchasing Seminar
A four hour informal presentation that includes all the information in the
two hour materials management presentation plus purchasing related
terms, procedures, vendor management & best practices.
400.00 (includes hand out material for attendees)
$
Presented by Carl Pettry, a Certified Purchasing Manager & member of
the Dallas Texas affiliate of the Institute for Supply Management.
To Schedule Your Presentation, Call Carl at
973-294-4075.
9
FEATURE
HOME VALUES... cont. from page 1
good documentation and a decent down payment; but says
Dye, for borrowers who don’t qualify, lenders are no longer
writing sub-prime mortgages. “For jumbo mortgages on big,
luxury-style homes, rates are typically higher.”
According to RealtyTrac.com, Monroe County had
151 bank-owned foreclosures for the first quarter of 2008;
the bulk of those were in private communities, such as A
Pocono Country Place in Tobyhanna and Penn Estates in
East Stroudsburg. Carbon County’s 51 foreclosures were
concentrated mainly in Palmerton and Lehighton. Pike had
only two; Wayne, none.
“Monroe County has experienced explosive growth
and [was recently] the second fastest growing county in PA,
which translates to a more dramatic number of foreclosures
now that the market has slowed,” points out Michael Baxter,
broker/owner, Michael Baxter & Associates Commercial
Real Estate and Property Management. “The people getting
squeezed the most are those who just barely qualified for
their mortgages. They didn’t have that safety net.”
Legislation
The U.S. House recently passed H.R. 3221, the American Housing Rescue and Foreclosure Prevention Act, which
provides a $7,500 tax credit for first-time homebuyers, and
contains two bills supported by the President to modernize
the FHA and reform Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the two
government-sponsored enterprises that finance mortgages,
by enforcing tighter regulation. Congressman Paul Kanjorski (PA-11) introduced Emergency Mortgage Loan Modification Act, an amendment that allows loan servicers to work
with families facing mortgage defaults without fearing legal
action from investors.
“In addition to helping struggling homeowners, the
bill limits property value damage to nearby homes, restores
confidence in the housing market, and provides money for
states and localities to clean up vacant and abandoned properties,” stated Kanjorski.
The new plan is available only to owner-occupied
homes. Speculators, investors, and vacation or secondhome owners are ineligible, as well as those convicted of
fraud in buying their homes.
New Construction vs. Resales
Counseling
State Representative John Siptroth’s Marshalls Creek
office now hosts staff from United Neighborhood Centers
of Northeastern Pennsylvania every Wednesday to offer
counseling on foreclosure prevention, pre-purchase advice
and reverse mortgages. The UNC is a nonprofit United Way
agency based in Scranton and funded in part by the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency. (UNC can be reached
toll-free at 1-877-433-7816.)
Acting as a liaison between the homeowner and the
lending institutions, counselors are taking roughly ten phone
calls per week, many from Realtors or contractors who
are losing income and struggling to support a $300,000 or
$400,000 mortgage, according to Jill Moyle, UNC counselor and coordinator of the homebuying program.
“We offer guidance and try to negotiate payment offers
with their lenders,” she says. “The banks are looking to see
that the borrower is not only willing to pay them back but
able to as well. If the situation is a temporary layoff or family emergency, usually they’re in good shape. We go over
their budget and try to help with correct information and options so they can be educated to make their own decisions.”
“We want to keep a roof above everyone’s head – but
(agencies) can’t sustain the number of people who are losing their homes here,” says Stephen Washington, Siptroth’s
chief of staff. “People in financial difficulties don’t seek
help in time. The majority doesn’t phone their lending
institution or try to negotiate. We’re trying to educate people
to the resources at hand.”
Rep. Siptroth’s staff has also been appealing to private
community boards to make information available to homeowners having difficulty making association dues payments.
“It’s not because they purchased a home they couldn’t
afford, it’s because of the economy: the increased cost of
commuting,” said Washington. “They were keeping pace,
and now they’re losing traction and falling behind. If you
add in the cost of heating, food, and everything else, and the
possibility of one of the homeowners losing a job or being
downsized… you suddenly find that for people who are
working hard and did budget correctly when they bought the
house, it’s now very hard.”
Commercial Strong, But
Landlords Feel Pinch
By Susan Jorstad
“There’s as much or more interest as I’ve ever seen in
retail in the Poconos and Lehigh Valley,” said Davis Chant,
chairman of the board of Davis R. Chant Realtors. “It’s just
that the buyer’s ability to finance deals has become much
more difficult and most buyers are cautious to get the very
best value. There’s still a very strong level of interest,
primarily for sites for retail development.”
The decrease in credit availability has spilled over into
Photo credit: Mary Baldwin, The Weekly Almanac
Curtailed construction of new homes has resulted in
significant overhead of homes on the market, and a pool of
fewer buyers. “Resales are steady but new home construction is down significantly,” said Rachel Hendricks, deputy
director of Pike County Industrial & Commercial Development Authority. “Local builders are taking more remodeling jobs than they normally would. You don’t typically see
construction ‘layoffs’ here because many are independent
contractors. They are not eligible for unemployment and so
they shift industries and work in something related, like a
hardware store, trucking company, etc. This is like a natural
selection process for this industry. The more established
builders appreciate that as the silver lining.”
the commercial real estate market (CRE), leading financial
institutions to be more cautious in lending practices and
making less credit available for commercial building loans.
According to Robert Dye at PNC, one thing keeping buyers
from coming back into the CRE market is availability of
credit. “The subprime segment of the market has been shut
down. Credit constraints are affecting the non-residential
industry in terms of financing new projects. All areas of the
country are feeling this and the Pocono area will not be immune.”
“CRE is moving,” said Rachel Hendricks, deputy director of the Pike County Industrial & Commercial Development Authority. “It’s not at the pace of two years ago, but
properties that have been vacant a while are turning over or
have recently turned over.
Rising gas prices, the national economy, and a slowdown in our residential market are dampening the pace from
what it would be. Some local projects have been shelved,
re-evaluated or delayed because of economic conditions
on the national level. Infrastructure improvements and/or
developments made now will poise areas to be on the cusp
of the upswing.”
Hot spots for commercial real estate continue to be
along the Rt. 611 corridor in Stroudsburg and Tannersville,
Routes 6 and 209 in Milford and Matamoras, and Routes 6
and 652 in Honesdale.
Although there are far fewer foreclosures in CRE, relative to the residential market, there is a ripple effect, says
Michael Baxter, broker/owner of Michael Baxter & Associates Commercial Real Estate and Property Management.
“Smaller builders are closing up shop or downsizing,
which affects vacant space,” said Baxter. “Leasing has
slowed down substantially. Landlords are feeling the pinch
the most, with longer periods of vacancies. With commercial space, the absorption factor is slower. The biggest
impact is along the 611 corridor with all the new retail
projects, so the existing projects now have competition, and
it affects the occupancy rate.”
As they move forward, incoming projects will create
new jobs and lower real estate taxes in comparison to NY
and NJ, all of which local experts predict will shorten the
down cycle for the Poconos.
More Commercial On the Way in Wayne - State and local officials pose with Wayne Economic Development Corp. (WEDCO) representatives at the recent groundbreaking for the Sterling Business Park
(PA Dept. of Community and Economic Development Secretary Dennis Yablonsky is shown in the cab).
Sterling Business Park totals 252 acres, and includes 18 lots which have been approved for flex use (light
manufacturing, distribution, professional office space) and 5 lots for professional office use. Phase 1
construction will include opening 73 salable acres, construction of a wastewater treatment plant, a water
system, some interior roads and utilities, a park entrance, highway improvements, and site development
(stormwater detention basins, etc.).
10
FINANCES
Financial Serenity Now
Erin Baehr
Subprime mortgages – recession – gas… makes
you really want to tune into the news, doesn’t it? Yet,
despite jangled nerves, you do listen. And you wonder what you should do to protect yourself.
It may be impossible NOT to wonder. After all,
you are charged with providing for your family or for
retirement or for your employees. Yes, I wonder, too.
There is a vast difference between what we really
need and what the fear peddlers tell us we need. They
want us to worry about things we cannot control,
things like greedy bankers and where the price of oil
is headed. These things may matter to us less than we
think.
Financial peace of mind is not made possible
by the actions or behaviors of those outside me. My
financial peace of mind is almost entirely up to me.
What exactly can we control in our financial lives
and our businesses in order to ensure, as much as possible, peace of mind? It boils down to how much we
make, how much we save and how much we pay in
taxes.
• Income – Now is not the time to cut back on marketing. Our competitors will, and if we keep up
our efforts our message may be more visible than
before. Now more than ever we need to stay “top
of mind.” Study your book of business, determine
what your most profitable service or client type is,
and strive to provide excellent service there. Look
hard at your expenses, cut where you can without a
drastic impact on business, and pay attention to the
details you may have let slide when business was
good, just like in our personal lives, when we feel
flush with cash we tend to not pay as much attention to those little expenses that add up to big dollars. Keep close track of your receivables; reward
customers who do pay on time.
• Savings – whether in retirement plans or for emergencies, we have control over how much we save.
If income is flat, we can still save more by lowering expenses or by becoming a wiser consumer.
The more we save, the less we have to worry when
prices rise yet again, or we unexpectedly lose
key clients. Bigger cash reserves will lower your
reliance on credit, which in the current climate is
harder to come by.
• Taxes – one of the quickest ways to generate
savings is by lowering taxes. Income taxes are
lowered by working at it. There are plenty of ways
to increase savings AND lower taxes at the very
same time. Consult with a tax professional to find
proactive ways to lower your taxes before tax time.
smart business.
smart bargain.
smart benefits.
smart banking.
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Don’t let economic news depress you into achieving financial discomfort rather than peace of mind.
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. Her practice is focused on educating families and individuals to make the best use of
their money in light of their family’s values. She can
be reached at [email protected].
HR Tidbit
By Victoria Mavis
Q. We just had an employee who was in an
automobile accident. We don’t know the extent
of his injuries or when he will be able to return
to work. So that we don’t get into legal trouble,
what questions are we allowed to ask?
A. Employers should use extreme caution in
requesting medical information from employees. Although employers with more than 50
employees are legally bound to request only
information that is identified in the Family
Medical Leave Act (FMLA), any size employer
can and should use the FMLA application when
dealing with employee medical conditions, as it
keeps you in a “safe” line of questioning.
Photo credit: CBPRRE
Guest Columnist/
Financial Matters
Phyllis Rubin’s Got SMARTs - Sales Associates at Coldwell Banker Phyllis Rubin
Real Estate, including Richard Carroll, Gloria Green, Charles McQuillan, Donna
Hendrickson, Barbara Reina, Bobby Sepolen, Cynthia Lynch, Dana Foley, David
Burns, Nicole Murray, Amna Khawaja, Karen Wagner, Diane Hinson and Sandra
Fisher, recently graduated from the 2008 SMART program. The Floyd Wickman
S.M.A.R.T.(Selling Skills, Mentor Groups, Attitude, Referral Relationships, Time
Control.) program, taught by Master Trainer Shelly Spiegel, has been developed
specifically to train real estate professionals how to manage the changes of a shifting market. The program focuses on key areas of selling skills and business building
practices and is offered through participating real estate offices.
Dani’s Cleaning Service
Professional & Residential Cleaning
Reasonable Rates
call for estimate
570-856-1198
11
HEALTHCARE
Partnering Together to Improve the Health of the Community
Regional Healthcare
Report
Kathy Kuck
It has become increasingly clear that our traditional healthcare system needs reforming if we are to
improve the health of our communities. The focus on
managing disease, illness and injury alone is inadequate, as we watch our nation’s overall health decline.
We believe a system-wide solution is needed to fix
the problems and flaws to fulfill our healthcare mission. To be successful, redesigning the system must
involve all those concerned uniting as partners in a
collaborative, patient-centered care model. Healthcare
professionals, administrators, healthcare planners,
legislators and policy makers, payors, and consumers
of healthcare services must be engaged and committed to make this happen.
The Institute of Medicine’s 2001 report “Crossing
the Quality Chasm: A New Health System for the 21st
Century” called for healthcare systems that:
• Respect patients’ values, preferences and expressed
needs
• Coordinate and integrate care across boundaries of
the system
• Provide the information, communication, and edu-
cation that people need and want
• Guarantee physical comfort, emotional support,
and the involvement of family and friends
To accomplish this new model, our healthcare
system must embrace a commitment to wellness and
health. Through patient and family education, we
have an opportunity to prevent heart disease, obesity,
hypertension, and other diseases affected by lifestyles
and behaviors. We must act to implement programs
to help our children and families cope with stress and
the pressures of everyday living. Together, we must
find a solution to the problem that preventative wellness programs, fitness and education are not currently
supported through most health insurance plans. As
acute care facilities, our hospitals care for patients
once the disease or illness/injury has presented – a
reactionary approach.
In May, Pocono Health System sponsored its first
Women’s Health Forum. Dr. Ann Cahill, cardiothoracic surgeon and the keynote speaker, addressed 350
guests about heart disease prevention. Another 100
women on a waiting list hoped for a cancellation so
that they too could attend. Our community clearly
demonstrated its need to be active participants in its
health destiny.
As healthcare leaders we are ready to lead the
charge in our collective quest for healthcare reform.
We have established a Women’s Health Advisory
Forum as a major initiative to come together with our
community leaders and other key stakeholders and
reform our healthcare strategy. Forum participants
are assisting with the development of a comprehen-
sive community health improvement plan within the
framework of the patient and family-centered care
model.
We invite you to join us on our journey toward a
healthier Monroe County.
Kathy Kuck joined PMC in 2006 as VP for Patient
Care Services and is currently interim president and
CEO at Pocono Medical Center. She 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.
Vacations Can Save Your Life
Summer months mean vacation time, but
an estimated one third of American women and
a quarter of American men have no time off.
Recession worries and job loss fears leave others
afraid to take a break. This unhealthy practice carries real health risks. Vacations can actually save
your life. Studies have shown vacations reduce
stress and lower your risk of heart disease. For
quality downtime, forget about a long weekend
and aim for a two week break.
Is Your Small Business Insurance Coverage Up to Date?
Ask SCORE
Insurance is a wise investment to protect
everything you’ve done to make your small business successful. But is the policy you bought when
you were just starting out adequate for your current
needs, or the direction your company is heading?
A periodic review of your insurance coverage will
ensure that you’re prepared for all reasonable risks,
and that you’re truly getting the most from your
monthly payments.
Start with a full assessment of your company’s
insurance needs. Business insurance safeguards
your property against the consequences of fire,
theft, liability, and other common risks. As your
business has grown, however, you may have added
new services and specialized equipment that require policy endorsements or modifications.
Disaster and business interruption insurance is
also becoming a must for business owners concerned about damage or a prolonged shutdown
resulting from natural disasters, incidents such as
a toxic spill or transportation disruption, or acts of
terrorism. Though such events may be rare where
your business is located, even a relatively minor
event could disrupt your operations and the sur-
rounding economy for several weeks.
That’s why purchasing all of your cover Before purchasing a policy or increasing your
age from a single agency or broker will help reduce
insurance coverage, consider all the possible ways
costs. If multiple policies are necessary, make sure
of holding down the costs. Cover the most risky
they cover separate risks. Otherwise, you’ll be
and largest perils first, then work down your list
making unnecessary payments for what is essenof priorities. Don’t purchase coverage you don’t
tially the same coverage.
need, but also don’t overlook seemingly minor
risks simply for the sake of saving money. If the
SCORE is a nonprofit organization of more than
probability is small, the premium will be too. Use
11,000 volunteer business counselors who provide
a deductible as high as you feel your cash flow and
free, confidential business counseling and low
savings will allow.
fee training workshops to small business own Making wise insurance decisions is easier
ers. Online counseling services are also available
when you work with a reputable and qualified
at www.score.org. David Richmond, the Pocono
broker agent or consultant. Conducting research
Mountains SCORE contact, can be reached at
on your own is also helpful, but a qualified [email protected], or (570) 424-9401.
sional can make an informed evaluation of your
small business insurance needs, and match them
with available coverage options. A search feature
at www.iiaa.org, the site of the Independent Insurance Agents of America,
will help you find qualified professionals in your
community with special
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policies. 12
COLUMN
“Piercing the Corporate Veil” – Putting Shareholders’ Personal Assets at Risk
The Business Lawyer
Tom Ford
A correctly formed and maintained company will
protect the business owners’ personal assets from
creditors– if they follow the applicable rules. Otherwise, a creditor may be able to hold the owners personally responsible for the business debts. This is known
as “piercing the corporate veil”.
Pennsylvania courts are very reluctant to pierce
the veil. The protection of personal assets is a major
foundation for the choice of a corporation or limited
liability company (“LLC”). If it were easy to ignore
that protection, the utility of the form would be eviscerated, leaving scant reason for businesses to organize
in Pennsylvania.
Nevertheless, courts have identified situations that
compel piercing. There are no statutes outlining when
to pierce. Instead, the business lawyer is guided by a
series of court decisions. From them, we can identify
factual situations under which piercing might be permitted. Let’s look at three common scenarios; most of
the discussion here applies equally to corporations and
LLCs.
Adhering to the Formalities
In order to enjoy the benefit of the selected form,
the business owners must honor the corporate “formalities”. Although writ on a smaller scale, they are
no different for the small business than they are for
General Motors.
Even in the smallest of corporations, shareholders
meet annually to elect directors, who in turn appoint
corporate officers. In small businesses, commonly the
shareholders, board, and officers are the same people
(or often, person). Nevertheless, they need to take care
to act only in the proper capacity and only with the
proper corporate authorization. For example, while
corporate officers are authorized to make day-to-day
business decisions, only the board of directors can
approve the acquisition of property or financing. Although they may be the same individuals, the corporate
records need to reflect that the board, and in some
cases the shareholders, authorized the officers to take
certain actions.
The lack of appropriate minutes, corporate
records, and authorizations is often used as a basis to
disregard the corporate entity and to attach the personal assets of owners.
Integrity of Assets
Where a handful of owners are also the business
operators, a frequent danger is the intermingling of
company assets: paying personal debts from business
accounts, or the reverse, for example, or using company property interchangeably with one’s own personal
property.
In an appropriate case, where the owner of a business ignores the separate legal identity, and treats the
business as an extension, or alter ego, of the owner, the
courts will do likewise when it comes to paying creditors. While incidental commingling is not going to be
fatal, when combined with other circumstances, it can
tip the balance in favor of the creditor.
Gross Undercapitalization
“Gross Undercapitalization” does not refer merely
to the inability to repay debt when it is due. Too often,
creditors argue that the fact that the business is not
paying its debt is proof enough of undercapitalization,
but the cases make for a much stricter showing of near
fraudulent conduct.
There are, however, no bright lines – each case
will be decided on its unique facts. Essentially, the
more it seems as if the company knew, at the time it
incurred a debt, that it would be unable to repay it,
the more likely a court will be to permit a creditor to
pierce the veil and attach the personal assets of the
shareholders to members.
There are a few other common instances of piercing (such as perpetration of a fraud), which have not
been addressed in this brief review. Although no hard
and fast rules exist, a well-versed business lawyer can
help a small business avoid the pitfalls of piercing the
corporate veil.
Tom Ford is a principal at Smithford Business Lawyers, LLC, with offices in Stroudsburg and WilkesBarre. He can be reached at (800) 728-1406, by email
at [email protected], and through his blog at
www.pbjonline.com/blog.
PPL Brings Green Thinking to Brodhead Watershed, Where “Trouts” Rule
means integrating environmental, community and economic needs to produce and deliver electricity responsibly.”
Locations on the Trout Trail are: Barrett Paradise
Friendly Library, Paradise Trout Hatchery, Borough Hall
in Mt. Pocono, Northampton County Community College,
Monroe County Conservation District, The Old Mill in
Sciota, Eastern Monroe (Hughes) Public Library, Brodhead
Creek Regional Authority, Brodhead Park, Courthouse
Square in Stroudsburg, Dunkelberger’s in Stroudsburg,
Driebe Freight Station, East Stroudsburg University, Shawnee Inn and Delaware Water Gap Town Hall.
For more information, visit www.trouttrails.org for
images of the trout and a map of locations.
Sustainable is Attainable
Carol Hillestad, Brodhead Watershed
Brodhead Watershed Association is dedicated to protecting
water resources in the Brodhead watershed, and supports
Monroe County residents, businesses, and government in
making smart environmental choices. For more information visit www.brodheadwatershed.org or call (570)
839-1120.
Photo Credit: Pamela v’Coombe
“Green” activists and businesses haven’t historically
shared a lot of common ground. But according to Paul
Canevari, regional community relations director for PPL,
that’s changing.
“PPL is a company that tries to do the right things for
the environment, for our customers and for the communities we serve. We want to achieve business success that is
sustainable for the long term,” he said, “not just for today.
By doing business responsibly, which includes good environmental practices, we can have success that is sustainable.”
For businesses large and small, energy probably represents a major part of their expenses, Canevari said. With
energy costs rising across the board, good energy management makes good business sense. PPL wants business
customers to understand how they use electricity and find
cost-effective ways to use it wisely.
Sound business reasons for protecting the environment
are also sound reasons for supporting public education
about the environment – such as “Trout Trails & Tails,” the
public art project unveiled in Monroe County last month.
Fifteen human-sized trout have been embellished by
area artists and are now on display at locations from Barrett Township to Delaware Water Gap. Trout were chosen
as the subject for the summer-long outdoor show because
they are the “canaries in the mine” for water quality. Trout
die quickly if streams warm up by even a few degrees,
and their food sources disappear in streams that carry too
many pollutants. So each trout along the trail has a placard
describing one part of how the cycle works. Together,
they add up to an understanding that land use affects water
quality and water quantity, as well as flooding and drought,
crucial issues for both businesses and residents.
In addition to PPL, Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort,
located on the Delaware River, is a sponsor of the project,
as well as East Stroudsburg University, Friends of the
One of the “Trout Trails” creations, “Sine Aqua Sileo”
(Latin for “without the water, I am silent”) was sponsored
by Northampton Community College and designed by NCC
student artist Maria Rossiello. “My piece signifies the
beauty that is life while practicing creative recycling,” said
the artist.
Brodhead Greenway, Northampton Community College,
and the Monroe County Commissioners and Conservation
District. A grant from the US EPA Collaborative Science
and Technology Network for Sustainability underwrites the
program.
Canevari believes that this project is “a great example
of community members joining together to raise awareness
and protect an important watershed and wildlife habitat.”
PPL supports habitat restoration and habitat protection
everywhere the company does business, and goes back to
the company’s “interest in long-term, sustainable business
success,” he said. “We’ve been in business for nearly 90
years, and want to be around for at least 90 more. That
Associated Libraries of
Monroe County
Barrett Library
570-595-7171
Clymer Library
570-646-0826
Hughes Library
570-421-0800
Pocono Mt. Library
570-894-8860
Pocono Township Library
570-629-5858
W. Pocono Library
570-992-7934
Smithfield Library
570-223-1881
13
NEWS
Wayne Gets Experienced Businesswoman to Lead Chamber
Donna Labar, who has been well-embedded in
the Wayne County business community for many
years, recently took top spot at the Chamber of
Commerce. PBJ touched base to see where she’s at
and where Wayne is going.
1. We just started taking nominations for our
second annual September Women in Business
issue. What have been your experiences with the
proverbial ‘glass ceiling’ and, from your view
at the top, what if any barriers still exist for
women?
All during my career I have been fortunate to have
worked with and been mentored by women in
leadership roles. My first full-time position was
working with a woman who owned and operated
a sole proprietor business. Mentoring is important
to achieve success, and it’s a wonderful opportunity to have support from another woman or friend
who listens and supports you in your journey to get
where you want to be. There are still glass ceilings
to shatter in any field, but we are celebrating many
successes by women and drawing attention to the
continual need to bring equity to the workplace.
at Hawley completed by the end of June, linking us
to Lackawaxen. The rail excursions have not been
able to travel to Lackawaxen since the 2004 season
when the bridge was destroyed due to flood waters.
With the highly anticipated bridge completion,
eight new fun rail excursions have been planned.
Some of the new excursions include a Murder
Mystery on the train, Rail & Raft, Bavarian Festival, and Railfan Day. A total of 29 excursions are
planned for the 2008 season. A complete schedule
is on our Web site at www.waynecountycc.com.
Photo credit: Wayne County Chamber of Commerce
By Debbie Burke
DONNA LABAR
2. Name three ways you would like to see Wayne
County grow.
Manufacturing/industry
Rail service for freight and passengers
Workforce development
3. With the good weather and summer season
upon us, what’s new with your famous Stourbridge Line Rail Excursions?
We are very excited about the replacement bridge
EDITOR’S PICK – BOOK REVIEW
“Talent: Making People Your Competitive Advantage”
Image courtesy of John Wiley and Sons
By Debbie Burke
Don’t worry about the HC (human capital) - or
people - strengths within your organization; you
don’t really need them. Unless you deal with customers, that is.
An “HCcentric”
approach is
essential to
retaining talent,
says Edward
E. Lawler III,
author of “Talent: Making
People Your
Competitive
Advantage.”
HC-centric
means that the
organization
prizes relationships and
is constantly
working to
keep them
strong. Top among your priorities is, first, acquiring the right talent, but unfortunately, according to
Lawler, our educational system does not adequately
keep up with industry’s demand for smart, progressive thinkers, making recruitment challenge
number one.
Employees at all levels should be ‘obsessed’
with finding and managing talent. Guess where you
should expect to get the most support in the quest
to nurture and hold onto talent? Look no further
than your HR department, which “is a critical
career stopping point for anyone who aspires to
senior management in the organization.” HR also has,
by definition, the inside scoop on which employees
are performing and which ones have the level of
skill, motivation and commitment needed to grow
your in-house base of talent. The goal should be to
assess employees against stated goals and tie rewards
to performance measures in a timely manner. Mix
rewards, Lawler says, for individuals, groups, and the
organization as appropriate.
Still, HR doesn’t act alone; it needs support from
IT and the business strategists to “come up with a
coherent and integrated business plan.” The author
advises closing the class gap, or the distance between
the haves and the have nots. Be wary when the upper executives enjoy multiple perks while the line
employees have no such extras, or when the corporate culture rewards those at the top more often. This
creates a distance that needs to be bridged or else.
“When senior executives profit…in ways that are
not available to the rest of the organization, it makes
it particularly difficult for them to be seen as walking the talk of a high-involvement organization,” he
notes.
In other words: create an environment where
you openly demonstrate how your people - all your
people - really are your biggest asset. Do so, and you
will be a ‘winner.’
Title: “Talent: Making People Your Competitive Advantage”
Author: Edward E. Lawler III
Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
ISBN: 978-0-7879-9338-7 (cloth)
Price: $29.95
Book courtesy of John Wiley and Sons. PBJ’s review
and this book are available at Borders Stroudsburg.
4. How will Annetta DeYoung - your predecessor who came out of retirement to be the new
Train Manager- enhance the rail experience for
visitors?
We are very fortunate to have Netta continuing to
manage the train excursions. Her passion for the
train combined with years of experience, expertise
and relationship building makes her a valuable
asset to the Stourbridge Line. Netta brings volunteers, employees, train crews, vendors and government agencies on board to ensure the train continues its excursions and heritage.
5. Your Farmers’ Market is in full swing. What
do you foresee for the future of agriculture in
Wayne as farms close throughout the region?
I believe transition and diversification is the future.
Being diversified and investing in technology will
be necessary to continue with agriculture. Dairy
farmers may be reduced, but crop and horse farms
are increasing. Due to the cost of transportation
we will see local crops and meat sold at farmers’
markets where the farmer has more control.
6. How has the rise in gas prices affected your
member businesses, particularly for the trucking and warehouse industries, and retail stores?
Increased fuel prices are driving costs upwards for
all goods and services. Restaurants, retail, shipping
companies, grocery stores, etc. are forced to pass
increases to customers. The positive side, I believe,
is that people will eat, shop, and visit our local
businesses on a more frequent basis.
7. What are your expectations for Sterling
Business Park and how will it help grow Wayne
County’s economy?
The business park is a very exciting economic
development for Wayne County. Opportunities
for industry providing jobs on the higher end of
the pay scale, paying taxes, and purchasing goods
and services will all be positive results from this
project.
8. What new and improved benefits can Chamber members now enjoy?
The Chamber, through its Board of Directors and
Members, is in the process of forming a committee to explore and implement additional member
benefits. The member benefit package will be
increased during 2008.
14
Photo credit: Tobyhanna Army Depot.
Contact PBJ
for Ad Rates.
www.pbjonline.com
e-mail: [email protected]
Suggestions Welcome - Secretary of the Army Pete
Geren presented Tobyhanna Army Depot employees
(from left) Timothy Kime, Andrew Martino, and
David Voorhees with the 2007 Military and Civilian
Suggesters of the Year award on April 15. The Secretary of the Army Awards Ceremony was held at the
Pentagon Auditorium in Washington, D.C. The three
Depot employees were recognized for their suggestion to reclassify the Zero Azimuth Position Sensors
(ZAPS) from a component to a part, which authorizes
them to repair the broken sensor.
POCONO
www.pbjonline.com
Photo credit: George Ronerts Productions
NEWS
New Stroudsburg Digs - George Roberts Productions
recently held an open house at new offices on Main
Street in Stroudsburg, attended by the media, board
members of the Greater Pocono Chamber of Commerce, and local business leaders. “Our new offices
have a studio area for videotaping and a full-featured
editing suite using the latest technology available.
We are ‘content providers,’ meaning we can produce
videos for clients and use them in a variety of formats
including the Internet, DVD’s and TV,” says Roberts,
at left scissors.
Don’t Be Without Your “Taste”
In order to bring you more business news, we have launched “Taste of PBJ: Business News Update.” This e-newsletter is
available once a month, in between publication dates. To be sure you receive your “Taste” of more business news, please
send your email address to [email protected].
and we’ll be with you every step of the way.
Maybe you’ve noticed a loved one who isn’t able to manage daily
activities as well as they used to. Things like meal preparation,
taking their medications, or getting out to socialize.
Pocono lutheran village has been helping families with
this difficult decision for over five years. We’ll meet with you, answer
your questions, and guide you through the process.
To learn more about assisted living options at Pocono Lutheran Village,
call Betsi Olmstead at 570-426-4012 or 888-640-7620.
329 East Brown Street � East Stroudsburg, PA 18301
Center for Professional Training and Development
Improve your skills this summer!
Accounting Basics
Troubleshooting
Your PC
Friday, July 11
9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Fee: $95 (includes
materials/lunch)
Thurs., July 10, 17 and 24
6 p.m. – 9 p.m.
Fee: $105 (includes materials)
Digital Photography
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Fridays, July 11, 18 & 25,
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Diakon offers services and housing without regard to race, color, religion, disability,
marital status, ancestry, national origin, sexual orientation or gender.
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[email protected]
15
NEWS
Stroudsburg, PA – The Pocono Builders
Association Awards Program began in 1980
to encourage better design and construction
in the Pocono area. This September, awards
of achievement will be presented in various
categories from residential and commercial
construction to landscaping and marketing. The Award of Excellence is the highest
honor presented through the program.
This year’s competition for the awards
will be limited to membership within the
Pocono Builders Association. The deadline
for award entries is August 1.
The awards dinner will be held on
Wednesday, September 17 at the Ridgecrest
at the Stroudsmoor Inn. Call the Pocono
Builders Association at (570) 421-9009
or visit www.poconobuilders.org for more
information.
please recycle
this paper
No More “Hair Nets and Ice Cream Scoop”
Photo credit: LCCC
Deadline Soon for 7th Annual
Pocono Builders Awards
By Debbie Burke
The institutional food service industry has changed, says Lehigh Carbon Community College’s Pamela Weldon. The assistant professor for hospitality management says that LCCC’s new program – an A.A.S. offered in Foodservice Management – will ready the future workforce for jobs in schools, hospitals, tourist destinations and corporate dining facilities.
“Even in a bad economy we still need to feed people,” says Weldon. “With gaming now allowed in Pennsylvania, the
expectation is for an even stronger need for individuals who are educated in hospitality management.” The US Dept. of
Labor says industry projections are favorable, as chefs, cooks, and food preparation workers are occupations that “will
have among the largest numbers of new jobs arise, about 351,000” from 2006-2016. For foodservice managers, DOL
notes that, “applicants with a degree in restaurant, hospitality or institutional food service management will have an edge
when competing for jobs at upscale restaurants and for advancement in a restaurant chain or into corporate management.” Shown is Minna Su, a student in the Hotel/Resort Management program at LCCC, who aspires to work at her
uncle’s Japanese hibachi steakhouse in Allentown.
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HRG-08411-01_PBJ_July08_10x6_8751 1
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5/8/08 12:26:04 PM
16
PROFESSIONAL PROFILE
Restaurant Week Makes Iffy
According to the National Restaurant Association, in
2008, the nation’s restaurants will generate an estimated
$558 billion in sales – a 4.4 percent increase from last
year– and employ 13.1 million people.
In Pennsylvania, experts predict $15.7 billion in
sales and a 4.1 percent growth, in the restaurant and
foodservice industry where employment represents 9.1
percent of total statewide employment. Every dollar
spent in Pennsylvania restaurants generates an additional
$1.45 in sales for other industries in the state.
Recently, Pocono eateries joined to create, for
some, a boost in sales. Driven by Cresco-based Local
Flair Magazine (sponsor) and local restaurateur Steve
Ertle (Big Daddy’s, Swiftwater), Monroe County’s first
annual Restaurant Week offered 10 percent discount
cards to patrons of participating restaurants. The event
included an opportunity for customers to vote for their
favorite restaurants in a variety of categories.
“We thought this would be a good way to use her
magazine to create awareness of what’s good at each
place and give them awards for making themselves
special,” says Ertle. “The concept was to better educate
our tourists that come to the area. I did it on purpose
during a slow part of the year [the end of May] before
the tourists came out because it’s really meant to get the
ball rolling.”
This year’s event included 32 independent or familyowned restaurants.
“We had 3200 hits on the Web site from people
wanting to see what it was about, downloading the
discount cards online as well,” says Ertle. “This is one
way to cross-promote and get the word out.” Participating restaurants will also be listed in a summer guide that
will be available to tourists and locals alike.
“In this tough economic climate, (negative media
attention) takes the consumer confidence out of people
going out to eat,” says Ertle. “Our locals are going to
be the word-of-mouth to the tourists.” He measured the
event’s success by the participating restaurants’ willingness to participate in and promote the event.
“This was quick and effective, but it’s going to
benefit everyone,” he says. “The fact that 32 restaurants
right off the bat said we want to do it shows there is a
need for better marketing of the Poconos on a bigger
scale. We have to get back to that point where everybody
is cooperating and getting it done.”
Ertle hopes to expand next year’s event to include
more restaurants seeking bragging rights as the ‘best’ in
the Poconos.
Bailey’s Rib & Steakhouse
604 Pocono Boulevard
Mount Pocono
570-839-9678
“It’s definitely affected our business since last year,”
says Joanna Warenczuk, front-of-house manager for Bailey’s. “Last Memorial Day we were busy from Friday
night to Monday morning. This (year) was just like a
regular weekend, almost nothing going on.”
Warenczuk blames the slowdown on high gas prices.
“I definitely think everyone is affected by it,” she
says. “People are coming out here from New York and
New Jersey, but they are just spending so much money
to get out here, once they are here, they would rather just
cook out or eat somewhere cheaper.”
Bailey’s is a fine dining restaurant with a familyfriendly, casual atmosphere offering a full variety of
dishes.
Feedback on Restaurant Week: “I don’t know if we
necessarily saw an increase in business,” says Christopher Sarajian, operations manager for Bailey’s and
Smuggler’s Cove. “The first couple of days quite a few
people came in for the 10 percent; after that it petered
out. I know we got a lot of good response (in the voting
for the awards), so we will see how it all works out.”
Sarajian believes most of their regular customers took
Photo credit: Pocono Business Journal.
By Kathy Ruff
Two of the 32 participants in Monroe County’s recent Restaurant Week were Smuggler’s Cove in Tannersville
(above) and Bailey’s Rib & Steakhouse in Mt. Pocono (at right).
advantage of the discount.
Barley Creek Brewing Company
Sullivan Road & Camelback Road
Tannersville
570-629-9399
“People are shortening their vacations,” says Louie
Ruvane, vice president of sales and marketing for Barley
Creek. “The economy and gas prices may be shortening
trips. Maybe they would have driven a little bit further
in the past and now they are deciding to come to the
Poconos. Memorial Day Weekend was pretty strong for
us.”
Ruvane attributes his outlook to the location of its
facility and its auxiliary amenities.
“We have the luxury of a pretty good location near
Camelback and Camelbeach,” he says. “The other part
of it is we are a brewery and a restaurant. We have tours
every day. It’s a little bit of a destination, kind of onestop shopping. We have a bit of a carnival atmosphere,
which is an advantage a lot of other restaurants don’t
have.”
The family-run destination also offers a game room
for kids, a horseshoe pit and other extras to attract and
entertain additional patrons.
Ruvane remains optimistic despite negative news.
“Everything is cyclical,” he says. “The economy had a
growth in the first quarter, which is not a definition of
recession. In an election year when they want to beat up
this outgoing president, it’s just piled on. Unfortunately,
that does affect consumer confidence and it’s a reality
that doesn’t exactly jibe with the real economy.”
Restaurant Week Feedback: “We think they did a
great job and it definitely promoted local businesses,”
says Ruvane. “It was good. We had a lot of people fill
out comments. It was tangible, for sure. We can only
see it getting stronger since it was just the first year.”
Saen Thai Cuisine
One Buttermilk Falls Road
Shawnee-on-Delaware
570-476-4911
Business here has slowed down for a few years,
according to Boonchad Pruettipun, whose wife owns
Saen Thai. “I am a small restaurant. I can cope with it.
I don’t have many employees. Mostly we do it ourselves.”
Pruettipun believes the slowdown has resulted from
higher costs and a saturation of restaurants in the area.
17
PROFESSIONAL PROFILE
Economy Easier to Swallow
“We have so many of them,” he says. “The franchises opened up, five, six of them in one area here.
After the election, I think it may be better. I hope. With
prices jumping so high, it makes it really tough. I think
they are eating out less, definitely.”
After 19 years in business, Pruettipun, like other
restaurateurs, must carefully consider his options.
“I didn’t increase any prices for the past 10 or 12
years,” he says. “It’s hard to tell you what has to be
done. Something has to be done. I’m not sure what it is
yet. We go day by day.”
Restaurant Week Feedback: Pruettipun says he only
saw a few new people in his establishment as a result of
the discounts and believes the voting should be handled
in a different way. “It should be general,” he says. “To
be fairer, let them do it at home and let them put it in
some box somewhere, not let anybody see it because
anybody can write anything.”
Smuggler’s Cove
Route 611
Tannersville
570-629-2277
“The Poconos is a weird market because it’s always
been a destination spot for cheap vacations,” says Christopher Sarajian, operations manager for Smuggler’s
Cove, a locale that has served steak and seafood for the
past 27 years. “We’re doing pretty well.”
Although sales remain relatively even with last year,
Smuggler’s faces the same challenges as other restaurants.
“Everybody is feeling the effects of it,” says Sarajian. “The thing affecting our restaurants is the cost of
food, everything from flour to oils, which affects a wide
range of items that have gone up. Transportation costs
and deliveries have gone up. Everything is up 15, 20
percent. (Food) is 40 percent of our cost of operating a
restaurant. We’re trying to hold steady.”
“We’ve seen people move down a little bit where
maybe they decided to get a top sirloin instead of a
filet mignon,” he says. “We have decided to take it on
the chin. Hopefully prices will come back down soon
enough where we won’t have to make adjustments to
our menus.”
Sweet Creams Café
429 Main Street
Stroudsburg
570-421-7929
“It’s probably too soon to tell,” says Susan Koehler, owner, about the impact of the economy on the
industry in the Poconos. “We haven’t hit our summer
people coming in. I don’t know how people are going to be traveling, if that’s going to affect us or not.
Right now, because we have mostly locals, everything
seems to be okay. I really haven’t seen any noticeable
changes. I don’t know what will happen come summertime with gas prices.”
Koehler believes that in economic downturns
people tend to splurge for the occasional ice cream
cone, a treat that doesn’t break the weekly budget. But
she has had to adjust some of her long-standing prices
due to higher costs.
“Some of my purveyors are not in town and
because of gas, they have actually sent out flyers to us
saying ‘you probably should think about it because we
are raising our prices’,” says Koehler. “We have had
to raise some prices due to the gas crisis and things
going up.”
Restaurant Week Feedback: “We actually had a
good week, so maybe it did work out,” says Koehler.
“I didn’t look at the ballots so I don’t know if the
people were from out of town or more of the locals. It
would definitely be worth our while to do it again. It
gives people a chance to try a new place and get the 10
percent discount.”
Pocono Business Journal and Pike
County Chamber of Commerce Partner
for Pike County Business Spotlight
East Stroudsburg - The Pocono Business Journal and
the Pike County Chamber of Commerce have recently
partnered to co-sponsor a new series titled Pike County
Business Spotlight.
This new program will select a for-profit Pike County Chamber of Commerce member business. The chosen
business will be highlighted quarterly in an article,
accompanied by a photo in the Pocono Business Journal
and in NewsFlash, the Chamber’s monthly newsletter
and eNewsFlash, the Chamber’s electronic newsletter.
“The Pike County Small Business Spotlight program
is the heart and soul of what the Pocono Business Journal aims to do: promote business in the region, spread
the word on what businesses are doing a good job and
give a pat on the back to those who are superior examples,” says Marynell Strunk, publisher, Pocono Business
Journal.
By showcasing such exemplary Pike County businesses several advantages will emerge. Local business
will have a chance to get regional exposure, similar
businesses can emulate successful strategies and proper
recognition will have been given to companies that have
worked to do a good job.
“It’s important in today’s economy to focus on
what’s offered locally. By supporting local business, everyone benefits,” says Scott Weiland, executive director,
Pike County Chamber of Commerce.
For member businesses of the Pike County Chamber
that are interested in applying for the Business Spotlight,
please download an application at www.pbjonline.com
or www.pikechamber.com. For any questions or additional information you may call Pocono Business Journal
at 570-421-0100 or Pike County Chamber of Commerce
at 570-296-8700.
18
ECONOMY
Resist Outsourcing…But At What Cost?
By Nicholas Sergi
Despite a troubled economy and the need to cut
spending, many small businesses in the region have
decided to go against conventional wisdom and use
American products and services. According to Rachel
Hendricks, deputy director of the Pike County Industrial
and Commercial Development Authority, there are certain industries fighting the urge to acquire such products
and services from overseas. She said that the tourism
industry, one of the staple job markets in the Poconos,
continues to use overseas workers who have obtained
HB1 Visas (allowing students from overseas to work
in this country), but local manufacturing companies
are “resisting the urge to outsource while trying to stay
competitive with their prices.”
Carl Wilgus, executive director of the Pocono
Mountains Visitors Bureau, added that the number of
these visas has been reduced by the Department of
Homeland Security since 9/11.
Hendricks added that staying competitive is particularly difficult for firms like Malhame Vestment Co.,
a manufacturer of specialized garments for the clergy
located in Milford Township. “It’s much cheaper for
those in the apparel industry to turn to countries overseas like China, where the cost to produce such items is
far lower.”
Malhame General Manager Bob Kiesinger said that
the company, which started 62 years ago and was family
owned for most of that time, continues to be “one of the
best kept secrets in Milford.” Since his company makes
products for a niche market which doesn’t rely on advertising, it is still challenging to stay local. “We have to
run as efficient an operation as any company could ever
hope to run. We hire efficient employees and do our best
to retain them.” He also said that Malhame feels an obligation to its customers to continue to make its products
in-house. “We may give a little bit in the area of profit to
say that we made it in the USA, particularly right here in
Pennsylvania.”
Another local company, STC Industries, also located
in Milford, has been able largely resist the urge to
outsource due to insufficient volume, but, according to
president/co-owner Fred Mutzek, the business has been
adversely affected by this trend. “We’ve lost accounts
due to outsourcing, because my customers’ customers
are sending work overseas. There is no job security anymore.” The company, which produces parts for prototype military aircraft, has restrictions on outsourcing as
well, but certain materials are imported from Europe.
Mutzek noted that the prospect of outsourcing has
brought to bear some disturbing implications, which are
hardest for companies like his own that choose to buy
and use domestic products. “There’s a trickle-down
effect. Whatever is left here becomes more competitive,
and some companies are quoting prices that are at cost
or below.”
Milford’s Clarion Safety Systems, LLC, has managed to stay competitive and viable by continuing to
keep production in-house rather than relying on part-
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nerships overseas. Doug Cunningham, the company’s
director of media, said that by doing so, “We have better
control over our product and are better able to meet our
delivery schedules. We are able to offer a guarantee to
our customers.” He added that his facility, which manufactures customized warning labels for a wide variety
of products, is better able to ensure a high standard of
quality control. “We know what the customer expects.
We have a high degree of customization in the making
of our products, which would be difficult to obtain if we
were going offshore.”
Cunningham muses that the need to outsource often
depends on a company’s individual business model.
“There is not a lot of manufacturing here in Pike County.
It’s a tourism and bedroom community, and that’s a bit
different from what we do.”
Since the vast majority of the company’s products
is made in Milford, strong consideration is given to the
quality of the product itself, and to the knowledge and
support base that goes with it. “When we do use product from other countries, we want to ensure it’s of the
highest quality. For instance, some of our ‘UL 924 Exit’
signs are supplied by a company called Jalite, whose
parent office is in the United Kingdom. That company
is an expert in photo luminescent materials. We’re now
working to produce UL 924 Exit signs that appeal to the
architectural market, and those may involve components
from several places that we finish here in our Milford
plant.”
19
COLUMN
Caring Can Help Business Gain Customers in Challenging Times
A local businessman
here in the Poconos, for
whom I have a great deal
of respect both as a person
and as a small business
owner who grew multiple successful businesses, once
told me, “In tough times, a lot of businesses cut back
on their advertising. I expand mine because customers
more than ever need to know you are there.” I think
this same businessman would say the same for businesses being philanthropic. The very act of reaching out
and showing you care about others in our community
is especially powerful in tough economic times. It sets
your business apart from the rest, helping to define your
brand and building customer loyalty. There is no better
advertising for your business than to be known for demonstrated and consistent compassion.
Yet it is often support of charities that is cut first
from a business budget. Reducing rather than eliminating the total amount of giving along with other expenses
of a business may be a budgetary necessity. Making
your gift count more is what you should seek. It may
mean being more selective rather than taking the first
come, “shotgun” or “broad yet thinly spread” approaches often employed by businesses in their charitable giving. Knowing what moves your customers is
important. It is also important to find reputable charities
that can help you achieve your caring goals and need for
recognition. The best organizations can act as consultants, listening to your needs and goals, then making
suggestions and working to make an agreed-upon action
End in Sight for Monroe
as HUBZone?
By Debbie Burke
According to results pending from the
2010 US Census, Monroe County could
lose its HUBZone designation, a program
that is designed to assist small businesses
in economically “distressed” communities
by providing contracting preferences. Those
counties eligible for HUBZone status include
“metro areas” as defined by the Census, and
counties where the median household income
is less than 80% of the median of other nonmetro areas of the state.
At a recent board meeting of the Greater
Pocono Chamber of Commerce, some
members disagreed with this latter part of the
criteria – saying that an exception should be
sought for Monroe due to its high number
of commuters. “We have 25% of the workforce that commutes. We need to get credit
for commuters that are leaving and taking
their commuting costs out,” says Rep. Mario
Scavello (R, 176). Replied David Caulfield
of the US Small Business Association: “If
Monroe can show by virtue of the commuting nature of the population that they’re
benefiting other economies, that shows the
unique nature of Monroe,” a point which
might be made to argue for a special exception, which would go to the heart of adjusting
the definition of household income. County
executives and legislators may appeal to both
the US Census Bureau and the SBA (which
jointly make the determination on a county’s
HUBZone status) for re-consideration.
Three percent of federal contracts must
go to HUBZone firms, representing a substantial benefit to eligible businesses. Monroe
County currently has thirty HUBZone companies.
plan happen. Local United Ways offer just this kind
of support to area businesses large and small.
Visibly caring does not always mean a price
tag. Volunteers, leadership and in-kind gifts and
services are effective ways for businesses to show
its caring side which yields dividends of good will
from the community. Again, the non-profit organization you choose should be able to help you find
the most meaningful way to engage your business.
Charities are businesses too, and are impacted by
higher energy and operating costs. Sharing resources and space with a non-profit may be another way
to cut business operational expenses, take a charitable tax deduction, and generate good will.
Government provides a variety of opportunities for businesses to reduce taxes. Discussing
these other opportunities and the impact of a tight
economy on local charities will be the topic of my
next article.
For further information on activities and opportunities with your local United Way, please
contact: in Monroe County at (570) 629-5657 or
www.unitedwaymonroe.org; in Pike County at (570)
296-9980 or www.unitedway-pike.org; in Carbon
County at (570) 325-3625 and in Wayne County at
(570) 343-1267.
By Tim Kelly
Tim Kelly has served as the Executive Director of
the United Way of Monroe County for the past 8
years. He is a 21 year veteran of United Way, having served communities in NJ, PA, NY and WI.
Concerned About Caps? - At a recent seminar titled
“Energy Deregulation: What You Need to Know and
How To Prepare,” Matt Brnik, president of Schaedler
Yesco, said, “We’re helping companies find out what’s
going to happen when rate caps come off. There are
small methods businesses can use immediately for
energy conservation: using energy efficient products,
controlling lighting with dimmers, and not having your
lights on in the parking lot during the daytime.”
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20
LEGISLATIVE ROUNDUP
Legislative Roundup
Compiled by Debbie Burke
Sen. Lisa Baker (R, 20)
“In uncertain economic times, I do not think we should
be spending more money on expensive new programs.
Instead, we should practice the same fiscal restraint that
families and businesses do when budgets are tight. Current revenue numbers mask the difficulties that will hit
next year when tax payments reflect current economic
problems. Ignoring reductions in state government revenues as budget and program decisions are made would
be foolish. As we said last year, controlling state spending and preventing tax increases is not a one-time deal.
To succeed, this must be the guiding principle over an
extended period of time, year after year.”
Sen. Lisa M. Boscola (D, 18)
Unavailable for comment
Sen. Patrick M. Browne (R, 16)
“The Senate Finance Committee recently approved a
four-bill stimulus package that would provide nearly
$96 million in tax relief in the upcoming fiscal year for
lower-income working Pennsylvanians, small businesses
looking to expand, as well as major employers and job
creators. The goal of these bills [SB 1385, SB 1386, SB
1387 and SB 1388] is to find the optimum combination
to provide tax relief where it is most needed and best be
able to stimulate Pennsylvania’s economy. I am encouraged that the Governor has expressed his willingness
to consider these proposals as part of Pennsylvania’s
2008-09 budget.”
Rep. Mike Carroll (D, 118)
“The state House recently passed legislation to expand
Business in Our Sites, one of Pennsylvania’s most successful economic stimulus programs. House Bill 2353, which I
cosponsored, would add $100 million to the program, which
the legislature approved in 2004 to clean up polluted industrial
sites and make them ‘shovel-ready’ for new businesses who
want to occupy the land. The additional funding would be
used to revitalize the Commonwealth’s commercial corridors,
which would stimulate job creation and economic activity. The
legislation is now in the state Senate.”
Rep. Sandra Major (R, 111)
“From 2005 to 2006, Pennsylvania’s Gross Domestic Product
grew at only half the national average and many studies have
indicated that Pennsylvania’s high tax rates are to blame.
Through a series of strategic tax cuts, House Republicans have
proposed an economic stimulus plan. Our plan would remove
the cap on net operating loss (NOL) carry-forward; shift to a
single sales factor in the computation of Corporate Net Income
(CNI) tax; rollback the personal income tax to 2.935 percent
from 3.07 percent and reduce consumer electric bill gross receipts tax by half over a period of five years. We must indicate
to job generators that we want them to locate and grow here in
Pennsylvania.”
Rep. Keith McCall (D, 122)
“The single largest item busting the budgets of our small businesses right now is, of course, energy costs. That’s why I’m
fighting for a comprehensive plan that addresses energy costs
at all levels. Our Clean Energy Program promotes lowpollution, state-based energy
generation and investment to
reduce the Commonwealth’s
dependence on Middle East
oil and other foreign energy
sources – it would invest in
our industries and our entrepreneurs with $850 million
in venture capital support,
infrastructure improvement,
and financial incentives to ‘go
green.’ The best part is we’re
promoting cleaner, greener
energy while we’re creating
jobs and slowing the flow of
Middle East Oil to Carbon
County. Our plan has passed
the House, but I need [constituents’] help to urge the
Senate to get on board and
stop emptying your wallets
for energy costs.”
Sen. Robert J. Mellow (D,
22)
“Despite a faltering national
economy, I believe Governor
Rendell and our state Legislature have positioned Pennsylvania well to ride out this economic downturn. While other
states are wrangling with
massive budget deficits and
suffering job losses, Pennsylvania will again hold the line
on taxes, lower property taxes
statewide, and make an ambitious investment in economic
stimulus efforts. Pennsylvania
was able to buck the trend and
actually picked up 2,300 new
jobs in April.”
Sen. Raphael J. Musto (D, 14)
“One of the issues that I think is very important to
economic development and environmental protection is maintaining our clean water infrastructure.
I am pleased that the state Senate is taking up
this issue. Right now there are two bills before
the Senate that would provide over $1billion for
drinking water systems and wastewater treatment
plants. If enacted into law, Senate Bill 2 and Senate Bill 1341 will provide much needed funding in
the forms of grants and loans to our sewage treatment plants and drinking water systems.”
Rep. Mike Peifer (R, 139)
“On June 9, the House Finance Committee unanimously approved about $100 million in tax cuts
geared toward helping small businesses reduce
their Corporate Net Income Tax. The bill would
change how much of a business’s net operating
losses can be carried forward from year to year,
reducing the tax burden and attracting that business to Pennsylvania. These are the kind of economic development decisions we can make at the
state level that will filter throughout the economy
and help create more jobs.”
Sen. James J. Rhoades (R, 29)
Rep. Mario M. Scavello (R, 176)
“Our area has been undergoing sustained growth
for several decades, but we must remember our
region and Pennsylvania as a whole is in competition with nearby states like New York and New
Jersey in terms of crafting local and state programs for encouraging businesses to locate here.
We need to encourage more Keystone Innovation
Zones, enact business tax relief and have the foresight to continue to develop a business-friendly
infrastructure.”
Rep. John J. Siptroth (D, 189)
“The era of cheap oil is over and we need to start
thinking about how to prepare for the inevitable
economic and social consequences. I don’t believe
that we can produce ourselves out of this crisis
because it would take years to bring any new oil
fields online and even then we would still be at
the mercy of the world oil markets. Though the
state and federal governments may have some
programs that can assist with the purchase of
energy conservation technologies and alternative power solutions, I believe it is now time to
consider additional issues like sourcing goods
and services closer to home and building sustainable, local commercial relationships. One issue of
particular concern for me is building a sound local
food network of producers and retailers. It is obvious that importing fresh produce from thousands
of miles away on a daily basis cannot be sustained
economically. The issue of high energy costs will
radically change our communities, businesses and
our way of life. As with any change there will be
opportunities for new business for those who can
innovate. If transportation costs rise as predicted
over the next decade, then we may see many
of the manufacturing jobs we have lost to other
countries return.”
Rep. Edward G. Staback (D, 115)
21
WORKPLACE
Illegal Immigration Issue: Employers’ Responsibilities Clear as Mud
By Ken Clark
ment makes mistakes all the time.”
She said even if, as in the case of the Iridium raid
last year, it is a subcontractor who does the hiring on
behalf of the employer, the employer remains liable if
illegal aliens wind up on his payroll. Business lawyer
Tom Ford of Smithford Law in Stroudsburg qualifies
this with: “If the employer knew or should have known
that the temp agency used undocumented aliens, then the
employer would be jointly liable for aiding and abetting
the temp agency’s use of the aliens as employees…[but]
if an employer used a third party to screen the potential
employees whom the employer then directly hired, and
if some of those workers turned out to be undocumented aliens, then the employer would be liable.” All of
which, arguably, explains why this issue is clear as mud
to business owners.
“They’re still on the hook because there is something called ‘willful blindness,’” Williams said. “If they
(ICE) find evidence that (the employers) just looked the
other way, then they are still subject to liability.”
She said the only thing an employer can do to
protect himself is make sure that every hire fills out and
signs an I-9 form, affirming that he or she is a U.S. citizen or an alien authorized to work in this country. Then,
if the employee turns out to be illegal and can be shown
to have lied, ICE will consider it a mitigating factor. The
employer, however, still retains full responsibility for
vetting the workforce.
George Barron, an immigration attorney in WilkesBarre, said while no employer wants illegals on his payroll, most would applaud a federal guest worker program
enabling them to hire migrant workers with less peril of
prosecution. One of them, by way of example, is Keith
Eckel, one of the largest tomato growers in Pennsylvania, who in March, announced that he will no longer
grow labor-intensive vegetables because Congressional
failure to pass immigration reform potentially leaves
him without enough field hands at harvest time.
“There are employment opportunities for these
folks,” Barron said. “They’re not making less than
American workers. I can’t tell you how many farmers
I’ve had who called me to say they just can’t operate if
they can’t get people to pick tomatoes for thirteen bucks
an hour. It seems absurd to me that there’s a job to do
and people who are willing to do the job for a decent,
livable wage, but those two things can’t get together and
the federal government can’t figure out how to make that
happen. That just seems to be a huge waste to me.”
Advocates of a maximum crackdown on illegal aliens
have lobbied Congress to order a complete roundup and
expulsion of the 12 million believed still to be here, a
move which ICE chief Julie Myers recently told a Senate committee would cost around $100 billion, even if it
were logistically possible. Barron said there has to be a
better way.
“We have a situation that is unique in the world: a
first-world country that shares an enormous land border
with a third-world country,” he said. “If I were a day
laborer and I could go over the Canadian border and
make five times as much money for my kids, I’d go in a
heartbeat. That’s what we have here, and the way to fix
it is not to put more people in jail, but to find a way to
do it where everyone benefits.”
The U.S. economy is struggling and the Yankee dollar devalues almost daily, but to millions of third-world
workers, America still looks like open house at a gold
mine.
They are “illegal aliens,” and they come in droves,
braving thirst in the desert, wading the Rio Grande by
night or hiding in stifling tractor-borne trailers driven
across the border by smugglers.
Again and again, they are rounded up in droves
by officers of the federal Immigration and Customs
Enforcement (ICE) division and shipped back home, but
they keep coming, from Mexico and a half a dozen other
countries. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (formerly the Immigration and Naturalization Service) estimates that as many as 12 million of them now
are living and working, illegally, in the United States.
But they aren’t the only illegals in the mix. Americans
who hire them are illegal, too, and increasingly, they
face heavy fines and even imprisonment if they do so.
“The law is clear that employers have an affirmative
obligation and the duty to ensure that their employees
are legal,” said ICE Press Secretary Kelly Nontel.
She said there might be mitigating circumstances if
an employer can prove that he was offered counterfeit
documents or social security numbers obtained through
stolen identity, but that those who make bad hires can
face heavy fines, and even imprisonment if convicted.
“We saw a case out of Grand Rapids, Michigan,
about two months ago where top officials of a janitorial
staffing company pled guilty,” Nontel said. “Their company president was sentenced to 10 years
in prison.”
Last year, retail giant Wal-Mart
paid $11 million in civil penalties and
$4 million in criminal forfeiture after
ICE agents raided stores in 21 states,
rounding up 245 illegal alien employees.
Another raid, on Iridium Industries in
East Stroudsburg, netted 81 illegals in
a case still under consideration. Nontel
said any employer of immigrant labor
A Member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education
should sign up for an electronic screening
service called E-Verify, which will match
names, social security numbers and addresses given by job applicants and clear
THREE WEEK SESSION STARTS JULY 21
or reject them “in three to five seconds.”
 Select courses from a wide variety of fields.
However, Ysabel Williams, an immigration attorney representing employees
 Accelerate your academic program.
only in Mount Pocono, says employers
 Complete a requirement.
use ICE’s E-Verify system at their peril.
 Distance education and home study courses
“The database is filled with errors,”
are available.
she said. “For example, if my maiden
name was Arias and now it’s Williams,
POST-SESSION
the employer will get a no-match letter
July 21 to August 8
and if he can’t fix it in 90 days, then he
has to let me go and I can sue him. The
FOR A COMPLETE SCHEDULE
database does not protect the employer
AND REGISTRATION INFORMATION,
from liability in discrimination in hiring
or firing someone. It’s a very tough time
 Visit www.esu.edu
for the employer right now. The govern-
Stay on Course This Summer at
EAST STROUDSBURG UNIVERSITY
of Pennsylvania
Register Now for One or More Summer Courses at ESU
SUMMER 2008
and click on Summer Sessions.
 Call (570) 422-2872.
 Or visit Center for Enrollment Services,
Zimbar-Liljenstein Hall.
please recycle this paper
www.pbjonline.com
Register online or in person.
www.esu.edu
22
BUSINESS BRIEFS
WHO’s WHO
BATES
BELON
BILLIAS
BURRUANO
DALY
DETRICK
DISTASI
GOEHRING
GORDON
GUMBLE
HAYDT
KASCSAK
LEWIS
LOOS
LORIE
McKINIRY
MILLER
MORGAN
OLSOMMER
PILZ
PISTILLI
ROBERTS
STADTMUELLER
STARNADORI
STOTACK
TICK
MYSIUK
Bates - Ron Bates has been appointed manager of new
home sales at Empire Real Estate and Development in
Stroudsburg. Bates will oversee all sales for new home
construction. He has eighteen years of experience in
real estate and has worked in new construction for four
years. Previously he worked in pharmaceutical sales at
Pfizer.
developing the concept of a Depot Web page, and assisted personnel in DOIM with the development.
Beck - Donald C. Beck Jr. has joined the Stroudsburg
office of Wilkins & Associates Real Estate. Beck has
lived in the Poconos for 26 years where he volunteers
in the community. He is a financial advisor and owns a
trucking business.
Dunlap - Roxann Dunlap is a graduate of the Pocono
Real Estate Academy and has joined the Stroudsburg
office of Wilkins & Associates Real Estate. She studied
interior design at Northampton County Community
College and worked as a sales and design consultant
for a local furniture store. She is a member of the Pocono Mountains Association of Realtors.
Bélon - Dr. Barbara Bélon, owner of Bélon Research
& Practice, recently traveled to the University of Texas
at Dallas for the 12th annual Colloquium for Information Systems Security Education. Bélon served as
secretariat for the Colloquium and as the conference
general chair, responsible for all the logistics, venue
and lodging selection for the three-day event.
Billias - Tina Billias, DPT, a physical therapist at
Riverside Rehabilitation, Mount Pocono, has graduated Misericordia University’s Transition Doctor of
Physical Therapy Program. She graduated from Misericordia in 2006 with a Masters of Science in Physical Therapy, and has been at Riverside for two years.
She specializes in treating patients with back injuries,
spinal fusions and other back surgeries.
Burruano - Nick Burruano has joined the staff of
Northeastern Pennsylvania Alliance as a government
procurement specialist with the Procurement Technical
Assistance Center, Enterprise Development Division.
He will assist regional businesses with identifying
government business opportunities, navigating procurement guidelines and competing for success in the
government marketplace. Prior to joining NEPA Alliance, he was a government contracting specialist with
the Vocational Services Division of Allied Services.
Daly - Naomi Daly has joined Milford’s Weichert,
Realtors. Her experience spans 18 years, and her credentials include the Accredited Buyer Representation
designation and Top Producer honors for the past 12
years, as one of the top 10 in a company of more than
100 agents.
Detrick - Jeannette Detrick is CECOM- Life Cycle
Management Command’s (CECOM) 2008 Management Control Process Award Winner at Tobyhanna
Army Depot. She is an information technology quality
assurance evaluator in the Internal Review and Audit
Compliance Office. She earned this award in April by
Distasi - Marcia Distasi was identified as the “Realtor of the Month” at Weichert, Realtors- Ruffino Real
Estate. She has earned the honor many times since
joining the sales team in June 2005.
Goehring - Lawanda Goehring, MSN, RN, who joined
Gentiva Health Services in 2006, is the new branch
manager of Gentiva’s Cardiopulmonary Specialty Program in Tannersville. Goehring is a 2007 graduate of
Leadership Pocono, a nationally certified Adult Nurse
Practitioner, a veteran of the United States Marine
Corps, and has over 15 years in nursing in clinical,
advanced practice, and management in both home care
and acute care environments.
Gordon - Ian Gordon has joined Pennstar Financial
Services as a financial consultant. Gordon is responsible for helping clients in Monroe County with their investment, insurance and financial planning needs, and
has over ten years of financial services and business
experience. Before joining Pennstar Financial Services, he was a licensed financial specialist at Wachovia Bank in Dunmore for six years. He holds several
industry-related securities and insurance licenses and
is a Certified Financial Planner.
Gumble - Recently the Pennsylvania Tourism and
Lodging Association recognized Christie Gumble,
Great Wolf Lodge’s Spa Services Director, as Pennsylvania’s Department Head of the Year. Over 100
nominations were submitted throughout Pennsylvania.
Gumble and Great Wolf Lodge will be the Pennsylvania nominees for the American Hotel Lodging - Stars
of the Industry Awards in March of 2009.
Haydt – Pam Haydt has been appointed as vice
president of the Commercial Lending Division at The
First National Bank of Palmerton. Haydt has over 15
years of experience in the banking industry; she will be
responsible for commercial loan underwriting, business development, and commercial customer relations
management.
Kascsak - John Kascsak was recognized for his 30
years of government service during a recent Length of
Service Ceremony at Tobyhanna Army Depot. He is a
general equipment repairer, Industrial Services Division, SIS Directorate.
Knowles - James Knowles III has joined the Stroudsburg office of Wilkins & Associates Real Estate. For
the last 10 years he has specialized in selling land and
new construction. Knowles is well known in the Poconos, having worked as a bartender and in the restaurant
business for 25 years. He also was in insurance sales
for 14 years.
Lewis - William J. Lewis has been promoted to vice
president of commercial lending for ESSA Bank &
Trust, Stroudsburg. Lewis will manage the development and maintenance of ESSA’s business banking
relationships and commercial loan portfolio as well as
oversee the bank’s commercial lending operations and
staff. Since joining ESSA in September of 2006, Lewis
has served as commercial loan officer. During Lewis’
24-year career in banking, he has served as Vice President of the commercial real estate group for KNBT in
Bethlehem and as Senior Vice President of Nazareth
National Bank’s Community Business Banking and
Business Manager Units.
Loos – Sharon Loos is the new broker of record for
Pocono Lake-based Liberty Homes Realty. Loos has
eleven years experience in the real estate industry.
Liberty handles resales and new construction.
Lorie - Anthony R. Lorie has successfully completed
the course to become a Seniors Real Estate Specialist at Wilkins & Associates Real Estate Inc. He helps
seniors make decisions about selling their homes, buying rental property and managing the capital gains and
taxes from investment property.
McKiniry - Michael McKiniry was recognized for his
30 years of government service during a recent Length
of Service Ceremony at Tobyhanna Army Depot. He is
an electronics technician, Automated Mission Support
Division, Production Engineering Directorate.
Miller - Scott A Miller, CPA, CFE, CVA Attended
AICPA’s National Conference on Divorce in Las Vegas. The event covered the issue from both a legal and
an accounting point of view. Miller is a shareholder of
Riley and Company, Inc. In addition to being a Certified Valuation Analyst, Scott is also a Certified Public
Accountant and a Certified Fraud Examiner.
Morgan - Gregory Morgan has been appointed Wall
Street West’s Director of Communications. Morgan’s
23
BUSINESS BRIEFS
WHO’s WHO
responsibilities will focus on the overall messaging and outreach of the initiative on both workforce
and economic development issues and achievements
throughout the region and he will also serve as the
official spokesperson for the initiative. Prior to this
position, Morgan spent nearly five years in the communications office of the Pennsylvania Department of
Community and Economic Development, working on
media relations and event planning for the administration of Governor Edward G. Rendell.
Mysiuk - Dale A. Mysiuk recently joined Wells Fargo
Home Mortgage as a home mortgage consultant in
its East Stroudsburg location. She has more than 25
years of financial and industry experience. Prior to
joining Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, she served as a
branch manager for Countrywide Wholesale. Mysiuk
is a member of the National Professional Mortgage
Association.
Olsommer - Joseph Olsommer was recognized for his
30 years of government service during a recent Length
of Service Ceremony at Tobyhanna Army Depot. He is
an electroplater leader, Refinishing Services Division,
Systems Integration and Support Directorate.
Pettry - Carl Pettry, of FirstEnergy Corp., is now offering a Materials Management and Materials Management and Purchasing seminars for business. Formerly
of Dallas, TX, he is a Certified Purchasing Manager
and member of the Dallas Texas affiliate of the Insti-
Pilz - Angelina Pilz rose to the top to gain recognition
as “Realtor of the Month” in April, at Weichert, Realtors - Ruffino Real Estate. Pilz joined the company in
January 2007.
Pistilli – Michael Pistilli has passed the exam and met
the qualifications to become an Associate Broker at
Wilkins & Associates Real Estate Inc. Pistilli works at
the Stroudsburg office and has achieved the status of
Million Dollar Club every year.
Plant - Mary Ellen Plant graduated from Pocono Real
Estate Academy in May of 2005. She has joined the
Brodheadsville office of Wilkins & Associates Real
Estate.
Roberts - Ronald Roberts was recognized for his 40
Service Ceremony at Tobyhanna Army Depot. He is a
COMSEC project officer, Communications Security
Division, Communications Systems Directorate.
Sotack - Edward Sotack was recognized for his 30
Service Ceremony. He is a sheet metal worker, Industrial Services Division, SIS Directorate.
Stadtmueller - Diane Stadtmueller has joined Milford’s Weichert, Realtors. Stadtmueller is a member of
Milford Women in Business and Business & Professional Women of Port Jervis, as well as the Pennsylvania Association of Notaries. Stadtmueller also holds
the ABR designation.
Starnadori - An 11-year veteran of Wilkins & Associates Real Estate, Ardelle Starnadori of Bartonsville has
completed the course to become a certified Senior Real
Estate Specialist. Starnadori helps seniors make decisions about selling their homes, buying rental property and managing the capital gains and taxes from
investment property. Starnadori works out of Wilkins’
Stroudsburg office. Previously she was a guidance
counselor at Pocono Mountain High School.
Tick - Gene Tick, a Realtor at Milford’s Weichert, Realtors - Ruffino Real Estate, has been awarded the Accredited Buyer Representation designation by the Real
Estate Buyer’s Agent Council, Inc. of the National
Association of Realtors. Tick earned the ABR designation by completing a comprehensive course in buyer
representation and an elective course focusing on a
buyer representation specialty, in addition to submitting documentation verifying professional experience.
PBJ Welcomes Two
New Student Interns
Photo credit: Pocono Business Journal
The World Smells Better For It
tute for Supply Management. He holds a Bachelors
degree from West Virginia University and has additional experience as a leadership instructor with the US
Army.
Ribbon cutting at Vigon’s new facility
By Debbie Burke
Vigon International (East Stroudsburg) recently had a
grand opening of its newest facility, the Joseph P. Somers
Building (named for the owner’s father). Its 30,000 square
feet will accommodate all the warehousing and shipping
functions of the global fragrance and flavor company,
while Vigon’s existing nearby facility will continue
to house the administrative offices and manufacturing
capabilities. The new building will utilize Just-in-Time
(JIT) production methods for greater efficiency and to
minimize product being warehoused. “We will be able to
act in response to the demands of the market,” says Vigon
spokesperson Jeffrey Milton. The expansion is expected
to bring another 28 family-sustaining jobs to the county;
Vigon currently employs 55 people.
Pictured are (from left): Bill Blake, Vigon International, Inc.; Dave Nat, NEPA Alliance; Jeff Box, NEPA
Alliance; Charles Hannig, Board Member, Pocono
Mountain Industries; Chuck Leonard Executive Director,
Pocono Mountain Industries; John Parker, Board Member Brodhead Creek Regional Authority; Steve Somers
Vigon International, Inc., president; John Siptroth PA
State Representative (D, 189); Suzanne McCool, Monroe
County Commissioners; Donna Asure, Monroe County
Commissioners; Robert Phillips, Greater Pocono Chamber
of Commerce, president; Doug Besecker, Besecker Excavation; and Dennis Dittrick, Vigon International, Inc. vice
president of operations.
DUMAS
MOSHER
Denis Dumas is a budding journalist who has
just joined Pocono Business Journal. He is a Pocono
resident and a college junior at Temple University, who
one day hopes to be able to, in his own words, consider
himself a ‘real writer.’ He gets his first PBJ byline for
an article about the Farm Bill that appears in this issue.
Allison Mosher is honing her skills in graphic
design and has already jumped in to work on some PBJ
promotional materials. A senior Art and Design major
at East Stroudsburg University, she is also working at
ESU’s publications department. Her aspirations are to
pursue a career in graphic design and illustration after
her graduation in December of 2008.
Please send all press releases for
consideration to [email protected]
24
BUSINESS
FOCUS LIST
BRIEFS
WHAT’s WHAT
ActionCOACH, the world’s number one business coaching firm with
an office located in Stroudsburg, has been named a finalist as “Best
Overall Company” in the Stevies 2008 American Business Awards.
The Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the marketplace.
Big Apple Beauty Supply, Inc. in East Stroudsburg recently held its
grand opening. The store offers hair care products and beauty supplies
for men, women and children.
Blue Mountain Health System hosted its annual golf tournament at
the Split Rock Resort and Golf Club in Lake Harmony, with all proceeds benefiting the Women and Children’s Health Unit. The goal was
to raise money for a state-of-the-art software system that monitors the
safety of both mother and child during labor and delivery in the unit.
Over 800 residents of the Boroughs of Bethany and Honesdale, and
Townships of Dyberry and Texas were recent recipients of a community survey aimed at gaining public input for a joint comprehensive
plan. The regional planning project is spearheaded by the Central
Wayne Multi-Municipal Group, a delegation of municipal officials,
planning commission members, and volunteers from the four municipalities. The planning process is expected to take 24 months, and
the project will consist of surveys and analyses of land use, housing,
roads and bridges, demographics, economics, natural features, historic
features, infrastructure, and other features as are necessary to meet
the planning requirements specified in the PA Municipalities Planning
Code.
Chocolateers (Brodheadsville) had its grand re-opening presented by
owner Amy Dawson. The Peepster from Just Born provided candy to
attendees. A new espresso bar has been added along with 100% pure
fruit smoothies (with no additives), wedding invitations and party
favors.
For the thirteenth continuous year, The Dime Bank employees and
directors participated in the American Cancer Society’s Relay for
Life, and as the presenting sponsor, made a donation of $3,000; Dime
employees collected over $5,500.
Empire Real Estate and Development (Stroudsburg) has opened a
new sales office which will serve as the Michael’s Creek Welcome
Center. The office is located at the intersection of Route 209 and
Business Route 209 in Marshalls Creek. The development, Michael’s
Creek at Wooddale, is an 84-lot subdivision, with acre-plus lots and
house/land packages.
F/J Hess and Sons which provides the Pocono region with plumbing,
heating and cooling services, now adds oil delivery to its list of offerings. This is in addition to making repairs, installing and
servicing oil furnaces and boilers. The company also held
a class in Firestop, a passive fire protection system used to
seal openings and joints in fire resistance rated wall and/or
floor assemblies. Fourteen employees participated and are
now certified in the system.
Frank Wendt of F.L. Smidth Inc. in Carbon County recently graduated from the Manufacturers Resource Center
with a Lean6® Certification and participated in an awards
ceremony.
Four Seasons Restaurant & Diner in East Stroudsburg
recently held its grand opening. Four Seasons offers a large
variety of family-friendly dining options.
Gentiva Health Services in Tannersville has launched the
only Cardiopulmonary Specialty Program (within home
care agencies) in Monroe County. This program features
protocol-driven interventions (skilled nursing, physical
therapy, occupational therapy) aimed at facilitating patients
with cardiopulmonary diagnoses (cardiothoracic surgery,
congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease, pneumonia, and others) reaching customized, optimal outcomes and learning to take care of their own health.
George Roberts Productions held an open house at its
new studio on Main Street in Stroudsburg. It features a
state-of-the-art editing facility with the capability of taping, editing and creating high definition DVD’s. George
Roberts Productions has been in business since 2002 and
recently moved to its new location.
Great Wolf Lodge recently received the Community Service Award for the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau by
the Pennsylvania Tourism and Lodging Association.
Montague Township (Milford) has obtained a $369,100 grant from
the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission for the construction of a state-approved emergency heliport and navigation devices
that will be constructed behind the Montague Township building.
The new landing site will not only serve car accident victims, but will
also facilitate evacuation in the event of flooding or other disasters.
The heliport, which will be bigger than its current site in front of
the township building, will have its own lighting. It will be available to Pike County residents as well as residents of Orange County
(NY) and Northern Sussex County (NJ). Two other projects that will
benefit from the grant include a Municipal Park-N-Ride in front of the
municipal building, and a backup generator for the site. Officials have
estimated the three-part project will be completed by the end of 2008.
New York Bakery & Deli in Marshalls Creek recently held its grand
opening. New York Bakery & Deli offers Puerto Rican and American
cuisine, as well as catering.
Northampton Community College’s Monroe Campus, Pocono
Mountains Municipal Airport, and the Pocono Township/Brodhead Creek Regional Authority, will be the first applications submitted for Monroe County’s Local Share Account of gaming revenue
generated by Mt. Airy Casino Resort.
Pennsylvania American Water has acquired the water utility assets
serving the Mountain Top Estates community in Monroe County.
The purchase price is approximately $240,000. The newly acquired
system provides drinking water to approximately 180 people in the
residential development in Middle Smithfield Township.
Pocono Mountains Economic Development Corporation
(PMEDC) announced the development of Enosis – The Broadband
Facilitators, a new working entity whose mission is to aggregate demand and facilitate business and scholastic use of broadband Internet
services in Monroe County. Under the guidelines provided by the act,
the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED)’s Technology Investment Office provided the funds to
initiate local programs concerning the benefits, use and acquisition
of broadband services and aggregating – or combining – customer
demand.
Schaedler Yesco opened a new facility in Cresco. The company offers energy saving solutions such as electrical, lighting and automation products and services throughout Pennsylvania, and also provides
corporate training in OSHA, Arc Flash, electrical maintenance, and
industrial automation.
Silver Arrow Gallery and Gift Shop in Tannersville recently celebrated its 18th year in business with a ribbon cutting. The store has
been newly designed and was host to a “Meet the Artist” day.
State Rep. Keith McCall (D-Carbon) announced Lansford Borough
will receive a $500,000 state grant to help pay for a storm sewer
separation project. The grant is from the Pennsylvania Department of
Community and Economic Development’s Community Development
Block Grant Program. The amount is the largest grant possible under
the program, representing a relief to taxpayers for the cost for the
storm sewer separation project.
Tobyhanna Army Depot has established a new radar test capability
that will improve readiness and save the Army materiel and money.
A ribbon cutting was recently held to officially open the Mechanical
Live Fire Test Simulator. The $2.5 million simulator tests the AN/
TPQ-48 Lightweight Counter Mortar Radar system (LCMR), which
is used to back plot the location of enemy mortars and other indirect
weapons.
The Wayne County Builders Association (WCBA) presented its
annual scholarship awards to six deserving high school students.
During a special ceremony at the Scranton Wilkes-Barre Yankees
baseball game, scholarships in the amount of $500 were awarded to
students from the area schools. The event was sponsored by Mariotti
Building Products of Old Forge and the scholarship recipients and
their families attended as guests of the Builders Association.
Wilkins & Associates Real Estate Inc. was presented with the
Community Partnership Award at the American Red Cross of Monroe
County’s annual dinner. The Community Partnership Award is
presented in recognition of outstanding commitment to and support
of the American Red Cross of Monroe County, Red Cross Telethon.
Wilkins & Associates has been a sponsor of the event for the past five
years.
Workforce Wayne is a recipient of a $285,000 grant from the latest
round of Wall Street West funding. The partnership was one of 24
projects highlighted at a recent Wall Street West regional meeting.
The funds will create programs to strengthen the workforce capacity
to make the counties of Berks, Carbon, Lackawanna, Lehigh Luzerne,
Monroe, Northampton, Pike and Wayne a pre-eminent locale for business attraction.
Please send all press releases for
consideration to [email protected]
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Herbert, Rowland & Grubic, Inc. has been named one
of the top 500 design firms in the United States, according
to Engineering News-Record magazine. This is the firm’s
10th appearance on the list, which is compiled annually
based on the revenue earned by engineering and architectural firms from design services performed in the preceding
year.
Six local residents have been selected by Mauch Chunk
Trust Company as “2008 Community Heroes” in recognition of their outstanding volunteer contributions. The
award recipients, nominated by community residents,
were recognized at a public banquet at Dean Anthony’s
Restaurant, Jim Thorpe. This is the ninth consecutive year
that Mauch Chunk Trust Company is recognizing local
volunteers.
Liberty Homes Realty just opened in Pocono Lake, and
handles resales, new construction and lots for sale.
570.346.7741 or 800.327.0394
www.pennsecurity.com
*350 Free transaction items per month. Transaction items include
checks, debits, credits, and items included in a deposit. After 350
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25
CALENDAR
FOCUSOF
LIST
EVENTS
Professional and Trade Associations
Name of Organization
Address
Phone Number
Web Site
Services
Contact
Carbon County Association of Realtors
180 S First Street
Lehighton, PA 18235
(610) 377-8121
www.carboncountyrealestate.com
Carbon County Bar Association
77 W 10th Street
Jim Thorpe, PA 18229
(570) 325-3288
www.uslawcenter.com/ccba
Lawyer referral,
docketing
Christie Bower
Carbon County Builders Association
325 Alum Street
Lehighton, PA 18235
(610) 379-1099
www.carbonbuilders.com
Government relations,
networking
opportunities
Nicholas Belfino
Monroe County Bar Association
913 Main Street
Stroudsburg, PA 18360
(570) 424-7288
www.monroebar.org
Lawyer referral
Susan L. Kenny
Pike County Bar Association
RR 2 Box 84
Dingman’s Ferry, PA 18328
(570) 296-4070
www.pikebar.com
Lawyer referral
Elizabeth A. Erickson Kameen
Pike County Builders Association
209 East Hartford Street
Milford, PA 18337
(570) 296-5589
www.pikecountybuilders.com
Legal help, Workers Compensation
program
Bob Pierce
Pike/Wayne Association of Realtors
PO Box A
Hawley, PA 18428
(570) 226-2300
www.pare.org
Home inspectors,
demographic
information
Janet Gallagher
Pocono Builders Association
745 Main Street, Suite 203
(570) 421-9009
www.poconobuilders.org
Health plan, contractor
referral
Peter Gallagher
Pocono Mountains Association of Realtors
RR 14 Box 5207 A
(570) 424-8846
www.poconorealtors.com
Home inspectors,
Realtor referral
Cheryl Houseman
Wayne County Builders Association
P.O. Box 378
Hawley, PA 18428
(570) 226-4941
www.waynecountybuilders.com
Courses for building
professionals
Laurie Lourie
Kathy Henderson
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.
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26
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
July 1 – 15
Investing In Your Retirement, 6:00 p.m. -8:30 p.m.,
Monroe Career & Technical Institute Adult Continuing
Education, Bartonsville. Covers shaping your financial
future. Cost: $80. Call (570) 629-2001 ext.1125 for
more information.
July 2
LeTip of Stroudsburg, 7:01 a.m. - 8:31 a.m., JR’s,
Green Tree Drive, East Stroudsburg. Call (570) 5884113 for more information.
BNI Milford, 7:00 a.m., Mount Haven Resort, 123 Log
Tavern Rd., Milford. Call Carl Pallini at (570) 2967176 for more information.
Computer Basics 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Held at the
PA CareerLink in Tannersville. Call (570) 620-2850 or
visit www.cwds.state.pa.us or www.monroecountycareerlink.org for more information.
July 3
BNI Bartonsville, 7:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m., Howard
Johnson’s, Route 611, Bartonsville. Call Jim Connor at
(570) 237-5869 for more information.
July 7
Career Exploration, 9:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Held at the
July
Inn at Shawnee, River Road, Shawnee-on-Delaware.
Call (570) 420-8656 or email [email protected] for more
information.
Introduction to National Incident Management System
(NIMS), 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon. Monroe Career &
Technical Institute Adult Continuing Education, Bartonsville. Cost: $125. Covers National Incident Management System (NIMS) as identified in the Homeland
Presidential Directive. NIMS allows government,
private-sector and non-government organizations to
work together during domestic incidents. Call (570)
629-2001 ext.1125 for more information.
Computer Basics 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m., Employer Web
site Assistance 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Held at the PA
CareerLink in Tannersville. Call (570) 620-2850 or visit
www.cwds.state.pa.us or www.monroecountycareerlink.org for more information.
July 14
Introduction to the Incident Command System, 9:00
a.m. – 12:00 noon, Monroe Career & Technical Institute
Adult Continuing Education, Bartonsville. Cost $125.
Covers Incident Command System (ICS, provides the
foundation for higher level ICS training. This course is
approved by FEMA and a separate certification is provided to students who complete the course. Call (570)
629-2001 ext.1125 for more information.
Brown Bag Monday, 12:00 Noon. Informal lunch with
Carbon County Chamber of Commerce at CCCC Office. Reservations are required. Call (610) 377-2191 for One-on-One Résumé Writing Assistance, 9:30 a.m. more information.
11:30 a.m. Held at the PA CareerLink in Tannersville.
Call (570) 620-2850 or visit www.cwds.state.pa.us or
White Haven Chamber of Commerce Member Meetwww.monroecountycareerlink.org for more informaing, 7:30 pm, Charlie Weaver’s on
tion.
Tunnel Road. Email [email protected] for more
information.
Carbon County Chamber of Commerce at CCCC OfJuly 8
fice. Reservations are required. Call (610) 377-2191 for
Intro to CareerLink Services 10:00 a.m. -11:00 a.m.,
more information.
Interview Basics 12:00 noon - 1:30 p.m., Salary Negotiation 1:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Held at the PA CareerLink Business Card Exchange, Greater Pocono Chamber
in Tannersville. Call (570) 620-2850 or visit www.
of Commerce, 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Pocono Farms
cwds.state.pa.us or www.monroecountycareerlink.org Country Club, Tobyhanna. Cost: $10 Chamber memfor more information.
bers in advance; $20 non-members in advance; $15
Chamber members at the door; $25 non-members at
Women in Business, Greater Pocono Chamber of
the door. Call (570) 421-4433 for more information and
Commerce, 12:00 noon. Cost: $13 Chamber members
reservations. Free golf available at this event; call (570)
in advance, $16 non-members and walk-ins. Held at
894-4435 for more information.
Chateau Resort and Conference Center, Tannersville.
Topic: “Attitude: It Can Change Everything!” preJuly 15
sented by Carol Sitroon, Monroe Career and Technical Arc Flash/Qualified Person – NEPA 70 E, 9:00 a.m.
Institute; sponsored by Jewish Home of Eastern PA.
– 5:00 p.m., Monroe Career & Technical Institute
Call (570) 421-4433 for more information.
Adult Continuing Education, Bartonsville. Cost: $335
includes breakfast/lunch. Covers shock and arc flash isJuly 9
sues including protection boundaries, personal, protecBNI Milford, 7:00 a.m., Mount Haven Resort, 123 Log tive equipment and energized, electrical work permits.
Tavern Rd., Milford. Call Carl Pallini at (570) 296Call (570) 629-2001 ext.1125 for more information.
7176 for more information.
Intro to CareerLink Services 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Mock Interviews 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Held at the PA
Green Tree Drive, East Stroudsburg. Call (570) 588CareerLink in Tannersville. Call (570) 620-2850 or visit
Résumés and Cover Letters, 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon.
Held at the PA CareerLink in Tannersville. Call (570)
July 16
620-2850 or visit www.cwds.state.pa.us or www.mon- BNI Milford, 7:00 a.m., Mount Haven Resort, 123 Log
roecountycareerlink.org for more information.
Tavern Rd., Milford. Call Carl Pallini at (570) 296-7176
for more information.
July 10
Johnson’s, Route 611, Bartonsville. Call Jim Connor at Green Tree Drive, East Stroudsburg. Call (570) 588(570) 237-5869 for more information.
July 11
BNI Shawnee-on-Delaware, 7:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.,
Principles of Lean Enterprise (with simulation), 8:00
a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Monroe Career & Technical Institute
Adult Continuing Education, Bartonsville. Cost: $225
includes breakfast/lunch. Covers Lean Enterprise tools
and techniques that can improve productivity, cut lead
times, increase product quality and reduce production
costs. Call (570) 629-2001 ext.1125 for more information.
National Electrical Code Updates 2008, 9:00 a.m. –
5:00 p.m., Monroe Career & Technical Institute Adult
Continuing Education, Bartonsville. Cost $385, includes breakfast/lunch. Course is designed to provide
electricians and maintenance staff with information on
significant changes in the 2008 National Electric Code
(National Fire Protection Association 07-2008). Call
(570) 629-2001 ext.1125 for more information.
July 17
Johnson’s, Route 611, Bartonsville. Call Jim Connor at
Business and Books, 5:30 p.m. Borders Stroudsburg,
Route 611. Second in “Editors on the Road” series
by Pocono Business Journal, this installment is “HR
Made Easy.” Topics include hiring and firing; top five
HR mistakes small businesses make; and working
with difficult employees, presented by Victoria Mavis
of Core People Resources. Cost: free. Future topics will cover marketing, taxes, real estate and more.
July 18
BNI Shawnee-on-Delaware, 7:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m., Inn
at Shawnee, River Road, Shawnee-on-Delaware. Call
(570) 420-8656 or email [email protected] for more
information.
Monthly Breakfast, Greater Pocono Chamber of
Commerce, 7:30 a.m. Cost in advance: $10 Chamber
members, $14 non-members. At the door: $12 Chamber members, $18 non-members. Held at Pocono Inne
Town (formerly Best Western Pocono Inn), Stroudsburg. Sponsored by Schaedler Yesco, special program
by Pocono Services for Families & Children. Call
Résumé Critique (by appointment) 9:00 a.m. - 12:00
noon, Employer Web site Assistance 3:00 p.m. - 4:00
p.m. Held at the PA CareerLink in Tannersville. Call
(570) 620-2850 or visit www.cwds.state.pa.us or
www.monroecountycareerlink.org for more information.
July 21
Résumés and Cover Letters, 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 noon.
Held at the PA CareerLink in Tannersville. Call (570)
620-2850 or visit www.cwds.state.pa.us or www.monroecountycareerlink.org for more information.
Carbon County Chamber of Commerce at CCCC Office. Reservations are required. Call (610) 377-2191
for more information.
July 22
NAHB’s Fall Protection Training, Settler’s Inn, Hawley, 8:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Cost: $15 Wayne County
Builders Association members; $25 non-members,
includes hot breakfast. Based on OSHA content;
particularly geared for builders, trade contractors,
supervisors and workers. Call (570) 226-4941 or email
[email protected] for more information.
see JULY page 27
27
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
JULY... cont. from page 26
Workplace Safety Committee Certification Training,
8:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon, Monroe Career & Technical
Institute Adult Continuing Education, Bartonsville.
Cost: $160 includes continental breakfast. Meets
annual training requirement for certified safety training required by PA Department of Labor and Industry,
recommended by National Safety Council. Covers
safety inspections, accident investigations and OSHA
Compliance; qualifies facilities for a 5% annual Workers’ Compensation Insurance Discount. Call (570) 6292001 ext.1125 for more information.
Small Business Resource Clinic, Wayne County Chamber of Commerce, Honesdale,
9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Seminar covers small business
loans, required documents, and small business financing. Cost: free, pre-registration required. Call (570)
342-7711 to register or visit www.metroaction.org.
Interview Basics 12:00 noon
- 1:30 p.m., Salary
Negotiation 1:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Held at the PA CareerLink in Tannersville. Call (570) 620-2850 or visit
July 23
BNI Milford, 7:00 a.m., Mount Haven Resort, 123 Log
Tavern Rd., Milford. Call Carl Pallini at (570) 2967176 for more information.
Building Better Credit: Wednesday, July 23, 9:00 a.m.
– 10:00 a.m., MetroAction. Cost: free. Seminar on
improving your personal credit. Call (570) 342-7711 to
register or visit www.metroaction.org.
One-on-One Résumé Writing Assistance, 9:30 a.m. -
11:30a.m. Held at the PA CareerLink in Tannersville.
Call (570) 620-2850 or visit www.cwds.state.pa.us or
www.monroecountycareerlink.org for more information.
Brown Bag Monday, 12:00 Noon. Informal lunch
with Carbon County Chamber of Commerce at CCCC
Office. Reservations are required. Call (610) 3772191 for more information.
The First Step: How to Start a Business, 10:30 a.m. 12:30 p.m. ESU’s University Center located on Normal
Street in East Stroudsburg. Class is designed to provide
entrepreneurs with information they need to start a new
business. Cost: $10, open to general public. Call Brad
Klein, director of the Pocono Mountains Keystone Innovation Zone and ESU’s Business Accelerator, at (570)
422-7920 for more information. Deadline for registration is July 21.
July 29
Mock Interviews 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Held at the PA
CareerLink in Tannersville. Call (570) 620-2850 or
July 24
BNI Bartonsville, 7:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m., Howard Johnson’s, Route 611, Bartonsville. Call Jim Connor at (570)
July 25
BNI Shawnee-on-Delaware, 7:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.,
Inn at Shawnee, River Road, Shawnee-on-Delaware.
Call (570) 420-8656 or email [email protected] for more
information.
Computer Basics 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m., Employer Web
site Assistance 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Held at the PA
CareerLink in Tannersville. Call (570) 620-2850 or visit
www.cwds.state.pa.us or www.monroecountycareerlink.
org for more information.
July 26
Great PA Clean Up/Litter Pick-up, Greater Pocono
Chamber of Commerce, Environmental Committee, 8
:00 a.m. at the Welcome Center, Delaware Water Gap.
Value Stream Mapping, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Monroe Career & Technical Institute Adult Continuing
Education, Bartonsville. Cost $225, includes breakfast/lunch. Pre-requisite: Principles of Lean Enterprise
(given July 16th), Value Stream Mapping is a Lean
Enterprise tool used to create a map of the material
and information flows relative to a particular product
or process. Value Stream Mapping depicts each activity performed during a process to enable management
to make informed decisions. Call (570) 629-2001
ext.1125 for more information.
PA CareerLink in Tannersville. Call (570) 620-2850
or visit www.cwds.state.pa.us or www.monroecountycareerlink.org for more information.
July 28
Find a Job You’ll Love! 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Held at
the PA CareerLink in Tannersville. Call (570) 620-2850
or visit www.cwds.state.pa.us or www.monroecountycareerlink.org for more information.
Coming Next Month ... August 2008
July 30
BNI Milford, 7:00 a.m., Mount Haven Resort, 123
Log Tavern Rd., Milford. Call Carl Pallini at (570)
July 31
Johnson’s, Route 611, Bartonsville. Call Jim Connor
at (570) 237-5869 for more information.
POCONO
www.pbjonline.com
Communications and Promotions
www.pbjonline.com
• Making Waves on Radio: Comparing market share, playlists, and content of our local stations
• Pocono Publications: Building buzz, reaching advertisers, keeping readers riveted
• TV Comes to Main Street: Two broadcasters set up offices downtown and tell how they differentiate
• Writing a Press Release: The bare basics for any business to get press
• Professional Profile: Marketing help is on the way, thanks to local organizations
28
PBJ REGISTER
BANKRUPTCIES
Monroe County
Ink Well, Inc., Milford, Chapter 7 (voluntary), bankruptcy filed 5/29/08
Deeds
and Marcia Lall, $305,940
Tobyhanna Township
Joseph and Joan Hazen to Steven Perry and
Meredith Flower, $330,000
William Hampton and Deborah Fisher to
Thomas and Lori Fossett, $319,900
Daniel, Timothy, Deborah and Annette Flynn
to Daniel and Georgina Perullo, $340,000
Carbon County
Pike County
Kidder Township South
Thomas P Carney Inc to Kimberly Handloff,
$331,710
Peter Frazzetto to Jesse Boyd, $352,000
Jason Seitz to S&A Harmony LLC, $365,000
Blooming Grove Township
Anthony and Niurka Pacheco to Jennifer and
Stuart Millar, $315,000
Hemlock Builders Inc to Jonathan and Melanie Busch, $322,000
Mahoning Township
Jason Adamski to Michael Devlin, $320,000
Delaware Township
Gary Popkin to Thomas and Marilyn Liscinski, $475,000
Penn Forest Township
Poconogetaway LLC to David Plaksin,
$315,000
Monroe County
Barrett Township
Theodore and Christine Auman to Skytop
Wychwood LLC, $1,170,000
Chestnuthill Township
S Frank and Mary Lou Touzet to Fitzroy and
Marlene Johnson, $586,000
Delaware Water Gap Borough
Kelly and Lisa Lewis to Thomas E Claeys Jr
and Thomas E Claeys Sr., $339,000
Eldred Township
Italo and Bonnie Bennici to Anne Birdsall,
$325,000
Paul Rizzo to William and Jean Weasner,
$330,000
Hamilton Township
Scott McMahon to Craig and Marites McCorquodale, $407,500
Michael and Debra Green to Linda Covello,
$510,000
Jackson Township
Lola Margron to Luis Santos, $515,000
LTS Development LLC to Joseph and Sharon Camara, $451,030
LTS Development LLC to David and Elaine
Smith, $398,800
LTS Development LLC to Matthew and Vivian King, $419,800
Paul and Anita Kayatta to Grace Bajana,
$300,000
Dingman Township
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation
to Kerry and Carol Welsh, $306,000
Randy Rydewski to Aubrey Cadogan,
$305,000
Sunnylands Inc to Todd and Pamela Smirman, $340,000
Greene Township
Paul and Gertrude Evans to Gerard and
Leslie Daidone, $335,000
Scott Township
Karl and Rachael Knoll to James, Helen and
Jason Barton, $340,000
South Canaan Township
James and Irene Karras to Leonard and Jean
Lupini, $340,000
Sterling Township
Anthony and William Eckert to Onorato and
Jennifer Valic, $320,000
Mortgages
Carbon County
Beaver Meadows Borough
J&N Realty Investments LLC, Citicorp
Leasing Inc, $700,000
East Penn Township
Michael Acker, American Bank, $400,000
East Side Borough
Pam Management Inc, Wachovia Bank,
$3,100,000
Milford Borough
Kasey LLC to Liam and Gavin Holdings
LLC, $300,000
Kidder Township North
Richard Henry & Sons LLC, First National
Bank of Palmerton, $390,000
Palmyra Township
Skynet Satellite Corporation to RRSAT
Global Communication Inc, $681,045
Joseph Rapine III to Clauss Development
LLC, $620,000
Edward and Marie Dockx to Victor and Ana
Ramirez, $300,000
Spiritus Investment Group to Steven and
Karen Mase, $464,900
Luigi and Pauline Dalterio to Joseph and
Rebecca Wildrick, $537,000
Pascal and Susan Houcke to Albert Kotch,
$325,000
Kidder Township South
Kimberly Handloff, Bank of America,
$313,405
Jesse Boyd, MERS, $334,400
Thomas Haralampoudis, Merrill Lynch
Credit Corporation, $462,500
Ellyn McGinnis, Wells Fargo Bank,
$320,000
Shohola Township
Tammy Grande to Stephen White and Susan
Blackwell, $325,000
Paradise Township
Donald and Dorothy Madder to LDNMA
LLC, $500,000
Canaan Township
James and Irene Karras to Leonard and Jean
Lupini, $340,000
Smithfield Township
Caryl Wilkins and Debra Williams-Simeone
to East Stroudsburg University, $404,000
Christopher and Michele Jones to Steven and
Tracy Sheptuk, $330,000
Honesdale Borough
David Duley Inc to John Zerga, $349,900
Stephen and Suzanne Putzi to Eight Two
Five Realty Group, $300,000
Stroud Township
LTS Development LLC to John Saimbert,
$358,100
LTS Development LLC to Thomas Dudutis,
$784,800
Peggy Smallacombe to Barbara Baczynski,
$308,000
Tammy Davis and George Renz to Miguel
Rios, $351,400
NVR Inc/Ryan Homes to Jose and Bessy
Morales, $400,065
NVR Inc/Ryan Homes to Chetram Sookwah
Salem Township
Nino and Barbara Rosa to Julie Shell,
$365,000
Lackawaxen Township
Raymond and Elaine Habib to Christopher
and Jennifer Feeney, $625,000
Gerard and Heidi Castro to Mary Grace FotiLyons, $350,000
Darlene and Steven Nalesnik to Michael and
Joseph Mancino, $312,500
G Anderson Homes Inc to Robert and Linda
Horowitz, $337,800
Middle Smithfield Township
William Eric Mirams to Greg Garzio and
Kristina DeLorenzo, $285,000
Toll PA IV to Christopher Roop and Priva
Patel, $306,439
LTS Development LLC to Jacqueline Felz,
$315,190
Toll PA IV LP to Ralph and Donna Dinkle,
$321,777
Stroudsburg Borough
Louis and Sylvia Vento to JPS LLC,
$350,000
Handel, $540,000
Margaret Kolakowski to William and Susan
Turner, $575,000
TR Holdings to Richard and Debra Harper,
$700,000
Westfall Township
Herbert Wolff to Rebecca Gardner, $365,000
Wayne County
Lebanon Township
Peter Johnson to John and Juanita Bugbee,
$400,000
Lehigh Township
Veneta Butler to Thomas and Sandra Reed,
$585,000
Paupack Township
Eric and Jaime Lind to Charles and Susan
Anderson, $597,500
Nancy McCarroll to Richard and Randi
Migatz, $325,000
Carolyn and Darryl Nicol to Livius and
Michelle Sangeap, $455,000
Nicholas Bakker to Michael Sweeney,
$389,000
Raymond and Mary Hutt to Brian and Lynn
Jim Thorpe Borough
Thomas Loughery, Jim Thorpe National
Bank, $365,000
Surreal Properties Inc, Flagstaff Resort Land
Holdings Ltd, $600,000
Lehighton Borough
Joseph Bennett, Mauch Chunk Trust Company, $450,000
Chain & Chain, Mauch Chunk Trust Company, $300,971
Paul Chain, Mauch Chunk Trust Company,
$300,971
Lower Towamensing Township
Melvin Stoltzfus, Hometown Heritage Bank,
$608,000
Mahoning Township
Pierce Hardy Limited Partnership, Ableco
Finance LLC, $195,000,000
CCB Enterprises, Mauch Chunk Trust Company, $300,971
PKR Enterprises LLC, Mauch Chunk Trust
Company, $300,971
Michael Devlin, MERS, $304,000
Parryville Borough
Mark Stemler, Lester Wentz, $332,500
Penn Forest Township
Wayne Westbrock, Jim Thorpe National
Bank, $300,000
Thomas Kugler, MERS, $320,000
Michael Allison, JP Morgan Chase Bank,
$417,000
Lloyd Quashie, Wells Fargo Bank, $318,646
Paul Montemuro, First National Bank of
Palmerton, $300,000
Monroe County
Barrett Township
Skytop Wynchwood LLC, American Bank,
$900,000
Stanley and Marie Parker, Wachovia Bank,
$419,594
Joseph Bonessi, Wells Fargo Bank, $414,000
Chestnuthill Township
Patricia Callahan, MERS, $417,000
William and Carol Grant, First National
Fitzroy and Marleen Johnson, Wells Fargo
Bank, $417,000
Coolbaugh Township
Jacob Rybner, Commerce Bank, $400,000
Rybner Corporation, Commerce Bank,
$400,000
Delaware Water Gap Borough
Thomas Claeys Junior and Thomas Claeys
Senior, MERS/Countrywide Bank, $318,250
East Stroudsburg Borough
BD Motels Inc, Pocono Community Bank,
$1,300,000
Horvath Towers LLC, National City Bank,
$10,000,000
Hamilton Township
Monroe-Pike Land, LLC, ESSA Bank and
Trust, $346,500
David and Denise Stewart, PNC Mortgage,
$382,000
Craig and Marites McCorquodale, MERS/
Flagstar Bank, $396,000
Todd and Karra Detrick, ESSA Bank,
$700,000
Ray Starner, Pocono Community Bank,
$525,000
James and Denese Gerner, PNC Mortgage,
$396,000
Dean Comunal, Sussex Bank, $928,000
Jackson Township
Pawel and Eva Borkowska, ESSA Bank and
Trust, $307,000
Luis and Sandra Santos, Sun Trust Mortgage,
$412,000
Matthew and Vivian King, HSBC Mortgage,
$398,800
Jill, Jack, William, Robin and Marjorie
Rader, ESSA Bank, $2,700,000
Jill, Jack, William and Robin Rader, ESSA
Bank, $2,700,000
Middle Smithfield Township
George and Colleen Rettas, JP Morgan
Chase Bank, $325,000
Jorge and Maureen Casiano, Beneficial
Mortgage, $350,990
Paradise Township
Mount Airy LLC, JP Morgan Chase,
$420,000
Pocono Township
Cessell Pilgrim and Elizabeth Neils, MERS/
Infinity Home Loans, $315,000
Om Shrim Inc, Wachovia Bank, $885,000
Minho and Mee Ree Moon, MERS/Wachovia Bank, $378,000
Margaret McKeown, Countrywide Home
Loans, $300,240
Margaret McKeown, Housing and Urban
Development, $300,240
Alcides and Adriana Diaz, MERS/First Horizon Home Loans, $371,000
Barbara Damico, Pocono Community Bank,
$700,000
Polk Township
Patricia Toole, MERS, $320,100
Price Township
Price Township Development Company,
Penn Security Bank, $2,800,000
Ross Township
Monroe-Pike Land, LLC, ESSA Bank and
Trust, $346,500
Howard and Marsha Beers, First National
Michael and Bernardine Vanviter, First National Bank of Palmerton, $300,000
Smithfield Township
Gary and Debra Kessel, Wachovia Bank,
$420,000
Craig and Nancy Fish, ESSA Bank and
Trust, $300,000
Stroudsburg Borough
Jonathan and Kelly Mark, ESSA Bank and
Trust, $350,000
29
PBJ REGISTER
Bernard and Nancy Kennedy, Penn Security
Bank, $376,600
Luigi Spagnolo, Cataldo Vasapolli,
$1,012,500
Stroud Township
Pierce Hardy Limited Partnership/PeterJon
Co., Ableco Finance LLC, $195,000,000
Aisha Garner, Real Estate Mortgage Network Inc., $480,000
Mashalla Askari, MERS/Countrywide Bank,
$346,000
Thomas Dudutis, Wayne Bank, $417,000
Jeffrey and Linda Snyder, Pennstar Bank,
$2,000,000
Scott and April Mills, Wells Fargo Bank,
$315,000
Jerilynn Caliendo, MERS/Flagstar Bank,
$337,250
Gervais and Ingrid Charles, Washington
Mutual Bank, $300,000
Miguel Rios, Washington Mutual Bank,
$333,830
Jose and Bessy Morales, MERS/Countrywide Bank, $360,058
Michael and Karen Dougherty, ESSA Bank
and Trust, $303,000
Tobyhanna Township
Robert Maynard, Huntington Valley Bank,
$327,500
Linda Maynard, Huntington Valley Bank,
$320,000
Richard Henry and Sons, First National Bank
of Palmerton, $390,000
Dean Communal, National Capital Management, $620,000
Cynthia Winchell, Wachovia Bank, $800,000
Tunkhannock Township
Michael Schechter, Penn Security Bank,
$333,398
Pike County
Blooming Grove Township
James and Mary Pierce, First Star Bank,
$372,000
Delaware Township
Jeffrey and Binney Huffman, Wayne Bank,
$653,000
Dingman Township
Robert Walsh, MERS/MNET Mortgage
Corporation, $375,550
Aubrey Cadogan, National City Mortgage,
$300,287
Peter Vasilisin, MERS/Mortgage Line Financial Corporation, $318,202
Walter and Nazarena Badyna, MERS/Lend
America, $337,500
Guy and Barbara Wolfe, Citizens Bank of
Pennsylvania, $320,000
Greene Township
Leslie and Gerard Diadone, MERS/Midatlantic Farm Credit, $324,950
David and Cheryl Biel, Citizens Savings
Bank, $300,000
Eric and Andrea Nakielny, MERS/Capital
One Home Loans LLC, $400,000
Lackawaxen Township
Christopher and Jennifer Feeney, Merrill
Lynch Credit Corporation, $350,000
EKG Partnership, Dime Bank, $850,000
Eric and Gary Linde, Dime Bank, $850,000
Woodloch Pines Inc., M&T Trust Company,
$1,500,000
Lehman Township
Joseph Kohout, Wayne Bank, $314,900
Milford Township
Kubahki Pabs-Garnon, MERS/Access National Mortgage, $352,464
Walter and Linda Kresse, MERS/Amtrust
Bank, $410,000
Frederick and Eugenia Frei, Wayne Bank,
$850,000
Palmyra Township
Clauss Development LLC, Honesdale National Bank, $850,000
Steven and Karen Mase, MERS/Wachovia
Mortgage, $371,900
Frank and MaryJo Mazzella, Dime Bank,
$333,000
Walter and Deborah Grote, MERS/First
Horizon Home Loans, $377,965
Joseph and Rebecca Wildrick, Suntrust
Mortgage Inc, $483,300
Hanoverian Inc, Univest National Bank and
Trust, $2,000,000
Donald and Dorothy Mack, United Northern
Mortgage Bankers Ltd, $330,000
Donald and Dorothy Mack, Housing and
Urban Development, $330,000
Wayne County
Buckingham Township
James and Helen Barton, Dime Bank,
$350,000
Camp Starlight Inc, Dime Bank, $4,580,000
Damascus Township
James and Elizabeth Shields/Pro Jan Custom
Flooring Inc, Honesdale National Bank,
$656,000
Harold and Jeanne Rutledge, Dime Bank,
$750,000
Lebanon Township
John and Juanita Bugbee, Wayne Bank,
$300,000
Harold and Jeanne Rutledge, Dime Bank,
$750,000
Lehigh Township
Thomas and Sandra Reed, MERS, $300,000
Manschester Township
Benjamin Croce, Bank of America, $379,000
Mount Pleasant Township
Paul Anderson, World Alliance Financial
Corporation, $300,240
Paul Anderson, Housing and Urban Development, $300,240
Paupack Township
Charles and Susan Anderson, Affinity Credit
Union, $350,000
Stephen and Kimberly Niggeman, MERS,
$400,000
Alfred Beers, Pacificone, $350,000
Christiana Bank and Trust Company / SN
Servicing Corporation, Fairway Finance
Company, $431,582
James and Lynn Sandberg, Wells Fargo
Bank, $325,000
Lynn and Brian Handel, Wells Fargo Bank,
$417,000
Richard and Deborah Harper, First National
Bank of Marysville, $552,000
Preston Township
Newbury, Dime Bank, $4,580,000
Newbury, Dime Bank, $800,000
Salem Township
Michael Bird, Wilmot Nursery and Landscaping Inc, $450,737
KC Enterprises, First National Community
Bank, $300,000
Richard and Rita Mahler, MERS, $320,000
Scott Township
Helen, James and Jason Barton, Dime Bank,
$350,000
Texas Township
Beth Marx, Dime Bank, $337,000
Beth Marx, Dime Bank, $435,000
Gordon and Gail Kinzinger, Honesdale
National Bank, $300,000
New Corporations /
Fictitious Names
Carbon County
B & D Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning, 230 South Lake Drive, Lake Harmony,
Barry Macken
Done by Donegon, LLC, real estate, 318
Beechay Lane, Palmerton
ELPTDPTDP, LLC, real estate rentals, 251
Canal Street, Lehighton
Great Pocono Enterprises LLC, lease, manage, and develop property, 324 Mills Drive,
PO Box 704, Albrightsville
Great Pocono Modulars, LLC, new home
construction, 324 Mills Drive / PO Box
704, Albrightsville, Michael Gilliar / Great
Pocono Enterprises LLC
Heavenly Slices, bakery and café, 440 Patten
Circle, Albrightsville, Jessica Miller-Epps
Katz Accounting Inc, 1358 State Route 903,
Jim Thorpe
Outdoor Decor, LLC, 178 Northcreek Drive,
Palmerton
Phifer’s Deli, deli & mini market, 828 Main
Road, Lehighton, Brenda and Michael
Spagnola
Quan Properties, LLC, rental property, 11
Audrey Lane, Jim Thorpe
Textwork Virtual Business Solutions, transcription/administrative services, 1542 Indian Mountain Lake, Albrightsville Barbara
Purcell-Clark
True North Map Company, souvenir tourist
maps, 1250 West 10th Street, Jim Thorpe,
Akantha and Andrew Susko
U S Recording Media, LLC, sells recording
supplies, 4720 Interchange Road, Lehighton
Valley Star Construction Corporation, construction, 8 Dana Court, Albrightsville
Vince’s Ground Works, grading, brush
cutting, et al, 164 Moseywood Road, Lake
Harmony, Vincent Catanzaro
Wendy S. Lawson, Psychologist, DPC, clinical psychology, 811 Blakeslee Blvd. Drive
East Suite 80, Lehighton
Wolf Song Enterprises, LLC, music promotions, 770 Smith Lane Road, Lehighton
www.InsuranceShopperPa.com, insurance
marketing, 1403 Blakeslee Blvd, Lehighton,
Richard G Balliet Insurance Agency Inc.
Monroe County
Arrowhead Lake Properties, LLC, consulting, 413 Route 940 Suite 323, Mount Pocono
Pike County
A Dependable Cleaning Company, cleaning service, 224 Log Tavern Drive, Milford,
Richard G Rosencrance
AAF Landscaping, HC 12 / Box 528-A /
Route 402, Dingmans Ferry, Aaron Andrew
Fish
Arbortech Tree Specialists, Inc., tree service:
diagnostic and treatment, 242 Log Tavern
Drive, Milford
Child’s Pose Therapeutic Yoga, therapeutic
yoga for special needs children and adults,
173 East Mulberry Drive, Milford, Maryanne
and Norris Ford
Daydream on Autopilot LLC, 117 At the
Falls, Bushkill
Exclusive Van Lines, Inc., relocation/household goods, 1538 Pine Ridge, Bushkill
Forest Homes - Blue Ridge Partners, LLC,
construction of residences and own, acquire,
develop, hold, lease and finance real estate,
Gumbletown Road, HCR 1, Box 5A, Paupack
GMA Sales and Marketing LLC, wholesale
agent/broker., 152 Lancet Circle, Dingmans
Ferry
Hawk View Resources LLC, consulting,
3199 Sunrise Lake, Milford
IER Excavating, prepare land for construction, 4247 Conashaugh Lake, Milford, Ivan
Rodriguez
Kelly Enterprise Group, LLC, construction,
400 The Glen, Tamiment
Kuda, Inc., manufacture and retail of
sharpening equipment, 101 Yugette Court,
Dingmans Ferry
LLM VENTURES, internet business, 103
Sand Spring Drive, Greentown, Leonard R
Masker
Logan’s Pellets LLC, sale of wood pellets,
851 Route 6, Shohola
Martin W Construction LLC, general
contractor residential home building, 4095
Milford Landing Drive, Milford
McCarthy’s Contracting, remodeling,
construction, 100 Second Street, Milford,
Michael McCarthy / McCarthy’s Cabinet
Shop, LTD
Mr & Mrs Septic LLC, septic and grease
trap pumping, 2993 Hemlock Farms, Lords
Valley
Nikles Holdings, Inc., GP of an LP, 104 Bennett Avenue / Suite 1-A, Milford
PA Realty Group LLC, real estate management, 1864 Hemlock Farms, Lords Valley
People’s Choice Home Builders, Inc., contracting, renovation, remodeling, 118 Fisher
Terrace, Milford
Power Electrical Inspections, inspecting
electrical jobs, 104 Grace Road, Shohola,
Philip Levy
Route 2001 LLC, real estate, 104 West High
Street, Milford
Stump Busters, tree stump removal, 308
Avenue F, Matamoras, Michael G Amato
Sussex County Medical Associates, LLC,
medical practice, 111 East Catharine Street /
Suite 110, Milford
The Healthy Skin Shop Inc., 115 Seventh
Street, Milford
Wayne County
825 Realty Group, LLC, property management, 825 Main Street, Honesdale
Bellemonte Hunting and Fishing Club,
LLC, real estate, 1426 Purdytown Turnpike,
Hawley
Bruce W. Lawson, Inc., tractor repair, 933
Calkins Road, Milanville
DG Cleaning Service, house cleaning, 830
The Hideout, Lake Ariel, Dianne R Granata
Eagle Mountain Stone, LLC, stone cutting,
1027 Equinunk Creek Road, Lakewood
Earnmoney4ever, online phone and personal
sales, HC-1, Box 204-B / 35 Pine Creek
Road, Hawley, Scott Philip McNamara
EKG Partnership, real estate, 200 Spring Hill
Road, Honesdale, Eric and Linde and Kip
Odell
Envision Retirement and Estate Planners,
LLC, financial advisory, 1525 Mount Cobb
Road, Lake Ariel
Ethan Ames Builder, Inc, woodworking,
furniture making etc., 199 Dillmuth Road,
Honesdale
GCF Entertainment LLC, film production,
116 Elm St., Lakeville
Java Enterprises, LLC, operation of bagel
shop and deli, 605 Hamlin Highway, Hamlin
JTBA Roadside Grill Corporation, hot dog
stand, 67 B Partridge Place, Gouldsboro
JT’s Painting & Contracting, painting &
general construction, 4061 Eagle Court, Lake
Ariel, John Ortola
K&D Restaurant Consulting, consulting
service to restaurant industry, 403 Spruce
Street, Hawley, Debra and Kevin Brennan
Kathy Jenkins Studio, LLC, theatre production, teaching and entertainment, 82 Ridge
Road Cobb’s Lake Preserve, Lake Ariel
Katsch Upholstery, Inc, manufacturing and
upholstering of furniture, 1553 Hancock
Hwy, Honesdale
Lake Irving, Real estate & retail sales, 1902
Farmhouse Road, Honesdale, Lake Irving
Group, LLC
Lakeside Realty Holdings, LLC, real estate,
1186 Hamlin Highway, Lake Ariel
Nebzydoski Busing, LLC, bus transportation,
8 Maple Avenue, Mount Pleasant
Orchard Mills Investment Properties, LLC,
real estate development, 230 Gridline Road,
Honesdale
Peony Fancier Gardens, LLC, farm, 112
Haunes School Road, Honesdale
Phillips Home & Properties, Ltd., real property, 37 Patterson Street, Waymart
ProFunds Distributors, Inc., product promotion, 5 Court, Corporation System
Re-Poly Corporation, Inc., manufacture and
sale of plastic and poly products, 27 JJ Laurel Court / PO Box 1221, Gouldsboro
SGK GP LLC, real estate, 413 Spruce Lake
Road, Lakewood
Splash Organics, manufacture and resale of
organic bath and body products, 142 Kratz
Road, Honesdale, Bolla Organics Inc.
Stitt Brothers Bakery, Inc., real estate, 471
Welwood Avenue, Hawley
T. Lord Installers, Inc., sell, install commercial fixtures, Hoadleys Road Box 884,
Honesdale
Worobey Transport, Inc., trucking business,
2047 Crosstown Highway, Preston Park
Your Dog’s Place, LLC, training domestic
animals, 401 Kellows Road, 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
COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE MARKETPLACE
Opportunities Ahead...
We’re bringing sellers and buyers together with one thing in mind...YOUR SUCCESS!
Whether you want to list your property or you’re looking to buy, call the true Commercial
Specialists to assist you today!
CHILD CARE OPPORTUNITIES
Our inventory is full of opportunities for you! We have child care facilities available
throughout the Pocono Mountains - both existing businesses and potential locations. With
prices ranging from $259,999 to $650,000, we can help you find the perfect opportunity
for your business plans.
LARGEST INVENTORY OF COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE
If you are looking for commercial buildings, investment properties, lease space, or any other
commercial property, call us today! Or visit our website - the largest inventory of commercial
and investment real estate in the region.
COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE
& PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
570-620-1900

BaxCommercial.com
We’ve Moved! Visit us at our new headquarters - RR 2 Box 25  West Main Street, Stroudsburg
31
COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE MARKETPLACE
Pocono Office Commons
Coolbaugh township, Monroe County, Pennsylvania
N E W LY R E N O V AT E D B U I L D I N G
52 5 M A I N S T R E E T
DOWNTOWN STROUDSBURG
4700 SQUARE FOOT RETAIL, RESTAURANT, OFFICES
Includes mens & ladies handicap rest rooms.
NOW AVAILABLE FOR LEASE
- ALSO -
Occupancy Fall 2008
2000 SQUARE FOOT SECOND FLOOR OFFICE SPACE
Includes 2 executive offices,
conference room overlooking Main Street
4 offices, reception area, waiting room,
service bar, handicap rest room.
Location: Pocono Mountains Corporate Center East, Coolbaugh Township, Monroe
County, PA.
Building Type: Class A office: four, one-story, 40,000 total square feet; one, twostory, 24,000 total square feet.
Architectuaal features: Steel frame, with brick/stone exterior
Floor Sizes: Up to 12,000 rentable square feet (contiguous); suites available from
1,500 square feet.
HVAC: Multi-zone heat pump system with individual tenant controls and separate
metering.
Communication/Safety: Unique broadband fiber optic platform capable of offering
a full menu of communication services, including full-feature voice, video and high
speed internet access. Building is protected by card access security and life safety
system.
Detail: Five (5) parking spaces per 1,000 square feet.Professional landscaping and
grounds maintenance. Located in the pristine Pocono Mountains with access to
Interstate 380 and 80. A great location in a emerging market.
For more information
visit our website:
www.arcadiaproperties.net
or contact
Rob Boehing: 610.691.5700
ARCADIA
PROPERTIES, LLC
www.arcadiaproperties.net
For Info Call (570) 856-0376
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     
    
         
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       
      
        
       
 
    
    
    
       
      
   





 
 



   
     
        
   
   


  
    
       
     
     
   






    
   
      
    
     
    
   
  
   
      
      
      
     
 
  
   
     
      
     
    
   
 
 
 


 
 


32
meet the new face of Heart Care
ESSA Heart and Vascular Institute
When chest pain sent me to the ER, it was such a relief to drive only 17 miles to Pocono Medical Center
(PMC). After being admitted for observation, I was taken to their new cardiac catheterization lab. There, I
had a diagnostic catheterization and a stent was inserted to fix my blockage. Besides treating my condition
promptly, the medical staff at PMC was consistently professional and caring during my stay. They showed
me great kindness and respect, and their compassion eased all my fears. I’m now doing well and I’m happy
to know that PMC will be there to serve my future medical needs. With more than thirty years of experience
working as a registered nurse specializing in cardiac care, I know that the reputation of a hospital is based
on the people who work there. With their considerate and courteous staff, PMC’s reputation is excellent in
my eyes. I would not hesitate to once again put my life in their professional and caring hands.
www.pmchealthsystem.org
Meet Barbara Rivers, retired registered nurse and the new face of Heart Care.